Category: Datsusara Souryo no Danjon Sousou Haishin

“It doesn’t quite fit… but I suppose it’ll do.”

“You should be grateful he even prepared a change of clothes for you, muscle-brain. Show some appreciation to Daishi-san.”

Having successfully cleared the “Host-Addict Room,” our party proceeded toward the next floor.

Shion-san, who had gone on a spectacular rampage earlier, was completely drenched in monster blood. With no spare equipment available, I rummaged through my Item Box again, and managed to find armor she could technically wear.

In a sense, it is an armor. At least in terms of category. But its protective coverage was extremely limited. It only covered the most important areas for a woman, along with her shoulders, arms, and legs. The material looked solid enough—but frankly, it looked like nothing more than a bikini. It was hard to tell whether it actually had any defensive value at all.

> Isn’t that bikini armor?

> It suits her tanned skin well.

> The fact that it doesn’t fit properly is actually a good thing.

> No sword?

> Mina-chan isn’t covered in blood now.

> After all, she brutally murdered them lol

> In the end, your level didn’t go up?

> I don’t really understand the experience point system.

> I wonder what floor the next one will be.

> The old man Nether King said the hero has set a trap.

> Since he is the dungeon master here, I hope the Nether King will do a good job.

> Let’s proceed cautiously.

> You should be able to see through the trap with [Clairvoyance].

As the viewers said. Anyway, the first thing to do is to use [Clairvoyance] to see the structure of the dungeon before entering the room.

Oh, speaking of [Clairvoyance]…

I don’t think I’ve seen Shion-san’s status yet. I saw Mina-chan’s status when I met her before, so I vaguely remember her abilities. It’s a good idea to get a grasp of your allies’ stats early on.

Now’s the chance, while they’re engaged in their sarcastic banter.

I’ll sneak a peek.

Hey! The table of contents is a little easier to read, but it’s still a pain to use. I wish it will revert to the previous display.

…Ah!

I was scrolling down the screen and there’s a tiny button at the very bottom to view it in the previous format!

What the heck? If there’s something like that, they should put it at the top.

This system is a bit inconvenient in places.

Oh well. Anyway, let’s try looking at Shion-san’s status in the simplified display.

Name: Kusakabe Shion Class: Berserker Level: 82 HP: 746/977 MP: 49/100 Strength: 959 Endurance: 811 Agility: 309 Intelligence: 527 Magic Power: 266 Skills: [Pull Out (LV1)] [Splatter (LV3)] [Bite (LV3)] [Crush (LV4)] [Twist and Crush (LV4)] [Tear Apart (LV5)] [Smash (LV5)] ▼ Titles [SS-Rank Explorer] [Legendary Dismantler] [Conqueror of the Deep Sea] Previous Life Wife of Executioner Mixer

Shion-san… you are seriously a dangerous person.

That level of brutality in your skills is completely maxed out.

What even is “pull out” as a technique? It’s terrifying just hearing it. If anything, isn’t she more dangerous than a nether knight?

A berserker like that…

And her past life makes even less sense—something like an “otaku club princess” or whatever.

“A saint wouldn’t shove a cross up someone’s ass.”

“Hey, that was an accident! And you were the one rampaging everywhere!”

“I am simply operating under my nature. You, however, claim to be a saint.”

“I am a saint! Not self-proclaimed!”

“…You’re a priest though.”

I couldn’t help but jump into their conversation with a sigh.

Yeah… just as expected of Satsuki’s friend.

Despite her elegant appearance, her personality was… well, as you can imagine.

“…Enough fooling around. We’re here.”

“…The old man from earlier… he’s not going to show up again, right?”

We had finished descending the spiral staircase and arrived in front of the door to the second floor of the dungeon. The lighthearted mood between the two vanished instantly, replaced with sharp tension.

By the way, the reason they were shaken on the first floor wasn’t my fart. Apparently, they were simply terrified of the old man—the Nether King.

Scared of some shriveled old geezer… Honestly, kind of cute in their own way. Both of them.

“It’s fine! I’ve got your backs.”

I puffed out my chest.

Just stick with me like you’re riding a big sturdy ship. That alone is reassuring enough. So make sure you both follow me to the end. Thank you!

“Alright… I’m opening it…”

Stepping in front of the slightly hesitant two, I pushed open the door to the second floor of the Nether-class dungeon.

I had to stay sharp. We still had no idea where the Hero’s traps might be hidden.

Come on, Daishi—activate Clairvoyance the moment the door opens. Analyze the structure, expose the traps, and speedrun Floor 2!

Creeeeak…

“Clairvoyance!”

The rusted, groaning metal door swung open, and I immediately activated Clairvoyance. I had to commend myself for actually listening to the viewers’ advice right away.

Now then, what will I see—

“Daishi-san! Dodge it!”

“Eh?”

GAGAGAGAGAGAGAK!!

“Wha—whoa! Th-that was close…!”

Mina-chan’s warning saved my life.

If she hadn’t shouted, I probably would’ve been dead on the spot. My reflexively turning around at her voice worked in my favor.

There, embedded in the wall behind me, was a massive arrow. Cracks spidered outward from the impact point, scattering debris across a wide area. I never expected a trap to trigger the moment the dungeon opened.

And that level of destructive power?! This wasn’t just a trap—it was way beyond that.

“Stay alert! It’s coming!”

“Even Clairvoyance won’t have time to work in Floor 2 of Nether-class?!”

Shion-san’s voice snapped me back to reality.

I quickly turned forward again and braced myself for combat—

“!!”

But by the time I did—The second volley was already right in front of my eyes.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeneijiworks.com

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Even though there were still countless things I wanted to ask, the old Nether King spoke only about the Hero’s traps before abruptly cutting the transmission and vanishing. Sure, he’d succeeded in making us uneasy, but honestly, the very idea of a complete beginner like me trying to conquer a Nether-class dungeon had already been reckless from the start.

At this point, adding one or two traps to the mix hardly changed anything. Somewhere along the way, I just stopped caring and accepted it. Well, if the three of us worked together, we’d probably figure something out! No use overthinking it.

Alright then—time to pull ourselves together and head for the next floor!

“…Maybe we should just go home after all…”

“…The Nether King… is terrifying…”

Huh?

Why were Mina-chan and Shion-san suddenly so depressed?

A minute ago they’d been rampaging through monsters like unstoppable warriors.

Ah! The fart smell!

Sorry! I’ll spray the deodorizer right n—

> The only one not terrified of the Nether King is the old man. > Did the other two completely lose their fighting spirit? > From just a projection and voice alone? > So it was Mina-chan’s first time seeing him up close too. > The Nether King geezer really is on another level. > No, the weirder thing is the old man not being scared at all. > So the Hero’s Party already made it to Floor 10? > They’ve reached Floor 78 before, remember. > Even the Nether King probably let his guard down. > But he said two explorers. > Huh? Wasn’t the Hero’s Party supposed to have four members? > Rumor says every member of the Hero’s Party ends up mentally broken after dungeon runs. > They apparently switch parties almost every time. > So they treat teammates as disposable. > Wonder who the next sacrifice will be. > The Hero’s a total scumbag. > Man, the old man really can’t catch a break with all these trials. > Oh right—what happened to his level?

While I was idly rummaging through my Item Box, one of the comments I caught out of the corner of my eye mentioned levels.

Right. Did defeating Lune-chan not give enough experience?

I hadn’t confirmed any sign of a level increase too.

…Maybe I should just take out the manager.

“…No, please spare me. The exit is over there, so if you would kindly proceed to the afterlife quickly.”

Sensing the pressure of my gaze as I continued digging through my Item Box, James pointed toward the exit. His whole demeanor practically screamed, “Please leave this establishment immediately.” It was exactly the kind of look a shop owner gives to a nightmare customer. In a normal place, I’d definitely be banned for life.

Not that I was ever planning to come back anyway.

“Here! Oh, the spray type.”

Mimicking a deodorizer I’d seen in commercials, I rummaged through the Item Box—and pulled out something exactly like what I imagined.

Normal deodorants probably wouldn’t work on this kind of smell, but I could only hope this was a master-crafted dungeon item designed for total deodorization.

Let’s trust in it.

“Alright then, Manager. I sincerely hope we never meet again.”

“Likewise.”

“Let’s go, Mina-chan, Shion-san!”

“Y-yeah…”

“…Yeah…”

Hey, don’t make those gloomy faces while I’m literally about to neutralize the smell!

◆◆◆

(Satsuki Amane’s POV)

“Tch! Trash item. As expected of this cursed Nether-class dungeon. It is nothing but garbage.”

The Hero Soma crushed the boss of Floor 10 of the Nether-class Dungeon using an unimaginably underhanded method. He opened the treasure chest behind the defeated boss, but whatever item he found was apparently useless to him—because he immediately set it on fire and reduced it to ash.

I, Satsuki Amane, could only stand there dumbfounded.

