18 – Episode 18: Call Me the Runaway Ninja (3)
At noon, all the members except Jina gathered at the chicken restaurant where they had met on the first day of the quest.
Jina couldn’t come because she was giving her testimony at the guard headquarters with her father, and I was slightly worried that she might be subjected to some kind of interrogation until she gave the desired answers.
Originally, I had planned to go and investigate myself, but Orphe convinced me otherwise after hearing the explanation.
He said that Jina was just an apprentice adventurer, and her father, being a peasant, had no reason or combat ability to be involved in the massacre of the Ironclad Knights. So, he assured me that we wouldn’t be harassed.
Rather than suspecting any seemingly unimportant commoners, I think we should focus on finding the person who declared themselves as the runaway ninja in the statement.
But unless the Earth Science Investigation Unit comes, it will be difficult to catch me.
I’m confident that I haven’t left any traces that could serve as evidence.
“You all have worked really hard until now.”
As Bonita entered the restaurant for the last time, she was wearing casual clothes that I had never seen her wear before.
Maybe it’s because she’s tall, but she looks like a supermodel.
What did she eat to grow so tall?
Could it be the resentment towards Dante, who killed her family?
I can’t tell.
“Bonita, you’ve worked the hardest. Learn a lot and go.”
Orpheus smiled and bowed his head.
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Diana, who was swallowing her saliva while looking at the chicken cooking on the grill, followed Orpheus’s actions without a second thought.
I suddenly felt the urge for a “human lesson” for her, but since Bonita was here, I had to postpone it for later.
“Thank you all so much. If it weren’t for all of you, I would have been a monster’s meal. hahahahaha!”
Don’t laugh, you idiot, because that’s true.
“Now, the adventurer badges have been issued. I will give one separately to Gina.”
Bonita handed out adventurer badges one by one.
It seems like she skipped the 5th quest and got promoted. She raised the adventurer badge, satisfied with the guild’s judgment.
The round adventurer badge, shining in the same color, was no different in size or shape from the Earth’s bronze medal.
“Robin, are you really okay?”
Bonita seemed full of relief for completing the mission and guilt for lying.
The reason for this is because I attributed all the achievements of my “Maple Leaf Village Destruction” to Bonita’s efforts.
I must have been recorded in the guild as the clever adventurer who came up with the idea of burning down the village.
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to be bound by honor or achievements.”
The moment I become entangled in worldly things, my mission and beliefs disappear.
Evil doesn’t disappear, and the runaway ninja never rests.
Life is about constantly burning away evil and standing against it. That is the life of a runaway ninja.
When I should rest is after paradise arrives in this world.
If I have any microcosmic desires, I want to have a ninja sword like Kakashi’s.
No, to be honest, I really want it.
I once dreamt of riding a ninja sword and flying away after Kakashi spins it around and says, ‘You want this? If you become my par…t…ner? hehehe~!’
Unable to sleep from anger that day, I conducted ‘human lessons’ at an earlier hour.
Diana was happy about the training.
Kakashi, if I meet you again, I won’t let you off easily.
“If that’s what Robin wants… But still, I personally want to reward you. If there’s anything you want, please let me know. If it’s something I can do, I’ll do it for you.”
“I don’t particularly want anything. Just take care of me and my dad.”
“I will strongly talk to the guild. If the guild acts, even the security forces won’t dare to treat you and your father lightly.”
The guild has a subtle fondness.
It could be that they are only good at appearances, but I want to believe that there is at least one group that struggles for the sake of the people.
If there is even one organization that exerts a positive influence, the world will gradually become a better place.
“That’s enough then.”
I gave them the friendliest smile I could muster.
Seeing Orpheus’ mouth slightly lift, it seems like he has fallen for my SSS-class smile too.
“Even if Miss Robin is called a hero, she is more than deserving of the title.”
It’s embarrassing to hear such words directly.
I turned my head and stared at Diana, who was poking at the chicken with her fork.
A pocket monster who quietly puts down her chopsticks with a sullen expression.
“Well then, today will be our group’s last meal. Tsk tsk. It’s a shame we don’t have any lamb, tsk tsk. But fate is surprisingly strong, tsk tsk. We will be able to meet again. Tsk tsk.”
Saiten made a sound that was far from sincere and was the first to taste the meat.
Just eat or shut up, you idiot.
How can every single action be so annoying?
If I am the third son of a noble family, isn’t it only natural for me to have a high position?
Indeed, there is no such thing as ‘absolute’.
An idiot is an idiot in any situation.
That is the law of preserving idiocy.
– Tsk tsk tsk tsk.
Everyone enjoyed their meal at the signal of Saiten taking a bite.
A sudden silence fell.
When eating, people become quiet.
The fear of having food stolen from them if they relax for even a moment becomes the driving force that moves people.
After eating just enough, Saiten opened his mouth.
“After thinking carefully about the Maple Leaf Village incident, I’ve come to realize that I may not have the qualities of an adventurer after all.”
