Izaru was back at the inn. He sat on the bed, elbows on his knees, gauntlets resting on the floor beside him.
But he wasn't alone this time. There was a literal demon there.
Liora.
"Hey. Are you mad?" she asked, nudging him with her elbow like they were childhood friends and not mortal enemies from two days ago.
"What do you think?" Izaru said, smiling a murderous smile, veins popping on his temple.
"I think you are. Is it because of me?"
"Oh, is it? You're a troublemaker, you know that?"
"I was trying to make it fun. It was boring."
"And by fun, you mean making Lily mad at me! Now who knows if she's gonna let me get quests."
"Can't you just kill monsters and sell the parts to a blacksmith?"
"But I need to be an adventurer."
"Why?"
"Because I want to," Izaru said, dead serious.
"…Are you for real?"
Izaru looked at her, unblinking. His face was stone. His tone was absolute. "Yes."
Liora flopped back on the bed with a groan, arms spread wide. "Unbelievable. Out of all the things you could want, you choose paperwork, rules, and having to report to angry elf girls with clipboards."
"Better than wandering around like a stray dog," Izaru shot back.
"Excuse me, I am not a stray dog. I'm a dignified demon assassin who—" She paused, then smirked. "Okay, fine. I totally botched my job, but still."
"You surrendered before I even punched you," he said flatly.
"I call that strategic foresight," she countered, wagging a finger. "I knew you'd win. Why waste the energy?"
Izaru leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "You're ridiculous."
"And you're boring."
The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable, though. Liora kicked her boots off and stretched out, staring at the ceiling beams. Izaru stayed hunched, staring at the floorboards.
Finally, she turned her head toward him. "So what now? You keep punching things until the Demon King sends more people after you?"
"Yes."
"…That's it? That's the whole plan?"
Izaru shrugged. "It's simple. Punch everything in the face."
"You're insane."
"I've heard that before."
Liora laughed softly, but then her expression shifted into something more thoughtful. "You know, the Demon King doesn't usually send assassins personally. If he did… it means you rattled him. That's rare."
Izaru's smile returned, sharper than a blade. "Good."
"Good?!" she sat up, pointing at him. "You're not supposed to want the scariest thing in the world coming after you!"
"I told you. I want to."
"…You're insane squared."
Izaru leaned back on his elbows, staring at the ceiling now too. His voice dropped, calmer. "When I fight, I feel alive. The stronger the enemy, the clearer my head gets. The guild is just a way to find stronger enemies without wandering blind."
"…So that's why you care so much about being an adventurer," Liora murmured. She studied him for a moment, then grinned. "Alright then. If that's the case, I'll stick around. Somebody has to make sure you don't get yourself killed."
"You're weak," he reminded her.
"I'm crafty," she corrected with a wink. "And unlike you, I know how to actually talk to people. Which, by the way, is why Lily tolerated your nonsense today. You're welcome."
Izaru didn't answer. He just lay there, staring at the ceiling.
Liora tilted her head. "…Are you planning on going back to the guild tomorrow?"
"Yes."
"They'll throw us both out."
"Then I'll come back again."
"…You're hopeless," she sighed, flopping back onto the bed.
Izaru's lips twitched. Not quite a smile, but close. "Get some sleep. Tomorrow, we work."
Liora snorted. "We? You mean you punch things while I make sarcastic comments."
"Same thing," Izaru said, closing his eyes.
The room grew quiet, the lamplight flickering against the wooden walls. Liora rolled onto her side, watching him. For someone so reckless, he slept like a man with no doubts. No hesitation.
She muttered under her breath, "What kind of idiot picks a fight with the world just because he wants to?"
Then she smiled to herself.
"…Guess I picked the right idiot to follow."
Right then, Izaru shot back and sat straight. "Wait. We have only one bed here."
"So what?" Liora said, sprawled on the bed.
"We can't sleep on the same bed."
"We can. Or, we have to. Because there's no other room. I asked the inn owner. She said there's only one room and it's this one."
"Which one of us is sleeping on the floor today?"
"No one. Sleep here or I'll murder you in your sleep."
"You better not try anything funny, okay?"
"Okay!"(Don't you believe the little girl? No? Good. You shouldn't.)