What's happening?
Huh?
A cat?
It's weakened, but it's still alive.
It has the Shapeshifter Extra Skill.
It's a shapeshifter?
Yeah. A real dragon never would have gone down so easily.
This is a monster known as...
Black Cat.
How'd you know that? Are you using World Eyes?
Why aren't you using it?
I can't control it.
WORLD EYES
I probably need to level it more.
Then you're basically shunning the skill.
I can't believe I let two greenhorns beat me.
For fun, I transformed into a dragon I saw once. Seems I took the fun and games too far.
Wait, you can talk?
Do not mistake me for a monster who acts purely on instinct.
The Demon Lord created me to be a highly intelligent beast.
Did it just call itself smart?
I've met your type before.
The elf is one thing, but what would a brat younger than a hundred know?
You talk big, but you're aware of the situation you're in, yes?
You're too hurt to move, aren't you?
Do with me as you wish, but first...
Allow me to relay the Demon Lord's message to you.
What?
The Demon Lord? To me?
"Come to Volcano, the land of the demons."
"I shall await you in my castle deep within."
That is all.
What the hell? How does the Demon Lord know about me?
And you're saying he knew I'd be here too?
That is beyond me.
I know not what goes on in the great depths of his mind.
Now then...
I've done my job. Kill me.
I will not.
Just do it.
Don't the other races consider demons and monsters their common enemy?
That's none of my business. And besides...
I'm not sold on the whole "demons are evil" thing.
But Akira, this room won't unlock unless either the boss or challenger dies.
Yeah, I know that.
Then why will you not kill me?
Because I love cats.
What?
I could never kill one with such a lovely coat.
What's more, I can communicate with you, unlike all those other monsters.
Ridicule me all you'd like, but are you really so eager to starve to death here?
I'm sure there's a secret way out or something.
Well, you're not exactly wrong...
So there is a way?
A monster pact.
If you make this beast your familiar, it will no longer be the boss.
Only in theory.
The required ritual demands the master have exemplary mana control.
This greenhorn couldn't possibly.
Did you not see what he did before?
Huh?
The only other person I've ever heard was capable of that would be the Hero of Legend.
You're suggesting he fooled me with mana projected outside his body?
Akira is perfectly capable of initiating the ritual.
I can't say if it will succeed, though.
What happens if I fail?
One of us will die. Maybe even both.
Fine by me.
Why risk your life for this?
Because I've decided it's what I want.
Foolish.
Go right ahead. I do not care whether it fails and we die.
That's really been getting on my nerves.
You keep acting like you have no stake in living or dying.
It's pissing me off.
I only know that nothing good will come of my continued existence.
How does the ritual work?
Oh, right. First, you give the beast a name.
How about "Night"?
Owing to your beautiful dark fur.
Next, place your hand upon the beast and channel your mana into it.
You can probably manage it, but...
There's no going back after this.
Either you will succeed in linking your souls or you will die.
I...
I'm not about to die here.
Okay.
Am I in its mind?
A town?
Stop!
Draw your blade.
Kill me.
Should your soul perish here, it will leave your body no more than a rotting corpse.
Slaying me is the only way you survive!
Finally ready to fight, are we?
Now kill me if you want to live!
What are you playing at?
All you had to do was kill me.
I'm not going to kill you.
And I know you don't really want to kill me either.
I'm a monster, you know.
Is there a rule that says monsters have to kill other races?
It's not a rule. Just sheer instinct.
Having intelligence does not negate it.
But you're sick and tired of living this way, aren't you?
It's okay.
I'll watch over you.
I'll make sure you never wreak destruction like this again.
Akira!
Is it done?
Akira... You're alive!
That brand symbolizes your pact.
It shows that your souls are now linked!
I've developed an interest in seeing where your life takes you.
Oda Akira. That's your master's name.
Glad to have you, Night.
Night... That's a lovely name.
Oda Akira, my new master, I swear my fealty to you.
I'm Amelia. Nice to meet you, Night.
Likewise. As my master's friend, you have my respect.
- Friend? - We're friends!
Behold the exit.
A teleportation circle?
It seems the labyrinth agrees that I am no longer a boss here.
Well, I'd like to proceed, but you can't move yet, can you?
The exit will not vanish until used.
Let me rest up and recover.
All good. We know other monsters can't enter the boss room.
Oh, in that case...
Why not pass the time chatting?
I agree with Lady Amelia. This is a good chance to get to know one another.
You sure took to us quick.
Not that I mind, of course.
I got curious when I heard there was a land called Yamato on the continent,
but I never expected this.
Didn't they say the hero from a few generations ago founded it?
I like this place already!
Whoa!
You two look great in those!
Nice!
I'm a fan!
You mean it? I don't look weird or nothin'?
For sure!
We needed help getting these on. Sorry we kept you waiting.
Let's eat!
Can't believe I get to eat a seafood rice bowl!
They even have hot springs here. I'm so glad I came with you, Satou.
I just love the Edo-era vibe this place is giving!
I feel like I could run into Sakamoto Ryouma or Kondou Isami at any time!
Yuki-chan, can I have some wasabi?
Go for it.
If anyone else has any left over, gimme all of it!
You sure love your wasabi, Shiori-chan!
Let's discuss the situation.
First, our funds. We're running low, so we need to find work quick.
We could be adventurers.
We met a bunch on the way here,
and they said we can take jobs if we register with the guild.
Good.
Next, we need information.
We know next to nothing about this world.
We should talk to plenty of people and pick up some books if we can.
Think there's a book out there about how we can get back home?
About that, actually...
I think the fastest way to get home is to defeat the Demon Lord.
And why is that?
The king and princess summoned us. Surely they also know how to send us back.
If we become true heroes, we can negotiate with them.
