Chapter 168
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”What—wait, we’re inside a dungeon? Is that safe!?”
Sakura panicked. One moment she’d been trapped in a wooden crate—then suddenly released in the middle of a dungeon.
Koji explained the situation.
”I picked this spot because even if the hardline faction finds out where you are, they can’t reach it easily.”
”I see, but… shouldn’t there be monsters here? I haven’t sensed anything. Did we really not run into any?”
”Well…”
Of course, he had.
After sealing Sakura inside the crate, Koji cloaked them both and entered the dungeon.
He needed light to see, but using a lamp or torch outside the Magic Armor would expose them to others. Any light could give away their position to adventurers.
So he used night-vision goggles, illuminating his path with the built-in infrared light. Monsters sensitive to infrared had rushed toward him, but before they could attack, he sensed their magic stones and took them out.
Because the armor muffled everything, Sakura hadn’t noticed a thing. Still, explaining that wasn’t simple.
He intended to tell her about the Magic Armor soon—he’d describe it as a floating ability. But that alone couldn’t explain how they passed the 3rd District’s Gatekeeper without fighting. He needed another excuse.
”I can fly,” he said. “It’s easier to show you here, but basically, I floated past the monsters. Turns out, if you don’t touch the ground where the Gatekeeper waits, nothing spawns.”
”Really? I heard that place is so strict that most people have to hire a big company just to get through. But you just flew over?”
She sounded skeptical, but knowing Koji had lived in town for years, she also knew rumors could be exaggerated. Seeing they’d actually made it here, she accepted his explanation.
”Well, that aside,” she said, “are we really spending three days up here?”
”Yeah. But there’s one thing I want to test first.”
”Oh? What is it?”
”I want to see if your teleportation works between the dungeon and the outside world.”
”What?”
Her eyes widened. Koji explained.
”Remember those black mini-tomatoes? I grew them here.”
”You did?”
”Pretty much. I planted the seeds, and that’s what happened. I cleared them before leaving town, but if you can teleport here from outside, you could harvest them freely once they grow again.”
”I see…”
He continued. “Also, in case something goes wrong—if they don’t recognize you as the Saint—the city might go into a frenzy searching for one. Kidnappings could start. If that happens, I want you to be able to teleport to Silver Orchid’s base.”
He pointed toward its location. Sakura nodded as she understood.
”Right, Silver Orchid protects innocent women. So if I can teleport there, I could help anyone who seeks refuge.”
”Exactly. It’d also make supply runs faster and reduce stress at the base.”
”Got it. Let’s give it a try.”
She smiled, took his hand, and prepared.
”Even if I can return to town, if I can’t teleport back here, I’ll need your help again, right?”
”Yeah.”
She squeezed his hand tighter.
”Hehe…”
Koji smiled faintly as she blushed. Despite everything they’d done together, this kind of touch still felt different—warmer somehow.
But now wasn’t the time for sentiment.
”Be careful,” he said. “Returning to town’s fine, but coming back here could drop you straight down if your aim’s off.”
”Oh—right! I’ll be careful!”
Even if she fell, Koji could catch her mid-air, but she needed to handle solo teleportation safely. Sakura straightened her posture, her face serious.
”I’ll return to my room first. That okay?”
”Yeah. Our inn room’s still reserved for three days. My place works too, but if anyone visits, they’ll notice.”
”Understood. Ready?”
”Whenever you are.”
”Then…!”
A soft flash.
”Oh…”
The scene shifted instantly.
Sakura’s room. Perfect landing.
At least, Koji thought, teleporting from inside the dungeon to the outside world works.
”Whew…”
Sakura sighed in relief. The first test had worked. Now it was time for the second—Koji handed her a black mini tomato.
”Alright, this time, try teleporting back into the dungeon.”
”Okay. Mmm… gulp. Hah… here I go!”
A faint light flared.
The next moment, the mountain summit reappeared around them.
”Oh! It worked!”
”Thank goodness!”
