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Yanagi brazenly announced death threats toward Hana who stopped thinking. Hearing that, Hana frantically turned her head around and opened her mouth before her thoughts were gathered.

"Did you just say…. Killing me?"

"Yes, that's right. Sorry but this is already decided, so there is no point even if you try to resist."

Step by step, Yanagi moved forward, drawing near to Hana. Even if she wanted to step back, she couldn't move her body very well.

"Why, are you doing something like this? Did I, do something that made Yanagi-san resent me?"

As he was asked that question, Yanagi stopped his step.

"Resent? What are you talking about, that's no way the case, right? Rather, I am extremely thankful to you. It's difficult to find someone with a unique skill as good as your Stock, which is perfect for me after all."

"… Perfect for, Yanagi-san?"

"Yes, that's right. Can't be helped, since it would be pitiful if you just die without knowing anything, allow me to tell you a bit about that."

After making such a preface, Yanagi told Hana about his power.

"Just like you, I also possess a unique skill. It was called [Plunderer]. It is a power that can plunder one skill from a person that I killed. This means, I am going to plunder your Stock using this power."

"….!"

Unique skill [Plunderer]. Just by listening to the explanation of the skill, it was clear that the skill was unorthodox, nothing like the normal ones. Moreover, Hana's body was shaken by the declaration of Yanagi who said he was going to plunder a skill from her by using that skill.

Not only that. After hearing Yanagi's words, a certain thought crossed Hana's mind.

"Does that mean, this situation was also something that was intentionally created by you?"

"Correct. From the start, I had made a plan to kill you here today. I wanted to create a situation where only you and I are left behind by using a monster with a strength far beyond the level of this dungeon. By achieving that, I could say that the cause of your death was due to being killed by a monster after all."

"But that's strange! From those words, it’s as if saying that you are the one who called that monster–"

"Wonderful, that was accurate. Since you already know, let me show it to you too."

"Wha-!"

As Yanagi lightly waved his hand, a monster– a Trent suddenly appeared from the space where there should be nothing. It was the same monster as the one she had defeated before.

And in front of Hana who was shocked by the scene, Yanagi laughed with satisfaction.

"Well, that's how. To control a monster, a unique skill called [Tame] was needed, but it originally isn't mine. This is a power I obtained after killing the owner of the skill with my own hand."

"Tame…? Tamer!? Don't tell me!"

From that word, Hana recalled the news that was aired a little while ago. It was news about a suspicious death of someone who possesses a unique skill that could enslave a monster in a dungeon close from here.

"Don't tell me it was the same one that appeared in the news day after day….!"

"Hoo, you know about it? What an honor. Yes, the one who killed that person was also me."

"_-!"

Katagiri was killed in front of her eyes.

Murderous intent was directed toward her.

And she was told that the person before her has killed people in the past.

After all of these, Hana finally realized strongly that this was in fact reality.

"Well, the reason that I exclusively used a monster this time was to see you using the skill and confirm whether it was worth killing you to plunder the skill, though. Because if a student had died in the dungeon exercise, there would have been a high chance this system would be abolished causing the same chance would never come again_But, your skill was definitely worth that much to make me do that. That's why, thank you, Amane Hana."

Yanagi sends a completely unpleasant praise to Hana.

"I guess the introduction was enough. Now, for the finishing touches."

"_This is!"

Suddenly, the sound of the system reverberates in Hana's head.

『You have been chosen as the target by the Plunderer』

『Without the consent of the caster and the target, it will not be removed』

And the one who was set to be Yanagi's target was undoubtedly Hana herself.

"With this, the preparation is completed. Although I have to directly touch the person to choose them as the target of the Plunderer, this condition has been fulfilled when you used Stock earlier. Well now, it's the time to end this."

After declaring his intention, Yanagi slowly walked toward Hana.

If she doesn't escape from here, she would definitely get killed. Thus, Hana hit her trembling legs with all of her might, forcing her legs to run trying to escape.

(_This is!)

There, Hana realized that her movements were many times faster than usual.

(I see, it was because I leveled-up!)

She remembered that she had leveled-up a lot upon defeating the Trent.

Now that she looks back at it, although she was dissatisfied by the fact that she was able to defeat it by borrowing Yanagi's skill as if she was given charity, it was Hana's principle to use everything that could be used. She was the type of person who properly used up all the food ingredients.

At any rate, for now, escaping from this place is my highest priority. That's what Hana thought, but the reality was harsh.

"Do you think I will let you? Capture her, Trent!"

"_-!"

The Trent stretches dozens of branches and ivy towards Hana. At this rate, she will definitely get caught_

No, there is still a last resort!

"_Destructing Sphere!"

With both hands facing the Trent, Hana released a mass of jet-black magic power that swallowed the approaching branches and ivy and also dealt a great deal of damage to the Trent itself.

And Yanagi who was looking at that scene frowned.

"What? All of her MP should have been consumed earlier… No, that’s not it. Did she use the increased MP she got when leveling up?"

(It's my chance, now!)

While Yanagi tried to analyze something, Hana once again tried to escape.

However–

"Where are you planning to go?"

"Wha!"

Yanagi, who was already in front of her before she knew it, gave her a light kick. With that alone, Hana's body was blown away easily, bouncing on the ground several times before stopping.

A pain that she had never felt before assaulted her. However, it wasn't to the extent of making her body unable to move. Then, while feeling the benefits of acquiring status, Hana desperately tried to raise her body.

At that moment, at the corner of her sight, she noticed a display of her HP that was already reduced by half.

(If I received the same kick once again, it would be the end…?)

The moment she realized that, chills ran down her spine causing her body unable to move at all. And Yanagi was looking at that situation with a fearless smile.

"Hou, you could withstand that attack? Looks like your level went up more than I expected. Fumu, since there is an opportunity, let's try this skill right away."

As Yanagi turned his palm up, a huge lump of fire appeared on it, with the quantity of heat enough to burn one's body even if they are at quite a distance.

"Fire magic of the Advanced Magic Lv9 that I plundered from Katagiri. Although I felt this was a bit excessive just for killing her, I’m sure that too, would be fun."

Looks like Yanagi was already convinced that he could kill Hana with that attack. To the point that he no longer looked at Hana and was just absorbed in his own world.

While listening to Yanagi's words, Hana understood while feeling light-headed. That the fact that she will be killed by Yanagi was a definite future and couldn’t be changed.

(_Such a thing, I don't want that…)

However.

Even if her head comprehends it, her heart rejects that kind of fate. Until now, Hana has lived in a safe place far from a life-threatening danger. That's why, there was no way she was prepared for things such as death.

Even so, she still knew a bit about what death was like. Like a revolving lantern, memories from a few years ago floated across Hana's mind.

Hana's father and mother were deemed as missing after the plane that they rode when travelling abroad a few years ago crashed.

At that time, Hana wasn't that young to not understand what actually happened even if she was informed that her parents were just missing because their corpse couldn't be found.

Even so, it doesn't mean she was grown-up enough to suppress her emotions.

Unable to bear the sadness, Hana kept crying for a long time.

And the one who supported such Hana was none other than her brother, Rin, who stayed beside her while holding her hand all the time.

(Aa, I see. Until now, I've always been protected by Onii-chan)

Hana reaffirmed what she had already understood in her heart. That Rin has always been a hero for her.

Probably because of having such thoughts, Hana recalled something that happened a few weeks ago.

‘Onii-chan can just become stronger and then protect me, okay?'

Toward Hana who said that as a joke, Rin declared.

『Aa, leave it to me. If something happens to Hana, call me, and I will definitely save you.』

Hana knew that even after becoming an adventurer, her brother kept struggling without being able to get stronger.

Because even if he put a brave face in front of Hana, she had seen her brother’s painful expression when he was alone.

Surely, Yanagi, who was in front of her, was far superior than Rin. Even if Rin came to her help, they still had no chance of winning.

–Even so, at least at the last time, am I allowed to depend on you?

Toward Hana who was having that kind of thought, Yanagi said.

"Then, let's end this soon–go!"

Along with Yanagi's yell, a huge lump of fire was fired toward Hana. There was no doubt that it has the power to claim Hana's life as she could neither dodge nor stop it.

But because she knew that, she was able to make a decision. Even if it is futile, she wanted to end this while possessing such an expectation at least in the last moment.

Thus, Hana closed her eyes and shouted.

A call that was unlikely to be answered.

With all the power she could muster right now.

"_Save me, Onii-chan!"

A shout that she shouted with all her might echoed in the closed dungeon. However, the only sound that returned to Hana's ears was the sound of the echo.

Naturally, there was no answer to her call.

Yes, that's what she thought–

"__Aa, leave it to me."

_However, in the dark, Hana certainly heard that voice.

(No way…)

Hana slowly opened her eyes. For some reason, the lump of fire that was supposed to assault her was gone.

In exchange, a man stood with his back facing her, holding a dagger dyed in a deep crimson with one hand.

He was the one that Hana wanted to see from the bottom of her heart.

"__Onii-chan!"

When she called his name, he–Amane Rin turned around and nodded with a gentle smile. He slowly approached Hana and put one knee on the ground. The dagger that he previously held was no longer there in his hand.

"This is a healing potion. Drink this for the time being."

"…Un"

As she received the healing potion and drank it, Rin gently put his hand on Hana's head.

"You did your best, Hana. Now, it’s alright, leave everything to me."

"_–Un, un!"

Just by hearing Rin's words miraculously made Hana feel like she was already saved.

However, as she calmly looked at the situation, the arrival of Rin didn't mean they had gained the upper hand. Yanagi, who still holds control of the situation in this place, was watching the exchange between the two with a puzzled expression.

"…. Why are you here? No, rather than that, how could you receive that magic without suffering any damage? Answer me, Amane Rin!"

Rin, who received the question Yanagi threw on his back, calmly stands up and turns around.

"Before that, tell me, did you just try to kill Hana?"

"… That's correct. I am going to kill her and plunder her unique skill. I have that kind of power after all. Are you satisfied with that answer?"

"Aa_I understand it very well."

Completely different from the way he talks to Hana, with a quiet voice that was seemingly devoid of emotions, Rin slowly closes his distance to Yanagi.

"Hou, even though I answered your question, you don't want to answer mine? Well, it doesn't matter. If that's the case, I also have an idea–Rise, Trent!"

"Wha-!"

Looking at that scene, Hana lost her words. The Trent's body that should have been hit by Hana's [Destructing Sphere] earlier was once again restored and risen.

No, when she thinks about it, the level-up announcement certainly didn't reverberate when she attacked the second Trent. Most likely, she couldn't completely defeat it because the [Destruction Sphere] didn't have 100% power like the first one.

"Do it!"

Following Yanagi's instruction, the Trent moves at an unimaginable speed from its giant body and approaches Rin.

Then, with its arm that was like a huge club made of entwined branches and ivy, the Trent attacked Rin.

"It’s dangerous, Onii-chan!"

Hana promptly shouted.

She didn't know how Rin defended against the fire magic earlier.

–But, given the level of Rin that she heard a while ago, it should be impossible for Rin to withstand the Trent's attack.

For that reason, regret arose in Hana's heart for a moment. Rin came here because she asked him to save her as the last hope. But, in the end, wasn't she just putting her brother's life in danger too?

However, at the next moment, an incredible sight entered Hana's eyes.

Rin glanced at the Trent that attacking him and said,

"You are in the way."

Along with a voice that could freeze everything, Rin punched the Trent head-on. His fist easily pulverized the Trent's arm and immediately pierced the center of its body. Unable to withstand the impact, the Trent burst into fragments.

"… Eh?"

"What?"

It was a scene that everyone in this place except Rin had never expected to happen. And in front of that, Hana and Yanagi revealed their shock.

On the other hand, Rin doesn't rejoice. Still with a very natural expression, he turned his gaze on Yanagi and quietly said.

"Yanagi–I'll definitely kill you right here now."

With a pair of deep black eyes that was very deep as if in darkness.