The triumphant shouts of the crowd welled up around us. Darkness, wounds and all, lowered herself to one knee at the spot where the Dullahan’s body had stood, her eyes closed as if in prayer. Megumin called out to her hesitantly: “Darkness, what are you doing?” She answered without opening her eyes, as if talking to herself.

“I’m praying. Dullahans are former Knights, driven to undeath by their rage when they are unjustly executed. | doubt he wanted to become a monster. | know we were enemies, but he deserves a prayer, at least...”

“| see...,” Murmured Megumin, but Darkness went on: “There was Sedol, who spread ridiculous rumors that | was over-muscled under this armor, because he was angry that I’d beaten him at arm wrestling. Haines, who used to mock me on hot days: Hey, Darkness, why don’t you fan me with that huge sword of yours? Don’t worry—I’m not afraid you'll hit me or anything! Garil, who demanded to know why | would throw myself into a horde of monsters when l’d been in his party just one day. The Dullahan killed all of them. When | think about it, they were a bunch of good-for-nothings. But I...1 can’t quite bring myself to hate them.”

“Um, I—l see,” Megumin said. “T-tell you what. I’Il listen to the whole story at the Guild Hall. Shall we go back?” Darkness didn’t seem to hear Megumin’s hurried attempt to change the subject. Eyes still closed, she murmured gently: “| wish | could see them again... | wish we could share just one drink together...”

“\WNW-wow ...”

From behind her came a chorus of confused voices. Darkness started. Standing there were three embarrassed-looking men.

The three who Beldia had cut down. Finally, one of them said apologetically: “H-hey, I...l’m sorry. For a lot of stuff. We didn’t know you felt...that way...”

“Y-yeah. I’m sorry, too. | shouldn’ta spread those rumors about you over a little arm-wrestling contest. Tell you what—next round’s on me.”

“|...1 didn’t know you were embarrassed about not being able to hit anything. I’m sorry, three.”

Darkness was still kneeling in prayer, her eyes closed, but as the men apologized one after another, her cheeks grew redder and redder.

And here came Aqua to spoil the moment.

“How do you like that, Darkness? When you’re as powerful as | am, a little death isn’t enough to stop you! Aren’t you happy? Now you can have a drink with your friends!”

| didn’t suppose she had any sense she’d done anything wrong.

Darkness, however, realizing the men had heard everything she’d just said, sat down, covered her blushing face with both hands, and began to cry.

“Hey, hey,” | said as brightly as | could. “This is great, right? C’mon, go get a drink!”

Darkness muttered through her hands: “...Please kill me...”

“Aww, C’mon,” | said. “You love it when people humiliate you! Hey, enjoy it—| could keep this up for days!”

|”

Shoulders shaking, she groaned, “This is not the sort of humiliation | prefer