My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's (暗殺者である俺のステータスが勇者よりも明らかに強いのだが)

Akira, what can we do to help?

Nothing.

Think long and hard about what you all want to do.

He's not going to come with us unless we can prove ourselves to him.

That'll be tough.

Say, I heard about something at the guild.

Uh... there's a festival going on in a nearby town right now.

A festival?

Yeah. And a beauty pageant is part of it.

But every year, the winner goes missing.

What's that mean?

The rumors say they're being trafficked on the black market.

Multiple adventurers said the same thing, so I think we can trust that info.

If we can capture whoever is responsible...

It might prove our usefulness to Oda-kun!

If nothing else, he won't see us as dead weight.

I think it's worth a shot.

Okay, time to do this!

A festival?

Yeah.

In Mali, a town not far from here.

The girls wanted to go, so we figured we'd invite Princess Amelia.

Will there be food stalls?

A ton of them, in fact.

I'm in!

There'll be a beauty pageant too. Will you enter with us?

If you win, you get a super grand prize!

I'm in!

Wow.

What a crowd!

The beauty pageant prize has got to be food!

Quite likely given we're in beastfolk land, which is bountiful in victuals.

I need to hurry up and enter!

She's really getting into the festival.

This is racism, I say!

That's so mean!

Please understand.

Is there a problem?

It's racist to ban demons from the beauty pageant!

Don't you agree with me, man?

Huh? You're a demon?

Sure am.

Th-That's...

I'm Latticenail. Call me Latty!

R-Right.

Is she really a demon?

She's not oozing power or anything.

Hey, talk to them for me, will ya? I wanna take part in the pageant.

We ask aspiring entrants to provide some kind of identification.

Huh?

Y-You're Princess Amelia of the elves?!

Will that do?

Of course! I'll take your entry!

You're doting on another girl.

I am not.

Whoops, sorry 'bout that.

How come humans, beastfolk, and elves can all enter, but not demons?!

I'm terribly sorry.

Elves are bigger cheaters if you ask me. They're all so pretty.

What do you expect me to do about it?

This makes no sense!

Please forgive us...

Apologize all you want, I'm not taking no for an answer!

- Please... - You sure?

I don't have anything against her. Just you doting on other girls.

But I didn't.

Let her enter. I'll subdue her if she starts any funny business.

What?

That's my man!

I can allow it if the princess's party agrees to take responsibility.

We have a deal!

Wait, it's you...

Black Cat?

I-It's been a while, Lady Latticenail.

I go by "Night" now.

Ah, made a pact, did you?

Nice to meet you anew, then.

Nice to meet you...

You know her?

I guess you are both demons.

Master... I'll explain later.

Hey, hey! We've got time before the pageant begins.

Let's go check out the festival!

Agreed!

You two sure got on the same page quick.

I'm Latty, and I'm entering the beauty pageant!

So everyone,

vote for me, okay?!

I'm counting on you.

Hold still for a sec.

LATTY

My autograph! It's in the Hero of Legend's language.

Cool, right?

R-Right.

Okay, gather around, everyone!

The line starts here!

I'm shaking hands and giving autographs!

I think I'll get in line too.

A meet and greet? Just who is that demon?

Lady Latticenail is a little... No, she's very unique.

Demon or not, she doesn't seem nasty to me.

You're pretty unique yourself.

Is that who I think it is?

Yeah, totally!

The Silent Assassin!

Squee! He looked our way!

Huh? Were they talking about me?

You're famous.

Wha?

When you slew those monsters with your dark magic

and restored peace to a town engulfed in chaos,

you had many an eye on you.

Yeah, I guess I did go a little wild for an assassin.

That's what makes you so fascinating, Master.

Eyewitnesses are calling you the Silent Assassin, and it's only spreading.

But why?

I forgot I had something from the Adventurer's Guild to give you.

In light of your accomplishment,

you've been promoted to yellow rank as a special reward.

That's good to have, since it doubles as identification.

I'm silver rank myself.

Higher than yellow, I take it?

Yep!

Kilika holds gold rank, which only three other people in the world have.

She was pretty strong.

Akira, we're all yellow rank as well.

Feel free to come to us if you need to know how to make a living as an adventurer.

Sure.

Amelia! They've got an unusual dish over here!

I wanna try it!

There's a lottery, Asahina! Use Intuition to bag us the win!

That is not what my skill is for.

Then let's try to win the normal way.

Night, go with Amelia.

Take out anyone who tries to chat her up.

As you wish.

When did they get so friendly?

The trip here took two days. That's plenty of time to get to know one another.

You think? I still don't know why you came with us.

You don't seem the type to care about festivities.

Did you know that I had a little sister?

I heard from Amelia and Night.

My sister's wishes aren't the only reason I haven't exacted my revenge.

I've simply grown too old.

You don't look it.

Beastfolk age in a way that doesn't show.

I've already lost a lot of my power.

The man who killed my sister has strong mercenaries guarding him at all times.

Killing him won't be easy.

That's what we're up against with Gram Cluster.

A royal in Uruk, the biggest nation on the beastfolk continent, is named Gram.

Why do you think Princess Amelia was targeted as soon as you entered the country?

You don't mean...

Gram sold the demons the intel.

He has the power and influence to check passenger lists anytime he pleases.

You're certain of this?

I verified it while you were out cold.

Also, you should know that I was the one who made Lia's staff.

What does that have to do with anything?

The magic crystal in her staff resonated with one I have.

That's how I knew you were in danger.

I'm grateful you saved our lives, but why bring that up now?

Because I came along with you guys to talk about exactly this.

I saved you so you would owe me a favor.

I have a job request for the assassin Akira Oda.

I understand you can't give me a response immediately.

So I'll ask as many times as it takes.

Crow.

We should arrange for an inn soon.

Right.

Mention my name when you get to the pageant venue.

It will get you comfortable seats to watch the show.

You sure do get around, Crow.

So everyone owes you a favor, huh?

That's how it goes when you've lived as long as I have.

This year's beauty pageant is heating up!

Next up is contestant number 289,

Yuki Ueno!