The next morning.

Good morning. Ohayashama ......

　Angel, who had been sleeping soundly all night without waking up from the mess of the night with a magical effect, showed me his usual lovely face as he woke up.

Good morning Angel. Come on, wash your face. Let's make today a beautiful day.
Whew!

　Angel smiling with sleepy eyes.
　Immediately after sending her out of the room, a black shadow descends from the ceiling, as if to take her place.

　I'm not sure if it was that kind of technique that made it look like a black shadow until a second after it landed, or something else.

　It was Dorothy.

"Good morning, Dorothy. How did you sleep last night?
It was a good night's sleep.
"Yeah, that's good. Where did you sleep, by the way?　I tried to get Amelia to get a room for me, but she was gone before I knew it.
"The Ceiling
"Crawl space?

　Dorothy gave a small nod.
　Maybe it's energy-saving, but her voice is usually quiet and flat, and these gestures are quiet.

"Here in the ceiling.

　I nodded my head as Dorothy stammeringly replied, "There was a ceiling in this house?

There's an attic in this house?　It's supposed to be a pretty lean design.
There it is. . secluded, narrow, and gloomy.
"Oh my God.
"Very comfortable
"Oh, so you're comfortable with that.
"Attic of the Year

　That was very "like" her.

　Even now she is quiet and doesn't answer much unless she is asked.
　I don't know if she was born that way or if she was raised that way.

　I just happened to "see" her.

　A divine ability, one of divine magic.

　I saw the current rank of that person's soul.
　Not like the glasses I made before, not the past, but the ranks now.

　It's to see what happens if you die now and do the final judgment, like the angel did last night.

　The result was ...... a sad one.
　The soul was black, or dark.

　Perhaps because she had been an assassin - a killer for so long - Dorothy's soul was low in rank, black and dark.
　That's why I don't like to think of it as a place of gloom and darkness.

"I'm going out today, what about you, Dorothy?
"......

　Dorothy fidgeted and hesitated, but kept her mouth shut.

What's the matter with you?
I want to follow you. I have to return the favor.
"I see.

　I think they've decided to reward me now.

　And that's very good.
　I wouldn't let him do what Carthy did, and I know how stubborn Dorothy was when she said "repayment," so that's a good thing.
　Even now, I can lead her to do a good deed.

　It's a good .......

"Is there something about wanting to follow you that makes you unable to come?
"Outside, nice weather.
Like.

　I looked out the window.

　Even though it was early in the morning, the morning sun was shining through, signaling a clearer day.

"The light is taboo.
"As an assassin?

　Dorothy nodded quietly.

"If you're going to the gloomy place, I'll follow you.
"Hmmm.

　I thought.
　What's going on.

　Knock knock.

"--!

　As soon as there is a knock on the door, Dorothy jolted and shuffled!　And disappeared into the ceiling.
　He was gone in the blink of an eye, and I would have missed it if it weren't for the amazing gesture.

"Mr. Alec, your meal is ready for you.

　From outside the room, Amelia announced, "Thank you, I'll be right there.

Thank you, I'll be right there.
"I'll get right to it.

　Amelia's footsteps gradually faded away.
　When they were barely audible, Dorothy came down again with a start.
　There's a race of ninjas in the East, and they act just like the ones I've heard about from the wise men's sword.

Breakfast?


That's right.
"So ......
What's going on?
"I can't get to the dining room from the attic.
"I see.
"I have to repay the favor, but this mansion is hard to find ......
"Hmmm.

　I thought.

"Do you want to keep following me?

　Dorothy nodded quietly.

I see. ...... So I'll be back in a minute.

　Touch the sword of the wise man and seek knowledge.
　The ninja I remembered, and what the ninja and Dorothy had in common, must be fused together.
　I sought knowledge from the sword of the wise man, a tool that could do it.

Will you wait long enough?
Okay.

　Dorothy said and then disappeared again with a whimper into the ceiling.
　It was a tremendous gesture, after all.

　　　　　.

　Enough to prepare.
　When I returned to the bedroom, Dorothy appeared again.

"I'm home!
"......
"Yes, this

　I held out the dagger to Dorothy.
　A dagger made with scales, claws, and a bit of blood from Calamity, the guardian dragon of the empire who lived in the house.

What's this?
It's like you don't have a replacement for your previous weapon.
...... okay?
It's good to have. Besides, you can follow me with this, right?
?"?

　Dorothy accepts the dagger with a look on her face, saying she doesn't understand what it means.

Briefly, if you cut someone's shadow with the dagger, you have the ability to hide in their shadow.
"A shadow?
"Yeah, try it.

　And then prompted Dorothy.

　I meant my shadow in the morning sun, but she slashed her own shadow.
　Immediately afterward, Dorothy's body was sucked into her own shadow.
　Well, it doesn't matter if it's your shadow.

　A moment later, Dorothy came out.

"How did it go?
"It was gloomy, dark and narrow.
That's right.
"The Best Place

　I wondered about it and chuckled.

"It was like riding in a carriage. Maybe.
Yes, you can move with the person. Now step into my shadow.
Okay.

　Dorothy did as she was told and was sucked into it, this time slashing my shadow.

　I moved, partly to test it.
　I left the room and went down the hallway and into the bathroom.

　Then Dorothy reappeared.

"Yeah, this is what it feels like. So now you can keep up with me, right? Even without the attic.
"......
What's going on?

　Dorothy looked very confused for some reason.

"Your shadow, it's uncomfortable.
"Huh?
"Bright, wide and somehow divine.
"Godly
"No fish can live in clean water.
"You know the hard word,

　But divine, or .
　Her's was dark and gloomy, so I wonder if it's the soul difference ......?
　I thought I should do something for you.

But I'm all alone.

　Dorothy carefully held the dagger I had given her.

Here, I'll go with you.
Yeah, follow me.

　Dorothy nodded and cut my shadow again.

　She crawled into the uncomfortable shadow, but with a heartlessly happy face.