Chapter 143 Good Omens and Bad Omens
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”What-!? Green Wolves! Sanae!” Sheena shouted.
”Eek! S- ‘Stone Shot!’”
Crack! The wolf let out a sharp yelp.
”Well done, Sanae!” Sheena said.
”W-wow, that really startled me,” Sanae panted.
Sayaka and I had been clearing the path toward the first settlement of our second loop when the rearguard took a surprise hit. I whipped around at Sheena’s scream, but I was a step slow. One of the wolves was already mid-air, lunging for Sanae.
Sanae had been busy peppering the settlement with arrows, but she executed a perfect backstep and repelled the beast with a Stone Shot ¹. As the wolf writhed on the ground with a face full of jagged grit, Lucy stepped in and finished it with a plunge of her heavy knife.
Sheena effortlessly swatted away two more wolves attacking from the flank. Sanae clutched her chest, exhaling a long, shaky breath. Behind us, Rock and Saizou handled their targets with their usual efficiency.
Once the rear was secure, I charged five Orcs rushing out from the settlement, lead-lining their approach with Fire Bullets. Two of them collapsed mid-stride, pierced by Sayaka’s Ice Arrows. I didn’t slow down, punching Fire Bullets through the guts of two more before ducking under a club and opening the last Orc’s throat with my machete.
”Phew. I didn’t expect Green Wolves this early,” I said.
They weren’t supposed to show up until the sixth settlement. The second loop was already throwing curveballs.
”My apologies, Master. Since we’d cleared this place twice, I let my guard down,” Sheena said.
”It’s on me too. I didn’t think the patterns would change. On the road, the monster ratio stayed the same. I fell for it,” I replied.
I reached out and lightly stroked Sheena’s ears. These wolves were definitely a ‘Second Loop’ adjustment. The dungeon probably tracks us as a specific party; those numbers on the black gates always vanish when I’m not looking.
”I thought we’d breeze through and snag the passes, but it’s not going to be that simple,” I muttered.
”It appears so. But since the road spawns are still thin, we’ll still make better time than before,” Sheena noted.
”True. If we push, we can hit four settlements before dark, but we’d still be one pass short. If we’re forced to camp anyway, let’s take it slow,” I said.
There was a chance we could high-roll and finish the set today, but I wasn’t holding my breath. On the first loop, we only got four pieces from ten settlements. Better to plan for two days and keep our heads clear. I have Karen and Sanae to look after, and there’s no sense in taking stupid risks.
”A typical Beastman would charge ahead until they dropped. I’m lucky to have a mate so cautious,” Sheena said.
”U-huh. Sure,” I replied.
I brushed off Sheena’s romantic lead-in, and we stepped into the settlement.
* * *
”Ha! A hit right out of the gate,” I said.
Inside the largest shack, Karen and Sayaka found a copper chest. Sheena and Sanae stayed outside on high alert.
”It really is! Maybe we’ll finish the whole floor today!” Karen beamed.
”Heh, wouldn’t that be something? Go ahead, Karen. Bring us some luck,” I said.
”You got it! I’m pulling a magic book!”
Karen flipped the lid. Inside were five black, needle-like blades and a leather pouch.
”Black iron throwing knives? That’s new,” I noted.
”Whoa! These are Kunai ²! Real Kunai!” Karen shouted.
”Like the ones ninjas use?” I asked.
They looked exactly like the ones from the manga. The fact that a Succubus even knew the word “Kunai” only deepened my suspicion that this dungeon was designed by someone obsessed with Japanese pop culture.
”I have to give these to Saizou right now! Can I, Yakumo?”
”Yeah, go for it. He’ll get a kick out of them,” I said.
Saizou had been obsessed with a ninja manga Karen gave him. He’d even started making hand-signs when he said “Understood.” The poor guy had a terminal case of Edge-Lord Syndrome ³.
”Thanks! Saizou! Look!” Karen sprinted out with a massive grin.
Sayaka and I shared a wry smile. I pocketed the silver and the pass fragment before heading out. Saizou was already test-throwing a Kunai into a charred pillar. He was actually smiling. Karen watched him with pride, while Lucy hopped around, yipping excitedly. Lucy wanted a turn, but Saizou held up a hand, sternly rejecting her.
As Lucy trudged back, Karen explained to her that a ninja’s tools are his very soul. She definitely made that up. After a breather, we headed for the next settlement.
* * *
”Ugh, another bust?” I grumbled.
After lunch and a very satisfying session with Karen, we finished the third settlement. No chest.
”Two misses in a row. Our luck is turning,” Sanae muttered.
”We must have a Jinx ⁴ in the party,” Sheena remarked.
”Hey! Why are you looking at me?! I’m not a Jinx!” Sanae snapped.
”Sayaka provides peace just by existing, and Karen is undeniably bright. As for me, the Rabbit is a symbol of fortune-I am a Luck-Bringer ⁵. But you, Sanae… you have a ‘dark’ aura. No, wait… it’s a ‘lustful’ aura. You’re definitely the Jinx,” Sheena said.
”What kind of logic is that?! Lustful and dark aren’t even the same thing!”
”Heh, it’s fine. Sanae isn’t a Jinx,” I chimed in. “I’ve always had terrible luck. This is the second time I’ve been kidnapped. If anyone’s bringing the bad vibes, it’s me.”
I remembered the neighborhood lotteries; I never won anything better than a scrub brush. My Gacha game luck was a disaster. I was the common denominator of misfortune here.
”In that case, I’ll just have to be your Luck-Bringer and let some of it rub off on you tonight, Master,” Sheena purred.
”I’ll give you some of mine too, Yakumo!” Karen added.
”M-me too!” Sanae stammered.
”Then won’t you just cancel out my contribution?” Sheena pouted.
”I told you, I’m not a Jinx! Drop it!”
”Haha, thanks, guys. I’ll collect all that ‘luck’ tonight,” I said.
I put my arm around Sayaka, and we led the way out. We camped on the road that evening. After a deep session with Karen and Sheena, I was squeezed dry by Lanora, who made a surprise appearance at the Wall-Butt ⁶.
The next day, we hit the jackpot. Treasure chests in both the fourth and fifth settlements.
”See? I told you I was a Luck-Bringer,” Sheena said.
”It was definitely me too!” Karen added.
”Gnuuuu…” Sanae groaned.
Sanae had opened the fourth chest only to find one Grade 4 Potion. She looked ready to kick something.
”Alright, Sayaka, you take this one,” I said.
”Oh… I’m actually a little nervous.”
”Don’t sweat it. I have a feeling the dungeon manager puts what they want in these anyway,” I said.
”I suppose you’re right. Here goes…” Sayaka opened the lid.
”Oh! A magic book!”
”No way! A total jackpot, Sayaka!” Karen cheered.
”Gnuuu… why never me!?” Sanae cried.
”Because you’re the Jinx?” Sheena teased.
”Shut up, you Fainting Rabbit!”
”Easy, you two. Let’s see it,” I said.
I stepped between them. The book was blue-Water-element.
”It looks like a Water Blade spell,” Sayaka said.
”Is it ‘Water Cutter’ ⁷?” Sheena mused. “It has more mass and a wider arc than Wind Cutter. Good for zoning.”
”Perfect. Sayaka, this is yours. It gives you a quick-response option if we get jumped again,” I said.
Sayaka opened the book, and it vanished in a flare of blue light.
”…I see. This works for both close and mid-range,” she said.
”Good. Let’s eat, test it out, then assemble the pass,” I said.
I tucked the seventh fragment into my pouch. We finally had the set. Once we ate, it was time to summon the checkpoint. I wondered… would there be a Guardian waiting? Or just more road?
Personally? I was hoping for a Guardian.
—
Summary:
Yakumo’s party begins their second loop of the 11th floor, finding that the dungeon has increased the difficulty by spawning Green Wolves in early settlements. Despite the ambush, they manage to collect all seven pass fragments over two days. Along the way, Saizou receives kunai and Sayaka learns a new Water Cutter spell.
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Trivia:
- The Green Wolves were originally 6th-settlement enemies.
- Yakumo has been kidnapped twice in his life.
- Saizou is mimicking hand-signs from a manga.
- The party is now tracking their ‘luck’ based on who opens chests.
- Lanora is the one who drains him at the ‘Wall-Butt’
—
Character Insight:
Yakumo shows increased caution as a leader, prioritizing his party’s safety over speed. Saizou is fully embracing his ‘ninja’ persona through manga influence.
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Behind the Scenes:
The author leans heavily on Japanese RPG and manga tropes (kunai, gacha luck, ageman/sageman) to highlight the dungeon’s mysterious origins.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• 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.
• Sanae – She struggles with the sexual training and often shows frustration. Vice-captain of the Archery Club. Described as tall with a model-like build and sharp features. She has approximately C-cup breasts and is ranked as a 1st Rank Slave. She is Sayaka’s best friend. Black ponytail, hooded/sharp eyes, kyudo practitioner, average height.
• Sana – Black ponytail, hooded/sharp eyes, kyudo practitioner, average height.
• 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.
• Lucy – A female Kobold familiar resembling an American Eskimo Dog. Now, she evolves into a Kobold Thief. Her height increases to approximately 140cm, her limbs become sturdier/leaner, and she retains a cute face. She wags her tail when happy.
• 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.
• 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
• Karen – An international student from America who often runs to school late with bread in her mouth. Considered a ‘main target’ by the protagonist. Voice acting major, huge breasts, same height as Sana.
• 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.
• Lanora – The brown-skinned elder sister succubus with white hair.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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