Chapter 254 Ten Days Later, The Fruits of Battle
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
117th Day of Tester Life, Evening. 14th Stratum, Inner Perimeter, Southeast Quadrant.
”Fire Shell.”
I aimed my palm toward the emerging pack of Orcs and unleashed a magic spell with double the standard Mana Capacity load.
After a brief, tense moment of buildup, a sphere of flame—ten centimeters in diameter and twenty long—manifested in my hand.
Thoom.
The projectile roared forward, spinning violently before slamming directly into the chest of the lead Orc.
The fire shell tore through its leather armor and thick hide, punching straight through the beast and embedding itself in the gut of the Orc trailing behind it.
BOOM!
With a deafening explosion, the Orc’s abdomen was vaporized, and a spray of searing sparks washed over the Orc standing next to it.
That neutralized three of them in one go.
The remaining two froze, eyes wide with horror at the carnage unfolding before them.
Then, two halos of light whipped in from the periphery, aimed true at the Orcs’ necks, carving deep, lethal gashes.
The light rings didn’t lose momentum; they banked sharply in the air, arcing around to pierce the backs of the two Orcs as they clutched their throats and collapsed to their knees.
Leticia’s Light Ring magic.
Seeing as I could provide magical support to the vanguard, I glanced back to confirm the rear guard had handled their own threats.
Only one Orc remained.
I had expected Lunaria, who joined us the day before yesterday, to finish it off, but she was currently being held by the scruff of her neck by Sheena. She must have been trying to charge headlong into the fray again.
As I wondered if Karen would take the shot with her Magic Gun, the last Orc suddenly clutched its throat and hoisted into the air.
A transparent piano wire was coiled around its neck, and tracing it upward, I saw Saizou perched on the rooftop, winding the wire around his fingers and pulling taut.
In the blink of an eye, the Orc was hauled up to the second-story level. Saizou turned his back to the target and flicked the wire with a snap of his finger.
The Orc’s head slumped instantly.
With a final, ragged wheeze, the beast disintegrated into a cloud of black mist.
Saizou deftly coiled the wire back around his fingers. Emblazoned in silver thread on the back of his black ninja garb were the kanji for “Namu Amida Butsu.”1
”Yes! It’s Yuji of the Shamisen!”2 Karen shouted, her voice bright and full of glee.
”Whoa! A professional hitman! So cool!” Leticia added, her eyes sparkling.
Karen and Leticia, having coached Saizou on this specific persona, were absolutely ecstatic. They even went through the trouble of paying him a mountain of “Black Candy” as a commission fee before every outing.
At first, I didn’t know what to make of them sitting in the living room in seiza3 every day, but now, even Sayaka just gave a light giggle. None of us paid it any mind anymore.
Saizou, having fulfilled his contract, flashed a nihilistic grin over his shoulder to the cheers of the girls.
I’d let him practice on his days off, but it’s still a mystery how he manages to loop that piano wire around an Orc’s neck from that distance.
Whatever. As long as he only pulls this stunt on the very last enemy, I don’t care. It’s still better than his “windmill” routine.
Inner Perimeter exploration has been underway for about ten days now.
Today, we were finishing the final section of the area just before the Inner Perimeter: the Southeast Quadrant.
Excluding our rest days, it’s taken us eight days to traverse the Southwest, Northwest, Northeast, and now Southeast quadrants, moving clockwise just as we did for the outer perimeter, all to avoid the deep inner section where the Orc Wizards lurk.
The goal was to gather Silver G-Coins and bolster our combat strength before challenging the depths of the Inner Perimeter.
During the exploration of the Northwest and Northeast quadrants, returning to the teleportation array took too long, so we used the “Medal of Return” to head straight back to My Room. Because of that, we couldn’t stop by the Gacha Temple, so we saved everything up and pulled them all at once after finishing the Southeast quadrant yesterday.
And let me tell you, it was an absolute blast. After all, we were doing twenty pulls on the Silver Gacha.