I had been forcibly brought here from in front of the Guild Headquarters… and now we had already reached the 10th floor of the Nether-class Dungeon.

Every step of the way had been nothing but shock and terror. Because the Hero Soma’s exploration style was completely insane. Or rather—calling it an “exploration style” might already be wrong.

From the moment I learned he possessed the cheat skill known as Infinite Item Box, I understood he wasn’t normal. But the way he actually used it far exceeded anything I could have possibly imagined. In short… this man doesn’t really “explore” dungeons at all.

After surveying each floor’s entrance from above, he pulls out bizarre items from his box, strikes the floor, traces the walls—and then, every single floor ahead of us transforms into the exact same structure as the surface level of Floor 1 of Nether-class.

The monsters that originally occupied the floor were simultaneously annihilated by a variety of traps triggered at once. Any boss-class enemies that survived were then exposed to an even more vicious toxic gas. Soma would casually hurl insults at them while watching their weakened bodies writhe, simply waiting for them to die.

This was the dungeon exploration style of the Hero Soma. The word psychopath suited him perfectly. The complete opposite of Daishi-san.

When I met this man, that must have been the reason I instinctively felt Daishi-san could never win against him. Cruel, cold-blooded, merciless, underhanded… A man who never hesitated to use any means necessary to achieve his goals.

If I were taken hostage, that alone would give Hero Soma a decisive advantage over Daishi-san. I couldn’t understand at all why someone like this was granted the title of “Hero.”

“Well then… the cleanup here is finished.”

After wiping out the monsters and collecting the treasure, the man always performed the same routine. He would move near the exit, pull out a black handheld device resembling a smartphone from his Item Box, and smoothly operate the screen with his thumb in a practiced motion.

And then…

“Hah. Well? Satsuki Amane. This is the Floor 68 configuration of a Divine-class Dungeon.”

The transformation happened in real time. The entire 10th floor of the Nether-class Dungeon began to rewrite itself before my eyes. A hazy distortion spread like layers of colorful mosaic fog, completely altering the scenery.

Until just moments ago, it had retained the eerie aesthetic of a Nether-class floor.

But now—

It had shifted into something entirely different. A vast, solemn, temple-like structure I had never seen before.

Yes.

That was it.

In order to bury Daishi-san within this Nether-class Dungeon, this man had been laying traps across every floor they would eventually reach. He had no intention of engaging in proper combat. For him, what mattered was only two things: defeating his opponent—and making them suffer.

“If you understand the structure, rewriting a dungeon floor is child’s play. The Guild Headquarters’ AI really is excellent… well, I did provide them with data from my previous visit to the Nether-class, after all.”

Standing before the fully rewritten divine-class deep floor, Hero Soma muttered—at a volume that sounded like he was speaking to himself… or perhaps deliberately letting me hear.

Fragments of his words carried unsettling implications.

Headquarters… AI…?

Don’t tell me… this guy is connected to the Guild Headquarters?!

“Hero Soma. Just what are you—”

“The 68th floor of Divine-class is a tricky one. That’s where my previous party member went completely insane.”

“What are you? What’s your goal? Could you at least tell me now… guhk!”

I couldn’t breathe again. My neck is being squeezed.

It hurts… I can’t… breathe…

“Shut up and follow along. If you keep poking your nose where it doesn’t belong, I’ll dismantle you and dump you at the bottom of the sea.”

“Guhk…!”

“Ah, right. I’m in a good mood, so I’ll tell you one thing.”

The pressure around my neck loosened slightly at the same time his face filled my entire field of vision. Our eyes met at point-blank range. His gaze—completely bloodshot and unhinged—was terrifying.

“Ajiri Daishi became an enemy of humanity. In other words… I’m the true hero here, the one destined to defeat the Nether King.”

“…Eh?”

“The Guild Headquarters’ request… I can’t exactly refuse it, can I?”

Even as overwhelming fear crawled through my entire body, I couldn’t look away from Hero Soma. His completely unexpected, incomprehensible answer left my thoughts utterly lost, as if my mind had been thrown into a labyrinth of its own.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeneijiworks.com

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“Mina-chan!”

“Ah, Daishi-san! Looks like you made it out safely! Thank goodness!”

“Things got seriously out of hand in here… What happened to the host guy who was with you…?”

“Ah, uhm…”

Right after seeing Lune-chan off, I regrouped with Mina-chan and glanced toward the seat where Monster Sakuya had been.

U-Uwaah…

“He looked like he was about to wake up, so I took care of him first. Ehehe♪”

Apparently, Mina-chan had finally realized something was wrong with the room after all. The moment Monster Sakuya began regaining consciousness, she’d driven a massive cross-shaped skill straight through his rear end and executed him on the spot. Even after making him sit through all her endless complaints, she apparently showed absolutely no mercy once it was time to kill.

Cute face aside, this girl possessed exactly zero hesitation. Terrifying!

“It seems everyone is safe.”

“Hyeek!”

Hearing Shion-san’s voice, I turned around—

Only to find her standing there drenched in the monsters’ blood, her clothes dyed completely crimson. The sight was so overwhelming I let out something dangerously close to a scream.

“Looks like you had yourself quite the lively time, muscle-brain woman.”

“Indeed. It may have been little more than a farce, but I found it fairly entertaining, fake saintess.”

So they had been aware of each other after all. Mina-chan and Shion-san exchanged sarcastic barbs without missing a beat.

Still… Shion-san was incredible. She’d probably torn apart a huge number of monsters while drunk, yet she wasn’t even breathing heavily. With a perfectly calm expression, she casually muttered something like, “I would’ve liked another drink.”

Both Mina-chan and Shion-san were absurdly powerful in their own ways.

At this rate, maybe progressing through the dungeon ahead would become much easier!

> The monsters themselves probably weren’t that strong. > Nah, it is because old man’s party is just ridiculously overpowered. > If they were actual monsters, they’d easily be SS-rank. > Wasn’t Mina-chan’s cross attack way too brutal? > They’re literally crucified lol. > Shion-neesan’s victims are even worse… > Uwaah… > They’re completely mangled lol. > HIEEEEE!!! > None of them even resemble their original forms anymore. > Camera, please stop showing that side. > Mister’s skill is honestly the most humane one. > But that Burial Healing skill looked beautiful and all… didn’t Lune-chan end up going straight to hell anyway? > Lune girl is peacefully speedrunning her way to hell. > That’s honestly still pretty messed up lol.

…Ah. That’s right.

I’d completely forgotten. Burial Healing sent people to hell. While saying goodbye to Rune-chan, I’d gone through all kinds of emotional reflections in my head. But in the end, it seemed none of it had really mattered.

Sorry, Lune-chan!

“…You’ve certainly made quite a mess of things.”

“!”

So it wasn’t over yet.

The moment we sensed James Mei’s voice and presence, all three of us spun around and immediately raised our guard.

He is probably the boss of this establishment—No, not just the establishment. He is the boss of this entire floor. And yet, unlike the others, James himself hadn’t transformed into a monster. He still maintained the appearance of a flashy nightlife manager.

“So if we defeat you, we’re free to leave this place? Is that the idea?”

Mina-chan narrowed her eyes and shifted into a combat stance.

“It was a surprisingly enjoyable establishment, but I suppose it’s time for closing hours.”

Shion-san cracked her knuckles loudly as she glared down James.

“W-we still have to move forward! And if you intend to stand in our way, then…”

Maybe because I got swept up by the cool atmosphere the other two were creating, I also tried saying something dramatic. Though honestly, if we didn’t have to fight, then fighting would be totally unnecessary. If he wanted to back down peacefully, that was perfectly fine with me…

“No. I’m afraid I’m incapable of taking on all three of you by myself. You need not worry about payment, so if possible, I would appreciate it if you simply proceeded to the next floor as you are.”

…Huh?

That was unexpectedly anticlimactic. Unlike the old Dragon King, this manager didn’t seem particularly eager for a fight. He appeared to have honestly accepted the difference in strength and was prepared to back down.

Well, if that was the case, then lucky us. I’d much rather conserve our stamina for what lay ahead.

“Eh? We’re not fighting? Boring.”

“What a spineless coward.”

Hey, hey now. Could you two please stop provoking him?

We finally found a situation where we might avoid combat entirely, so let’s just smoothly move on already!

“…Yes, yes. Understood. Nether King-sama, the owner, says he wishes to speak with all of you personally.”

“…Huh?”

At first I thought James was muttering to himself into thin air. But apparently not.

It seemed he’d been communicating directly with the old Nether King. Then, across the grotesque flesh-like walls of the transformed room, the familiar image of the white-bearded old man appeared—just like when I fought Ades before.

This was the second time I’d seen his face. As always, he looked like nothing more than an ordinary old man.

“It has been some time, little priest brat. Since our conversation at Ades’s place, was it not?”

“Are you senile, old man? That wasn’t even that long ago.”

“Foh-hoh-hoh. That insolent attitude of yours hasn’t changed, I see.”

Just like last time, for some reason I always ended up acting unusually bold around this old geezer.

I didn’t really understand it myself, but something about his face just irritated the hell out of me. Earlier I’d considered trying to settle things peacefully through conversation, but as long as this instinctive irritation existed, that was probably impossible.

Besides, anyone who turned a sweet girl like Rune-chan into a monster was someone I could never get along with—not in this life, nor in any reincarnation after it.

Now then… what kind of insults should I throw at him first—

“Ah…”

“…Kuh…”

Hm?

Mina-chan? Shion-san?

What was wrong with them?

The moment they saw the old man’s projection, both of them suddenly looked visibly distressed.

Their faces had gone pale, cold sweat covered their skin, and their breathing had become shallow.

Oi, are you two okay?

Ah—wait, maybe the lingering aftereffects of my fart smell were only kicking in now?

Sorry! I’ll figure something out after I’m done talking with this old man!

The useless loli goddess probably put deodorizer spray in my Item Box.

…Hopefully.

So just hang in there a little longer!

“So what do you want, old man?”

“I have nothing but business.”

The old geezer still spoke in that same playful tone.

It completely threw me off balance.

“You want your liver and rectum back?”

I decided to ask the obvious question directly.

“Indeed. The liver matters little either way, but life becomes mildly inconvenient without one’s rectum.”

So the liver didn’t matter.

And what did he mean “mildly inconvenient” without a rectum?

For a normal person, that would be a catastrophe beyond words.

“It would violate the rules if I personally came to retrieve them, you see. In time, one of my subordinates will surely accomplish the task instead.”

“No matter how many weaklings you send at us, they’ll never beat us.”

“Foh-hoh-hoh. Such confidence.”

That “foh-hoh-hoh” laugh seriously pissed me off. I wanted to smash him with Hell Gate and Burial Fist simultaneously right this second.

“Still, enough of that. I actually came to offer you all a single warning.”

“A warning? I figured you came to teach me the proper way to use Hell Gate.”

I asked half-jokingly.

“As if I would teach you that. The truth is, shortly before your arrival, two explorers began traversing the Nether Class Dungeon. They have already broken through to the tenth floor…”

Ah—!?

Could it be the Hero’s Party?!

They’d already started exploring the Nether Class Dungeon?! And they’d beaten us to it! Worse, they’d already reached the tenth floor? That was insane!

“They are unbelievably troublesome individuals. It seems they’ve been planting various little tricks throughout the magnificent dungeon I painstakingly created.”

“Little tricks?”

“Indeed. I know not precisely what they have placed, but I suspect they are traps intended for the ones following behind them—you lot.”

“Traps…”

“Mm. I wish to kill you using my own original dungeon systems. It would be most irritating if you were eliminated by such cheap gimmicks instead. Hence why I came to warn you.”

The Nether Class Dungeon had already been difficult enough to begin with. And now it seemed the Hero’s traps had been added on top of that.

“…Isn’t this basically impossible?”

Just when I’d finally started gaining confidence thanks to our strengthened party, I was suddenly informed the difficulty had increased even further. I couldn’t help muttering the complaint aloud.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeneijiworks.com

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Nether King’s Side

“Foh-hoh-hoh. Within my domain, a mere Hell Gate shall not open so easily.”

◆◆◆

“Hyeeeehhh!!”

The situation changed so abruptly that screaming was the only response my brain could manage.

The angelic Lune-chan transformed into a grotesque monstrosity, while the dimly lit, seductive tavern atmosphere warped into a nauseating chamber of dark crimson flesh walls. I had no idea what was serving as the light source now, but the place is somehow brighter than before, making the surroundings far easier to see.

Even so, I didn’t have the spare attention to check whether Mina-chan and Shion-san were safe!

“First… let us reclaim Nether King-sama’s liver…”

Lune-chan’s face was hidden beneath long strands of jet-black bangs that had suddenly grown wildly. From the gaps between them, crimson eyes gleamed with a sinister intensity like demonic magic eyes, while her shriveled right arm slowly stretched toward my liver.

“Kuh—!”

I needed to dodge, but my head was spinning so badly my body wouldn’t obey me!

I had to evade or counterattack!

And seriously, I’d already farted, so why wasn’t the Hell Gate activating?! If I was going to end up in a crisis like this, it should’ve triggered!

It worked against Rakshasa before…

Though… if it had appeared, Mina-chan and Shion-san probably would’ve gotten caught up in it too, so that would’ve been a disaster in its own way.

No, this wasn’t the time to be calmly thinking things through!

I had to do something—

Anything!

“So, you won’t even resist? That’s almost disappointing. Is it because you drank too much to move… or perhaps…”

While countless thoughts raced through my mind, my liver had already been completely locked onto by Monster Lune-chan.

A bluish-purple aura poured from her right hand.

“…Are you still seeing the illusion of me? I’m happy!”

Eh?

Lune-chan suddenly returned to her beautiful bunny-girl form!

No, don’t fall for it, Daishi!

She’s one of the Nether King’s subordinates—my enemy!

“But nooo~. Rules are rules. I have to collect proper payment from you—wait… guh?! W-what is this smell?!”

Eh?

Why was she suddenly clutching her nose and writhing in agony…?

Though now that she mentioned it, there was a certain familiar, suspiciously roasted odor lingering in the air… There’d been a delay, but did Hell Gate activate somewhere after all?

I quickly glanced around the room, but no gate had appeared anywhere.

The summoning must’ve failed. But if there was no gate, and the smell was still here, then…

…Eh? Does that mean this is just… the smell of my fart?

No- no way, right?

Seriously…?

SERIOUSLYYYYY?!?!

“Gwoooaaarghhh!! My nose—my nose is rotting awayyyyy!!”

Lune-chan rolled across the floor in agony, her form flickering back and forth between beautiful girl and grotesque monster. She kicked over the tables and chairs that had been set before us, sending bottles of Sogen and shattered glasses crashing across the floor.

The lively private room we’d been enjoying moments ago was completely gone. At this point, calling this place hell wouldn’t even be an exaggeration.

> This is absolute pandemonium lmao. > What the hell is even happening right now? > The old man just farted, didn’t he? > But Hell Gate didn’t appear. > Wasn’t the old man’s fart supposed to be the activation condition? > Nah, we’re inside the Nether King’s domain. His skill is probably being suppressed. > So basically they’re saying, ‘We’re not letting you use it’? > But that Lune-girl is still suffering. > Did his synchronization rate with the Nether King increase or something? > So now he can fire it with pinpoint accuracy?! > That’s actually insanely useful. > Now’s your chance, Daishi! > Don’t use Cremation, though! > There’s no reason to stay here anymore, right? > Finish her off quick. > No, first make sure Mina-chan and Shion-chan are okay…

That’s right!

First things first—I needed to make sure Mina-chan and Shion-san were safe!

As for Mina-chan…

“And then, you know what my brother said? ‘Mina, are you an oni or something?!’ Honestly, can you believe how rude that was?”

“……”

“Hey, Sakuya! Are you sleeping again? And what’s with your face and body? You look like a monster now! Did you swell up from drinking too much? Pathetic!”

“……”

“Well, whatever. Wake up already, Sakuya! Hurry up and listen to my story!”

…Uhm, Mina-chan?

I’m pretty sure the monsterized Sakuya-kun has already lost consciousness because your stories are too boring.

And wait—

Had Mina-chan somehow not even noticed the dramatic transformation of the entire room? Was she fearless… or just unbelievably dense? The Great Priestess is terrifying in an entirely different way. Still, it looked like Mina-chan is doing fine.

What about Shion-san?!

“SHAAAARRRGH!!!”

“Hmph. Turning into monsters because you can’t handle your liquor… how disgraceful. But if you insist on attacking me, then I shall show no mercy! Hah!!”

“Gobfshh!!”

The floor was covered in sake bottles and shattered champagne tower glasses, yet Shion-san is mowing down the attacking monster hosts one after another with her bare hands.

Uwaah… That’s getting seriously brutal…

She’s literally tearing some of them apart. Maybe I should just leave that side to her for now. Honestly, even without armor, wasn’t Shion-san basically a Nether Realm knight or something?

By the way, it seemed my fart’s deadly odor hadn’t reached Mina-chan or the others. That alone was a small relief.

“GRAAAAHHHH! I… I can’t lose in such a pathetic way! For Nether King-sama… for the Nether Kiiiing!!”

Writhing and stumbling across the floor in agony, Lune-chan—who no longer even resembled a single identifiable creature—continued to suffer. Even if it had technically been an accident, I still felt a little sorry for her after she became a victim of Hell Gate.

And besides… The fun time we spent together earlier had been real. If possible, I wanted to help her pass on peacefully, without suffering.

> Old man, hurry up and finish her off! > Before that Lune girl attacks again! > Actually, can you try using Burial Healing? > You might be able to free Lune-chan from the Nether King’s curse! > So ‘heal and lay to rest’ is what it literally means, huh? > Daishi! Now’s the time to save Lune-chan’s soul with the power of Buddha!

There were always viewers like that every now and then—the ones who suddenly started preaching from a bizarrely superior perspective.

Could one of them actually be a real monk or something?

Still, judging from the description, Burial Healing really did sound like the kind of skill that could offer salvation.

…Alright.

Let’s try it.

“I’m sorry, Lune-chan. I’ll never forget the irreplaceable time we spent together.”

I stretched out my right arm, aiming at the writhing Lune-chan.

And then—

“Burial Healing!”

The moment the words left my mouth, a ring of light spread across the floor around Lune-chan, rising upward like a glowing pillar that enveloped her entire body.

“Ah…”

Lune-chan’s violently mutating form stabilized, settling back into her bunny-girl appearance. Freed from the rotten stench of Hell Gate, even her expression gradually softened. She stood up slowly and looked straight at me with clear eyes. There was kindness in her gaze. And somewhere within it, a trace of sadness too, enough to quietly shake my heart.

“Daishi-san… I…”

“You looked great as a nighttime bunny girl, but I think I probably like the version of you working hard in an office lady outfit more.”

“…Yeah.”

“If you’re reborn someday, try your best at a normal daytime job next time, okay?”

“Yeah!”

The pillar of light grew brighter and brighter.

Within it, Lune-chan’s body gradually dissolved into drifting particles of light.

“Ajiri Daishi-san!”

“W-what?”

“I think you’d look more handsome if you pushed your bangs up!”

Leaving behind words that somehow sounded strangely familiar, Lune-chan’s body and soul faded away completely. I tilted my head upward toward the ceiling and closed my eyes, chasing after the lingering trace of the girl who had vanished into dust.

Ah…

If possible—

I hoped the power of Burial Healing had freed her soul from the shackles of the underworld…

That she could return to the proper sea of reincarnation…And someday be born again, still cheerful and adorable as ever.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeneijiworks.com

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> Wait, why are you ordering sake? lol > I thought you said you didn’t drink! > So seeing both of them drinking in the host-club-addict room finally made you feel safe enough? > But you just used Clairvoyance, didn’t you? > He wasn’t looking at Lune-chan. He was staring at the booze. > So you’re planning to inspect it for safety before drinking? > Please don’t let this be another one of the Nether King’s ‘special creations’…

Just before I used Clairvoyance to check the alcohol’s composition, my eyes drifted toward the scrolling comments. One particular message lodged itself stubbornly in my mind.

Please don’t let this be another one of the Nether King’s.

Up until now, I’d somehow demonstrated a frightening talent for surviving bizarre food disasters. But if this drink was really that thing the viewers were imagining, then there was absolutely no way I was touching it. Even if it could dramatically boost my abilities.

【 Sogen (Vintage) 】 A soul-stirring harmony of sweetness and saltiness, infused with the spirits of the dead. Beneath its intricate depth lies a supreme richness on the palate, accompanied by the fragrance of perfectly ripened apples. Crafted from Meisō rice, cultivated through countless trials in the depths of nether itself, this miraculous aged underworld sake achieved what was once thought impossible—long-term maturation. That masterpiece is known as Sogen. Indulge in the ultimate netherworld liquor, permitted only within the abyss. Ingredients ▼ Rice Polishing Ratio ▼ Alcohol Content ▼ Volume ▼ Expiration Date ▼ Storage Instructions ▼ Manufacturer ▼ Warnings ▼ Contact Information ▼ Effects ▼ Commercial Video ▼

“…”

Come on, this isn’t a product label… Couldn’t they make it simpler and just display the important details clearly?

Still, just reading that opening description somehow made it sound ridiculously delicious. Though the “salty flavor” part was a little concerning…

Hmm. I guess pressing those little “▼” symbols would reveal the details…

But seriously, why is there even a commercial video? Who exactly is that supposed to benefit?

“Daishi-san, are you seriously still staring down the sake? Hurry up and drink already.”

“Ah—just give me a little longer.”

Lune-chan kept urging me to drink and toast with her, piling on every charm tactic she could think of.

…Honestly, the harder she pushed, the more suspicious it started to feel. She was definitely trying to make me drink, wasn’t she?

Yeah. Skipping the inspection would be a mistake.

For now, I decided to check the ingredients first.

Ingredients ▲ ・Rice (produced in Meisō) ・Rice malt (Meisō-grown rice)

So this was basically sake?

And hold on—they could grow rice in this dungeon?

If I remembered right, the old man known as the Nether King had once been an explorer himself. But looking at this room’s setup and the sake being served, maybe he’d actually just been an ordinary middle-aged salaryman who quit his corporate job and became an adventurer, same as me.

For a moment, I felt a strange sense of kinship with him. Still, letting my guard down would be stupid.

I didn’t have time to inspect every detail, so I decided to skim only the alcohol content, warnings, and effects.

Alcohol Content ▲ ・16.3% Warnings ▲ ・None in particular. Completely safe and reliable. Effects ▲ ・Makes you cheerful and energetic. No hangovers.

Looks like I’d worried for nothing. The Nether King old man really is just trying to entertain us. I might doubt everything else, but I trusted the results of Clairvoyance more than anything. From what I could tell so far, the drink didn’t seem dangerous.

As for the salty flavor, I’d accept it gratefully. Still, even if it supposedly prevented hangovers, drinking too much was never a good idea. Once your mood lifted and your judgment dulled, that was exactly when someone could take advantage of you. But more than anything, I am curious about the taste.

Just one sip.

…No, one cup.

That would be enough. After all, I’d worked hard to make it this far.

That” okay, right, viewers?

“Sorry! Well then, let’s have a toast!”

“Yes! Then…”

“Cheers!”

With a loud voice, I exchanged a toast with Lune-chan to mark our first meeting.

◆◆◆

“Lune-chan, another one pleeease~”

“Ah! Daishi-san! The manager’s calling me, so I’m stepping away for a bit!”

“Okayyy… hic…hic…”

Watching Lune-chan’s bunny-suited hips sway as she left her seat, I hugged the second bottle of Sogen and poured myself another drink. My consciousness was already starting to blur, and my hand wavered unsteadily as I tried to fill the wine glass.

“Whoops… spilled a little… hic…”

In my drunken state, the golden liquor splashed inside the glass and seeped onto the edge of my Twilight Robe.

Ahh, what a waste…

Still, this Sogen was seriously way too good. Without question, it was the undisputed number one sake I’d ever tasted in my life.

I’d only meant to take a single sip, but it went down so smoothly that before I knew it, the conversation with Lune-chan had grown lively, and we’d already emptied an entire sake bottle between us.

And now this was the result. I am completely plastered.

“Mooou~ Daishi-san, you’re way too weak when it comes to alcohol~! Here, a fresh towel.”

Lune-chan returned to the table carrying a new oshibori.

That bright smile of hers was just as dazzling as ever.

…Hic.

> Mister is completely drunk! > His face is bright red! > So much for ‘just one drink.’ LOL > He’s absolutely wasted lmao. > What about the other two…? > Hey camera, show over there. > Mina-chan still looks exactly the same. > Nah, but that host guy’s passed out. > LOL they woke him back up. > So he’s been forced to listen to her complaining this whole time? > That’s its own kind of hell. > And Shion-san…? > She’s still standing there drinking without moving. > There are three buff dudes collapsed on the floor lol. > They’re foaming at the mouth. > Wait, did she seriously knock out three people in a drinking contest? > Shion-neesan’s tolerance is insane lol. > She’s a total bottomless pit.

I was too drunk for any of the comments to properly register, but from the general mood of the chat, I could tell Mina-chan and Shion-san were doing fine. If everyone was having fun, then that was good enough for me.

Thank you, old man Nether King!

Okay, maybe I’d been a little—No, very suspicious of you. But your hospitality was incredible. Once we left this place, we’d probably go back to being enemies…

Yet at least for now, I genuinely felt grateful. Actually, maybe he was the kind of old man you could understand if you just sat down and talked things through.

Fighting wasn’t the only way to solve things, right?

All humanity is family! If people opened up and spoke honestly, maybe they could understand each other after all…

“…stomach?”

Now that I thought of that word, I remembered something important.

Actually, for a while now…

“Daishi-san! Time really flies when you’re having fun, doesn’t it? But we’re almost out of time, so I’ll need you to settle the bill now~!”

“Huh? The bill? But the manager said we wouldn’t have to pay any money…”

“Right. Money.”

“…Eh?”

Ooops. I had an extremely bad feeling about this.

Money, she said…

No, more importantly— For a while now, my lower abdomen—right around my intestines—had been in complete turmoil. There was no mistaking this sensation. That thing was desperately waiting for its triumphant return to the world of the living. I’d been holding it in out of gentlemanly dignity. Releasing it in a place like this would’ve been mortifying. And beyond that, there was the horrifying possibility that a Hell Gate might burst open if I let loose.

But it looks like I’m reaching my limit. The force keeping the “asterisk” tightly sealed was gradually weakening. Probably because I am drunk.

This is… terrible.

“Lune-chan… I need to use the restroom for a sec…”

“The payment…”

“!!!”

Eh…?

Lune…-chan…?

“You shall pay with your boooodyyyyy!!!”

Hiiiih!

Huweeeeeeeeeehhhh!!!”

Lune-chan—

Lune-chan turned into a monsterrrr!!!”

Puff…Pffft!

“Ah-”

The shock made me have a little slip out.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeneijiworks.com

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“May I take your order? What would you like to drink?”

No sooner had I taken my seat than the manager, James Mei, approached with a flawless, by-the-book courtesy. Dropping to one knee, he presented a warm hand towel with practiced ease. Lune-chan pressed herself snugly against my side, her hand resting lightly on my thigh as she smiled up at me.

“Could I just get some water?”

“…Pardon?”

“I mean, I really can’t afford to get drunk.”

I may not have been able to resist the allure of a bunny girl, but at least I could resist the temptation of alcohol. I couldn’t afford to lose sight of my purpose. I hadn’t come here for leisure—I was here to defeat the Nether Lord. Even if the enemy was offering hospitality, the last thing I needed was to dull my judgment with a drink.

“Are you sure? Our establishment serves only the finest brews. The legendary Nether sake, ‘Sogen’, that arrived today can’t be tasted anywhere else.”

“I’m good, really! Just water, please!”

“Ehh~? Daishi-san, let’s have a drink together~”

Lune-chan rubbed gently against my knee, her moist, pleading eyes urging me toward the glass.

Damn it… how could something be this dangerously cute?

I hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol, and yet my head was already starting to spin.

> Not bad, old man > You held out against that temptation, huh > What happened to Mina and Shion? > It’s too dark, can’t really see > Is this Lune-chan girl really that cute? > Probably a 20% boost from the lighting > Her makeup looks kinda heavy > Might be a 50% boost from the bunny outfit > Wait, is she even human? > She’s one of the Nether King’s underlings, right? Probably a monster > There’s even a probability that she’s a zombie > Better prepare the cremation, old man

Among the flood of comments from the 1.2 million viewers, quite a few were surprisingly harsh toward Lune-chan.

What a ridiculous thing to say. Lune-chan is an exceptionally beautiful girl—no question about it!

“Champagne tower, coming right up!”

“…Huh?”

“Ah… it seems those guests over there are already enjoying themselves.”

Following James’ gaze, I turned my eyes in the same direction. There, standing boldly before a cascading tower of poured champagne, was a well-built, strikingly handsome man—and Shion-san at his side. They were some distance away, but that area alone was bathed in dazzling light, making them easy to see.

“You really think you can beat me in a drinking contest?”

“I’ll throw that line right back at you.”

It already seemed to have been decided—before anyone even fully understood how—Shion is now about to engage in a champagne battle with the muscular, handsome man she had personally selected. It felt like only a few minutes had passed since we stepped into this room.

Wait, hold on.

Shion-san! Shouldn’t you be a little more cautious than this?

Is it really okay to just drink whatever alcohol gets offered so casually?

…No, wait.

Thinking about it, she’s the type of woman who would calmly equip gear straight out of the nether realm without a second thought. Maybe this kind of thing simply doesn’t register as “danger” to her at all. Well, if it’s poison or something, Mina-chan would probably heal her anyway…

Come to think of it, where is Mina-chan?

Still seated, I slowly looked around the interior of the establishment, scanning the room left and right.

…Ah, there she is.

She’s surprisingly close. Or rather, I simply hadn’t noticed her because the lighting was so dim—but she was sitting right next to me.

“I mean, I’ve always hated having a job like ‘priest.’ It’s so uncool.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“If I had to pick a healing role, being a saint is obviously way better, right?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“I’m this pure and cute, you know… so why am I stuck with some background mob job like a priest…? You get me, right, Sakuya?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“And also…”

She kept complaining nonstop, holding what looked like a juice in her hand. The handsome guy opposite her was probably getting tired of it too, because his responses had turned completely half-hearted. Honestly, hearing her trash-talk the priest class was starting to sting a little.

Ah—hold on. I’m a “Burial Priest” so that’s technically different, right?

“Please rest assured. There is no poison mixed into it. Nether King-sama, the owner, ordered us to show proper hospitality.”

“No, I still don’t believe you.”

“This is merely a small parting gift before your journey to the Nether. Once you leave this place, Daishi-sama and his companions will be our enemies. We will show no mercy when we strike them—so I advise you to prepare yourselves.”

James narrowed his sharp eyes slightly, letting a bold, confident smile curl across his lips as he spoke. No, I still couldn’t trust him. It felt like he was carefully choosing his words, trying to coax us into believing him.

…Hm? Come to think of it, wouldn’t it be easier to just use [Clairvoyance]?

With my current level of Clairvoyance, I should be able to determine whether anything served to us is dangerous or not. And thanks to the latest level-up, I even gained a table-of-contents function, so its usability should be much better now.

To test the skill as well, I decided I might as well try ordering a drink.

Everyone else was drinking anyway. If I could confirm the contents were safe, I figured I could afford at least a little myself…

“Uh, then I’ll have the Sogen please.”

“Thank you very much. I will bring it right away, so please wait a moment.”

After taking the order, James left our table and disappeared into the back to fetch the “Sogen.” Suddenly, it was just Lune-chan and me.

“I’m so glad! I’m really happy you decided to drink, Daishi-san! Do you mind if I join you too?”

“Sure! Drink whatever you like!”

Man… that was the kind of line I always wished I could say back in my salaryman days.

“Yay! Then I’ll have the same Sogen as well!”

“Mm-hmm. Oh, but Lune-chan… are you actually old enough to drink alcohol?”

“Do I really look that young to you?”

“Yes. Very.”

“I’m so happy! But don’t worry—I lived long enough to reach drinking age, you know! Exactly how many years I’ve lived is a secret, though ♪”

Damn it.

While she said that, she leaned in with a slightly upward gaze, subtly emphasizing her chest, and at the same time gently slid her hand along my thigh. And just like that, various parts of me started to feel… unsettled.

N-no good. Not good at all, Daishi!

Become nothing! Empty your mind and calm your thoughts!

“Sorry for the wait. Here is your Sogen.”

James returned, carefully carrying what looked like an expensive-looking blue sake bottle. The moment I saw it, my spiraling thoughts snapped back into something resembling sanity.

“Lune-chan, are you drinking too?”

“Yes. Glasses… ah, the waiter brought them over.”

“I prepared them in advance.”

“As expected of the manager! So thoughtful!”

“Please pour it for them.”

“Yes, sir.”

After that light, almost playful exchange with James, Lune-chan skillfully poured the sake into two wine glasses placed by the waiter. The clear liquid sliding into the glass had a faint golden tint, almost beautiful. Perhaps it was aged to perfection—it shimmered as if it were some kind of holy water.

“Alright then, shall we toast?”

“Ah, wait a second, okay?”

“Oh no! Daishi-san, I want to drink it already~”

“O-oh right. Sorry, sorry… (Clairvoyance!)”

I activated Clarivoyance. I focused my perception onto the drink in front of me, checking its nature, intent, and any hidden danger lurking within.

I’m going to carefully check whether this alcohol is truly safe!

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeneijiworks.com

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We escorted Mina-chan’s older brothers all the way to the entrance of the Nether Class dungeon, then returned to the grand hall on the first floor. From there, the three of us—me, Mina-chan, and Shion-san—headed toward the deeper exit.

Unlike the beginner dungeon, where the next room had been a monster house, this Nether Class dungeon immediately presented a spiral staircase leading downward.

While talking about various things and using recovery potions from my item box to restore my MP, we descended the stairs—and before we knew it, we were already standing in front of the door to the entrance of the first underground floor.

“I’m opening it…”

I muttered, taking a small breath before pushing open the deceptively luxurious-looking door.

As it slowly creaked open, I could have sworn I heard something that didn’t belong in a place like this—

A strange commotion, seeping through the narrowing gap in the door.

“I sincerely welcome you, Lord Daishi Ajiri, and your two accompanying guests. We have been awaiting your arrival. I am the manager of this room—James Mei of the Nether, at your service.”

Right in front of the fully opened door stood a suspicious-looking man in a fitted suit-like outfit, his long hair slicked straight back. While greeting us, he bowed deeply and introduced himself with excessive politeness.

…James Mei?

Wait, what kind of place has a room manager?

> It’s getting noisy in there > The interior looks insanely fancy lol > No way, this is… > It’s basically a nightclub lmao > Is this some kind of unique gimmick? > Feels like something the Nether King designed > I’ve never seen a “room” like this before > Oh, there’s a beautiful woman in a dress > Someone in bunny outfit just showed up lol > Wait, there’s a ridiculously handsome guy too > This smell extremely dangerous…

Yeah… this definitely doesn’t look like a normal dungeon floor. It looks more like we just walked into some kind of absurd underground entertainment district.

“Things are completely different from when I came here before… It’s a unique type of house, but this is the first time I’ve seen this kind…”

Shion-san immediately clicked her tongue.

“Hey, old man. Draw your sword. I’ll cut down this weak-looking guy.”

As expected of a muscle-brained female warrior. If she doesn’t like someone, her first instinct is basically “then I’ll just cut them.” Still… maybe we should at least hear them out. There could be a gourmet-style event or something, right?

…Well, no, this is the Nether Class dungeon. And it’s managed by that guy, so expecting anything normal is probably my mistake.

“I’ve heard about you from the owner, Nether King-sama. Now, it’s not appropriate to stand around talking here, so please come inside. Oh, and don’t worry, there’s no charge.”

Owner Nether King. This is basically a cabaret club. The purpose of this room is becoming way too obvious. Beautiful women and handsome men would be used to get us to pick “favorites,” then they’d pour alcohol into us until we were completely drunk, and strike the moment our guard dropped.

Yeah, I see right through it. I’ve been a corporate slave before. I’ve fallen for this exact kind of scheme more times than I can count—and lost money because of it.

I’m 37 years old now. There’s no way I’d be fooled by something like thi—

“Uhm, excuse me! I’m actually a huge fan of Daishi Ajiri! If it’s okay… could you… choose me? If not, that’s totally fine…”

“This girl. I’ll take her.”

Before I even realized it, a bunny-suited cutie who had approached beside the manager had launched a full-scale sales attack. Her upward gaze and dangerously distracting cleavage were far too effective. I got fooled instantly.

“Thank you very much. As expected of Daishi Ajiri-sama. To choose our top-ranked girl, Run-chan, you truly have excellent taste. Now then—this way! One guest entering the ‘Cabaret Madness Room’!”

“Welcome~”

The cheerful chorus of girls thanking us for visiting echoed through the room, and for a moment, something nostalgic stirred in me. A dangerous kind of healing space. The temptation was undeniable.

“Hey! Daishi-san! Don’t just go in on your own—”

“I found you, Saint-sama.”

“Huh?”

“That pure, elegant aura… you must be the Saint, right?”

“Ah, uhm…”

“Oh! My beloved radiant Saint! My name is Sakuya. If you don’t mind, would you spend just a brief, wonderful moment with me in the ‘Host Madness Room’?”

> Hey, Mina-chan might get fooled too! > Shion is already vibing with the muscular pretty boy > “Cabaret Madness Room” and “Host Madness Room” lol > This is too dangerous! > Why is everyone walking into it so easily? lol > Are they drinking alcohol? > Mina-chan is supposed to be underage > Old man and muscle warrior are adults though > No no no no no > This is 100% a trap > Probably some kind of illusion room by the Nether King? > Feels like it preys on desires > This place is way too dangerous lol

I know. I know, viewers. There’s no doubt this is a trap set by that “Nether King owner.” But even knowing that…

“You’ve had a hard time getting here, haven’t you? If it’s alright with you… I may not be able to do much, but I think I can at least help you relax a little…”

Yeah. Even knowing it’s a trap…this is still way too effective.

With that sweet voice, I couldn’t resist the temptation of Bunny as she trapped my arm with her chest. I’m sure Mina and Shion’s brains are malfunctioning too, having their fetishes exposed.

That Nether King owner… He’s not old for nothing. He accurately targets people’s weaknesses and leads them astray. What a terrifying old man…

“Just for a little while… okay?”

“Yes! Let’s have fun together, Daishi-oniichan!”With a smile I want to protect, Lune-chan, the Nether King’s henchman, traps me in a trap as I sit down. She’s so cute, my brain is melting.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeneijiworks.com

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《 HP +50　MP +100 》

《 Strength +15　Endurance +10　Agility +12　Intelligence +14　Burial Power +4444 》

《 【Clairvoyance】table of contents function added 》

《 Daishi learned a new skill. 》

Oh, so I can still learn new skills after all.

And it looks like that useless 【Clairvoyance】 ability now has a table-of-contents feature. Honestly, it was pretty much garbage as it was—getting flooded with historical data about a target in the middle of battle doesn’t help anyone. This update is actually pretty welcome.

“What are you grinning about, old man?”

“N-nothing. I just leveled up.”

Shion-san’s expression had softened slightly, but her tone was still just as blunt as ever. She wore the outfit I had given her surprisingly well. Tall, well-built—despite being a woman, she actually looked kind of cool in it.

That said, I already knew her personality was sharp, but I still wish she’d be a bit nicer. A guy could get hurt, you know.

“Daishi-san, I’m actually very interested in your status. If it’s okay, could you tell me what it looks like right now?”

Mina-chan—who had likely just used a fairly high-level resurrection skill—asked in a calm, composed voice, her expression as steady and dignified as ever. The skills she possessed were on an entirely different level from my so-called “fake priest” abilities.

She’s what a proper healer was supposed to be like. In contrast, the skills I had acquired were all bizarre, off-the-wall oddities. Not a single proper recovery skill like Mina-chan’s.

Well, even if my skills were eccentric, they were all absurdly overpowered, so I couldn’t say I was dissatisfied. Still… if I had to be honest, it would be nice to have at least one skill that could heal myself or others. No—actually, that’s just me being greedy.

I’ll rely on potions from my item box, or on Mina-chan if she’s willing to join me in exploring those Nether class areas.

Right. Enough daydreaming.

Mina-chan—and the viewers—are all waiting for my status reveal. I hadn’t even checked my new skill yet, so I decided to explain everything to everyone at once.

Alright, here we go.

Name: Daishi Ajiri Class: Burial Priest Level: 5 (+4) HP: 999 / 1049 (+50) MP: 0 / 1099 (+100) Strength: 1014 (+15) Endurance: 1009 (+10) Agility: 5828 (+12) Intelligence: 1013 (+14) Burial Power: 5443 (+4444) Surplus Burial Points: 0 Skills: 【Burial Healing (Lv.1)】(New) 【Burial Fist (MAX)】 【Retribution (MAX)】 【Requiem (MAX)】 【Return (MAX)】 【Cremation (MAX)】 【Clairvoyance (MAX)】 Unique Skills: 【Hell Gate 】【Infinite Item Box】 Title: 【Enlightened One】

Yeah… I see.

【Burial Healing】… that sounds like it might finally be something resembling a proper recovery ability. Everything else is still my usual collection of extremely suspicious, overpowered nonsense, though. Honestly, I should probably be more surprised at how chaotic my skill list has become… but at this point, I’m kind of numb to it.

“…No, explain it properly, old man.”

“…Daishi-san, please don’t just brush it off like that.”

Uh… I did explain it seriously, though.

> You can’t show the status screen to other people, right? > It’s impossible to just expect them to believe it > Those numbers are beyond dungeon explorer common sense > People like us wouldn’t believe it without seeing it from the start > Burial Power is still ridiculous lol > MP consumption is back to zero again > Burial Fist rush was way too much lol > So there’s still no surplus points huh > The new skill is what I’m curious about > Did it say “Burial Healing”? > Is it healing or burying, which is it lol > Did Daishi finally awaken to healing skills!? > Please explain the skill description

Yeah… Burial Fist Rush was definitely getting a bit out of hand. And judging by the chat, nobody is buying my “serious explanation” at all. I had completely forgotten about MP consumption. Yeah… that skill definitely needed more careful planning and proper timing of use.

Right, the new skill explanation. I’m curious about it too.

【Burial Healing】: A divine punishment that “heals and then buries.” The final destination is a direct route to Hell.

What the hell is that supposed to mean.

> Wait, so it heals but ends up sending you to Hell in the end? > So it’s basically unusable on allies lol > It still ends in burial anyway LOL > That’s more like an execution skill > Lmao it’s basically torture > Use it on Ades lol > Would that even work on the Nether King? > I want him to use it on a hero lol

“Guy’s just a weird old man.”

“Still, I already knew he’s strong enough to basically be beyond human, so I guess I shouldn’t think too deeply about it. But the fact he can even use an item box makes no sense.”

The viewers, Shion-san, and Mina-chan were all saying whatever they wanted. The new skill didn’t seem on the same level as 【Hell Gate】 or 【Burial Fist】, but morally speaking, it’s clearly questionable. Realistically, there were only a limited number of situations where I could use it. And it’s only level 1 anyway. Most fights could already be handled with my existing skills.

Honestly, I could probably win even without relying on skills at all. So there was no need to use something that basically looked like torture. Unless, of course, an opponent so irritating they made me want to kill them showed up.

I was kind of hoping that “healing” part would actually be useful. Guess it wasn’t that simple.

“Anyway, what are you two going to do? I’ve got some circumstances, so I’m heading into the dungeon after this…”

“Huh? You were planning to go alone, Daishi-san? Wait—where’s Satsuki?”

“I left Satsuki-chan behind because it’s dangerous. I came here to clear it solo.”

“I mean, I get that Satsuki would be a bit of a burden…”

“But no matter how abnormal your abilities are, Nether Class dungeons aren’t something you can clear solo. Even if I’ve lost my memories, the fact that the Demon Knight’s curse tried to force this fake saint to accompany you says a lot.”

Both of them kept going on and on. But honestly… what are they expecting me to say? I don’t want to go alone either. It’s just that I couldn’t bring Satsuki-chan along, I don’t have any teammates, and I’m basically a loner anyway. On top of that, I got suddenly warped here to the entrance by that loli goddess. At that point, it’s less “choice” and more “well, guess I’m going.”

“I’ll go with you. You’ve already helped me twice, Daishi-san. Besides, I’ve reached up to the 50th floor here before, so I think I can be pretty useful.”

Mina-chan offered to accompany me with a smile as bright as sunlight.

…Yeah, she’s really beautiful. Mina-chan is.

“I’m coming too. Having more combat strength is better, right?”

“Huh? Really?”

“Clearing the Nether Class dungeon is one of the proofs of top-tier capability. Even if you refuse, I’m still following you.”

Her glare was so intense I almost felt like I was about to wet myself.

Still… this is incredibly reassuring.

Even if she lost the power of the Nether Knight, she used to be an SSS-class explorer after all. Her skills are absolutely trustworthy. And her C-rank… lovely chest is also… trustworthy!!

I didn’t expect this at all, but aren’t I basically assembling a top-tier party here?

“Thank you both! I may be inexperienced, but I’m counting on you!!”

> How indecent > I can’t accept this harem > It would’ve been better if Satsuki-chan was here too > Everyone’s too eccentric, this looks troublesome > This has “disaster incoming” written all over it > What are the big brothers going to do? > They’re sleeping, but aren’t those two SS-class too? > This is turning into an insane party > Nether Class clear is basically guaranteed

Ah, right. What about those two guys?

“Hey, Mina-chan, what about those guys over there…?”

“Those two will head back home and handle the aftermath. The Nether Knight basically wrecked the house… And my brothers, for some reason, their stats dropped after returning from the Nether Class. I was fine though… So I don’t think they’d be very useful if we brought them along.”

“I see… Well, that’s unfortunate, but I guess it can’t be helped.”

I said that with a slightly disappointed expression.…but inside, I was anything but calm.

Nice—this is perfect!! Isn’t this basically a guaranteed harem route!?

“Seems the plan is decided. Then, let us go.”

Shion-san was already walking ahead toward the exit with a bold, fearless stride.

Hey, at least… shouldn’t we see off your brothers first before heading out?

◆◆◆

<< Nether King’s SIDE >>

“So that little priest was actually the one who broke through the 8th layer of the Selection Domain? And I must say, I was quite surprised when that loli hag ripped out my internal organs and fed them to him.”

“How shall we proceed, Nether King?”

“That one is clearly the most dangerous assassin I’ve ever faced. If we do not take this seriously, he will undoubtedly complete the descent.”

“Then…”

“Yes. First, the first underground floor. We shall prepare a most exquisite ‘welcome’ for them.”

“…I will give the order to the manager.”

“Even if their souls are noble, they are still human. In the end, instinct is something one cannot resist…”

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeneijiworks.com

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“Are you two acquainted?”

They had just addressed each other by name, so I asked what seemed obvious.

“Eh? Nope. First time meeting her.”

“Only knew her by reputation.”

“…That’s misleading.”

So they didn’t even know each other, yet their first exchange was that level of hostility?

Meanwhile, the comment section exploded again:

> Both are famous, so yeah > Even if they’ve never met, they’re rivals > Are they roughly equal in strength? > Different job types so it is hard to compare > Looks like the armor curse is gone > Someone explain the Abyss-Class situation please > Does she remember being the Nether Knight? > Old man, it’s Q&A time > Does she have a boyfriend? > Hobbies? > Ask what’s her type in men?

“…Hey.”

I exhaled slightly and glanced at the floating chat.

This is absolutely not the time for that. The comment section, now emboldened by the chaos, continued to throw out completely irrelevant questions one after another. Just because someone looks good, they really start asking anything, huh…

No, well—some of them are actually important. Like that one.

Does she remember anything from when she was the Nether Realm Knight?

That was something I was genuinely curious about too.

Mina-chan stepped forward, her expression tightening.

“Kasugabe Shion-san. Do you remember attacking my home, tying up my brothers, taking them hostage, and forcibly bringing me here?”

“…Sorry. I don’t remember any of that at all.”

Shion-san answered flatly, without even a hint of guilt. Mina-chan’s voice sharpened as she pressed her further, clearly irritated.

She had just asked the question I wanted answered—and got a frustrating reply in return. Shion-san, on the other hand, didn’t seem particularly bothered. That attitude… honestly, it’s kind of irritating.

“Maybe it is the armor’s fault, but don’t you think you could at least apologize a bit properly…?”

“My objective is to become the strongest warrior. Even if I lose myself and become a demon that commits atrocities, if that’s the price required to reach that goal, then I have no regrets.”

“…She’s more hardcore than I expected.”

That level of conviction is abnormal. She doesn’t seem to regret becoming the Nether Realm Knight at all.

“Just like the rumors say… a pure muscle-brain. You could at least consider how much trouble you cause others.”

“To be the strongest requires no consideration. Power solves everything.”

I don’t fully understand what she’s trying to say, but one thing is clear—

She’s extremely stubborn. And honestly… it wouldn’t be surprising if she had known full well what the armor would do, and still chose to wear it anyway.

Where she got it from, I have no idea.

The chat kept flowing as usual, somehow turning a serious situation into complete nonsense.

> Shion-chan’s past is pretty tragic > I get why she’s obsessed with strength > If something like that happened to me too… > She probably hates the world > If you’re weak, you can’t protect anything > Only the old man can heal Shion > No, I can heal her > I said I can > That body is mine > Dark-skinned beauties hit different > Wait, is she still naked lol > She’s basically live-streamed to the world lol

…Right.

Now that I think about it, Shion-san was still completely unclothed. The camera seemed to be focusing on the other side of the field, so the viewers apparently had a full, unrestricted view.

“Hey. Switch places,” I muttered internally at the audience.

Ahem, just kidding.

But still, this isn’t the time for that kind of chaos.

“Inventory Box!”

Bom!

Whoa! It’s out!

I mean, this is the second time so I shouldn’t be getting surprised every time anymore.

Still keeping Shion-san in mind, I focused on what I wanted—female clothing, something simple and usable. Using the same feeling as when I pull out my gear, I reached into the box and tried to retrieve the items.

“Here goes!”

Oh! There’s something in here!

Nice texture!

The no good loli goddess has made quite the preparations!

“Here—!”

I reached straight into the black void of the Item Box and pulled it out with momentum.

What came out into my hands was—

Women’s underwear. A bra and panties set… lace fabric, with huge strawberries printed all over it.

“….”

But the size was clearly too small. There was no way Shion-san could wear this. This was probably… the loli goddess’s personal underwear.

Why the hell is something like this even inside the Item Box?

Did that dungeon goddess seriously mistake it for a laundry basket or something…?

No, no—focus. I shoved it back in immediately.

Reset. Next. Next.

At this point, anything that can cover a body is fine.

“Here we go! Here we go!”

I reached back into the void again and pulled something out with force. This time, what came out was a long strip of white cloth. A single bolt of fabric. It looked like the same material as that of the loli goddess’ robe, but long enough that—if wrapped around properly like a sash—it could probably pass as clothing.

Yeah, this should work.

I grabbed it and headed over.

“Hey—Mina-chan! Shion-san!”

“Honestly! Daishi-san, I told you to sit still… wait, where did you even get that from?”

Mina-chan looked at me suspiciously as I approached.

“From the Item Box!”

“Eh? EHHH!? Daishi-san, you can use an Item Box skill!?”

Her reaction was way louder than I expected. Mina-chan looked genuinely shocked.

Is this skill really that amazing?

Well, I’ll leave the explanation for later…

“Shion!”

“Hmm?”

“It’s cold here, right? You’ll catch a cold. Here, put this on.”

Saying that, I pulled a bolt of white cloth from my item box and offered it to Shion.

“What are you?”

“Huh? Ah, I’m Daishi Ajiri. The one who destroyed your demonic equipment.”

“What—!? What did you say!!”

So she doesn’t remember that part either.

Honestly, did she think it was Mina-chan who took her down or something?

“W-What… You’re telling me my strongest equipment was destroyed by this weak-looking old man…?”

“Hey, do you want this or not? I’m giving it to you.”

I was getting a bit irritated at being treated like some background character, so my tone came out sharper than intended.

Maybe I should just stop offering it.

“…Kisaragi Mina.”

“It’s true. This person is the one who freed you from the curse of your demonic equipment.”

“I see…”

Don’t “I see” me like that. Well, I guess I can’t blame her—being suddenly told something like that by a suspicious old guy in a black robe would lower anyone’s trust.

If Mina-chan says it, though, it carries more weight.

So, what now? Are you taking the equipment or not?

“…I suppose I’ll graciously accept it.”

“Why are you acting so high and mighty… whatever.”

Honestly, I was getting tired of where to even look, so I was just relieved she took it. Her expression even seemed a little softer now. I wasn’t thrilled with her attitude, but that finally settled the matter.

Hm? Oh?!

Something like nostalgic floating text suddenly appeared in my vision.

I immediately understood what it meant. So that cursed armor was finally processed—this should be good news. There was a bit of a delay, but let’s just say the system was being considerate!

My excitement surged at the long-awaited development!

Alright, status screen!

Show me an explosive rise in my numbers!

《 Daishi leveled up. 》

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeneijiworks.com

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“Full Buff!”

As I faced the Nether Realm Knight, Mina-chan shouted it like some kind of overpowered household slogan—something like “all-electric upgrade!”

Bwoooom.

With a deep resonant sound, I could feel my own power being forcibly elevated, like every limit I had was being pushed upward.

Her earlier anxiety was gone. Her brothers were safe now—or at least in sight. She probably needed to check on them properly, so she couldn’t fully focus on support a while ago. Now she immediately applied a strengthening spell without hesitation.

As expected of Mina-chan, the high-ranking priest who had survived countless battlefields.

She understood combat. She really understood what had to be done.

The comments kept flowing in.

> Even more stacked buffs > Go for it, old man > All that’s left is taking him down > Let’s skip【Hell Gate】 though > How about【Cremation】? > Fire probably won’t work > Well, there’s only one answer > Physical. Just hit him. Hit him hard!

Mm. That’s it. There was only one skill I could use to pour this anger into.

I steadied my breathing, locking eyes with the Nether Realm Knight.

“Are you ready, Nether Knight?”

I don’t care if you’re some “Unknown” or riding a damn magic cloud or whatever. I’m furious right now.

“….”

The silence between us tightened like a drawn wire. The Nether Realm Knight moved again without so much as a reaction. Silently, almost mechanically, he extended his right arm—activating that same technique to retrieve Mina-chan.

But—

“…!”

“Even if you apologize now, I’m not stopping this anymore!”

By then, I had already broken into his range.

I was inside his guard.

“Haaaaaaa!! Take this—BURIAL FIST RUUUSH!!”

The destructive barrage of Burial Fist exploded forward.

“Hoaaaaatatatatata!!”

Blows like a storm hammered straight into the Nether Realm Knight’s abdomen, each strike packed with all the frustration, fear, and rage I’d been holding back. A relentless chain of punches—no hesitation, no pause—just pure impact driven into his core.

◆◆◆

I must have landed about a hundred blows.

By the time I stopped, my fists were already starting to slow from fatigue. During the Burial Fist Rush, beams of light—like the ones seen in the Labyrinth Zone—had begun firing out from various parts of the Nether Realm Knight’s body.

Mina-chan was frantically moving to shield Slei-san and Jan-san from those stray blasts.

Uh… Maybe I should’ve just punched normally.

I ended up making her work harder. That was on me. I once again realized that this [Burial Fist] is, like [Hell Gate], basically a nuisance-type skill.

“….”

The Nether Realm Knight dropped the black sword he had been holding in his left hand.

And then—he stopped moving entirely. Normally, that kind of damage should’ve reduced him to nothing. But although his armor was visibly cracked and broken in places, it still hadn’t shattered into pieces.

He stood there, feet planted firmly on the ground.

A silent, unmoving presence. Still not falling.

The comments kept coming in.

> That armor surviving that is insane > But the inside must be wrecked, right? > Is he down? Did we win? > At least try removing the mask > No, don’t let your guard down > Finish it off > Pour 【Hell Gate】into the armor—

…Okay, even I have to draw the line there. I’m not stuffing anything like that into his armor.

But the warning itself was right.

I took a step back, trying to widen the distance and think through my next move.

And then—

Crack…Crack…Crunch…

“Huh…?”

Something’s off.

Crack… Crack…Crunch…Rip…..Crunch

The sound was coming from him. The Nether Realm Knight’s armor is starting to fracture from the inside out.

“Ahh.”

There was a delay—just a slight one.

The jet-black armor of the Nether Realm Knight standing right in front of me began to spiderweb with cracks, spreading rapidly across its surface.

And then—

CRAAACK!!!

With a deafening crash, the armor shattered into fragments along with the mask, scattering like broken glass. At last, the thing inside was revealed.

Even after taking all those high-density energy beams from within the armor, what emerged was not some mangled wreck. It was still intact. Still human-shaped.

Yes. Inside the armor was, most likely, a human. And—

“…Huh? No way… a WOMAN!?”

And more unexpectedly—

“H-huh… she’s… she’s naked!”

A fairly tall, strong-looking woman, her healthy, sun-tanned skin completely exposed, stood unconscious before me. Her posture revealed a truly magnificent physique—both feminine and slender, yet possessing a powerful presence.

And the curves of her breasts…

“….”

I narrowed my eyes and observed her more carefully. The Nether Realm Knight is a woman. That fact alone was already unexpected.

“Hey! How long are you going to just stare!? That’s not the point right now, Daishi-san—you pervert!!”

“O-Ow-ouuuch!”

Before I knew it, Mina-chan had moved right up behind me and grabbed my ear, dragging me away from my “front-row seat.”

“Leave the rest to me. Daishi-san, just sit over there and rest!”

I honestly didn’t get why she was so angry, but I complied anyway.

Following her orders, I stepped back a couple of paces and dropped into a seated position—legs tucked in, almost like a gym class stretch—watching the situation unfold from a safer distance.

…Guess I’m on spectator duty now.

> Hey camera. No need to show the old man > (Whistle) Nice > Whoa, what a body… > What a feast for the eyes, Mm, feast for the eyes > So many perverted monkeys, lol > Phew > Wait, isn’t this still going? > Still alive? > Benkei stance? > Looks unconscious though

Sensing the viewers’ feelings, the stream camera kept its focus on Mina-chan and the Nether Realm Knight. It wasn’t just durable—it was surprisingly smart equipment.

“…Looks like a state of suspended animation. What should I do… should I try to revive her?”

Mina was muttering to herself, deep in thought, as she carefully observed the woman inside the motionless Nether Knight.

Even though the danger seemed to have disappeared, getting too close still felt… risky.

“…I do have a lot I want to ask her… huh? Wait… I feel like I’ve seen this woman somewhere before…”

> Hey, isn’t the person inside that Nether Knight… > Oh! > I recognize her! > Isn’t that the missing legendary female warrior Shion? > Huh? That SS-class one? > My favorite strongest female warrior… > She just disappeared one day and it was a huge shock… > No way… then she was the Nether Knight all along? > Maybe it was just a cursed armor? > She always chased strength above everything… > Did she sell her soul to a demon…?

The atmosphere in the comments shifted instantly—from excitement to shock, then uneasy realization.

Mina-chan’s eyes narrowed slightly as she looked again at the unconscious woman.

“…So that’s it. I see… this isn’t just an enemy we defeated.”

I kept sitting there in a half-crouched gym-class posture, eyes tracking the comment feed drifting diagonally through the air. Over 1.1 million viewers now. Somewhere in that crowd, someone had actually identified who is “inside” the Nether Realm Knight’s armor.

And apparently… Mina-chan had reached the same conclusion.

“…Yeah. It’s more natural to think the armor set itself was the problem…”

“Mi-Mina-chan?”

“But just in case. I’ll go all in—exorcism plus purification, double-layer treatment.”

She nodded to herself like she’d already finished the decision.

Then she spread both arms. White aura gathered in her right hand. Green aura gathered in her left.

“…Wait.”

Mina-chan… is she planning to revive her?

No, hold on—seriously?

We just beat her.

If she wakes up and immediately goes berserk again, I’m absolutely not taking responsibility for that.

“Exorcism Resurrection.”

Before I even had time to finish the thought, Mina-chan placed her right and left hands simultaneously on Shion-san’s chest and activated the skill.

“…Oh.”

Blinding light engulfed Shion-san’s body. The glow gradually refined itself, shifting into a sheen so intense it looked like she was being clad in golden armor—almost like some kind of radiant, divine knight.

“…So. How do you feel, muscle-brain warrior Kusakabe Shion?”

“…Not bad. Fake saint, Kisaragi Mina.”

While I was still imagining various scenarios, the resurrection had already finished successfully.

Mina-chan and Shion-san stared each other down. And then—both of them gave faint, fearless smirks.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeneijiworks.com

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