Chapter 282: Where’s Boothill? Where did he get taken off to?

Chapter 282: Chapter 282: Where’s Boothill? Where did he get taken off to?

『 [ Curse the Student Council, treating people differently like this... ]

Just as they were talking, the student whom the Disciplinary Committee had taken away earlier—the one Rappa called the "Ninja Initiate Gigaku"—had now changed into his school uniform and returned.

So, Rappa led the group over to meet him.

[ You’re still here, that’s great— ]

Seeing that Rappa and the others were still there, the Ninja Initiate Gigaku was overjoyed, as if he had found his saviors.

[ Gigaku Ninja Initiate, what troubles thee? ]

Rappa noticed that something was weighing on his mind.

[ Stop calling me by the name of my character. Use my stage name — Nanabloom-chan! ] 』

『 ....』

—?Omniscient Viewer’s Chat Lodge?—

Paimon: "Nanabloom-chan?!"

Paimon: "What kind of flower is that? Is it tasty?"

Lumine: "Uh... that’s just her stage name!"

Lumine: "It’s not food!"

Stelle: "That name sounds so familiar. Isn’t that someone from the freshman group chat?"

Stelle: "So that’s what she looks like in real life."

Mualani: "Miss Rappa seems to really enjoy helping others!"

Rappa: "As a Ninja Hero, I naturally cannot turn a blind eye to those in need!"

March 7th: "I wonder what kind of trouble this Pepper... wait, Nanabloom-chan is facing?"

March 7th: "Could it be that she got points docked again, and wants us to help her get revenge?"

Furina de Fontaine: "There’s no way we can help with that, right?"

Furina de Fontaine: "After all, those really are the school rules..."

....

『 [ What? ]

[ Nanabloom? ]

[ -chan? ]

Stelle felt the name was a bit bizarre.

[ A classmate from Tokiwa calls me that. Isn’t it cute? ]

[ You know, I just realized how high-caliber our new students are this year. Please, you absolutely must take part in the Performing Arts Club’s ’Paperfold University Superstar Project Photography Challenge’! ]

Nanabloom-chan made her request to the group.

[ That name is so long! ]

The name was so long that even March 7th couldn’t remember it.

[ This challenge requires you to pose as star models, and choose a photographer to take photos that meet the requirements. We will print them into a photobook for everyone. ]

Seeing their confusion, Nanabloom-chan explained the details of the event.

[ That sounds awesome! Let’s do it together! ]

March 7th could never say no to a photo shoot.

[ If it’s a trial prepared by Ninja Initiate Gigaku, I see no reason to refuse. ]

Rappa also readily agreed.

[ Great! Now choose a photographer among yourselves. This challenge will put the photographer’s skills to the test more than the model’s! ]

Nanabloom-chan waited for Stelle and the others to choose a photographer.

[ Photographer Ninja Rappa, you’re up! ]

Stelle looked at Rappa next to her, thinking she would be perfect.

[ My apologies. I am unfamiliar with this particular ninja tool. It’s best I leave it to you. ]

Rappa shook her head, indicating she didn’t know how to handle a camera.

Next, Stelle glanced at the expressionless Dan Heng, reading from his eyes that he wasn’t good at it either.

She turned to March 7th, only to see her looking back with eager, pleading eyes.

Helpless, Stelle had to take on the photographer job.

[ Then you’re in charge of photography. Good luck! As for our prop... Let’s use this Slumbernana Monkey toy. ] 』

『 ....』

—?Omniscient Viewer’s Chat Lodge?—

Stelle: "Damn, this is completely backwards!"

Stelle: "It’s clearly a star photo project!"

Stelle: "Yet they’re making a genuine big star like me be the photographer?"

March 7th: "Oh, come on, you’re already a big star. Can’t you give little nobodies like us a chance to shine?"

Qingque: "Exactly!"

Qingque: "A big star doesn’t lack popularity anyway. Whether you take photos or not won’t change that."

Paimon: "But since this activity was proposed by Nanabloom-chan, shouldn’t she be the photographer?"

Stelle: "Exactly, that’s what I think too."

Lumine: "Maybe she’s only responsible for organizing the event."

Stelle: "Fine, then let me show you my superb photography skills!"

....

『 [ Come on, classmate, make sure all the models and the Slumbernana Monkeys are in the frame at the same time! ]

Nanabloom-chan stepped aside, letting Stelle work her magic.

Stelle stood in place, observing and planning for a moment before finding the perfect angle.

Finally, with a series of shutter clicks, beautifully composed photos were taken one after another.

[ Wow, absolutely perfect! ]

[ I’m going to hang these photos up at our booth! ]

After Stelle handed back the camera, Nanabloom-chan looked at the photos inside and was completely blown away!

[ Baseball Bat Ninja, your Image-Capturing Ninjutsu is truly exquisite. ]

Rappa stepped forward to take a look and offered sincere praise.