Now even that brat realizes it’s a legend.
If your mind is bad, your body suffers.
“Still, I think I gained quite a bit of inspiration for my work. Monsters…. I think I understand them now. They are objects of fear, incomprehensible enemies. There may be beings with reason, like Lamina and Diana, but the majority are creatures driven by violent nature.”
This is surprising. Always seeming thoughtless, but coming up with a decent answer in its own way.
It’s commendable to some extent. But I still don’t want to stroke that bastard’s head.
On the other hand, I feel my heart swell at the thought of warriors who defeat those monsters and protect people. From now on, I might try writing stories about heroes. I want to show how terrifying monsters are and how warriors face them.
Saturn’s eyes were filled with determination.
I recognize those eyes.
That’s how I looked when I first encountered a ninja.
Someone said that.
Those who dream are strong.
I hope Saturn becomes as strong as me.
“I’ve written a few words on paper whenever I have time. I’ve even decided on a title, ‘The Bird That Drinks Steel.’ Isn’t it good?”
I have no idea what the content is, but it seems like a cool title.
But if it were me, I would have chosen “With So Many Terrifying Monsters, What Should Warriors Do?!” to grab readers’ attention.
That’s the difference between a genius and a fool.
“I’ve also decided on the beginning of the book. Listen. The madness of the Watchers who burned the world has been forgotten, and the tombs of the heroes have been buried in the mud…”
“That’s enough.”
Orpheus cut him off.
He’s subtly in charge of Saturn.
“Bonita, Miss. Orpheus, Pocketyo…. Diana is leaving Martolan and going to a more dangerous place to protect the people. Is there such a place nearby?”
“Dangerous place… I heard news that Lord Gol Don, who is close to the border, is gathering adventurers, mercenaries, and skilled warriors. The guild also received a request, but there weren’t many people responding.”
“What is the reason for this?”
“A civil war broke out, reducing the number of mercenaries in Gol Don, and taking advantage of that, a group of bandits is uniting to target the territory.”
The next goal was set.
Whenever Yakuzas stir, ninjas always appear to clean up.
“Are you planning to go? Considering that veteran adventurers in the guild are not responding, the possibility of it being very dangerous is high. Robin should be fine, but Orphe and Diana…”
“I’m fine. Diana is not an ordinary child, so she’ll be fine.”
Orphe, who speaks bluntly, is quite admirable.
Judging by the significant decrease in her dark circles, her mind seems to have stabilized to some extent.
Still, I hope she hasn’t lost her hatred for the Yakuzas.
It is useless for the victims to groan, forgive themselves, regret, and forget.
Meanwhile, Yakuzas continue to squeeze blood from more people’s wounds.
Exterminating the ninjas is the only remedy.
“Now it’s time to leave. We need to prepare to go to Gol Don.”
I immediately stood up.
Originally, these things should be done swiftly.
Although we warmed up by giving them a taste of their own medicine, it wasn’t enough.
Shin Noh Bin, the bloodthirsty hawk who drinks the blood of villains, is still thirsty.
“Well, it’s a bit disappointing now that it’s come to this. But as I mentioned earlier, we’ll see each other again. By then, I might be writing Robin’s story.”
“Yes. It would be really interesting.”
If they really appear, I will burn them all without hesitation.
Hastily bidding farewell, he went outside.
***
“Irene…! Irene…. Huhuhuk…”
A heart-wrenching cry echoed through the cathedral.
The knight in red armor clutched the swollen-faced corpse even tighter.
“She, she was like my own daughter. Such a brave and righteous child, why…”
Martholan, the Count, swallowed his saliva.
The raging anger emanating from the body of the knight, Yoo Geomgyeong, made it difficult for him to even breathe.
“Count, please tell me! Who is this person? How cruel and heartless must they be to do this to a child like her!”
“Well, the identity is still under investigation. The bastard did leave behind a piece of paper.”
Yoo Geomgyeong snatched the paper from Martholan’s grasp.
“Deserter… Ninja…!”
Her green eyes were filled with hatred.
“Death…!”
She threw the paper and raised her rapier high.
The rapier swirled with a crimson light and trembled.
Waaang-Shooo-Iiiiiii!
According to rumors, Yoo Geomgyeong reaps the souls of those she kills.
At the horrifying sound, as if craving blood, Martholan shuddered.
The sound of a sword clashing, like the screams of someone who has fallen into the abyss.
The one who could withstand such intense hatred seemed a little pitiful.
“Death to the deserters!”
She screamed like that.
“Death to the deserters!!!”
All the knights under Yugyeom’s command shouted.
The shouting was so loud that Martollan had to cover his ears, the stained glass of the cathedral trembling.
“Something… something is happening.”
When he looked back, he couldn’t tell if the chaos started from the moment the precious collection of masterpieces disappeared.
Disaster does not come suddenly.
It slowly, gradually gnaws at its surroundings.
Martollan knew this well, so he became even more anxious.
“I hope there won’t be many casualties.”
That was Martollan’s only wish.