Volume 8 Chapter 17 Kinpira Pilgrimage—The Golden Dog
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Late May. Our group was making steady progress through Kinpira Palace.
We were currently on the 8th floor. We’d been managing to clear one floor per expedition.
”Time to move out.”
”””””Yes!”””””
We departed from the first torii gate, followed the approach path, and headed for the second torii gate before the main gate. As we advanced, scattering the beast- and bird-shaped creatures, Risa spoke up.
”All the dungeons we’ve explored so far had the surface layers down to the 20th floor, but this one’s surface equivalent goes all the way to the 25th floor.”
”Right~?”
”Is there some meaning behind that difference?”
”Well… actually, this is perfect timing. We’re making good progress today, so let’s take a short break and talk about it here.”
I could have answered, but Asari clearly wanted to share some trivia, so I let her.
We paused our exploration. Conveniently, we were at one of those branching paths—like the crossbars of a lottery ladder. Inside a shop made to look like a souvenir stand, there was a raised tatami area. Monsters didn’t usually appear inside these shops. That didn’t mean it was safe, so we stayed alert—but it was a good spot for a rest.
Catching my nod, Asari began her explanation.
”One prominent theory about floor counts is that they vary based on when the dungeon was formed,” Asari said.
”So older dungeons have more floors?” Risa asked.
”If you compare Kinpira Palace to the Commercial District, that holds true—but it’s not quite accurate to say older simply means more floors. Rather, it’s that the decimal system is mainstream now, but that wasn’t always the case,” Asari replied.
”There was a time when they didn’t use base ten?” Risa asked, voicing her impression.
Asari nodded and went on. “The decimal system did exist, but the more accurate phrasing might be that the dungeon didn’t adopt that rule at the time of its formation. For example, in dungeons like Kinpira Palace, which are divided into 25-floor segments, the prevailing theory is that the 24 solar terms plus the boss floor gives us 25.”
”Twenty-four solar terms, huh…” Risa murmured, falling silent after that.
Since Asunaro had given me the detailed explanation privately, I chimed in to clarify.
”There’s evidence backing Asari’s theory too,” I said. “You noticed that new fodder monsters started appearing from the 7th floor, right? It’s natural to think of it as six-floor divisions.”
”Hmm,” Risa responded.
”Also, you’ve noticed the temperature rising as we go deeper, right?” I continued. “The 1st floor was pretty cold, but here on the 8th floor, the temperature’s comfortable. The eighth solar term is Shōman—around the end of May—so it matches the situation. A few floors from now, it’ll be summer. It’s going to get hot.”
”I can handle temperature changes to some extent with my oni transformation, so I’m fine…” Mitsuki said.
”I’m okay too~,” Chifumi added.
The Majo group used their Inherent Sorcery for environmental countermeasures.
”I… I’m a bit weak against it,” Asari admitted. “If it were sorcery attacks, I could handle them, but dungeon environment countermeasures are still… I’ll raise my Inherent Sorcery proficiency so I can fine-tune what I block out.”
”My Inherent Sorcery can’t handle it well, so I’ll do my best with Common Sorcery!” Yurina declared.
Common Sorcery was general-use magic. Unlike Inherent Sorcery, it was basic and anyone could use it, with spells that worked on dungeon environments. The rule: if your Inherent Sorcery could handle environmental adjustments, use it for its better mana conversion; otherwise, use Common Sorcery.
Adapting to dungeon environments was essential for exploring high-rank dungeons. In the boss battles here, the environment shifted dramatically. I needed to make sure Asari and Yurina raised their proficiency enough to at least defend themselves by the time we reached the boss floor.
Finally, I looked toward Risa, who hadn’t responded. She seemed to be trying to activate some sorcery. Her eyes were red.
”Something like this. How is it? Think I can do it? …Alright, switching,” Risa said.
Risa activated the sorcery for a few seconds, then it dissipated. She closed her eyes once. When she opened them again, they were back to their usual black.
”That was Asunaro just now,” I said. “What did you do?”
”I used Hinoki’s power to activate an environmental-adaptation sorcery,” Risa explained. “Asunaro showed me a demonstration.”
”Now that’s a nostalgic spell, that is,” Hinoki chimed in. “Used it a lot back in the day, I did.”
”I don’t know what the current mainstream is, but this is the best spell for me,” Asunaro added. “I’m relieved it seems like I can activate it even in human form.”
In the dungeon, Hinoki stayed quiet to avoid drawing attention from the Ancient Land Deity—but casual conversation was fine. Asunaro could also mask her presence as long as she was inside Risa, so that was safe.
Actually… could Hinoki and the others use environmental-adaptation sorcery too?
”Back in the day, when sorcerers fought us, they’d set up all kinds of bug-extermination traps and sorcery just to weaken us even a little,” Hinoki said. “We had to develop counter-sorcery to keep up.”
”Huh,” Risa responded.
”I struggled with it too, Prince,” Asunaro said.
While Hinoki and Asunaro chatted, reminiscing about the past, Risa slowly activated the spell in the same way Asunaro had demonstrated earlier.
”Like… this?” Risa asked.
”Yes, yes. Well done,” Asunaro replied.
She fumbled with the mana conversion, but the effect seemed to work.
”Success on the first try?” I observed. “Asunaro’s really a great teacher.”
By briefly switching with Asunaro and activating the sorcery, they had embedded the technique into Risa’s body. Risa then tried the same spell herself before the sensation faded. Through this repetition, her repertoire of sorceries using Hinoki’s power was growing at an incredible pace.
”A good teacher makes things easier for the student,” Risa said.
”No, it’s because you’re such an excellent student, Prince,” Asunaro replied.
They were modestly praising each other—Risa and Asunaro. A great pair.
”Now, the only thing left is repeated training to raise your proficiency,” I said.
”Yes, exactly,” Risa agreed.
Learning a new spell was easy, but mastering it took time. To increase mana conversion speed—to reach a level where you could activate it without thinking—you just had to practice. Watching this exchange, Mitsuki toyed with the chain on her golden cudgel and spoke up.
”Man, I’m jealous,” Mitsuki said. “That’s like a step above hands-on—it’s literally hands-in. Couldn’t you like… go inside me and teach me too?”
”Risa’s ability to coexist with Asunaro is practically her Inherent Sorcery,” I explained. “You’ve got your oni-transformation sorcery, Mitsuki—that’s not happening.”
”Tch. Guess I gotta keep grinding the hard way, huh,” Mitsuki muttered.
She flicked the chain with her finger, and a spell activated—pretty smooth. Chifumi and Asari looked impressed too.
Risa turned to me with a question.
”Hey, Minoru. What do you do?” she asked. “Use Hinoki’s spells?”
”Me?” I replied. “I use Common Sorcery. Using monsters’ abilities for environmental adaptation is inefficient.”
”Huh. I see,” Risa said.
”When I get serious—when I use my Inherent Sorcery—I rewrite the space itself, so environmental effects become irrelevant at that point,” I explained.
”Ah, right, you did mention that,” Risa acknowledged.
”So… Yurina?” I called out.
Called out suddenly, Yurina straightened her back and responded. “Y-yes!”
”I’ll teach you environmental adaptation with Common Sorcery,” I said. “Let’s train together.”
”Understood!” Yurina replied.
Knowing Yurina’s serious nature, she’d definitely keep up with her independent training.
”Alright… time to resume the exploration,” I announced.
”””””Yes!””””” everyone chorused.
Everyone stood up. Mitsuki stretched, hoisting her golden cudgel onto her shoulder, and casually muttered, “It’s about time for some unusual enemies to show up, right? Like rare monsters, unique variants, that kind of thing.”
”We never encountered any rare fodder monsters in Sword-Hammer Cave~,” Chifumi said. “We did run into an informationless rare boss, though~”
”I can’t tell if Minoru’s luck is good or bad,” Mitsuki mused.
At the time, I had no idea Mitsuki’s words would become a flag.
We finished our third combat encounter since resuming exploration. The second torii gate was now quite close. Just a few more battles to reach the goal—and then I felt something off.
”…You noticed?” I asked.
”Huh? What~?” Mitsuki responded.
”What’s wrong?” Chifumi asked.
Seeing me hesitate to move forward, Chifumi looked puzzled, and Yurina also turned her gaze toward me. The fact that Chifumi hadn’t noticed meant whatever it was, it was hiding extremely well. Even Rei’s perception couldn’t pinpoint it clearly—an odd sensation.
Under everyone’s attention, I raised a finger to my lips, signaling silence. Everyone stopped moving and fell quiet. From somewhere, I heard the cawing of crows.
”…Crows?” Risa whispered.
”Shh!” I signaled to Risa to maintain silence.
Crows were fodder monsters added from the 7th floor. Compared to pigeons and sparrows, they were clever fighters who used sorcery frequently—a troublesome opponent, but I wasn’t looking for crows.
Behind Asari, at the boundary between a liquor shop and a dried-goods store—there was something unnatural about that spot.
I focused. A white dog figurine sat there. Nothing seemed particularly out of place.
But Rei’s warning was clear: that figurine was suspicious.
”Bro, take a good look,” Rei said. “What’s that, then?”
”It’s a dog figurine, right?” I responded.
”Aye,” Rei agreed. “What d’you make of it?”
”What do I—” I started.
It didn’t relate to either shop, and I couldn’t figure out why a dog figurine would be there or what purpose it served.
I directed my thoughts elsewhere. I scanned the surroundings. The second gate was right there. The goal was close.
I tried to pinpoint what was unnatural about that dog figurine. Around it, nothing was placed outside the shops’ boundaries—no stores had anything on the walkway. And yet, the figurine somehow seemed like it belonged there. It should have been abnormal, yet for some reason, I couldn’t perceive it as abnormal.
A clinking sound of metal scraping—the chain of Mitsuki’s Hama Kongou. Because I’d called for a halt at an awkward moment, she was still holding the cudgel in a weird position. Her slight movement had made the sound—different from the one she’d made earlier during the break. Back then—
Suddenly, my thoughts snapped into clarity.
Why hadn’t I noticed before?
”You got it?” Hinoki asked.
”Yeah. Thanks, Hinoki,” I replied, thanking Hinoki and approaching the dog figurine.
The dog had a collar around its neck—a yellow drawstring pouch dangling from it.
I lifted the pouch and channeled mana into it. The yellow color shifted, then turned gold.
The moment I stepped away from the dog figurine, it moved. It barked once, then ran. The dog ran about fifty meters, made a ninety-degree turn, and slipped into a shop.
”You can move now,” I called out.
When I gave the signal, Chifumi and the others stirred.
”So that was the Inu-sama~,” Chifumi said. “Minoru, you spotted it really well~.”
”I had no idea at all,” Mitsuki admitted.
”Recognition-inhibition sorcery,” Asari observed. “Combined with dungeon traits, it’s astonishingly potent.”
Kinpira Palace’s unique variants were known as “Inu-sama”—the Dog Lords.
They were extremely rare encounters. Because of their powerful recognition-inhibition effects, you simply couldn’t recognize what was there as an Inu-sama. The flip side was that the payoff when you did notice it was huge. The drop item was the drawstring pouch, which always contained valuable goods—items that could only be found in C-rank dungeons or higher. This was one reason Kinpira Palace was popular even among up-and-coming professional explorers.
That said, this variant wasn’t hostile. If you placed items or mana into the drawstring pouch, next time you met it, they’d be replaced with different items—a supportive monster that gave better returns for donations.
You could also stack contributions: by not removing items from the pouch and adding more mana or items on the next encounter, you could obtain even higher-tier rewards. With this system, it was possible to get items that would normally only drop from A-rank dungeons while exploring a D-rank one.
Of course, the more times you stacked it, the stronger the recognition-inhibition became, so obtaining powerful items wasn’t easy. It was a balance—if your sorcery could pierce the inhibition, you’d be better off exploring higher-ranked dungeons for better returns.
This was our first encounter, yet it was already hard to detect. At our level, we probably wouldn’t meet it again.
”I’ll let you know if I notice it, so don’t worry,” Hinoki said.
”Please do,” I replied.
”But I can’t tell tha directly. Sorry about that,” Hinoki added.
”Hm? What do you mean?” I asked.
Hinoki’s voice dropped. “That dog had a proper strong Ancient Land Deity presence on it, that’s how I noticed it. Probably being used as an interface for the Ancient Land Deity to gather information. If I showed meself, there’s no doubt they’d find out about the seal. Watch yourself, eh.”
”What happens if they find out?” I asked.
”We’d probably get locked out of the dungeon,” Hinoki replied.
”…Understood,” I said.
We had to avoid getting banned from the evaluation dungeon. I’d be careful.
Come to think of it, did Asunaro notice that dog?
”I’m sorry, Prince,” Asunaro said. “I didn’t notice it.”
”No, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it,” I assured her.
So between Asunaro and Hinoki, Hinoki currently had the superior detection ability. Good to know.
We resumed exploration.
While we’d been stopped, crows had moved in close. The monsters that had started appearing from the 7th floor—crows and tanuki—were swarming in large numbers. These two types actively searched for and attacked us. We’d already established countermeasures: air targets were handled by the rearguard, ground targets by the vanguard.
After safely wiping out the enemy group, we walked a bit further and reached the second gate.
”Move to the 9th floor, and we’re done for today,” I announced.
”Roger~,” the group replied.
We all transitioned to the next floor and then exited the dungeon.
Once we were out of the administration building, Mitsuki took the lead and our group headed to the Lost Tea House.
Somewhere along the way, a rule had been established that I’d treat everyone at the tea house after dungeon exploration. Not that I minded—compared to the money we made from selling items, it was still a net positive.
We passed the time with tea until Onigahara-san’s aunt came to pick us up, then headed home.
Today’s cook was Yurina.
We enjoyed her cooking, which had become decently edible, and in the bath, she washed my back. I washed Yurina in return, and then the nightly “nya-nya” began on the futon.
As her master, I doted on my little cat, and feeling her warmth in my arms, I drifted off to sleep.
—
Summary:
The group descends through Kinpira Palace while discussing the dungeon’s 25-floor structure, linking it to the 24 solar terms plus a boss floor. During a break, Risa successfully adapts a new environmental sorcery under Asunaro’s guidance, impressing the others. A rare Inu-sama encounter reveals Hinoki’s superior detection abilities and raises concerns about the Ancient Land Deity’s surveillance, introducing a new layer of caution for future expeditions.
—
Trivia:
Kinpira Palace’s 25-floor structure is based on the 24 solar terms plus one boss floor, unlike the 20-floor surface layers of other dungeons.
The eighth floor corresponds to Shōman (late May), explaining the comfortable temperature compared to the cold first floor.
Risa can activate sorceries using Hinoki’s power through Asunaro’s guidance, demonstrating rapid learning progression.
The Inu-sama (Dog Lords) are unique variants that offer valuable rewards through donation stacking but become increasingly difficult to detect with each encounter.
Hinoki detected the Ancient Land Deity’s presence through the Inu-sama, implying the deity uses it as an information-gathering interface.
The Majo group uses Inherent Sorcery for environmental countermeasures, while Yurina and Asari rely on Common Sorcery.
Mitsuki’s Hama Kongou (golden cudgel) has a chain that she uses as a focus for her sorcery.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• 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.
• 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.
• T – A first-year student at District 13 High School who has recruited K and N from East Middle into his group.
• Risa – A curious humanities student (167cm, light brown semi-long hair, H-cup, black eyes) and the youngest Naruse sister. Playfully assertive and protective of Minoru’s group, this mid-guard sorcerer has no inherent magic but wields magic pistols and Hinoki’s power. When Asunaro takes control, her eyes turn red, enabling fire and lightning sorcery. She is also known to bake cookies for Tatemiya.
• A – A student from South Middle School described as an idol who has been recruited into R’s high school squad.
• 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.
• Asari – A tall (175cm), braided black-haired Kasakura honor student with an E-cup, this analytical, quiet, and pragmatic science-track strategist serves as Minoru’s devoted partner and Risa’s future host. Close to Mari and Nagase, she uses a hand-armor gauntlet and Silicic Armor to manifest crystal barriers, switching between Vanguard and Mid-guard. Polite yet lecturing, she is currently recovering from mana exhaustion.
• S – A first-year student at District 13 High School who has taken B from North Middle into his squad.
• Asunaro – An anomalous White Centipede monster who received a fragment of Hinoki-sama’s power. Known as Lady Asunaro, she resides in Risa’s body, serving as a second interpreter. Saved by Minoru (whom she affectionately calls “Prince Charming”), she speaks with a flat tone but has genuine emotions. Her name is heard during the goodnight sequence, and she belongs to a group with a large presence.
• Mitsuki – Eldest daughter of the Onigahara estate, this 188 cm science-track classmate has short brown hair, a lean athletic build, an I-cup, and a mischievous grin. A determined vanguard and healer in Minoru’s group, she uses a golden mace and Oni-Transformation Sorcery. She bickers friendlily with Minoru, coordinates with Manaka’s companions, and uses recovery magic for service play and training.
• Chifumi – Eldest daughter of the Takino residence, this 160cm, J-cup kimono-clad sorcerer is Minoru’s childhood friend, Lead Majo, and trusted partner. Sporting a long brown side-tail, her bright, casual personality bridges his group with Manaka’s companions. Wielding a staff with flowing ice/water magic, she manages household admin and rearguard combat while secretly protecting him from the truth.
• Majo – A member of Minoru’s group whose presence is noted to be vital for success.
• Yurina – A stoic, analytical 165cm Plain-folk vanguard with a black ponytail and G-cup. A humanities student and eldest daughter of seven, she uses a katana and Severing Sorcery in Minoru’s party. She protects Chifumi, fights alongside Mitsuki, and addresses Minoru-sama with polite deference. Efficient and loyal, she trusts his judgment despite feeling unsettled by his escalating violence.
• Yuri – A cheerful, energetic, and curvy Higashi High first-year student dating Shibuya. While calculating, she is fiercely loyal, even winning a third-place Best Couple Award with him. She was an acquaintance of Kibe Yurina in middle school. Known for being aggressive toward Hayato and displaying overt favoritism, she is defined by her intense relationships, vibrant spirit, and distinct presence.
• Hinoki – An older classmate and powerful anomaly who speaks with a warm, blunt, Kansai-influenced dialect. Using they/them pronouns, they have a shy yet contrary personality and interact casually with the protagonist. As a mediator in the supernatural community, they secure bodies and support others, having bestowed fragments of their power upon Pape, Kram, and Risa.
• 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.
• B – A student originally from North Middle School who was added to S’s group.
• Minoru – The protagonist and narrator is a black-haired Demon reincarnated from Japan, standing 183cm with sharp eyes. Pragmatic yet internally hurt, this eldest Tatemiya son wrongly believed his childhood friends abandoned him. Serving as ‘master’ to a mixed female group, he uses inherent spatial manipulation sorcery to command a handgun and subjugated monsters like Pape in mid-guard combat.
• Rei – An electric ray monster referred to as “Old Man Rei.” He speaks with gentle wisdom and scolds others with patience. He was also captured in the wild by Minoru.
• Onigahara-san – Onigahara-san is a stern, disciplined mentor from the influential Onigahara sorcerer family and an aunt to a party member. Dedicated to preserving her lineage’s legacy, she manages logistics and drives the family microbus for the group’s dungeon training. After arriving to pick someone up, she remains involved upon learning of the situation, maintaining hierarchical bonds with dojo students.
• Onigahara – Onigahara-san is a stern, disciplined mentor from an influential sorcerer family and Mitsuki’s aunt. Dedicated to her lineage’s legacy, she manages logistics and drives the family microbus for dungeon training. She maintains hierarchical bonds with dojo students and remains involved in the group’s situation after a pickup, potentially having received word from Manaka’s father.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply