LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 286.2
Chapter 286.2. Little Sister
Satisfied, Shizuku and Tear seem to have grown closer. Shizuku has removed her mask and is now relaxing with a cup of coffee. Well, good for them, I guess? Maybe?
“So, who exactly are you? A copy of Shizuku?”
“That’s right. I’m a copy of Amano Shizuku. Hmm, maybe you could call me a human knockoff created by my master to kill Amano Sakimori. If I say ‘flesh blob’, will that ring any bells?”
“Flesh blob? …Ah, you mean that slime knockoff that can create dungeons.”
If we’re talking about a flesh blob, there’s only one thing it could be. Of course, it still holds a grudge against me.
“Do you need bandages?”
“But I’m not the third one, so that reference is kinda weak, don’t you think?”
The two “onee-chans” launch into yet another baffling conversation. They sure seem scatterbrained… Maybe they don’t hate me as much as I thought.
But then again, that’s probably just how it looks on the surface.
“You knew that carrying the True Muramasa sword would raise suspicion, didn’t you?”
“Of course. I anticipated that possibility, but I had to do something very important.”
Tear sprawls out on the sofa, lifting her legs high enough that her lower half is nearly visible.
“And what was that ‘very important’ thing?”
Despite her casual posture, the fact that Shizuku isn’t attacking her shows that if Tear tries to run, she’s powerful enough that we likely couldn’t stop her. This one is a real problem.
“Well, you see…”
Raising her legs even higher, like she’s doing yoga, Tear tilts her head innocently when I stare at her.
“Aren’t you supposed to say, ‘Don’t look!’ or cover my eyes or something? Isn’t that what your big onee-chans do?”
“We’re just looking for an opening to kill you. We’re not foolish enough to do something so pointless.”
“Oh, is that so? You guys really are steady where it counts. I’m glad I came.”
Sitting up from her lounging position, Tear straightens herself, then looks me directly in the eye, smiling with the ferocity of a wild animal.
“The truth is, Flesh Blob—er, Shizen-chan—gave me an order to kill you. So I came to ask you not to kill me if I lose.”
“There’s no reason to spare someone who’s trying to kill me.”
The atmosphere grows tense, a heavy killing intent filling the room. But Tear, completely unfazed, continues speaking calmly.
“Of course, I’m not expecting you to hold back. But if I’m clearly incapacitated, I’d like you to spare me. My life is precious to me.”
“Fine. If you’re still breathing by then, I’ll let you go.”
Shizuku interrupts, agreeing to Tear’s plea. I glance at Shizuku, and without saying a word, I signal my agreement. If she’s willing to go along with it, there’s probably a good reason. She’s not the type to act out of mercy.
Clapping her hands together, Tear beams with excitement.
“Yay! Thanks, onee-chan and Amano Sakimori. If you win, you can do whatever you want with my body. Consider it a victor’s reward.”
“That’s awfully negative for someone planning to win. Is there a reason?”
“Shizen-chan is waiting for you to defeat me and gain the strength to reach her. She’s probably asleep right now, excitedly dreaming of her final showdown with her worthy rival.”
Well, I guess I’m highly trusted, huh? She’s already assuming I’ll use her as a stepping stone.
“That said, I don’t intend to lose. Everything’s already set up.”
“Set up?”
“Yeah. I’ve arranged for a top-tier dungeon to emerge on Mount Fuji by the end of the year. On top of that, S-rank dungeons will pop up in front of major cities across Japan, all at the same time. People will have to split up to handle it. Oh, and I’ve also set up A and B-rank dungeons to spawn, just for good measure.”
“That’s one extravagant party. It’s enough to bring tears to my eyes.”
“Right? And of course, I’ll be waiting in the boss room of the top-tier dungeon. If you can defeat me, Amano Sakimori, you’ll reach the highest rank—Rank 9—and then move on to the final battle where Shizen-chan awaits, in the world where your onee-chans came from.”
Tear grins mischievously as she sprawls out again. That sly smile really does resemble Shizuku’s.
“The world where Shizuku and the others came from?”
“Yep. Humanity’s already gone extinct there, but Shizen-chan absorbed the power of that world. It’ll be the stage for your ultimate battle.”
“Beating you and calling it a day sounds like a fine ending to me. There’s no need to go. It’s a shame about the extinction, but it doesn’t concern me. I’ll just send letters occasionally; let her know I said hi.”
There’s no merit in going for me. With humanity gone, I have even less of a reason to—
“If you defeat her, you’ll gain administrator privileges for that world, along with immense power. Someone, somewhere, might need that power, don’t you think?”
When I glance at Tear’s smug grin, then at Shizuku, I notice her face is frozen in shock. I’ve never seen her look like this before. The tension on her face is unmistakable.
“Say, do you know why people started taking on the names of Sengoku warlords? It’s because the concept of reincarnation—returning to life after death—was born. Someone, somewhere, spread that idea. I bet there’s someone who needs that miracle, don’t you think?”
…So that’s how it is. Now that I think about it, it was after dungeons started appearing that powerful figures began adopting the names of Sengoku warlords.
I’d always thought it was a strange trend. Why would wealthy people suddenly start renaming themselves after historical figures?
I’ve heard rumors before—ridiculous ones about famous figures from history being reincarnated. While it’s not true, humanity might have considered it plausible enough to create the concept of reincarnation.
Ah, so that’s what [Reincarnation] was all about. That man behind [All Creation] must have prepared multiple safeguards to help humanity rebuild. I don’t know why Shizuku and the others came to the past, but it’s clear that the groundwork for all of this was laid before the dungeons appeared.
Not so much a plan as a desperate gamble. A series of potential tools, created just in case someone could make use of them.
They must have done something to bring the concept of reincarnation into existence. A miracle capable of reviving all of humanity.
And Shizuku wants to use that miracle to restore humanity in her original world. I see.