Chapter 270 Awakening Orb
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Day 134 of Tester Life
Noon, the 14th Stratum
The Castle Courtyard
Sanada Yakumo
Thanks to Hanako’s efforts, we’d wrapped up the Guardian battle without a hitch.
When a silver chest appeared in front of the castle’s main gate, we all headed up the stairs to investigate. Saizou was already waiting there, having finished checking for traps.
The fact that he had a Disarm Trap scroll handy meant he’d probably already given it a try.
The scroll was still intact, meaning it hadn’t triggered. Which meant there were no magic traps set.
Not that Guardian chests had ever been booby-trapped before, but considering every single chest we’d opened so far had come with its own hidden surprise, I couldn’t blame him for being thorough.
Man. I’d really lucked out with this familiar.
”I’ll open it!”
”Go ahead. Just make sure it’s something good, alright?”
”Leave it to me!”
Leticia’s face was practically sparkling as she reached for the silver chest—her excitement didn’t come from the treasure itself, but from the novelty of opening one that actually held an item instead of coins.
”Huh? There’s a candy in here.”
”A candy? …Oh, yeah, that’s definitely a candy.”
Apparently it was just candy.
Why candy? The thought crossed my mind, but then Leticia held up the rainbow-colored marble between her fingers, and I had to admit—it looked exactly like a piece of candy.
”What in the world is this? I’ve never seen anything like it. Was this all that was in there, Leticia?”
”Yeah, just this one thing.”
”A single candy in a silver chest…?”
Leticia answered Lunaria’s question, but Lunaria and Sheena both wore the same puzzled expression. It really seemed like this was something none of them had ever encountered before.
”Maybe it really is just candy?”
”There’s no way, Karen. It came out of a silver chest. It’s got to be some kind of amazing item.”
”I agree with Sanae, but if so… what does it actually do?”
We were all peering at the rainbow orb in Leticia’s hand, tilting our heads in confusion, when—
”GYOGYO!”
”VOW VOW!”
”AHN AHN!”
Saizou, Rock, and Lucy suddenly burst into a frenzy.
All three were staring intently at the orb in Leticia’s hand.
”This reaction… could it be an item that strengthens familiars?”
”Looks that way.”
”Wait, Lucy gets stronger!?”
”Hmm… If it’s a familiar-enhancement item, it’s no surprise I don’t know about it.”
”After all, only human tamers ever used monsters—it makes sense that we wouldn’t recognize it either.”
”But my Hanako and Leticia’s Feli aren’t reacting at all.”
”Now that you mention it, Feli’s grooming herself, and Hanako’s munching on her senbei like usual.”
”Now that you mention it, Hanako and Feli aren’t responding.”
I followed Sanae and Sayaka’s gazes to the two of them. They seemed utterly disinterested in the rainbow orb.
Meanwhile, Saizou, Rock, and Lucy were eyeing it like it was the only thing in the world.
Lucy too, huh. So it wasn’t about gender.
Then why only Saizou and them? What was the difference between them and Hanako and Feli… wait.
”I’m going to go Appraise it with the portable Magic Crystal. Take a break and wait for me.”
”Oh, right! Appraisal! That’s the answer!”
Karen nodded in understanding as I pulled the Magic Tent cube from my Pouch and poured mana into it, expanding the tent on the spot.
Then I took the rainbow orb from Leticia and stepped inside.
Normally I’d wait until we were back home, but if my hunch was right, this was definitely an item that could significantly boost our familiars. I needed to see the Appraisal results to know for sure.
Inside the tent, I sat at the desk in the living area, tapped the “Item Appraisal” option on the portable Magic Crystal, placed the rainbow orb on the magic circle embedded in the floor, and hit execute.
The results appeared on the Space Display.
………………………………………………………………………………
Item Name: Awakening Orb
Effect: Allows a familiar with an initial Mana Capacity of E-Rank or lower to break past its racial limit and Evolve into a superior species.
Usage: Familiar channels Mana Capacity into the orb; orb is absorbed, initiating Evolution.
Notes: A familiar without sufficient experience points will not react, even if Mana is channeled.
………………………………………………………………………………
”Awesome! Just as I thought.”
So it was one of those limit-breaking items you see in games.
