8 – Episode 8. When Five People Gather (3)
I entered the lodging and roughly took off Orpheus’s armor, then laid her on the bed.
“Ugh…”
Watching Orpheus suffer from a hangover reminds me of my younger sister.
Her personality and appearance are completely different. Why is that? Is it just because we share the same gender?
“Hey, bro! Eat this!”
There was a time when she used to follow me obediently.
In my younger days, I was innocent and believed in people’s potential unconditionally.
I thought that even as a mere human, she wouldn’t laugh at my grand dreams. So, I ended up telling her.
A mistake, overlooking the foolishness of humans.
“What’s this? It’s so stupid!”
At that time, I had no patience to tolerate such words.
I wanted to deny the truth that my sister, who grew up in a society that mercilessly categorizes everything as normal or abnormal, had already become a pawn in their game.
“The dream of a ninja! It never ends!”
With the sentiment of Eupchamma (泣斬馬謖), I struck my sister’s head, no, the head of a chimpanzee, with a fist.
Of course, since I hadn’t trained my body, the damage was minimal.
“Eueung~! Dad~!”
Afterwards, I was a mess, beaten up by Powered Gorilla.
Honestly, even now, I don’t think it’s entirely my fault. Ridiculing someone’s dreams is a serious crime.
Still, my mistake lies in emotionally dealing with a pawn.
“Orpheus, I’m glad you’re human.”
In the end, I gained enlightenment and grew, eventually succeeding in becoming a runaway ninja.
So, I just have a duty to fulfill.
“Nin-nin.”
Leaving behind the completely devastated Orpheus, I undressed using the Ninja Disguise Technique.
With my efficient killing muscles, my body armed and ready, I could easily overpower the owner of the underworld.
“I’ve been waiting for this day, this moment.”
I put on the Ninja Suit that I obtained by selling Oculle’s leather, using the Ninja Dressing Technique.
The black suit, made of an unnamed fabric, was lightweight and highly stretchable.
I heard it was a high-quality fabric that was mass-produced successfully in some unknown Matap and sold at a high price in the market. It’s definitely outstanding.
First of all, the fabric, similar to a dobok, was not flimsy but had a nice form.
I heard from Orpheus that Matap is a massive corporate entity run by fake magicians called Yangyangsa, with strong power and high social status, to the point that they cannot be easily meddled with even by the royal family.
A runaway ninja’s equipment must always be perfect.
I was somewhat grateful for providing such a good item. Of course, if those guys are capitalist yakuza, I won’t forgive them.
I put on the cheap black hood over my face.
A hood that completely covers the face with a perfect ninja knot.
It’s a bit cheap, so it feels stuffy, but it’s not unwearable. Now it’s time to grab a few weapons.
Unfortunately, there was no shop selling throwing knives.
In this primitive fantasy world, the concept of a ninja doesn’t exist, so there was no awareness of ninja tools.
I just stored a dagger that instructors used in the suit. With this, the runaway ninja was complete.
“Runaway Ninja Shin Nobin. Deploy.”
I opened the window and crawled up onto the roof.
It was a daring night where even the lights of the market were turned off. I spotted a large mansion in my field of view.
He was the Marltoran Lord. According to rumors, he was just an ordinary lord.
But the truth is not revealed during mealtime banter.
Only a fist soaked in blood and sweat can approach the truth.
Is he truly a nobleman or a political tycoon?
“Nin-nin!”
Perhaps because it’s a commercial district, there are many buildings.
Jumping from rooftop to rooftop, he roamed the city.
Naturally, in the state of being a phantom, my presence was not visible.
After about five minutes of jumping, I arrived in front of the lord’s house. Up close, it looked like a medieval-style cottage for peasants.
To-shot!
I easily jumped over the fence with a ninja jump. Naturally, it was a silent landing.
Looking around, I saw quite a few guards patrolling with small lamps in hand.
They seemed to be moving with well-planned action patterns.
I cautiously moved, checking for any magical barriers.
If I were to foolishly enter and then come out saying, “Ah, it’s a barrier,” it would be really uncool.
I learned this while fighting against a bald man. Magic or magical tools are dangerous.
When fighting against opponents of the same level, a hidden move like that can determine the outcome of life and death.
Still, I was lucky enough to be able to sense objects that have been magically altered with my intuition.
When I asked Orphe about it, it seems that people with such abilities are rare.
The qualities of a perfect escape ninja are not equally bestowed upon everyone.
‘Just as I suspected.’
Fortunately, there were no barriers.
