Chapter 4 – Port Sazan and the Guild

Author: A lot of explanation.

After exiting the forest and heading south for an hour, Port Sazan finally came into view.

As we made our way there, Kosuinen started to grate on my nerves, constantly asking me about the item I had used to heal Nellie. I ended brushing him off saying that I had received them as a reward for saving the lives of some nobles and had used just used up the last of my stocks.

Although I had already spoken at length with Nellie and the three guards, finding out more about the world without giving myself away proved to be quite difficult. Eventually, I remembered I had learned Advanced Conversation and Advanced Seduction, and upon activation, conversation proceeded so smoothly that I wondered why I was even worried in the first place. Though to be fairs, these were skills only used to deceive NPCs of enemy nations back in the game.¹

From our conversation, I learned that the three guards belonged to an organization called the “Adventurer’s Guild.” The Guild was responsible for dispatching adventurers to perform a kind of contract work. It mainly commissioned monster neutralisation, escorting, exploration, etc. The trio had taken on the request to accompany Kosuinen as guards.

Additionally, one’s class referred to the fundamental job knowledge and skill information that the guild would impart via magic to those who satisfied the necessary requirements. No wonder they thought “kunoichi” was a one of the rare hidden classes. Incidentally, the guild also had basic slave as a class, Nellie being such an example, because some were already paying out of pocket to buy slaves to use as meat shields for Guild work.

“Is that so?” said Quinn. ”So you arrived here from another continent?”

“Yes, so there was this magic research institution that was conducting an experiment on teleportation. And at the time, I happened to be escorting some big-shots by the area when I was unfortunately caught up in the explosion… The next thing I knew, I was in the middle of the forest.”

“That sounds… really rough,” Quinn said, offering her sympathies while making a pained expression. “Here I was thinking your items and your appearance didn’t seem around from these parts. So it was because you were from another continent… I’m a little shocked.”

Yeah, even I felt it was a lame justification, but thanks to having activated my conversations skills, she didn’t seem to doubt me in the slightest… Well, even if I had told them the truth that I was from a different world, they’d likely have an even harder time believing me.

“In that case Shino-dono,” Quinn continued, ”you should think about registering with the Guild in this town! If you plan on travelling, it would serve as a good replacement for an ID, and with your abilities, even reaching A-rank wouldn’t be far off.”

“Hmm, why not. I do need to secure our finances too.” Thinking about it, I didn’t have any money that could be used in this world since all of Sengoku Online’s currency was in kan.²

As our aimless chatter filled the air, we at some point arrived at Kosuinen’s end destination, Port Sazan.

*karma*

“Right, good work you all. Get out the commission completion certificate, and I’ll sign.”

Govack took out the paper, “Here you go.”

“Ah, yes,” writing on them, Kosuinen handed them back, ” this seems all good. Here you go.”

Looking it over, Govack’s face twisted, “Kosunien, sir, what’s the meaning of this ‘C’ evaluation? The cargo was unharmed?”

“Hmph, though you could say monsters’ appearance was more than we had budgeted for, I still lost my beastkin girl’s arm… She was still my property then. Of course I’d subtract off my evaluation.”

“… Tch, no helping it then.”

“Ha, be grateful that I didn’t mark the request incomplete. Hahahaha.” With an evil smile curled on his face (or so I was convinced), Kosuinen left us and headed towards the merchant district. Likely on the way to deliver his cargo.

“What an aggravating guy…” I spat out, glaring at the air in the direction he had left in. ”Just thinking a bastard like him was once Nellie-chan’s master ticks me off.”

Nellie quietly pulled at the sleeves of my tunic, “But Goshujin-sama… now I belong to you.” Like the very embodiment of a cat, Nellie nuzzled her neck against my back.

“Ahh! Nellie,” I turned around immediately hugging her tightly with both arms,” you’re just too cute! But you know Nellie, could you call me not by Goshujin-sama, but by my name?”

“Uhm… uhh… Shino, sama?”

“Yes, yes, one more time.”

“Shino-sama…”

“Mhm, you’re so adorable.”

*karma*

*karma*

“Uhm… Shino-dono?” Govack’s voice brought me back to my senses. I had almost lost myself in a world of just Nellie and I.

“Pa-pardon me… I couldn’t help myself.”

“What are your plans now? If you’re planning on registering with the Guild, we could take you along yeah?”

“Ah, yes, if you could.“

Although it pained me to, I extracted myself off of Nellie’s cushy body, and, without letting it show on my face, followed after Govack’s group.

“Oh, so it’s like a proper place after all,” I said to myself, ”almost like a city hall.”

“Well, this is the second largest town next to the capital after all,“ said Govack responding to my offhand remarks with sincerity, ”not really sure what a ‘city hall’ is though. Come in this way.”

Following after his party, Nellie and I entered the guild. The inside was an area with several windowed counters, much like a government office, placed alongside a dining hall.

“New recruits should go to that counter, if I recall.”

As if hearing Govack’s words, the lady behind the counter replied, “Yes, this counter is fine.”

“Ah, not for me. This lady here would like to register.”

“Very well. Please fill out this form with your name, age, sex, and class you are applying for. Place of birth is optional.”

“Understood.” I took the paper form and began to fill it out. It seems the writing is the same as Japan’s. Thinking about it now, people could understand what I was saying, though perhaps it was to be expected of the world closest to my own.

“About that, the lady told me she’s from another continent, and her class is something called a kunoichi… Will that cause any problems?”

“A, kunoichi? Please wait a moment…

We have no records of a kunoichi class here. It would be a completely new class. We won’t be able to grant you any skills with magic, but if you still would like continue, we can register you and your new class.”

“Yeah, I’d fine with that.” I already had more skills than I would ever need anyway.

“Thank you very much. Should you provide us with information regarding your class’s skills, we will waive the registration fee.”

“Hmm, would I have to reveal all my skills?”

“Not at all, just one skill exclusive to the class would be sufficient. Or five non-class-exclusive skills.”

“Then that’s no problem, I’ll share the information. What do I need to do?”

“Thank you very much. Please place your hand on this divination stone,” taking out a pure white, mousepad-like stone, she continued, “and bring to mind the image up of the skill you would like to share.”

Deciding on a which kunoichi skill, I placed my right hand on it.

“The scan is now complete. The skill you offered is:

Shadow Bind, mana cost 0
Able to cast after a shuriken or similar weapon is lodged into a target’s shadow.
Once cast, it seals the target’s movements.
Relevant Attributes: Mid, Dex
Resistance Attributes: Mid
Base Success Rate: 80%

Is that corec— eeehhh!? Paralysis effect, 0 mana cost, and a success rate of 80%!? I-i-is it really alright!? Are you really okay divulging this ultimate-like skill to us!?”

“I don’t mind at all.”

“Unbelievable, what a crazy skill,” said Govack, wholly impressed.

But it wasn’t as if anyone over here were familiar with what ninjas³ could do, I myself had resistance to it, and it wasn’t even my strongest skill. And indeed, in Sengoku Online, it was a skill that didn’t see much use.

“Tha-thank you. Now then, I only need transcribe the information from your form onto your guild card… Just as before, please place your hand over here.”

Compared to the stone before, I put my hand on the much smaller… plaque the size of a smartphone she handed me.

“Please wait one minute… It is now ready.”

In that minute, the smartphone-sized plaque turned pitch black.

“Depending on your class, your card does change color, but such a dark black is really quite unusual… Please hold your card and imagine the words ‘open status’.”

“Alright.” Open status… hmm.

*karma*
Name: Shino Kagura
Sex: Female
Age: 21
Total Level: 85
Guild Rank: F
Class Level: Kunoichi 85

*karma*
Titles
‘Equilibrium of the Cosmos’
‘Kunoichi Master’

Special Skills
Character Change
Mana Release
Mana Transfer

Type Affinity
Shadow +50%
Fire +20%
Light −10%

Blessings
World’s Unnamed Overseer
*karma*

… Somehow, I get the feeling that it’d be unwise to show anyone else the contents of this card.

My MP is ‘N/A’!? And what’s with this ‘Equilibrium of the Cosmos’ title!? Though the Character Change skill is was probably there so I could make use of my alternative characters…

“Uh, uhm.”

“Yes?”

“When I want to use this as an ID, must I show everything?”

“Ah, no, you are able to hide everything but your name, class, guild rank, sex, and age. In that minimal state, it will still serve as an ID without any issues. Additionally, Guild staff are also unable to view hidden sections except under extenuating circumstances. We guarantee your privacy.”

Alright, I should be safe for the most part then.

“If everything looks in order, then I would like to continue explaining each section.”

“P-please do.”

“Ahem, in that case…
Name, sex, class level, and age all mean what you expect,
total level is calculated from the experience gained from all your classes,
your guild rank is your rating within the Guild,
ranks range from EX, S, A, B, C, D, E, to F highest to lowest,

because you just joined Shino-sama, you are an F-rank,
incidentally, C-ranks are veterans, B-ranks are the elite, A-ranks are the top elite, S-ranks are the equivalent heroes, and EX-ranks may as well be legends,

HP is your life force,
MP is your possed mana,
Str is physical strength,
Vit is vitality or robustness,
Dex is dexterity,
Spd is speed,
Int is intelligence,
Mid is willpower,

for all stats except HP and MP, the average for adults is between 8 and 12, and for humans, the max is 18 in each stat,
the higher your level, the more difficult it becomes to raise it,

titles are like second name given at the will of the gods,
special skills are specific to the individual or to the class, and will persist in effect without needing ever to equip them into your skill slots,
type affinity affects your attack power and damage received for the associated type,
positive affinity is of course more desirable, and those who possess any affinity of over +20% are quite rare,
and blessings refer to divine protection granted by gods or beings of equal stature.

That should be about everything to give a rough idea.”

“T-thank you for taking the time to explaining everything to me…” Amazing, she said everything in one breath without stopping.

“Should you wish to take on any requests, please proceed to the next counter to apply.”