As for the Copper Gacha, we had 120 pulls saved. Unfortunately, no gold capsules this time.
I’ve done about 170 pulls since I hit that High Heal Magic Tome, so it seems I’ve hit a dry spell.
That said, the Silver Gacha yielded one silver capsule, and the Copper Gacha gave us five.
When Karen pulled two silver capsules in a single ten-pull, the whole place went wild. She was running around the Gacha Temple with Leticia, Lucy, and Feli, laughing her head off. She looked like she was having the time of her life.
As for the results, let’s start with the 120-pull summary for the Copper Gacha.
[Copper Gacha]
Silver Capsules x5: Magic Pouch, Mithril Rapier, Anklet of Swiftness, Tornado Magic Tome, Stone Wall Magic Tome.
Copper Capsules x35: Various Grade 4 Potions x15, Various Scrolls x10, Medal of Return x4, Black Iron Dagger, Black Iron Kunai, etc.
Even without a gold capsule, pulling the mid-tier magic tomes for Tornado and Stone Wall was a massive stroke of luck.
For Copper Gacha rewards, I’d say that’s an exceptionally good result.
Tornado does exactly what it says on the tin: it generates a cyclone ten to twenty meters away for a few seconds, powerful enough to hoist an Orc high into the air and smash it into the ground. It’s a mid-tier spell, so the Mana Capacity cost is equal to two Physical Reinforcement casts.
However, because the range and duration are somewhat limited, it’s best used at mid-range, according to Sheena. Apparently, she saw a human adventurer use it once when she was a child. I’m sure she must have been watching with her little rabbit ears twitching and her eyes sparkling with excitement.
After some consideration, I had Sayaka learn it. Karen’s magic gun range already covers that distance, and Sanae is too busy firing arrows.
With this, Sayaka can now use Water Wall and Earth Wall for close-range defense, Tornado for mid-range, and Ice Arrow or Fire Lance for long-range targets.
By the way, even pumping in double the Mana Capacity only increases the power and duration; it doesn’t extend the distance of the cyclone. Unless you get lucky, it’s hard to secure an instant kill, but it’s more than enough to toss four Orcs around and snap their arms or legs.
Stone Wall is the mid-tier, superior version of Earth Wall.
Once cast, a stone wall manifests and persists for ten minutes. I had Sanae learn this, as she has plenty of Mana Capacity to spare. Right now, Earth Wall is sufficient to stop an Orc’s attack, so there’s no immediate need for it, but it will surely come in handy once stronger monsters appear.
As for the magic items, I gave the Magic Pouch to Karen and equipped Lucy with the Anklet of Swiftness. The Mithril Rapier, of course, went to Sheena.
That said, unless a mithril weapon is imbued with magic, it’s generally inferior to Black Steel weaponry. The only time it really shines is against undead monsters; if you channel Mana Capacity into a mithril weapon, it becomes an effective anti-undead armament.
Since we haven’t encountered any undead yet, the mithril rapier has become Sheena’s backup weapon. Even so, she seemed genuinely happy to receive it, probably because Leticia was the one who pulled it and gifted it to her.
I also had Lunaria take the Black Iron sword.
I even bought her a leotard-style magic armor.
I suggested the same for Sheena, but she didn’t want to take off her maid outfit. I had heard rumors that she’d worn leather armor over her maid outfit even in the other world… I probably shouldn’t say this out loud, but I suspect she wants to keep appearing as she was, in case Lunaria’s true self ever returns.
Back when I first suggested she buy magic armor along with Karen and the others, she refused because she hadn’t fully made peace with her past. Now, it seems she’s ready to walk the path forward alongside the Lunaria she’s rediscovered.
Well, she can do as she pleases. It’s the same Gray Wolf Leather Armor I wear, and since Sheena avoids enemy attacks even better than I do, it shouldn’t be an issue.
I took another look at Lunaria, now that she was being “released” by Sheena.
I’d had her in the 14th Stratum since the day before yesterday, and honestly, she’s a beast. Once she’s off the leash, she hacks through Orcs like a hunting dog.
But as we saw in that last fight, she’s incredibly difficult to control. On her first day, she ignored our rear-guard tank, Rock, and charged headlong into a group of ten Orcs, taking a hit hard enough to pierce the magical barrier of her armor and coming back wounded. Sheena and I were genuinely panicked that time.
She seemed weirdly proud of herself, but honestly, it’s a miracle she survived three years on her own after Sheena disappeared, given how much of a berserker she is.
She’s fighting purely on instinct right now; maybe she’ll be a bit more manageable once her ego returns? Or should I have waited until she was herself again to bring her along?
Still, she’s currently an attacker with combat power that rivals both mine and Sheena’s. Honestly, things have gotten a lot easier since Lunaria joined the fray.
Even Sayaka mentioned she’s had fewer opportunities to use her magic. As a bodyguard for the rear guard, you couldn’t ask for someone more reliable. Though, the burden on Sheena, who’s in charge of managing Lunaria, is quite significant.
Apparently, she’s currently trying to teach her “stay” and “house.” Is she a dog?
And now, the results of the main event: the Silver Gacha.
[Silver Gacha]
Silver Capsule x1: Light Ring Magic Tome.
Copper Capsules x19: Mana Capacity Detection Magic Tome, Rare Quality Scrolls (Mid-tier magic) Tornado x2, Fire Lance x5, Ice Lance x2, Return Scroll x2, Grade 3 Mana Capacity Recovery Potion x1, Black Iron Greatsword, Black Iron Greatshields, etc.
The silver capsule reward was another mid-tier rare Magic Tome, just like my Fire Shell.
Even Sheena only knew of this magic from books, but the cover art and color clearly indicated it was light-attribute magic, so I had Leticia learn it without hesitation.
It turned out to be a spell called Light Ring, which allows the caster to manipulate two halos of light at will.
The attack power is decent, but if you aim well, it has enough cutting power to decapitate an Orc. It’s obviously far more powerful than Wind Cutter and has a longer range, too. I even saw it take out an Orc archer on a roof fifty meters away.
Sanae muttered something about her “identity” being threatened, but I reminded her that Light Ring couldn’t snipe an enemy from two hundred meters away. A bow has its own unique role, I told her, and she brightened up immediately. She’s an adorable girl, being so simple-minded like that.
That said, Light Ring is incredibly useful. Much like Sayaka’s Water Ball, the ability to change the trajectory mid-flight is a huge advantage. It apparently requires extra Mana Capacity each time, but that’s a negligible drawback compared to being able to attack from a blind spot.
If you pump in double the Mana Capacity, the light rings grow slightly larger and increase to three in number, though that seems extremely difficult to control. Leticia says she’s going to become the strongest “Holy Maiden,” and she’s been practicing every night on the isolated island with Saizou. Until recently, she was calling herself the “Healing Holy Maiden,” but, well, whatever.
Inside the copper capsule was a Magic Tome for [Mana Capacity Detection]. Probably because it was a special beginner-level spell, I had Karen learn it. She seemed delighted, shouting, “Found you!” as she blasted an Orc hiding behind a wall. Well, she hasn’t had many opportunities for that lately, as either Sayaka or I usually end up taking them out first.
All the scrolls containing intermediate-level attack magic were handed over to Sheena. She looked absolutely over the moon. She’d burned through quite a few already, so she was clearly happy to see her inventory replenished.
I passed the Teleportation Scrolls to Sheena and Karen respectively. As for the Black Iron weapons, I listed them at the Weapons & Armor stall.
Since guild members have been clearing the 10th Floor in steady succession, shop traffic has increased. Selling them at half the standard shop price means they move quickly, providing a decent side income.
Speaking of which, there are currently six parties—including my own—that have cleared the 10th Floor.
