Chapter 94 The Karate Club and the Hidden Stairs
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
…Test Dungeon, 4th Floor. Karate Club Captain, 3rd Year: Hida Kengo.
”Contact! Four of ’em!” Hida shouted.
The moment his warning rang out, the boys braced themselves and charged.
”Hwa-chaaaa!”
Hida led with a flying kick, the force of the impact snapping the lead monster’s neck like a dry twig. As he touched down, the rest of his squad blurred past me.
”Seiya!” one yelled.
”Sei!” another barked.
”Hwa-tah!”
Fists flew and heels spun. A straight punch, a roundhouse, a clinical right hook – one by one, the kobolds went down. They had all been decked out in steel gauntlets, iron greaves, and plated boots lately. Ever since they upgraded the gear, most of these pests were one-hit kills. They kept daggers for the finishing strokes, but for the Karate Club’s elite, brawling was the only way to fly.
”Alright, let’s break for grub,” Hida said.
He waited for them to finish harvesting the Magic Stones before calling it.
”Umu,” Shiro grunted.
”Starving…” Sugawa groaned-ssu.
The guys slumped against the dungeon walls and hauled their lunches from their packs. Today’s menu: Yakiniku. ¹
”So this is what a three-thousand-yen bento looks like, huh?” Sugawa asked-ssu.
”Just pretend it’s a high-end box from Jojoen,²” Hida replied.
”I don’t care what the price tag says, this is the same mystery meat from the cafeteria,” Sugawa muttered-ssu.
It had been forty days since they were shoved into this hellhole, and the prices had just hiked again. Hida couldn’t blame the boys for bitching. Up here on the 4th floor, they had enough breathing room to hunt without tripping over other students, so they could eat the cost. But for the kids stuck on the 3rd? This was going to hurt. He had heard a bunch of parties were planning to pull all-nighters just to make ends meet. The Wall-Butt’s ³ final call is at midnight, though, so they would have to crawl back by then.
Test Dungeon, 4th Floor. Karate Club Cap
Besides, half the club had hit E-Rank now. Their metabolisms were so jacked they couldn’t even function without double portions. Two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners… that was 2,100 DP a day just to keep the lights on. They were pulling in 4,000 to 4,500 DP per head up here, but if they were still on the 3rd floor? They would be starving.
”We owe Yuki and his crew a debt of gratitude,” Hida muttered.
”Umu,” Shiro nodded.
Short and sweet, as always. During a fight, Shiro was a screaming banshee – all “Ata!” and “Hwa-ta!” – but in his downtime, he was a man of few words. He was obsessed with martial arts manga. He even had five “courage” burns branded onto his chest. Hida had always wanted to ask what happened to the other two, but he figured Shiro either lost his nerve or finally outgrew his Chuunibyou ⁴ phase and realized how cringe it was. Hida wished he’d drop the Bruce Lee screams, too, but he guessed Shiro was either committed to the bit or missed his window to stop. He’d leave him be; five marks of ‘dark history’ was a heavy enough burden to carry.
”For real, though,” Sugawa chimed in. “Yuki’s team gave us the map to the 3rd-floor Guardian. They’d been up here for ten days already, though. Wish they’d shared the wealth a bit sooner-ssu.”
”Don’t be a dimwit,” Hida barked. “If the roles were reversed, would you have handed over your meal ticket that fast? They’ve got girls of their own to protect.”
The kid looked sheepish. Without Yuki’s tip, a bunch of meatheads like them would’ve walked right into that fake Monster House trap. They were lucky they were told at all.
”Fair point. Sorry, Captain,” Sugawa said-ssu.
”Whatever. The Baseball and Kendo clubs are already moving in. We gotta rake it in while the 4th floor is still fresh, or it’ll be a crowded mess just like the 3rd,” Hida said.
”I just want to hit the 5th. Think Yuki’s already there?” Sugawa asked-ssu.
”Probably not yet, but it’s only a matter of time,” Hida answered.
They’ve been clearing corners for two weeks. They’re likely on the home stretch.
”The Guard is on another level, though. He’s way deeper, right?” Sugawa asked-ssu.
”He’s cleared the 6th for sure,” Hida said.
”I heard the 5th floor boss drops a Slave Ticket ⁵. Imagine bagging a prime catch like Tsukigase. Unreal,” Sugawa said-ssu.
”Total envy. But what about those Soul-less Dolls? They sell ’em at the Wall-Butt, right? Any of you guys hiding one?” another member asked.
”Pfft, as if we could keep a secret. Though, I think I’m getting close to an unlock,” Sugawa replied-ssu.
”In your dreams. I’ve made my girl finish five times in half an hour. I’m way ahead of you,” the member shot back.
The Wall-Butt. Honestly, Hida didn’t need a Soul-less Doll, but his ‘performance rating’ must be in the gutter. He usually just propped his phone on the succubus’s backside and chatted with Rika – his AI gal – while he was working.
Seeing that expressionless, Noh-mask face on the succubus through the screen after he had finished… yeah, he knew he was a bottom-tier customer. He felt a bit bad, but honestly, having s*x while talking to Rika was a high he couldn’t quit.
”Man, I bet the Guard is living the dream right now with Tsukigase and that bunny-eared babe,” Sugawa sighed-ssu.
”I saw her hanging on his arm this morning! Talk about a flex!” the other member added.
”Every night with those two? Damn, I’m jealous. Go explode, Guard!”
”Knock it off!” Hida roared. “I won’t have you dragging Sanada-dono’s name through the dirt!”
Jealousy was a pathetic look on a man. More importantly, Sanada-dono was their benefactor. Hida wouldn’t hear a word against him.
”Umu!” Shiro added, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
”There it is! The Captain and Vice-Captain’s Guard Fanclub again!” Sugawa laughed-ssu.
”Look, the phone charging alone is a godsend. I’m not hating,” the other member said.
”Yeah, it saves us a fortune on Wall-Butt fees,” Sugawa added-ssu.
”It’s not just about the batteries,” Hida said, his voice dropping. “When we buried Noda… when we were all paralyzed with terror looking at his remains… Sanada-dono was the one who pushed us forward. He took the people everyone else had written off – the ones who couldn’t even fight – and he gave them a chance. That man is the real deal. He’s the standard we should all be striving for.”
”Umu! Umu umu!” Shiro agreed.
Shiro was nodding so hard Hida thought his neck might give. He and Noda were tight. His gratitude to Sanada-dono ran deep.
”When you put it like that…” Sugawa started-ssu.
”Yeah. I almost broke back then, too,” the other member admitted.
”Some of those shut-ins were our classmates. We weren’t best buds, but nobody wants to watch a classmate starve to death,” Sugawa said-ssu.
”We were backed into a corner. We couldn’t trust that hack Oida and his lot,” the member added.
It was true. They’ve conspired with the other ‘Conquest’ parties to stop paying the ‘tax’ because Instructor Oida and the others smelled rotten. But in doing so, they had turned their backs on the weak. Sanada-dono didn’t just save those kids; he saved their consciences. Hida still kicked himself for missing his power-leveling session. They had already headed into the dungeon that morning. It was a debt he could never pay back.
”As expected, Oida and Kume were embezzling money, weren’t they? Yuki and the others heard about it from Coach Satake,” Sugawa spat-ssu. “I knew it! Those pathetic excuses for teachers!”
”Compared to them, the Guard’s a saint. Even if his harem is annoying,” Sugawa said-ssu.
”You guys have girlfriends back home,” Hida reminded them. “If you start sniffing around other women, don’t expect my help.”
”Umu,” Shiro confirmed.
The boys scrambled to apologize. Neither Shiro nor Hida had ‘real’ girlfriends – Hida’s was a digital girl, and Shiro… well, Hida wasn’t sure Shiro even knew what a woman was.
”Alright, enough talk. Afternoon hunt starts now,” Hida ordered.
”Right on. I’m fueled up and ready to move,” Sugawa said-ssu.
”Those kobolds are going to wish they never spawned,” the member added.
Hida stood up, and the rest of the squad followed, clashing their gauntlets together with a sharp, metallic clang. They needed to clear this floor, and fast. Hida wanted to stand on equal footing with Sanada-dono. He wanted to be someone he could rely on in a fight.
* * *
…Tester Life, Day 41. 9:00 AM. 9th Floor. Sanada Yakumo.
”And… that’s the last of ’em,” I said.
”All clear on my end, Master,” Sheena replied.
Sheena had finished her sweep. I glanced over at Saizou; he was already making a bee-line for the treasure chest. Five days into the 9th floor, and we’ve just dismantled our sixth Monster Trap room.
The first couple of traps gave us a scare, but by the third one, we had it down to a science. The second I’d crack the lid, I’d lob a Fireball at the wall where the goblins spawned to sow chaos. Sayaka would pick off the Goblin Wizard before it could get a spell off. Then Sheena and I would dive into the fray while Sayaka sniped the archers.
Efficiency at its finest. The spawn points shifted an inch here or there, but the layout was predictable. As long as you aren’t surprised, picking them off is a cakewalk. Plus, Sayaka hit E+ Rank yesterday, so her Mana Capacity is up – she can fire four ice arrows in a single volley now.
The only downside? Still no sign of a hidden passage or stairs in these trap rooms. Six rooms down and nothing. I’m starting to think these ‘Monster Houses’ are just dead ends designed to drain resources, not gateways to the Guardian.
Oh well. The copper chests make it worth the trouble. Aside from that first suit of Black Iron Chainmail, we’ve pulled:
* 1x Medal of Return
* 1x Infinite Water Pouch
* 3x Grade 4 Potions
* 4x Grade 4 Mana Capacity Recovery Potion
Not a bad haul. The Infinite Water Pouch is exactly what it sounds like – endless water. It’s not ‘magic’ magic, though; you have to slot a Magic Stone into the base to power the generation. Sheena says they’re standard-issue for military scouts and high-tier adventurers. Makes sense – you can’t run an army on a single Water Mage’s mana pool.
The potions were a lucky break, too. I was worried when I saw three bottles sitting in one chest. Usually, when the trap triggers, three Fireballs scream into the room. Chests are indestructible, but potions aren’t. In a normal fight, those bottles would’ve shattered instantly. We only saved them because we killed the casters before they could twitch a finger. I can’t imagine the salt of clearing a trap only to find your reward in shards. This dungeon really is a sadistic piece of work.
We’re making better time than on the 8th floor. The fog on my map is almost gone. We’ll be done with this floor and its traps soon enough.
Scritch-scritch.
I was lost in thought, gathering Magic Stones from the last pile of goblin corpses, when Saizou came running over clutching a black helmet.
”That it? Just the helm?” I asked.
”Gyui,” Saizou nodded, handing it over.
He immediately scurried off to finish the stone collection. Kid’s a tireless worker. I looked at the gear – it was solid Black Iron, but it had two distinct holes punched through the top.
”What the…? Why are there holes in – oh, wait. I get it. It’s for Rock,” I muttered.
The placement was perfect for a beast-type.
”Rock! Get over here!” I called.
Rock was currently being pampered by Sayaka in the rear. He came trotting up, and I slid the helm onto his head. It looked too small at first, but it expanded instantly to a perfect fit. Auto-sizing – gotta love magic items.
”There. Now your brain-box is protected, too,” I said.
”Woof…” Rock barked softly.
”What’s the long face for?” I asked.
I expected a tail-wag, but he looked depressed. He was stoked about the Black Iron Spear, but this? Not so much.
”Heh. I think Rock is sad that Sayaka-sama won’t be able to pet his head anymore,” Sheena giggled.
Rock nodded vigorously.
”Give me a break,” I sighed. This idiot already forgot the time his fur got singed by a stray fireball. He spent ages moping in front of a hand mirror until the bald spot grew back, and yet here he is, choosing headpats over head-armor.
”Rock-chan, don’t be like that!” Sayaka scolded, though she looked touched. “What if an arrow hits you? I’d be heartbroken if something happened to you.”
”Woof! ♪” Rock barked happily.
One word of concern from her and his tail was a blur. Honestly, she might as well be his master at this point.
”GYUGYAGYAGYA!”
Saizou’s voice cut through the fluff. He sounded wired – excited. We all turned. He was standing by the collapsed wall where the goblins had been hiding, pointing frantically at the floor.
”No way… did he find it?” I wondered.
I sprinted over.
”Haha! Great job, Saizou!” I yelled.
Half-buried under a pile of rubble was a set of stone stairs leading down. We’d cleared five rooms and found zip; I probably would have walked right past this if he hadn’t been digging around. Even Sheena and Sayaka were impressed, showering the little guy with praise.
”Gyui,” Saizou grunted.
Saizou tried to play it cool, bowing his head, but I could see the smug grin peeking out from under his hood. Not the most stoic assassin, but I’ll take it.
The Guardian should be right down those steps. Time to finish this.
—
Summary:
The Karate Club elite, led by Hida Kengo, discuss their survival and deep respect for Sanada Yakumo while hunting on the 4th floor. Meanwhile, Sanada’s party clears multiple monster traps on the 9th floor, harvesting high-tier loot. The chapter concludes with Saizou discovering a hidden staircase buried in rubble, likely leading to the Guardian room.
—
Trivia:
- The inflation of DP costs for food is reaching 2,100 DP/day for high-rankers.
- Shiro’s scars are self-inflicted ‘courage’ burns from his youth.
- The Wall-Butt service has a midnight deadline.
- Hida uses an AI persona named Rika during his succubus sessions to cope.
- Sayaka recently reached E+ rank, increasing her mana capacity.
- The ‘Infinite Water Pouch’ requires a Magic Stone as a battery.
- Sanada’s party has cleared 6 monster traps on the 9th floor specifically
—
Character Insight:
Hida Kengo shows a strong moral compass, viewing Sanada not just as a provider but as a ‘True Man’ who saved their collective conscience. Sanada demonstrates maturing leadership, managing his team’s equipment and morale (especially with the summons) while maintaining tactical efficiency.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The ‘Howata’ screams are a direct homage to Kenshiro from ‘Fist of the North Star’. The Jojoen bento is a real-world high-end luxury meal in Japan, often costing over 3,000 yen.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Kengo – Karate Club Captain, 3rd year student.
• Shiro – Karate Club Vice-Captain. Has five cigarette burn scars on his chest.
• Sugawa – 2nd year Karate Club member.
• Yuki – A third-year high school student and leader of the Battle Sports Club. He is a national champion in medieval-style combat using swords and spears. He has a severe sister complex. He has hawk-like eyes and a polite but determined demeanor.
• Sana – Black ponytail, hooded/sharp eyes, kyudo practitioner, average height.
• Noda – Vice-captain of the Baseball Club party. Catcher and tank.
• Oida – A PE teacher with a large build and a plain, non-intimidating face. He was formerly an Olympic developmental athlete for Judo. He uses a greatsword in the dungeon and wears tattered jerseys.
• Kume – An English teacher, suspicious of Sanada. Slicked-back hair, wears a shady expression.
• Yakumo – A 25-year-old human male. He has facial scars, stab wounds, and gunshot scars from his time in a war zone. He works as a school guard.
• Sheena – Beastman Soul-less Doll with rabbit ears and a large chest. Flawless face, approx 165cm height, F or G cup, narrow waist, large hips, and a fluffy tail longer than a rabbit’s. Now, her ego is back.
• Saizou – A newly summoned Goblin. Intelligent with a small horn on his forehead and jagged teeth. Wears ninja-style clothing (shinobifuku) and uses poison daggers/knives.
• Sayaka – The academy’s premier beauty and a member of the swimming club. Currently classified as a Rank 1 Slave. She is seventeen years old and a virgin. E-cup. She has blue, short, boyish hair. Her best friend is Sanae.
• Rock – A male Kobold summoned from a Magic Sealing Crystal. He has grey fur, round eyes, and a face resembling a Shiba Inu. He wears a leather jacket and a pilot’s cap
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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