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俺だけ入れる隠しダンジョン / The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter #3
The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter (Light Novel) Vol. 3
PHANTOM THIEF OF SUMMER Noir is determined to enjoy his hard-won summer vacation. He has a new friend in a rival guild, a shop to open, and more levels of the hidden dungeon to explore. But with the thief known as the Phantom on the loose in town, Noir’s peaceful days may soon be stolen. Worse, his best friend Emma may know something about the Phantom—something she doesn’t want to tell Noir.
- GenresLight NovelFantasyHarem
292 pages, Paperback
Published March 23, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 19, 2022
This Volume 3 is Emma's and Noir's Social Debut within the social circles of the Upper Nobles in this World. Volume 3 has about 50 pages less, than the others (Volume 1-2) and it has 29 chapters and one bonus side story.
Because of the Social Debut Party, Noir is dressed in a Tuxedo and his adventures makes him look like a young 007, without the British accent or the Walther PPK gun. Well, he doesn't have a license to kill from the British secret service either. Noir has a constant need to improve his LP (life points) needed to gain new skills, edit skills or modify his skills as well as to be able to cast spells and magic. Noir makes his "Harem" retinue larger, so as to be able to have more intimate liaisons with his all girl review. Laila Overlock and her little sister, is not only a famous and strong adventurer, but one of Noir's and Emma's classmates. So we welcome Laila and eventually her sister to the already big Noir Stardia Harem. I think James Bond would be jealous.
A Phantom Thief is stealing the most precious treasures of the higher nobility. Noir intervenes once this Phantom Thief reaches home. Because of his valor and quick response, Noir receives some unexpected rewards and special treatment from some of the members of the upper Nobility.
It isn't much of a Japanese light novel series, if it is not a Harem, filled with stories of wining and dining, with fine and exotic food recipes. In this third volume, the trope du jour, is the summer vacation at the Hot-Baths. I'm sure that most Japanese authors do not know that extreme hot water promotes male sterility. But I guess they do it for the bathing suits, the closeness to the naked bodies and the possibility to create sexual situations and sexual comedy, or all of the Hot Baths pay to promote their use under the table (which would not be that far off mark.)
Even with the 50+ less pages, this third volume is interesting and entertaining. Hidden Dungeon is one of the nicer light novel series out there and even though Seven Seas publishes it in English, it is not "lewd" nor does it promote crime (to minors) (rape, incest, polygamy, obscenity, sexual assaults, etc.) like a lot of the other series that they publish. Everyone is essentially free, but responsible for all the consequences or our actions and omissions. No one is above the law, not even in another world or another universe.
Because of the Social Debut Party, Noir is dressed in a Tuxedo and his adventures makes him look like a young 007, without the British accent or the Walther PPK gun. Well, he doesn't have a license to kill from the British secret service either. Noir has a constant need to improve his LP (life points) needed to gain new skills, edit skills or modify his skills as well as to be able to cast spells and magic. Noir makes his "Harem" retinue larger, so as to be able to have more intimate liaisons with his all girl review. Laila Overlock and her little sister, is not only a famous and strong adventurer, but one of Noir's and Emma's classmates. So we welcome Laila and eventually her sister to the already big Noir Stardia Harem. I think James Bond would be jealous.
A Phantom Thief is stealing the most precious treasures of the higher nobility. Noir intervenes once this Phantom Thief reaches home. Because of his valor and quick response, Noir receives some unexpected rewards and special treatment from some of the members of the upper Nobility.
It isn't much of a Japanese light novel series, if it is not a Harem, filled with stories of wining and dining, with fine and exotic food recipes. In this third volume, the trope du jour, is the summer vacation at the Hot-Baths. I'm sure that most Japanese authors do not know that extreme hot water promotes male sterility. But I guess they do it for the bathing suits, the closeness to the naked bodies and the possibility to create sexual situations and sexual comedy, or all of the Hot Baths pay to promote their use under the table (which would not be that far off mark.)
Even with the 50+ less pages, this third volume is interesting and entertaining. Hidden Dungeon is one of the nicer light novel series out there and even though Seven Seas publishes it in English, it is not "lewd" nor does it promote crime (to minors) (rape, incest, polygamy, obscenity, sexual assaults, etc.) like a lot of the other series that they publish. Everyone is essentially free, but responsible for all the consequences or our actions and omissions. No one is above the law, not even in another world or another universe.
