The moment I heard the proposal, before I could even decide whether to accept or reject it, a shiver ran down my spine.
Could this be…
“Ringo, say something!”
Without a moment’s hesitation, I turned to Ringo and shouted.
Ringo stared at me, and after a short pause,
“…Eda-ge, zou-dai?”
“Alright!”
To an outsider, my exclamation would have been utterly meaningless, but this confirmed that the worst-case scenario had been averted.
It was nonsensical and rather frightening, but that was precisely why I could assert that these were Ringo’s true lines.
When Hisame invited me, I thought for a moment that Hisame’s consecutive event had begun, and I felt as if I couldn’t live. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.
After all, the chain of events triggered by defeating Hisame in a one-on-one duel was incredibly lethal and unavoidable. Once the condition for the start of the event, the “Hisame Family Visit Event,” was met, every character except Hisame would only talk about information related to Hisame’s home until they went to her family’s dojo together. It was a terrifying prospect.
However, Ringo had responded properly (?). I could rest assured that the consecutive event had not yet begun.
“Is something wrong?”
Hisame tilted her cat ears, looking puzzled. “No,” I replied,
“Tell me about it.”
This time, I decided to listen to Hisame’s proposal.
Simply put, Hisame wanted to scout me to her family’s dojo.
“I said ‘my dojo,’ but to be precise, it’s my family’s dojo.”
I wanted to say I already knew that, but Hisame’s family dojo (apparently called Hisame Dojo) appeared to be larger than I had understood from the game.
Apparently, about half of the nation’s Knights’ Order and renowned Adventurers were connected to Hisame Dojo in some way. In this world, the existence of Monsters significantly influenced the lives of the populace, for better or worse, granting considerable influence to those like Knights and Adventurers. If they were connected to half of them, the dojo’s own influence could not be underestimated. Furthermore, it seemed they were incredibly wealthy because of it.
I see, so that’s why all the townspeople were in cahoots during that event… I couldn’t quite convince myself of that, but I understood that they had enough financial power to prepare reverse-curved katanas for all the disciples and to build strange structures to harass their daughter’s love interest.
“But then, why me?”
If it was such a famous dojo, there would be countless people willing to teach. When I asked, Hisame leaned forward slightly, her cat ears twitching, and began to speak.
“The Subjugation Tournament this time. Originally, I should have won, having defeated the majority of the Monsters. However, you surpassed that. Seeing that, I became convinced that you were different.”
I was also seeing someone who could defeat over half the subjugated Monsters alone for the first time, so it was a mutual observation. Despite saying this, she seemed quite shocked right after the announcement. Well, perhaps that was a case of “silence is golden.”
“Different, what do you mean?”
Instead, I interjected to encourage her to continue. Hisame then happily proceeded,
“You used techniques I don’t know, and you used techniques I do know in unfamiliar ways. You seem to have mastered techniques unknown to me, no, a technical system that probably doesn’t exist in this country.”
She stated this without a hint of modesty.
(A technical system that doesn’t exist in this country, huh…)
If you call game techniques ‘techniques,’ then perhaps that’s true. But even being praised like that, I didn’t quite get it.
“Also, I heard that your companion can unleash continuous lightning strikes from her hands with enough power to carve rock. This, too, is impossible considering the common understanding of Skills and magic.”
It seemed word of Ringo’s lightning strikes had gotten out. For a moment, I almost pondered how, but I didn’t need to think long; the source was undoubtedly Raiden. He had claimed to only watch the Butcher’s defeat, but if I thought about it, he must have seen Ringo collapse the large boulder when it happened. Despite talking about comrades not betraying each other, he was quite the talkative man.
“If you accept this offer, you will receive wealth and fame unobtainable elsewhere, as well as tangible and intangible support from everyone involved with dojos across the country. Would you not consider using the knowledge you possess for the cultivation of future generations?”
With that, she concluded her proposal. As if asking for my verdict, the tips of her cat ears twitched. I nodded at her, a large nod.
“Ah. I understand.”
“Is that so? Then…”
“But I have no intention of accepting.”
The moment I said that, her cat ears perked up.
“Why, why?!”
For once, her voice showed confusion. But I didn’t know how to answer the question of ‘why.’ I had only listened to the proposal, and from the beginning, I had no intention of accepting. Certainly, if I disseminated all the information I knew to the world, it would improve things, and I could live more comfortably. I wouldn’t mind seeing knights advancing with Godspeed Cancel Movements or adventurers ganging up on dead monsters based on their weaknesses.
However, the information I possess from the ‘Nekoneko’ game is my fortune, acquired by sacrificing my university life. I felt bad for the adventurers fighting for their lives in this world, but I wasn’t so magnanimous as to simply let go of that fortune.
Furthermore, the idea of being a teacher in exchange for money was out of the question. In the past seven days since arriving in this game-like world, many things had happened. Surely, various calamities would continue to strike me. To resist the unreasonable system of ‘Nekoneko,’ I couldn’t afford to stand still.
Besides…
“I don’t believe you can withstand the weight of the knowledge I possess.”
“The weight of knowledge?”
