Chapter 115 The Otaku Trio’s Hidden Side (Part ②)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
At the guild in Mildu’s town street, where he had coincidentally run into Taichi and the others, Kanata finally learned the full story of what had happened. And now, all that remained was to conquer the dungeon and rescue Nanai and Ninim….
But at his feet, the Otaku Trio clung desperately, while Kimura stood nearby, looking like he wanted to say something.
There were certainly points in the Otaku Trio’s situation that deserved sympathy, yet that didn’t mean Kanata had any obligation or benefit in helping them. In fact, taking them along would only bring disadvantages.
”That look on your face! I get it-degozaru. You’re thinking of abandoning us-degozaru!”
Taichi suddenly shouted out.
”We won’t let that happen-degozaru! Ichiro-dono, use that thing!”
At Taichi’s words, Ichiro nodded and pulled something from his item box.
”Ta-da! The Philosopher’s Stone~!!”
Ichiro showed off the item in a voice like some blue tanuki-shaped robot from somewhere.
”That’s… no way….”
”That’s right-degozaru. The real ‘Philosopher’s Stone’-degozaru. We’ll buy our freedom with this.”
Taichi puffed out his chest, as if to say, “Gotcha!” However….
”You idiots.”
Kanata snatched the Philosopher’s Stone away.
Of course, Ichiro tried to resist, but he froze in place, unable to move.
”Ahh! Give it back-degozaru!”
”Listen, right now you’re all slaves, and I’m your master. Do you get that?”
To talk with the Otaku Trio, Kanata had temporarily “rented” them as guild slaves. So for now, they were Kanata’s slaves.
”Slaves can’t go against their master. Everything a slave owns belongs to their master… so don’t pull out your trump card so carelessly like this.”
Kanata said in exasperation.
”Uuu… we want your help-degozaru….”
Taichi and Ichiro collapsed in tears right there.
”Even if you say that, taking on more trouble like this is….”
”Kanata… please help… them?”
Suddenly, a voice came from behind him.
”Shizuka? Why are you here?”
”Faris sent a help request. She said there’s no time.”
”Maya?”
”Oh, I’m here too.”
”Even Maria….”
The sudden appearance of his classmates left Taichi and the others speechless.
”Kanata-kun, do you have anything left to do here?”
Maya asked, ignoring the stunned Otaku Trio.
”No, we’ve got all the information we wanted.”
”Good. Then let’s head to the dungeon. We’ll handle the rest…. El-chan says to hurry.”
”El does?”
”Yeah… something about a premonition.”
”I see… got it.”
Kanata nodded at Maya’s words. It seemed their little game was over.
”Wait… t-take me with you….”
Kimura, who had stayed silent until now, forced out the words.
”…You’ll just be a burden. You can’t even be useful, right?”
”No… I’ll be fine….”
Kimura tried to stand as he said that, but his legs gave out, and he collapsed again.
”Damn, I… Ore-sama…!!”
Kimura desperately tried to get up, but against his will, no strength came into his body.
”You mustn’t push yourself. …Extra Heal!”
A voice came from behind, and suddenly Kimura and the Otaku Trio’s bodies were wrapped in light.
”Cecilia? And Ria-tan too?”
”Don’t call me Ria-tan.”
”We received a divine oracle from Rubina-sama: ‘To Kanata-sama’s side.’”
Rubina… the created Goddess, founder of the Rubina Faith, and the ancient great mage who became the first Saint. With her power and the holy relic known as the Saint System, it was possible to calculate future events and leave solutions behind. And on the appointed day, those would be sent as “divine oracles”….
”No way, she foresaw even this far?”
At Kanata’s mutter, Cecilia gave an ambiguous smile.
”…Hey, just to be sure, the first Saint’s name isn’t ‘Laplace,’ is it?”
Ria-tan widened her eyes at Kanata’s murmur.
”Do you know it? The first Saint, Rubina-sama’s true name is ‘Rubina de Al Laplace.’”
”…For real.”
Kanata sighed deeply. But in the next moment, he switched gears and told Kimura,
”Stay put. I’ll definitely bring Ninim back safe.”
”Kunugi….”
Kimura’s face twisted into a complicated mix of frustration and trust.
”…Ninim and Nanai are my women, after all.”
”You bastard! Drop dead!”
With Kimura’s curses echoing behind them, Kanata and the others left the guild.
”Now, Faris… do you get it?”
Kanata checked with Faris once they entered the dungeon.
’Yes, all the info on Unit 2 is perfect.’
In Kanata’s longsword Faris, besides her original core, there was now the fake core that had been used in Faris-chan Unit 2. Ichiro had recovered it when he escaped. Thanks to that, Faris had full access to Faris-chan Unit 2’s information.