“Okay, thank you.”

“Great, it’s seems you’ve registered. Next is this counter.” As if waiting for me to finish registering, Govack led me to the counter next door in charge of commissions.

“It’s already this late, so I’d like to leave looking for work for tomorrow.”

“Ah, that’s not it, Shindo-dono. Actually, the scale vipers you defeated are the target of an ongoing neutralization request, and if you bring what was designated as the kill proof, you can receive guild points and other rewards in exchange.”

“Is that so?”

“This is your share of five gems… The gems on the scale viper’s head serves as the proof for them. Try handing them in to the counter along with your card.”

“You took the time to gather my share as well?”

“Well, you did save our lives, so we had to do something in return, though it’s not much… We didn’t get much off this job, so please let us off at just that.”

“No need to worry, this is already plenty. Thank you.”

In contrast to his outer appearance, he was quite attentive to the small things. Much appreciated.

In short fashion, I went to the commissions counter to submit the five gems, “Can you process these?”

“Yes, these gems are… from scale vipers? And five of them! … Please wait a moment.”

The lady behind the counter disappeared deep inside and, after some rummaging, returned holding two bags.

“This small one contains two gold coins, and this large one contains 50 silver coins. One scale viper is 5,000 kram totaling to 25,000 kram.”

“Thank you very much,” I replied to the counter lady. Then I asked Govack next to me, ”By the way, about how much is this worth on this continent?”

“Let’s see, with 10 kram, one could buy a meal at quite an appetizing restaurant. With 100 kram or 1 silver coin, you could spend a night with two meals at a middle-grade inn.”

“… It’s quite the amount then.”

“It is. But adventurers have a lot of expenses between weapons, armor, and medical treatment… It’ll be gone before you know it if you’re not careful.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

But at least now I found a path to the life together with Nellie.

So many things happened today. I felt exhausted, especially mentally. Can this day just be over so I can find an inn to pass out in squeezing Nellie like the lovely mass of pillow she is.

Author: Shino-san is walking straight down the path of a degen at a terrifying pace (lol).

¹ Non-Player Characters (NPCs) are citizens of the game world that do not have a player behind their actions. Typically not used to refer to monsters.

² Kan, also known as kanme, is a unit of measurement for weight in the context of the real world. As of 1891, following the Japanese government’s efforts to standardize it, the kan is equivalent to exactly 3.75 kilograms or 1000 momme (the standard unit of measurement in the pearl industry).

³ For those forgetful, kunoichis are a gender-specific term for female ninjas.

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Chapter 3 – First Battle

“What… What on earth is that?”

“We were almost out of the forest—what’s a C-rank monster doing so close to the city! Any normal serpent would have been fine, but a scale viper…”

“Hurry up and rescue me! I’m paying top coinage for the lot of you!”

“We’ll do as much as we can… but please be prepared to abandon cargo and flee in the worst case.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! There’s forty rainbow ipomoeas¹ in there! Just how much do you think…”

*Karma*

By the time I had arrived at where I had heard the scream from… the battle was already at its peak. Backed up against the the two-horse wagon stood a slightly plump man hiding in its shadow… and a group of three with weapons drawn trying to protect him. Against them were serpents that measured what could easily be over two-meters tall. Five to six strong with outward shells that shone like armor.

I called out to the the plump man who was closest, “Hello~… Would you like some assistance?”

“Woah!? Where did you pop out from…“ He nodded immediately, ”Well, whatever. I’ll reward you so hurry up and dispose of them!”

Hmm, a reward huh? Duly noted.

Let me activate Stealth and see what I can do. Sneaking behind a large one, I activated Surprise Attack.

Oh, I hadn’t equipped my weapon yet. Ah whatever, they looked weak anyway.

I moved in for the attack and sank a blade-hand chop. Its head detached from its body with a satisfying snap, rolling to the ground. It seemed like my Surprise Attack had triggered Critical Strike too.

“Wha—”

“Where did you— Who are you even?!”

“You did that… barehanded? Were the necks of scale vipers sliceable barehanded?!”

Though Stealth had faded as soon as I had begun my attack, it didn’t seem like it would pose any problems for me against an enemy of this level. Though the four remaining vipers had simultaneously turned to their attention to me as if having recognized me as a threat (the last was being kept in check by the sheer size of the male guard), they weren’t able to lay even a single scratch on me. Master Evasion seemed to be doing work.

“Ah, just leave them to me. You guys go help the tall guy over there.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! One against four—huh, you haven’t even broken a sweat… Alright, I don’t know who are you are but thanks! Quirley, we’re back to Govack! Be ready with healing spells for us!”

“U-understood Quinn!”

So their names were Govack, Quinn, and Quirley. The towering muscle of a man wielding a greatsword must be Govack, the glamorous silver-haired lady in snug-fitting leather armor and wielding something like a shortsword must be Quinn, and girl with chestnut hair the one garbed in a vibrant green manteau with must be Quirley. As I ruminated over the matter, my body was automatically dodging the vipers’ every attack and responding with Master Counter landing critical hit after critical hit.