[ Sigh, I really envy how photogenic you all are. I wish I could become the Festival Star of the SoulGlad Scorchsand Audition too... ]

[ Oh well, let’s not bring up sad things during the carnival. ]

[ Please take your photobooks. Have fun! ] 』

『 ....』

—?Omniscient Viewer’s Chat Lodge?—

March 7th: "It’s obvious that Nanabloom-chan really wants to be a big star."

March 7th: "Unfortunately, being a big star isn’t that easy."

Stelle: "Speaking of which, is it really that hard to become the Festival Star of the SoulGlad Scorchsand Audition?"

Stelle: "How come I felt like Hotaru and I passed it effortlessly?"

Hotaru: "About that... strictly speaking... we kind of cheated..."

Qingque: "Cheated?"

Qingque: "Oh!"

Qingque: "I remember now!"

Qingque: "Stelle used her Clockwork trick to smooth things over with the judges one by one!"

Mualani: "And for the final stage, they ran into an old acquaintance, Mr. Argenti."

Mualani: "Haha, that indeed made it look very easy!"

Mualani: "Of course, given Miss Stelle and Miss Hotaru’s performance, I think they truly deserved the title of Festival Star!"

Sunday: "You are all destined to stand in the spotlight. Becoming a so-called superstar is merely a casual endeavor for you."

Sunday: "But for ordinary people, it is indeed a lifelong, unreachable dream."

Sunday: "Even so, I see that they are still working hard for it."

Sunday: "Perhaps that is the choice they have made."

Sunday: "And I should not interfere with the choices of others."

Stelle: "Brother Sunday, it seems you’ve realized quite a lot!"

Stelle: "Great, I hope you keep having these deep realizations!!"

....

『 [ No one will disturb us now. Speak. ]

[ You’ve been following us this whole way. Why? ]

Walking to a quiet spot, Dan Heng continued to question Rappa’s motives.

[ Very astute. It appears you have ninja super hearing too. However, following you was mere coincidence. My purpose for coming here is to set up Dazzling Ninja Seals across the campus in order to dispel the Evil Ninja’s matrix. ]

Rappa explained.

[ Seals? Oh, the graffiti the student from the Disciplinary Committee was talking about. ]

March 7th finally understood.

[ Cause and effect is a wondrous thing. It allowed me to reunite with you, the Nameless Ninjas. Ninja Hiryu may not recognize me, but he must remember my colleague: A Ninja Hero clad in silver armor. He has a bold, easy confidence, is proficient in the use of bullet ninjutsu, and frequently spouts sweet and melodious words... ]

[ Silvergun Shura. ] 』

『 ....』

—?Omniscient Viewer’s Chat Lodge?—

Stelle: "What a description! ’Sweet and melodiouswords’!"

Stelle: "Holy muddle-fudger, whoever said those words were dirty? They’re fantastic!"

March 7th: "Actually, there’s one thing I’ve wanted to complain about for a while!"

March 7th: "Why does Boothill’s title sound so cool and badass?"

March 7th: "But when it comes to us, we get Baseball Baseball Bat Ninja, Ninja Ruri, and Ninja Hiryu?"

Furina de Fontaine: "Silvergun Shura!"

Furina de Fontaine: "That title is indeed much cooler!"

Boothill: "Ha, that’s got absolutely fork-all to do with me."

Boothill: "You know me, I like to keep a low profile. I’d never use such a flashy name."

Dan Heng: "By ’low profile,’ do you mean using your guns to clear the path wherever you go?"

Boothill: "Brother Dan Heng, you misunderstand me. "

Boothill: "As long as the local folks are friendly and reasonable, I obviously wouldn’t resort to that."

Boothill: "Peace breeds wealth. Good for you, good for me. I fork-ing understand that logic."

Stelle: "Yeah, I get it too!"

Stelle: "So from now on, please call me the Baseball Bat Shura!"

Silver Wolf: "Doesn’t have the same ring to it. Not as catchy as Galactic Baseballer."

....

『 [ Silver who? ]

[ What Asura? ]

[ Oh... I think I know who that is... ]

Stelle’s expression went from blank confusion to contemplation, and finally to sudden realization.

She finally knew who Rappa was talking about!

[ ...Boothill, is it him? ]

Dan Heng remained silent for a moment before asking Rappa.

[ Precisely. ]

Rappa nodded.

[ So, you are also a Galaxy Ranger? ]

Dan Heng guessed Rappa’s true identity.

[ Of course. Lest there be any misunderstanding, I have been emphasizing my title as a Ninja Hero. ]

Rappa explained.

[ Uh... do those two terms mean the same thing? ]

March 7th felt that "Ninja Hero" and "Galaxy Ranger" couldn’t really be equated.

[ That explains who checked into the hotel. ]

[ But why would a Galaxy Ranger revisit the Dreamscape? ]

Dan Heng continued to question Rappa.

