The young girl whom the Founding King had introduced as the core looked at Li.

Li bent her knees to meet her gaze.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Li Earlychar Karasebed Quewa. Please call me Li.”

She was a young girl with black hair and black eyes.

She wore a black one-piece dress.

She looked slightly older than Li’s younger sister Sonia.

The girl stared intently at Li.

She released the Founding King’s leg she had been holding and toddled over to Li.

Then she sniffed.

“…The same scent…”

“Mm,” the girl said as she reached out her hand toward Li.

Li took that hand and gently let a little mana flow into it.

She felt that was the right thing to do.

“Mm…”

The girl trembled as she sensed Li’s mana.

The quality of their mana was similar.

Then her eyes widened.

“Big Sister… my big sister.”

The girl suddenly hugged Li tightly.

Her face was filled with a radiant smile.

“Ka-ka-ka,” the Founding King laughed when he saw the girl’s expression.

“Core, has Li become a master worthy of you?”

But the girl did not answer the question.

She clung to Li and would not let go.

Li could not understand the reason.

However, she felt as though she was looking at her former self.

Someone who wanted to rely on others but could not.

Someone who endured loneliness and suppressed her heart to keep living.

The girl overlapped with the man she (he) was from those days.

So Li embraced the girl.

Then she gently stroked the small head.

“It’s alright. I will stay with you.”

At those words, the girl burst into tears.

Even so, Li did not stop stroking her head.

Nor did she loosen her embrace.

“Li, that is fine as it is. Listen to a little of my story. That child is the incarnation of the dungeon’s governing core. I conquered this dungeon. At that time, rather than destroying the core, I chose the path of coexistence. Well, I have never heard of a precedent where someone destroyed it anyway.”

According to the Founding King, coexisting with the core was the condition for leaving the dungeon intact.

If the core were destroyed, the dungeon itself would disappear.

A dungeon was both a trial of the gods and an important source that produced resources without end.

Because of that, those who conquered them all chose to make a contract with the core.

There was no advantage in destroying it, only disadvantages.

“And so. My life has already ended and now I remain only as a remnant sustained by the authority of the dungeon. I do not know when I will disappear. Therefore I have been searching for a new administrator. However, that core has its own preferences. It said it disliked fools, so it created that puzzle. So,” the Founding King paused briefly.

“When the core learned that you had solved the puzzle and would return here, it was overjoyed. And seeing this, I can tell. You must possess titles far beyond my own. It is not normal for the core to grow so attached to someone. Li,” the Founding King asked, “I feel sorry for placing this burden upon you. But the child has grown fond of you. Please accept this request. Even if you obtain some authority over the labyrinth, it will not create obligations. Until I disappear, I will act as the proxy. So please. Will you live together with this child?”

Li already knew her answer.

“I accept. This child is my little sister! That is alright, Father?”

Her father had the question directed at him but he nodded without hesitation.

“Yes! I have no objection.”

Li whispered near the girl’s ear.

“What is your name?”

“Big Sister should give me one.”

“In that case, how about the name Amira?”

In Arabic it meant a noble woman and in Sanskrit it meant one who lives a long life.

In Hebrew it meant a place filled with abundant trees.

In Li’s previous life it had been considered an auspicious name.

The reason she knew it was because there had been a time when she researched names for when she might have a child.

However, the person she (he) loved had been in love with someone else, so she gave up quickly.

In that sense, perhaps it was not a lucky memory.

Still, considering the meaning of the words, Li thought it suited her perfectly.

“Amira?”

“Yes, Amira.”

“Mm. Amira! Amira!”

The girl’s body suddenly shone brightly.

Ah, Li thought.

‘Did we just form a contract?’

Of course.

Li’s suspicion was correct and the contract was firmly established.