Volume 5 Chapter 12 Day Two: The Watch Shift
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
We finished the meal. Cleanup crew took the dishes and wiped the table; the rest of us sat around, sipping tea.
When cleanup ended, it seemed Manaka’s group had agreed to bathe first. Shisei High School left the living room, leaving only us from District 13 High School.
I figured they’d been waiting all day to grill me. Risa pounced.
”I want to ask again, Minoru. Did you screw Sanuki-san?”
”Ah, yes.”
”Hmph… and? How was it?”
”How was… what do you mean?”
”Was it good, was she loose, give me your thoughts. You slept with someone who isn’t plain-folk, after all.”
That? That’s what you’re after? The s*x?
I’d expected a lecture on the mental side—like, “Are you really granting a request from someone who just tried to kill you?” I even had an answer ready: the “punishment s*x” was more satisfying for it.
Caught off guard by a question I hadn’t expected, I was slow to react.
”It, uh… felt good… yes.”
Risa’s glare pressed down on me.
”How much?”
”How much… well, normally…?”
”Let me rephrase. How many times did you make her come, and how many times did you finish?”
What do you want to hear that for? I’ll answer, but seriously.
”I finished twice, and I made her come twice.”
”Hmph. Ten times over the next two days seems a bit steep. We’ll cover the deficit after we’re back.”
”…”
Are you saying you expect the same level of ‘kindness’ during this trip? Please, stop—I’ll die.
”Today, you’re going to be ‘instructing’ Kaharu-san.”
”Adding more sessions, then.”
”Yes, yes~. I was going to sit in, but…”
Chifumi cut herself short, shifting her gaze from me to Risa.
”The person sitting in will be Risa-chan and Sanuki-san.”
”Risa is one thing… but Megumi?”
Yurina reacted slightly to me using Sanuki-san’s first name, Megumi. She looked like she wanted to say something, but stayed silent in front of Chifumi.
”Looking at how things went yesterday and today, the chance of Sanuki-san rebelling is almost zero. Yesterday we left Risa out, so this makes up for it.”
”Exactly. You get it, Minoru. I’ll be supervising today.”
”Risa… I did say ‘almost’ zero, but if that one-in-a-million chance happens—”
”I know. I’ll protect him with my life, and those guys are dead, right?”
”Yes, please do~.”
That was grim. It showed a side of Chifumi’s group I hadn’t seen in a while.
”It’ll be fine. If it comes to it, I’ll just use Megumi as a shield.”
”You say that, Minoru, but as Lead Majo, I have to plan for the worst-case~.”
If that’s so, I almost wish Chifumi were the one sitting in. But she likely wanted to stress that while the chance is tiny, it’s not zero.
That reminded me of something.
”Risa, you met your mother yesterday, right? How did that go?”
”Nothing worth reporting. She served expensive tea and snacks, and just asked standard, annoying questions—how’s high school, any trouble as a sorcerer, what are your career plans?”
”That sounds… normal.”
”Right? For a daughter she’s basically left alone until now? Honestly, it didn’t feel like talking to a parent. More like an interview with a strict teacher looking for weak points.”
Risa shivered at the memory.
”My sister threw me a lifeline… I was really grateful for that.”
”Anri-san was there too?”
”I asked her to come. One-on-one with her is too much.”
So Anri-san is on Risa’s side, then.
”After we finished the talk, I went to my sister’s room, and… we talked about various things there. I got a lot more out of that part.”
Techniques for standing as a sorcerer, combat skills—that sort of thing? Everyone in the room looked curious. Sensing the mood, Risa explained in detail.
”My sister is a second-year at the Private High School. She’s not on the dungeon raid team; she’s on the Tower Dungeon team. She’s a group leader.”
”The people who taught me to ski today are in Anri-san’s group, right?”
