Volume 1 Chapter 44
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”…Well now… this is a problem…”
By this point, I’d grown quite comfortable with the standard Slimes on the second floor. However, the second one I encountered was a Quick Slime¹ – a high-speed nuisance that peppered the area with Acid Slugs while darting around. It was an exhausting fight that forced me to stay in constant motion, but since I’d already stimulated my (Stamina Enhancement) and (Physical Augmentation) pressure points, I was better equipped to handle the pace than most. It took a while, but I’d managed to put it down for good.
The problem wasn’t the speed. It was what stood in my way next.
”This guy is… it’s just way too big.”
It was the third Slime of the floor. It sat there, a massive, wobbling mound of protoplasm nearly three meters wide. Its sheer mass was the issue; if the body was that thick, my pebbles wouldn’t be able to penetrate deep enough into its core. If even a standard Slime took me an hour to “pop,” this Large Slime² looked like it was going to be an all-day affair.
(I could try hacking at it with a blade, but even then, I’d only be penetrating maybe fifty centimeters of its surface. Since I don’t even know where the core is located, the odds of a lucky hit are basically zero…)
Sure, I could close the distance for a direct melee attack, but that wouldn’t actually increase my chances of hitting the core. Plus, at close range, a Slime doesn’t just spit acid; it tries to envelop and dissolve you whole. Against a creature this size, even a simple “body slam” could be fatal. The potential payoff just didn’t justify the risk of a life-altering injury.
(If I threw my [Goblin Sword], I’d probably have a decent shot at the core… but I can’t afford to lose my only valuable piece of gear…)
The sword was still saturated with Dungeon Energy, making it a vital “emergency fund” for my household finances. Just using it to slice through a Slime’s acidic body would likely drain its charge significantly – hurling it into the center of that corrosive mass was out of the question.
”Even Mana is apparently struggling with this one…”
Mana had already pushed into the third floor, but word was she was still having a hard time with the Large Slimes. If it weren’t for these massive roadblocks, she probably would have cleared the entire Phase One dungeon by now.
The current frontrunner among us was Minami-chan. Between her (Dual-Wielding Arts) and the ability to spam the (Sky-Ripping Slash), she could shred Slimes quickly and safely from a distance. Her raw power was still a little low, but once her Dungeon Infiltration Rank³ increased a bit more, she’d be ready to officially “graduate” from Phase One.
”Anyway… I’m going to need a better plan for this.”
I decided to forgo the Large Slime for my first run. Instead, I’d focus on looping the dungeon up to the Quick Slime to grind out some much-needed Rank.
I repeated that loop about ten times. There was a method to my stubbornness. First, I needed to boost my base stats through my Infiltration Rank. The effort was already showing results; my pebbles were sinking noticeably deeper into the Large Slime’s mass with every run. But I was really holding out for the second benefit.
”O-Oh! I did it! It’s finally here… a (Phase One Skill)⁴!”
By repeating the training on this specific floor, I’d finally unlocked a new tier of abilities. Much like my (Pressure Point) or Minami-chan’s (Dual-Wielding Arts), which we received upon getting our [Dungeon Jobs] in Phase Zero, these were known as (Phase Zero Skills). Continuing that training in the next dungeon eventually yields (Phase One Skills). While some get entirely new abilities, most people receive skills that are direct evolutions or variations of their base set.
There’s no set timing for when these skills manifest. Some lucky people get them from the Goblins on the first floor; some, like me, find them in the middle of a grind; and others don’t see them until they’ve defeated the final boss of the dungeon. There was a rumor that skills learned deeper in the dungeon were more powerful, but that mostly seemed like an old explorer’s tale.
(I felt that same distinct “click” in my mind as when I first got my Job, so there’s no mistake. I should probably go get the names appraised at least.)
I doubled back, exited the dungeon, and sprinted up the stairs. There was only one place to go.
”Welcome back, Kanade-kun~”
Rin-sensei greeted me with her usual honeyed tone. The initial rush of people seeking Job appraisals had finally died down, so the Appraisal Room was relatively quiet. I stepped inside and handed over my [Goblin Sword] first.
”…Dungeon Energy is down to about 50%,” said Rin.
”I figured. It’s draining fast… I guess the acidity of the Slimes really eats through the charge.”
”That’s the word on the street, anyway~ Now then, is that all for today?” said Rin.
Rin-sensei handed the sword back and leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands while deliberately squeezing her ample bust together between her arms. She looked up at me with a playful, doe-eyed glance. Even with the resistance I’d built up after hanging around Mana, Minami, and Haruka-san, the destructive power of that pose was staggering. My heart did a frantic double-thud.
