Come to think of it, I did have one. I made it, didn't I?
I'd completely forgotten about it.
"But... how can it talk?"
And it had a personality, too.
When I made it as a boss, I never implemented anything like that.
More like, I couldn't.
Besides, its features hadn't looked anything like a human.
Everything except the hair and eyes had been pitch-black. Yet now it looked so human.
"I don't really understand it myself. But Land Catfish told me it happened because of an anomaly in the dungeon."
"An anomaly in the dungeon..."
Kind of got it, kind of didn't.
"Forget about that — completely forgetting it existed is just too cruel, Wof."
The Night King barked. Protesting.
"Indeed. Couldn't you have at least remembered around the purple hair and purple eyes?"
"Um, um, I just... I wanted you to at least have some idea... to remember me, even a little."
Pakira and Juicy said with complicated expressions, clearly troubled.
No, but come on — it's been a while since I came to the dungeon, and a lot's happened lately.
But even so.
To completely forget something I created myself was, honestly... cruel.
It was from my past life, too — the leopard-cat I'd picked up.
I'd even taken care of it, but when I came home years later and found it all grown up, I was genuinely shocked.
Leopard-cat monsters grow to nearly two meters when they reach adulthood.
I knew that too… and yet I forgot all about my pet cat.
Honestly, I should've realized it right when I stood before that purple hair and those purple eyes and heard the word "Banish."
I should've realized it when I used Banish.
That Banish was a Relic plate I'd finally obtained by asking the witch for help.
Banish is a fairly rare Relic. And Relic plates are rare too.
So I know even the witch had a hard time getting it.
I'd forgotten even that kindness from my master.
I got bored, so I abandoned the dungeon and left Heizen.
That's the kind of careless person I was — no wonder I forgot.
Yeah. This one's on me.
"I'm truly, deeply sorry."
I bowed my head to the Night King.
"I'm not asking for an apology. But if you feel bad about it, then cooperate with me."
"Sure."
"Then first, give me a name."
"Huh? A name?"
"I don't have one. You're the one who should name me."
What About Night King?
"That was just used to lure you out. It's not a name."
"No, couldn't that just be a name already?"
Just take it, please.
I'm begging you!
"I want a proper name. That could technically work, but somehow I don't like it. I hate it."
She doesn't like it. Hates it. I feel the same.
"You dislike it that much?"
"It somehow made me seem like an unfeminine woman. That's the vibe I got."
"............"
Is that so? Does it come off like that?
That's the feeling, huh. Okay then. Yeah, alright.
A name. Right, a name.
Hmm. Originally, I was aiming for Generous when I made it.
In that case, "Gene" doesn't feel right. "Nerasu" is off too. "Nes" feels wrong as well.
"Jesu."
It slipped out softly.
"...Jesu. Yeah. I like it. Starting today, I'm Jesu."
Personally, Night King would've been fine, but... oh well.
I didn't expect something like this to happen.
"So, um, this doesn't really match what I heard?"
I'd been told he was being held hostage.
But that didn't seem to be the case at all. Pakira crossed her arms and said, "Hmm."
"That's right. To cut to the chase — this fellow Jesu lost."
"Huh, really?"
"I hate to say it, but yeah."
He lost, huh.
"Um, um, at first Jesu had the advantage with the Core as a shield. He even subjugated the floor boss — it was a real crisis. Axe barely managed to escape."
"He was winning up to a point. But he lost to that land catfish."
"Alexander, right?"
"For a land catfish, he was incredibly strong. No contest."
Former Rank I delver and first dungeon master, after all.
"When I hear the full story, it's actually pretty pathetic."
"Um, Wof-sama will definitely come, so I proposed a meeting at that time."
"And then you went and completely forgot about it, didn't you?"
"Um, um, that's just cruel."
"It's an excuse, but so much happened over there that I completely forgot. I'm sorry."
"A lot did happen, that's true."
On top of that, his appearance had changed completely.
But still.
"Why do we look so alike?"
"Beats me. For starters, what do you mean 'Uncle's illegitimate child'?"
"That guy seems like the type."
And the worst part is, it's totally plausible.
Behind us, I could hear the fierce clash of blades.
Shesh was locked in combat with the black minotaur.
But it didn't really feel like a fight.
"Come on! Hit me harder!"
He deflected the enormous battle-axe with his saber.
Shesh looked like he was having the time of his life.
"So, what do we do now?"
Munieka, who had been watching the situation unfold until now, asked.
What do we do — good question.
I'd gone in there all fired up to punch someone, and instead I was the one who felt punched.
"There's something I want to ask."
Jess fixed me with a sharp gaze.
"Me?"
"Why did you disappear? Why did you leave the dungeon?"
"That's ——"
I couldn't exactly say something like "I just got bored of it."
I really couldn't say something like "I just got bored and completely forgot about it."
I notice it suddenly. The gazes of Pakira and Juicy are fixed on me.
Munieka stays quiet, while the others do whatever they want.
"Is there some deep reason behind it?"
"There is."
I answered immediately, practically cutting them off.
I notice it again. The gazes of Pakira and Juicy on me have gone exasperated.
Munieka stays quiet, while the others carry on noisily, clearly having fun.
"What kind of reason. Let's hear it."
There's no point lying or making excuses here.
I'll be honest about all of it.
"Brought down the Hiyarn Trade Empire, defeated the ancient King of Edda, took care of a dangerous Phantom Unit, understood and evolved Banish, put Dagaa on a diet after he got fat and dealt with some bandits, settled the King of the Dead Wind through an audition, dismantled a cult, defeated an Anomalocaris, fought the Nameless and some weird old samurai guy, built an Enadori, found a dungeon called the Ship City or something — anyway, that's roughly how my days have been."
"………………"
Once I finish rattling off this near-digest summary, Jes says nothing and just sits in silence.
Pakira and Juicy, both of whom I've crossed paths with on several occasions, say nothing either.
Pakira served as a judge at the King of the Dead Wind audition.
She didn't know it, but she was standing in for Lord Yomido.
Juicy helped me out with the Banish business.
Come to think of it, Juicy was able to use Banish after that whole affair too.
And some of these are still ongoing right now.
Jess happened to have this look on her face, one of complete and utter exasperation, for some reason.
She let out a long, heavy breath, then murmured as if posing a question.
"Wof. You. What kind of life have you been living, exactly?"
'...That's something I'd like to know too.'
If anything, I'm the one who wants to know.