Chapter 3: Do you think you are my brother?

“Pfft!”

Colin swung the Sanctuary Sword, decapitating the High-Rank Demon.

“Whew, finally done. Didn’t expect this Magic Circle to be able to heal a High-Rank Demon.”

Colin exhaled deeply.

Ever since arriving in this Labyrinth, many things had caught him off guard.

First, there were traps both inside and outside the Secret Door.

Then, the Magic Circle inside had actually summoned a Level 72 High-Rank Demon.

If he remembered correctly, the escaping Demon Clan Remnant should only be Level 63.

How did it manage to summon this demon?

Moreover, the summoning Magic Circle could heal the demon’s wounds and temporarily grant it immortality.

Until the Magic Circle’s energy was depleted, the demon couldn’t die.

That’s why Colin had to drag the fight out for so long before finally defeating it.

Hmph.

“I’ve never seen a Magic Circle like that before, with such power. Could that Demon Clan Remnant be researching some ancient magic?”

Colin thought about the Lab outside the Secret Door, filled with strange Magic Potions and books.

Maybe the key to that Magic Circle was in there.

At that thought, Colin suddenly remembered something.

“That’s right, brother! He’s still in the Lab! I have to rescue him quickly!”

Since he hadn’t heard Liyami’s voice earlier, Colin had almost forgotten that the Lab outside was also trapped.

However, he wasn’t too worried about Liyami’s safety.

As a Level 55 Assassin, Liyami could escape unless facing enemies above Level 70 or in some special situations.

Solid.

And there shouldn’t be another High-Rank Demon like the one just now.

Colin hadn’t sensed that same evil aura outside the Secret Door.

But that was hoping for the best; if the worst happened…

“Brother! Hang on! I’m coming to save you!”

With that, Colin swung the Sanctuary Sword at the Secret Door.

“Clang!”

The sword was deflected, but the protective Magic Circle on the door dimmed considerably.

It seemed the Magic Circle wasn’t as strong as Colin had thought.

Seeing this, Colin swung again.

Cracks began to form on the Secret Door; the protective Magic Circle was almost completely dark now.

Colin struck a third time.

“Bang!”

The Secret Door exploded open, and Colin quickly stepped into the Lab.

He looked around and saw all the Magic Potions shattered.

The Magic Circle on the ceiling had vanished. There were no signs of a struggle.

“Hmm?”

Colin noticed a figure hiding under a table.

Who was it?

Was there someone else here?

Could it be Liyami?

No, that couldn’t be.

Why would he hide in such a place?

Colin approached the table and lifted it, revealing Liyami crouched beneath.

Colin was stunned looking at the girl before him.

She was an incredibly beautiful young woman, with a cute, lovely face, long black hair, and perfect curves…well, Colin’s limited vocabulary couldn’t come up with better descriptions.

In short, she was a beautiful girl who exactly fit Colin’s type.

She looked up at him, their eyes meeting.

He felt this might be the most wonderful moment in his life and wished it would never end.

But after indulging for a moment, Colin snapped back.

He still didn’t know where his brother was!

He hurriedly asked the crouching girl.

“Where’s my brother?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Colin felt uneasy.

How could she possibly know what to say?

So he rephrased the question to Liyami: “Ahem, I mean, have you seen the man who came with me? About 1.7 meters tall, gloomy aura, pale face, looks sullen and negative.”

Upon hearing this, Liyami’s face suddenly brightened.

Her mind was a mess—one moment wondering how Colin had always looked at her like this, the next scrambling to cover up.

The scariest part was that she even thought Colin looked handsome for a split second!

Shivering, she quickly tried to stop that thought.

Across from her, Colin noticed Liyami’s strange expression and suddenly realized—what was a beautiful girl doing in a Lab?

And one who perfectly matched his type!

His gaze toward Liyami became dangerous.

Seeing Colin’s eyes, Liyami grew flustered and stammered.

“Uh, th-that’s…actually, I don’t know why I’m here. As for the man you mentioned, I-I haven’t seen him.”

Colin drew the Sanctuary Sword.

Liyami panicked even more.

“N-no, that’s not right. I mean…I’m Liyami’s sister! I’m called Liyami! Um, nice to meet you?”

Colin’s Sanctuary Sword began to glow.

Liyami grew even more flustered and babbled nonsense, but the sword in Colin’s hand didn’t dim.

Seeing this, Liyami deflated and slumped to the ground, speaking with a tone of surrender.

“Fine! I am Liyami! Your good brother!”

Upon hearing this, the glow on Colin’s Sanctuary Sword faded.

He stared at Liyami silently for a moment, then slowly said, “Do you think you’re my brother?”

“I think I am.”

Listening to her firm answer, Colin’s mouth twitched. He asked again,

“Do you think you look like him?”

“Don’t I?”

Hearing this, Colin was completely silent.

Liyami realized her answer might have been foolish and quickly explained, “Uh, that’s not what I meant. I mean, the strange Magic Circle that appeared above suddenly changed me. I really am Liyami!”

Colin looked at the ceiling but saw no Magic Circle.

Then he glanced at the broken Magic Potion bottles around.

He asked Liyami again.

“Do you think there’s a weird magic in this world that can turn a man into a woman?”

“Uh, there probably is. No, there definitely is! I am living proof right now!”

Liyami realized what she said and suddenly felt a bit awkward.

She just hoped Colin would believe her.

Colin looked at Liyami’s current appearance and heard her answer.

He pondered: although she was clearly a beautiful girl, her personality was very much like Liyami’s, and on closer inspection, her face bore some resemblance to Liyami’s.

Liyami wasn’t nearby, and her clothes were the same as Liyami’s, albeit much too large for her.

Could she really be telling the truth?

After thinking for a while, Colin still felt he couldn’t trust her easily.

What if she was a High-Rank Succubus?

How else could he explain her perfectly fitting his type?

With that thought, Colin made a decision and said again to Liyami, “If you really think you are Liyami, then come back with me first.”