Would the tournament really go smoothly? Yeah, right—of course not!

With a troublesome presence around, how could it possibly?

“Release the master now! Or I’ll kill her!”

A blade pressed against Amy’s neck, its edge already leaving faint crimson traces on her skin. The woman behind her locked eyes with Nefu ahead, a flicker of madness burning in her gaze.

“Miss Nefu, I—”

Amy was visibly terrified, her pleading eyes fixed on Nefu as if she were her only hope. But…

A faint smile curved Nefu’s otherwise expressionless face. She swept her gaze over the crowd—and Amy—then flashed her a gentle smile… before swinging the short dagger in her hand.

Let’s rewind a few hours.

*Thud…* A stone tumbled down the slope. Nefu’s petite figure appeared at the summit. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight below—a rare flicker of astonishment on her face.

As a monster born in the forest, this labyrinth was her first encounter with such terrain: thick stone walls, barren yellow earth. *I wonder what the monsters living here are like?*

“Miss Nefu… wait for me…”

Heavy panting came from behind. Amy leaned on a wooden staff, face pale, breath ragged, struggling to keep up. After witnessing yesterday’s explosion, Nefu had insisted on traveling through the night. They reached the passage to the 30th floor by dawn—but Amy was utterly spent.

Ignoring her plea, Nefu stood and walked down the path.

“This little one really is heartless…” Amy muttered, wiping sweat with a pained expression.

“What did you say?” Nefu turned.

“N-nothing! Let’s go.”

The path to the 30th floor was surprisingly smooth. Soon, they arrived.

“Miss Nefu, what are you doing?” Amy, about to prep her tools and potions, looked up—Nefu had already reached the labyrinth wall.

Again ignoring her, Nefu placed a small hand on the stone, feeling carefully. A hint of seriousness crossed her face. *Thicker than I thought. Breaking through would take real effort.*

“Miss Nefu, aren’t we moving? I have the 30th-floor map.”

“You have a map?!”

Nefu turned—truly looking at Amy for the first time. *Convenient.* But…

“Of course! Though there’s a condition— Wait, Miss Nefu?!” Amy said proudly, only to find Nefu already far ahead.

*When did I not notice how stubborn this kid is?* Amy scratched her head. “Miss Nefu, wait!”

True—the 30th floor was nothing like the 20th. The moment Nefu stepped in, fascination lit her eyes.

Licking her lips, she let a trace of her aura slip—testing the local monsters.

Instead of fleeing, several crept closer, eager to challenge her.

*How interesting.* Excitement sparked in her gaze.

“Miss Nefu, this way!” Amy waved from behind. Nefu stubbornly ignored her. *I’m here to hunt the Minotaur—not cross this floor.*

Then—a hot breath brushed her back. *Amy again?* But Amy’s voice trembled from far behind:

“M-Miss Nefu… b-behind you… i-it’s…”

Her voice shook like she’d seen pure horror.

Wrong! Nefu spun. A towering figure blocked the light.

Clutching a massive axe, sparse bristles covering its body—humanoid, yet crowned with a colossal bull’s head!

The Minotaur. Finally.

Sensing the monstrous aura came from the petite girl, it hesitated.

Nefu seized the moment—retreated swiftly.

Flames gathered in her palm. She hurled a fireball without mercy.

The Minotaur didn’t dodge. Sparks flew. A charred mark bloomed on its chest.

Seeing her strike first, it charged.

*Magic’s useless. Close combat it is.* Bulky though it was, the whistling axe revealed openings.

Her dagger tapped joints, tendons—

The Minotaur crashed down. Before it rose, Nefu’s blade rested on its neck.

The terror of low-level adventurers… felled in seconds.

*Not scary at all. What was Amy afraid of?*

Just as she raised the dagger—

“Don’t move. Or she dies too.”

Nefu looked up. Amy stood frozen, a robed figure’s knife at her throat. Over a dozen more robed figures loomed behind.

“I’m sorry, Miss Nefu,” Amy said with an apologetic smile. “They’re cultists who worship monsters. That Minotaur… it’s vital to them.”

*Ah. So that’s it.*

…

Back to the present.

Nefu smiled faintly at Amy—and swung her dagger without hesitation.

*Squelch.*

Blade met flesh. Blood sprayed. With practiced ease, she severed the bull’s head, seized the horns, and vanished in a flash—leaving Amy’s fate utterly ignored.

Amy stood frozen, mouth slightly agape, utterly bewildered. *Wait… she just sold me out like that?! Seriously doesn’t care if I live or die?!*

“Damn it!” The robed woman hadn’t expected Nefu to sacrifice her companion.

But she didn’t strike Amy. Instead, she turned to her followers:

“Take this woman away.”

“Yes!”

As the robed woman’s face twisted with malice, plotting Amy’s cruel end—a violent explosion erupted behind her.

“What’s happening?!”

“C-chief… th-that woman…”