The rest of our classmates are still back at the palace.
Yeah. So once we gather enough money and information,
we'll set off for the demon continent right away.
No. We should meet up with Akira first.
If we stay put, we'll see him when he eventually comes here.
My Intuition skill tells me that he's far stronger than any of us.
It'd be dangerous to challenge the Demon Lord without him.
If Asahina-kun feels so strongly about it, I agree.
Sounds good.
I'd love to talk to him again. We have similar tastes.
He might be Commander Saran's murderer, you know?!
We've been through this already.
Our minds were simply warped by the curse.
I dunno, though. Oda-kun was off doing his own thing the whole time.
Is he really gonna work with us?
You're the leader of this party, Satou-kun.
What do you think of Asahina-kun's suggestion?
It's not like Akira's a stranger.
I don't doubt that he's stronger than all of us, either.
But I can't see us teaming up together.
After all...
We've been classmates since kindergarten, and he still doesn't recognize me.
What?
True. Akira doesn't get teamwork.
I would know, since I've been alongside you too.
Apparently, only the hero's Holy Sword can kill the Demon Lord.
Which means coordination will be key within our party.
Akira's really got no reason to heed that with such a huge difference in power between us.
We should only think about teaming up with him when we're just as strong.
Agreed.
So we can wait for Akira here,
but only as long as the monsters in the area prove worthy foes for training.
All in favor?
Yeah.
- Sure. - Okay!
All right. Let's get to work.
Wh-Why?
We would put the same question to you.
Why...
are you still alive?
Forced to flee my homeland,
I drifted to a shore where I was swallowed whole by a dark slime.
When I next came to, you were there, Akira.
Sounds like someone's had it rough.
That's curious, though.
Slimes don't eat people.
And I'm even more surprised you escaped being digested.
I'm grateful to that slime. I got to meet Akira because of it.
You can't be serious.
You should go back to your homeland and set things straight.
No way. I have no home to return to anymore.
Talk it out. Your little sister's the one who's got a problem, right?
That's why it'll never work.
I get that being family makes it complicated.
But listen,
family works things out.
I...
have a little sister too.
Here. Your screen's been cracked for ages, right?
Is that why you've been so sleep-deprived?
I didn't ask you to take on extra jobs to buy me this!
God, this sucks!
What kind of awful brother makes his sister cry?
Mom.
Should you be up?
Sure!
Come on, Yui. You must see that Akira only did this out of love.
Right?
I know. That's why it pisses me off.
Guess I'll let it slide this once.
I think you mean "thank you."
Anyway, families fight. But they're still family at the end of the day.
Yours is in another world, correct?
Do you want to see them, Akira?
I do. I wish I could go home right now and see my mom and sister.
Oh...
But there's something I need to do first.
Back in my world, I was never one to stand out.
Nobody ever really took notice of me.
It makes sense that Conceal Presence is one of my best skills.
But still, one man found me and taught me how to survive in this world.
And those scumbags murdered him.
He'd still be alive if he hadn't gotten involved with me.
A-Aki—
I will not go home until I avenge Commander Saran!
Akira!
Master, could you please control your bloodlust?
My bad.
Now, by Saran, would you happen to mean Saran Mithray?
Even I know that name.
As knight-commanders go, he is quite famous.
Ah, that explains it.
What was that for, Master?
I ruined the mood, so I was trying to lighten things up.
I often played with the strays in my neighborhood this way.
I am no stray cat!
I want to give it a try, Akira!
Not you too, Lady Amelia.
You're so silky smooth!
Let me just say that I wasn't kidding when I said I was a cat lover.
I like cats myself.
Sheesh. Could you please take this seriously?
Should one of us die...
The other also dies, because our souls are linked, right?
Indeed.
On the bright side, we can communicate with our minds no matter how far apart we are.
That's more convenient than cellphones.
I'm envious.
I bet you are.
But I'm the one who formed a pact with Night.
He's my familiar.
I meant I was envious of Night, not you.
You say something?
Nothing at all.
Let's get going.
Night, where does this lead?
I don't know.
Nowadays, only a few demons know how to create and operate magic circles.
I see.
Once I get my revenge, I'll have to visit their realm and get them to make me one.
While I'm there, I'll see the Demon Lord and tell him you did your job.
Why, thank you.
I heard once before...
that pale blue teleportation circles take you where you wish to go.
If multiple people use one, it only responds to one of their wishes.
If what you're saying is true,
we don't know where we'll end up until we're actually there.
I...
I don't care where I go, as long as I'm with you.
Yeah, because you won't go hungry with me around.
Okay, let's go.
In that moment, something crossed my mind.
If I wanted to return to those peaceful days,
would the teleportation circle grant my wish?
But I immediately dismissed the thought.
I couldn't have that wish come true yet.
Wow.
It can't be...
That's the Holy Tree. Which means...
We're in the Forest continent, the land of the elves.
We teleported quite far. But...
It's not the worst outcome.
Why? I didn't want to come back here yet!
Akira!
One move and you're headless.
Akira!
Liam Gladiolus...
I came to investigate that strange glow,
and I find the criminal who abandoned her homeland!
You are no longer a princess. You have no place here anymore.
Go ahead and run like you did—
I hate guys who run their mouth like that. Nobody asked, asshole.
Thank you, Akira.
Nah. Looks like it was too little too late.
We're already surrounded.
I'm amazed you had the gall to come back here.
Kilika...
But you'll pay this time for the sin you committed against me, Child of Blight.
Is that understood, my dear sister?
Uh...
This is one family feud gone too far.
EPISODE 3: THE ASSASSIN PLAYS WITH A CAT
NEXT TIME EPISODE 4: THE ASSASSIN CALLS THE NAME