Sakura’s shoulders eased. The thought that she could now save women who might suffer because of her gave her a quiet joy. The experiment was a success.
That left one last test—growing the black mini tomatoes.
If this worked, Sakura could use teleportation freely, maybe not infinitely, but close enough.
Still, Koji frowned. “I did spray herbicide earlier… hope that doesn’t mess things up.”
The summit looked fine. Grass covered the ground just like before. Still, only one way to know for sure.
While he considered that, Sakura tilted her head. “Something wrong?”
”No. Teleportation’s done. Now we just need to see if the tomatoes grow.”
”Right. Is it hard to raise them?”
Koji scratched his chin. “Not really hard—just… they grow too fast.”
”Too fast?”
”Yeah. Last time they almost covered the whole summit in a few days.”
”That sounds… dangerous.”
Her voice faltered. Koji nodded. “Exactly. We have to be careful. If they spread too far, someone might notice. Better keep this a secret.”
He turned the tomato in his hand—then remembered.
He’d never eaten one himself.
Sakura noticed his expression. “Something up?”
”Oh, just realized I never ate one.”
”Didn’t you before?”
”Sort of. I only tried one when it was still red, before it turned black. Others ate the ripe ones, so I know they’re safe.”
”Then you don’t need to eat it now, right?”
”Yeah… probably not.”
He decided to save them. No need to waste Sakura’s remaining teleportation catalysts.
Koji knelt and began planting. He couldn’t reveal the special planters or fertilizer, so he made it look ordinary—just digging a few holes, placing seeds, and sprinkling water. Then he planted thin rods around them for vines to climb.
”That’s it?” she asked.
”Yeah. Not sure how long they’ll take to grow, but all we can do now is wait.”
He turned to prepare their tent. The one made by Imitation looked like any normal tent in this world. Setup went smoothly. Together, they carried supplies inside.
”Here we go.” Thud.
He also pitched a separate tent for storage—just in case. Leaving items exposed risked them being absorbed by the dungeon. Anything brought from outside needed to be moved occasionally to appear “active.” He’d have to remind Sakura to shake them sometimes.
”Are you done over there?” he called out.
”Y-yeah…”
Sakura stepped out of the tent. For some reason, she’d changed into lighter clothes and stood fidgeting, arms pressing her chest together.
”Uh…”
”We… have some time, right?” she asked softly.
”Well, sure, but… you really want to right now?”
She stepped closer.
”Well… after what happened before, it’s hard not to want more…”
Koji sighed inwardly. Maybe her new body’s sensations were just that overwhelming. He didn’t get it—and didn’t need to.
He didn’t mind giving in, but spending three whole days here wasn’t ideal. If the Church told the hardline faction about Sakura’s movements, they might suspect something. Even if no one saw him, someone could figure out he’d hidden in the dungeon.
Better to spend the next few days in town—and take care of that assignment from Wendy while he was at it. She’d asked him to find a new manager for his apartment since Sakura would be gone as the Saint. It made sense she wanted someone Koji trusted.
If he couldn’t find anyone, the Church would send someone instead.
He decided to tell Sakura he couldn’t stay long.
”So yeah,” he said, “we shouldn’t stay here too long.”
”I see…”
Her voice dimmed, but before he could say anything else—she jumped into his arms.
”Whoa—!”
He caught her easily. She whispered against his ear.
”Then make it count. Please me before you go.”
Koji hesitated, then smiled faintly.
He couldn’t help worrying about what would happen once she reached the Holy Church—but for now, he had another battle to fight.
With the hungry beast in his arms.
Notes:
• Sakura – Orphaned, raised by merchants, later became manager of a women’s apartment house. Met Koji when he sought a room, reluctantly accepted him with Frederica’s backing. Trademark: black-hair kuudere manager (strict outside, shy inside). Revealed by the Ceremony as the Saint of Ten’i (Teleportation Saint), marked by both factions of the Holy Church. Holds memories of a past life in Japan.
• Wendy – The daughter of merchant guild Hooters
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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