Volume 2 Chapter 9 Year End – New Year
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Leemans” continued their steady push through the dungeon, finally reaching the tenth floor as the year drew to a close. In the Divine Calendar¹, it was the latter half of the 7th month; in the Hero Calendar² (the Gregorian calendar), it was the beginning of December. It has been five months since I reincarnated.
The weather has turned biting cold lately, making the mornings and evenings a trial. I have never lived there myself, but I imagine the temperature is comparable to the frigid northern reaches of Tohoku or Hokkaido. Fortunately, my Fire Magic level is high enough that I don’t have to suffer through freezing baths. Truthfully, I don’t even need the well water, but since I lack a proper drainage spot, I end up bathing near the outdoor well anyway. I keep the air warm by circulating a constant thermal draft around myself with a blend of Wind and Fire Magic.
A few women stayed at the same inn, and since this world’s sense of modesty is a bit thin, they thought nothing of stripping for a wash right in front of the men. Staring would have been a one-way ticket to a guard’s barracks, so I limited myself to quick glances through the partitions. Whenever I caught a stray look at a girl, my Private Power Generation³ (m**urbation) went much more smoothly that night. Thank you, world. Sadly, as the frost set in, they stopped coming to the well entirely, preferring to stay in their rooms and use a damp cloth. A crying shame.
* * *
I continued meeting Mercedes-san about once a month. In exchange for treats at stylish restaurants, she fed me intelligence on the Hero Party. After leaving Maultasche, they toured the Holy Kingdom, the Empire, and the Dukedom before moving on to even more distant lands. They weren’t just traveling, either; they were busy diving into regional dungeons and hunting surface monsters to grind levels. It sounded exhausting.
A contingent of knights from Maultasche accompanied them as support, so there had been no major disasters, though it seemed the group was still causing plenty of friction. I really felt for the knights in charge. Playing babysitter for a party of four problem children – including two men who had been in their fifties and sixties in their previous lives – was a job I wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole.
My monthly lunches with Yuko also continued, which meant an hour of listening to her vent. If anything, her mood seemed to be getting worse. The drop in her quality of life was clearly taking a toll, and her outlets for stress were limited. She was strangely earnest despite her lack of motivation, which probably caused her to bottle things up more than most. Regardless, I had no intention of getting further involved. My gut told me that getting closer to her would be a nightmare. I had to keep that boundary firm.
Ines-san, Juliet, and Sylvie-san had hit it off during our shared training and eventually decided to form their own party. They even rebranded themselves from “Twin Winds” to “The Gale.” Sylvie-san was already Level 40, while the other two sat around 32 or 33. Sylvie-san didn’t seem to mind the gap, claiming that “compatibility is the only thing that matters in a party.” Since elven growth rates were half that of humans, I figured the others would catch up eventually anyway.
I occasionally ran into them at the guild, and we’d head out for drinks if the timing was right. Ines-san always accepted with her trademark soft smile, and Sylvie-san was always eager to ask more questions about our original world. Juliet was the only one who kept up the verbal abuse, but she always showed up, so I doubted she actually hated the company. Our levels were rising steadily; I had a feeling we’d be running into them in the dungeon quite soon.
Our conquest remained on track. After the toads of the eighth floor came the snakes of the ninth. I’d expected more poison – which I already had a resistance for – but these things utilized a “Sleep Poison.” If they bit you, you took damage while slipping into a deep slumber. If you were solo, it was a lethal combo. I had acquired Sleep Resistance beforehand and the party lowered the overall risk, but they still weren’t enemies to take lightly.
Their scales were hard but supple; if you slashed at them carelessly, the blade simply skittered off the surface. They were masses of pure muscle, making them dangerous if they managed to coil around you. Furthermore, they didn’t just slither – they leaped. If you focused too much on the snakes at your feet, you’d get blindsided by one flying through the air.
We struggled at first. Makoto, our vanguard, had a rough time being bitten, put to sleep, and constricted repeatedly. I kept him stable with healing and snapped him awake with magic the moment he started to nod off. Since they were cold-blooded, lowering their temperature with ice slowed them to a crawl. Fire and Wind Magic were also highly effective; as long as we weren’t caught off guard, they were manageable.
