Chapter 15 Magic Training
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
…… Day 4 of the tester life. Test Dungeon Floor 1, My Room. Sanada Yakumo……
Beep beep, beep beep.
The electronic chirping of the alarm pulls me into consciousness.
I feel a surge of vitality this morning; my constitution is in peak form.
Last night, I ended up being milked for a total of seven rounds. Since the lingering heat finally subsided around the fifth, I imagine an F+ Mana Capacity¹ requires at least five releases to truly find relief.
Though even after I felt settled, that dark-skinned succubus used her tail to pin my backside in place, refusing to let me withdraw until her time expired and she vanished.
Speculating that my Mana Capacity might have increased during my slumber, I roll out of bed and initiate a measurement.
………………
Sanada Yakumo
Age: 25
Race: Human
Mana Capacity: F+
………………
”No growth, huh?”
I vaulted from G to F, bypassing G+, by slaying 140 of them. After 200 more, I hit F+. Yet, despite taking down over 300 yesterday plus the Floor Guardian, I still haven’t cracked E-rank.
It seems that the experience yield from things like Horn Rabbits⁶ is becoming insufficient to move the needle.
I was hoping for a higher capacity since I planned to practice magic today, but there’s no sense dwelling on it.
Now that I’ve confirmed my current status, I take a shower, shave, and brush my teeth. It is a genuine blessing that daily consumables are available through the Shop⁴. Even this prison-like room is infinitely better than being cast into a dungeon with nothing but one’s own skin.
I recall a manga where the protagonist was caught in a dungeon outbreak and thrown to the bottom floor empty-handed. Compared to that ‘Very Hard’ mode, this is practically ‘Easy’ mode. Of course, I don’t have any ‘Cheat Abilities’ in this reality.
Feeling refreshed, I purchase two breakfast sets from the Shop. To my surprise, today offers a Japanese-style selection: three rice balls paired with a plastic bottle of tea.
My expression softens at the sight of rice for the first time in days. Rice is unbeatable for satiety, and the salmon and bonito flake fillings are a welcome treat.
Once I’ve finished eating and allowed my stomach to settle, I stand as the clock strikes 8:00 AM and don my Reinforced Guard Uniform.
Just as I am about to equip my leather armor, I realize I neglected to purchase a full-length mirror, so I pick one up for 500 DP⁵. While I’m at it, I grab two lunch sets. It appears today’s menu features a tonkatsu bento.
I position the mirror that materialized beside my bed next to the door. Monitoring my reflection, I secure the leather armor and fasten the knife to my belt.
It certainly is more efficient to gear up while observing the process.
Next, I equip the leather greaves and gauntlets, strap the small iron shield to my left arm, and verify that I can smoothly retrieve the two throwing knives fixed to its underside. Finally, Machete in hand, I depart from My Room.
* * *
Upon exiting, I find the plaza bustling. Some students are chatting around the fountain while washing up; others are in tight groups, coordinating their strategies with weapons in hand. It looks to be a little over half the total population. Roughly a hundred or more must still be hunkered down in their rooms.
Still, it’s only the fourth day. If one refrains from using the Wall-Butt Succubus⁸ service, the initial DP grant provides a comfortable cushion. However, even at service prices, the cheapest weapons cost 300 DP. Those insisting on three full meals a day will find themselves cornered by the seventh or eighth day.
Well, provided they aren’t utter fools, they should be practicing some form of austerity. Even so, two weeks is likely the maximum threshold. If they don’t make a move by then, they’ll be forced to fight with their bare fists.
Regardless, if you burn through all your DP without a reserve, you’ve effectively reached a dead end.
I shift my attention to several groups deliberating away from the fountain. They are equipped with gauntlets and wooden shields, likely spoils from treasure chests.
Among them, I catch sight of the PE teacher, Oida, in his tracksuit. I find myself staring at the weapon he holds.
”A greatsword?”
Landing a hit on a nimble Horn Rabbit with a greatsword requires exceptional evasion and raw power. Why on earth would he select such a weapon?
To be fair, Oida has a massive frame—even if his round eyes afford him zero presence—and I believe he was an Olympic-level prospect for Judo, so his physical strength must be substantial.
Scanning the other faculty and coaches, I see they are armed with spears and bows.
I see, so he’s the vanguard meat-shield. Since they can’t afford protective shields, Oida absorbs the Horn Rabbit’s charge with the greatsword, allowing the others to pelt it with arrows and spears.
On closer inspection, Oida’s tracksuit is in shreds. It’s tearing at the seams in multiple places. He likely failed to parry with that slab of iron and took a graze from a horn.
”He’s really putting his neck on the line.”
Oida and the other teachers are surrounding a few students in dress shirts, trying to engage them. Judging by the students’ irritated expressions, these are likely the ones hiding in their rooms, intercepted while trying to refill their water at the fountain.
Realizing it’s a waste of breath to speak to those who still feel safe, I set foot into the dungeon.
* * *
Upon entering, I immediately witness students engaged in combat near the entrance. With figures visible further in, it’s clear a significant number are already grinding on the first floor.
Judging by the groups I’ve encountered, most are in parties of six to ten, utilizing a mix of swords, spears, and bows. There isn’t a single soloist like me.
I had intended to practice my magic against isolated targets, but at this rate, just finding a Horn Rabbit might be a struggle.
”Can’t be helped. I’ll take my practice to the second floor.”
Bypassing the skirmishing students, I duck into the side tunnel housing the floor teleportation array.
I trigger the automatic stone door at the terminus and step onto the array at the center of the chamber.
The ground illuminates, the environment shifts in a flash, and I find myself atop the Magic Circle located five meters from the second-floor gate.
”For now, I’ll stick to the perimeter of the gate.”
Horn Rabbits only spawn in pairs within a thirty-minute radius of this gate, making it the ideal zone for my experiments.
”First, let’s gauge the velocity and impact… ‘Wind Cutter²‘.”
As a baseline test, I extend my hand toward a nearby rock and manifest the spell.
The air distorts into a ‘V’ shape just beyond my palm; a heartbeat later, the edge of the boulder is gouged out, sending stone fragments flying.
”Incredible… it’s real magic.”
I understood it would work intellectually based on the grimoire’s data, but seeing a phenomenon straight out of manga or anime occur before my eyes leaves me genuinely moved.
I feel a sudden impulse to fire another, but I check the urge and focus on the analysis.
”The activation and projectile speeds are high.”
It isn’t quite at the level of a bullet, but it’s more than fast enough, and the lethality is beyond question. It looks capable of lopping off a bear’s limb.
”Now, for the critical factor: Mana Capacity consumption. It’s hard to quantify… I’ll need another shot.”
I can tell the drain is lighter than Physical Reinforcement³, but the exact ratio remains elusive.
Thus, I decide to try it on a live target and begin my trek deeper into the dungeon.
* * *
After two minutes of walking, I sense a Horn Rabbit nearby.
I immediately pivot toward the source. As the creature bursts from a burrow, I unleash my magic.
’Wind Cutter.’
The gale-blade released from my palm streaks toward the Horn Rabbit, cleanly severing its long ears.
Despite the injury, the Horn Rabbit continues its charge with lethal momentum.
However, the moment I fired the Wind Cutter, I had already sidestepped its trajectory.
That was only natural. I didn’t expect to land a killing blow on my first combat attempt.
As blood mists from its severed ears, the creature lunges with eyes full of homicidal intent. I meet it with my Machete, decapitating it mid-air.
Simultaneously, I use my small shield to swat down another rabbit that leapt from my blind spot, crushing its neck beneath my safety boots.
”It costs roughly half of what Physical Reinforcement does.”
With the area cleared, I check my internal reservoir. I feel as though I’ve expended an amount equivalent to one use of Physical Reinforcement.
At my F-rank, I can sustain Physical Reinforcement five times in a row. If Wind Cutter is half that, it means I have ten shots in the tank.
I try to fire a low-output version at a wall to conserve energy, but I find I cannot.
My body instinctively channels the mana for a full-strength Wind Cutter. I try to throttle the flow, but it seems impossible. Conversely, increasing the output feels like it would be simple.
So, I can scale up, but I can’t scale down, huh?
That leaves me with no choice but to use the standard version.
I encounter a monster roughly every three minutes, with combat lasting about two to three. That’s ten engagements an hour—meaning I’d be tapped out in sixty minutes.
Assuming a 24-hour cycle for a full recharge, one Physical Reinforcement’s worth of mana returns every 4.8 hours. For Wind Cutter, that’s one shot every 2.4 hours.
It’s a bit of a meager economy. I suppose that’s the reality of having such a shallow pool.
”I’ll reserve it for groups of four.”
I can handle three without magic, even if it takes more effort. Magic should be a trump card for when I’m outnumbered. That was my original plan, anyway. But since today is for training, I’ll use it if three show up.
I spend the next few hours pushing further in, using the spell twice more for practice.
Since the geography mirrors the first floor, I methodically clear the side paths one by one. Along the way, I treat the leaping Horn Rabbits like target practice, harvesting their heads with my Machete. It’s repetitive work, almost clinical.
When two jump out simultaneously, I shift my positioning so they overlap, then fire a Wind Cutter that bisects them both. I dodge a third that comes in on a delay from the rear, claiming its head with a backswing.
”Perfect. That’s the rhythm.”
I’m satisfied. I’ve accounted for the activation lag and the projectile speed. Everything is proceeding as calculated.
I continue to utilize the spell against trios of Horn Rabbits until my mana is completely exhausted, at which point I signal a break.
Notably, ‘mana depletion’ doesn’t induce the nausea or fainting common in fiction. I verified this last night. Earthlings never had Mana Capacity to begin with; you can’t suffer withdrawal symptoms from losing something you never possessed.
After a brief respite, I continue the fight using only martial skill. An hour later, I stumble upon a treasure chest.
Inside is a small vial filled with a faint blue liquid.
I recognize the hue from the Shop. There is no mistaking it; this is a Mana Capacity Recovery Potion⁹. Coming from a wooden chest, it’s likely Grade 5. Talk about impeccable timing.
If memory serves, a Grade 5 potion doubles the recovery rate. My 2.4-hour recharge would drop to 1.2 hours. It’s an assumption, but a promising one.
It might be wise to chug this before entering floors that demand heavy magic usage. For now, I’ll pocket it.
No further groups of four appeared. I spent the rest of my time methodically scouring the side tunnels, occasionally firing a spell to test the recovery intervals.
* * *
By 5:00 PM, I wrap up my exploration and begin the return trip, reaching the first floor by 6:30 PM.
I didn’t encounter a single soul on the second floor; they likely haven’t even located the boss room on the first yet.
As I emerge from the teleportation chamber, I stumble right into a group of students heading home.
I believe they’re from the Karate club. They look taken aback for a moment, then tilt their heads in confusion as they pass by.
They must find it bizarre that I’m emerging from a side tunnel that’s supposed to be a dead end, especially since they always saw me fighting in the deeper reaches. You’ll all figure it out eventually. Good luck.
Back in My Room, I shower and cash in my Magic Stones⁷—203 in total.
Yesterday was a ten-hour marathon, whereas today was only seven hours of active combat. Factor in the magic practice and the time spent dealing with trios, and this yield seems about right.
I exchange the currency as well, netting 6,710 DP. My total balance is now sitting around 73,000 DP.
The chests were mostly a bust aside from the Grade 5 Mana Capacity Recovery Potion and a standard Grade 5 Potion. The rest was just clutter: wooden round shields, knives, clubs, and thick garments. The only real distinction between the floors seems to be the presence of mana potions.
Still, these Horn Rabbits are getting tedious. I wonder if the third floor offers more variety? I’d like to see the unit price of Magic Stones go up.
But the DP is stacking up nicely. The real challenge starts once I hit the 200,000 mark for a Grade 5 Slave. I can’t afford to settle for less. To keep my resolve, I’ll need those Wall-Butt Succubi to keep me thoroughly satisfied.
Speaking of which, I wonder if they’ll ever spawn in a missionary position? That would let me savor their breasts while we work, and more importantly, my thick-headed cock would stimulate the G-spot more effectively than doggystyle. I might actually be able to turn the tables on that dark-skinned succubus if we were face-to-face…
”That might be a bit much.”
A rear protruding from a wall is just a clumsy demon stuck in a trap. But seeing a torso from the collarbone down lying face-up would just look like a headless corpse. I’ve seen enough of those on the battlefield. I don’t think I could even get an erection for something like that.
Shaking off the grim thought, I purchase two dinner sets and dig into the hamburger curry and salad that appear.
And then, I prepare for the highlight of my day: summoning the Wall-Butt Succubus.
—
Summary:
Yakumo ventures to the second floor to refine his Wind Cutter magic, calculating the exact mana costs and recovery periods for his spells. He observes the faculty, led by Oida, attempting to organize the remaining students into a functional party. Despite the grinding tedium of Horn Rabbits, Yakumo successfully reaches 73,000 DP and finds a rare mana recovery potion. The chapter concludes with Yakumo reflecting on his battlefield trauma while preparing for his nightly reward.
—
Character Insight:
Yakumo’s internal monologue reveals a significant psychological scar: he has seen real war. His immediate association of a specific sexual position with a ‘headless corpse’ suggests that his pragmatism is a defense mechanism developed in high-stress combat zones. This makes his quest for a ‘slave’ companion seem less like simple lust and more like a desire for a controlled, safe presence in a world that has already taken much from him.
—
Behind the Scene:
The ‘Wall-Butt’ (Kabejiri) trope is a specific niche in Japanese adult media where characters are ‘stuck’ in walls, often used as a convenient plot device for the protagonist to interact with them without resistance.
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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.
• Oida – A PE teacher with a large build and a plain, non-intimidating face. He was formerly an Olympic developmental athlete for Judo. He uses a greatsword in the dungeon and wears tattered jerseys.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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