“Yaaaa!!! Take this! Rock Cleave!!!”

“Gale Slash!!”

”Bless us with good fortune! Minor Heal!”

Around the same time I beheaded the last viper on my end, the trio also seemed to have finished dealing with their one.

“Huff, huff, serves, you, right!”

“Hah, hah… They did have the ‘Rough’, ‘Evasive’, and ‘Paralysis Poison’ attributes after all… Even out of C-class monsters, three-attribute ones are particularly difficult.”

“Thanks for backing me up guys. As for the rest of them… Wait, those corpses, don’t tell me you…?”

“Yeah, the one who saved us earlier. By herself, she took out four alone in a flash.”

“Woah, unbelievable. And they’re all practically one-hit kills.”

“What astonishing prowess… thanks traveller, you really saved us.”

Just hearing those words born of the heart of praise and gratitude, I couldn’t help but feel prickly and uncomfortable…I only happened to land a chance to cheat my way into getting this power. Really a grade far from the skills they had risked their lives to forge.

“You’ve really outdone yourselves you dogs! Now stop dawdling—we’re heading out. We need to reach town and make the delivery before the day is out.”

I see, so the chubby man was the merchant and the three who fought were his guards he hired.

“Ah, wait a moment please… The gem located on their foreheads serves as proof of their neutralization. We should at least take those before leaving… Quirley, go to our driver and tend to her wounds in the meantime.”

“Okay.”

Huh? So they had a fifth with them. I following after Quirley to the back of the wagon… and saw a petite girl collapsed by the wagon.

Ohh, cat ears and a tail. The devilishly cute— Wait, her arm was on the verge of falling from its socket. How painful.

“Hmph, leave her! Her arm is already in tatters. Even if we were to heal the wounds, she wouldn’t be able to drive the wagon with just one hand.”

“… She’s your slave,” said Govack.

“That’s exactly why! What use is she! I can’t even sell her to a brothel because no one would bed a beastkin… I had only hired her as a guard and to take care of chores and yet she’s already become useless in blink of an eye. Nothing but a wasted expense.”

“… You—”

“Stop it Govack. Master Kosuinen, could we at least us take her with us to town? If you think about it, abandoning her here would serve only to spread bad rumors.”

“Hmph, I guess it can’t be helped.”

Quinn was appealing to the sensibilities of that merchant, Kosuinen’s was it (lol). Good job!

But wasn’t there something I could do for her? At the rate things were going, even if we took her to town, her fate would be left to the streets, a death sentence for sure. What’s more, it seemed she was valued bottom of barrel even among slaves, and, with just one arm left, she likely hadn’t many prospects.

Wait, maybe there was something. I called up my inventory to look over what I still had from Sengoku Online. If I could make use of these…

I readied myself and called out to Kosuinen (lol), “Uhm.”

“Huh, oh! It’s you again! What you showed back there was quite the spectacle. What a display of prowess! You have my thanks… What do you say, rather than those three fools, how does becoming my company’s personal guard sound?”

“Ahaha, my apologies, I’m a little busy with other things at the moment… But as I was saying.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“You had mentioned a reward earlier if memory serves?”

“Huh? Ahh, did… I?” his face stiffened.

“You, had, mentioned, it, did, you, not?”

“Ahh, I-I did! But I’m currently still mid-delivery, so I don’t have any coins on hand.”

What stubborn fat-ass. “Worry not. I request not money, but her. Would you entrust the girl to me?”

“The… girl? The beastkin girl? Just her and nothing else?”

“Indeed, however in consideration of possible future disputes over ownership, I would like all formal produces for an official transfer be conducted. Would that be acceptable?”

“Ahh, if that’s all you want then… Nellie! Come here!”

Under Quirley-san’s healing, it seemed the bleeding had stopped for the cat-eared lass, Nellie-chan. Her white hair that drooped to her shoulders was dyed in blood. Just looking was hard to  bear.

“Now listen carefully, that lady there is saying that she’s going buy a useless deadbeat like you. Be grateful you even got this chance.”

Gulping, Nellie-chan nodded.

“Then let us begin the contract transfer procedures… Place your hand on the beastkin’s collar.”

“Like this?”

“That is sufficient. Now that I think about it, I didn’t get the chance to hear your name.”

I briefly thought about using an alias but said, “It’s Shino Kagura.” Considering that it was a formal ritual, I thought better of it and gave my real name instead.

“Alright then, let us begin.” Kosuinen also placed his hand on Nellie-chan’s collar, “God of Contracts, Promys, I pray to thee. I, Kosuinen, one of Secovytch’s merchants and owner of the slave Nellie, hereby transfer her ownership to Shino Kagura-dono for no required compensation. Shino Kagura-dono and slave Nellie, do you acknowledge?”

As if in response, a light began to permeate the room centered around Nellie’s collar and drew me in. Fascinating.

“I acknowledge,” said Nellie, shaking me from my stupor.

I see, so this is an “official transfer.” Then I too ought to reply, plus the two of them seemed to be waiting for it, “I, uh, acknowledge.”

“Excellent. With that, we’ve completed the transfer. You can now use her in whatever way you please.”

“How could you say that? How could one think to do anything but fawn all over her,” I said, my voice resounding clearly, still quietly gazing into the light as it settled. ”Such a bewitchingly fluffy tail! And these blissfully cushy ears! How could one not shower her in love?!”

“Well, uh… to each their own I guess… ” said Kosuinen, a little startled by my sudden outburst of love for the likes of a beastkin, a single-armed one no less.

“Shino-dono was it?” said the blond-haired man as he offered his hand. “Thank you so much for… for well everything. My name is Govack, level 18 warrior.”

Sturdy-looking and carrying a greatsword upon his back, a warrior… He probably was also extending his thanks for taking in Nellie. A good person unbecoming of his grim-looking face. Wait, he said level 18 right? So this world has a level system? First magic, now levelling, this really is an RPG world.

“My name is Quinn,” said the silvered-haired lady. “I’m a level 15 ranger. Allow me to also express my thanks Shino-san.” She saluted with her shortsword.

Glamorous with leather armor that fit her to a tee. Ahh, now that I wasn’t distracted, wasn’t she drop-dead gorgeous. This lady. Even as a woman, I could feel myself getting a little light-headed.

“While I don’t have any money, for now at least, let me offer you this as a token of my gratitude,” wrapping me in both arms, she kissed me on the ear.

Oh my god! This was too much for a village lass like me. If I were to go down this yuri route, just what else could be awaiting me!

She giggled and said, “You’re so cute when you’re embarrassed.”

Running to my side, the girl with chestnut hair looked up at me, her eyes full of respect, and said, “Uh, uhm, thank you very much. My name is Quirley. I’m a level 13 healer.”

The girl in a vibrant green manteau, Quirley. If Quinn-san were a luscious red rose, then she would be an immaculate white chrysanthemum. Though appealing in a completely different way, Quirley too was incredibly adorable.

If it weren’t for her ears, even Nellie would be incredibly attractive among humans. Were all girls in this world beauties by default? Then wouldn’t that basically rate my charm at weed level status in this world? How depressing.

“Uhh,” she said with a voice devoid of emotion, probably due to the shock of losing an arm, ”my name is Nellie. I’m a level 1 common slave. Pleased to meet you… Goushujin-sama.”

Just wait a little longer, don’t worry.

“Kagura Shino… though perhaps, it would be better to introduce myself as Shino Kagura over here. Kunoichi. My level is secret.” Not knowing what my Sengoku Online level would mean for this  world’s levelling system, I decided to leave it ambiguous.

“I understand. I imagine it can turn out to be quite the hassle to deal with the flood of job requests that come once they find out you’re high level. No offense at all. But kunoichi huh? I’ve never heard of it. Quinn, have you?”

“It’s a first for me too. But judging from the battle earlier, it seems to be a light-armor class that focuses on speed and use of skills yet is a tier above light-class warrior at the same time… perhaps it’s even a hidden class.”

… I didn’t quite follow. Tier above? Did she mean like an addable crafting profession? Perhaps the system worked the same way how RPG’s let you change professions.

“Y-yeah, something like,” I said, trying to pass it off. I’ll be sure to ask Nellie-chan about it later. Hastily changing the topic, “A-anyway, we should first focus on healing Nellie.”

“… My apologies,” Quirely said on the verge of tears, “this is the best I can do with my skills, anymore is…”

“It wasn’t my intent to blame you! Rather, I just so happen to have gotten my hands on a quality healing item, but I won’t know if it’s effective or not until she tries it…” Wait, why was everyone making such surprised expressions? Especially you Kosuinen.

“Y-you’re going to use something so expensive on a slave… A magical item that could restore lost body parts?!”

“Ah, well like I said, I’m not sure it’ll work without trying.” Whoops, was it abnormal to use healing items on slaves?

Looking through my inventory, I spotted some pills I had made while on my herbalist while replenishing my stock and took a few tablets out.

Panacea, cures all abnormal effects.
Analeptic, completely revitalizes one’s stamina.
All-recover, restore lost body parts (only one part per use).

Though town shops sold each for quite the price, I could make them for free ignoring the labor time costs thanks to my kunoichi’s gathering and herbalist’s production skills.

That self-proclaimed world’s overseer did mention they would try their best to recreate my Sengoku Online data, in which case… Moving my arm to make it seem as if I had pulled something from out my pouch, I placed one of each tablet into Nellie’s left hand and told her, “Please swallow this.”

“Ex, excuse me! One such as myself cannot possibly accept such expensive medicine!”

“… Nellie, aren’t you my slave?”

“Y-yes.”

“Then be quiet and swallow. I am not one to skimp on looking after that which is mine.”

“Al… right,” finally conceding as if having resigned herself, Nellie swallowed all three tablets.

The effect was immediate.

“Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

Nellie whole began to shine brightly, and, one by one, all of her bruises began to disappear.

“It burns! Goshujin-samaaaaaa.”