September 17, 2024
I loved how the pace of the plot pulls you right in, then when the story hints at a connection between Emma Brightness and the Phantom Thief, you wonder what's going to happen next, and then you're surprised by the next plot twist! Despite sounding basic, I appreciate the pull-you-in-right-now feel of the book; if you're looking for a quick read with high fantasy vibes, this book right here is it!
My favorite character remains the same as in all book reviews of mine previously; I absolutely love Emma Brightness and will likely always consider her my favorite character. She's one of Noir Stardia's love interests, but I feel if Noir had to choose just one girl to marry, Emma would be the one! She gave up a safe and promising career because Noir wouldn't be there with her, then followed him into adventurous unpredictability because she wanted to be with Noir.
The cutest but most puzzling thing I found in this book was Emma's reluctance to tell Noir at the celebratory ball that she was the Phantom's target, not a Mermaid's Tear. What confused me was the connection between Emma and the Mermaid's Tear, but in any case, I'm glad Noir did as he said he'd do to protect his best friend turned love interest; and it was cool that Noir teamed up with new heroine Leila and side character Amurru to save Emma from the rather notorious Phantom.
As I read this book, I felt a plethora of emotions, but my excitement reigned most. I love books with high fantasy vibes, or ones that remind me of the Lord of the Rings despite not being Lord of the Rings, and that's what I got from this book. It wasn’t an epic journey across Middle Earth to destroy a ring, but I loved the imagery in my mind about the fantasy world-building, which, as an aspiring high romantasy author who goes weak in the knees over world-building stuff, I loved most of all.
I don't have one specific favorite part of this book, because the entire saga is equally thrilling and favored. If I was forced to choose one out of all aspects I favored most, I loved the video game feel to this book. Noir mentioning his stats like a character in a video game was fun for me, because I felt as though I played a video game while simultaneously reading a book.
(If a video game adaptation of The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter series was ever made, please keep me informed, because it has the potential to become my favorite video game series of all time, second only to Harvest Moon!)
One scene that made my heart soar in an animal-enthusiastic way was when Noir, Alice, their mom and dad, and Tigerson came up with a name for their family business. After Noir's dad said he wasn't paid enough, Noir saw a business opportunity within the hidden dungeon; he could excavate and explore, and later sell all his finds from the dungeon. Why pay someone else when a family business can be started? I did think it was sweet but effective in naming their business. After much debate, it became Stardian Rarities, referring to the Stardia family surname but there were many sillier business names discussed.
This book didn’t make me cry, but it had me laughing at several moments. One scene that I'd been unable to stop myself from laughing hysterically was the end scene where Noir's harem "helped" him gain LP by squeezing a part of them that shall remain nameless.
This book was a page-turner, and I have no complaints about any one scene, in particular. I cared about the characters, their development, the plot, and only felt bittersweet when the book reached its end. The nearer I come to the conclusion of this series, the more worried I feel in a literary sense, because I don't want to say goodbye to this saga just yet!
There wasn't a cliffhanger ending, but instead a comedic one that had me laughing from the unrealistic hilarity of it all. No one, in any scenario realistic, would do something like that, but one of my survivalist idols says, "If it's silly but works, it isn't silly." I guess that works here!
If I stood in the place of author Meguru Seto and was the writer of "The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter" series, there's little I'd alter to make this series better and enhance this quality. I am aware of an anime adaptation, which I'll watch after I conclude reading this series, but I'd consider making this an indie video game with all the girls in Noir Stardia's harem being love interests all at once without extreme jealousy. It's a cool series, a cute anime (from the clips I've watched here on YouTube), and I think it could become a truly great video game with a cult following, too!
My rating for this book? 5/5 stars! If I could, I'd give it 10/5 stars, because I loved it so much! Of the six light novels in "The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter" series, I have all six light novels and haven't wasted my money in the slightest! I love reading this series; it's so binge-worthy in all the right ways! I'll be in one heck of a reading depression after I finish this series; I know it! Yes, one of the weirdest details to note was Alice's relationship with big brother Noir; no, I don't think it's one of the weirdest books I've ever read in my entire lifelong reading journey. I both want to finish this series and don't want to; I want to, because it'll be truly unforgettable; and I don't want to, because that's just it, the series will be over! I will then have nothing to cushion my fall when I look for my next literary obsession. Lucky for me, there are three more books, so I don't need to worry about it just yet. This series is quite a ride, and I hope you read this and love it as much as I do, too!
