Chapter 161 The Grand Reveal
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
**…… Tester Life Day 63, Morning – 1st Floor Grand Plaza: Sanada Yakumo ……**
”Morning, Boss!”
”””””Morning!”””””
”Whoa! Wait, what? Why are there so many of you!?” Sanada asked, stepping back.
It was the morning after the holiday. When I stepped out of my room, the testers belonging to the guild ‘Nightmare’¹ were all lined up. Seventy-three members in total. As they all bowed in unison, Karen, Sayaka, and the others stood there, completely stunned. Naturally, I was right there with them.
I had agreed to become the Guildmaster, and I’d already explained the ‘Wall-Butt’ restriction² to Sayaka’s group, framing it as a necessary safety measure. I’d even synchronized our exploration start times for better defense. But I really wished they’d stop huddling outside my door like a flash mob.
They were probably doing this on purpose – a public demonstration to let everyone know the guild was official. All the other testers around the fountain were staring at us with wide eyes. I caught sight of Coach Sayama standing at the front of the line, wearing a massive, satisfied grin.
You bastard, I thought. But I knew why he was doing this. He was desperate to never lose another student. He was using me, but it wasn’t a raw deal for me either. I swallowed my annoyance and kept my cool. The guy had really found his second wind; he was a completely different person than he’d been back when he was with Oida.
”Yeah. Morning, everyone,” I said, returning the greeting.
The crowd broke into smiles. I was a little put off by the way Wakamiya was looking at me with those sparkling eyes, and Hida was huffing and puffing with some kind of weird excitement.
”Starting today, we’re heading back out. We’re on the verge of clearing the 12th floor, so we won’t be taking any requests for the ‘Isolated Island.’ The Guardian rewards might end up being split, so keep that in mind.”
”You’re already about to clear the 12th floor!?” one tester shouted.
”Holy crap… and that’s with a party of nothing but girls,” another muttered.
”Hey, Sonoda, why don’t you let Nanami-chan fight too?”
”She says she’s been influenced by Tsukigase and wants to learn magic,” Sonoda replied. “But I’m not strong enough to protect her yet, so it’s a no-go.”
”As expected of Sanada-dono! Only someone at those heights is fit to lead us! We’ll catch up to you soon!” Hida roared.
”””Sir, yes sir! Osu!””” the karate club shouted.
”You’re amazing, Sanada-san! The baseball club is going to work our tails off to catch up!” another student yelled.
When they heard I was close to conquering the 12th floor, the guild members erupted in praise. I noticed the Kobold familiars standing by their sides. Yuki’s group had one equipped with a heavy shield. It must have evolved into a Kobold Defender. It looked like they were going for the ‘Rock’ route, though its face was a lot more dignified than Rock’s.
The baseball club had two Kobolds. They hadn’t evolved yet, likely just being used as pack mules. Aside from me, only four other parties had Magic Pouches, and with so many members, they probably couldn’t spare the resources to level up their familiars.
The karate club had one Kobold. This one had evolved – it was wearing iron gauntlets and a martial arts dogi. A Kobold Pugilist, maybe? It had a defiant, c**ky look on its face. Even though it was only E-Rank, it definitely looked meaner than Rock.
But man, the karate club was nothing but vanguards. They’d get wiped on the 8th floor when the archers showed up. They’d walk right into every trap, too.
”Alright, that’s enough of a demonstration. Oh, right – I should introduce my own familiar.”
I reached into my Magic Pouch from my Magic Sealing Crystal, and tossed it into the open space while flooding it with Mana Capacity. The crystal erupted in a flash of light, and there stood Rock, clad in a black iron helm and full-body plate armor, clutching a massive iron shield and a short-spear.
”Wafu… VONG!!”
The moment Rock appeared, he started to let out his usual “good boy” yelp, but he caught sight of the other Kobolds and cut himself off. He knitted his brow into a fierce glare and let out a deep, guttural roar.
”””””!?”””””
Whine! Yelp! Awoo!
The guild members were paralyzed with terror. Their Kobold familiars went into a total panic, tucking their tails and scrambling to hide behind their masters. Even that c**ky Kobold Pugilist ducked behind Hida, trembling like a leaf.
I placed a hand on Rock’s shoulder. “This guy’s name is Rock. He’s a D-Rank Kobold Kaiser³.”
”D… D-Rank!?” Yuki gasped.
”That’s higher than the Kobold King we barely survived!?” Sonoda added.
”A Kaiser, huh…? You’ve really done a number raising him, Sanada-san,” Coach Sayama noted.
”Well, no wonder he can handle solo runs,” someone muttered.
”I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth!” Hida yelled.
”So cool! We gotta level up Taro and Jiro fast!” a baseball player cried.
I decided to keep Saizou and Lucy hidden. No point in showing my entire hand. I only brought Rock out to send a message: anyone who touched my women was going to have a very bad time.
”Kobolds can grow all the way to D-Rank. You guys were lucky enough to pull that 0.1% chance, so train them into proper assets. They’re incredibly useful.”
”VONG!”
Rock must have understood the praise. He gave another deep, gravelly bark. I could hear Sayaka and Karen giggling behind me, and Rock’s tail was wagging so hard it was a blur, but I ignored it. It was taking everything I had not to burst out laughing myself.
”Our Pochi just became a Kobold Defender, so I’ll follow Rock’s lead,” Yuki said.
”Darn. Our Liger ended up as a pugilist type,” another added.
”If you’re thinking about the long game, a tank is the only way to go,” I advised. “Hida, you better learn some defensive magic, or you’re gonna end up dead.”
”Yes, sir! I’ll learn it for sure! Osu!” Hida replied.
”I knew it was the right call to make Sanada-san the Master,” the Coach mused.
I looked at him. “Coach. I know you set this up because you knew I’d hate the hassle, but consult me first next time. If you try to pull a stunt like this again, the baseball club is out.”
”I am truly sorry,” Sayama replied. “I just felt relying on you was the best way to ensure their safety. I promise to consult you beforehand.”
”I know you’re doing it for them. That scar on your forehead says enough.”
The Coach had a massive scar from the Kobold King battle where he’d shielded his students. He’d been caught by the King’s cleaver. That was the only reason I’d humored his little performance today.
”Also, I have no intention of running the guild day-to-day. Yuki, you and the Coach will be the public faces.”
”Yes, of course,” Yuki agreed. “We’ll handle the negotiations. We won’t even ask you to share your strategy data unless you want to.”
”Then we’re good. I’m just the figurehead. But if you’re stuck, come talk to me. Just make sure you pay me back for the favor, got it?”
”””Yes!!”””
”Alright, let’s head to the Teleportation Room.”
With Rock leading the way, I led the guild members out of the plaza. When we reached the Teleportation Room, I gave Rock the signal to roar. Every tester in the room jumped, and their Kobold familiars went into a frenzy of fear. I walked through the crowd, head held high. Rock kept his eyes forward, glaring at anyone who got too close.
Man… it’s been a while since Rock’s back looked this reliable.
”Rock-chan looks so dependable, doesn’t he?” Sayaka whispered.
Rock immediately started wagging his tail like crazy and began banging his spear against his shield to intimidate the crowd further.
This guy…
I stepped onto the Teleportation Array and set my sights on the 12th floor.
—
Summary:
Sanada Yakumo officially debuts as the Guildmaster of ‘Nightmare’ in a public demonstration at the Grand Plaza. To cement his authority and deter potential rivals, he unveils his evolved familiar, Rock, a D-Rank Kobold Kaiser. The chapter concludes with the guild moving toward the 12th floor after Sanada reinforces his boundaries with Coach Sayama.
—
Trivia:
- The total guild count is 73 members.
- Only four other parties besides Sanada’s possess Magic Pouches.
- Sanada is purposefully keeping his other familiars (Saizou and Lucy) secret.
- The Karate club’s tactical weakness (all vanguards) is noted by Sanada.
- Coach Sayama’s scar is a permanent mark from protecting students, despite healing potions
—
Character Insight:
Sanada shows a mix of pragmatism and suppressed empathy; he allows himself to be used as a ‘figurehead’ because he respects Sayama’s genuine self-sacrifice, but he remains ruthless about maintaining his own freedom and the safety of his ‘harem.’
—
Behind the Scenes:
The ‘0.1% pull’ is a meta-commentary on gacha game mechanics common in modern isekai/dungeon fiction, equating rare familiar growth to high-tier loot drops.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Sayama – Baseball club coach in his thirties, former professional pitcher with a history of injuries. Pragmatic and anxious about his family and career stability.
• 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.
• Wakamiya – Captain of the baseball club.
• Nanami – Sonoda’s girlfriend. She has been confined to a windowless room and is suffering from depression and emotional instability. A second-year student with short black hair and a boyish style.
• Sonoda – Lover of Nanami. Member of the battle sport party (Tomoya Yuki’s party the siscon).
• 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
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply