To Be a Power in the Shadows!

Until he saw that beautiful flash, Rose was ready to die. My father's death would be in vain if I were captured and used myself. That's all, I could never forgive.

Death was horrible.

But that was the only way to cut through. I was born a princess, and I said selfishly. It's just, still, Rose's supposed princess duties have been fulfilled.

So this is my last duty.

That's what I was ready for.

"Oh, you..."

But the moment I saw the beautiful sword of the young man, who appeared to wipe everything out, the thought of childhood came back to Rose's heart.

"The time for falsehood is over..."

And Jimina peeled her hands on her face.

The venue turned.

A familiar mask appeared beneath Jimina's peeled face.

And the black liquid draws a spiral and envelops him.

After the spiral concentrated, it was the man wearing the long coat of pitch black who showed up there.

"Shadow......"

Someone shrugged.

But for Rose, he's not a shadow.

He inspired Rose to walk the swordsman's path, a beautiful sword-wielding longing.

"Shadow, are you... Mr. Slayer?

Rose's memory of her childhood came back to life in the back of her brain.

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Once, only once, Rose was kidnapped.

Rose was sneaking out of her place of stay and playing when she visited the Kingdom of Midgal on her father's official business. As I was playing with the civilian children, my sight darkened.

The next moment, Rose lost her mind.

Rose was being held in a dim cabin when she noticed.

My hands and feet are tied with rough rope and my mouth is stuffed with monkeys.

There was no trauma, but I couldn't stop trembling because of more fear and anxiety than that.

"I didn't know you were the princess of the kingdom of Oriana if you thought you had a good kid!

The bandits are talking in the next room.

Probably been checked for possessions. Rose's identity had been found out.

"Boulder Parenthood! You're twisted!

"Stupid bastard, this is what he's capable of!!

Nasty laughter sounds.

Rose saw herself and despaired. Bandits have two choices. Negotiate Rose with the Oriana Nation as a hostage, or sell Rose to someone who knows her worth.

I'm sure they'll sell. The value of Rose's use is high, but it cannot be handled by bandits.

You should sell it and get the money safe. And Rose is used by the enemies of the Kingdom of Oriana......

To that fact, Rose feared.

Turn around and take the rope wherever you want.

Shout out to the monkeys.

But her resistance was only in vain.

"Whoa, it looks like the princess is awake."

"Hey, check it out"

And the footsteps approach.

Rose's scream turned into a scream, and her tears dropped zero.

The cabin door tried to open, at that moment.

"Hyah!! Give me some money!!

Out of place, the kid's voice sounded.

"Hey, what's this kid!

"Somebody showed up! Kill him!!"

"Whoa, whoa!!

Sounds like something cuts the wind.

And there was a scream.

"Hey, what's this kid! You're strong!?

"Stupid! Three in a flash!?

"You are the practice bench of the Stylish Sword."

The sound of cutting the wind again.

A thick blood odor arrived in Rose's nose. Rose is terrified, peeking through the gap in the door.

There, there was a kid in a Zuda bag and a runaway bandit.

"The guy who runs is a bandit! The one who doesn't run is a trained bandit!!

"Hi-ha, no, no!

"Ya, stop!!

A child in a Zuda bag waved his sword.

"- Huh!?

The beauty of that trajectory blinded Rose, forgetting the situation. Rose is not sure about the sword.

But this sword... was more beautiful than any art Rose has ever seen or heard.

The sword vividly mowed the bandit's neck and the scream broke off.

Rose just stared blindly at the child in the Zuda bag.

"I traveled all the way out here, but it's not a rich pattern? Hmm? You're still here."

The child in the Zuda bag noticed Rose's gaze and opened the cabin door.

The light plunges into the cabin, and the eyes of the child in the rose and the Zuta bag meet.

"You're a child who's been grabbed. That was a disaster."

A child in a Zuda bag waved his sword. The sword muscle was also just beautiful and attracted Rose's eyes.

"Be careful on your way home, bye bye"

The child in the Zuda bag leaves with Stasta.

When I realized, Rose's restraint had been cut off.

"Ma, wait!

Rose desperately called it off.

"What?"

The child in the Zuda bag stops and looks back.

"Oh, who the hell are you?

"Me? I am, I'm still in training... a passing stylish bandit slayer"

"Mr. Stylish Bandit Slayer... you know, Rose wants to thank you for something"

"Mmm. Then I'm glad you won't tell anyone about me."

"Ugh, yeah, okay"

"Well, I asked for it."

That said, Stylish Bandit Slayer disappeared.

"Mr. Stylish Bandit Slayer......"

He helped the desperate Rose and changed its fate. She admired the beautiful sword and the way it was, and from that day on she went down the path of the sword.

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

That's an important, childhood memory. I never told anyone, just Rose's secret.

But at this moment, Rose speaks secrets for the first time.

"Shadow... you were Mr. Stylish Bandit Slayer"

Shadow did not answer.

But silence was the answer for Rose.

He's been fighting evil ever since he was just a young boy. Like the day I helped Rose, I was helping someone unwittingly.

Shadow's words come back to Rose's brain. Strength is not power, but the way it is... yes, the way Shadow was.

Rose embarrassed herself for trying to choose death cheaply.

Still, she could have fought. But it was hard to live, afraid of failing, and I wanted it all to end.

Death was an escape.

Rose can still fight.

Because she admired his beautiful sword and the way it was.

"Your battle is not over yet..."

Shadow poked a pitch-black knife.

It puts a stab hole in the walls of the venue.

"Back and forth..."

"Yes!"

Rose jumped into the hole without getting lost picking up the fine sword. She still has things to do.

"Ma, wait!!

"I won't let you go..."

And then Shadow got stuck in front of the hole.