I had recently prioritized combat skills like Evasion, Stealth, Slip-through, and Spacing. I picked up Evasion as a basic necessity. I wasn’t a pure melee class, which was exactly why I wanted to avoid damage. Avoiding an attack with minimal movement allowed for a much faster counter. I learned the other three as a set because once my “Instant Motion” skill reached level 10, it unlocked the requirements for the high-tier skill Ground Shrink⁴. I’d always wanted to use a legendary move like that, and I was close to mastering it.
* * *
We cleared the ninth floor in about three weeks. By then, everyone had reached Level 30, and I was sitting at 39. In terms of raw ability scores, Level 31 was equivalent to a B-rank growth rate. Before entering the tenth floor to face the boars, I pre-emptively learned Earth and Water Magic Resistance. I knew the Orcs and Lizards on the eleventh floor utilized those elements, and I wanted to be ready.
I actually grounded those skills myself by using the “Spider Method” – blasting myself with my own magic until the resistance clicked. It worked perfectly. From the eleventh floor onward, the dungeons introduced two new monster types per floor, which made planning more of a headache.
The tenth-floor boars were the size of compact cars and possessed an Impact Attribute⁵ in their charge. If you took the hit directly, you’d be blown back, leaving the formation wide open. I had Shock Resistance myself, but I didn’t want to rely on it; if I did the tanking, the rest of the party wouldn’t grow.
I needed Makoto to endure it. We upgraded his armor and used Wind and Water Magic walls to bleed off the boars’ momentum. Earth Magic was sturdier, but the flying shards were a hazard and the walls blocked our line of sight, making it hard to time a guard. Once we stopped the charge, we could dogpile them. The key was simply surviving that initial rush.
* * *
Leveling had become a grind, so by the time we reached the floor boss, it was officially the end of the year. It was December 28th by the Hero Calendar – the day most people back home would be finishing up work. In this world, there were no “winter holidays.” Most people couldn’t afford to stop working. We decided to take only January 1st off to keep from getting rusty, but we had to kill the boss first. We found treasure chests occasionally, but they were mostly disappointing – usually just a few silver coins. Better than nothing, I suppose, but I was hoping for something with a bit more “wow” factor.
We approached the boss chamber. These rooms were dedicated arenas that had to be cleared to progress. Since our levels were approaching C-Rank standards, this fight was essentially our promotion exam. If we won, the rank-up was a sure thing. The room didn’t lock, so retreat was always an option. I felt good about our chances, but I wasn’t going to be a hero if things went south.
I pushed open the heavy iron doors. The chamber was the size of a school playground with ten-meter ceilings. The floor boss stood in the center, twice the size of a regular boar – roughly the size of a minivan. Knowing that thing could charge at sixty miles per hour made my stomach turn, even if my stats said I could handle it. (Alright, let’s do this.)
”Alright, scheduled plan. While Makoto and I hold the boss, eliminate the minions immediately. Battle start!”
”Roger!”
We prioritized the subordinate boar first. The number of minions increased every ten floors, and leaving them alone was a recipe for disaster. To keep the boss from swarming Makoto, I pulled its aggro with a spell.
”Fire Javelin!”
”BMMMOOOOOOO!!!!”
The boss roared, digging its front hooves into the dirt – the telltale sign of a charge. The pressure was immense. I had Makoto shift his stance to take the impact at an angle. Bash! The sound of the collision echoed through the room. Makoto was shoved back, but because he’d taken the hit diagonally, the boss went hurtling past him into the open space.
My Wind Magic wall hadn’t slowed it down as much as I’d liked, but it was enough. With the boss lured away, the others swarmed the minion. Kazuya used his summoning skill to pin it while Takuya and Kenta-kun finished it off.
”Sorry to keep you waiting!”
”I have arrived ssu!”
”Your timing is impeccable degozaru.”
Kazuya struck a flamboyant pose, but Takuya just shoved him toward the boss. This was where the real fight started. “Alright, close in! Don’t give him enough runway to pick up speed!”
”Roger!”
The Impact Attribute was only dangerous if the boar reached top speed. If we stayed on top of him, he was just a big target. We chased him down, refusing to give him space. Once we had him pinned, I combined Water and Earth Magic to turn the ground beneath him into a thick quagmire. The boss’s legs sank into the mud, and without his momentum, he could only thrash his head and snap his tusks in frustration.
”Now! Give him everything you’ve got!”
”Uo—!!”
”Wait, what?! Fish?!”
”Is now the time for your weird memes?! Kenta-kun won’t get that!”
”Heheh… sorry ssu…”
”I’m gonna deck you!”
”I’ll be serious ssu!”
(For the record, the ‘Fish!’ thing was an old meme from my world – a mistranslation of a shout from a certain ‘Holy Emperor.’ Tech from ten years ago was just like that.)
Despite the nonsense, the group was locked in. Makoto bashed the boss with his hammer, Takuya aimed for the vitals, and Kazuya’s summon landed a heavy, shimmering slash. Kenta-kun coated his blade in ice, delivering a flurry of Magic Sword strikes. I maintained the quagmire while peppering the beast with ice spears. We just had to avoid those tusks; one solid hit would mean a trip to the infirmary.
”Bmmoooo…”
With one final, earth-shaking thud, the boss collapsed.
”Subjugation complete!”
”That was quite easy degozaru.”
”Hey, speak for yourself. I got tossed around more than a little. That boss was definitely a step up.”
”Makoto-san seemed to have a hard time. Good work. Everything else went exactly as rehearsed.”
”Yeah ssu. Glad there was only one minion ssu.”
Preparation wins fights. We’re officially C-Rank material now. The eleventh floor was next: Lizards and Orcs. I was going to turn those pigs into a Tonkatsu Festival⁶!
* * *
A few days later, the New Year arrived. The locals didn’t throw wild parties; they usually just went to the temple for quiet prayer. I followed suit, offering a standard prayer of thanks to the gods. Since the gods were a tangible reality here, the Seven Pillar Faith was the only game in town. It felt a bit restrictive, but since ‘Evil’ titles were a real thing, it meant the clergy were generally decent people. It was a far cry from the scandals and cults of my old world. The symbol of the faith was a sun combined with a rainbow – a design that felt oddly familiar to a former Japanese citizen.
There was a moon here too, though it looked much larger than Earth’s. After my prayers, I walked through the quiet streets back to my room.
I had died so suddenly in my past life that I’d left a lot of loose ends. My lack of success with women had been a major regret, though I’d basically given up by my late thirties. My market value had bottomed out, and I didn’t have the stomach for a marriage agency to tell me I was worthless. I also missed my manga and web novels; I’d never know how they ended.
Even so, I was glad I’d been reincarnated. Every day was a gamble, and I’d started out depressed about my ‘dud’ class, but things had turned out better than expected. My life was stable. Romance was a long shot, but for everything else? This world was better. Brothels are legal, magic handles the health risks, and the women are stunning. I still wanted a rematch with Regina-san. Once you’ve experienced the real thing, it’s hard to go back to Solo Power Generation.
My party was a group of weirdos, but we were a family. My relationships with Mercedes-san, Ines-san, Juliet, and Sylvie-san were solid. If I could just get a hint of actual romance, I’d be set. But for now, I was happy. I didn’t have to deal with toxic seniors, moody bosses, or a corporate ladder that led nowhere. As the first night of the New Year deepened, I felt a rare sense of peace.
—
Summary:
Osamu and his party ‘Leemans’ clear the ninth and tenth floors of the dungeon. They defeat a minivan-sized Boar boss through tactical magic use. Osamu reflects on his growth and the stability of his new life during the New Year transition.
—
Trivia:
- Elves grow at half the rate of humans.
- Growth Rate B is standard for Level 31.
- Gods in this world are a proven fact, influencing the lack of religious diversity.
- The ‘Spider Method’ refers to self-inflicted damage to gain resistance skills.
- STDs are easily curable with magic in this world
—
Character Insight:
Osamu is increasingly grateful for his reincarnation, finding the lack of corporate toxicity more valuable than modern technology. He maintains a distance from Yuko to avoid drama, showing his pragmatic side.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The ‘Fish!’ joke refers to a famous mistranslation of the character Souther from Fist of the North Star.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Mercedes – Brown semi-long hair, thick chest armor replaced by a white frilled one-piece, she is the shrewd, overworked Home Secretary (Naimukyou) of the Maultasche Kingdom, mother of Patrizia, and a high-ranking noblewoman overseeing domestic affairs, security, and the Investigation Bureau—yet still retains her identity as a high-spirited Royal Knight: mediating, teaching shield techniques, leading parties, despising goblins and orcs, seeking a boyfriend, and viewing dungeons as divine trials, all while wielding elite combat and destruction magic with deep knowledge of guild mechanics.
• Yuko – Reincarnated 17‑year‑old high‑schooler, once a 40‑year‑old Earth civil servant who married, had a child and died in a train crash. Now a Level‑1 apprentice to Lady Xaveria, she wears a half‑up hairstyle, thin chest armor, stands 160 cm with a standard build, speaks politely but shows low motivation and poor etiquette.
• Juliet – Beastman adventurer, 150 cm tall, blue bob hair, light armor, large chest, dual‑wielder with Idaten skill wielding a two‑handed sword. Leemans party member, prickly tsundere who avoids sexual talk and whose gear often shatters. Short‑tempered Twin Winds instructor, bluntly insults the protagonist and snaps at Daisuke’s teasing about her age and rank.
• Sylvie – Elf, 140 cm tall, long wavy blonde hair, modest robes, small chest. Pure spirit‑magic user and instructor for Daisuke’s party, member of the Leemans. Though youthful, she is the group’s highest‑leveled adventurer, radiating a terrifying aura when age is hinted, refined yet mature. Specializes in spirit magic but struggles with physical attacks due to her slender build; higher level than Daisuke but lower MP endurance.
• Ines – 170 cm tall, long green hair, heavy metal armor, voluptuous build; D‑Rank, Level 21+ magic swordsman who blends wind magic with swordplay, accelerates with gusts and moves swiftly. Cool‑headed yet shy, pouting when teased. Dignified leader of the Twin Winds duo and mentor in the Leemans party, she prioritizes comrades’ safety and is a light‑weight drinker.
• Makoto – Short, chubby Earth‑summoned Leeman blacksmith (Lv20+), speaks in stiff samurai‑style “sogashi”. High STR/VIT, tanks goblins, never kills humans, dreams of mastering the forge under a mentor, frequents the workshop, awes at an elegant elven girl—his elven enthusiasm legendary. Party member, friend and apprentice blacksmith, open lolicon who says “cuteness is justice”, called Makoto‑san by Milliam, vanguard/tank with hammer and heavy armor, high endurance.
• Kazuya – Scrawny, low‑key summoner in Daisuke’s party and rear‑guard of The Leemans, also one of the “Three Idiots”. He grades his Summoning Magic (~20+) in his room, picturing a dancer‑like woman and a weak slime to aid combat. He talks with a junior‑slacker cadence, has a 2‑D little brother, and relies on summoned entities.
• Takuya – A black‑garbed, masked ninja, once cast out by the Hero’s party, now mid‑guard of the Salarymen and a Leemans member in Daisuke’s crew. He speaks in faux‑samurai tone, stresses stealth and pragmatic combat, trains at level 20+, and as a member of the ‘Three Idiots’ delivers vital‑point strikes while on watch. Ninja class, all‑male party, with a yandere preference.
• Kenta – Black‑haired magic swordsman Kenta‑kun, ice‑coated blade, member of the “Three Idiots.” Reincarnated and summoned, he serves both Salarymans and Leemans, fights alongside young Daisuke (Level 20+), is visibly drained after a red‑light district clash, hesitates to kill, and watches the protagonist’s hidden strength.
• Regina – An experienced older woman (Onee-san archetype) wearing a sexy dress. Provides services or companionship. Possesses high ‘experience levels’ in sex and uses professional ‘lip service’ to please clients. Floor manager/coordinator at the brothel. Mid-twenties with blue-purple hair and green eyes. Wears a marine-blue dress with a deep slit and thigh-high socks.
• Osamu – An 18‑year‑old reincarnated graduate, now a Sage of the Hero Party, sports thick hair and a modern look. Once dismissive, he now observes social hierarchies pragmatically. Formerly Araya’s boss, he died in an accident with a severely damaged body and wields high‑level Fire, Wind, Water and Earth magic.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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