Defense specialization and the second event.

Sally and Maple were in the town of the second layer.

Today was the day of the second event. Their resolve was firm. They had prepared as thoroughly as possible.

Then, an announcement from the administrators came through.

"This event is exploration-based! The main attraction is three hundred silver medals scattered across the transfer destination field! Collect ten silver medals to exchange for a gold medal. Gold medals can be exchanged for skills or equipment after the event concludes!"

The announcement ended. The status screen opened automatically, displaying silver and gold medals.

Maple recognized the gold medal.

The gold medal was the same one she had received as a commemorative prize from the previous event.

"Those who placed within the top ten of the previous event already possess one gold medal! You may choose to defeat others and take it, or simply ignore it and focus on exploration!"

Images of fine rings, bracelets, and other adornments, followed by weapons such as greatswords and bows, appeared in succession—each hidden somewhere within the field they would soon enter.

Of course, large shields were among them.

"Only medals are dropped upon death! Equipment is not lost, so you need not worry! Medals are dropped only when a player defeats you. Feel free to explore with peace of mind! After death, you will respawn at your designated initial location!"

That was some relief, at least.

If equipment would not be stolen, one could move with greater ease.

Exploration could now be undertaken with full effort.

"This period lasts one week in-game, but due to accelerated time flow outside the game, only two hours have passed in real time! There are several points within the field where monsters do not appear—use them wisely!"

It means that even if one spends a week within the game, only two hours pass in reality.

A strange feeling, isn’t it?

Once logged out, participation in the event cannot resume. So one must stay until the end. Other than that… party members will teleport to the same location.

Sally and Maple listened to the explanation, watched the status screen, and decided not to log out.

We should be able to earn medals for both of us.

Yeah. Let’s do our best.

Their bodies turned to light and vanished from the town of the second layer.

Hmm… arrived?

Looks like it.

The feel of the earth beneath their feet.

They stood in the center of an open field.

Floating islands drift in the sky, untouched by gravity. In the distance, mountain ranges rise. A dragon glides gracefully through the vast, clear expanse of sky.

The field prepared by the operators is a land rich in nature—a paradise for monsters.

A world so vivid it mirrors the fantasy every soul has dreamed of.

"Oh—beautiful!"

"So incredible… it’s making my skin crawl."

They walk through the grass, speaking as they go. Twenty minutes pass. No other players appear. Considering last time Maple encountered enemies quickly, this stage might have been set wider than usual.

"Think we’ll find medals?"

"Who knows? Let’s take our time. We still have time."

The two had been speaking when, ahead to the right, a goblin burst through the low grass. It moved with purpose, advancing toward them. They veered left, then left again, but the creature kept pace.

"Against a goblin... perhaps Snow White will do."

Maple adjusted her great shield. She could not afford to waste 【Bad Appetite】.

"I’ll keep this gear for now. I’ll shift to Shadow Night if needed."

"Alright! I’m counting on you. I’ll take this one down."

Sally closed the distance swiftly and swung her dagger. The goblin raised its staff to block, but the crude weapon failed to stop the blade.

The staff split with a sharp crack. A deep red line pierced the goblin’s body.

The first attacker dissolved into light, silent and swift.

"Ooh! Really fast, huh!"

"Fufufu—thanks! Maybe this area's weak monsters?... Probably no medals here."

"Mmm... could be. I think medals are hidden in places harder to spot."

Sally nodded in agreement with Maple’s assessment. They decided to search areas likely to hold monsters—caves, forests, and the like.

An hour passed walking.

"Right—grassland! Left—grassland! Behind—grassland! Ahead—grassland!"

Sally shouted in frustration. Everywhere was grassland. The horizon was nothing but grassland.

"Too wide... only goblins since earlier... look, there's one again..."

As Maple said, a goblin dragged a rabbit. It did not notice them. It laughed, high-pitched and grating, "Gegegya, gegegya."

And while Maple and the others watched, the goblin simply stepped forward and sank into the ground.

