Chapter 120 The Ambush
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
4th Stratum – 4:00 AM. Day 44 of the Tester Life.
Sanada Yakumo
I turned off the main path into the side alley, following the route until I hit the corner where the only way was right. As I rounded the bend, another side path opened up. A Kobold lunged out – a desperate, predictable move. Sheena and I cut it down in a heartbeat. While we were at it, I quickly set a few traps inside the tunnel.
I scooped up the Magic Stone and kept moving. We passed a monster house about ten meters ahead, then pushed on another five meters until we hit the dead end. We reached the wall, stopped, and turned back. Right on cue, two familiar faces peeked around the corner, then yanked themselves back out of sight.
A moment later, they filed out: eight men in tattered, filth-stained school uniforms layered with leather vests and scrap armor. A lone Kobold followed, lugging an oversized backpack like a pack mule. At the front was Arashiyama. He had those same reptilian eyes and that obnoxious, spiky brown hair. He gripped a heavy combat knife, his iron-toed boots clicking against the stone.
To his flanks were two third-years – one a burly tank with a tower shield, the other a beanpole wielding a longsword. Behind them were five more, likely second-years since the freshmen had all jumped ship. The guy at the very back had a sword sheathed at his hip, but he held himself with the deliberate stillness of a caster.
The Kobold beside him was the same summon I’d seen back in the Teleportation Room. It hadn’t ranked up. It looked just as miserable and mean as the wild ones on this floor – a reflection of its master’s petty personality. It made me appreciate Rock’s goofy charm and Saizou’s cold competence all the more. Summons really do take after their owners.
Their gear was surprisingly decent for a group stuck on the third floor. Five of them had full leather sets, and the blades Arashiyama and his lapdog held were forged from black iron. They must have been grinding the first-floor Guardian room while no one was looking. But their stance gave them away. One look at their footwork and it was clear: these guys were total amateurs.
They sauntered toward us, smirking and swinging their weapons with zero discipline, passing the side-hole I’d just rigged without a single glance of suspicion. Only Arashiyama looked focused, his eyes burning with a pathetic, concentrated loathing. He stopped five meters out, his lip curling into a sneer.
”Well, well. If it isn’t the Warden. Fancy meeting you in a shithole like this,” Arashiyama said.
”Give it a rest,” I countered. “You dragged your asses out of bed, fought through a third-floor Guardian, and stalked the woman who dumped you all the way down here. ‘Coincidence’? Even a low-rent stalker has a better script than that.”
Arashiyama spat on the ground. “Tch. Someone talked, huh? Look at you, still acting like you’re hot shit. You always were an arrogant prick.”
”Wait,” one of the others chimed in. “He knew we were coming up from the third?”
”Maybe the guys from the bar blabbed?” another asked.
”No way, they wouldn’t…”
”So? Why are you here?” I cut through their murmuring. “Actually, don’t answer. It’s a boring question. You’re here for the girls.”
”Damn straight,” Arashiyama said, his voice dropping into a dark, wet rasp. “Sanae’s going to be my personal plaything. The rest? We’re gonna run ’em through until they’re nothing but broken latrines, then we’ll haul ’em back to keep our beds warm. As for you… we’re gonna break your bones and leave you here naked. Maybe that monster house will smell your blood and come out to play. If a Kobold rips your throat out? Well, that’s just a tragic dungeon accident. Happens all the time.”
He jerked his thumb toward the monster house behind him, his face twisted in a sick grin. I heard Sanae groan behind me – a muffled, furious sound. Karen must have been holding her back, just like we’d planned during the break.
”Hahaha! I remember an ‘accident’ just like that!” one of the goons cackled.
”Yeah, those guys just had no luck!” another added.
”One sacrifice was a small price to pay, right? Considering how many of ’em there were,” a third-year laughed.
”Man, my heart was racing that time!”
I narrowed my eyes. “I see. So that’s how it happened.” It was them. They were the ones who triggered a monster house, fled, and used the baseball freshmen as bait to save their own skins.
”Y-You monsters! You killed Noda-senpai!” Sayaka’s voice cracked the air. She’d been watching in silence, but that was her breaking point.
”Sayaka, stay back. Calm down,” I said. My voice was ice. I didn’t turn around. If she lost her head now, the whole plan would go sideways. I hadn’t expected to get a confession about Noda’s death today, but that’s the problem with dealing with idiots – they always say the quiet part out loud.
”I… I am sorry, Master,” Sayaka whispered.
”Gyahaha! ‘Master’?! Did you hear that?!” Arashiyama roared. “Kuuu! I can’t wait to make Tsukigase scream that!”
”Look, Tsukigase, it wasn’t our fault,” another one sneered. “It was an ’emergency evacuation.’ Those guys were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Total skill issue.”
”Don’t worry, we’ll let your ‘Master’ watch while we take turns on you. Just sit tight,” a second-year added.
”Hehe, I’ve been dying to get my hands on Karen’s tits…”
”I want the bunny girl,” another muttered. “I thought those beastmen only existed in manga. I’m gonna grab those ears and pull while I’m hitting it from behind. I’m curious to see if the anatomy feels any different.”
I let out a dry, short laugh. “Kukuku. Keep dreaming. But here’s a reality check: if you kill me, my slaves don’t become yours. The Succubus reclaims them. You’re wasting your time.”
”Hah! Like we’d believe that bullshit! If you’re gonna beg for your life, try a better lie!” Arashiyama shouted.
”Relax,” Arashiyama smirked, “We aren’t gonna kill you. Not directly, anyway.”
”Yeah, I’ve got a debt to pay for that beating you gave me,” the swordsman added, drawing a black blade. “I’m gonna carve your legs off first.”
”Haha! Die screaming while the Kobolds eat you alive, you piece of garbage!”
I figured they wouldn’t believe the slave mechanics. It didn’t matter. I only said it for Sayaka and the others. They needed to hear exactly what kind of sub-human trash these men were. They needed to know that these weren’t just bullies – they were predators.
”Well, Warden,” Arashiyama said, stepping forward. “You want to play hero? You’re in a dead end with nowhere to run and a bunch of dead-weight girls to protect. We’ve got potions, and we’ve got numbers. We’re going for the girls first. What are you gonna do?”
”Oh? Tactical targeting of the weak? I’m almost impressed,” I said. “It’s the right move. Too bad I already accounted for it.” I gave the signal with a flick of my hand behind my back. Suddenly, the air behind me erupted in white light – the flare of a Medal of Return triggering its Magic Circle.
”What?! A Magic Circle?!”
”Wait – was there a teleportation array there?!”
”Shit! They’re escaping! Get them!” Arashiyama screamed.
”Rock! Saizou!” I roared.
Arashiyama lunged forward, knife raised, but he was too late. A primal roar shattered the tension as the side-tunnel right behind his party exploded. Rock charged out like a heavy-tank, his massive, armored frame filling the corridor. Saizou was a shadow at his back, barely visible. The trap I’d set earlier was simple: I’d tossed their Magic Sealing Crystals into the crevice.
Panic hit the group like a physical wave. A Kobold larger and more terrifying than any Guardian, clad in plate armor, was suddenly in their midst. Their own summon was so paralyzed by Rock’s roar it practically turned to stone. Rock didn’t hesitate; he lowered his shield and leveled his short spear, slamming into their rearguard at full tilt.
The sound of the impact was sickening – a series of wet thuds and the crunch of bone against stone. The men in the back were tossed like ragdolls. The back-row caster didn’t even have time to scream before Rock’s spear punched through his chest, pinning him to the wall like an insect on a board. He was dead before his feet left the floor.
Saizou blurred into motion, leaping off Rock’s shoulders. He was a whirlwind of steel, his poisoned daggers whispering across the throats of the mid-guard before they could even level their spears.
I wasn’t about to stay idle. Sheena and I bolted forward, closing the gap with the three in the front. I unsheathed my machete. I couldn’t use magic with my summons in the way, but these pathetic shits didn’t deserve the mana anyway. Arashiyama’s “leadership” was on full display – the second I got close, he grabbed the swordsman next to him and shoved him into my path as a human shield.
The guy was still looking back at the carnage Rock was causing, his head whipping around just in time to see my blade. My machete caught him perfectly. His head left his shoulders in a spray of crimson, his eyes wide with a final, lingering look of shock. His headless body slumped, geysering blood onto Arashiyama’s boots.
”Wakita! Y-You bastard!” Arashiyama screamed. He gripped his knife with both hands, but they were rattling like dry leaves. The scream wasn’t a challenge; it was a sob of pure terror.
”Wow. Using your own friend as a shield? That’s low, even for you,” I said quietly.
”I… I didn’t – ! Araki! Help me!”
He looked to his left, but Araki was gone. Sheena was over him, her blades a silver blur as she turned him into a pincushion. The man who wanted to “touch her” was now a leaking mess of meat and leather, twitching on the floor in a pool of his own filth. I sighed, looking at the convulsing wreck. He should have kept his mouth shut; he would have died faster.
I scanned the hallway. It was over. Everyone except Arashiyama was down. Some had spears through their lungs; others were foaming at the mouth, their skin turning a sickly purple from Saizou’s venom.
”A… a… Wakita… Gotou…” Arashiyama stammered, his eyes darting between the monsters. “What are those things?! You… you monster! You killed them! You actually killed them!”
”Are you serious right now?” I tilted my head. “You came here to murder me. You got counter-attacked. You die. That’s how it works.”
”What is wrong with you?! You just killed people! Doesn’t it mean anything to you?!”
”You lured a pack of monsters to kill Noda,” I said flatly. “What’s the difference? Because you didn’t swing the sword yourself?”
Arashiyama’s face was a mask of disbelief. Sheena just looked at him with pure disgust, as if observing a cockroach that had learned to plead.
”T-That was an accident!”
”An accident? You were laughing about it two minutes ago. But fine, let’s play your game. Let’s say that was an accident. Five minutes ago, you drew a sword and told me you were going to cut off my legs and watch me get eaten alive. Is that an ‘accident’ too?”
”I… that’s…”
”Why are you stuttering? Is it only murder if you’re the one who dies? You came here with the intent to kill. The second you made that choice, you forfeited your right to complain about the outcome.”
I honestly didn’t get it. You beat a man half to death in a dungeon, steal his gear, and leave him to rot – he dies. That’s murder. This guy lacked even the basic resolve to stand behind his own malice. It was pathetic. I was done with this. I wanted to go home, get in the bath, and be surrounded by the warmth of the girls to wash the smell of these losers off me.
”Look, I don’t care about your definition of murder,” I said, taking a step forward. “Unlike you, I don’t leave things to chance. I’m not leaving you for the ‘accidental’ Kobolds. I don’t feel safe unless I know for a fact the heart has stopped.”
Sheena, Rock, and Saizou closed in, cutting off every inch of the hallway.
”W-Wait! Stop! I’m sorry!” Arashiyama hit the back wall, sliding down until he was cowering on the floor. “I’ll stay away from Sanae! I swear! I’ll never look at you again! Just don’t kill me! Please, I’m begging you!”
”You’re still not getting it,” I said.
”G-Getting what?”
”This is a dungeon. This isn’t your peaceful little high school in Japan. This is a place where might makes right. You think I’m an idiot? If I let you walk, you’ll just fester. You’ll spend every waking hour plotting, gathering more trash like these guys, waiting for the one moment I’m vulnerable to stick a knife in my back.”
Men like him are like parasites. They never let go of an obsession. If I kill him now, I can sleep soundly. I can have my dungeon life without looking over my shoulder.
”I won’t! I swear! Just believe me!”
”There are no ‘believers’ on a battlefield, you moron. Only survivors. Goodbye.” I took the final step.
”F-Fuck you! Why?! Why is this happening to me?! I don’t want to die! I WON’T DIE!” Arashiyama screamed, his hands glowing with a desperate light. “Wind Cut – “
”Fire Bullet,” I said.
He tried to chant. He really did. But my Fire Bullet hit him mid-syllable, slamming directly into his open maw. He clutches his throat with a look of astonishment. The smell of charred meat and boiling blood filled the passage. He slumped over, hot tears streaming down his face as he choked on his own scorched lungs.
I expected a fight. I expected him to at least lunge with that big knife. But no. Soldiers – real soldiers – fight to the last breath. Or they beg while hiding a shiv. These guys were just playground bullies who found a bigger stick and thought it made them gods. They were nothing.
I looked down at the cooling heap that had once been Arashiyama. I felt no triumph. No respect for a fallen foe. Just a mild, lingering annoyance that I’d have to clean my boots.
—
Summary:
Arashiyama’s group ambushes Yakumo in a dead end on the 4th stratum, intending to kill him and enslave the girls. Yakumo reveals he set a trap with his hidden summons, Rock and Saizou, who swiftly slaughter the group. After a cold exchange where Arashiyama’s past crimes are revealed, Yakumo executes the cowardly leader.
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Trivia:
- Arashiyama was responsible for Noda-senpai’s death by using him as bait.
- Yakumo set the trap by pre-placing Magic Sealing Crystals in a side tunnel.
- Yakumo specifically told his summons to stay hidden until his signal.
- Arashiyama attempted to use his own friend, Wakita, as a human shield.
- The ‘Medal of Return’ light was likely a diversion or part of the escape signal trick
—
Character Insight:
Yakumo shows zero hesitation in killing humans who threaten him, viewing them with the same pragmatism as dungeon monsters. His motive is purely peaceful coexistence with his ‘slaves,’ and he views eliminating threats as a chore rather than a moral struggle.
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Behind the Scenes:
The author uses Arashiyama to highlight the ‘law of the jungle’ in the dungeon, contrasting the civilian mindset of the students with Yakumo’s ‘soldier’ perspective.
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TL Notes:
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.
• Sana – Black ponytail, hooded/sharp eyes, kyudo practitioner, average height.
• Sheena – Beastman Soul-less Doll with rabbit ears and a large chest. Flawless face, approx 165cm height, F or G cup, narrow waist, large hips, and a fluffy tail longer than a rabbit’s. Now, her ego is back.
• Saizou – A newly summoned Goblin. Intelligent with a small horn on his forehead and jagged teeth. Wears ninja-style clothing (shinobifuku) and uses poison daggers/knives.
• Rock – A male Kobold summoned from a Magic Sealing Crystal. He has grey fur, round eyes, and a face resembling a Shiba Inu. He wears a leather jacket and a pilot’s cap
• Sanae – She struggles with the sexual training and often shows frustration. Vice-captain of the Archery Club. Described as tall with a model-like build and sharp features. She has approximately C-cup breasts and is ranked as a 1st Rank Slave. She is Sayaka’s best friend. Black ponytail, hooded/sharp eyes, kyudo practitioner, average height.
• Karen – An international student from America who often runs to school late with bread in her mouth. Considered a ‘main target’ by the protagonist. Voice acting major, huge breasts, same height as Sana.
• Sayaka – The academy’s premier beauty and a member of the swimming club. Currently classified as a Rank 1 Slave. She is seventeen years old and a virgin. E-cup. She has blue, short, boyish hair. Her best friend is Sanae.
• Noda – Vice-captain of the Baseball Club party. Catcher and tank.
• Wakita – Member of the kickboxing club; tries to act as a peacemaker with alcohol.
• Araki – Member of the kickboxing group, suggests attacking the guard.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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