Volume 2 Chapter 28
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Yo, Kanade-tachi! You all here and accounted for?”
Running toward us was the same woman I remembered, wearing her kimono with that same signature, provocatively disheveled flair-Himezaki Sakurako-san.
”Yeah. You’ve already met Mana, so we’ll skip the re-introductions there,” I said.
”But this is our [Priest¹] Izumi Haruka-san. This is Matsuyama Minami-chan, our [Light Warrior]. And this is Higuchi Maria-san, a [Heavy Warrior] who’s been running as a special addition to the team lately,” I added.
I moved past Mana, who was standing right beside me, to focus on introducing Haruka-san, Minami-chan, and Maria-san.
”Whoa, you guys look like the real deal. I’m getting the same kind of heavy pressure off Haruka and Minami that I get from Mana!” Sakurako-san exclaimed.
”Maria looks a little green around the gills, but once she dives into a Phase Five² with us, she’ll be up to speed in no time!” she continued.
Faced with a legendary, top-tier S-Rank Explorer, the three of them were visibly stiff, their movements forced and overly polite.
But Sakurako-san’s breezy, infectious energy started to chip away at their defenses, and the tension in the air slowly began to bleed out.
After the three of them finished their formal greetings and swapped a few quick words, the introductions were officially wrapped.
Once the pleasantries were out of the way, Sakurako-san shifted gears into the briefing for the upcoming raid.
”Alright, here’s the deal. You guys-‘Resonant Melody’³-and I are taking down this Phase Five Dungeon, ‘Shinjuku.’ Now, a Phase Five usually runs twenty floors deep, and I’ve actually managed to solo my way down to the eighteenth,” she explained.
”The mobs on the nineteenth are a total nightmare, which is why I hit a wall there. But if we can find a way past them, our odds of clearing this Phase Five ‘Shinjuku’ go through the roof. Of course, that depends on what kind of monster is waiting for us in the final boss room on floor twenty!” she added.
Sakurako-san dropped that bombshell like she was talking about the weather, but the reality was staggering: she’d nearly cleared ‘Shinjuku,’ the gold standard for ‘impossible’ difficulty, all by herself.
It was a stark reminder of why she was considered the undisputed strongest S-Rank Explorer in Japan.
”I’m betting that with ‘Resonant Melody’ backing me up, we’ve got a real shot at a full clear, but it’s not going to be a walk in the park. Like I told Kanade and Mana back at the Guild, my Job is… well, it’s a bit of a weird Unique Job⁴,” she said.
It was true. The Job Himezaki Sakurako-san held was a Unique Job, just like mine.
It granted her overwhelming power, sure, but it was also incredibly temperamental-a classic high-maintenance ability.
”The name’s [Solitary Samurai⁵]! It’s a powerhouse Job with some killer katana skills, but that ‘Solitary’ part is a real pain in the ass. ‘Solitary’ means exactly what it sounds like-if I’m not working solo, my stats and abilities get cut straight in half!” she revealed.
That was the catch. That was the massive hurdle she’d laid out for us back at the Explorer Guild.
”So, while we’re diving into this dungeon together, I’m sorry to say I can’t actually ‘party up’ with you for combat. It’d be a death sentence,” Sakurako-san explained.
”We won’t know the exact ‘solo’ threshold until we’re in the thick of it, but for now, the plan is for me and ‘Resonant Melody’ to handle separate groups of monsters,” she added.
”If we’re handling them ourselves… are you sure we can handle Phase Five monsters?” Mana asked.
Sakurako-san just flashed a sharp, predatory grin.
”I’m gonna cheat the system just a little. The first floor is already crawling with some nasty pieces of work, so I’ll carve those up before they even get a whiff of you guys,” she promised.
”On the flip side, there are plenty of mobs with weak offenses or trash-tier defense. You guys will focus on wiping those out to grind some levels for a bit. Based on what I’m seeing, you’ve got enough raw talent to adapt to Phase Five in a heartbeat. By the time you start unlocking Phase Five skills, you’ll be holding your own without me,” she concluded.
So that was the play.
After our meeting at the Guild Headquarters, we’d taken Maria-san through a full clear of a Phase Three Dungeon, and then rode that momentum all the way into the deep layers of a Phase Four.
Because of that push, everyone-Maria-san included-was right on the verge of mastering their Phase Four skills⁶. With the level we were at now, maybe, just maybe, we could actually stand our ground in a Phase Five.
At the end of the day, it was all talk until we drew blood, and if things really went south, we’d just have to trust Sakurako-san to cover our retreat.
”Alright then-let’s get moving!” Sakurako-san shouted.
She started walking with a confident, wide-toothed grin, and we followed her lead, taking our very first steps into the depths of a Phase Five Dungeon.
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Summary:
Kanade and the members of Resonant Melody meet the top-ranked Himezaki Sakurako at the entrance of the Shinjuku Phase Five dungeon. Sakurako explains the mechanical limitations of her Solitary Samurai job which prevents cooperative combat. The party prepares to enter the high-level zone with a plan to grind weaker mobs while Sakurako handles the elite threats. Tension remains high as they cross the threshold into the unknown
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Trivia:
- The specific location ‘Shinjuku’ implies a modern-day ruin setting typical of dungeon-crawl genres.
- The term ‘Peaky’ (ピーキー) used in descriptions suggests abilities that are very powerful but have high drawbacks or specific conditions.
- The party has recently cleared a Phase Three dungeon and parts of a Phase Four to prepare for this mission
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Character Insight:
Sakurako shows a mentor-like confidence despite her tactical handicap, while the Resonant Melody girls exhibit professional deference to her S-Rank status.
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Glossary:
Notes:
• Kanade – Young leader of the A-Rank team Resonant Melody and primary narrator, he wears a black anaconda suit and wields the Lizard Fang Sword, a pressure-point gun, and a Black Ball storage item. Possessing the rare Unique Job “Vital Point Master,” he manipulates pressure points to heal, buff, debuff, and trigger Instant Death, reading opponents’ intent with uncanny precision—yet remains composed despite inner fear. The only team member without a Phase Five ability, he secretly fuels his powers through intimate bonds with his crew, especially Maria, his savior, romantic partner, and emotional anchor, whose presence activates his skills. His polite, professional demeanor masks a strategic core that elevates his teammates far beyond their Phase levels, making him the indispensable heart of Resonant Melody.
• Himezaki – Sakurako Himezaki, silver‑haired S‑Rank explorer of the Himezaki lineage, is Japan’s top solo dungeon conqueror. As a leading Guild member, her reputation defines her identity; allies and rivals alike regard her as the benchmark of Japanese dungeon exploration.
• Sakurako – Sharp‑eyed, stunning explorer in a loosely draped, sexily disheveled kimono that shows her physique, long blade at her waist. Japan’s top S‑Rank adventurer, clears Phase‑Five dungeons solo, Unique Job Solitary Samurai, mentor to Kanade’s party, close friend of Ichigaya Rin. Radiates overwhelming presence yet flashes a friendly, beaming smile when impressed.
• Mana – Kanade, bespectacled A‑Rank explorer and sub‑leader of Resonant Melody, wears a black ponytail and immaculate armor, composed and pragmatic. She mentors the protagonist, watches him with a half‑closed, judgmental gaze, sharing a former class‑president bond. Beside her stands the party’s strongest heavy‑hitter, a young woman in a glossy black bodysuit who masters Dungeon Energy, previously met Sakurako, and serves as an insurance policy against party‑wipe attacks, though her low efficiency keeps her in reserve.
• Matsuyama Minami – Minami, known as the ‘Loli Princess’ or ‘Young Princess,’ is a petite, doll-faced Light Warrior with a childlike visage and adult allure, her flat physique contrasting her commanding presence. As one of the Four Heavenly Kings and a elite dual-wielder, she serves as a Dungeon Explorer despite an extreme phobia of pain, driven by unwavering determination. Her idol-like charm makes her the beloved heart of the group, blending innocent cuteness with quiet, formidable strength.
• Higuchi Maria – Blonde, tanned gyaru Maria Higuchi, nicknamed Boob Gal by male students, is a Four Heavenly King and member of the adventurer team Headlong into Gyaru. She wears tiger‑skin hot‑pants and a bikini top, has a very large chest, serves as the party’s tank, and shows high durability despite losing her lower left arm to a Black Anaconda.
• Izumi Haruka – An androgynous beauty known as “The Prince” among the Four Heavenly Kings, she bears severe burn scars from a Slime Acid Bullet and suffers side‑effects of Hirosawa’s skill. Trusting classmate, friend of Mana, healed by Kanade, currently hospitalized. Calls herself “boku,” has a large bust second only to Higuchi, works as a 3rd‑floor Priest, is stalked, and is revealed to be a masochist.
• Matsuyama – Matsuyama family name, carried by Minami. Associated with the ‘Resonant Melody’ party.
• Higuchi – Maria Higuchi is a blonde, tanned gyaru bearing the Higuchi family name. She belongs to the ‘Headlong into Gyaru’ lineage that shapes her identity, and she has recently joined the ‘Resonant Melody’ combat lineage, linking her to both groups.
• Haruka – The Prince — an androgynous, busty Holy Priest with short hair and composed grace — wields a massive mace in Resonant Melody. She blends holy magic shots with heavy strikes, supporting allies despite potion‑level healing. Close to Mana, stalked by Kosaka, she hides burn scars, masochism, and an obsession with Hirosawa’s scent.
• Minami – Blue‑haired twintail loli with a cheerful aura, frontline fighter in Kanade’s party and Light Warrior of ‘Resonant Melody’. She wields a two‑handed sword (and later dual‑wields) with rapid, rhythmic thrusts, using Wind‑Step and Sky‑Run for 3‑D movement. Energetic, supportive, calls friend Maria ‘Maria‑chi’, and her bright aura catches S‑Rank eyes.
• Izumi – Izumi family name, carried by Haruka. Part of the core roster of ‘Resonant Melody’.
• Maria – Sun‑kissed dark‑skinned gyaru with a voluptuous, heavy‑breasted figure and large eyes, once a B‑rank adventurer and Four Heavenly King “Boob Gal” in a tiger‑print bikini. She lost an arm to a Black Anaconda in a Phase 3 dungeon, was rescued, and now serves as Resonant Melody’s tank, wielding a greatsword and Ironclad/Immovable defenses. Devoted to healer Kanade, she plans to give him her virginity on their first meeting.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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