Volume 9 Chapter 30 Let’s Go to the Nineteenth Floor
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Since the First Blood party was away, I didn’t have to provide any coaching for a few days.
I decided to take the opportunity to advance one floor deeper into the Dungeon. Until now, the 18th Floor had been my primary focus, with Karkinos and Puppy Rock Dragons as the main inhabitants.
I had also been spending time on the 16th Floor hunting Orc Generals and Minotaurs, mostly to maintain my Disguise. The new area is the 19th Floor. The primary threats here are Wraiths and Queen Ants. The terrain is a desert, but unlike the 17th Floor, it is shrouded in perpetual night.
I’m not a fan of how cold it gets, though I suppose I hate the heat just as much. It’s been a while since I’ve dealt with Undead like these Wraiths. They have a nasty kit: HP Drain¹, scythe slashes, Dark Magic, and paralysis attacks.
The real problem, however, is their Physical Immunity² skill. They are the ultimate counter to “physical muscle-brains” like Otto the Heavy Warrior. If he were here, he’d probably be stuck on this floor indefinitely.
The only way to handle them is to lean into magic attacks. Otherwise, you have to bash them with weapons imbued with elemental attributes. Fortunately, their actual durability isn’t that high. As long as you have a solid plan, taking them down isn’t particularly difficult.
Of course, having resistance to Dark Magic and paralysis is mandatory. It honestly feels like they’re cheating—they have physical immunity, but they’re perfectly fine with using those scythes to hit us with physical damage. When defeated, they drop scythes and necklaces made of Radiant Iron.
The scythe designs are pretty mediocre and there aren’t many people who use them anyway, so they usually get melted down and reforged into swords or shields. The necklaces are cursed, so they have to be purified at a Temple before being used as alchemy materials.
Since you can’t get any edible meat from them, they’re a “low-yield” monster for my household—hardly any meat on the bone, so to speak. The Queen Ant is the pinnacle of the Ant-type lineage. On her own, she isn’t a massive threat, but she rapidly swells her ranks by laying eggs and summoning kin.
She produces soldiers, but she also births larval queens. Once the population reaches a certain point, those young queens set off to form new colonies. They’re a massive headache because they’ll just multiply forever if left alone in the wild. Since this is a Dungeon, though, things won’t get quite that disastrous.
Usually, the strategy starts with thinning out the surrounding guards—the Garden Ants. Their ability scores aren’t that high, but the sheer numbers are overwhelming. Even if you kill a bunch, they’ll be back to full strength in a few days. The golden rule is to overwhelm them all at once.
If you can take out the Queen using high-level Concealment³ and a Surprise Attack⁴, the rest is just a cleanup operation. The materials from the Queen’s body, like the mandibles and abdomen, can be sold, but that’s just a bonus. The real money is in the Ant Honey, Royal Jelly, larvae, and pupae.
I personally have no desire to eat larvae, but apparently, they’re a popular delicacy. When I actually tested the waters on the 19th Floor, I was able to handle both new enemies without any issues. Given that my ability scores are high enough that the 20th Floor wouldn’t be a problem, this was expected.
I’m still using the 16th Floor to secure meat and act as a dummy for my Level Disguise. Those are the materials I actually turn in to the Guild. As for the monsters from the 18th and 19th Floors, I mostly consume them myself or just hunt them for the experience.
If my pace were too fast, people would get suspicious, so I’m taking the floors at a leisurely rate. The Yamato Nadeshiko Party should be moving into the 17th Floor soon, so I might start selling off my Gargoyle materials then. By the way, Sandworms aren’t worth much, so I don’t plan on hunting them unless I absolutely have to.
* * *
While First Blood was away, Vera-san came to visit. Twice, actually. She really doesn’t care about my schedule, does she? Typical of her. “I’m always on the receiving end, so today, I brought something for you,” Vera-san said.
”Thank you very much,” I replied. Surprisingly, she had brought a gift. I suppose truly capable people never lack for consideration. Though up until now, it felt like I was just a one-sided sweets dispenser…. If I start overthinking things with Vera-san, I’ve already lost.
”Is something wrong?” Vera-san asked.
”No. I just realized I haven’t seen these sweets before,” I said.
”They are a new creation from a chef called a genius in the Royal Capital’s confectionery world. He’s still young, so he technique is a bit unrefined, but his innovative ideas are quite striking,” Vera-san explained.
