94 – Episode 94: Annihilation for Real (1)
Two months had passed since the Heidi Vayne incident.
Yongjugal had regained a fairly stable appearance, and the number of ninjas who could use the shadow technique had increased. Most of them were only able to disguise themselves, but that alone was a significant achievement.
Heidi had been given private lessons. It was nothing special, just teaching her how to punch, kick, and wield weapons. However, being a child, she had short arms and legs, so it didn’t yield much profit.
Although the lessons had failed, as long as they were in a combat situation, there was no major problem as Vayne automatically protected them.
Now that all the ninja training schedules were over, it was time to start the first round of the Yongjugal Ninja Exam.
But before that, they decided to inspect the ninjas’ belongings one last time. Even though they had been obediently following my orders for six months, people are like fried chicken, different on the inside.
Now was the opportunity for all the Yongjugal friends to spar under Orphe’s supervision. After using the shadow technique, I entered Lu Knox’s tent.
The building was being diligently built by Tribos and other ninjas, but the progress was slower than expected. Only mine and Orphe’s house and the auditorium were completed, the rest were still in the planning stage.
Since the production of supply ninjas and ninja uniforms and the repair of swords were completed, the speed should start to pick up.
Weapon racks and makeshift wardrobes, fishing chairs and folding desks. Lu Knox hadn’t brought many things. I carefully put away the lantern on the desk and looked at the book underneath.
– Lukas’s personal and subjective Kyungsupil (Do not look at it lightly)
From the words written on the cover, it’s not ordinary. It feels like a novel… Did he secretly write a novel or something? I was too lazy to start from the first chapter, so I skipped ahead and read from the middle.
# October 11th
Kyawo, the runaway ninja, spoke first. I’m so happy.
I practiced helicopter inspection, but I broke a nail…
I immediately covered it up.
…Let’s pretend I didn’t see it.
It’s shocking. That Lukas, with such terrible spacing.
After sneaking out quietly, I also snooped around the tents of other ninjas, but there was nothing special. The only new thing I found out was that Choker can draw better than I thought?
After tidying up neatly, I gathered all the ninjas in the auditorium at Yongjugal.
“Do you know what day it is today?”
“Nin-nin!”
They should know, right? It’s a bit silly to ask, “Did you really answer because you really know?” but let’s just go with it.
“That’s right. It’s the day the first round of the Yongjugal ninja exam begins.”
I started explaining the test to them briefly. It’s not a rip-off of Naruto’s intermediate ninja exam.
You could say the test is quite simple.
After taking positions, move as a group and deal with the Yakuzas, samurais, and monsters in order, then safely return to Yongjugal.
“What did we say to do with the villains’ money?”
“We use it for the Ninja Development Fund!”
The words may sound grand, but it’s just money to maintain Yongjugal. A ninja village that fights for justice and peace without asking for compensation is also bound by the logic of capital.
But it’s not like we can just seize the money, which is like the blood of the people. It’s right to seize it from the villains. Just as the jewels and treasures collected by Nuevelle-Pierre have enriched the barren Yongjugol like a mine, the new ninjas will also benefit everyone with the Ninja Development Fund they bring.
“In the collection of longstanding sayings of ninjas, there is a proverb called ‘a poisonous arrow frog in a well.’ It means that no matter how skilled a frog is at shooting poisonous arrows, it cannot demonstrate its abilities when it is inside a well.”
[Aren’t you a frog in a well?]
Treebo casually dismissed the comment and continued speaking.
“You are no different. The battlefield of a ninja is a place where innocent people are persecuted, not a cave next to Yongjugol. Hundreds of practices are worth less than a single real battle. Experience life-or-death fights and grow from them.”
After delivering a suitably impressive speech, he dismissed the ninjas.
“We will return successfully!”
“Trust us!”
“Rather than lying down, we will stand up and die.”
“I will show you that I am truly suited to be a ninja!”
“Ugh!”
Maximus, Hook, Lunox, Jocker, and Oculius. Now I can tell them apart just by their manner of speaking.
The ninjas rode on Treebo’s handmade carriage and left one by one. They were already prepared with clothes that could pass as merchants, perhaps following the advice to disguise themselves as traders.
“Without the help of the deserter ninja, can I, who can’t survive on my own, help others?”
Heidi looked up at me with anxious eyes.
“I also receive help from others. Mainly through ‘support’ and ‘spirit’.”
Besides that, Orphe is helping me in various ways.
“Can I do it if I couldn’t defeat the Observer…”
Heidi was clearly reluctant, trying to buy time.
“It’s not that you didn’t win. You’re still in the midst of the fight.”
“But…”
“Make yourself a beacon and move forward.”
“…”
He quickly spoke to block any hesitation.
“The moment you overcome your inner demons, you will be complete. Just like I did.”