…By the way, Unit 3’s core was apparently with Nanai or Ninim… or lying near them.
On top of that, they had the massive amount of prior research. So Kanata pressed deeper into the dungeon with his larger-than-planned party members.
’Kanata?’
At a fork in the path, Faris called out to him.
”What’s up?”
’It’s a big choice. Save Nanai and Ninim first… or later? Which do you pick?’
”I’d say first… but you’re asking means there’s a problem, right?”
’Correct. Their prison is probably just before the core room at the deepest part. The reason they’re kept alive is…’
”To secure DP, huh.”
’Exactly. This dungeon was in hibernation until recently. But now it’s waking up… DP is starting to fill the place.’
”That much negative emotion from those two… no, being forced out of them, right?”
The negative emotions needed to rapidly revive a hibernating dungeon by generating DP… how much humiliation and shame were they enduring…?
”Unforgivable.”
Kanata could dish it out himself, but the fact that someone else was shaming his two women was unbearable.
’Kanata, calm down. Back to the point. Now that the dungeon’s awake, we have to follow the proper conquest steps. That means go right.’
”…What if we go left?”
’…It’s a dead end. …Normally…’
”If it’s not normal?”
’……There’s a space-time distortion. If you use your… Dungeon Master power, Kanata, you can create a direct shortcut to Nanai and the others.’
”I see….”
Kanata pondered for a while after hearing that.
”What are you hesitating for? You came to save your friends, didn’t you?”
Mirei said irritably, knowing nothing.
’It’s not that simple, dear.’
Faris told Mirei.
”What do you mean?”
’Kanata’s real goal is to take control of this dungeon. It’s essential for the bigger objectives ahead. Even the girls trapped now understand that. So for certainty, we should go right.’
”But a proper conquest will take time.”
Kanata muttered quietly.
’That’s right. But as they say, haste makes waste. If we force a shortcut here and the dungeon collapses, it’ll all be for nothing.’
”However, will the girls’ hearts hold out until we get there?”
At Kanata’s words, where he desperately tried to suppress his emotions, Mirei finally understood the true essence of his dilemma.
To reliably take control of the dungeon, they had to follow the proper route and conquer it step by step. Normally, they should advance along this conquest path… in fact, there were no other choices.
But there was a shortcut only Kanata could use.
If he took it, they could reach the deepest part in an instant. However, since it wasn’t the official route, anything could happen. In the worst case, the dungeon might collapse entirely. Still, at least they could immediately rescue their comrades trapped at the core. Of course, they might continue the conquest from there, but it would be a highly risky gamble.
On the other hand, if they took the official route, the conquest would succeed without fail, but whether the imprisoned girls’ minds would stay intact… that too would become a highly risky gamble.
In the end, it came down to choosing the dungeon or the girls.
Once Mirei grasped that, she couldn’t bring herself to speak up.
Deep down, she wanted to say the dungeon didn’t matter—save their comrades first. After all, if she were the one imprisoned, that’s what she’d wish for.
But conquering the dungeon was essential for Kanata’s ultimate goal, whatever it was. Since she didn’t know what that goal entailed… and precisely because she didn’t, she couldn’t lightly tell him to abandon it.
”….”
And so, silence fell over the group….
”………’Go right…’”
After a long silence, Kanata finally opened his mouth. But just as the words left him, various voices interrupted from Faris.
’Go left, Kanata. Thinking about us like that isn’t like you at all.’
That was Tsubasa.
’Bring Ninim back quick! Then it’s a duel! Over Ninim, you hear me!’
Kimura shouted that.
’Kanata-kun, I don’t care what happens to youuu, but bring Nanai-chan and Ninim-chan back safe, okayyy.’
Haruka spat her poison in that slightly syrupy voice.
’We all agree—no one wants you to come back without saving Nanai-chan and Ninim-chan.’
Maria summed it up.
Through Faris, they could talk with everyone in the main dungeon… Kanata had never heard of it doing something like this before.
’That’s what everyone’s saying, but what do you decide?’
Yet Faris asked casually, as if it were nothing.
”Got it. Let’s go left… but first.”
Kanata told Mirei and the others to head back.
He knew it was selfish, but since he was taking the hardline approach, Mirei and the rest—whom he’d brought as keys—would serve no purpose. So there was no need to drag them into unnecessary danger.
Mirei had insisted on coming along, but when he asked if she wanted to drag Lilim and Lurua into it, she quieted down. She must have remembered what hardships those two had faced because of Reis’s selfishness.
”If anything happens, follow Ria-tan’s instructions.”
With those words, Kanata sent Mirei and the others back. The exit to the surface was right nearby, so they wouldn’t face any danger inside the dungeon.
He watched until their backs disappeared from view, then turned on his heel and headed left at the fork.
—
The story’s been jumping around a bit, so here’s a quick timeline sort to clear things up.
Faris-chan Unit 2 got severed while shielding Ichiro, and her beacon cut out. Valkyr Ria HQ detected it, and Emma’s emergency call came in almost simultaneously.
It was five days later that the Otaku Trio and Nanai’s group got caught by the tentacles.
The fact that they evaded capture for five whole days inside a sealed dungeon proves that Nanai and Ninim, not to mention the Otaku Trio, had real adventurer skills. But of course, the Otaku Trio never looked the part—that’s what makes them the Otaku Trio.
Kanata sprang into action right after Emma’s emergency call, so around the time Nanai and the others were caught, Reis was just suggesting they head to the Demon Lord’s dungeon.
By then, the Vaal-Kirke conflict had already started, and Tsubasa captured Kain and his group the day before Kanata’s team stormed the Demon Lord’s dungeon.
They interrogated both sides, panicked over how serious it was, and then got summoned for the Demon Lord skit. That was day six after Emma’s call—right after Nanai and Ninim got snared by the tentacles.
At that point, thanks to Nanai and Ninim, the Otaku Trio guys hadn’t been caught yet. But despite the girls’ devoted efforts, the trio got nabbed the very next day.
Three days later, Kanata collected Dungeon Points from Lilim, Lurua, and Mirei, finished preparations, and arrived in Mildu’s town street—when he reunited with the Otaku Trio.
So right now, Nanai and Ninim have been enduring nonstop violation for four straight days.
※By the way, the Otaku Trio got milked for about a day before they were tossed aside, since they couldn’t earn much DP.
A proper dungeon conquest is estimated at three days minimum, up to ten days max. So yeah, worrying about Nanai and Ninim’s safety is totally understandable… right?
Notes:
• Nanai – Twin sister of Ninim. A warrior and fire mage from Flora chosen by Tsubasa for dungeon exploration. Brave, skilled, protective, later captured in a dungeon.
• Taichi – A fierce friend of Otaku Hero with the Brawler gift, protects Taichi’s group, united by their sacred oath. Appears: Mentioned in Taichi and Ichiro’s plans, training with others. Reason: Summoned as a hero, serves as group protector. Event: Set to go to town with Kimura, accompanied by Taichi and Ichiro.
• Kimura – Gou’s Family Name. The Ranger.
• Ichiro – Miyabe’s Family Name. Another Otaku Hero, Have porter as ability.
• Shizuka – Classmate, wielder of Sniper, nicknamed “Shizu-tan.” Neglected, raised herself after father’s death and mother’s abandonment. Nearly assaulted in another world, broke her stoicism with first real plea for help. Saved by Kanata, now torn between distrust and fragile hope. Reminder: hardened loner, only cracks under extreme pressure.
• Faris – A sentient intelligence weapon managing dungeon systems. Uses humanoid interface Faris-chan. Loyal to Kanata, logical, obedient support.
• May – Blonde, soft-eyed shrine girl. ch14–15. Gentle and pleading (“Please… just let us go…”), timid but loyal, relies on Mina’s strength. Came with Mina to save Sara, but was disarmed and bound by Kanata as his captive maid.
• Maya – Cheerful brown-haired girl, naturally charming and social, Kanata’s classmate and morning conversation neighbor.
• Maria – A healer aiding Sumire, ensuring classmates recover during intense training sessions. One of Setsugekka.
• Mirei – An energetic adventurer joining Kanata’s party in Chapter 108. Appears in dungeon prep. Brave, impulsive, admires Kanata’s leadership. Female.
• Tsubasa – A classmate, and a gift holder of Creator. He has an androgynous charm, popular yet approachable, bonds with Taichi’s group. The only son of the Ninari Conglomerate family.
• Haruka – A classmate who have Harvester gift. She keeps her distance from Ichiro, focused on her role in training. One of Setsugekka.
• Lilim – A magic user in Kanata’s party. Appears during dungeon exploration casting lightning and dark spells. Loyal teammate, thoughtful in battle. Female.
• Lurua – A healer in Kanata’s dungeon party. Supports allies with healing spells. Calm, dependable, close companion to Lilim. Female.
• Reis – A stoic swordsman and Kanata’s comrade. Prominent in dungeon arc, leads combat. Reliable fighter trusted by the team. Female.
• Emma – Petite, pink-haired runaway. ch12. Shy and naive (“Onii-chan… this feels weird…”), blushes easily and trusts too quickly. Found alone and wounded by Kanata, who coaxed her in under the guise of care and claimed her.
• Kain – A noble-looking man leading the bandits attacking Karnae. Cold, composed, ruthless strategist. Captured by Tsubasa and interrogated.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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