Everything was going to be fine, r-right? Though she probably was overreacting a little, perhaps she would calm down a little if I hugged her?

“Don’t worry Nellie, everything is going to be alright.” I hugged her and gently patted her back.

“Ahhhh…”

Once the light had faded, I looked over to see if Nellie had calmed down, The skin that regrew on right arm is looking glossy and wonderful.

“… Oh man,” said Govack, ”isn’t that amazing! For it to have such a dramatic effect, as expected of an elixir-level item.”

“… If you were to sell this,” said Quinn, ”you’d be rich in an instant. Nevermind common slaves, you could even buy a cream-of-the-crop sex slave.”

“Sob, I’m a familiar of a healer.”

I was surprised at the guard trio’s words. I’d never thought that healing items in this world would be that valuable. Although I could opening a business selling them and secure myself a lucrative income source if it came down to it, I think I’d rather pass except as a last resort… I wouldn’t want myself to stand out too much.

“Nellie, are you alright? Does anything feel out of place?”

“Yes, Goshujin, sama, there doesn’t, seem to be…” she said, staring blankly at her restored arm. “Goshujin-sama, it’s a bit strange. I can see the flow of mana even more clearly than before. And… I know I shouldn’t really possess that much mana, yet now it feels like I’m overflowing with it.”

Hmm? A side-effect of the item? I thought to myself when I heard the ding of a message received.

‘You are now an output gate for mana, even something innocent like a well-intentioned hug will bestow mana, magic in other words, to the other. Please proceed prudently.’

Geez, I thought you said we wouldn’t be in contact again… Oh—so what was happening to Nellie wasn’t because of using the item but because of me!

“Goshujin-sama…”

Those eyes are too full of temptation, Nellie-san.

“Goshujin-sama, I vow to devote my entire life to you! Even should this contract be revoked, this body is yours now and forever…” Bending to her knees, she kissed the top of my foot.

“Y-you don’t have to do such things… but well, I’m not too familiar around these parts since I’m not from this continent, so I’d be overjoyed if you would help me out.” I extended my hand to help her back to her feet.

“Of course! Goshujin-sama, please feel free to ask anything of me!”

—I’ll keep it secret that she had slipped straight into my heart with that pledge and set it on ablaze.

¹ Ipoomeas are a type of flower. Morning glory is one of its more common names, but that also refers to several other similar flowers.

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Chapter 2 – Within a Forest

“Ugh…”

The sensation of the ground and the stench of summer grass open shook me awake.

“… What?”

Scanning my surroundings, all I saw were trees. Grass. A vast sky.

“Huh?”

I couldn’t make heads or tails of what was going on.
Just a second ago, I was inside the ninja mansion playing Sengoku Online…
And now, I was outside… collapsed, in the middle of a forest?
My village was fairly rural, so further down towards to the mountains one could find many places quite this wild…

“Even I wouldn’t go outside still wearing my ninja outfit.”

Right, weren’t these clothes I was wearing during the show we held for sword battle? All of my outfit was exactly as I had left after having taken off the the headband and the hood.

“I haven’t been kidnapped, have I? But then again, they wouldn’t just leave me alone outside without tying me up… Ah! My phone!”

I had just realized something incredibly important: the phone that had just been in my hand was nowhere to be seen.

“Ugh, all my personal information… And if my Sengoku Online account gets stolen, that’ll be the end of me!”

I better hurry back home and first thing get that phone frozen, I thought, when I heard a ding.

“Eh?”

A familiar sound. The ding of receiving a message.

“Huh, am I hearing things? But my phone’s nowhere to be seen—” A ‘message received’ window popped up before my eyes.

It was without a doubt the front screen of my smartphone, semi-transparent, floating in the air.

“Wha…”

As I stood lost for words, the message on that screen opened itself.

‘Dear Kagura-sama:
Though this may come as quite the surprise, you are now in a different world from the Earth where you once lived. This is not Japan but Falyias, an alternative world as you might call it.’

“Not only is this transparency hard to read but the message lacks an ounce of concern for my wellbeing! And what’s with this cringe chuuni setting! Straight out of a notebook of delusional fantasies that even the most angsty nerd would keep locked away.”¹

“Not only is this transparency hard to read but the message lacks an ounce of concern for my wellbeing! And what’s with this cringe chuuni setting! Straight out of a notebook of delusional fantasies that even the most angsty nerd would keep locked away.”

‘Even if you put it that way, this is your reality now, delusional as it may be.’

“Responses come in real-time?! A chat client?!” I no longer knew what was going on anymore.

‘For starters, as Falyias’s overseer, I would like to offer my sincerest apologies. This sequence of events was truly just an unfortunate coincidence, and the fault indirectly lies with this world’s side.’

“…And?”

Thinking things through, even if supposing one did have the technology to create this air-like window, it wouldn’t be anyone in out in a forest like this in the middle of nowhere. Something definitely was abnormal about the situation. If that was the case, then gathering information was top priority.

‘Originally this world, Falyias, existed on the same wavelength as yours on practically the same phase. But just as your world proceed down the path of science, Falyias proceeded down the path of magic.’

