Modern ninjas, being versatile, can delve deep into otherworldly labyrinths alone - chapter 56

Chapter 56

Running my fingers over my chin after wiping away water droplets with a towel, I feel a smooth surface with no trace of stubble.

Excellent. Thanks to the high-quality razor I acquired from the general store, I’ve achieved a comfortable shave.

I’m naturally light-bearded, so I’d been neglecting it since arriving in this world, but this time I’ve shaved clean for a reason.

What’s that reason, you ask?

I’m actually attempting to measure the passage of time inside the dungeon by observing how much my cleanly shaven beard grows.

During my last exploration, I lost track of time and spent five whole days in the dungeon, which predictably earned me a scolding from Erika.

Well, I end up being scolded for one reason or another every time, but five days is undoubtedly excessive for maintaining my own condition.

In the crisp early morning air, I prepare myself and check my equipment.

My usual blades, including spares, are all accounted for.

This time, I’ve prepared a large quantity of 30 throwing sticks.

My cotton-padded armor remains the same, but I’ve purchased thick armored trousers for lower body protection and sewn additional parts into the lining.

This will protect my groin, hip bones, and thighs in addition to my previous defensive coverage.

My helm is still the helmet-type with large openings around the ears, but I’ve added a chin strap for more intense movements.

Well, I’ll continue to experiment with these as I use them.

Although nearly ten days have passed since my last exploration, I’ve finally made progress in manipulating the magical energy infused into my throws, so I’m planning to put it into practice this time.

I don’t intend to visit that dungeon people’s room… at least that’s the plan.

The technique isn’t perfected yet, and there’s no need to rush.

Above all, I made a promise.

As I approach the square with the dungeon entrance, I’m surprised to find others already there.

A group of six male and female explorers is chatting with the guards, and… well, there are quite a few familiar faces.

“Hey, long time no see, Shu.”

The one who notices and greets me is Bras, the warrior from the party I rescued on the second floor previously.

I also see the faces of Benito the warrior and Sergio the scout, other party members.

“Hello, Shu. You really are alone, aren’t you?”

And there’s Bodwin, the prince – no, warrior monk who recently arrived in this world.

It seems he’s already found party members.

However, something catches my eye.

“Hey, does such a small child also enter the dungeon?”

What concerns me are the remaining members.

The woman carrying a short bow is one thing, but I can’t overlook the presence of a boy who looks to be of elementary school age in the party.

“Ah, well. He’s-”

“Hey! I’m not a child, I’m a full-grown adult!

This is why I hate drifters!”

The boy angrily puffs up at me, but even seeing this reaction, he still looks like nothing more than an elementary schooler throwing a tantrum.

Bodwin, flustered, tries to intervene between us, but Bras, seeing the situation, steps in to explain.

“Shu, this is Jarmir of the Mikling race. He’s a young scout, but he’s no child.”

According to Bras’s explanation, he’s an adult male of the Mikling race, a small-statured species native to this world.

It seems Bodwin made the same mistake as me, and in his mind, the equation “drifter = rude person” has solidified.

I’m glad there’s no lingering resentment as he quickly accepted my apology, but I’ll need to be more careful about such things in the future.

My lack of knowledge about the surface world is indeed a weakness.

“I’m Ilinia, nice to meet you. I’ve heard rumors about you quite often.”

The woman carrying the short bow introduces herself and offers a handshake.

Hmm, on closer inspection, she’s not an ordinary human either.

I certainly can’t make the same mistake twice in a row.

While I refrain from staring, I catch a glimpse of her ears, pointed like bamboo leaves and clearly not human.

“Hehe, there are no elves in your world either, are there?”

The woman who introduced herself as Ilinia brushes back her hair, deliberately exposing her distinctive ears to me, and flashes a seductive smile on her refined features.

This… possesses a dangerous allure distinct from human beauty.

“I didn’t intend to pry. I apologize for my rudeness.”

I quickly separate my thoughts and emotions to escape her pull and respond curtly.

Ilinia reacts with a hint of disappointment but quickly conceals it.

Still, an elf. This, at least, I recognize.

They’re a representative non-human race that appears in movies and such.

“Eh, Ilinia isn’t human either!?”

“Bodwin, you… We’ve been together for three days since our introduction, and you hadn’t noticed?”

“Gahahaha! Ilinia’s proud beauty keeps striking out with these drifters!”

“You, be quiet!”

As Ilinia chases Jarmir around amidst the commotion, I gather that Bodwin and the two non-human explorers are potential members for a new party.

Bras and his group are accompanying them for exploration training at the request of the Drifter Bureau.

I had assumed Bodwin would join an existing party, but apparently, there were no parties conveniently looking for just one member.

So the Drifter Bureau approached these two who also wanted to join a party, aiming to establish a new one.

“We’re planning to retire soon, you know. But if we can be of help to our juniors one last time, well, we don’t mind.”

I see, so Bras and his group are retiring.

The fact that Bodwin couldn’t find a party to join is probably related to this, as parties that lose members often consider retirement.

I had thought Erika’s talk didn’t concern me, but it turns out these events are closer to home than I expected.

After all, I only know a handful of people in this world.