Defense specialization and counterfeit elimination.

Marginally safe!

A day’s worth of one story is becoming difficult. My schedule has grown busy.

I may reduce it to every other day, depending on circumstances.

Please understand.

Four hours have passed since combat began, and it is now daytime on the fourth day.

Maple’s attempt succeeds. The Venom Capsule already touches the ceiling.

The room, once wide, now has only a quarter of its original space untouched by the capsule’s erosion.

"Venom Capsule."

The capsule expands as Maple speaks.

"Phew... just a little more..."

The fake Sally remains unharmed.

But that matters not.

When the capsule covers the entire room, recovery will be impossible. Collapse is inevitable.

Whether a strike lands is the central issue.

The outcome is already decided.

There was no means for the false Sally to break this situation.

And then, one hour later.

"Venom Capsule!"

It was the end of a long struggle.

The false Sally was swallowed whole, vanishing with a violent burst of red effect.

Maple kept a wary eye on Mirage, though there was no place for the false Sally to hide in this poisoned space.

Above all, the medal that had fallen where the false Sally disappeared told the tale of her defeat.

Maple deactivated the capsule.

The capsule crumbled, and poison rained down in splashing torrents.

"Hah... tired."

A fatigue unlike that of the battle with the monstrous bird settled over Maple. She sank to the floor.

"Good it was inside the room... I couldn't have won outside..."

This method would not work without the confines of the space.

Without the terrain to aid her, she would not have won.

"Recover the medal and step onto the magic circle… Where is Sally now? Probably fighting the fake me, as expected."

Maple lifts a single medal from the ground.

"Can I win… Sally would easily dodge an attack, but…"

Maple steps onto the magic circle, concern for Sally in her mind.

The light fades. Before her, a spiral staircase appears.

She looks up. Light streams from above.

It connects to something, somewhere.

"Sally wouldn’t have gone ahead… not without me."

Maple decides to wait here for a time.

They had agreed to contact each other if either died somewhere.

No message has come from Sally. She is not returning to the starting point—she has not lost.

Either Sally is still fighting and will transfer here eventually, or she is completely severed.

Severed means Sally has not been fighting the impostor.

Maple might have been fighting alone, leaving Sally in the mist.

Yet Maple felt deep in her bones that Sally was still fighting.

"Sally’s fighting too… yes! Shiroppu—awaken!"

The ring glowed. Shiroppu appeared.

"Let’s wait here together, supporting Sally."

An hour passed. Maple and Shiroppu stood still, watching.

The space was swallowed by blinding light.

Maple raised her great shield, wary.

"Hah… we won…"

The light faded. Sally stood there.

"...real… right?"

Sally heard Maple’s voice. She tensed.

"...let me confirm."

"Go ahead."

Maple saw where Sally doubted. She understood Sally had fought a false Maple.

Then confirmation is to be expected. Acknowledged.

Are you the Maple whom I witnessed crying bitterly during a vaccination at the age of sixth grade?

W-why do you remember that! Forget it!

Maple’s unexpected method of verification.

She speaks of things known only to herself.

It made sense—yet the content stirred embarrassment. Maple hid behind her great shield, cheeks flushed.

Sally knew this Maple was the real one, but she thought she would tease her a little.

She had been weary, so she had dallied a moment in jest.

Fufu… truly real! Well, I knew as much.

…Wait. I have not finished checking yet.

Maple looks at Sally with a serious expression.

“Eh…?”

Before Sally could speak, Maple began to speak.

…You’re the Sally who entered the haunted house in middle school, collapsed halfway, and was carried out crying through the emergency exit by staff, aren’t you?

I don’t need to remember something like that!

The Sally who wrote her own technique in a notebook, lost in a game?

Wait—sorry! I was wrong!

Just a small revenge.

…Huh…a serpent in the thicket, was it?

In any case, the two of them had safely reunited.

How about you, Maple? I fought the fake Maple.

I fought the fake Sally. I won about an hour ago.

Sally handed over a medal she had earned to Maple.

Now there were ten medals.

How did you beat the fake Maple?

Sally opened her mouth to answer, then closed it again.

If... if there were a tournament-style event, I don’t want Maple to beat me easily. So it’s okay to keep it secret for now?

Sure! Hmm... then I’ll keep how I beat the fake Sally a secret too! I don’t want to lose either!

Sally said she’d keep her method of victory a secret, but showed her status anyway.

You can guess from the skills, if you like!

Then I’ll take you up on that.

Maple studies Sally’s status carefully.

Sally

Lv21

HP 32/32

MP 25/25〈＋35〉

【STR 30〈＋20〉】

【VIT 0】

【AGI 85〈＋68〉】

【DEX 25〈＋20〉】

【INT 25〈＋20〉】

Equipment

Head 【Surface Scarf: Mirage】

Body 【Ocean’s Coat: Deep Sea】

Right Hand 【Deepsea Dagger】

Left Hand 【Seabed Dagger】

Feet 【Ocean’s Leggings】

Boots 【Black Boots】

Accessory 【Bond Bridge】

【Empty】

Skill

【Status Effect Attack III】【Rapid Strike Sword I】

【Gale Slash】【Strength Enhancement Small】

【Rapid Strike Enhancement Small】【Down Attack】

【Power Attack】

【Switch Attack】【Martial Arts V】

【Shortsword Proficiency II】【Aptitude Poor】【Defense Break】【Super Acceleration】

【Fire Magic I】【Water Magic II】【Wind Magic III】

【Earth Magic I】【Dark Magic I】【Light Magic II】

【Fireball】【Waterball】

【Water Wall】

【Wind Cutter】【Wind Wall】【Cyclone Cutter】

【Sand Cutter】

【Dark Ball】

【Refresh】【Heal】

【MP Enhancement Small】【MP Cut Small】

【MP Recovery Speed Enhancement Small】【Magic Proficiency II】

【Fishing】【Swimming X】【Diving X】【Cooking I】

【Gathering Speed Enhancement Small】【Stealth II】

【Stealth Detection II】【Silent Step I】【Leap III】

【Poison Resistance Small】

“Some things have changed.”

There might be use for the remaining time.

You’ve grown dependable while I wasn’t looking—already!

From here on, we’ll fight side by side again.

Sally smiles, pleased.

Maple returns the smile.

Then, let’s climb the stairs.

Yes. There are still medals to collect.

The two ascend the spiral staircase toward the light.

At the top lies the other side of the ravine.

Tired from prolonged effort, they cannot afford to rest long.

It is already past noon on the fourth day.

Medals are for the swift.

We’ll have to explore the forest again.

Maple speaks, gazing at the forest ahead. Its depth is unknown. A dungeon may lie within.

Let’s push forward with resolve!

Yes!

They enter the forest, seeking a new dungeon.

Sally’s fake Maple breakthrough is not recorded here.

The time will come to use that power, but not for some time yet.