Volume 1 Chapter 18
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Minami-chan sat down beside me and began to explain her situation.
”Kanade-cchi… Minami is actually in a bit of a bind. I just can’t seem to get permission to enter ‘Phase One’…”
”Huh, really? But wait… Minami-chan, you’re a [Common Job] holder, right?” I asked.
Most of the students still stuck here in ‘Phase Zero’ are those with [Rare Jobs] that are notoriously difficult to train. There are some [Common Jobs] that take time to develop, but I didn’t recall hearing anything about Minami-chan struggling with hers.
The class’s “Four Heavenly Kings” are always the center of attention. Information about their Jobs usually circulates the moment they get them.
”Yeah… Minami’s Job is [Light Warrior].”
”A [Light Warrior]… isn’t that considered one of the easiest Jobs to move into ‘Phase One’?”
”That’s what they say…” she replied.
”Then is it a problem with your (Job Skills) or how you’re using them?”
When you get a [Common Job], you gain various ‘Phase Zero’ level (Job Skills) depending on the role. There’s a bit of luck involved with these initial skills. Even with a [Common Job], if your skills are subpar, reaching ‘Phase One’ can be a real grind.
[Common Jobs] have a safety net, however. It’s well known that some of their (Job Skills) can be acquired through training. You can keep working in ‘Phase Zero’ for a relief measure¹ until you get what you need.
[Unique Jobs] and even [Rare Jobs] don’t have that luxury, since their skill data is so scarce. Learning those through manual training is incredibly difficult. In that sense, being a [Common Job] holder is a huge blessing.
Anyway…
”Mmm-mm, it’s not my fighting style,” she said. “My starting skills were (Dual-Wielding Arts) and (Sky-Ripping Slash).”
”Whoa, seriously?! You pulled a double for your starters? And those are top-tier skills with amazing synergy!”
(Weapon Arts) skills are considered a jackpot because they accelerate your mastery. (Sky-Ripping Slash) is a coveted long-range attack for a warrior class that usually lacks reach. Given that most people only get one (Job Skill) in Phase Zero, having two high-quality skills put her in an incredibly strong position.
”…Then why on earth haven’t you been cleared for ‘Phase One’?”
”Well… there’s a reason for that. Kanade-cchi, would you mind having a mock battle with Minami?”
Minami-chan tilted her head slightly as she asked. I doubted I’d be much of a match for someone with such elite skills, but…
”Sure. It’ll be good practice for me, too. I’d be honored,” I replied.
I decided to take her up on the offer and see what she was made of.
* * *
”Hah! Hyah! Hup!”
Minami-chan was petite, but the two swords in her hands moved like fluid silk. I shifted my weight, dancing back and forth as I parried her onslaught with my single blade.
I’m no master swordsman, but I’ve picked up the basics in our academy classes. I can hold my own in a standard bout. But Minami-chan’s pressure was intense—far sharper than her cute, doll-like face would suggest.
If I hadn’t used (Tenketsu)² for Physical Augmentation, she would have flattened me in seconds.
She’s seriously strong… How has she not been cleared for Phase One yet?!
I desperately looked for an opening to counter, but against her twin-blade flow, one never seemed to come. Fine. If an opening won’t present itself, I’ll have to force one.
I deflected a strike from her right sword. Instead of dodging the follow-up from her left, I threw up my right arm to take the blow directly.
Thud!
Even with blunted training swords, the impact was jarring. In a normal situation, my arm would have snapped like a dry twig. But my arm held firm.
Just as I’d hoped—the defensive (Tenketsu) I’d applied to my body worked perfectly. Taking advantage of Minami-chan’s shock at my reckless defense, I closed the distance and swung my right leg upward.
”Eek!”
Minami-chan managed to get her arms up to block my roundhouse kick, but it wasn’t enough. Her small frame was sent flying, tumbling across the dirt.
Kicking a girl with a face that cute felt like an outrage, but right now, she was the superior fighter. I couldn’t afford to go easy. I pressed the advantage immediately.
”Ah! Wait! Nnh!”
She tried to fend off my fierce assault with both swords, but her movements were visibly sluggish. She couldn’t string together an effective offense anymore, and my strikes began to find their mark across her guard.
This is weird. I landed a good kick, sure, but she’s reinforced with Dungeon Energy. It shouldn’t have done this much damage…
The light of battle faded from her eyes, and her movements ground to a halt.
”…I give up,” Minami-chan said, staring at the tip of the sword I held to her throat.
—
Summary:
Minami-chan approaches Kanade to discuss her inability to pass the ‘Phase One’ promotion despite her [Light Warrior] Job and high-tier dual-wielding skills. Kanade is surprised to learn she possesses both (Dual-Wielding Arts) and (Sky-Ripping Slash), a rare and powerful combination. To identify the problem, they engage in a mock battle where Minami demonstrates overwhelming technical skill. Kanade relies on his (Tenketsu) skill for defense and manages to catch her off-guard with a risky counter-move. After a single solid kick, Minami’s performance inexplicably plummets, leading to her surrender. Kanade is left questioning why such a reinforced fighter suffered so much from a relatively minor blow.
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Trivia:
- Minami’s physical reaction to the kick is disproportionate to her ‘Dungeon Energy’ reinforcement, suggesting a hidden weakness in her endurance or a flaw in her Job’s compatibility.
- The mention of ‘Rare Jobs’ being harder to train contrasts with Kanade’s own unique abilities, hinting that the traditional Phase system might not properly measure non-standard growth.
- Kanade’s internal conflict about kicking a ‘loli-faced’ girl shows his moral compass remains intact even as he prioritizes combat efficiency
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Character Insight:
The dynamic shifts from a casual conversation between classmates to a mentor-student evaluation during the spar. Kanade gains significant respect for Minami’s combat prowess, while Minami shows a vulnerable side by seeking help from someone she perceives as trustworthy.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The Phase system is the primary metric for student progress, with [Common Jobs] having a more predictable and ‘safer’ growth path through training compared to [Rare] or [Unique] Jobs.
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TL Notes:
The term ‘Four Heavenly Kings’ is a common JP trope for a top-tier group of four; here it refers to the class’s most popular/beautiful girls.
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Glossary:
Notes:
• Minami – Minami, also called the ‘Loli Princess,’ is one of the Four Heavenly Kings. She has a petite, doll‑like, childlike face and a flat physique. As a Light Warrior with elite dual‑wielding skills, she serves as a Dungeon Explorer despite an extreme phobia of pain, determined to stay in the role. She is an idol‑like figure within the group.
• Kanade – Small-statured dungeon academy student and protagonist with the Unique Job [Vital Point Practitioner] (Tenketsu), specializing in pressure-point manipulation for defense and physical augmentation. Analytical and observant, he studies dungeon mechanics and combat styles while struggling with self-doubt over his failure to reach Phase One. Deeply infatuated with Mana, he navigates an intimate, erotic relationship with her—easily flustered by her boldness, yet fiercely protective of her trust—despite his virginity and a mysterious cheat skill that eliminates his refractory period. He feels competitive with Kosaka, cynically dismisses government-mandated classes, and quietly admires the Class President, though he questions his leadership. His embarrassing yet effective new application of Tenketsu has begun to shift his standing—both in battle and in Mana’s eyes.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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