Chapter 71

Since childhood, Shizuki has been learning iaijutsu, and she became an adventurer right after the First Stampede, obtaining the necessary qualifications.

Becoming an adventurer was not to test her strength in dungeons.

It was to hone her skills even further.

Iaijutsu involves stationary targets like straw or bamboo.

With such targets, the true essence of iaijutsu cannot be fully mastered.

Manipulating the sword, controlling the mind, and striking the target with a sense of nothingness.

More beautifully.

More gracefully.

The true essence of iaijutsu, sought after by many masters from the past to the present, was what Shizuki continued to pursue.

Of course, the experience of cutting moving targets was important, but she also descended into dungeons to strengthen her body.

To improve her technique, she needed to be able to handle a heavy sword with ease.

By leveling up and defeating monsters, she would be able to manipulate the sword more freely than before.

Physical leveling was essential for honing her skills.

She was on an expedition far from her base in Shinjuku to further refine her technique.

Fighting more enemies and gaining combat experience.

To manipulate the sword with complete freedom.

Traveling north from Niigata, Yamagata, Akita, and Aomori, she landed in Hokkaido.

There, she heard about a new dungeon and a mysterious masked man, and Shizuki made her way to the garage dungeon.

However,

"...He's not here."

After defeating the boss, the dungeon emitted a light.

It seemed the masked man had not yet reached this point.

She had been expecting to find him eventually as she progressed through the dungeon, so she was quite disappointed.

As Shizuki was about to return to the surface with a dejected look, something suddenly appeared before her.

A mysterious floating mask.

It was hard to see anything below the neck without squinting.

To Shizuki, it looked as if the mask was floating in mid-air.

The masked man, who was often treated like a monster on the bulletin boards, was known only as "Mask."

His real name was unknown.

Since he was called "Mask" on the bulletin boards, it was likely his handle.

However, searching for "Mask" yielded no information.

He was currently an unknown man.

But this man, known as "Mask" online, was secretly the subject of rumors.

Even Masatsugu was interested in him. Shizuki finally had the chance to meet this mask.

Suddenly, Shizuki's body grew hot.

Joy and passion surged through her.

Why had "Mask" become such a rumored figure?

What kind of physical abilities did he possess?

Curious, she checked the mask's body, but he was completely "normal" — not the demon or monster rumored.

A bit disappointing.

But, since she was there, she decided to fight him once.

Shizuki immediately challenged him to a match.

When it came to gaining combat experience, she was insatiable.

Even with a first-time opponent, if she sensed talent, she would challenge them without hesitation...

The match with the mask ended in an instant.

Shizuki's sword was thrust at the mask's throat.

If it were a match, it would have ended there.

Shizuki had won.

But Shizuki was not at all satisfied with the result.

Because the mask had seen it.

He had seen Shizuki's full-speed shukuchi, which she used while active on the 40th floor of the Shinjuku dungeon.

Shukuchi is a technique that eliminates preparatory movements and approaches the target at the fastest speed without being noticed.

It took Shizuki over three years to master this technique.

But since mastering it, it had never been broken on the first encounter.

Even Masatsugu, who was renowned, had no reaction to shukuchi.

Shizuki's most confident technique, shukuchi, was not only seen by the mask but also almost avoided.

And that, as soon as she moved!

A difference of five floors in activity level would create an overwhelming gap in combat ability.

A difference of ten floors or more would make the match impossible.

For an unknown mask active on the 15th floor to react to Shizuki's attack on the 40th floor was simply impossible under normal circumstances.

But the mask had reacted to Shizuki's movements.

Was this man really reacting to her movements?

Was it just a fluke?

But...

Shizuki couldn't quite accept what had just happened.

Even more terrifying, the mask had not only avoided the attack but had also tried to block her sword.

She quickly changed the trajectory of her blade.

In a fraction of a second.

But in that instant,

Shizuki had allowed the mask to make a counterattack.

She was the one who reached the target first.

Shizuki was the one who thrust the tip of her sword at the mask's throat.

But his left-hand dagger had stopped between the mask and Shizuki.

If Shizuki had hesitated even a little, she would have been the one to be stabbed first.

There are no "ifs" in a match.

But if he had been an adventurer active on the 30th floor instead of the 15th...

(I would have lost.)

Shizuki had only won because of her overwhelming advantage in base level.

The fact that she had won by base level rather than skill severely wounded her pride.

...It was frustrating.

"...One more time."

"Huh?"

"Let's do it again."

The masked man seemed quite surprised by Shizuki's request. His presence almost disappeared for a moment.

Shizuki almost lost track of the mask's existence.

To slip past even Shizuki's eyes.

His stealth was truly remarkable.

If he had used this stealth during combat, Shizuki would have been even more delayed.

(Could he have held back in the previous match!?)

Shizuki became even more stubborn and forced the mask into a stance.

In the next match, and the one after that, Shizuki dominated the mask.

She paid close attention not to allow the counterattack he had shown in the first match, and she continued to win.

But even as she won, she remained vigilant.

When would he use his stealth?

Was he waiting for a moment of weakness?

Shizuki's suspicion of the mask grew.

In the third match, the flow clearly changed.

Shizuki was still swinging her sword with all her might.

Her technique was among the best among adventurers.

A single strike with the clarity of a still pond had a slight cloud.

The cloud was caused by the mask's footwork.

What had been amateurish earlier was now the same form as Shizuki's.

The field Shizuki had dominated was distorted by the clash of similar forms.

And the mask was beginning to grasp the flow of Shizuki's sword.

Not only grasping it, but absorbing it.

—Too quickly!

Of course, it was impossible to perform the sword form with a dagger.

Any attempt to mimic it would be forced.

But the mask was making unique modifications to avoid any forced movements.

And he was doing this during the fight!

The daggers, which had been crude, began to take on a will of their own.

—Interesting.

Shizuki's lips curved into a slight smile.

—Interesting. Very interesting!!

She was witnessing a battle she had never seen before.

Shizuki, who aimed for the pinnacle of technique, could not help but be captivated.

*

Seiki lay on his back, breathing heavily.

His muscles and tendons were torn from overexertion.

He had been hit by the flat of Shizuki's sword several times during their fight.

His body ached all over.

In the end, Seiki had not been able to land a single blow on Shizuki.

(I thought I was close...)

He had felt like he was grasping something.

But his body had not followed his senses.

It was like when, after becoming an adult, he remembered his high school track days and tried to run at full speed.

His mind and image were perfect, but his body would not follow.

The result was a fall.

Shizuki's combat style was ever-changing.

Even when he adapted to the movements he had learned in the previous fight, her blade would evade him.

No matter how many of Shizuki's movements he studied, she was always a step ahead.

He felt he could not win at all.

Yet, it seemed like he was just one step away.

It was probably just an illusion.

Seiki shook his head to clear the sensation.

"...Thank you. It was fun."

"Y-Yes, me too!"

Seiki, who had pushed himself, stood up.

He had learned many movements from Shizuki.

Fighting her had felt like a significant step up compared to fighting any other enemy.

This experience would surely be useful in various ways in the future.

"See you."

With just those words, Shizuki turned and left.

Seiki was momentarily captivated by her figure, but quickly regained his composure.

"Hey, Shizuki. Aren't you going back to Tokyo?"

"...Hmm. I haven't been to Chikaho yet."

"Most of the high-ranking adventurers are working on retaking Shinjuku. Don't you think you should join them?"

At Seiki's question, Shizuki turned to face him and tilted her head.

"......What's that?"

"Wh-What?"

Seiki was speechless at Shizuki's reaction.

It seemed Shizuki truly knew nothing about what had happened in Shinjuku.

Though she was usually expressionless, the slight change in her eyes revealed her inner thoughts.

"...I didn't know."

Shizuki's gaze was unfocused.

She was a bit anxious.

Seiki's speculation was confirmed as beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

She must have had many opportunities to get information.

But her lack of knowledge about the destruction of Shinjuku was likely due to her personality.

She was probably uninterested in anything other than honing her skills.

Even when spoken to, her words seemed to pass through her without registering.

Her team members must be sighing.

Seiki suggested that she at least try to communicate.

"—Masatsugu seems to have rescued Bacon. He might return to Shinjuku Station eventually."

"...Hmm."

Shizuki looked up and slightly pouted.

"So, what will you do, Shizuki?"

"...For now, Chikaho."

"Wh-What?"

"That was my plan."

"But—"

"If Masatsugu moves, it will be fine."

Indeed. If Masatsugu moved, it might be fine.

But wouldn't it be better to have Shizuki there for a more thorough strategy?

Perhaps this thought was reflected in his expression.

Shizuki shook her head.

"Masatsugu specializes in monsters. I have no place there."

Shizuki said this firmly.

Shizuki had defeated Masatsugu in a practice match.

But even though she had defeated him, she had not progressed to the higher floors he had conquered.

Shizuki, the strongest in human combat, and Masatsugu, the strongest in monster combat.

Even the formidable Shizuki could not surpass Masatsugu in monster combat.

Seiki still could not accept this.

It seemed hard to believe that a high-ranking adventurer was unnecessary for the retaking operation.

But Shizuki herself said she was unnecessary.

There must be a reason Seiki did not understand.

Or perhaps she just really wanted to go to Chikaho...

In any case, as a mid-level adventurer, Seiki was in no position to argue further.

He had no choice but to remain silent.

After the vague conversation with Shizuki, Shizuka approached Seiki as if on cue, with a full smile.

"Seiki, who got thoroughly beaten by Shizuki, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"...Well, Horen, let's start preparing for the meal."

"Don't ignore me! I'm talking to you, so don't ignore me!"

"I'm hearing things. It must be because I got thoroughly beaten."

"Aha-ha-ha! I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, so please listen to me!!"

"..."

When Seiki ignored her, Shizuka started crying and apologizing.

Seiki understood the pain of being ignored the most.

Perhaps because of this, Shizuka's tears brought back painful memories, and Seiki's eyes also welled up.

Why did he have to feel sad because of this person...

"...What is it?"

"Hehehe. I have a request for Seiki."