My favorite character remains the same as in all book reviews of mine previously; I absolutely love Emma Brightness and will likely always consider her my favorite character. She's one of Noir Stardia's love interests, but I feel if Noir had to choose just one girl to marry, Emma would be the one! She gave up a safe and promising career because Noir wouldn't be there with her, then followed him into adventurous unpredictability because she wanted to be with Noir.
The cutest but most puzzling thing I found in this book was Emma's reluctance to tell Noir at the celebratory ball that she was the Phantom's target, not a Mermaid's Tear. What confused me was the connection between Emma and the Mermaid's Tear, but in any case, I'm glad Noir did as he said he'd do to protect his best friend turned love interest; and it was cool that Noir teamed up with new heroine Leila and side character Amurru to save Emma from the rather notorious Phantom.
As I read this book, I felt a plethora of emotions, but my excitement reigned most. I love books with high fantasy vibes, or ones that remind me of the Lord of the Rings despite not being Lord of the Rings, and that's what I got from this book. It wasn’t an epic journey across Middle Earth to destroy a ring, but I loved the imagery in my mind about the fantasy world-building, which, as an aspiring high romantasy author who goes weak in the knees over world-building stuff, I loved most of all.
I don't have one specific favorite part of this book, because the entire saga is equally thrilling and favored. If I was forced to choose one out of all aspects I favored most, I loved the video game feel to this book. Noir mentioning his stats like a character in a video game was fun for me, because I felt as though I played a video game while simultaneously reading a book.
(If a video game adaptation of The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter series was ever made, please keep me informed, because it has the potential to become my favorite video game series of all time, second only to Harvest Moon!)
One scene that made my heart soar in an animal-enthusiastic way was when Noir, Alice, their mom and dad, and Tigerson came up with a name for their family business. After Noir's dad said he wasn't paid enough, Noir saw a business opportunity within the hidden dungeon; he could excavate and explore, and later sell all his finds from the dungeon. Why pay someone else when a family business can be started? I did think it was sweet but effective in naming their business. After much debate, it became Stardian Rarities, referring to the Stardia family surname but there were many sillier business names discussed.
This book didn’t make me cry, but it had me laughing at several moments. One scene that I'd been unable to stop myself from laughing hysterically was the end scene where Noir's harem "helped" him gain LP by squeezing a part of them that shall remain nameless.
This book was a page-turner, and I have no complaints about any one scene, in particular. I cared about the characters, their development, the plot, and only felt bittersweet when the book reached its end. The nearer I come to the conclusion of this series, the more worried I feel in a literary sense, because I don't want to say goodbye to this saga just yet!
There wasn't a cliffhanger ending, but instead a comedic one that had me laughing from the unrealistic hilarity of it all. No one, in any scenario realistic, would do something like that, but one of my survivalist idols says, "If it's silly but works, it isn't silly." I guess that works here!
If I stood in the place of author Meguru Seto and was the writer of "The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter" series, there's little I'd alter to make this series better and enhance this quality. I am aware of an anime adaptation, which I'll watch after I conclude reading this series, but I'd consider making this an indie video game with all the girls in Noir Stardia's harem being love interests all at once without extreme jealousy. It's a cool series, a cute anime (from the clips I've watched here on YouTube), and I think it could become a truly great video game with a cult following, too!
My rating for this book? 5/5 stars! If I could, I'd give it 10/5 stars, because I loved it so much! Of the six light novels in "The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter" series, I have all six light novels and haven't wasted my money in the slightest! I love reading this series; it's so binge-worthy in all the right ways! I'll be in one heck of a reading depression after I finish this series; I know it! Yes, one of the weirdest details to note was Alice's relationship with big brother Noir; no, I don't think it's one of the weirdest books I've ever read in my entire lifelong reading journey. I both want to finish this series and don't want to; I want to, because it'll be truly unforgettable; and I don't want to, because that's just it, the series will be over! I will then have nothing to cushion my fall when I look for my next literary obsession. Lucky for me, there are three more books, so I don't need to worry about it just yet. This series is quite a ride, and I hope you read this and love it as much as I do, too!
August 27, 2025
Squeezing the Charmin for Fun and LP
This third book carries the story forward to a satisfying finish. Reading these in rapid succession--they are rather addictive!--it feels like one sprawling supersaga.