Superficial knowledge might be fine. However, to understand and master all the techniques I know, a game-like mindset would be absolutely necessary. Accepting my knowledge would eventually lead to accepting the fact that this world, and by extension themselves, were originally fabricated existences.
Right now, only I know that this world is a game. Well, if Maki has truly come to this world, she might have noticed it too, and I might teach her. But that’s it. I have no intention of spreading that fact to many more people.
And lastly, there is one more reason. The simplest reason.
“Why are you here now?”
Hisame may take pride in her family’s dojo. She might consider it the best place in the world. But this contradicts the fact that Hisame herself left the dojo and traveled around various regions alone.
“You left the dojo because you wanted something the dojo didn’t have, didn’t you? The life-or-death battles against formidable foes you desired were not at that dojo. It’s the same for me. What I desire is not there. Therefore…”
Having said that, I noticed a change in Hisame’s demeanor. She, who had been looking at me, was now looking down and had fallen completely silent. Perhaps my words were too harsh for her. As I began to think of a follow-up,
“Does that mean you also desire mortal combat with formidable foes? Am I correct in interpreting it that way?”
Looking at her lips, I realized my misunderstanding. Slightly, just slightly, she, who always wore an expressionless face, was smiling. Moreover, if I looked closer, her beloved katana, Moonshadow, had been drawn without me noticing. She was fully in a combat stance.
“Honestly, I’ve taken quite a detour. You should have just said so from the beginning. It’s alright. The formidable foe you desire is right here.”
Seeing her state, I finally realized what I had misunderstood. She didn’t care at all about the pride in her family’s dojo or its influence. New technical systems, cultivation of future generations—all of that was just a facade.
(This woman! She just wanted an excuse to bring me to the dojo and fight me again, didn’t she?!)
She was frustrated at losing the tournament but couldn’t challenge me due to their past agreement. So, she thought that if she invited me to her dojo, there might be an opportunity to fight. A Battle junkie with unwavering resolve.
“Now, let’s begin. We are ready at any time…”
“Idi-it! Who would do such a thing?! And put that sword away! Someone’s coming!”
I hastily looked around. Fortunately, there were few people, and no one saw Hisame draw her sword. But if anyone had seen us, who knew when guards would arrive.
“No, but…”
“We made a promise, didn’t we?!”
When I mentioned the word ‘promise’ to her, who was still reluctant,
“…That’s right.”
Hisame regretfully sheathed her sword. Then, thinking that there was no point if she couldn’t fight, she said,
“However, if you change your mind, please say so anytime. You are the only worthy opponent I have found. I will never give up.”
She turned away abruptly and walked off somewhere.
“What a troublesome woman…”
I never expected to be recognized as a rival without my knowledge. The thought of having such exchanges repeatedly made me depressed.
“Well, shall we go?”
Though utterly dejected, I urged Ringo, who had also unsheathed Koganezakura and was ready, and we began to walk. Speaking of which, the troublesome one was Hisame. Would she pop up again someday and, using some excuse, challenge me to a fight? I didn’t want that, but…
However, that concern was unfounded.
“…Soma.”
“I know. I know, so don’t say anything.”
From that moment on, a strange thing, no, a strange person began following me. The pursuer was apparently quite fast, and every time I turned, they would hide behind corners, signs, or sometimes even on the roofs of tall buildings. Their technique was perfect. Their ability to conceal themselves, to mask their presence, and above all, their attention and reaction speed to reflections of my movements or images were outstanding. One could see the skilled mastery befitting a master.
But why? Why, indeed.
(Why is only the cat ear completely visible?!)
From their hiding place, only the cat ears would always pop out. There was no need to discuss what their true identity was.
(Ignore it, ignore it. If I pretend not to notice, there won’t be a problem!)
I forced myself to believe that and proceeded through the town. I had received a large sum of money, after all. For once, I should forget everything and enjoy myself. As I walked through the town, the conversation of two girls walking nearby naturally entered my ears.
“…but that diner over there, you know.”
“Ah, that diner owned by Hisame-sama’s family is on the west side of town, right? I’ve been there before.”
“Ah, yes. Exactly. They have a good reputation, so I was thinking I should visit Hisame-san’s dojo too, but it’s been difficult…”
I involuntarily stopped walking, but the two girls paid no attention to me and walked away without stopping.
(What was that…?)
I hadn’t heard them clearly, but their conversation felt strange, and I thought I heard some familiar names… However, despite the odd conversation, no one around them seemed to notice.
(Was it just my imagination?)
I shook my head, thinking I might be being too sensitive and perhaps tired, and started to walk again when I overheard the words of an adventurer walking past.
“Hey, hey. If it’s like that, you should head to Hisame Family Dojo right away.”
“You idiot. When I think about where Hisame-san’s house is, it’s to the west of the Capital City!”
“Hah, what are you talking about? If you want to go to the dojo, it’s west!”
No, it really wasn’t my imagination! The conversation was clearly strange. And the fact that no one noticed the strangeness of the conversation made it even stranger. I couldn’t grasp what was happening, but one thing was certain.
—Hisame’s consecutive event is starting to begin!