[ Ninja Hiryu. You and your companions are all elite ninjas who follow the true teachings of Trailblaze. You should know that in the Cosmic Ninja Realm, there are many extraordinary individuals like me, but also evil ninjas. ]

[ So long as the Evil Ninja still lives, danger that requires the presence of us Ninja Heroes will never cease. The reason I visit Pinecany is to hunt down one such scoundrel. ]

[ He wreaks havoc across the universe with his fiendlings in tow. He is the enemy of the Ninja Capital and my archenemy — Evil Ninja Osaru. ]

Rappa stated the purpose of her trip, but Dan Heng was completely bewildered.

[ ...Do you know what she’s talking about? ]

Dan Heng turned his head and whispered to Stelle and March 7th.

[ These are the chronicles of the Ninja Realm recorded in the Ninjutsu Scroll. ]

Stelle pondered for a moment and gave Dan Heng a solemn answer.

[ ...Forget I asked. ]

Dan Heng was left speechless by her response. 』

『 ....』

—?Omniscient Viewer’s Chat Lodge?—

Qingque: "Stelle, you’re really good at making things up on the fly."

Stelle: "That’s not making things up!"

Stelle: "It’s making things up based on facts!"

Stelle: "When Rappa saved me earlier, she said, ’as the Cosmic Ninjutsu Inscriptions says’!"

Stelle: "Doesn’t that mean this thing actually exists?"

Rappa: "I am delighted that the Baseball Bat Ninja remembers it so clearly."

March 7th: "Hahaha, our teacher Dan Heng doesn’t really know much about these trendy things."

March 7th: "Look at his bewildered face, it’s hilarious."

Welt Yang: "Dan Heng, you’ve suffered. (chuckle.jpg)"

Dan Heng: "Sigh... it seems just reading academic journals isn’t enough. I need to take some time to learn more about different subcultures."

Lumine: "Mr. Dan Heng is indeed very diligent..."

Lumine: "As expected of a reliable Archives Spokesperson!"

....

『 [ This is troublesome... ]

[ If her identity as a Ranger is real, we can’t treat her words as a joke. Maybe something really has happened in Penacony. ]

Dan Heng began to frown.

[ Oh no! ]

[ Should we run? ]

Stelle put on a panicked and frightened expression, making March 7th roll her eyes.

[ The situation is still unclear. Let’s not act rashly. After all, our current identity is just auditing students. ]

[ If only we could contact Boothill. Where on earth is he... ] 』

『 ....』

—?Omniscient Viewer’s Chat Lodge?—

March 7th: "Here we go again! When are you going to fix this defeatist attitude of yours!"

Stelle: "The Evil Ninja Osaru is fierce!"

Stelle: "I’m scared! (cry.jpg)"

Silver Wolf: "Hilarious. With your personality, even if an Aeon stood before you, you’d dare to swing your bat at them."

Silver Wolf: "Is there anything in this world you’re actually afraid of?"

Hu Tao: "Speaking of which, where is Mr. Boothill?"

Hu Tao: "He checked into the hotel using the Conductor’s identity long ago, so why haven’t we seen him?"

Guinaifen: "Maybe that identity is so useful that he’s having too much fun in the Dreamscape?"

Dan Heng: "I suspect he’s most likely fooling around in some bar."

Boothill: "Ah, Brother Dan Heng, I didn’t expect you to know me so well!"

Boothill: "That’s right, my biggest hobby is having a few cups of strong malt juice."

Boothill: "But don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. I’d never mess up the main business."

Rappa: "Yes, Silvergun Shura has always acted swiftly and with high efficiency!"

Rappa: "With his assistance and the help of the Nameless Ninjas, we will surely find the tracks of the Evil Ninja Osaru this time!"

....

『 The screen shifted to Boothill’s perspective.

[ Yeah, when I woke up, my brain was telling me: Hatred is the weakness of all the weak. ]

Only then did I realize that at least one part of my brain was still alive.

[ But if you ask me... ]

[ My muddle-fudgin’ brain ain’t the boss of me! Or how’d I end up here? ]

[ Hmm? ]

Boothill, who was drinking and complaining at the bar counter, let out a soft exclamation and suddenly looked down at his phone.

??, Messages Dan Heng

" /Dan Heng: Are you in Penacony? "

" /Boothill: Did you see my message at the front desk? "

?? Message failed to send.

" /Boothill: ? "

?? Message failed to send.

?? — Message History —

" /Dan Heng: I ran into someone calling herself a Galaxy Ranger, so I want to check her identity with you "

" /Boothill: Dagnabbit! "

" /Boothill: Finally got the signal back. This place is a total dump "

" /Boothill: You guys met Rappa already "

?? Message failed to send. 』

『 ....』

—?Omniscient Viewer’s Chat Lodge?—

Stelle: "?"

Stelle: "Where the heck did you end up?"

Stelle: "How is there not even a signal?"

March 7th: "Wait, this bar looks a bit familiar."

March 7th: "Is this Auntie Jessie’s bar?"

Furina de Fontaine: "Eh?"

Furina de Fontaine: "But if I remember correctly, isn’t that bar located in Dreamflux Reef?"

....