I thought they were ninjas, but they turned out not to be ninjas.
That was something of a shock.
I wonder — do ninjas actually exist in this world?
Well, not that it really matters either way.
"It appears we've confirmed that the main force of the Nameless is stationed at the estate ruins on Floor 58. Additionally, it seems they intend to withdraw, having deemed this request a failure."
"Withdrawal... Could it be they found out the Witch has them?"
"That does appear to be the case. The Witch is a sworn enemy of the Nameless, but if they rashly provoke her, they'll surely be destroyed for good this time..."
In that case, withdrawing is their only option.
"Then couldn't we just avoid fighting?"
"That won't work. Floor 58 is definitely on the route."
"Indeed, a clash cannot be avoided."
"From the start, the higher-ups have no intention of avoiding a fight."
Figured as much. I knew it.
"Besides, Boomer is a jōnin. We absolutely want to take him down."
"Huh? Not Daitarō?"
"Wof. That's his surname."
"Oh, right."
That's right.
So does that mean... the entire Daitarō clan?
"Daitarō for generations, huh. Some kind of curse?"
"That guy — is he really that strong?"
"Booma is a well-known powerhouse among the jōnin. If we cut him down here, it'll deal a serious blow to the nameless ones."
"Then let me take the upper one. It'll make for quality nourishment, I'm sure."
"What are you talking about? I'm doing this."
"You two, leave this to me. I shall cut him down."
Anyone's fine, really.
I'm not a ninja anymore, so the nameless ones hold no interest for me.
I swear, nothing but trouble ever happens when I'm around Hydrangea.
Maybe I'll go check on Hyzen for the first time in a while. The dungeon's been on my mind lately, too.
Sigh. Where does peace and quiet even exist?
Pulling myself together, I headed down to the 57th floor.
It was a floor where a bamboo forest and a fiercely flowing waterfall gave the whole place an almost mystical air.
Gazing at the waterfall, Mineha murmured.
"I like this sort of thing."
"Yeah, it really is."
That unpretentious naturalness was just right.
"Quite scenic, wouldn't you say?"
"Right? See, right?"
Hydrangea, looking all pleased with herself.
"W-what?"
"This is Mineha, a fairy child. A bit cheeky, but she does seem to have some potential."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Mineha looked a little irritated at Hydrangea's smug face.
Kaede, who had been standing quietly at my side, murmured.
"I'd like to build a hermitage in a place like this."
"That sounds nice."
"The roar of the waterfall and the sound of dripping—both shall fade to silence."
"What does that mean?"
"The deafening crash of the waterfall, when the heart is at peace, sounds like a single tiny drop—
—and that too eventually becomes silence."
"Huh."
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRMMMMMMMMMMM!!!
This sound... to him it only sounds like a "plink," and eventually he hears nothing at all.
That level of mental focus. I don't think I could manage it.
"So why are you being so high and mighty?!"
"Naturally. Because I'm above you."
These two are never going to get along.
"Is it noisy again? Both of you would be better off getting hit by the waterfall."
"Y-yes, that's right..."
I gave a wry smile at Kaede's joke.
If only I could spend my time leisurely wandering around, taking in the dungeon's scenery.
Sigh. So I'm going to be fighting a bunch of people I don't even know. How depressing.
I wonder. Did the Guild Master know about this?
Is that why she sent us?
If so, wouldn't there be someone more suited for this?
Like Agaro, or no—Heizen.
Thunder Fang, or no—Heizen.
Torquetam... does he even exist?
"Wof-dono. What's the matter?"
Kaede asked, tilting her head with innocent curiosity.
Her long elf ears bounced up and down.
"No, it's just... we're really about to fight, aren't we?"
"That we are?"
"I was just thinking I'd rather not."
"Is that so?"
She looked at me with a puzzled expression.
Well, yeah. Of course you'd think that.
"Wof. Kaede. It's time to go."
"Y-yes."
"Mm."
For now, I'm leaving Daitaro to them.
And then—the fifty-eighth floor.
A rather dreary floor where abandoned villages were scattered sparsely through the forest.
Without so much as a greeting, the Nameless came at us all at once.