Saizou, Rock, and Lucy had already reached their racial limits, while Hanako and Feli still had room for at least one more Rank Up. That explained why the two of them hadn’t reacted.
Still, this item was a blessing.
With this, Rock, Saizou, and Lucy all still had room to grow. That meant even when stronger monsters showed up down the line, their odds of dying would drop, and I could count on them fighting by my side until the very end.
I pocketed the Awakening Orb with a smile and headed back to explain everything to the others.
”Wait, Lucy can Evolve!?”
”Ohhh, so that means Feli could become a Fenrir too?”
”No idea, but I doubt it goes that far. Still, the Appraisal said the item is for E-Rank or lower familiars, which means there might be a higher-tier version out there. If we get our hands on that, maybe.”
”I never imagined such an item existed.”
”Since human tamers’ monsters would stop growing once they hit their racial limits, this must have been specifically made for this Dungeon.”
”Dear Master of the blonde Doll,” Sheena said, her tone perfectly deferential. “Which familiar do you intend to use the Awakening Orb on?”
”Well… Saizou, Lucy. Sorry, but I’m planning to use it on Rock this time. I raised him as a defensive type, but going forward, he’s going to struggle to keep up. I want him to Evolve into a superior species.”
”Gyo.”
”AHN AHN!”
I told Saizou and Lucy to hang tight this time around. Saizou knelt and bowed his head; Lucy happily threw her arms around Rock.
They both seemed to agree on Rock’s Evolution.
”Lucy’s strong anyway!” Karen said. “Let’s use it on Rock this time!”
”Rock’s always protected us, so I agree,” Sanae added.
”Hanako’s kind of stolen his tank role, after all. I think strengthening Rock is a good call.”
”Hehe, thank you, dear Master of the blonde Doll,” Sheena said warmly. “Isn’t that great, Rock-chan?”
”Woof!”
Karen agreed we should prioritize Rock, too.
Sanae looked somehow proud, which—it’s Hanako, okay? I get being attached when you’re soul-bound to a familiar, but this was reaching a point where I had to wonder if she was being slowly assimilated.
”Hmm, so Rock becomes a superior species… that’d put him at High Kobold, D+ Rank?” Lunaria mused.
”Exactly,” Sheena confirmed. “That’s a significant power boost.”
”Those things were fast and strong—total pain to deal with,” Sanae said.
”Yes,” Sayaka added, “they can grow to rival a werewolf in combat potential.”
”Ugh!” Lunaria groaned. “I hate werewolves.”
”You’ve been sent flying by them quite a few times, Princess,” Sheena remarked dryly.
”Shut up, Sheena! Only bear beastmen or lion- and tiger-class fighters can match that brute strength! My specialty is speed!”
”You were barely keeping up even with that speed, as I recall…”
”That’s not true! Silver Wolf-kin are the fastest!”
”Let’s just agree to disagree.”
”What’s that tone supposed to mean! I’m telling the truth!”
Lunaria and Sheena bickered as usual, but I filed away the info. So High Kobold was the superior species for kobolds. I’d only ever seen werewolves in manga, but they were always depicted as seriously dangerous monsters in those stories.
If Rock could eventually reach that level by growing further as a High Kobold… that was something to look forward to.
”Okay, Rock. You’ve protected everyone this whole time. We’ve made it this far without any major injuries because you were there. Keep it up.”
I handed Rock the Awakening Orb with those words of gratitude.
”Woof!”
He accepted it happily and immediately began channeling Mana into it.
The orb melted into his body like it was dissolving.
Once fully absorbed, Rock grimaced, crouched in obvious pain.
Then, a denser mist than during any previous Rank Up burst from his entire body, enveloping him within seconds.
”You can do it, Rock!” Karen cheered.
”Ooh, exciting,” Leticia said, her eyes wide.
”AHN AHN!” Lucy barked, practically bouncing.
Karen cheered him on. Leticia and Lucy watched with sparkling eyes, eager to see what Rock would become.
”He seemed to be in more pain than during his last Rank Up…” Sanae murmured.
”Rock-chan…” Sayaka whispered.
”He’ll be fine.”
I wrapped an arm around Sanae and Sayaka’s shoulders, reassuring them as we watched Rock disappear into the black mist.
Minutes passed. The mist showed no sign of clearing.
Longer than the usual Evolution from a Rank Up. Was that because he was breaking past his racial limit?
Another five minutes crept by.
Finally, the mist began to dissipate.
Standing there was Rock—his coat now a steely grey.
He’d grown about twenty centimeters—must have been nearly two meters tall now. His previously broad frame had slimmed down slightly, but the trade-off was visible: more muscle mass, more definition.
Even his face looked sharper, more wolfish. Fierce.
”WHOA! He’s so much bigger!” Karen exclaimed.
”Leaner too? But look at those muscles—he looks tough!” Sanae said.
”Hmph, a bit large, but definitely High Kobold,” Lunaria observed.
”I remember them being a bit more slender, but that coat says High Kobold,” Sheena noted. “This one looks stronger, though.”
”Rock-chan!” Sayaka rushed forward. “You’re okay! Does anything hurt?”
”V-va… w-wah… woof!”
Sayaka’s hands ran over his body, and Rock’s fierce expression instantly dissolved into dopey bliss.
His voice had deepened further, but he was forcing out this pathetic, puppyish whine.
This dog… yep, Rock was still Rock.
Watching him wag his tail at mach speed while making that idiot face under Sayaka’s touch, I let out a long, heavy sigh.
”So, Lunaria,” I said, turning to her. “Do High Kobolds have any special abilities?”
”Yes,” she replied, “I believe they possess an ability similar to Physical Reinforcement.”
”They’re also naturally sturdy and durable,” Sheena added. “I suspect Rock has the same ‘Toughness’ ability as Hanako.”
”Physical Reinforcement, huh… interesting.”
On top of being tough and durable? Using him purely as a tank would be a waste.
Without Hanako, I’d have to, but she had tank-specialized skills already.
Now that he’d evolved and hit D+ Rank just like her, leaving him in the backline as a defensive guard felt like a missed opportunity.
Come to think of it, I had that Black Steel halberd from a Gacha prize.
It had been too heavy for him back then, but now that he’d evolved—could he swing it even while holding a shield?
I had Sayaka pull the halberd from the Magic Bag—she carried it with visible strain—and took it from her.
The three-meter-long Black Steel halberd was no joke.
Even with my Bracelet of Might, I could only swing it one-handed with Physical Reinforcement active.
I handed it to Rock.
”Alright, Rock. Give it a swing.”
”Vof!”
Rock took the halberd in his right hand while keeping his Greatshield braced on his left arm—and swung.
A heavy whump-whump sliced through the courtyard air.
He was definitely tapping some kind of Physical Reinforcement, but there was no sense that the weight was overpowering him. He looked every bit the heavy knight.
”WHOA!” Karen shouted. “That’s amazing, Rock! You could mow down whole squads of orcs!”
”AHN AHN!” Lucy barked excitedly.
”So cool…” Leticia breathed, eyes sparkling. “I’ll call you the Heavy Whirlwind Knight!”
”Woof!” Rock barked, clearly pleased.
Karen and Lucy were practically vibrating with excitement. Leticia’s eyes sparkled as she bestowed a title on him, Feli nodding along beside her.
”I really wouldn’t want to fight him,” Lunaria admitted.
”He’s fast too,” Sheena agreed. “I’d say he’d be more trouble than an Orc General.”
”Rock-chan looks so cool!” Sayaka said warmly.
”V-va… woof!” Rock whined, trying to maintain his fierce image.
Basking in the praise, Rock zipped across the courtyard, whirling the halberd with abandon.
And he just wasn’t stopping. That stamina was something else.
”Hmm… Hanako,” I called out. “Give him a sparring partner.”
”Bwee! ♡”
I called on Hanako to be Rock’s practice opponent. She quickly stashed the bag of spicy chips Sanae had bought her into the leather pouch at her waist and came running.
”WHILE HOLDING YOUR GREATSHIELD, YOU IDIOT!”
”Bwee…”
She’d come empty-handed, so I yelled at her. Hanako made a tragic face and scurried back to grab her Greatshield.
This pig… I was half-tempted to let Rock mince her.
She took the shield from Sanae, who smiled and said, “Oh, Hanako, you’re so absent-minded!” and trotted back over.
She wasn’t absent-minded, Sanae. Hanako forgot on purpose.
”Hanako was about to take on that halberd storm bare-handed?” Lunaria asked, incredulous.
”Yes, Princess,” Sheena replied flatly. “She’s that kind of pervy little sow.”
”I recall as much, but… isn’t she afraid to die?”
”She’d probably go out with a grin on her face, I think.”
”I-I see…” Lunaria stammered. “That’s… certainly a valuable existence, in its own way.”
”Indeed,” Sheena agreed, “in the sense that you feel absolutely no guilt using her as a meat wall.”
Lunaria looked disturbed. Sheena answered with cool reason.
Seemed like Lunaria still hadn’t fully grasped the depths of Hanako’s particular brand of insanity.
She’d get used to it, I figured, and turned my attention back to Rock.
Rock grimaced when he saw Hanako approach—maybe remembering our mock battle back on the isolated island—but at my command, he brought the halberd down on her raised Greatshield.
”Hmph,” I muttered. “Even Black Iron Greatshields wear down… can’t be helped. I’ll buy replacements later. Everyone, let’s take an early lunch break in the Magic Tent.”
Watching Hanako eagerly catch Rock’s strikes, I decided to call for a mid-morning rest.
We’d burned through a fair bit of Mana anyway. And Rock needed more time to get used to his new form and weapon.
Hanako’s Greatshields might not survive the training, but if it meant strengthening Rock, that was a cheap price to pay.
We’d give Rock time to master the halberd and hit the Area Guardian at full strength this afternoon.
And while we were at it—I needed to restore Sayaka’s Mana too. Naturally, with a creampie.
—
Summary:
The party discovers an Awakening Orb in a silver chest, and Yōhei uses it to evolve Rock into a High Kobold, unlocking new combat potential. The group tests Rock’s new abilities with a halberd and a sparring match against Hanako. The chapter ends with Yōhei planning to restore Sayaka’s mana before the upcoming Area Guardian battle.
—
Trivia:
Hanako and Feli didn’t react to the Awakening Orb because they still have room for one more Rank Up.
Saizou, Rock, and Lucy reacted because they had already reached their racial limits.
Rock evolved from Kobold to High Kobold, reaching D+ Rank.
High Kobolds possess Physical Reinforcement and Toughness abilities.
The Awakening Orb only works on familiars with E-Rank or lower initial Mana Capacity.
Rock’s new halberd is made of Black Steel and is three meters long.
Yōhei’s Bracelet of Might still requires Physical Reinforcement to swing the halberd one-handed.
Hanako is described as a “pervy little sow” who would “go out with a grin on her face.”
The party plans to face the Area Guardian after a lunch break and Rock’s training.
Yōhei restores Sayaka’s mana through intimacy, referencing a recurring pattern.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Sanada Yakumo – Sanada Yakumo, a scarred veteran with a battle‑torn face, bears the Sanada family name and leads the Nightmare guild as its Guard Captain and Guildmaster. He is a Day‑100 Master/Tester, C‑rank adventurer turned localization editor, runs a succubus‑filled dungeon, heads a harem of students and familiars, manages resources and Gacha pulls, lives in his “My Room,” coaches his party, and uses Mana Capacity, an NVIDIA RTX 3070 Mobile GPU and “Drill‑Dick” powers to hunt races and guide tactics.
• Sanada – Sanada Yakumo is a scarred, battle-torn veteran, male tester, and pragmatic strategist leading students and subordinates in the Nightmare Guild’s 14th Stratum. Wielding dimensional magic, Mana Capacity, and a drill organ, this mansion owner manages a succubus dungeon and a complex harem with his crush. He protects his bonds, having saved Leticia and guided Gozaru to save kuLulu.
• Yakumo – A scarred, stoic C+-ranked human Guard Captain and Nightmare Guildmaster on his 123rd day of a Tester Life, introduced as a companion to the princess. Cynical yet pragmatic, he uses high mana, tactics, and elemental magic to lead dungeon parties. In his facility, he is an absolute leader, coordinator, and blunt provider for a growing harem of female companions, students, and dependent slaves.
• Sana – Black ponytail, hooded/sharp eyes, kyudo practitioner, average height.
• Hanako – A D-Rank homunculus Orc Woman General and Sanada’s stoic tamer subordinate. This frontline defender wears black iron armor exposing massive pink breasts and a wagging pig tail. Wielding twin greatshields, her masochistic combat style uses Provocation and The Queen’s Tantrum for dungeon crowd control, absorbing projectiles to safeguard her party allies as a durable meat wall.
• Saizou – An E-rank monster party member, this taciturn, highly polite male goblin vanguard wears ninja garb, featuring a small horn and jagged teeth. Using stealth and high-speed mobility across rooftops, this daggerman/bowman eliminates priority targets like Orc Wizards. He loyally excels at scouting, trap-disarming, and logistics while acting as Lucy’s master and Sanae’s dedicated training partner.
• Leticia – Leticia-chan is a short, stoic, blonde 13-year-old animation-department princess and cloaked Holy Maiden in Yakumo’s household. This blunt yet vulnerable party member wields defensive magic like Sanctuary alongside healing and offensive light attacks. Sanada’s companion and a past supporter of Lunaria, she forms a rearguard duo with Karen, competes with Sheena, and dotes on familiars.
• Lunaria – A silver wolf-kin Beastman commander with long blonde hair, rabbit ears, and a regal, doll-like demeanor, she is the Third Princess of the fallen Fangrion Beast Kingdom. A Great War survivor with high combat capability and tactical leadership, she was once Yakumo’s soulless slave. Having recently regained her sense of self, she shares an evolving, healing bond with Sheena.
• Sheena – A 165cm rabbit-kin maid and former Soul-less Doll with long white hair, distinctive ears, and terrifying eyes. A stern, rapier-wielding combatant (C+ power), she is Yakumo’s “second wife” and Sanada’s jealous yet devoted follower. As a sharp-tongued tactical advisor, she supports and disciplines Hanako, manages the harem, oversees the household, and ultimately dies to save Lunaria.
• Karen – An energetic, busty American animation major and soldier’s daughter, Karen is a loyal member of Sanada’s circle who braves dungeons in Yakumo’s party. She utilizes defensive earth magic and firearms, wielding a dual-slot Rapid-Fire Magic Gun. Allied with the protagonist and amused by Hanako, she is hostile to the Voice Actors Hunter Guild and turns volatile if her familiar is harmed.
• Sanae – Tall, model-like with a black ponytail, Nijyuuki is a 1st-Rank Slave, Archery Club vice-captain, and Yakumo household member seeking the Third Concubine title. As a rearguard archery and defensive wall magic specialist, she fights from within Leticia’s barrier. She is best friends with Sayaka, close with Karen, teases Sheena, and joins Lunaria in the Anti-Sheena Alliance.
• Lucy – A 170cm, slender-muscular canine kobold Rogue Queen serving as Saizou’s scout and Karen’s combat-supporting familiar. With a cute, bratty face, whiskers, and wagging tail, this former thief acts like a mischievous little sister. Alongside Hanako and Lunaria, she defends the front line, wielding daggers and a massive black-iron knife while shrugging off traps to collect Magic Stones.
• Rock – A grey-furred, Shiba-Inu-eyed male Kobold from the Magic Sealing Crystal who wears a leather jacket and pilot’s cap. As a lazy yet reliable older-brother figure, this frontline defender wields a greatshield and short-spear to anchor formations and break charges, but also acts as a silent party member who assists with combat operations and guards the backline spellcasters on higher floors.
• Feli – A large, green, exceptionally intelligent D-Rank Gray Wolf-girl who has undergone a second evolution, gaining enhanced physical traits and specialized claw skills. As Leticia’s obedient familiar and a lethal combatant, she accompanies Lunaria on the battlefield to finish off foes. Deeply loyal to Yakumo, she playfully nips at Hanako and provides emotional support to other summons.
• Sayaka – A 17-year-old Rank-1 Head Slave, C-Rank/mid-level mage, and the academy’s top beauty. As Sanada’s head wife and a perceptive mediator, she manages group dynamics and shows deep concern for Lunaria. She is Yakumo’s devoted caretaker, handling his gear and training. Specializing in four-element magic, she controls the battlefield using spells like Tornado and Ice Lance, and douses flames.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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