Volume 3 Chapter 34
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Stop, please, just stop!” Aina Tanaka’s voice cracked in a desperate, piercing shriek. “You’re doing such horrible things to Kanade-niisama! You’re going to get him killed!”
She was trapped, held hostage by the criminal group ‘KSK Three.’ A razor-sharp knife was pressed against her own throat, her hands trembling as they were forced to hold the blade that threatened her very life. The tip had already pierced her soft skin; a thin, crimson trail of a maiden’s blood began to pool at her collarbone.
Yet, Aina barely registered the stinging pain or the paralyzing terror that she might accidentally slice through her own throat. All that occupied her mind was the sight of Kanade Hirosawa, her beloved, absorbing the relentless onslaught of a gargantuan black dragon.
It hadn’t been long since they first met, but Kanade had already carved a permanent place for himself in her heart. That brief, dream-like interlude where he had used his unique skill to help refine her potential as a Dungeon Explorer… it was, without question, the happiest moment of her entire life. But that wasn’t all. Having found favor with the ‘Resonant Melody’ sisters, she was frequently welcomed into their guild home, treated like a real little sister. It was only natural for a girl her age to fall for an adult man who showed her such constant, gentle, and gentlemanly kindness.
And now, that man she loved was dying right before her eyes.
The Black Dragon’s massive arm swiped, sending Kanade flying; its colossal weight crushed him into the earth; its thick, serpentine tail lashed out, launching him high into the sky. Though Kanade stood up every time, to Aina’s eyes, he looked as if he were on the precipice of death.
”Ku-ha-ha-ha-ha! Look at that face, Aina! Watching you squirm satisfies me a little, but it’s not enough! Not yet!! Kanade Hirosawa is going to be slaughtered by my brother’s Black Dragon! Only then will I finally feel cleansed!”1
”How can you… Kanade-niisama… he’s going to die…?”
In reality, Kanade wasn’t taking significant damage—a fact only the core members and subordinates of ‘Resonant Melody’ understood. But Aina, having only recently joined their circle, was gripped by the genuine fear that Kanade might truly be killed.
”Oh, absolutely! It’s all your fault! Because of you, Kanade Hirosawa can’t even defend himself against the dragon’s attacks! Your presence is what’s going to kill him! Seeing that face—so much like Mana’s—stained with such utter despair… it makes me want to roar with laughter! Ku-ha-ha-ha-ha!”
Facing Kosaka’s mocking roar, Aina bit her lip hard. She tried to exert force into her arms to pull the knife away, but from the neck down, her body remained unresponsive. The curse Kosaka had placed on her before bringing her here stripped her of all voluntary motor control below the jaw.
(How… how can I possibly save Kanade-niisama? Mana-neesama…)
She cast a fleeting glance toward Mana, the woman she looked up to like an older sister. Aina had feared finding judgment in those eyes for being a useless hostage and the cause of Kanade’s suffering, but Mana’s gaze was filled with nothing but warmth, trust, and encouragement. It was a silent, powerful command: Aina, I know you can handle this. Don’t give up.
Despite her obvious desire to rush to the side of the man being tossed around like a ragdoll, Mana remained folded-armed, her eyes locked firmly on Aina.
(This look… she’s telling me… that I can do something about this, aren’t you?)
Aina forced her mind to race. She couldn’t move her body. She couldn’t reason with a man like Kosaka; she had already learned, in their brief, terrible time together, that he was incapable of listening to others. But what if she were in Mana’s shoes? Surely, Mana would find a way.
(What would Mana-neesama do? The things she taught me… as a fellow [Sage]… wait…)
Job Skill. She had once thought it was a dead end. Dungeon Energy Mastery was a powerful tool, effective even against entities several phases above her. But the energy cost was immense, leaving the user physically and mentally drained—a suicide move for a prisoner. But the situation had changed.
(Everything originating from the Dungeon runs on Dungeon Energy. If I use [Sage] powers to seize control of that energy, I can disrupt these wretched functions… Mana-neesama mentioned that, I’m sure of it!)
She looked at Mana once more, and for a fleeting moment, she could have sworn the woman’s smile deepened into a firm, encouraging nod. Empowered, Aina decided to act.
(If I can just break this choker… Mana-neesama and the others will take care of the rest!)
Before her, the Black Dragon hovered over the prone Kanade, preparing to unleash a torrent of jet-black breath upon him. Terrified, Aina focused entirely on her task.
”Did I get him?!”
Kosaka leaned forward, his focus entirely on the strike point of the dragon’s breath, his guard around Aina completely shattered. Sensing her chance—
”…Dungeon Energy Mastery!”
She whispered the words, but they were sharp and clear. The moment she dominated the Dungeon Energy flowing through the choker around her neck—her body went slack, and she was free. The knife clattered to the ground. She had survived the impossible.
”What? Hey, why the hell are you moving?!”
Kosaka lunged toward her, desperate to re-restrain her, but—
”…Well done, Ai-ai.”
An invisible force blocked his path.
”Maria-neesama!”
Then—
”…You’ve done such awful things to Aina-tchi. This time, I’m really not going to forgive you!”
Thwack! Bam! Slash! An unseen entity wielded twin blades, mercilessly beating the stuffing out of Kosaka.
”Minami-neesama!”
And then—
”Divine Punishment!”
”Guaaaahhh!”
Descending from above, another invisible attacker slammed a heavy, massive mace into the top of Kosaka’s head.
”Haruka-neesama!”
The three pillars of Resonant Melody continued their relentless assault. Even the thugs who tried to intervene were swatted away as if they were nothing. Aina was safe. Her eyes welled with tears of relief, and she turned her gaze toward her beloved Mana. There stood the woman, offering a single, profound nod, her eyes radiating warmth and pride.
—
Summary:
Aina Tanaka, held captive by KSK Three, faces the terror of being forced to threaten her own life while watching Kanade Hirosawa battle a black dragon. Through Mana’s encouraging gaze and her own quick thinking, Aina utilizes her Sage job skill to regain control of her body and shatter her restraints. Resonant Melody guild members Maria, Minami, and Haruka launch a coordinated rescue, neutralizing the threat. Aina escapes immediate danger, finding solace in Mana’s silent approval.
—
Trivia:
The curse on Aina only restricted motor control below her jaw, allowing her to speak.
Kosaka believes the Black Dragon is actually harming Kanade, unaware it is a ruse.
Resonant Melody members possess invisibility or concealment techniques during combat.
Mana acts as a non-verbal mentor to Aina, guiding her through the crisis.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Aina Tanaka – Aina Tanaka, a serious, polite girl with black twin braids and glasses, resembles Mana. A Sage class Rare Job holder with a soft physique, she was kidnapped by the KSK Three during the incident. She courageously leads the captives, trains under and deeply admires Mana, and harbors strong feelings for her other mentor, Hirosawa Kanade.
• Kanade – Kanade Hirosawa is a composed, silver-haired A-Rank Explorer with amber eyes and a sleek suit. As Resonant Melody’s assault leader, this pragmatic, weary young man navigates Phase Six zones using a cheat pressure-point skill that alters item drop rates and combat capabilities, alongside instant death and healing abilities. Devoted to Mana, protective of allies, and feared by foes, he is central to Haruka, Maria, and Minami’s affection.
• Tanaka – Tanaka Mana, a neat beauty with black hair, is the youngest captive, a martial artist, and underground heir. Recently split from soccer ace Kosaka, she is Kanade’s top favorite and tied to Resonant Melody’s sub-leader via shared lineage with Aina. Shifting from a serious, glass-wearing former Class President to a twin-tailed beacon of hope, she serves as her group’s core utility and encouragement.
• Aina – Aina Tanaka is a serious, polite, and beautiful bespectacled girl with black twin pigtails/braids and a soft physique. Resembling Mana, this Rare Job Sage was recently held hostage under magical restraint by the KSK Three. While courageously leading fellow captives, she relies on others for emotional support. She deeply admires and trains under Mana, and is romantically attached to Kanade.
• Kanade Hirosawa – 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.
• 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.
• Mana – Kanade is a serious, beautiful A-Rank explorer with a black ponytail and a sweet scent. As a Resonant Melody sub-leader, strategist, and Heavenly King, this calm, powerful administrator coordinates tactics, manages dungeons, and acts as a capable combatant. An emotionally perceptive mentor and older sister figure to Aina and others, she serves as the group’s moral center, maintains an affectionate, intimate partnership with the protagonist, but harbors deep resentment toward a former classmate.
• Kosaka – Kosaka is the arrogant, competitive leader of the KSK Three brothers. Outwardly a seasoned A-Rank explorer, he hides a lewd, criminal nature and harbors a bitter vendetta against the protagonist. He uses dungeon items, monsters, and a hostage, Aina, for combat advantages. Formerly an academy student and secret ninja for Haruka, he was defeated by adventurers and is now confined to forced labor.
• Master – An artificially created, androgynous-beautied woman and former S-Class Dungeon Explorer who now holds the title of guild leader and Master of a hyper-advanced dungeon. Originating from a world destroyed by a deity, she administers the dungeon for locals, oversees strategic planning for the city’s future, and manages the utilization of unique dungeon materials.
• Maria – Maria, a beautiful, voluptuous, sun-kissed blonde Dark Gyaru with one arm, is a Transcendent greatsword warrior and elite guardian of New Tokyo. Part of Resonant Melody’s high-level raid team and combat trio, she shares the guild home to maintain order. Playful yet leading, she is Kanade’s intimate partner on the infiltration team, devoted to the narrator, and craves pampering.
• Minami – Blue-haired, twintail academy idol and petite “Young Princess” of the Four Heavenly Kings, this cute Resonant Melody Phase Six Light Warrior uses wind magic and twin swords. Innocent yet reliable, she is a physically imposing, skilled scout inside the dungeon alongside an elite combat trio. Devoted to Kanade, she cherishes Mana, Haruka, and Sakurako, and playfully calls Maria “Maria-chi.”
• Haruka – Haruka, “The Prince,” is a beautiful, androgynous, short-haired Holy Priest and voluptuous core team member of Resonant Melody. Sophisticated yet masochistic with hidden burn scars, this combat-hardened adventurer trio member plays a key role in neutralizing hostiles and high-level raids. She manages the ‘Black Ball’ security, is obsessed with Hirosawa, and allies with Mana, Minami, Kosaka, and Kanade to assist in a rescue.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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