“…?”

The two stood frozen, dazed. Then, jolted back to awareness, they hurried toward the spot where the goblin had vanished.

“…Nothing here?”

“No… something must be here! It has to be!”

Sally suddenly realized something. She slashed the air with a Wind Cutter.

The distorted space split open. The scene returned to normal.

A staircase descended beneath their feet.

“A mirage-type skill… that’s how they hid the entrance. Maybe there are others. This grassland is vast…”

“Go in?”

“Of course! They went to such trouble hiding this cave… there must be a medal or two inside!”

“Alright then, let’s go!”

The two stepped into the cave.

“Hah…!”

Sally’s dagger split the goblin’s face open.

The monster inside was not particularly strong. Sally’s attack felled it without difficulty.

The passage was wide enough for two to walk side by side. No hindrance in swinging weapons.

“Another fork in the path…”

Maple murmured.

As Maple said, the cave had many branches. Dozens of tunnels stretched like an ant’s nest. Dead ends and small chambers dotted the way.

“Which way now… Maple, what do you say?”

“…Then, right! The right path slopes downward. If there’s a boss, it should be deeper inside!”

“Got it. Then right it is.”

They moved forward. Entered a chamber slightly larger than the others.

At that moment.

A roar echoed. The ground trembled.

They felt it instinctively. This was the boss’s roar.

With it, footsteps approached. Metal clinked. A harsh, unpleasant cry.

“The boss must have given an order. The goblins are gathering.”

What now?

Sally speaks, weapon poised, in response to Maple’s question.

There are only two paths leading from this room. I’ll take one.

Alright! Leave it to me!

Maple does not yet switch her large shield.

She thinks she must keep it until the boss.

Maple draws the crescent blade from its sheath.

The battle begins.

[Poison Dragon (Hydra)]

Attack at full force from the start. The more attacks she makes, the less effective Maple becomes. Ideally, finish her in one strike.

The poison dragon shot at the goblin crashed against a shimmering barrier just before the goblin’s eyes.

Deep within the corridor.

At the heart of the pressing mass of goblins, three goblins stood with hats pulled low and staves held firm.

Likely, those three spells.

Yet, it was a final gambit. All three breathed heavily through their shoulders.

That was how powerful Maple’s attack had been.

And the poison dragon’s harm was not limited to that.

Even if repelled, the poison itself scattered around would not vanish.

A goblin touched by it writhed, fell, and dissolved into mist as light.

Yet.

Before their fallen comrades vanished, the goblins stepped upon their bodies and crossed the sea of poison.

They could not defy the boss’s command.

They advanced only toward the enemy before them.

“Shield Attack!”

Maple’s attack inflicted no direct damage, but the knockback effect sent goblins crashing into the sea of poison.

With each repetition, the number of goblins diminished. The three who should have supported with magic were already out of energy.

“Shield Attack! And that’s the end!”

When the last goblin sank. Sally turned toward Maple, as if the battle had ended for her too.

Then she noticed the magic-using goblins and began casting attacks.

【Fireball】! And 【Wind Cutter】!

They had no defense. The magic-using goblins sank without resistance.

Good work, Sally!

Good work, Maple. Still… you really went all out, didn’t you?

Sally stared at the poisoned sea, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief.

Hehe… Anyway, let’s go! I’m sure the boss is over there!

Maple smiled awkwardly and changed the subject.

Yeah, let’s go!… Yo!

Sally leapt over the sea where the goblins had suffered. Maple walked across, of course. Her poison resistance was flawless.

One touch from me, and it’s over.

She takes no damage from allied magic, but the phenomena it causes are another matter.

To grasp a branch burned by an allied fireball is to take damage.

"Be careful."

"Please."

They moved deeper into the cave.

The final confrontation looms near.

The Chamber of Mind and Time!

I wrote it this way to fit the event-heavy narrative...

The strain on the mind is severe, truly.

Probably, in some distant future, such burdens were resolved by advanced technology—likely (speculative).