We brushed the Nameless aside with ease and arrived at the mansion ruins.
Oh, when I say mansion, I mean a samurai estate.
And on the hole-riddled roof of the old samurai estate ruins, someone was perched.
"Welcome, welcome~"
A portly man in black robes with a white haori draped over his shoulders declared grandly.
His face was painted with kumadori. Could that possibly be—
"It has been a long time, hasn't it~"
Sure enough.
"That's Booma?"
"An unhealthy-looking man. The Master despises him above all else."
Mineha looked disappointed, and Rangia made no effort to hide her revulsion.
As for me, all I could think was that he resembled one of the eccentric oddballs from my past-life memories.
"Now is the time~to settle this once and for all!"
"Indeed it is."
"Come, let us fight~let us fight~!"
With the Boomer's shout, the black-clad figures closed in.
I knew they'd be here, but there were more than I expected. Easily over ten.
Every one of them was armed and radiating killing intent.
So this was the main force. We readied our weapons too.
"Then, fairly and squarely, let us begin."
Kaede leapt up onto the roof without lowering her guard.
The Boomer spat fire from its mouth.
"Fire Jutsu!"
But Kaede didn't flinch—she cut through the fire jutsu midair.
She landed gracefully on the roof and grinned.
"Nothing but a smoldering campfire."
"Keep talking—Wind Jutsu!"
It sucked in air at an alarming rate and blasted a blade of wind from its mouth.
Like something straight out of a carnival sideshow.
Oops—no time to sit around watching.
Our fight had started too.
But... they were no match for Mineha and Ranjia.
Ranjia swung her greatsword at terrifying speed.
Mineha launched "stars" from her "Demon Star Manifestation Spear," toying with them as she cut them down.
Doesn't look like it's my turn. I'll just sit tight.
Right. Maybe I should explore inside the manor too.
"You look bored, boy."
Exploring the manor turned out to be completely uneventful.
But when I reached an unusually large room, someone immediately called out to me.
In the center of the spacious room stood a guy in hakama.
The hakama was strangely tattered, and he had a gleaming bare sword hanging behind his head in an unnervingly vivid red.
Huh? Why aren't you wearing black clothing or something?
Also, judging from your appearance, why is your strong-guy aura turned up to maximum?
The guy looked at me and spoke.
"Well then, let us cross blades, boy."
Why does it have to go this way?
"Before that, might I ask who you are?"
"My enemy."
That is about as clear-cut an answer as you can get. Thanks for that.
I picked up Bokuten — my trusty spear, the one I hadn't used in a while.
Against a sword's reach, a spear is the best choice.
"A fine spear."
"Yes. I'm quite fond of it."
"That's what makes this a shame."
"Huh?"
He appeared right in front of me in an instant. One step!?
No, that wasn't it. It was a sliding step — a unique high-speed walking technique.
I caught the old man's sword strike with the handle of the Wooden Flash.
The Wooden Flash was cut clean through. Right, I'd forgotten.
The Wooden Flash had a wooden handle.
"Slaughter...
Bloodcrush Sickle—
"
A red blade with bizarre, writhing movements closed in. Ah, I'm dead.
"Ngh!"
Suddenly, the old man leaped backward.
Before I could figure out what had just happened, four octopus tentacles emerged from the ground.
A knife from a different sea, huh?
Then one of the tentacles lightly poked me on the head.
"Ow! What do you think you're doing!?"
When I glared at it with teary eyes, the tentacle slithered away.
"How strange..."
The old man raised his sword. The red blade gave off an eerie sheen.
I had a bad feeling. If I got cut by that, it was game over.
"............Sorry about that."
A poke in the chest. That's what that meant: "Get your act together."
I wasn't letting my guard down, but I had clearly zoned out.
Let your focus slip in a fight and you die. That was exactly what just happened to me.
And because of that, I'd lost Muikaglow.
"Hm? The boy's hair and eyes... they've turned... purple..."
The old man muttered, his wariness deepening.
I felt a killing intent I hadn't noticed before — sharp, unmistakable.
"Pseudo-Apocryphal Relic, Generous."
Old man. I'm sorry.
From here on out, I'm getting serious.