Chapter 11: Japanese Ninja!

“…Someone’s there.”

The morning after placing an order for weapons at the Hooin Workshop, I saw a mysterious girl in front of the Garden of the Gods, where usually no one is found.

“Hello? Yes, I’ve just arrived. …Where else but the Garden of the Gods. Alright, I’ll call you again if there’s any progress.”

The mysterious girl ended the call and put away her smartphone.

Her sparkling golden hair was tied up in twin tails, and she wore an outfit based on black—what they call goth-loli style.

This out-of-place girl was talking to someone on her smartphone.

She was speaking Japanese, but her appearance didn’t quite seem Japanese. Plus, she looked like someone I know…

“But really, this is an incredible dungeon… To feel such pressure even without entering.”

Muttering to herself, she paced back and forth in front of the entrance.

She was geared up for exploration, so maybe she’s waiting for comrades to dive into the dungeon with her.

It would be rude to disturb her, so maybe I should call off today’s exploration. Yeah, that’s for the best.

I quietly decided to leave the scene.

Noticing my movement, the woman who had been looking at the entrance turned around sharply.

“――!? Wh-who are you!?”

Hmm. Impressive that she noticed me even though I completely hid my presence. No choice, time for Plan B.

“I’m just a passing villager A.”

Plan B: bluffing.

I just wanted to dive into the dungeon.

“A villager…? Was there a village here?”

There isn’t. This place is technically a town. Though there’s nothing here.

The goth-loli girl seemed to take my joke seriously and tilted her head in confusion. Sorry about that.

“…Was that a joke?”

“Ah, yes.”

It seems she realized she’d been fooled. With a startled expression, she looked at me, and her face turned red. Really sorry.

Clearing her throat to regain composure, the woman then spoke.

“Ahem. By the way, do you know who I am?”

“Uh… sorry, I don’t.”

If she was such a distinctive person, I wouldn’t forget her if we’d met.

“What!? There exists someone in this world who doesn’t know me…!?”

The goth-loli girl stared at me in astonishment.

Is it really that surprising?

…Hmm?

That’s when I realized. I thought she looked like someone, and now I know who. She resembles Minase Karen, who always works at the reception desk at the Dungeon Association.

“Could it be that you’re a relative of Minase-san?”

“Wow, you know my sister!”

“sister!? So that means she’s Minase-san’s onee-san…?”

Seriously…? I thought Minase-san was around 20 years old, but this goth-loli girl only looks like a high school student.

“Y-Yes. She always helps me out.”

“Is that so! Ahem, I am Karen Minase, Elena Minase’s onee-san. I’m an explorer by profession. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Karen-san executed a beautiful curtsy.

It seems my guess was correct.

Indeed, her eyes and mouth look similar. Though their atmospheres are complete opposites. Karen-san seems lively, while Elena-san is more demure.

…So why is such a person at the entrance of this unpopular dungeon? She said she’s an explorer, so maybe she’s here to conquer it.

“Um… I’m looking for the person who wrote this blog.”

As I wondered, Karen-san took out her smartphone.

On the screen was a familiar banner. Wait, didn’t this happen just recently?

“Uh, I’m actually the one who writes that blog.”

I had no reason to hide it, so I decided to answer honestly. She’s Elena-san’s onee-san, so she’s probably not a suspicious person.

“Oh my God…! So you are the Japanese Ninja…!?”

For some reason, I’ve been labeled a Japanese Ninja. What’s going on?

“Y-Yes. I am a Japanese Ninja.”

“I knew it, ninjas really do exist…!”

“Yes, yes. I am the last ninja.”

“L-Last Ninja!?”

As I played along, Karen-san excitedly leaned toward me, her eyes sparkling. A soft citrus scent tickled my nose.

Of course, being a ninja is a lie. And I’m not the last one, either. What’s a Japanese Ninja anyway? Maybe my all-black tracksuit makes me look ninja-like.

“Um, um, um!”

“Y-Yes?”

“Please give me your autograph!”

“A-An autograph!?”

Bowing her head, Karen-san pulled out a shikishi board from who-knows-where. What is she saying?

I’ve never written an autograph before.

But Karen-san was looking at me with expectant, teary eyes.

I can’t refuse her. Besides, it’s partly because I told a silly lie.

“…Alright.”

After hesitating, I accepted the shikishi.

Then she handed me a signing pen, also from who-knows-where, and requested, “Please make it out to Karen!”

I wrote “Taichi Sato” in big letters on the shikishi and added “To Karen-san” in small letters in the corner. I have no idea if this is okay.

“Wow… thank you so much!”

Feeling uncertain, I returned the shikishi, and she thanked me. It seems I did it right. I have no idea what Karen-san is thinking.

“Sato Taichi-san… ehehe… I’ll make this a family heirloom…”

Karen-san gazed dreamily at my autograph, murmuring my name. T-That’s scary.

“Well then, I shall take my leave…”

It’s not good to shatter her dreams.

I’ll say goodbye in a ninja-like manner.

With a beaming smile, Karen-san replied, “Yes, let’s meet again!” For some reason, she’s eager to meet again.

Feeling somewhat like I’ve done a good deed, I dove into the Garden of the Gods.

◇

“Hello, Elena? I-I finally found the Japanese Ninja!”

“…Huh?”

“I even got his autograph!”

“A-An autograph…?”

“I’m going to buy a frame for it now!”

“W-What are you talking about, Onee-chan…? I don’t understand.”

“After that, I’ll dive into the Garden of the Gods! Au revoir!”

“Wait!? Sh-She hung up…”