”I see,” I replied. Apparently, what Vera-san brought is the latest trend in the sweets world. She says she’s constantly checking the “sweets network” for new releases. Since I’m not an official shop, my only network for sharing sweets is with the gluttonous Princess, Rosemarie Her Highness, and her maid, Elke-san.
It helps keep things quiet; I’d be in trouble if total strangers started showing up demanding treats. Then again, I didn’t even know Vera-san until recently. After trying what she brought, I can see there’s plenty of room for improvement. The flavor balance is a bit off, and there’s a lingering heaviness to it.
Still, it’s an ambitious piece that opens up new possibilities with its unique combinations. Just like artistic skills, this kind of “sense” doesn’t necessarily correlate with skill level. Basically, it’s something I couldn’t have made without a starting point.
”How would you make it, Daisuke-san?” Vera-san asked.
”Let’s see… the preparation on this fruit is a bit sloppy, so I’d be more meticulous there. I’d also cut back on the sugar in the dough. I’d bake it at a lower temperature for a longer time,” I said.
”I see. As expected of you. It was delicious as is, but hearing that it could be even better makes me want to try your version,” Vera-san said. Vera-san really can’t resist sweets. She’s already eaten quite a bit; I wonder if her “dessert stomach” has infinite capacity.
When she phrases things like that, there’s only one way to respond.
”As thanks for the tip, I’ll have a version ready for you by the next time you visit,” I said.
”Oh, thank you. I’ll look forward to it,” Vera-san said.
”I’ll do my best to live up to your expectations,” I replied.
She said it with a completely blank expression, but she was definitely fishing for it. I didn’t catch on at first, but after several conversations, I’ve figured her out. If I don’t acknowledge her “hints,” the conversation just goes in circles. Well, she looks happy, so I guess it’s fine.
”By the way, Daisuke-san, are you familiar with the Bloodline Faction⁵ and the Ability Faction⁶?” Vera-san asked.
”Only the basics…. I’d love to hear more, if you don’t mind,” I said.
”Of course. To begin with, the Bloodline Faction⁷ is—” The definitions of the Bloodline and Ability Factions were exactly what I’d heard before. According to Vera-san, the territories surrounding the Royal Capital are almost entirely held by the Bloodline Faction⁸.
I suspected as much from Captain Emily’s behavior during the Designated Request, and this confirms it. For them, being close to the Capital is a matter of prestige, so they don’t complain even if their lands are small. I wondered if it was really okay to leave the capital’s surroundings to the Bloodline Faction⁹, who have a reputation for being incompetent.
But it makes sense—they aren’t rebels. They’re hardcore conservatives. Even if a rebellion broke out, there’s no way they’d join in, so they’re actually perfect as a buffer for the Capital. The national borders are handled by the Ability Faction¹⁰ or the actually competent nobles from the Bloodline Faction¹¹, so the defense is solid.
The Bloodline Faction¹² might be the enemy of the common man, but they seem to do their jobs when it comes to foreign threats. I guess they’d be purged otherwise. Since I don’t have any noble connections, information from Vera-san is gold.
I can get some info from Grete or that idiot girl, Mercedes, but most of theirs is just hearsay. They can’t compete with Vera-san when it comes to accuracy. I’ll keep paying for her info with sweets.
* * *
”Master!” Camilla cried.
”Welcome home! Come here, let me give you some attention—there we go, good girl!” I said.
”Kyah!” Camilla squealed. I caught Camilla as she dove at me as part of our usual routine and started vigorously rubbing her head.
I don’t usually do this because it messes up her hair, but Camilla absolutely loves it. She was all smiles, and her tail was wagging furiously. “I want to be praised too~♪” Grete said. “Of course. Welcome back, Grete. Good job,” I said.
”Ufufu♪ I guess all that hard work was worth it,” Grete said. Grete’s hug wasn’t as intense as Camilla’s, but she still clung to me. I was shocked the first time she did it, but I’ve finally gotten used to it. She gives me a lovely smile whenever I pet her.
She’s undeniably cute. She’d be a superstar in any world.
”I have returned, Master,” Liese said.
”Welcome back, Liese,” I said.
Liese’s greeting was much more composed. She had a proud look on her face… no, wait.
