Dai Katana Manga Chapter 21

This is the twenty-first chapter of the Goblin Slayer Side Story II: Dai Katana manga.

Full Summary
Time has passed and Captain's party has continued to explore the second floor of the Dungeon of the Dead. Entering the tavern one morning, Captain finds the mysterious informant sitting at their usual table greeting him and saying she had heard they'd finished off the newbie hunters. Captain recognizes her and thanks her for the information he'd provided, with no apparent recognition that he'd previously been unable to remember her, much less that she was the source. As captain sits down at the table she asks where the rest of the party is, and he tells her they're simply still in bed. A bit wary of her praise as he doesn't recall any rumors about their party being special, he asks where she'd heard of his party. She deflects saying she'd just heard about them around town as people in the fortress city talk about parties that are on the up like other places talk about the weather. Captain suspects Smith and Trade God's Nun as the most likely sources, as those two were the only ones they talked to about the Newbie Hunters; Smith to sell the gear they recovered, and Trade God's Nun for burial of the rank tags they'd been able to find. The Informant reveals nothing when he presses further, and she changes the subject. Telling Captain that she's glad things are going well for him, but reminds him that if he lets his guard down he'll die. When Captain says that's a terrible thing to say, she says it's an occupational hazard for him. That after the second floor comes the third and then the fourth; that there's a long road ahead and they can't have him dying. As he quietly agrees thinking how the party can handle the second floor now and soon will be ready for the third floor which is still a place others have gone before; she goes on to say that to be fair, no one's found the stairs down to the fourth floor. With that she vanishes without any sign of leaving. Captain doesn't even remember talking to her and thinks the waitresses must have forgotten to clean up as he looks at her mug.

However soon Knight of Diamonds arrives, accompanied by one of his party members - a quiet young women short enough to me mistaken for a rhea. Knight of Diamonds asks if they can have a seat and Captain agrees. Captain inquires about Knight of Diamonds' companion and the knight explains she's from an orphanage but has saved him many times. The conversation soon moves on to what the knight is there about. He's heard that Captain's party were the ones who defeated the scruffy men. Captain equivocates, saying that it may or may not have been them. Knight of Diamonds moves on to say that not many in this particular tavern have the ability and resolve to challenge the third floor of the dungeon. He estimates that his party and Captain's party alone have the will and capability. Captain partially disagrees with Knight of Diamonds, saying that what he does he does for himself, and doesn't consider his actions to have heroic motivations. Nor does Captain think the difference between risking one's life for noble goal or for selfish goals are something that matters here. Knight of Diamonds finds that an interesting way of looking at things, but changes the subject. He tells captain that he's heard of another up and coming party in town who is lead by someone who wields a saber like Captain's. Captain finds that interesting, and Knight of Diamonds begins to take his leave, but before he leaves Captain remarks that he's heard that no one has discovered the stairs down to the fourth floor yet. The knight readily confirms that's the case before he and his party member depart. As they leave Captain's party begins arriving to eat breakfast, and as he finishes eating Captain suggests trying the stairs down to the next floor.

In the dungeon, Female Warrior is again the target of all the slimes they encounter. As Half-Elf Scout teases him about it while she dries herself off, she promises payback. Female Bishop takes a minute to double check her maps to be sure they're taking the shortest path through the first floor. As the party grumbles about how traveling all the way in and out can be tedious, Female Wizard remarks that it'd be nice if they had the Gate spell to pop in and out. Myrmidon Monk reminds her that not only is it a lost spell that a mistake could lands them inside a wall. As the party banters, Female Bishop remarks that she thinks there's something in the dark zone which they have to pass by on every trip to and from the second floor, but isn't sure what it is. The rest of the party doesn't know either, as they've only heard the rumors that no one whose gone in has come out. However as that's not what they're there for that day, they soon wrap it up and move on to the second floor.