But I did suspect as I read that Meguro Seto was growing bored and/or bankrupt of new ideas. The Gala and Phantom subplot felt padded out, though it gave Noir a chance to fight alongside Leila (to Emma's chagrin, I'm sure). And then that Hot Spring episode--ugh. It wasn't funny, it wasn't exciting, it didn't forward the saga. It was like an inconsequential "extra chapter" trespassing on the main narrative. Yeah, it was a mind-bogglingly bad idea of Elena's to take horny and hormonally high-charged teenagers to a hot spring and not expect them to go into hyperdrive and go to any length to leer at Emma's "honkers" and whatever else on whomever else was on vivid display.
As I suffered through chapter after chapter, I was like, c'mon, Seto, this was done already and better on both Sword Art Online and Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? And don't play dumb because it's obvious you've been swiping with both hands from both series all along, so the bar was raised high to bring something new to the table... but you arrived empty-handed. The hot springs misadventure proved the book's low point; one only made worse by letting it suck up so much space in a book already shorter by 30 pages than its predecessors.
Okay, I did enjoy the deadly detour with the Pixie and found myself starting to fall under her beguiling spell. Glad Noir and Emma were more cynical and suspicious than me. And wow, Elena sure is more bloodthirsty than me, assuming she executed the faerie gone afoul. Or, in a plot twist of my own rationalization, did she pay off the Pixie, thank her for her good work, and say they'll do it again next semester? I mean, maybe it was all a part of Elena's kooky curriculum? I dislike Elena, but I just couldn't believe she'd wring the little critter's neck or something worse.
No fan of the Path of Laughter with Noir again doing his father's octopus dance. Just not funny (and the audience agreed). What's a "trendy bar" look like in this world, anyway? Noir's world is distressingly starting to resemble ours more and more.
A welcome development in volume 3 was the opening of Stardian Rarities, the shop Noir's family opened to sell the spoils of his adventures and hidden dungeon plunderings (along with his mother's homemade "Awful Dolls," that are so ugly they're cute). Tigerson is enjoying his role as the sidewalk attraction to draw in customers, and the shop gives Noir's sitcom family a setting in which to shine.
Noir also picks up a side hustle at an armorer's shop, turning his Discerning Eye upon new acquisitions. One object he appraises, the Shield of Champions, has a life-draining curse attached to it. Unwilling in good faith to sell a cursed item, the shopkeeper wonders how to dispose of it. But Noir offers to buy this "jackpot" and gets it for a mere 10,000 rels, a fraction of its value considering it has four other skills, three of them Grade A. "I paid on the spot, then went ahead and quietly removed the curse skill" (p. 264).
Huh? Wow, I was shocked at Noir, lying to the shopkeeper that he "had a friend" who could remove curses instead of admitting he himself could easily Edit it away, and then not correcting the shopkeeper's cutting the price so low because "removing the curse won't come cheap," then allowing the poor sap to go through the process of placing the shield between boards for safe transport. Noir was a scoundrel here, no way around it. He should have shot straight with a dealer who hired him and was trusting him without reservation. How were Noir's ethics different than those of the thieves Phan and Tom?
I enjoyed the fun stuff, like the PG-rated PDA that is now SOP and which hit a high point with the Pretty Girl Rice Ball. But yikes, that closing extra chapter was positively PG-13, and I mean, where was Mr. Whipple to put a stop to all the Charmin squeezing? Turned out Alice, her sword, and terrifying look worked even better.
Smiling, I closed the book and closed the saga--at least for me. Time to take the exit ramp and check out a different series. I already have the fourth book, so I may return when I'm overcome with nagging Noirstalgia. And I also have the 12-episode anime series to watch, the contents of which I'm hoping won't extend past this third volume. For those pressing ahead through volumes four, five and six, I wish you a long, strange trip!
This third book carries the story forward to a satisfying finish. Reading these in rapid succession--they are rather addictive!--it feels like one sprawling supersaga.
But I did suspect as I read that Meguro Seto was growing bored and/or bankrupt of new ideas. The Gala and Phantom subplot felt padded out, though it gave Noir a chance to fight alongside Leila (to Emma's chagrin, I'm sure). And then that Hot Spring episode--ugh. It wasn't funny, it wasn't exciting, it didn't forward the saga. It was like an inconsequential "extra chapter" trespassing on the main narrative. Yeah, it was a mind-bogglingly bad idea of Elena's to take horny and hormonally high-charged teenagers to a hot spring and not expect them to go into hyperdrive and go to any length to leer at Emma's "honkers" and whatever else on whomever else was on vivid display.