That’s the face she makes when she’s trying to hide the fact that she “wants to eat meat right now.” Her expression was calm, but her tail was honest—it was wagging back and forth with excitement.
”Ilse and Nicola worked hard too!” Ilse shouted.
”Welcome back, Ilse, Nicola. Good job, you two,” I said.
”Yes!” Nicola replied. Even the usually reserved Nicola had a great smile. She must be happy about reaching their goal. Ilse was puffing her chest out proudly as well.
Whether it’s Liese training in every spare moment, Camilla clinging to me happily, Ilse’s steady wit, Nicola’s shy-but-perverted nature, or Grete’s role as the cheerful mood-maker… The days I spent with the Lovers party weren’t bad, but it definitely felt empty without these five.
Dinner was a massive “Meat Festival.” A full-course feast of monster meat: Orc General, Minotaur, Karkinos, and Puppy Rock Dragon. Liese, and everyone else for that matter, looked incredibly satisfied. As I listened to their stories from the Escort Quest, it turned out they ran into some wolves and Bandits in addition to the usual small fry.
I’m glad I thinned them out beforehand. Apparently, Camilla overcame her trauma regarding wolves, and even Liese was praising her for it. I decided to give each of the five a special celebration. Since Grete had already been promoted, her celebration was for her work as an instructor.
I asked them one by one what they wanted, and here’s the breakdown:
- Liese: Declined a reward.
- Camilla: Wanted to sleep in my bed (cuddling).
- Ilse: Wanted a “reward (s*x).”
- Nicola: Also wanted a “reward (s*x).”
- Grete: Wanted a date.
Pretty much exactly what I expected. Liese said she was already satisfied with the meat feast—in fact, she felt she’d already been given too much. I don’t want her to feel indebted, but I won’t force anything on her, so I’ll have to think of something else later.
I thought Grete might ask for something a bit more… intimate, but her request was surprisingly modest. Maybe she feels like it’s a given at this point? I’ll probably find out on the date.
===
’Meta Tsedes:’ “Hey! The evaluation of Mercedes-chan is totally wrong!”
’Narrator:’ “Seems pretty accurate to me.”
’Meta Tsedes:’ “She’s a cute, capable, and wonderful adult woman!”
’Narrator:’ “Isn’t that exactly what makes her an idiot girl in this context?”
’Meta Tsedes:’ “Huh? Wait, are those her… strong points?”
’Narrator:’ “As expected, you still haven’t noticed…”
—
Summary:
Daisuke masters the 19th floor’s Wraiths and Queen Ants while exchanging sweets and intelligence with Vera-san. The Lovers party returns from their promotion quest, celebrating with a massive meat festival. The girls present their requested rewards, ranging from cuddles to intimate sessions, while Liese declines and Grete chooses a date
—
Trivia:
- Protagonist hunts 16th floor monsters for disguise maintenance
- Queen Ant larvae and pupae are considered high-value delicacies
- Liese’s tail wags when she is hungry for meat despite her calm fac
—
Character Insight:
Daisuke shows a deepening ability to read Vera-san’s expressionless cues, while the Lovers party members show varying levels of forwardness in their relationship with him.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Otto – A 170 cm, stout, chubby‑built man in his late‑40s with a buzz cut and bulky armor, once a 52‑level tank and doctorate‑holding pillar of the Hero’s Party, now a wanted criminal exiled for stealing from a Sealed Vault. He serves only Shouta and Takumi, tyrannizes Ren and staff, feigns mentorship, and hoards stolen artifacts from the Maultasche Kingdom while adventuring in the Souveraineté Empire.
• Vera – Vera, an elegant, slender brown-haired maid with a sharp gaze and glasses, wears a long-skirted uniform. The illegitimate daughter of a Marquis, she serves as Martina’s personal shadow and assistant. Trained in martial arts, she appears cool and professional but has a funny inner personality. She frequently visits the protagonist to discuss high-end sweets and political factions.
• Rosemarie – The King’s sixth child, roughly ten to twelve years old. A human with golden drill-curl hair. She is assertive, possesses a ‘Sweets Radar’, and is described as flat-chested.