I also defeated my inner Hitler and evolved into a super ninja on a runaway.
Perhaps it was for balance patches, I did receive some nerfs, but I still had the enlightenment I gained from defeating him, the “Sake of Orbital Bombing.” It’s a technique that, if used well, can defeat enemies with a rating of 9.
“Don’t be trapped by guilt and helplessness. You can become stronger and save more people. Just focus on that.”
“…I understand.”
Now, I gave Heidi a hint to leave outside the Dragon’s Back Mountain quickly and chased after her.
“Orpheus, let’s start preparing too.”
“Yeah.”
To secretly check if Heidi’s rampage and the ninjas were passing the test, we decided to follow them. Let’s call it Ninja Observation Mode.
I brought a notepad and planned to give bonus points or penalties based on the ninjas’ actions.
“Now, it begins.”
After confirming that all the ninjas that filled the cave had left, I took off my black gi. Not to celebrate joyfully naked, but to show Orpheus the new ninja outfit I wore underneath.
“…What’s that?”
“It’s a ninja outfit optimized for stealth, the Defense Green.”
It’s a design that every Korean man knows, with a mix of green, black, and brown patterns. It’s a custom-made design by Treebo.
“Defense Green?”
I introduced my uniform to Orpheus, who made a strange expression.
“Warriors on Earth dress like this as a disguise when they go to the front lines. It’s made up of a natural color harmony and arrangement.”
“But the place we’re going to is Neo-Neo-Solitron, not the mountains.”
“There might still be a bunch of grass there.”
“…Alright. I’ll look for some clothes too.”
“Wait.”
I stopped Orpheus and brought out something.
“It’s a couple tee.”
To be precise, it was a military-colored ninja suit set.
“This…is a couple tee?”
“Put it on quickly. We don’t have time.”
I hurriedly put the ninja suit on Orpheus, who was hesitating. From now on, Yongjugal will take care of the tree tribe, so there won’t be any problems.
“Let’s go!”
Together with Defense Ninja Orpheus, I chased after the guys who left first.
***
It has been three hours since I spied on the ninjas.
Orpheus, who has greatly improved his shadow skills, is doing a good job keeping up with my pace. He is not even comparable to the Orpheus who asked me for shadow training at the Sagal’s Tail mining site.
It’s because he had a good teacher.
“Starting with the Yakuzas, huh?”
“Yakuzas are those…criminal guys, right? I’m getting forgetful as I get older…hahahaha.”
“Yes. Since he said we should move together if possible, I don’t think he means for us to catch ordinary criminals.”
“Of course not. The ‘Black Bull’ Maximus and the ‘Genius Knight’ Lunox are here.”
“The genius knight who even defies the gods.”
“Should we ask the city people?”
“Ask them what the biggest criminal organization is here? That would be too conspicuous.”
The ninjas who arrived at Neo-Neo-Solitron were engaged in a passionate debate about their future activities.
“How about we give ourselves a day to investigate individually? We only need to move together when catching Yakuzas.”
“As long as we each fulfill our roles, there shouldn’t be a problem.”
“No, it’s inefficient. We entered this city as merchants. Someone should at least pretend to sell goods to avoid suspicion.”
“How about dividing into combat teams, investigation teams, and merchant teams?”
“That sounds good.”
The ninjas, who entered the city under the name “Datiso Sanghoe,” numbered 20. The remaining 30 came separately to avoid suspicion.
The guards were also doing their job diligently, so there were no major issues.
“Wait.”
Maximus interrupted the conversation of the seemingly smart glasses-wearing individuals.
“I will gather information by the end of today. We can discuss the next steps later.”
Maximus quickly gained agreement and left his seat. Perhaps because he was the most experienced and oldest among them, he exuded a temporary leader-like aura.
Lunox, who had been bestowed the title of knight, seemed uninterested and just sat there. Perhaps he couldn’t think of any impressive words to say.
They followed Maximus, who had changed into casual clothes. He stopped a passerby and asked about the location of the Adventurer’s Guild.
Are they trying to find information from the Adventurer’s Guild? The receptionists there probably won’t readily give out information.
From Noble mtl dot com
Any chance we know each other?
“I came to find an adventurer.”
Maximus, who joined the Adventurer’s Guild, asked the receptionist a few things – he dozed off for a moment – then walked briskly into a room.
Listening through the guild wall instead of seeing it directly with his eyes greatly dulled his concentration. If Orphe hadn’t pinched him slightly in the middle, he would have ended up in dreamland.
“It’s been a while.”
Has it been about four hours? A familiar corner with a woman’s voice can be heard. …I think I heard it in Goldon, but who was it?
If I remember the voice, it means it made a strong impression on me.
“Oh, Celine. How have you been?”
Maximus’s cheerful voice completely woke me up.
Celine? The Yakuzah Slayer?