Chapter 11 Floor Guardian
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
…… Day 3 of the tester life. Test Dungeon, Floor 1, My Room¹. Sanada Yakumo……
”Nn… what… is it already 5 AM?”
I pried my eyes open and checked the clock; it was indeed only 5:00 in the morning. That’s when the realization hit me—I’d been sleeping completely stark naked. Along with that came the gnawing awareness of just how famished I felt.
Ah, right. Last night, I ended up letting that brown-skinned Succubus provoke me until I’d unloaded a grand total of seven rounds. Once I’d seen her off as she faded into nothingness, I’d collapsed onto the bed and fallen straight into a deep, dreamless sleep, utterly spent.
I’d actually planned to eat dinner and shower before hitting the hay. Of course, that plan required the Succubus not to manifest for a second round. I never expected to be milked three more times in a mere thirty minutes after already doing four. Plus, that girl kept shaking her ass to tease me right until the very second she vanished.
Well, I got to experience a threesome and had unlimited use of an incredible masterpiece of a body, so I’m more than satisfied.
Still, it’s quite mysterious. Despite putting out three more rounds than the day before yesterday, my body doesn’t feel the least bit sluggish. Does this mean my Mana Capacity² rose again while I slept?
To confirm, I rose from the bed while still naked, headed to the desk, and tapped ‘Appraisal’³ followed by
………………
Sanada Yakumo
Age: 25
Race: Human
Stored Mana Capacity: F+
………………
”F… Plus?” Yakumo asked himself.
Wasn’t E supposed to come after F? Does that imply there was a G+ as well? So yesterday I skipped G+ and jumped straight to F. If I’d only been G+ yesterday, I probably could have only used Physical Reinforcement⁵ once or twice. I wonder how many times I can use it at F+. I’ll have to test it out in the dungeon.
”But I see, it makes sense,” he muttered.
I killed 140 monsters and jumped from G to F, skipping over G+, then killed 210 the next day to go from F to F+. The higher the rank, the harder it is to level up—it really is a system just like a video game.
”Anyway, let’s eat.”
Since I was starving, I opened the Shop and tapped the Breakfast Set and a Bento for lunch from the Food column.
The breakfast set was the usual sandwich, but the fillings changed daily. Yesterday was tuna and egg; today was ham, lettuce, and tomato. Since I didn’t eat a thing last night, I bought two sets. Yesterday’s bento was a Shumai lunch, but today was Yakiniku. Since one wasn’t enough yesterday, I’ll grab two today. It seems my fuel efficiency drops as my Mana Capacity increases. No, wait—it might just be because I’m losing too much protein every day. Not that I have any regrets.
Breakfast was 50 DP⁶ and the bento was 60 DP. Buying two sets of each came to 220 DP. Since I spent 1,500 DP on those three ‘Wall-S’ sessions last night, my balance is now 6,040 DP.
I should probably keep those 3P Wall-S sessions as an occasional treat. Even if I call two at once, they vanish in thirty minutes. At this rate, I probably won’t be satisfied with just four rounds tonight. If I don’t call them one by one, I could end up blowing 2,000 DP in a single night. My income is stable, but that pushes the Slave Purchase⁷ further into the future. I’m aiming for a high-grade slave as it is; I need to make an effort to cut costs where I can.
That said, I can’t exactly sleep while my crotch is so erect it hurts, so I can’t stop calling for Wall-S entirely. I’ll just have to accept it as the price for power—a necessary business expense.
I finished breakfast and took a shower. Afterward, since I’d woken up far too early, I browsed the items for sale on the Magic Crystal while sipping coffee.
I see, I see. Rank 4 Potions⁸ are definitely pricey. Rank 5 is 2,000 DP, but Rank 4 jumps to 10,000 DP. Looking at the effects—stopping bleeding and instant recovery for simple fractures or deep lacerations—the price is understandable. After all, Rank 5 only stops bleeding and heals shallow wounds or bruises. Being able to heal fractures and potentially fatal injuries is massive.
”Well, I can’t afford it right now anyway,” Yakumo said.