As I suffered through chapter after chapter, I was like, c'mon, Seto, this was done already and better on both Sword Art Online and Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? And don't play dumb because it's obvious you've been swiping with both hands from both series all along, so the bar was raised high to bring something new to the table... but you arrived empty-handed. The hot springs misadventure proved the book's low point; one only made worse by letting it suck up so much space in a book already shorter by 30 pages than its predecessors.
Okay, I did enjoy the deadly detour with the Pixie and found myself starting to fall under her beguiling spell. Glad Noir and Emma were more cynical and suspicious than me. And wow, Elena sure is more bloodthirsty than me, assuming she executed the faerie gone afoul. Or, in a plot twist of my own rationalization, did she pay off the Pixie, thank her for her good work, and say they'll do it again next semester? I mean, maybe it was all a part of Elena's kooky curriculum? I dislike Elena, but I just couldn't believe she'd wring the little critter's neck or something worse.
No fan of the Path of Laughter with Noir again doing his father's octopus dance. Just not funny (and the audience agreed). What's a "trendy bar" look like in this world, anyway? Noir's world is distressingly starting to resemble ours more and more.
A welcome development in volume 3 was the opening of Stardian Rarities, the shop Noir's family opened to sell the spoils of his adventures and hidden dungeon plunderings (along with his mother's homemade "Awful Dolls," that are so ugly they're cute). Tigerson is enjoying his role as the sidewalk attraction to draw in customers, and the shop gives Noir's sitcom family a setting in which to shine.
Noir also picks up a side hustle at an armorer's shop, turning his Discerning Eye upon new acquisitions. One object he appraises, the Shield of Champions, has a life-draining curse attached to it. Unwilling in good faith to sell a cursed item, the shopkeeper wonders how to dispose of it. But Noir offers to buy this "jackpot" and gets it for a mere 10,000 rels, a fraction of its value considering it has four other skills, three of them Grade A. "I paid on the spot, then went ahead and quietly removed the curse skill" (p. 264).
Huh? Wow, I was shocked at Noir, lying to the shopkeeper that he "had a friend" who could remove curses instead of admitting he himself could easily Edit it away, and then not correcting the shopkeeper's cutting the price so low because "removing the curse won't come cheap," then allowing the poor sap to go through the process of placing the shield between boards for safe transport. Noir was a scoundrel here, no way around it. He should have shot straight with a dealer who hired him and was trusting him without reservation. How were Noir's ethics different than those of the thieves Phan and Tom?
I enjoyed the fun stuff, like the PG-rated PDA that is now SOP and which hit a high point with the Pretty Girl Rice Ball. But yikes, that closing extra chapter was positively PG-13, and I mean, where was Mr. Whipple to put a stop to all the Charmin squeezing? Turned out Alice, her sword, and terrifying look worked even better.
Smiling, I closed the book and closed the saga--at least for me. Time to take the exit ramp and check out a different series. I already have the fourth book, so I may return when I'm overcome with nagging Noirstalgia. And I also have the 12-episode anime series to watch, the contents of which I'm hoping won't extend past this third volume. For those pressing ahead through volumes four, five and six, I wish you a long, strange trip!
December 25, 2020
Fun read and fun times
This book has action as well as a little bit of venture and it has humor. I really enjoyed reading this book learning more about the characters and their personalities. The story also has a little bit of a hint of erotic situations, without really going into a lot of detail which to me seems a little bit more realistic and therefore more enjoyable.
This book has action as well as a little bit of venture and it has humor. I really enjoyed reading this book learning more about the characters and their personalities. The story also has a little bit of a hint of erotic situations, without really going into a lot of detail which to me seems a little bit more realistic and therefore more enjoyable.
February 14, 2023
Just awesome.
I really love reading this series. This book was awesome. It's one of funniest things I've read in a long time. It was fun and entertaining. The story and characters were interesting and engaging. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what happens next. This is a must read.
I really love reading this series. This book was awesome. It's one of funniest things I've read in a long time. It was fun and entertaining. The story and characters were interesting and engaging. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what happens next. This is a must read.
December 24, 2020
Wonderful
This series is a comic relief and has some action to it, the main character is some that both protected his life and his love ones while getting stronger. It's a good series that people will enjoy
This series is a comic relief and has some action to it, the main character is some that both protected his life and his love ones while getting stronger. It's a good series that people will enjoy
June 20, 2021
Good
A good entry into the book series, I am looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book released.
A good entry into the book series, I am looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book released.
May 2, 2023
Naaah, I'm done with this series.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews