Chapter 159 Maybe, Part of the Reason I Can’t Like It
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”So, why exactly is the boss here like this-noja?” Yohira asked.
She muttered the question as we finished off the 70th-floor guardian. Watching the boss engage in a literal deathmatch with its own shadows had clearly left an impression. ‘Yeah, figures,’ I thought. With a party as stacked as ours, we could have easily won a head-on fight, but to save the effort, we’d just hung back and waited for it to reach its breaking point before swooping in to claim the kill. Because of that, Yohira looked like she hadn’t quite managed to scratch her itch for a good rampage.
”It’s because they’re blood enemies,” I explained. “The ‘Angels’ and the ‘Demons.’”
The relationship between the Goddess of Light and her sister, the Goddess of Darkness, is… well, “strained” doesn’t even begin to cover it. These two deities took polar opposite approaches back when humanity was struggling to survive. The Goddess of Light created the ‘Angel’ race to act as guardians and sent them down to help. Meanwhile, the Goddess of Darkness took a different path: she remodeled human bodies to adapt to the environment, turning them into the¹Kin of the Night.
One goddess sent protectors and demanded faith in return.
The other adapted the people themselves and earned the devotion of her kin.
In my opinion, both had their reasons, and both had their flaws. I can at least respect that both acted out of a desire to help.
If the Goddess of Darkness didn’t exist, I never would have met Ethelena. If the Goddess of Light didn’t exist, I wouldn’t have met Tatia. They’re both essential to my life now. For some reason, I get the feeling that if anyone ever read these thoughts, it would be a catastrophe – the kind of disaster where the Chief Gods host a worldwide holy war just to settle the score.
”Ethelena and Tatia get along fine because neither of them thinks in terms of ‘us versus them,’” I continued. “But there are plenty of people who feel visceral disgust the moment they see a demi-human, and others who look down on anyone just for being ‘only’ human. Ideologies are fine until you start forcing them on others. That’s when you get blood feuds. That’s when you get war.”
The girls went quiet, their expressions turning solemn. It’s not like I was trying to say anything that deep.
”Look, I’d snap if someone talked trash about Yohira just because she’s an ogre, and I can’t stand the people who ignore Tatia’s will just to worship her royal bloodline. But I also can’t tell people not to be afraid of an ogre’s strength, and I don’t think it’s inherently wrong to see the royal family as an ideal. I’d argue against the extremes, but if someone asked for my honest take, I’d probably end up agreeing with parts of both sides.”
”So, you would actually agree with them-noja?” Yohira asked.
”I mean, you can’t beat an ogre for raw power, and if you go up against a succubus in²Sex Sorcery, you’re going to lose. Period. If you’re facing an opponent you don’t know, you’re going to be on your guard, right?”
”…On your guard?”
The moment those words left my mouth, everyone in the party shot me a look of pure skepticism. How rude. Even I have a sense of caution! I’m always on guard inside the dungeon – and I’m especially wary of Ethelena’s “inspirations” at night. It’s just that even when I am on guard, I still get dragged into unavoidable “incidents,” like being magically de-aged into a child so we can play “first time” games.
”But from what you’re saying, the goddesses had the same goal, just different methods,” Tatia noted. “Why is there so much vitriol?”
”Because the Goddess of Darkness doesn’t actually view her sister as an enemy,” I said. “It’s the Goddess of Light who’s been unilaterally denouncing her.”
This was a piece of lore from the original game, backed up by several visual fanbooks. The Goddess of Light felt a visceral, overwhelming disgust toward the biological tampering performed by the Goddess of Darkness. Because of that, she marked the entire Kin of the Night as targets for extermination. This “entirety” was dangerously vague, and eventually, it started applying to regular humans who simply worshipped the Dark Goddess. Since the Dark Goddess never taught her kin to hate the Angels, they were basically just slaughtered at first. Eventually, the Kin of the Night fought back, and in that crucible of survival, the most talented among them evolved into Demon Lords.
The ultra-naturalist Light Goddess kept attacking because she hated her sister’s “genetic” modifications, and the result was a history where ‘Angels’ are hated like the plague. When you look at it that way, the ‘Light’ and ‘Dark’ labels feel pretty arbitrary. The Light Goddess’s actions were far more malicious, which makes the whole situation a mess.
”If that truth ever got out, it would probably shatter the foundations of the faith-noja” Yohira remarked.
”Maybe. But this is all based on my previous life’s knowledge, so I don’t have a shred of evidence to prove it.”
You won’t find a single record of this in the world’s current libraries. You might find a mural if you looked hard enough, but languages change over ages, and this happened before writing was even a thing. I could ask an ‘Archangel’ to verify it – the ultimate cheat code – but her voice only reaches me right now. Proving I’m telling the truth is impossible. Besides, even if a priest who could hear God asked the question, if God decided to put on an act and tell a lie, the truth would never surface. All that remains for humanity is the fact that the Light persecuted the Dark.
”It’s just a classic case of humans getting jerked around by the divine,” I said. “If you go blabbing about this outside, you’ll have a target on your back from the Light’s zealots. Keep it under wraps, okay?”
After they all nodded, I pulled out a Teleportation Crystal.
”Are we withdrawing-noja?” Yohira asked.
”Yeah. If we’re going to keep running into Rare monsters, our current prep won’t cut it.”
The upcoming floors, 71 through 74, are dominated by cliffs and vertical drops. The enemies are a headache: ‘Gargoyles’ that act as flying stone sentries, and ‘Giants’ who love to hurl boulders. It’s a miserable lineup. First, to handle the terrain, Yohira and I need a way to fly. Second, since every Giant has the ‘Rock Throw’ skill, we need long-range options to pick them off. I mean, monsters aren’t supposed to have an Inventory, so where do they keep getting those damn rocks from anyway?
Then, at floor 75, visibility drops to zero. In the game, this floor was a massive pain. You could only see one square ahead, making mapping a nightmare. It’s not just “dark” – the floor literally devours light. Even with a lantern, you can’t see ten meters in front of you. You absolutely need the³Acoustic Mapping skill to track the terrain.
Even worse are the ‘Shadow’ race enemies. They’re actual shadows that blend into the floor; you can’t see them. Low-level ‘Shadows’ have no physical form, so they can even bypass Acoustic Mapping. You need magic-scaling damage to kill them. Then there’s the Rare species, the ‘Invisible.’ They have bodies, but they’re transparent. Plus, they have ‘Pierce,’ allowing them to ignore defense – they are Tatia’s natural enemy. Since your evasion doesn’t trigger without Acoustic Mapping, even Yohira could get dropped in one hit.
Finally, the 80th-floor boss is a ‘Doppelganger’ that mimics your stats. They can copy your base numbers, but not your skills or equipment. That’s the opening. Of course, a ‘Doppelganger’ of Yohira or Ichika is still something I have zero chance of beating. How am I supposed to fight a Level 70 Yohira?
”- And that’s the problem. Our party is missing the core skills we need to even stand on the same playing field as these enemies.”
”Master, your information is frighteningly precise” Ichika replied-degozaru.
”Honestly, if you took this to the Crown, you’d get a reward that would let you live in luxury for the rest of your life-noja” Yohira added.
True enough. But what someone wants to be and what they’re actually suited for are two different things.
”Tatara-dono… are there synergistic skill combinations for ‘Swordsmanship’ as well?” Tatia asked quietly.
”There are.”
”…I see.”
She looked visibly discouraged. I’d been teaching her skills for exploration and utility, so I hadn’t really gotten around to the combat⁴brain-dead builds yet. Basically, to maximize ‘Swordsmanship,’ you need ‘Physical Attack Boost.’ To maintain the technique, you need ‘Skill Power Up’ and ‘HP Up.’ Then ‘Agility Boost’ to land the hits, and ‘Physical Defense Boost’ to toughen the foundation. Stack those, and your growth explodes.
It’s a total brain-dead warrior build. It requires five other basic slots, meaning you have almost zero room for anything but combat. You’re a god of war, but you can’t do anything else. Efficiency-wise, it’s a nightmare for a small party that needs to handle exploration. Usually, Assassin or Thief builds are the MVPs of a crawl. Warriors only really shine during boss fights. It’s just a fact that Ethelena and Ichika have way more work to do than Yohira or Tatia.
”So… were you steering me toward an exploration build this whole time?” Tatia asked.
”No, I was just suggesting things based on what you said you wanted. Whenever you asked, I’d check what kind of person you wanted to become and tell you the skills that matched that, right?”
”Yes… that’s true,” Tatia said with a wry smile. “It was I who failed to ask what was appropriate for a Knight. I was so focused on being useful to the party that I didn’t think about my own path.”
”To be honest, I was a little hesitant to tell you anyway,” I admitted. “Your Knight Academy probably wants all the students on the same standard curriculum. I didn’t want to mess up your schooling.”
Tatia paused, a bitter look crossing her face.
”…Come to think of it, my instructors always told us: ‘The moment a Skill Slot opens up, report it to us immediately.’”
”Hearing that… I’m actually too scared to ask what your grades look like right now,” I muttered.
I feel for the instructor. With so little demi-human blood in his veins, my words probably didn’t even register. Between Tatia’s unique constitution and the rest of the students running wild with their noble-supremacist complexes, it was inevitable that things would fall through the cracks. If it weren’t for the Tatia I know now, becoming a knight⁵ would have been a pipe dream. Just thinking about what would have happened to her if I hadn’t intervened gives me a migraine.
”I guess there won’t be an official knightly appointment then,” Tatia said.
”Well, it might not come from the Crown, but the class has already recognized you as a Wing Knight⁶. Even if you can’t serve the country, you can always just come work for me after graduation.”
”Hehe, you’re treating me like a bride moving into her new home, aren’t you?” Tatia teased.
Why did I feel like I couldn’t even argue with that? At the very least, the party members were basically common-law wives at this point. Man, if the Head of the Judiciary or the Internal Affairs Chief ever caught wind of this, it would be checkmate for me.
”Master, I believe it is time we stop loitering and head back, it-is-degozaru,” Ichika said.
”True. Alright, let’s go home.”
I nodded at Ichika’s suggestion and pulled out a Teleportation Crystal. Immediately, the girls began touching the crystal at their preferred spots… or so I thought.
”Ichika, why are you touching me there?” I asked.
”It has been a while,” Ichika murmured. “I did it instinctively.”
I couldn’t help but call her out as she grabbed my manhood. I could’ve sworn she used to touch me somewhere else. Was she really that pent-up?
We had taken some detours to grind our stats, but the exploration itself wrapped up early. The sky was still bright. At this rate, I’d have plenty of time to wash off the sweat and prep dinner once we got home. I walked back thinking about the menu; most of our chatter revolved around food. It might seem early, but if you don’t start prepping, you don’t get to eat what you want. Breakfast was Whirlwind-style, so I should probably go with Hizuru seasoning for tonight. More than anything, I really want some of Ichika’s rolled omelets.
Right then, I heard the frantic slapping of feet approaching.
”Out of the way! Out of my way!” a boy’s voice shouted.
The voice sounded like a child who hadn’t quite hit puberty yet. I instinctively turned around. A boy with silver-gray hair was running toward us, half-sobbing, with a mob from the Citizen’s Watch hot on his heels. Wait, wasn’t that Smith, the protagonist of the original story?
”I wonder why they’re chasing that kiddo?” Tatia wondered.
”That group in the back is the Citizen’s Watch, it-is-degozaru,” Ichika noted. “They are generally good people. They even gave me directions to the shop after the first day, it-is-degozaru.”
Ichika was adding her two cents. Since she had fought alongside them against that bird-monster, she’d certified them as “Good Dudes.” It made me feel a bit proud of this town, as if she were complimenting my own home.
Regardless, the Watch was chasing Smith with unadulterated fury. What the hell had he done? Smith kept looking back, terrified of his pursuers, and completely ignored what was in front of him. Because of that, he failed to see the figure stepping out and slammed right into them. Both of them went down in a tangled heap of limbs and screaming. He’d hit a girl.
”I’ll go see if they need a potion,” I said.
”Ah, Master!” Ichika called out.
”That’s probably just Tatara’s bias toward the Watch acting up,” Tatia said, shaking her head. “Calm down, Ichika.”
”Well, Dahlia was talking about them quite happily the other day,” Ichika added.
As I headed toward Smith and the girl, the Watch arrived simultaneously. These guys had been with the squad leader before, so they were familiar faces.
”Oh, hey. Good work today,” I said.
”Tatara! Good work!” the guardsman replied.
While we exchanged greetings, I used Creation Magic to manifest some simple leg irons and restrained Smith. I then kneeled next to the girl who had been caught in the crossfire and gently pulled her away from him.
”That was quite a tumble. Are you alright?”
”Ow… it hurts…” she moaned.
She had bruises and scrapes from the impact. I pulled a recovery potion from my Inventory and applied it. The pain and wounds vanished instantly, leaving her blinking in surprise.
”Sorry for acting without asking, but I used a potion on you. Are you hurt anywhere else?”
”Eh? Oh… no. Thank you…?”
The girl was clearly dazed. She looked a bit younger than me, with deep navy hair reaching her waist and sharp, piercing blue eyes. Her features suggested a spirited personality, but her current confusion made her look quite vulnerable.
”Can you stand?” I asked.
”Ah, please give me a second.”
I helped her up as she tried to put weight on her legs. Once she was up and realized she was fine, she flashed me a smile.
”Thank you so much. I’m okay now.”
”Glad to hear it,” I said, returning the smile.
But man, she looked familiar. Have I seen her somewhere? Next to us, Smith was making a scene as the Watch pinned him down. Seeing this, the girl’s smile flipped into a mask of rage. She stomped over to him.
”Hey, you! I might be healed thanks to this kind gentleman, but you still hurt me!”
”Wha-!?” Smith cringed.
”What were you doing, getting chased by the Watch?” she shouted. “Think about the trouble you’re causing people!”
”That’s not it!” Smith protested.
”What isn’t?”
”I was just… trying to satisfy my intellectual curiosity and my spirit of inquiry!”
”Intellectual curiosity?” she barked. “Where the hell do peeping and underwear theft fit into that?”
”A woman’s body is an eternal mystery to a man, isn’t it?”
”You are the absolute lowest! What ‘intellectual curiosity’? You mean ‘perverted’ curiosity!”
”Nobody asked you to be witty about it, it-is-degozaru,” Ichika deadpanned.
She had appeared at my side to clap back at Smith’s nonsense. I was thinking the exact same thing.
”You s*x offender!” the girl yelled. “You hurt me, so I’m adding assault to the list of charges!”
”That’s only because you jumped out in front of me, you flat-chest!” Smith yelled back.
”I was just walking normally! That’s a slander charge, you creep!”
”What’s wrong with being a creep? Even if I am one, I’m a man of culture!”
”You’re just a pervert, you brat!”
A Watchman dropped a heavy fist onto Smith’s head. The girl was throwing insults too, but since she was the victim, nobody stopped her. Wait, I saw a flicker of sadness when he called her flat-chested. Is the reason Yohira is radiating bloodlust right now because she’s the most modest one in our party?
”A ‘gentleman’ is someone like this guy, who uses a potion on a stranger for nothing!” the girl said, pointing at me.
”He probably just happened to have one!” Smith countered. “You’re calling him a gentleman for that?”
”Even if it was an accident, he was the first one to help me up! That makes him a total gentleman!”
”Tatara, you’re seducing people again, aren’t you?” Tatia whispered.
”Don’t say ‘again.’”
I wasn’t trying to do anything. I was just genuinely worried.
”Besides, what if he bills me for the potion?” Smith asked. “Is he still a ‘gentleman’ then?”
”The bill is going to you, pervert,” I said firmly.
”Wha-?”
”Relax. I’ll only charge you 150-the standard market rate. You can afford that, right?”
”No, I… the money… Wait! I’ll give you a replacement potion instead!”
”Nope. Cash only,” I said. “It’s a family rule: Never show mercy to perverts. I don’t care if you’re a kid; I’m not letting you off easy.”
I needed to crush his “clever” schemes early. If I didn’t set Smith straight, his choices might lead to a disaster later.
”And for the record,” I continued, “the fact that you hurt this girl is a separate issue. Whether or not it’s ‘all good’ because she’s healed is for her to decide, not you. You hurt her. I healed her. You have zero credit in her recovery. Got it?”
The Watchmen backed me up, and Smith finally slumped his shoulders, realizing there was no way out. Once they hauled a dejected Smith away, the girl turned back to me.
”Um, thank you so much. For healing me and for sticking up for me back there.”
Her rage had vanished, replaced by a polite demeanor. I waved it off.
”Don’t worry about it. I was just being a busybody. If you ever need anything, I run a shop called Forgeron in the development district. I’m the owner, so just send a letter.”
”That’s very kind of you.” The girl laughed, covering her mouth with her hand. She was clearly well-bred. “I think I’ve made your girlfriends a little jealous.”
”No, it’s not like that…”
”I see. So the Shopkeeper is the ‘dense’ type, huh?”
”You noticed, it-is-kanou?” Ichika asked.
”Just a hunch.”
”Well, I’ll be going now,” the girl said. “Hehe, no need for formal speech with a younger girl, Mr. Shopkeeper.”
”I guess so. Get home safe then. That pervert might escape and run into you again. And you don’t need to be formal with me either. We aren’t that far apart in age anyway.”
”Ahaha! Will do!”
Maybe she found the exchange amusing, because the girl-Rudbeckia Katore⁷-answered with a cheerful grin.
”That’s right, I’m Katore-chan. And you, big bro?”
”I’m Tatara.”
”Tatara-san, huh? Catch ya later!”
After that last-second introduction, we went our separate ways. Still… Katore-san, huh? She’s a heroine from the original story, isn’t she?
Katore-san-Rudbeckia Katore-that’s likely her full name. In the original, she had twin-tails, but the hair color is a match. Her combat style is ‘Golem Crafter’⁸. While her talent as a pure mage is bottom-tier, she’s a prodigy as a Crafter. Between her ‘Golem Crafting’ and general ‘Crafting’ skills, she was an incredibly reliable party member. Personally, if you set aside whatever hidden ‘cheat’ talent Smith possesses, I’d say her raw potential was higher than his. Her role was usually to scold Smith and keep his perverted antics in check. Honestly, her personality made her one of my favorite heroines.
I doubt our paths will cross much from here on out.
If I remember right, she only visited Smith’s shop because she needed Golem materials. She’d mistaken his place for a high-end, “underground” boutique because of its location. That’s where Smith, who basically goes into heat the moment he sees a woman, tried to hit on her. It triggered a massive brawl that eventually led to them exploring together.
Unlike the other heroines, clearing her route requires defeating the ‘Orichalcum Golem’⁹ on the 30th floor to get a Special Ability item. The fact that you have to push past the 20th-floor graduation requirement always made her route feel like a grind.
If she ever showed up at my shop, I’d have to treat it as a formal request as an Explorer. Even if my team wouldn’t break a sweat, a normal person would see an ‘Orichalcum Golem’ as a nightmare. Her family is loaded, so she could definitely afford the fee. If that idiot protagonist took the job, things would probably work out. I don’t know if she’ll get tangled up with Smith like in the original, but at least there’s an escape route now.
”Master, were you thinking about that girl from earlier-degozaru ka?” Ichika asked.
She must have sensed I was lost in thought.
”Yeah. I was just thinking I’ll need to clear some time if I’m ever called to testify against that pervert,” I replied.
”…Actually, Master, while I was on lookout duty, I spotted that same creep among the groups trying to peep on us,” Ichika added.
”He dies.”
I don’t care if he’s a kid or a protagonist; there are lines you just don’t cross. The criminals who try to peep on my household-Ethelena and the others-must be purged. I wonder which is more appropriate: shredding them with an electric saw or roasting them alive with a flamethrower?
”Easy there, Tatara. Quit wrapping yourself in that murderous aura,” Yohira said.
”He’s right, Tatara-dono. Please, calm down,” Tatia added. “You mustn’t lose control like you did during my incident.”
Right. I forgot I still need to bring the hammer down on those knight-apprentices too. They really do need to be eradicated. I immediately started pulling weapons from my Inventory¹⁰. We weren’t that far from the Knight Academy; might as well go burn it down now.
”Master, I must insist you stop-degozaru yo!” Ichika cried, stepping in front of me. Her eyes were filled with a resolve that told me she’d do whatever it took to hold me back.
”Move, Ichika.”
”No, I will stop you! I will stop you by any means necessary-degozaru yo!”
Yohira and Tatia moved in to restrain me as well. Dahlia wasn’t here, but Yohira and Ichika had both achieved ‘Sublimation of Existence’¹¹. Their physical strength was off the charts.
”If you refuse to stand down, I have a final resort-degozaru yo,” Ichika threatened.
”Heh. And what’s that?” I asked.
”I will cry.”
”…Huh?”
”I will cry.”
The words left me stunned. Ichika… crying? Because of me?
”Wait, Ichika-“
”Oh, I’ll do it! I’ll wail at the top of my lungs, clinging to you and sobbing about how you’re abandoning me and the child in my womb!”
The blood that had rushed to my head drained away instantly. If she did that, I wouldn’t just be emotionally devastated-I’d be socially executed.
”I-Ichika… maybe have a little mercy?” I stammered.
”Yohira, the way I feel right now, those wouldn’t even be crocodile tears. I’d be sobbing for real,” Ichika said firmly.
”Seriously, stop it,” Yohira groaned.
I could tell they weren’t joking. I hurriedly shoved my weapons back into my Inventory and bowed deeply to Ichika.
”I’ll stop. Please, spare me.”
”As long as you understand-degozaru yo,” Ichika replied.
First Ethelena, now Ichika… I feel like it’s been etched into my soul that I can never win against her. Then again, she only pulls these stunts when I’m about to go off the rails.
* * *
Despite the drama, we made it home. After washing off the sweat, Ichika and I headed to the kitchen. Yohira and Tatia had joined the “idiots” for some sparring. It looked like Tatia had invited them, likely for some anti-personnel training in preparation for the upcoming student movement. I was technically invited, but Calmys-san once told me I have so little talent for combat that I should just run away, so I politely declined. When I mentioned that I’d just use artillery or incendiary rounds if things got hairy, everyone gave me a look of pure disgust. Meanwhile, Ichika-wanting to make use of her ‘Throwing’ skill-actually asked me to make her some fire bombs. I promised to have them ready later.
I preheated the oven to 450°F. While it warmed up, I set two pots of water to boil and began dicing the chicken, onions, and carrots. I added a pinch of salt to one pot and tossed in the macaroni; once it was al dente, I drained it and tossed it with a splash of olive oil. In the other pot, I boiled the potatoes, then shocked them in cold water before peeling them.
Next, I slicked a pan with oil and seared the chicken. Once it started to brown, I added the onions, then the carrots. I killed the heat to dust everything with flour, then added the butter. Over low heat, I stirred until the flour and butter formed a smooth roux. Once the raw taste of the flour was gone, I poured in some milk, turned up the heat, and stirred until it thickened. I repeated this process three times until the sauce reached a velvety consistency. I finished it with salt and pepper before gently folding in the macaroni.
I layered the potatoes and the white sauce into a dish, blanketed the top with shredded cheese, and slid it into the oven. Once the top was golden-brown and bubbling, the gratin was done. Checking outside, I saw the training session was wrapping up. I felt a surge of triumph-perfect timing. Since making steamed towels is a hassle, I just wrung out some towels soaked in hot water.
”Dinner’s ready! Wipe off the sweat and come eat,” I called out.
”Man, a warm towel feels incredible after a workout, doesn’t it?” the idiot said.
”Steamed ones would be better, but I prioritized the food,” I replied.
”Are you kidding? This is plenty comfortable,” Munenori said, wiping his face.
The guys had stripped to the waist, drying off while they chatted. Even that prick Munenori didn’t have anything snarky to say; he genuinely seemed to be enjoying it. The girls, meanwhile, had retreated to the cypress bath to freshen up. The moment the guys started undressing, they’d made themselves scarce.
”Say… haven’t your chest muscles gotten bigger?” Munenori asked, eyeing the protagonist’s physique.
”You’re one to talk, Munenori. Your arms look like they’ve put on some mass too,” the Part-time Leader added.
”Well, speaking of mass, has the Head of House’s arm gotten even harder?” Munenori laughed, squeezing the Leader’s arm, then moving on to poke the idiot’s arm. “Compared to them, yours is still so soft… Or is that just the flexibility training?”
I don’t know why, but I could almost smell the scent of roses in the air. What a weird, precarious vibe.
”The food is getting cold,” I interrupted. “Finish the locker room talk at the table.”
* * *
”Magnificent! Beneath this crown of toasted, bubbling cheese lies a veloute of profound and creamy sweetness!” Hinagiku exclaimed. “The potatoes, tender yet retaining their noble form, bestow an earthy umami upon the sauce! Each morsel of macaroni is shrouded in this silken shroud-a true delight for the palate! This velvety sauce coats the tongue, trapping it in a cage of inescapable deliciousness! Sublimely textured!!”
”We’ve certainly grown used to it-Hinagiku’s hymn to the meal,” Yohira whispered.
”It only takes about three days to adjust,” Tatia agreed.
I wondered how Munenori was taking it, since this was his first time.
”If you could apply that level of vocabulary to education, you might have been the greatest teacher of our age,” Munenori said with surprising sincerity. He was quietly savoring his gratin. He’d been weirdly aggressive before, but his table manners were actually quite refined.
”Hinagiku-senpai, it’s also really good if you hollow out a bit of bread and stuff the gratin inside!” the idiot suggested. He was showing her how to make ‘Grapan’¹² using the butter rolls I’d served. She didn’t say much, but her expression was pure admiration.
Ibara-san watched the two of them with a pained expression, while Mitsuha-san looked on with a warm smile. I wonder where things went wrong for them-they’re both well past their marriageable age, after all.
”Mmm, I’d quite like to try that myself when the cold sets in, I would-noja.”
”In that case, we could use miso as the base for the broth-degozaru.”
”Hey, don’t start talking shop about food while I’m actually trying to eat my dinner!” the Part-time Leader snapped.
When I asked Yohira for her take, the conversation spiraled into a debate over recipes. Even Ichika jumped in, tossing out ideas for tweaks, but the Part-time Leader reined us in with a look of pure exasperation.
I handed the gratin – which just needed a quick bake – to the moron and let Hinagiku-san see him off. The other prick was heading out at the same time, likely acting as a bodyguard for the idiot. We’d be parting ways soon enough, but having someone along who was probably even tougher than Hinagiku-san gave me some peace of mind.
I finished the maintenance on the party’s gear, ran through my daily ‘Sky Rift’¹³ routine, and hit the shower. After scrubbing off the day’s grime, I headed back to my room. My schedule for tomorrow was wide open, so I figured I’d head out for some exploration. I needed to grind my skill levels and hunt for status-up items to prepare for Tatia’s ‘Sublimation of Existence’¹⁴.
Just as I was mulling it over, a soft knock came at the door. I opened it to find Ichika standing there in nothing but a bathrobe.
”Ichika? What’s going on?” I asked.
Instead of answering, she simply pulled the robe open. She was wearing the ‘Lewd Underwear’ we’d looted earlier that day. Her eyes were dazed, her expression melting with heat as she whispered her plea.
”Tatara-sama… please, have your way with me.”
At those words, I felt something inside me finally snap.
Tatia Event in Progress
‘Poster Girl’ Event Triggered
Christmas Eve: The year is almost over.
A stain of seeping nectar; the vessel of profane wisdom. Rise. Deny. Seethe. Stroke. The Iron Maiden of defloration. An erotic doll in a state of endless, rhythmic pleasure. Combine. React. Be consumed by shame and realize your own pathetic helplessness.
**LIBIDO NINETY-SIX: ‘SABLE SILKS’¹⁵!!**
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**[BONUS]**
”Hehe… ‘Gladius’… you’re my partner!” the boy whispered.
Clutching his newly named Aarem¹⁶, the boy beamed. It was a smile of pure, soul-deep frontier happiness – the kind of look that made anyone watching feel the same. Even the Shopkeeper, who’d built the machine, hadn’t expected the kid to be this thrilled. His usually low self-esteem caught a spark of pride.
”The official tournament is still a bit of a way off,” the Shopkeeper said, “so you should take it for a spin at the arena soon.”
”A test run? Really?” the boy asked.
”Yep,” the Shopkeeper replied. He explained that a freshly built Aarem isn’t used to the Mana¹⁷ flowing from its core, making it nearly impossible to control. Back when they first launched, excited kids would accidentally level half their houses trying to move them. Now, they come with a lock. An Aarem won’t budge unless it passes a Mana-based age check and picks up the specific frequency broadcast within an arena.
”Oh… I see,” the boy said, his shoulders slumping slightly.
”Yeah. So, get down there and let that Mana settle. Your partner is a newborn; you’ve gotta teach it how to crawl first,” the Shopkeeper encouraged.
”Got it!” the boy shouted.
A few days later, the boy stood before the city’s massive central hub: the Tatara Aarem Arena. As the world’s first dedicated facility, it was a holy land for fans. The boy stared up at the spire, trembling with awe.
”Finally… I’m going to be an Aarem Master – “
”Hey, move it! You’re in the way!” a voice barked.
The boy yelped as someone shoved him from behind. He stumbled, barely catching his balance before spinning around. Standing there was a mean-looking kid about a head taller than him, flanked by two lackeys.
”That was dangerous! What gives!?” the boy yelled.
”Oh, it’s just the class shrimp,” the big kid said, looking bored. “It’s a pain when people block the door. I just cleared the path.”
”You didn’t have to shove me!”
”If you don’t want to get pushed, don’t be a roadblock,” the bully sneered, heading inside.
The boy glared at them for a moment, then took a deep breath and followed.
”Welcome to the Aarem Arena!” the receptionist said with a practiced smile.
”I-I’m here for a test run!” the boy stammered, his nerves spiking.
”I see! Field time for one? That’ll be 500 Credits¹⁸ for the youth rate,” she replied.
The boy fumbled the money out of his wallet. The receptionist checked the amount and looked him in the eye, her smile softening.
”Exactly 500. Well then… welcome, new Aarem Master. May pride and honor find you at the end of the road.”
It was a scripted line, but to the boy, it felt like a royal decree. He felt his spirit catch fire. He was finally going to command a machine of his own. Driven by the heat in his chest, he stepped onto the floor.
High ceilings. A massive, open battlefield. People were everywhere – tuning their settings, dueling, or testing gear. I’m finally here, he thought. I’m finally standing on the stage of my dreams.
He took his first step forward, his heart racing.
—
Summary:
After clearing the 70th floor, Tatara explains the true history behind the conflict between the Gods of Light and Darkness, revealing the Light Goddess’s bias. He realizes the party lacks specific skills to handle the environmental hazards and invisible enemies of upcoming floors. This leads to a discussion on specialized character builds and Tatia’s academic standing regarding her skill choices.
After finishing their exploration early, Tatara and his party encounter Smith, the original story’s protagonist, being chased by the Citizen’s Watch. Smith crashes into a mysterious navy-haired girl, whom Tatara heals with a potion. Tatara then sternly disciplines Smith, forcing him to take responsibility and pay for the potion while the mysterious girl takes a liking to the ‘dense’ shopkeeper.
Tatara encounters a game heroine, Katore, and contemplates her future role. After learning a perverted rival peeped on his household, he nearly goes on a murderous rampage until Ichika stops him with a strategic emotional threat. The chapter ends with a communal dinner featuring a meticulously prepared gratin.
Following a group dinner, Ichika attempts to seduce Tatara using special equipment found during their exploration, leading to a significant character beat. The narrative then shifts to a bonus story about a young boy receiving his first Aarem, Gladius, and visiting the arena for the first time. The boy encounters a bully at the entrance but remains determined to start his journey as an Aarem Master.
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Trivia:
- The ‘Goddess of Darkness’ actually views the ‘Goddess of Light’ as a sister, not an enemy.
- The 75th floor has a light-devouring gimmick that negates lanterns.
- Invisibles possess a ‘Pierce’ skill that ignores defense, making them lethal to tanks like Tatia.
- The protagonist is worried about his thoughts being read by deities, which could spark a religious war.
- Knight Academy students are required to report every new skill slot they gain to their instructors.
- The protagonist is actually the owner of a shop called ‘Forgeron’.
- Smith is not just a random brat, but the ‘original protagonist’ of the game/story world.
- Tatara is intentionally suppressing Smith’s ‘protagonist’ luck to prevent bad endings for other characters like Shamir and Est.
- Ichika has a specific ‘ninja’ way of speaking using ‘degozaru’.
- The ‘Wing Knight’ title is a unique class recognition, not a standard national rank.
- Tatara is aware he lives in a ‘game world’ and knows character routes.
- Ichika is pregnant, which adds weight to her threat to cry.
- Tatara has zero combat talent but possesses overwhelming crafting and inventory power.
- Munenori (the ‘piece of shit’) is actually displaying polite table manners and training diligently.
- Hinagiku’s food reviews are a recurring comedic element others have simply adapted to.
- The ‘Poster Girl’ event is currently active alongside the Tatia event.
- Aarems have a built-in safety lock that prevents them from moving outside of sanctioned arenas.
- The ‘prick’ leaving at the same time as the idiot is likely stronger than Hinagiku-san.
- Tatara’s daily grind includes a skill called ‘Sky Rift’.
- Aarems require ‘Mana’ from the core to function and need to be ‘familiarized’ with their masters
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Character Insight:
Tatara shows a protective streak toward his party’s reputations and safety, prioritizing efficiency over blind loyalty to local institutions. Tatia struggles with the conflict between being a ‘useful party member’ and a ‘proper knight,’ realizing she has neglected her own specialized growth.
Tatara shows his ‘parental’ or ‘mentor’ side by strictly disciplining Smith rather than just letting him go. He is aware of the ‘dense protagonist’ trope but falls victim to it himself. The navy-haired girl shows signs of being a high-ranking or noble character based on her mannerisms.
Tatara’s protective nature borders on psychopathic when it comes to his family’s privacy, but he is easily manipulated by the emotional well-being of his wives/residents. Ichika demonstrates her growth from a servant to a partner who can manage Tatara’s extreme impulses.
Ichika is taking a proactive, aggressive approach to her relationship with Tatara, using ‘lewd’ items as a catalyst. The Boy demonstrates classic shonen protagonist traits: awe, nervousness, and resilience against bullying.
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Behind the Scenes:
The ‘Angel vs Demon’ conflict is a subversion of typical isekai tropes where Light is always Good; here, Light is depicted as intolerant and reactionary.
The ‘Man of Culture’ (Gentleman pervert) line is a meta-reference to common otaku tropes and memes regarding ‘Hentai’ protagonists.
The ‘Rose Scent’ is a common visual/olfactory trope in manga to denote homoerotic tension or extreme ‘Ikemen’ energy during male bonding.
The ‘Aarem’ terminology is a distinct world-building element likely central to the story’s secondary plotlines or hobby-based systems.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Yohira – Torakuma’s first name. Oni warrior.
• Ichika – The fox girl. Kunoichi. Virgincest⚠️, becomes pregnant immediately.
• Dahlia – The automaton.
• Rudbeckia – A Golem Crafter and heroine from the original work. Known for having twin-tails and high crafting potential. Wealthy family background. Known to scold Smith’s perversions.
• Calmys – War God’s knight, Mayor’s guard chief, whip-master hiding as a swordswoman; sharp tongue, big-sister vibe to Tatara, grants him and Ethelena church protection.
• Hinagiku – A tengu woman as Ranka’s potential companion. She stays with Tatara’s group after travels. Joins household scenes only. Linked to Ranka by shared gluttony jokes. No direct tie to Tatara beyond cohabitation. Cheerful eater.
• Mitsuha – Second daughter of the Torakuma family (Yohira’s sister). She is quiet, awkward, surprisingly deadpan, and possesses a gentle, nurturing side (shown with Cornremu). Hair so long it trailed across the floor like Tomie Kawakami (Junji Ito), face half-hidden by hair, single dark horn (above brow), loose violet robes.
• Ibara – Eldest daughter of the Torakuma family (Yohira’s sister). She is sharp, formal, and possesses a predatory confidence and dry humor. Relative of the Narrator’s ex-companion (Yohira) and a new house guest/guard. Short black hair (neatly at the shoulder), crimson horn (from forehead), eyes of molten gold, red and black kimono like Shuten-dōji (Fate).
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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