”Yeah. Apparently, her abilities are top-tier in her grade. She tried to play it off, but it seems the others respect her too. You wouldn’t be a leader otherwise. She was humble, saying her grades were just good enough to save face in front of Mother…”
Seeing Risa talk about her sister’s grades, she looked like nothing more than a proud little sister. No bad blood between them.
”She said Mother has been teaching her how to use her Inherent sorcery. Even that shows how different her treatment is from mine. She even tried testing me to see if I had any Inherent sorcery, but the result was nothing. I don’t have any… well, I already knew that.”
Risa said that with a self-deprecating smile. The topic shifted quickly.
”And one more thing… tomorrow’s plans. I’m thinking of going to see the dungeon with my sister.”
”The dungeon? The one you mentioned yesterday—the one your clan manages?”
”Yeah. I’m a member of the clan, after all. She said it wouldn’t hurt to see it once. Apparently, it’s in the basement of the hotel, so we can get there easily.”
’…’
I could tell Hinoki was deeply interested.
”Can I come along to see that dungeon?”
”Probably fine. It’s just a normal F-rank dungeon. I’ll ask my sister tomorrow.”
”Thanks.”
Hinoki’s theory is that a fragment of their power had been sleeping in this land, in these mountains, for a long time. An ancient, existing dungeon might be connected. If so, a bolder idea comes to mind.
The idea that Risa’s mother’s family is involved in sealing Hinoki.
Not just this dungeon, but the one at the Naruse family estate—the one that sealed Hinoki—is also suspicious. That dungeon, where I now hold the Dungeon Master rights, is in an awfully convenient spot. It was past the door hidden under the dojo floor in the Naruse estate. To say Risa and Yurina found it by accident feels too arranged.
It’s natural to think they built the dojo on top of it, knowing the dungeon existed. Yet, Naruse-papa and Naruse-mama show no sign of knowing it’s there. Does that mean Risa’s mother’s clan is doing something as sorcerers, keeping it secret from the plain-folk? Maybe Risa’s mother was probing me to see how much Risa knew about the dungeon.
It’s possible everything has been part of a setup.
’Something smells fishy… things are suddenly starting to reek.’
Hinoki’s emotions are trending negative. Thinking their power might be used for some hidden agenda probably makes them angry. I get that.
Personally, I don’t think Risa’s mother is that malicious, at least not yet. This idea is built entirely on guesses. It won’t be too late to judge after I confirm whether a fragment of Hinoki’s power was actually sealed in that dungeon.
”Risa-chan, can we come see the dungeon too~?”
”Chifumi too? Well, one or two people makes no difference, so I’ll ask. Actually, we might as well all go.”
Tomorrow’s schedule is free. We were supposed to spend it doing our own thing. I’d planned to take the bus to the city for some sightseeing in the 5th District. That’s a sudden change of plans. If the dungeon is in the hotel basement, it shouldn’t affect my schedule too much.
”We’re done with our bath.”
”We’re out☆”
Manaka and the others returned. Megumi and Kaharu-san were also changed into yukata, still steaming from the bath. They were ready.
”Our turn~.”
With Risa leading and Chifumi giving orders, everyone headed for the bath. Of the group that came back, Sawa picked up some water, approached me, and whispered in my ear.
”I dealt with your Mana in the outdoor bath, Minoru. You’re welcome.”
”For real?”
”Don’t underestimate my plant purification ability.”
”Haha. Thank you, Sawa-sama.”
I thanked her, bowing my head.
”You can praise me more.”
”As expected of Sawa-sama, you’re the best!”
In this world, calling someone “big-bellied”1 is the highest praise.
”Minoru, I really didn’t think you’d actually go through with it.”
”You monkey.”
”Go die☆”
Manaka, Yui, and Yuu, who had watched our exchange, scolded me. Why? Didn’t Sawa handle the Mana?
”I just dealt with it because everyone was having trouble.”
”Hey!”
So she didn’t cover for me? What a waste of thanks. To change the subject, I checked on Manaka and the others’ plans for tomorrow.
”What are you guys doing tomorrow?”
”We’re debating between the hot spring facility or heading into the city.”
The two big leisure spots at this resort are the ski slopes and the hot springs. The hot spring facility is famous for its large indoor pool and stage shows. That’s an option.
”Are you going to the hot springs, Minoru?” Manaka asked.
”Nah… I think I’ll pass.”
I’m interested in seeing everyone in swimsuits, but I already saw that once this summer.
”It is our free time, after all. We should do what we want.”
Manaka dropped it quickly.
”Let’s play games, let’s play.”
Sawa grabbed a controller and turned on the console. The opening screen of a kart racing game appeared on the monitor. I pressed the start button on the controller she handed me and launched versus mode.
”Hey, Minoru, bath’s out.”
While Sawa and I were locked in a heated match, I felt someone press my shoulder. I glanced sideways and saw Risa in her yukata.
”Oh, you’re out.”
”Don’t ‘Oh, you’re out’ me. Do you know how many times I called you?”
”Did you call that many times?”
”Three times.”
Really? Behind Risa, Chifumi was nodding hard. Seriously? I hadn’t noticed at all.
”Come on, let’s go.”
Behind Risa, Megumi and Kaharu-san were also waiting. I shoved the controller into Chifumi’s hands and stood up.
”Minoru.”
”Hm? What is it?”
”Please take care of me.”
”Yeah, got it.”
I answered Manaka as lightly as I could. I’m just going to do what I have to do.
—
Summary:
After finishing a meal, the group shifts their attention to bathing and social planning. Risa interrogates Minoru about his recent intimate encounter, establishing a clear power dynamic and setting expectations for future interactions. The group eventually shifts to gaming while preparing for a planned dungeon excursion the following day.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Manaka – An elegant, aristocratic Shisei High beauty and Kuga family sorcerer, this composed, authoritative leader of the Manaka group wields spatial and sound magic. Formerly with Mitsuki, she now advises childhood friend Minoru, managing recruits, dynamics, and protective oaths. Broad-minded and strategic, she facilitates intermediate training, orchestrates instruction, and authorizes Break-Lock.
• Shisei – An acquaintance involved in high-profile activities.
• M – A first-year student at District 13 High School and the childhood friend of Anonymous Student 0006, described as an atavistic strong-female who looks plain but possesses significant power.
• S – A first-year student at District 13 High School who has taken B from North Middle into his squad.
• Risa – A tall, well-endowed Naruse merchant student, sorcerer, and graceful skier raised as Plain-folk. Aikawa’s sister and Anri’s protective elder sister, she is a disciplined Onibara practitioner wielding a grenade rifle. She is Minoru and Yurina’s authoritative guide, teasing him about his secrets, cooking with Chifumi and Manaka, and remaining warily distrustful of Komoda and newcomers.
• R – A first-year student at District 13 High School who has successfully built a squad and added multiple girls, including M and A, into his group.
• Minoru – A lean, black-haired student sorcerer, Majin, and hidden Demon Lord with adult memories rules the 5th District. He controls Aberrations via space magic, stealth, and Second-Push to observe souls. Methodical and dominant, this analytical leader treats social dynamics as strategic networking while controlling his harem of witches (Mai, Risa, Mitsuki) through intimate instruction at a resort.
• Sanuki – A former classmate who undergoes instruction. She uses the Dark attribute during the Erosion Game and maintains a formal, compliant attitude toward the leadership. A woman scheduled to visit Minoru’s room to resolve friction and facilitate group mingling.
• A – A student from South Middle School described as an idol who has been recruited into R’s high school squad.
• T – A first-year student at District 13 High School who has recruited K and N from East Middle into his group.
• Kaharu – A former classmate who undergoes instruction. She uses the Wind and Water attributes during the Erosion Game and participates in group strategies. An observer or participant who follows the group during the descent.
• K – A student from East Middle who followed N to National High School out of care, successfully remaining pure through N’s protection until a misunderstanding involving Anonymous Student 0008 led to her capitulation.
• Chifumi – Minoru’s long-haired, scrawny childhood friend and romantic partner is an articulate first-year honor student, squad leader, and Lead Majo wielding water/ice magic and a spear. Masking her sharp intellect and logical side with a playful, submissive Idol/Moe persona, she coordinates travel, schedules training, and assists with new recruits while hiding their intense mana bond from her mother.
• Megumi – Satsuki is a young female sorcerer and the newest member of the Manaka group who underwent Break-Lock and Breach-Lock. Formerly broader, she worked to lose significant weight. Framed for tampering with a dungeon generator, she bears a grudge over her selection. She serves Minoru with shy devotion, sharing a secret intimacy with him and becoming easily embarrassed when teased.
• Yurina – A stoic, black-haired Plain-folk student and sorcerer wearing an apron, cat ears, collar, and tail. Risa’s sister, Chifumi’s protector, and a Kendo vanguard wielding a katana with Severing Sorcery, she explores dungeons and trains under Anri-san. She is a virgin zealously honing her skills to serve Lord Minoru, to whom she is deeply devoted with playful, affectionate misunderstandings.
• Yuri – A cheerful and energetic first-year student at Higashi High who is a classmate of Shibuya and an acquaintance of Kibe Yurina from their middle school days. A girl known for being aggressive toward Hayato and displaying overt favoritism.
• Majo – A member of Minoru’s group whose presence is noted to be vital for success.
• B – A student originally from North Middle School who was added to S’s group.
• N – A student from East Middle with an eccentric personality who entered National High School due to complex family circumstances and used herself as leverage to negotiate a protective agreement for K.
• Anri – The fourth Naruse sister and a Strong-Female living in the annex with her biological mother. As the older sister of resort guide Risa, this mentor-like figure and future dungeon administrator acts as an experienced guide for Minoru’s group. She manages logistics, leads training sessions, and provides vital advice on course navigation and safety.
• Hinoki – An Oni-fied centipede Aberration in Minoru’s possession, this conversational they/them entity bridges the protagonist to a dormant mountain power they feel a nostalgic connection to. Speaking from his shadow in a regional dialect, this 30cm, sharp-eyed, metallic-shelled advisor and mount transforms into massive reptilian forms to draw aggro using dungeon sorcery, venom, and chains.
• Naruse – The Naruse family, an old-money sorcerer lineage and wealthy merchant guild, maintains a prestigious yet understated presence. Tied to Risa and Anri, they are led by the sisters’ influential mother, a key figure in hotel and dungeon management. They reside in a modest private estate featuring an integrated family dungeon and a dojo smaller than the Onigahara family’s.
• Naruse-papa – The influential father of Naruse who is used as a cover story for the acquisition of rare items.
• Sawa – Voluptuous, bespectacled, and part of the Nieda family, this relaxed, IT-savvy student gamer is an original Shisei member and Onibara disciple. A pragmatic childhood friend who bluntly reads Minoru, she belongs to Manaka’s and Mitsuki’s circles. She wields plant-manipulating Inherent sorcery—creatively making a snow shelter—loves dry-land fishing, but needs recovery magic for severe motion sickness.
• Yui – Yuu’s sister and one of the Futami twins, this student has short hair with a white lock and pink/black attire. A blunt, low-tension Shisei group member, she acts as a sharp, mocking monitor who questions the protagonist. Minoru’s objective childhood friend uses knives and curse arts to manifest Clams and diffuse tension in Manaka’s circle, but was ultimately eaten by the Phantom.
• Yuu – Energetic and bubbly, this Futami twin is Mai’s older sister, Yui’s younger sister, a Mid-guard, and member of Manaka’s group. Marked by her expressive gestures, striped high-leg swimsuit, and striking a pose upon landing, she diffuses resort tension with a card game. She loves meat, playfully pushes a mic to Minoru, and follows her sister in combat before being eaten by the Phantom.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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