It's possible to get out of the pit without dying to the boss: so a reset isn't required to do the category if the boss is killed without dying yourself.

I'm surprised this game is here without me submitting it myself. I'm the game's developer.

Clearest! (100%): (My video)

Clearest! is beating the boss that poses as a statue (Manote Thiha), beating the secret boss (Scribble Cat), then finding Roti at the right of the Manote Thiha's boss area to complete the game.

Clear (any%): (not my video, not really a speedrun) (I am not sure why this embed is not working)

Clear is beating the boss that poses as a statue (Manote Thiha), then finding Roti at the right of the Manote Thiha's boss area to complete the game.

I can certainly think of other categories, but it's not like anyone's running this anyway. If Clearest! is created I'll submit my run. I can record one for Clear as well if it's needed before the category is created.

Edit: I guess I'll also state my preference for using the in game timer. The time displayed is based on the number of frames that have passed since the first input is allowed. That said, it does not quite match real time because NES does not run at exactly 60FPS and the timer counts 60 frames as a second. Still, for comparing runs against each other that should be fine.