Even a lord in a remote village would have assassination threats, but he seemed completely unprepared.
Lord Martolan must be either a fool lacking crisis awareness or a penniless freeloader.
The window was a sliding window. I raised it slightly and infiltrated like a butterfly.
It seems everyone is sound asleep.
Why would they live in such a big house with only a few family members? What a waste of space.
I checked every room in the house, tiptoeing.
I searched through all the furniture and desk drawers.
There was nothing unusual.
I even checked the faces of the people, in case there were yokai disguised as humans.
The lord, his wife, two daughters, one son, and five servants.
No abnormalities among the ten people.
There was a safe, but I haven’t figured out the situation yet, so I can’t steal the money.
If it turns out he’s a political yakusa, it won’t be too late to take it then.
I entered the lord’s room and knocked on the walls to check for a secret room.
Thud.
Nothing in particular. What about the floor?
Empty.
Is there something?! You little bastard, you fell for it.
I immediately cleared the carpet and removed the floor to reveal a small space.
There were about ten strange books inside.
There were no pictures on the cover, and the original text was filled only with characters, indicating that they were definitely suspicious forbidden books.
Could they be magic books that summon monsters?
Whatever they were, I had to confiscate them all for now. Since I couldn’t read the writing, I had to bring them back and show them to Orpheus.
Swoosh.
I wrapped them all in the cloth I had brought and slipped out through the window.
Kokonenne.
When I arrived home, Orpheus was finally sleeping soundly, escaping from the nightmare of the massacre staged by the Yakuzas.
In this life, there will come a day when I will meet my parents who have returned in my dreams. By then, I will be able to smile even in my sleep.
Yes, I must live. Those who survive will sprout the seed of hope.
I have only one mission. To save innocent lives as much as possible and create a paradise in this world.
Those who are wealthy and powerful can take care of themselves, so there is no need to worry about them.
But what about the common people?
Even if they suffer injuries from passing by Poppies, who only care about their own interests, no one pays attention.
What if it’s not Poppies but Yakuzas, samurais, or monsters?
Yakuzas only see the common people as targets for extortion.
To samurais, the common people are mere tools to test their newly bought swords.
To monsters, the common people are nothing more than a meal.
As a runaway ninja, I will eliminate all this evil and serve the people in the darkness.
Suppressing violence with violence, what’s the point? One could argue about the chain of violence.
But I truly believe that there are lives that can only be saved through destruction and slaughter.
“Nin-nin.”
Glancing at the sky, it seems that morning is still far away. I should sigh and get some sleep.
Quickly using the ninja technique of changing clothes, I put on my pajamas.
Usually, I sleep on the bed while Orphe sleeps roughly on the floor with a makeshift blanket.
Seeing Orphe looking tired, I suddenly regret moving him to the bed.
I roughly push Orphe to the corner and lie down next to him.
Today has been a long day, and for some reason, I can’t fall asleep. I use the ninja sleep technique to try to sleep.
“One ninja crossing the roof, two ninjas crossing the roof…”
I fell asleep immediately.
***
“Ninja morning exercise!”
Startled by the rustling sound, I quickly got up and assumed the posture.
Orphe, who was taken aback, dropped the clothes on the floor.
Seems like he washed and brought the clothes I wore yesterday.
“G-Got scared, huh?”
“Sorry.”
A ninja must never relax and sleep in a foreign land.
I got out of bed and put on my outerwear. After Orphe turned his head, he asked.
“Remember what happened yesterday?”
“What?”
“Why were you lying in bed with me?”
Well, it’s a situation that could easily be misunderstood.
But I have to give her credit for not waking me up with a scream.
Waking a ninja up carelessly could result in being stabbed. Her caution saved my life.
I explained everything to Orpheus, from the evening drinking session to my investigation at the lord’s house.
“You went into the lord’s house alone and took the books? Is that even possible?”
“Nin-nin.”
“…You’re truly amazing. Even if you’re a viscount, infiltrating isn’t easy. Where are those books?”
I showed her the ten books I acquired yesterday.
Judging by the way she wrinkled her brow upon receiving them, it’s clear that they are restricted books.
“The Wise Couple’s Guide to s*xual Life, How Men Can Keep Their Heads Up, Lasting Happiness… Lewd Monster Maid? Isn’t this Saten’s work?”
From Noble mtl dot com
“No, what’s the big deal?”
“It seems to be a book on s*xual life or an erotic novel…”
“Damn it.”
I suddenly felt dizzy. This is f*cking ridiculous. I guess I need to learn how to read quickly.