”Gulp… N-no… actually… it seems I’ve unlocked some (Phase One Skills). I was hoping you could take a look at them…” said Kanade.
”Oh my~ Is that so? Since you have a Unique Job, I might only be able to see the names, but is that alright?” said Rin.
”Yes, that’s fine.”
Rin-sensei focused her gaze, activating her own appraisal skill on me once more.
”…I see. It looks like you’ve acquired (Pressure Point Eye) and (Adversarial Pressure Point),” said Rin.
”Whoa, a double drop!”
”It certainly looks that way~” said Rin.
Getting two skills at once wasn’t quite as rare as it was in Phase Zero, but I wasn’t about to complain. One was clearly a visual enhancement for my pressure point skill… and the other? Maybe an offensive variation? I had no idea how to even activate them yet, but I was dying to find out.
”Thank you so much. So, for two appraisals… what’s the damage?”
”Actually, about that… instead of a cash payment… there’s a little something I’d like to ask of you, Kanade-kun~” said Rin.
Rin-sensei squeezed her breasts together even tighter as she made her surprising request.
—
Summary:
Kanade faces a tactical wall in the form of a Large Slime whose size prevents his pebbles from reaching its core. Rather than brute-forcing, he returns to Floor Two for a grinding loop to increase his stats. His persistence pays off when he unlocks two new Phase One skills, leading him back to Rin-sensei for an appraisal that ends with a cryptic personal request.
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Trivia:
- Slimes on Floor Two are split into ‘Quick’ and ‘Large’ variants.
- A Goblin Sword loses its Dungeon Energy charge much faster when in contact with acidic slimes.
- The slang ‘Graduation’ in this context refers to the specific moment of completing Phase One and potentially losing one’s virginity in this setting’s subculture.
- Unique Jobs like Kanade’s make full skill appraisal difficult even for experts like Rin-sensei
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Character Insight:
Kanade shows significant growth in emotional control; despite being flustered by Rin-sensei, he successfully manages his interactions better than at the start of the story.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The author uses the ‘Large Slime’ as a literal ‘stat-check’ to justify a training montage and power-up sequence.
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Glossary:
Notes:
• Mana – Class President and one of the Four Heavenly Kings, she wields the Sage job with elite close-quarters martial arts, sporting a long black ponytail, glasses, and neat attire with bracers and leg guards. Kanade’s primary partner and emotional anchor—appearing in his mind as his reason for fidelity—she guides the harem through pressure-point side effects, administers his restorative liquid from Hirosawa’s skill, and requires sexual release to counter aphrodisiacs. Fiercely loyal and disciplined, she trained the protagonist in projectile evasion, pierces Large Slimes on the third floor, and serves as a benchmark for power levels, balancing businesslike logic with heightened combat prowess.
• Minami – Minami-chan, the ‘Loli Princess’ of the Four Heavenly Kings, is a petite, doll-like Light Warrior with twin-tails, a fluffy-skirted outfit revealing cute-symbol-marked cotton underwear, and panties, bound by ropes and wearing an eye mask. Despite her flat physique and Pressure Point side effect, she wields dual swords with deadly precision, leads the group in dungeon progression speed, and playfully idolizes her peers—having personally trained the protagonist in projectile evasion.
• Kanade – Hirosawa Kanade, a small-statured Vital Point Master at National Third Dungeon Academy, wields the unique Pressure Point skill to manipulate tenketsu for defense, augmentation, and touch-based buffs—its erotic side effects forcing him to flee sexual advances despite his deep infatuation with Mana, whom he fiercely protects. Driven by integrity and feelings of inadequacy, he relentlessly trains to unlock Phase One, recently succeeding. He shares a close bond with Minami, balancing his powerful abilities with profound personal vulnerability, his cheat skill eliminating his refractory period to fuel his unyielding grind.
• Rin – A voluptuous, soft‑type instructor in a crisp white lab coat, high‑ranking appraisal officer with a massive physique, serves in the academy’s Appraisal Room, mentors students, and was the first to sense Kanade’s skill effects, using her seductive charm to fluster him.
• Haruka – Izumi Haruka, known as “The Prince” among the Four Heavenly Kings for her androgynous beauty and dignified aura, bears severe burn scars from a Slime Acid Bullet and suffers side effects from Hirosawa’s skill. She calls herself “boku,” has a large bust second only to Higuchi, and serves as a 3rd-floor Priest. A trusting classmate and close friend of Mana, she was healed by Kanade and is currently hospitalized after an intense encounter with the protagonist, while being stalked.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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