At the End of Revenge, There You Are ~The Scum Who Killed My Beloved, Prepare Yourselves! I Will Drag You All to Hell... Wait, What? Why Are the Heroine and the Demoness Coming After Me, a Woman!?(GL) - Chapter 12

When I came to, I was inside the dungeon.

The stone staircase nearby told me where I was— A safe zone just after entering the middle layers.

I had to hurry back to the lower layers.

I glanced down at myself—And froze.

What the hell am I wearing?!

A black outfit, from head to toe.

It was like I had been dressed to match the demon.

I didn’t have time to care about my outfit, but still—

The deep neckline left me feeling exposed.

The long coat was stylish, but beneath it, my bare legs were visible, making me uncomfortably aware of the chill.

It wasn’t indecent, but…

This was definitely not my usual gear.

I shook my head.

It doesn’t matter right now.

I have to go.

I kicked off the ground, sprinting forward with everything I had.

Treants and plant-type monsters blocked my way—

But I cut them down effortlessly.

One slash.

No resistance.

It was almost too easy.

Is this… the demon’s power?

I didn’t have time to dwell on it.

I had to get there before Yuzuha was killed.

□ A Demon’s True Intent

The demon woman had killed Yuzuha in the past,

But now—

She had brought me back to stop it.

It didn’t make sense.

Why?

What was she really after?

I didn’t know.

But I didn’t care.

If using the demon’s power was the only way to save Yuzuha—

Then I would do it.

Even if it meant making a deal with a devil.

This time, I would—Meet her.

Save her.

And tell her— That I loved her.

I had quit the guild.

I had thrown everything away.

But— What exactly am I now…?

No.

That didn’t matter.

I clenched my fists.

I had to get there in time.

“…How sweet. But you better hurry, dear.”

Of course I would!

□ A Familiar Encounter

I saw the staircase leading to the lower layers.

And—

Voices.

“Seriously, what the hell just happened?”

“I told you already. Sometimes a ‘hidden room’ spawns a demon. When that happens, we immediately retreat. If we do, we don’t die. I’ve experienced it firsthand—so stop whining.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever, Ryuya. Still, what a waste.”

“Damn, man. Watching her writhe in despair while we had our fun would’ve been perfect.”

“Right? I was just about to rip off those annoying tits.”

“Sh1t, that’s messed up.”

I stopped in my tracks.

It’s them.

The bastards from Yuzuha’s party.

They were still joking about it.

Like it was nothing.

Like Yuzuha’s suffering was just entertainment.

My bl00d boiled.

But— The demon’s voice echoed in my head.

“No time for revenge. Pull your hood down. Intimidate them.”

I wanted to slaughter them right here.

But I held back.

I lowered my hood, masking my face in shadow.

“W-what the hell?”

“No way… is that a demon?!”

“Why is it outside the hidden room?!”

The thin one—Ryuya— was visibly shaken.

But I ignored them.

I ran past them and descended the stairs.

At the bottom, the last traces of the dark light were fading away.

Without hesitation, I jumped in.

A voice greeted me.

“Another guest? My, it’s a busy day.”

When my vision adjusted—I saw her.

Yuzuha, collapsed on the ground.

The demon woman—standing above her.

I gripped the sword in my hands— A weapon I hadn’t even realized I was carrying.

The demon tilted her head, watching me with amused curiosity.

“Oh? You have quite the fierce magic now… Have you come to save that girl?”

She didn’t attack immediately.

That alone was strange.

“Your reaction tells me I’m right. Very well… Let’s see if you’re worthy.”

The demon raised her hand.

Dark energy gathered, forming a black sphere.

“Real Darkness.”

The spell launched forward— A blindingly fast projectile of pure destruction.

I felt it—

A ridiculous amount of mana packed inside.

I had to dodge.

Sh1t! I won’t— “Don’t evade.”

What?!

I hesitated— And that split second was too late.

The attack hit me head-on.

Because I reacted to the voice of the future demon, I missed the timing to dodge, and the sphere struck me directly.

“Oh? Was that just my imagination?”

The demon observed the scene with a puzzled expression… Wait, what?

Why am I completely unharmed?

“Because of the contract,” a voice responded.

“I see… So that’s how it is. I understand now… This girl really is Yuzuha… Hmm, but my memory is hazy.”

The demon then started muttering to herself.

If I didn’t mishear just now, she called out Yuzuha’s name, didn’t she?

What does that mean?

“Akari… that’s your name, right? Lend me your body for a moment. Don’t worry, be a good girl.”

My consciousness didn’t fade… Instead, I felt the same floating sensation as when I first arrived here.

“The past me. I am the future me. The premonition I had was correct, and there’s no longer a need to kill that child.”

“The future me, huh? And I am the past me. I see, I understand now. But… is that child really Yuzuha? Then, who is she?”

Before my eyes, a conversation unfolded between the past and future versions of the demon. Though they spoke of past and future, the difference between them could only be a few days at most…

Both of them were dressed in sleek, jet-black, daring gowns. If I were a man, I wouldn’t know where to look.

But more importantly, why am I just standing here watching all of this?

Just as I had that thought, I was suddenly pulled back into my body.

“Introduce yourself. I know who you are, but it’s better if you say it yourself.”

Both the past and future versions of the demon spoke the exact same words.

If only one of them spoke, it would be much easier to follow…

“I am Akari Shinomiya. And that girl… Yuzuha Hanashiro is my best friend.”

“Best friend?”

“Yes.”

“I see… Now I remember. No wonder something felt off. You’re the girl who used to come over to our house sometimes, aren’t you?”

“…Huh?”

House? I’ve never been to a demon’s house before…???

“Oh, um… Give me a moment. I should be able to explain soon. Just a little longer… Hmm…”

“Let me tell you this first—I was just born as a demon at this very moment. One moment, I was here, and the next, I had a strong urge in my head telling me to kill humans.”

“What…?”

Then why haven’t I or Yuzuha been killed?

“I’ll explain. I am a rather… no, a very high-ranking demon. That much I understand about myself. The dungeon is telling me to kill humans, but I can resist it. I have free will.”

“…Wait, the dungeon itself tells you to kill humans?”

That’s not something I wanted to know. But even if I told someone, no one would believe me.

Stop. I didn’t come here to learn any of this.

I just came to save Yuzuha.

I don’t need unnecessary information.

“That won’t do. There’s something I need you to do.”

“…?”

Is she saying I need to kill humans… as an agent of the dungeon?

That’s impossible…

“Oh, don’t worry. I’m not telling you to go on a senseless killing spree.”

The past demon interjected.

Apparently, she could hear everything the future demon was saying.

So, does that mean only specific people are being targeted?

“Then… what exactly do you mean?”

“It’s simple. You should understand… because you feel the same way, don’t you?”

The same way?

I want to beat the hell out of those bastards who hurt Yuzuha…

Is that what she means?

If that’s what she’s referring to, then I understand—at least, half of it.

The part I don’t understand is…

Why is she holding me so close while saying all this…?