CH 155

“Hold on tight!”



I activate a “Ninjutsu” while accelerating the bike.



Then, I direct the bike straight towards a wall.



“!?”



From behind, I can feel Ichinose-san drawing in her breath.



Her arms are holding onto me tightly, transmitting a soft sensation to my back from our bodies’ contact.



A few seconds later, the motorcycle reaches the wall and begins to run along it as if to ignore gravity.



“Wha–!?”



Ichinose-san exclaims.



Although I told her about it in advance, there is a huge difference between hearing about it and actually experiencing it.



“Wall Walking Technique” is, as its name suggests, a Ninjutsu that lets it user move on walls and ceilings.



I’m not sure whether it’s because I became a “Shinobi” or because my “Advanced Ninjutsu” reached LV10, but the effects of my Ninjutsus have all been strengthened.



As I am now, I can drive vehicles on walls and ceilings.



(This feels really comfortable.)



It has to be every man’s dream to ride a motorcycle across walls.



From a bystander’s perspective, it might be creepy to see someone silently ride a bike on a wall.



However, just the act of perceiving us would be difficult unless their detection skills are well-developed.



(…That also means that whoever can “recognize” us right now would be an expert in detection.)



If there is such a person, that would mean that they had hunted as many monsters as we did and are at similar heights.



They might also be in possession of unique or rare skills like “Precocious”.



Although I’m being careful, no such reaction is being picked up by “Enemy Detection”.



If we go along the most “direct” path, we’ll be able to reach Rikka-chan and the others in a matter of seconds.



“Skill proficiency has reached a certain threshold.”



“‘Riding’ has increased from LV3 to LV4.”



My “Riding” skill has leveled up.



(—There.)



Rikka-chan appears at the corner of my view.



I can also see the figures of Shibata-kun and a log — no, the figures of Shibata-kun and Goshogawara-san who is holding a log.



Their opponent is a lone Zombie.



I can’t get a good look at its face from this angle, but its gray hair and lifeless skin suggest that it’s a Zombie.



Even if I’m wrong, I can say for sure that it’s a monster.



(Is that the source of the “strange presence” …?)



A superior species of Zombies?



It’s true that its movements are much more agile and sharp compared to the Zombies I’ve met so far, but that alone can’t explain the feeling I’m getting from it.



What I feel from that Zombie isn’t the overwhelming strength of a superior species.



Instead, it’s something more foreign.



(Is it just me…. or have I seen that zombie somewhere…?)



Is it my imagination?



Whatever. We should first focus on assisting Rikka-chan and her teammates.



I sense a “strange presence” from the Zombie, but its power shouldn’t be that impressive.



Attacking with my Item Box should suffice.



I’ll directly crush it.



Just as I am about to execute my plan, I recognize the face of the Zombie.



“…Huh?”



I unknowingly let out a stupefied voice.



I get to have a clear look of the Zombie’s face which reminded me of a timid teenage boy with glasses.



Contrary to expectations, there’s confusion, impatience, and embarrassment from being seen on the Zombie’s face.



“….Glasses-kun?”



No, but there’s no way…



I cancel the release of my Item Box and apply the brakes of the motorcycle, making the motorcycle come to an abrupt stop in the middle of the battlefield.



I deactivate my “Stealth” type skills, allowing the others to hear and see us on our bike.



“What? How did the bike suddenly appear out of nowhere?”



“Who are they?”



“Ah? Are you guys perhaps—“



“Natsun? And onii-san?”



Although the others are startled by our entrance, Rikka-chan quickly realizes who we are.



On the other hand, the Zombie Boy steps back with an expression of surprise at our appearance.



His reaction confirms that he is indeed the Glasses-kun that I am familiar with.



“…What kind of situation is this?”



I remove my helmet which is actually Aka in disguise.



I would appreciate it if someone could explain what’s going on.



Unfortunately, Rikka-chan and her friends appear to be just as confused as I am.



Their faces are telling me that they have no way of explaining either.



“M…Monster…!”



On the opposite side of the spectrum is Glasses-kun, who is absolutely terrified of me who has suddenly popped up.



How rude of him. I might have evolved, but I’m not a monster yet. I’m a bonafide human being.



“You seem more like a monster to me, but… aren’t you one of the students in Nishino-kun’s group?”



“D-don’t come near me! Get away, monster!”



He’s overly panicking.



He is capable of understanding human speech, but what should I do?



His appearance has been altered. In addition, there is a “strange presence” coming from Glasses-kun…



I have a lot of questions to ask him, but…



(I’ll restrain him for now.)



I plan on interrogating him after capturing him.



“Don’t be so guarded. Instead, look over there.”



“…?”



I point towards the sky, and Glasses-kun looks up as if his eyes are attracted to my finger.



He listens surprisingly well.



Ah, here’s my chance.



“!?”



In an instant, I stretch my shadow and bind Glasses-kun.



It worked.



Although I’m the one who did it in the first place, I never thought he’d get distracted over such a rudimentary trick…



It would have never worked on monsters.



“What is this… I can’t escape…!?”



“I’m sorry to do this, but please go to sleep for a little while.”



I tighten the shadow binding him to make him faint.



Glasses-kun look to be in agony as my shadow wiggles to hold him in.



Ichinose-san takes off her helmet and glances at me.



“Um… Kudou-san? ….Uuuupu.”



“Everything’s under control. I’m just having him faint for some time.”



The power that I put behind the binding is perfect.



If I didn’t bother holding back, Glasses-kun would have become minced meat by now.



Also, Ichinose-san. Good job on enduring the urge to throw up.



“…Ah…”



Soon enough, Glasses-kun’s ceases his resistance.



He seems to have lost his consciousness, but just to be sure…



“Aka.”



“Furu furu.”



Aka detaches a part of its body and sends it over to me.



It’s about the size of a softball.



I toss it to Glasses-kun who is still being restrained by my shadow.



The detached portion of Aka sticks to Glasses-kun’s body and stretches out like a rope, tying up Glasses-kun before petrifying itself.



This is also one of the applications of Aka’s “Petrification” ability. By clinging onto the opponent’s body and petrifying itself, it can serve as a restraint.



I did this because there’s a possibility that Glasses-kun is simply pretending to have fainted.



With this, however, we won’t have to worry about Glasses-kun trying to escape.



“Wow, that was impressive…”



Rikka-chan’s voice contains a mixture of astonishment and dismay.



“Fufufu, our Aka is amazing.”



“Furu furu♪.”



I praise and rub Aka which in turn shakes its body in joy.



I’ll have to give it a proper reward later on.



What would be good for Aka?



Anyway, this isn’t a place for talks. We should go somewhere else.



I want to hear about the situation from everyone present, so Shibata-kun and I carry the fainted Glasses-kun to a nearby house.



*****



“—Found it.”



“It” was on the rooftop of a building that was far away from Kazuto and his companions.



“Never thought I’d find a skill holder of the same variety nearby. Not only that, it barely has any mastery over its skill… Well, no matter. That troublesome Wolf King is gone, so I guess it’s not a bad idea to deal with the one over here before seeking out ‘Gluttony’ in the neighboring town.”



“It” smiled deeply while tracing the sheath of a big sword on its waist with its finger.