Volume 3 Chapter 32
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”N-No way… that’s…!!”
The man standing before us was handsome enough that you could easily call him an ikemen. Yet, the expression twisting his face was hideous, filled with a sneering contempt that looked down on everyone around him.
Though he’d grown his previously short hair into a ponytail, there was no mistaking who he was. Standing there was a former classmate from our Dungeon Academy days.
In other words…
”…I’d been bracing myself ever since I saw that light-brown-haired man earlier, but… it seems our enemy really is Kosaka.”
Yes, it was that Kosaka.
The man who had been imprisoned for harassing Haruka-san and the illicit use of [Dungeon Materials]. Given his original sentence, he should still be behind bars. But, of course, during that ‘Phase Six’ Stampede, the surface prisons were utterly decimated by monsters.
A massive number of criminals, including those far worse than Kosaka, had been set loose upon the world.1
Most of them had likely perished during the chaos of the Stampede, but it seemed Kosaka had managed to escape unscathed.
”I wouldn’t go so far as to say I wish he were dead, but I never expected him to show up as our enemy again.”
”Well, I certainly wish he had died. If he had, we wouldn’t be dealing with this mess right now.”
Mana’s voice was frigid—her hatred for Kosaka ran even deeper than mine. I couldn’t blame her; I agreed with her wholeheartedly, so I didn’t bother trying to lecture her.
”…Does that mean ‘KSK Three’… the other member of the Kosaka trio, is that ‘Noble Soul’ Kosaka-nii?”
”Yes, that has to be it, Kanade-kun. To think a former A-Rank Explorer could fall so far… He’d been getting in the way of the Explorer Guild long before the ‘Phase Six’ Stampede, so I’m not surprised he’s stooped to becoming a bandit.”
”Guess so. But to think there was another brother to that Kosaka-nii… and that he’d have such a potent ability, one that could control ‘Phase Six’ Monsters.”
”I’d never even heard of a brother to Kosaka-nii before the Stampede. It’s likely not a standard ‘Monster Tamer’ Job leveled up through conventional means, but a special Job with restricted conditions that allow him to control high-phase monsters. He wouldn’t have had the ability to dive into a ‘Phase Six’ Dungeon, so he probably caught the monsters that wandered out after the Stampede.”
”Ah… that makes sense.”
We’d been whispering, but our time for quiet conversation was over. Kosaka pulled Aina-chan closer, his voice booming across the area.
”Kukuku, I can see you! I know you’re there! Mana! Hirosawa Kanade! You’re the reason I had to rot in that hellhole, eating slop! My older brothers helped me make it back here during that disaster, and believe me, I haven’t forgotten the grudge I owe you two!!”
So, Kosaka was festering with irrational, twisted resentment. From our perspective, his accusations were baseless, but convincing a man who had already made up his mind was no simple task.
Especially since Kosaka was never the type to listen to reason in the first place.
That left us with only one option… brute force.
But the problem was Aina-chan, held hostage in his grip.
I wanted to believe that Haruka-san, Maria-san, and Minami-chan—currently hidden by [Wraith Potion]—would find a way to save her, and I knew they were moving to do exactly that. But right now, Kosaka was too close to her.
Kosaka was strong enough to handle high-phase entities; he could easily end Aina-chan before she could even react. Haruka-san’s [Holy Healing] and my [Healing-Type Pressure Point] couldn’t bring back the dead. We couldn’t afford a single mistake.
”Hirosawa Kanade! Mana! If you don’t do exactly as I say, I’ll kill her! Kukuku, you might be thinking you can sneak in and save her, but I won’t let that happen! Look! She’s wearing a [Slave Choker], a rare drop! She can’t defy an order given by the one who holds the collar! Aina! Take that knife and press it to your own throat! Stop only after you’ve drawn blood!”
At his command, Aina-chan held the knife in both hands, her eyes wide as she pressed the blade against her own neck. Her face was deathly pale—perhaps from the sheer terror of the cold steel—but she didn’t stop until the knife sliced into her skin and a thin, crimson line of blood began to trickle down.
It seemed she really had no choice but to follow Kosaka’s commands.
”Aina! If you feel Mana or her friends trying to rescue you, run that blade right through your throat! And that applies even if they don’t follow my orders!!”
And just like that, we were driven into a desperate, checkmate situation.
—
Summary:
The protagonist Kanade and his companion Mana confront Kosaka, a vengeful former classmate who has taken Aina hostage. Kosaka uses a magical slave collar to force Aina to threaten her own life, effectively neutralizing the rescue efforts of Kanade’s allies. The situation remains a high-stakes standoff as the group is pinned down in a checkmate.
—
Trivia:
Kosaka was previously imprisoned for harassing Haruka.
The Phase Six Stampede caused the destruction of surface prisons.
The slave choker is described as a rare drop item.
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Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Dungeon – An artificially‑created, androgynous‑beautied woman, once an S‑Class Dungeon Explorer, now serves as the Guild Master of the Dungeon Explorer Guild. She administers a hyper‑advanced dungeon, leading and guiding its members, and is known as the Dungeon Master, wielding authority that shifts with each dungeon phase, her beaming smile a constant hallmark.
• Kosaka – Kosaka, an arrogant, competitive A-Rank ‘Noble Soul’ explorer and former Dungeon Academy student, is a vengeful antagonist with criminal tendencies. Outwardly a seasoned guild attendee, he hides a lewd gaze and dark motives. A member of the KSK Three, he uses Aina as a hostage and acts as a secret student ninja helping Haruka-san. He harbors a bitter, hostile vendetta against the protagonist.
• Haruka – Haruka, “The Prince,” is a beautiful, androgynous, short-haired Holy Priest and high-level raid/infiltration team member. Sophisticated yet masochistic, she has a voluptuous figure with hidden burn scars. She manages security via the ‘Black Ball’, is obsessed with Hirosawa, and is allied with Mana, Minami, Kosaka, and Kanade, standing by to assist Kanade with a rescue.
• Mana – Kanade is a serious, beautiful A-Rank explorer with a black ponytail and sweet scent. As a Resonant Melody sub-leader, strategist, and Heavenly King, this calm administrator coordinates tactical maneuvers, manages dungeons with Mana, and cares for Aina. An elder sister to others, she shares an intimate partnership with the protagonist but harbors deep resentment toward their former classmate.
• Kosaka-nii – The leader of Noble Soul and brother of Kosaka.
• Kanade – Kanade Hirosawa is a composed, silver-haired A-Rank Explorer with amber eyes and a sleek black suit. As the transcendent-level leader of Resonant Melody’s assault unit, this protagonist calmly navigates Phase Six zones using Pressure Point, rod-type, instant death, and healing skills. Devoted to Mana and feared by kidnappers, he is the central figure of affection for Haruka, Maria, and Minami.
• Guild – A male Guild Master who leads the administration of the dungeon city New Tokyo. He is serious and focused on the survival and relocation of the populace.
• Aina – Aina Tanaka, a serious, polite woman with black twin braids, glasses, a soft physique, and the Rare Job Sage class, resembles Mana. Currently a captive held by the KSK Three awaiting rescue under magical restraint, she courageously leads her fellow hostages. She trains under and deeply admires Mana, while harboring strong romantic feelings for her other mentor, Hirosawa Kanade.
• Hirosawa Kanade – Hirosawa Kanade is a quiet, cute protagonist and leader of the “Resonant Melody” team at National Third Dungeon Academy. Dubbed a “Harem Master” for intimate ties with four female members, this Vital Point Practitioner uses specialized healing and buffing skills that inadvertently induce lactation. Currently facing a hostage crisis, his gentle demeanor and tactical brilliance center the team.
• Hirosawa – Kanade Hirosawa is a quiet, cute teen protagonist, Dungeon Explorer, and commander of Resonant Melody. As Haruka’s primary partner and anchor, he dominantly controls her intense impulses using a Goblin Sword, Pressure-Point Eye, and a scent-triggered bond. Highly responsive to his companions, he also awakened Aina’s ability, occupying her thoughts while mastering his family name’s lineage.
• Minami – Blue-haired, twintail academy idol and petite “Young Princess” of the Four Heavenly Kings, this cute Phase Six Light Warrior uses wind magic and twin swords. As a Resonant Melody scout inside the dungeon, she utilizes invisibility and presence detection on a mission to rescue a captive woman. Devoted to Kanade, she cherishes her party (Mana, Haruka, Sakurako) and playfully calls Maria “Maria-chi.”
• Maria – Maria is a beautiful, sun-kissed, blonde, and voluptuous one-armed Dark Gyaru. A high-level raid team member and Transcendent greatsword warrior, this New Tokyo guardian provides ironclad defense in Resonant Melody. Now on the infiltration team, she is Kanade’s ally and intimate partner, standing by for rescue. Playful yet leading, she is devoted to the narrator and craves pampering.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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