I couldn’t say anything.

“Hm, you seem out of it,” she said. “Good grief, aren’t you something? I forced myself to wake up because you told me to, and yet...”

The way she spoke almost made the mystique she had disappear, but her words made me think of something.

“Are you my...” I began. ...Embryo?

“Of course,” she said. “Well then, Master, that damn centipede is still in good health. To cheer things up in celebration of my birthday, what do you say we finish it off in style?”

“How?” I burst out.

Before I could even finish asking this, the girl had disappeared. She lost her human form and turned into a swarm of black, shining lights that enveloped my right arm, and then transformed into a black greatsword. It was organic and sinister looking, but in some way, still beautiful.

“I’ll leave the timing to you,” she said, her voice coming from the sword. “Swing down when the damn centipede comes charging at us. We’re all going to die if you screw up, got it?”

It felt like she was telling me, “I gave you your chance, now the rest is up to you.”

“...Got it.” I was aware there were things that needed to be done before asking any questions.

The Demi-Dragon Worm seemed to be furious as it charged at us faster than it ever had before. It was a straight shot at a speed I was able to see, but not avoid.

However, I still had time to swing my sword.

“The three times Master almost died, and the one attack I absorbed... The four attacks you made with everything you had...”

Right before the jaws of the Demi-Dragon Worm could reach me...

“I’ll double them and pay you back,” said the girl as I swung down the black greatsword.

“Vengeance is Mine!” she shouted.

There was an impact the moment the greatsword made contact.

Then a moment of stillness.

Right after, the Demi-Dragon Worm, almost as if it had been crushed by a monster several times its size, shattered into pieces starting with its head.

Just exactly how many times today am I going to see something I struggle to understand? I wondered.

While I was thinking this, I looked at what was in front of me. The Demi-Dragon Worm’s large body was gradually breaking into pieces that turned into light and vanished.

Behind me was Milianne, still unconscious, and beside me was the girl. She had changed back from the black sword.

“Success, success,” she said happily. “Isn’t that great, Master? You grabbed hold of the possibility you’d hoped for.”

“You really are my Embryo, aren’t you?” I asked.

The girl lightly lifted her frilled skirt and bowed with contrived respect. “I’m Nemesis, a Type Maiden with Arms Embryo. I was born from your heart, body, and soul.” The girl — Nemesis — introduced herself like that and grinned broadly. “It’s nice to meet you, Master.”