“I see I see.”

‘… But constant use of magic and sorcery by humans and monsters slowly began to exhaust the mana supply of the world… and we were but a hair’s breath from complete destruction.’

“Mana?”

‘The basis of magic and sorcery, a type of energy present throughout the world. You could even call it the force through which the world exists as the world in reality.’

“And if depleted, what would happen?”

‘The power for existence itself would be depleted. It would be as if the world called Falyias had never existed in the first place.’

“… And don’t tell me I’m to do something about it? Talk about cliché summoning…”

‘You are mistaken, everything has already been taken care of.’

“What?!” I yelled. If everything has been taken care of, then just send me back already. Why even explain?

‘To be exact, the fact that you are here in this world is the very proof that everything is proceeding far better than we could have imagined.’

Wait, that makes even less sense.

‘I wrote earlier that the two worlds exist on closely related phases… But precisely because of how close, as if being pulled in by a magnet, Falyias drew ever closer to the mana-abundant Earth.’

“But mana seems like something so out of fantasy. I wouldn’t have thought that Earth would have any.”

‘The structure of your world’s reality do not allow magic to manifest itself given the way that things shook out. With mana having no way to be used much less to show traces of its existence, it began to build as time flowed forward. So much so in fact as to have adverse effects on your world in much the same way as its deficiency has had on this one.’

“So you’re telling me to bring your dangerously barren world together with my dangerously abundant world… to do something about this mana situation?”

‘Should the worlds be left to the whims of the forces of attraction, forget salvation, it would be a one-way trip set straight for destruction… Thus, your world’s overseer and I decided to each designate a part of reality as a point of contact through which to allow mana to trickle over, however…’

“However?” I had a bad feeling about this.

‘… All the conditions for said point of contact aligned on you… Kagura-san, it has been decided that you are to be byway through which mana will flow from Earth to Falyias.’

“What the heck is this!!”

‘M-my humblest apologies.’

“Precisely, on, me… You mean I can’t return home?”

‘At the present time, it is impossible considering the current violence of the influx of mana through you… But in approximately a thousand years, it should be possible.’

“A thousand years?! Not even the smallest speck of dust of my dead body will remain!”

‘Ah, that’s right. You now have essentially eternal youth due to the influx of mana. Nevermind 1000 years, you may even live to be 10000.’

“……”

‘Well, uh, how about this! I’ve taken the data from the device your hand was in physical contact with when you came over… your smartphone, and have created a pretty faithful copy of your Sengoku Online profile. With that, I thought you’d be able to acclimatize smoothly to life over here!’

“Wait? My Sengoku Online profile?”

‘That’s right. As your character’s name was the same and appearance already similar, it was but a simple task. Take it as a freebie.’

“Even if you say that… Well, if it’s all it does is help me to acclimatize then sure… Besides, wouldn’t be an angsty teen’s chuuni fantasy without it.”

‘No doubts or lingering regrets?’

“Well… I no longer have family there anymore after all. If you say I can’t return, then I’ll just move on looking forward—”

“Eeeeeeeek!” came a sudden scream interrupting us. It was a female voice from the middle of the forest. Yup, definitely textbook chuuni.

“So I guess this is where I go save her…?”

‘I merely oversee. It is not my place to tell you what to do. But, given your stats, it should pose you no challenge.’

“Alright, alright, I get it. I’ll get on it. Wouldn’t want this leaving me with nightmares…”

‘Incidentally, your skills can be used in the same manner as before, so… good luck… I cannot interfere anymore, so I doubt that we will be in touch.’

“Hey! Wait-”

With a click, the message’s window closed. What an irresponsible bloke.

“Sigh… He mentioned I could use skills right… Lemme see, Edit Skills… Woah.”

My phone’s screen popped up again, this time displaying the skill menu from Sengoku Online.

“Let me go with the ‘Trash Mobs’ preset for now.”

All the skills I had entered into ‘Trash Mobs’ were still as I had left them.

Selecting it, “Ohh, my body feels light. Looks like the movement effects of Gust are working.”

Gust, Fleet-Footed, Master Evasion, Critical Strike, Triple Strike, Surprise Attack, Fire Breath, Master Counter, Stealth, Dual Wielding.

I could feel the notifications of each skill being set steadily roll into my head.

Though there was still much to think over, I put those aside for the moment and set my sights on clearing this upcoming event.

¹ The actual phrasing here is just chuuni setting ignoring the last sentence. Chuunibyou is a term now is used to describe those that mistakenly believe themselves in possession of magical powers or special attributes. Second-year middle school syndrome.

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Chapter 1 – Prologue

Author: My name is Aoeh
This will be the first time I’ve written a story this long.
The story may involve a bit of yuri, violence, and cruelty.
You have been warned.

“… Be thou Mutou Jinnai-dono?”

Under the midday sun, a woman dressed in a typical ninja uniform greeted the ronin-looking man walking on the highway by the outskirts of town, haired in a knot.

“A shinobi huh…² An agent of the Eichigo³ family no doubt. It is indeed Mutou Jinnai speaking.“

“Quick on uptake, admirable. Then nothing more need be said… I shall be claiming that head.”

The woman bent forward ever so slightly, gripping her shortsword⁴ in reverse, and rushed at the ronin.

“As if I would hand it so easily!”

He drew out his katana into a slash to intercept the woman’s shortsword. As the blades clashed, not the high-pitched screech of grinding metal but—

A disappointingly faint click could be heard instead.

*Karma*

“And that concludes the sword battle performance for this afternoon’s segment.”

The announcement managed to make its way in as far as the female staff room in the ninja mansion where I taking my break. I nodded and said, “And with that, today’s work is over.”

After double-checking the closing hours, I took my hood and headband off and hung them on the hook inside my locker.

*Karma*

Normally, wearing these pitch-black ninja clothes from sunrise till sunset would be highly impractical. What’s more, catching whiff of the news that a shinobi was approaching a samurai in broad daylight for a duel would cause any real shinobi to writhe in their graves. But if it was for visitor event for a tourist attraction, then it’s a different story.

Our small village, or rather tourist attraction, was located in Niigata Prefecture somewhere between Joetsu and Itoigawa. This ghost town, whittled away by depopulation chip by chip and but a hair’s breadth away from complete desertion, decided to rebrand itself as a ninja village to attract the youth and tourists in an attempt to revitalize itself.

Though our main sell was of course seeing ninjas, it wasn’t as if we had made them up and had no history of actual ninjas. This area used to be under the domain of the daimyo Uesugi Kenshin. And legends have it that the Nokigiru, a group rumoured to serve under the daimyo Kenshin as a secret intelligence agency, once resided here.

Two years ago, I, Kagura Shino (now 21), had been searching for a job in Niigata city since graduating from high school when I received news that my hometown had reinvent itself as a ninja village. Rejecting any pending tentative job offers, I returned to my hometown.

Now one might wonder why a young lass full of future would jump at the opportunity to work at ninja village. But even in a nothing-to-do village like my hometown, as its one saving grace, I still looked back fondly on watching the rebroadcasts of the historical dramas like Mitou Koumon⁵ and Hissatsu Shigotonin⁶ with my grandfather.

And to me who, like grandfather, like granddaughter, had proceeded smoothly down the path set from youth to become a full-fledged historical drama nerd, this news and working here were godsend.

“Kagura-san, I’ll be heading back first~,” said Kai through the door, one of the part-timers who had acted out the sword battle earlier with me.

“Take care~”

I ought to have a word with him, coming all the way to the women’s changing room, where someone just might be changing, only to say goodbye, but I guess I couldn’t really blame him as there was severe lack of young women in the village. If someone of even my looks is getting attention, I probably should cut him some slack.

“Well, putting that aside…”

I took out my smartphone out of the locker and started up an app.

Sengoku’s Ambition Online

An online game set in fictional Japan at the time of Sengoku era, the Warring States period. Although the phone version was released only recently, I had transferred my account and characters from the PC version, which I had already sank a lot of time into, so my level was quite high.

Level 85 ninja, level 76 exorcist, level 60 blacksmith, and level 77 herbalist.

One was allowed up to four characters per account. All of my characters were well past the so-called “master level” of 50. Because I had my blacksmith, I never ran into issues when it came to gearing everyone out. Even in a one-on-one fight with a boss class like those of Nobunaga or Ieyasu, I was confident I could win. But in actuality, I would have had to deal with those annoying minions that come with bosses so genuinely doing such a thing wasn’t realistic.

“Well then, which one you lovelies should play as today~”

Regardless of the character, I had decided to name each using my real name Kagura Shino. Because it by itself already sounded somewhat old-fashioned, I thought it surprisingly fit the aesthetic of the world quite well.

“Kunoichi-chan it is!”⁷

As I touched my phone to tap the picture of my kunoichi—

Just like that, the phone began to suck in my finger.

¹ Ronin, a type of samurai. In this case it is not modern use to refer to a salaryman in transitional unemployment or student that failed exams for the next tier of education, but is reference to master-less travelling samurai vagrants.

² In the feudal era assassins were generally referred to as ninjas, whereas Shinobi were specifically those that practiced Ninjutsu, the way of the ninja.

³ Eichigo is also the old name of Niigata Prefecture, where the real world portion of this story is set.

⁴ The shortsword is actually a toutasu, a single- or double-edged dagger typically used by samurai.

⁵ Mito Koumon is a period drama that first aired in 1969–1975 for 1227 episodes and named after the titular protagonist. It is an alternate name for Tokugawa Mitsukuni andis also the name of several other films and series.

⁶ Hissatsu Shigotonin, which translates to roughly the ‘Perfect Assassin,’ is a period drama that aired from 1979–1981.

⁷ Kunoichi is a more modern term for female ninjas; ‘ninja’ itself is not gender specific. It is said to derive from breaking up the character for woman 女 into the three recognizable constituent strokes くノ一 (in the correct stroke order) which is read as ku-no-ichi.

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