I don’t need it against Horn Rabbits⁹. I can just buy it when stronger monsters show up. Then there’s the Mana Capacity Recovery Potion. It looks like a Rank 5 doubles recovery speed. Price is 2,000 DP. I don’t need that right now either. There’s also an ‘Abnormal Status Recovery Potion.’ Apparently, it heals poison, paralysis, petrification, confusion, charm, and disease. That’s also 2,000 DP for Rank 5. But the effectiveness is about what you’d expect—it doesn’t seem to work on petrification or charm, and for disease, it’s likely no different from over-the-counter medicine. No need for it with Horn Rabbits. I’ll think about buying it when other monsters appear.
”Oh, this is convenient.”
Scanning for other useful gear, I found a ‘Magic Pouch¹⁰.’ It can hold twenty times its visual capacity. Roughly the size of a single tatami mat? I want it since treasure chest items are bulky, but it costs 100,000 DP.
There’s an upgraded version called a ‘Magic Bag¹¹‘ which also holds twenty times its size, but since the bag itself is larger, it could probably fit four tatami mats’ worth of gear. The price is 300,000 DP. If I were to buy one, the pouch would be more than enough.
There were other things too: a ‘Talisman of Life¹²‘ that prevents a fatal blow for 200,000 DP, and magic items like a ‘Bracelet of Power¹³‘ or an ‘Anklet of Swiftness¹⁴‘ that increase strength or speed by 1.5 times. Both of those cost 100,000 DP, but I’ll eventually want items useful for combat like those.
”Pfft! What is this? They even have stuff like this?”
Just as I was about to close the Shop screen, I spotted some ridiculous items and couldn’t help but laugh.
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Hair Growth Medicine (50,000 DP): Hair grows wherever the liquid is applied. Effect is permanent.
Weight Loss Medicine (30,000 DP): Lose 5kg upon drinking.
Height Increase Medicine (50,000 DP): Grow 5 to 10cm upon drinking.
Breast Enhancement Medicine (10,000 DP): Increases bust size by 1-2 cups overnight. Effect lasts for 1 month.
Eternal Breast Enhancement Medicine (500,000 DP): Increases bust size by 2-3 cups. Effect is permanent.
Plastic Surgery Medicine (500,000 DP): Allows you to change your face to your ideal appearance. Effect is permanent.
………………………………………………………………………………
There were also skin creams, hair creams, and all sorts of vanity products. These would probably sell for a fortune if I could take them back to the outside world. Since this is a ‘Test Dungeon,’ I have a feeling they might let me bring them back.
Man, there really is a wide variety of items. There’s even a tent version of an item bag. But even if the interior is a spacious sub-dimension, 500,000 DP is far too expensive.
”I guess that’s about it,” Yakumo said, closing the screen.
Potion purchases will depend on the threat level of the next monster. Everything else is so pricey I’ll have to wait until after I buy a slave. I might also need better weapons, and the reinforced guard uniform and round shield might not be enough later on. Plus, there’s always the chance I’ll find them in treasure chests.
Regardless, the most important thing is to move forward faster than anyone else. That way I can monopolize the chests, and there might be other early-bird bonuses to claim.
I spent the next hour reviewing the map I drew yesterday and selecting which side tunnel to enter today. Then, I pulled on my guard uniform and equipped my gear.
”A bit early, but let’s head out.”
Even though I’d basically passed out last night, I’d gone to bed early and felt great. Most of all, I felt an overflow of power, likely due to my increased Mana Capacity. And the sooner I go, the more I can earn. My stamina has probably increased too, so I shouldn’t get as tired as yesterday.
Having finished my preparations, I left My Room more than two hours earlier than the previous day.
* * *
When I stepped out, the plaza was deserted. It was before 7:00 AM, so everyone else was still asleep. I wondered how many people would resolve themselves to challenge the dungeon today. With the rumors of the Wall-S spreading, there would probably be quite a crowd. If it gets packed, it’ll be harder to earn, so I need to find the stairs to the next floor as quickly as possible. With those thoughts in mind, I left the empty plaza behind and stepped into the dungeon.
* * *
”Hup! Ha!”
I dodged and parried the Horn Rabbits that leapt out of the small holes almost simultaneously. As the Horn Rabbits with slashed throats and bellies vanished at my feet, I picked up the remaining Magic Stones¹⁵ and continued deeper into the cave.
It had been four hours since I entered the dungeon. While taking short breaks, I was smoothly clearing the side tunnels branching off the main path, my body feeling lighter and less prone to fatigue than yesterday. Regarding my Physical Reinforcement magic, based on the mana consumption when I tested it, I felt like I could now use it five times in a row. Each activation lasts ten minutes, so that’s fifty minutes total.
However, I didn’t really need it for Horn Rabbits. Today, just like yesterday, every tunnel I entered was either a dead end or looped back to where I started. There were branches along the way, but they were all duds. My only saving grace was that I’d found quite a few treasure chests. Because the spawn rate of Horn Rabbits was higher than in the main passage and they were tucked away at dead ends, I’d already found five chests.
The breakdown was:
Club x1
Knife x1
Leather Hat x1
Large Copper Coins x8, Small Copper Coins x12
Rank 5 Potion x1
The club was a dud, but I strapped it to the side of my backpack to take back anyway. The leather hat looked like something a Zero fighter pilot would wear during WWII. Honestly, it takes some courage to wear that over a guard uniform. I’ll think about it once I get leather armor.
Then there was the Rank 5 Potion. That brought my stock to four. Selling them only gets you half the purchase price—1,000 DP each—but I don’t plan on selling them now.
Using the treasure chests as emotional support, I kept moving forward, believing that if I cleared every side tunnel, I would eventually find the stairs. After another hour, something changed.
”Hm? Another fork? There’s an awful lot of them here.”
I’d entered a small side tunnel about two hours and some change from the main path, and unlike the others, this one had an unusual number of branches.
”This might be the one. I’ll clear them all after I eat.”
Feeling that this tunnel was different from the rest, I decided to spend the entire afternoon thoroughly investigating it.
After finishing lunch, I went back to work. I dealt with leaping Horn Rabbits and repeated the process of collecting newly discovered treasure chests. Continuing like that for about two hours, clearing each new fork one by one, I finally found a wide space at the end of the path that was neither a fork nor a dead end.
Nursing a hope that this was finally it, I moved cautiously. I masked my presence and stopped just before entering the clearing to peer inside.
It was a small plaza, roughly twenty meters square. In the back was a black gate about three meters high. And sitting in front of that gate was a Horn Rabbit much larger than the others—about the size of a medium-sized dog.
The black gate was closed, so it was likely a giant Horn Rabbit. Let’s call it a Big Horn Rabbit. I’d probably have to defeat it.
”No matter how you look at it, that’s a boss. Is there a boss for every floor?” Yakumo wondered.
I’d read manga with settings like that. I think they called them Floor Guardians. You’d defeat them and enter a gate or a vortex to go to the next floor. If that’s the case, then if I kill that thing and pass through the black gate behind it, I can reach the next level.
I scanned the walls of the plaza, but I didn’t see any small holes. In other words, it was a one-on-one duel with that Big Horn Rabbit.
”It’s a bit big, but the target’s just gotten larger. No problem.”
I set my backpack down right there, activated my Physical Reinforcement magic, and slowly stepped into the small plaza.
—
Summary:
Yakumo wakes up on the third day and discovers his Mana Capacity has risen to F+ after his intense activities with the succubi. He spends his DP on food and browses the shop, discovering high-tier potions and magical gear alongside bizarre cosmetic items. He enters the dungeon two hours early, clearing side tunnels with his improved physical stats. Finally, he discovers a small plaza guarded by a ‘Big Horn Rabbit’ boss blocking the path to the next floor.
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Character Insight:
Yakumo is transitioning from a bewildered ‘tester’ to a strategic ‘player.’ His decision to treat the succubus summons as a ‘business expense’ shows he is rationalizing his desires to fit his progress-oriented mindset. He demonstrates growth in caution and efficiency, choosing to spend time mapping and calculating his mana limits rather than rushing in blindly.
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Behind the Scene:
The inclusion of ‘Hair Growth’ and ‘Weight Loss’ potions in a high-stakes dungeon shop highlights the ‘Test Dungeon’s’ experimental and perhaps slightly-cynical nature, offering mundane real-world solutions at fantasy prices.
—
T/L:
Notes:
• Yakumo – A 25-year-old human male. He has facial scars, stab wounds, and gunshot scars from his time in a war zone. He works as a school guard.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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