There’s Yuki’s party, three parties of Baseball Club Members, and one from the Karate Club.
The group that cleared it after Wakamiya was Hida’s party from the Karate Club. They claimed to have waited until four of their six members were promoted to D-Rank before attempting it, but they said it was a brutal struggle.
Apparently, an Assassin they thought they’d finished off caught them with a surprise attack, and the King started moving while they were busy healing their allies, resulting in two of their members sustaining serious injuries.
”Listen up,” I said, having called them out to the isolated island on their day off to chew them out for being so careless after I’d warned them so many times about the Assassin Goblins. “You lot were way too reckless.” Then, I had them spar with Hanako, Sheena, and Lunaria. Those six were left completely battered, unable to put up any fight at all, and they even claimed it was tougher than the Area Guardian fight. They seemed to have developed a specific phobia of Hanako. I mean, it’s not exactly a pleasant experience when you’re wailing on someone and they’re just snorting in delight. Honestly, it’s basically horror.
Following Hida’s group were two of the Baseball Club parties. Having heard how badly Hida’s team got wrecked by Sheena and the others, they spent ages hounding the earlier parties for info and practiced repeatedly before making their attempt.
Thanks to that, they managed to clear it without any serious injuries.
Oh, and about the timing of the King’s participation—it turns out that with a six-man party, he doesn’t move until the very end. But with seven, he joins in when one or two minions are left. With eight, he joins while three or four are still standing.
We share this kind of info within the Guild, so the parties that go later have a distinct advantage. Though, those who clear it earlier get better rewards.
Hida’s group—the fourth to clear, after me, Yuki, and Wakamiya—didn’t get a silver chest, but a Copper Treasure Chest. Inside the pearl box, they apparently found two 3rd-Grade Slave Exchange Tickets and a 4th-Grade Magic Tent. Their conquest reward was 200,000 DP, compared to the 300,000 Yuki and Hida got. It seems the reward drops by 150,000 DP for everyone after that, just like the 5th Floor.
But it seems the 2nd-Grade Slave Exchange Tickets are limited to the first three clearers.
As for the private island granted to those who clear all Stratum Guardians within the top three, Hida’s group didn’t get that, of course.
The Karate Club didn’t seem particularly disappointed, though. Hida was more preoccupied with saying he wanted to catch up to me, and it was obvious the others were just stoked to get two 3rd-Grade Slave Tickets. They used them immediately.
Hida and… Kitagawa, was it? The guy with five cigarette burn scars on his chest. I don’t know why he stopped at five, but he’s a weirdo who likes a certain post-apocalyptic anime. Those two said they were declining the slave tickets.
Hida, because his girlfriend is a character from an AI program, but Kitagawa apparently has a thing for mature women. When Hida was trying to circulate erotic videos and pics on his phone among the group, Kitagawa refused, and when Hida forced him to look, it was all images of women estimated to be over 40.
Come to think of it, I heard that Kume guy who speaks English is into older women, too. Apparently, his target is 50 and up.
Guess it’ll be tough to get Kitagawa to buy a slave. The catalog doesn’t even have anyone over their 30s.
Regardless, over the past ten days, I’ve acquired a powerful attacker who’s as difficult to handle as Hanako, as well as multiple long-range attack spells. I won’t have any more trouble in the Inner Perimeter.
With this, going deeper into the Inner Perimeter starting tomorrow shouldn’t be a problem.
”Well, that covers the near side of the southwest Inner Perimeter,” I announced. “Let’s call it a day and head into the deeper sections starting tomorrow.”
”You got it!” Yuki chimed in. “We’ll be fine even if there are more Orc Wizards now!”
”I shall slice them into mincemeat with my Light Ring,” Lunaria declared with cold precision.
”The Princess’s control is a bit difficult,” the support member replied, bowing slightly, “but I believe we can manage.”
”I will take out any enemy targeting Yakumo with this bow,” Hanako promised, gripping her weapon. “Leave your back to me.”
”Please leave the support for our Owner of the blonde Doll to me,” the servant added with a deferential nod.
”Yeah, I’m counting on all of you,” I replied.
Having successfully navigated the endless rush of the Inner Perimeter, it seems they’ve gained the confidence to fight in the deeper areas. I nodded at their reliable words.
Our combat strength has certainly improved significantly compared to when we first arrived in this Stratum. Perhaps this Stratum really was a “bonus” of sorts.
I haven’t obtained the Entry Permit yet, but… well, I should come across it soon enough.
Right?
—
Summary:
Sanada and his group successfully clear the Southeast Quadrant of the Inner Perimeter, gathering materials and Gacha currency. Lunaria’s integration into the party remains challenging due to her berserker tendencies, though her combat utility is undeniable. The party’s growth is bolstered by the acquisition of several mid-tier magic tomes, including Tornado, Stone Wall, and the Light Ring spell for Leticia.
The protagonist successfully navigates and manages the loot from recent dungeon encounters, including magic tomes and scrolls. He organizes the guild’s progress through the 10th Floor and disciplines the Karate Club party for their recklessness. As the group prepares to push deeper into the Inner Perimeter tomorrow, the team expresses newfound confidence and resolve.
—
Trivia:
Saizou’s “Namu Amida Butsu” embroidery is a reference to the Buddhist invocation often associated with finality or death.
Lunaria’s refusal to discard her maid outfit stems from her desire to maintain continuity with her past identity.
Saizou’s ability to manipulate piano wire is established as a consistent, albeit unexplained, skill.
Leticia’s evolving aspiration to be a “Holy Maiden” reflects her desire to be more than just a support role.
The number of parties clearing the 10th floor is increasing, currently at six.
Hida, the Karate Club leader, has a specific interest in a post-apocalyptic anime.
Kitagawa’s cigarette burns are a reference to a specific character’s scars.
The reward DP for clearing the 10th floor decreases for subsequent parties.
Slave Exchange Tickets appear to be tiered and limited to early clearers.
The protagonist has a powerful new attacker who is difficult to control.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Leticia – Known as Leticia-chan, this short, cloaked Holy Maiden has an innocent, angelic look but a blunt, flat tone. A proud dungeon resident enjoying its amenities, she is a steadfast companion to Yakumo, wielding Light Arrow magic and a new rod. Fiercely competitive for his attention and desiring closer intimacy—like wearing symbolic rings—she hides vulnerability behind a stoic exterior.
• Lunaria – A silver wolf-kin Great War survivor turned expressionless, soulless doll, this princess retains a regal bearing, wolf ears, a tail, a giant tongue, and a white maid’s negligee. Though lacking her ego, her tail wags reactively; she possesses exceptional reflexes, clings to Yakumo, and is slowly regaining her sense of self through repeated interactions with Sheena, her former servant.
• Sheena – Yakumo’s primary concubine and “second wife” is a 165cm rabbit-kin with a fluffy tail, narrow waist, wide hips, and a cool, sharp-tongued demeanor. Self-conscious about her age after a 100-year sleep, this deeply loyal ex-Flash-Step Decapitator wields a rapier and magic with high combat proficiency. Focused on battle effectiveness, she sadistically mentors Lunaria and assists with chores.
• Karen – An energetic, busty American voice-acting major and soldier’s daughter, Karen is one of Yakumo’s companions. Known as “Karen of the Flame Gun,” this charming spirit loves anime tropes, gacha, and cooking. Alongside Moe and Leticia, she resides in the dungeon, enjoying new amenities and group activities. Upbeat and encouraging compared to Lucy, she supports her party with fiery arrows and a Magic Gun.
• Saizou – A taciturn yet dependable male goblin familiar with a small horn, jagged teeth, ninja garb, and poison daggers. He manages the familiar quarters, scouts, and cares for the group. As a skilled dungeon explorer and trap-disarmer, he serves as a master to Lucy and acts as a training partner for Sanae.
• Sayaka – A seventeen-year-old Rank-1 Slave, C-Rank Fire mage, and academy’s top beauty who serves as Yakumo’s devoted, long-term caretaker. Residing in the dungeon, she serves coffee, assists with training, and manages his gear. As Sanae’s refined best friend, she handles concubine disputes and remains a supportive party member, giggling at group dynamics despite low stamina from his endless demands.
• Toda – A 2nd-year student and member of the soccer club party who possesses a Soul-less Doll and a Black Iron spear.
• Feli – A large, dog‑like female green wolf with vivid green fur, tamed by Leticia, who acts like a wolf‑girl — jumping and hopping for attention. As a summoned quadruped, she serves as the group’s pet, offering emotional support to the other summons.
• Lucy – A young female kobold familiar, originally shaped like an American Eskimo Dog and standing 140 cm, now evolved into a 170 cm slender-muscular Rogue Queen with a cute yet bratty face, whiskers, a wagging tail, and D-Rank power. Once a thief, she now serves as Saizou’s scout and apprentice, wielding a massive black-iron knife with ruthless precision—decapitating foes in the Gacha Tournament while acting like a mischievous little sister to those around her.
• Sanae – Nijyuuki is a tall, model-like 1st-Rank Slave with a black ponytail, sharp features, and hooded eyes. As a dungeon resident, she practices archery training and serves as the kyudo-skilled Archery Club vice-captain. Sayaka’s best friend and Yakumo’s spirited companion, she uses an informal tone, teases Sheena, and aggressively claims the Third Concubine title while dealing with a junior’s death.
• Sana – Black ponytail, hooded/sharp eyes, kyudo practitioner, average height.
• Rock – A grey‑furred male Kobold from the Magic Sealing Crystal, with round Shiba‑Inu eyes, sports a leather jacket and pilot’s cap. He serves as a frontline defender, wielding a greatshield and Black Iron short‑spear, acting as a reliable, lazy older‑brother figure who anchors the party, breaks enemy charges and clears space for Yakumo and allies.
• Yuki – A third‑year high‑school student, he leads both the Battle Sports Club and the main party, is a national champion in medieval sword‑and‑spear combat, sports hawk‑like eyes, and presents a polite yet determined demeanor. He has a severe sister complex and is calm, analytical in battle.
• Wakamiya – A young male baseball club captain and party leader, he defeated the 10th‑Floor Area Guardian and reports to Yakumo. A virgin student, he feels guilty for materializing the Soul‑less Doll Sue instead of immediately freeing his girlfriend Yumi.
• Hanako – Female Orc tamed monster wearing a black iron helm, two massive iron shields, ragged cloth over large breasts and a grass skirt. A summoned frontline defender who provokes foes, acting as a stoic ‘Meat Shield’ who embraces masochism to protect allies.
• Kume – An English teacher, suspicious of Sanada. Slicked-back hair, wears a shady expression.
• Yakumo – Sanada Yakumo (25) is a scarred, stoic ex-child soldier, C+-ranked Guard Captain, and Nightmare Guildmaster living in a modern dungeon facility. Using high-level items, skills, and a unique dependency-inducing aphrodisiac ability, he maintains absolute control over a diverse harem of summoned monster concubines, female students, and slaves, frequently engaging in explicit sexual activities.
• Sanada – Sanada Yakumo, scarred veteran and bearer of the revered Sanada name, leads the Nightmare Guild as Guard Captain and Guildmaster while navigating the 14th Stratum. A Day-100 Master/Tester turned localization editor, he commands a harem of students and familiars, runs a succubus-infested dungeon, and oversees resource management and Gacha pulls from his “My Room.” Armed with Mana Capacity, an NVIDIA RTX 3070 Mobile GPU, and “Drill-Dick” powers, he hunts races, coaches his party, and strategizes with ruthless precision—his battle-torn face a testament to his relentless endurance and leadership.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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