• Daisuke – A lean Japanese reincarnate in his late twenties, Daisuke is a B-Rank adventurer with tousled dark hair, amber eyes, and practical leather armor. Once a NEET, the story’s narrator now uses Wind Magic, an Item Box, and a Mental Memory skill to dominate monster hunting. Pragmatic yet sincerely affectionate, he manages a harem of partners—including Gerta, Elisa, Regina, Cassandra, and Dietlinde—while balancing domestic care, expert cooking, and efficient resource farming.
• Emily – Thirty‑year‑old Captain of the Knights’ Order, wavy purple wolf‑cut hair tied back, powerful aura, wicked older‑sister‑like smile. Married, she leads the Third Unit, chaperones a high‑school girl party, teases Daisuke with disciplined charm, and after battle was found unconscious, carried by Cassandra while wielding a segmented great scythe. Playful yet rough‑caring with subordinates.
• Mercedes – Mercedes (Mel), brown‑haired noblewoman and Home Secretary of Maultasche, is a top‑ranked knight called the “Disappointing Beauty” in a white frilled gown—graceful yet clumsy, labeled an “idiot child.” Energetic, desperate, sweet‑toothed, obsessive about weight, she fears Vice‑Captain Cassandra, despises goblins, sees dungeons as divine trials, travels with Daisuke as his snack‑partner, seeks a Reincarnator lover, and is the devoted mother of Patrizia, once Cassandra’s proxy.
• Grete – A freckled, auburn-haired junior clerk and D-rank spear-wielding tank, Grete is a bright, cute mood-maker for the ‘Lovers’ party. Wearing a loose blouse and patched trousers, she blends a playful, diabolical smile with boundless energy. Socially gifted and affectionate, she serves as PR specialist, lives in the protagonist Daisuke’s household as an aspiring lover, and wins everyone over.
• Camilla – A statuesque, obsidian-skinned fox beastwoman with silver-streaked braids and a sleek, fast-wagging tail. She wears a high-slit black dress and a glowing gem choker. Aloof yet energetic, this “Black Gyaru Trio” member is an illusionist, fire mage, and debuffer for the First Blood and Lovers parties. Traumatized by wolves but craving promotion, she is doted on by allies, whom she hugs. She serves as Daisuke’s affectionate slave, clinging to and nuzzling him.
• Liese – Liese, a 170cm dragonewt with silver‑blue braided hair, thick horns, grey scales, and violet eyes, is the daughter of red/blue dragonewts and former orphan under Dietlinde. Wearing an arcane-stitched cloak and rune circlet, she is the disciplined, level 21 spear-fighter leading the ‘Lovers’ party. Loyal to Daisuke, she is calm and proud, though tail thumps and a craving for monster meat betray her.
• Nicola – A petite 160 cm human scout for First Blood, this plain-looking adventurer has blue-green side-tail hair and a shy, stuttering demeanor. Conscientious and skilled in reconnaissance, she admires senior Vanessa but is cautious around others. Deeply attached to Daisuke, she shares his home, craves his lap, and is bold in intimacy—harboring a secretly perverted side, like seeking sexual rewards with Ilse.
• Ilse – Ilse is a 17-year-old tiger-kin archer with a petite, boyish frame, gold-and-black hair, and an expressive tail. A level-18 member of Daisuke’s party and the Beunemünde Guild, this former slave-bandit masks deep devotion to her found family with blunt humor. Serving as the group’s witty, straight-man counterpoint to eccentric members, she playfully requested a sexual reward upon her return.
• Meta Tsedes – A statuesque knight with raven hair, amber eyes, and polished armor, she serves as a dramatic commentator who analyzes and reacts to events involving Daisuke-sama. Her voice is honeyed yet venomous. Driven by an unshakable, highly flexible loyalty to the Order’s code, she frequently prompts conversations and questions the actions of others, filtering narrative events through her sharp perspective.
• Meta – 160 cm curvy mid‑20s priestess, straight blonde hair, warm pink aura, high‑waisted robes highlighting large breasts. Former man‑hating duchess turned divorcee, now radiates borderline‑religious devotion to Daisuke, knows his preferences, stays cold toward other men, and speaks in long, manic praise of his might. Eloquent adventurer who became his lover after he saved her and mediates the party. Meta, normally obedient, follows Daisuke’s orders, offers factual commentary on his deeds, notes Clarissa‑san’s popularity and likens her to Mercedes‑chan, enjoys intimate service like shaving play, having moved past her former husband.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply