Defense specialization and coastal exploration.

The two walk along the shoreline.

This is the outer perimeter of the event island.

The island is surrounded entirely by sea.

Above, several floating islands drift in the sky.

"One of those holds the library... that place is part of the field too."

Maple murmurs, looking up.

Though described as floating around the island, the distance is considerable. At a glance, six such islands are visible. The number may be greater—the mountain where the strange bird dwelled may conceal another.

Thus, excluding the island Kanade mentioned, five floating islands remain to be explored.

"Still, they might already have been searched."

"Complete the four-day jigsaw puzzle and clear the dungeon—two of us, and it’ll be over quickly!"

Whether there are dungeons like this one, I cannot say.

That’s true… there are dungeons of that sort, too.

Maple and Sally had encountered only combat-oriented dungeons. Maple seemed to wish to attempt dungeons that could be cleared through exploration or solving riddles.

Whether or not it can be found depends on luck, I suppose.

Yes.

They move along the coastline, speaking as they go.

To the side, nothing but an unremarkable forest stretches on, not a single monster showing its form.

The only variation was combat with larger crab-like monsters emerging from the sea from time to time.

Nothing else. Just walking.

An hour passed as they moved forward.

The sandy shore ended, and the ground began to slope upward.

The distance from the sea surface grows, the land rising into a cliff.

"Maple, don't fall."

It’s— it’s alright, really!

The path is not narrow, and the side is merely forest.

There is no need to press against the wall, so unless something extraordinary happens, falling is unlikely.

"Still, Maple wouldn’t die if she fell."

"But she couldn’t climb back up."

In any case, she should not fall.

Two hours pass as they continue walking.

The forest that had stretched beside them for so long vanishes, and on the right, a ruin made of moss-covered, weathered stone bricks appears.

The terrain looks as though something lies within.

A path of stone bricks extends from the ruin, cutting across their front, reaching the cliff’s edge facing the sea.

There, several stones stand upright, surrounding a central pedestal.

"Something’s here, right?"

"Provided it hasn’t already been explored."

They step into the ruin.

They search through the ruined structure, corner by corner, finding nothing.

Yet, continuing the search as if hidden chambers might still exist, the two finally encounter change.

"O—"

Sally presses her body into shadow as she turns to leave the ruin.

Maple follows her example.

Three players stand there.

Compared to the players they have met before, their gear appears to be of mid-to-high quality.

Not on par with unique series items, but decently crafted.

Their levels are likely similar.

Close. A sound would give them away.

"What now?"

Maple whispers at Sally’s ear.

They have come this far. Surely not audible.

"We can fight. We can avoid. If we do, I can handle it alone. Or we can do it together."

There was no option to send Maple alone.

Then, the players spoke something of interest.

"Hey, did you figure out what that book means?"

"No, it's too damaged to read clearly... I know water's involved, but the location of the [Ancient Heart]—"

"Please, that book's a special item that drops upon death... decode it quickly."

"I know."

She said it and walked on toward a place they had made their base.

The two did not notice.

Distance grew between them.

"Maple. I want that player dead... but since the book is there, they'll likely flee. So..."

Sally whispered the plan quickly into Maple's ear.

"...Got it. You okay?"

"Fufufu, of course!"

The players walked on.

They could not afford to drift further apart.

The plan activates.

"Yay!! Fifth medal!"

A girl's voice echoes through the ruins.

The three players turn and retreat into cover.

If true, this is a place worth hunting.

But the opponent's strength remains unknown.

Thus, they intend to observe the source of the voice.

A single girl steps from cover, skipping.

The girl wears a wide smile. Her gear: a scarf as blue as the sea, dark leggings beneath. The outfit is striking. It draws attention, unavoidably.

But from head to toe, it is not so.

The rest of her gear is in default state.

No armor. No enhancements. Just plain clothing.

No bonuses of any kind.

Her shoes, too, are standard issue.

"How is it?"

Clearly basic gear. Some parts are decent, but she’s wearing what she acquired during this event. Reminds me of my early days. That awkward, mismatched look—yes, that’s it…

But… we don’t know if the medal is real.

As the players continued observing, the girl manipulated the monitor and withdrew something from her inventory.

Five medals.

Heh heh heh… the second half, the second half!

That must be her routine.

She sat on a broken stone brick, examining each medal one by one, clenching them tightly, smiling, then returning them to her inventory.

Confirmed. Let’s go.

Yeah, crush them.

The three stepped out from cover. The girl flinched, turning toward them.

She rose, drawing her dagger, stepping back slowly.

W-what is it?

Sorry. We want medals too.

………!

The girl tried to flee, but three players closed in around her, cutting off her escape.

She trembled, her eyes darting side to side—unable to react, unable to move.

"Strike!"

"Oy!"

Each player swung their weapon.

The dagger, swung in desperation, could not block the blow. The blade sank into her body.

They envisioned medals.

But—

There were no medals there.

The girl faded, as if dissolving into nothing.

"…?"

A damage effect erupted from one player, overriding the shock.

Twice. Thrice.

She stood frozen, struck again and again before she could react.

It was a fatal wound.

"Sorry? I want a book too."

The girl who had thought the act of bending to pick up the fallen book was weakness—had been hunting her.

"What? No—don't joke like that!"

In an impossible situation, calm lost, skill used to slash—yet it was evaded as if the blade had been avoided by itself.

A dagger rests in each of the girl’s hands.

She cuts through the arm that slashes at her during the evasion.

“Guh!?”

In the moment of hesitation, the girl seized the book and tucked it into her inventory, then dashed away.

"Wait—!"

The man pursued the girl, scattering damage effects.

Light flared from the abdomen, scattering like fresh blood in effect.

The girl who had been running without notice vanished. At the spot where the man had fallen, she fiddled with the dagger.

It is unwise to fall for the same trick twice.

“What? Eh? W-what is this…?”

The last remaining one murmured something, as if in delirium, unable to accept the situation.

In such a state, the girl—

no, Sally—could not possibly prevail.

"Bye-bye."

A moment later, the final one dissolved into light.

Sally did not know where the starting point had been, but she understood they would not recover the book.

"If you can't beat me… then Maple can't be defeated either."

Maple ran toward Sally.

"How was it? Did you do well?"

"Yeah! It was kind of fun seeing a different kind of Sally!"

"You don't have to look at that part!"

"Hey, do it again! Say 'yay!' and skip!"

"No! I won't! Anyway, let's check the spoils."

"...I'll let it slide this time."

"...That's good. Doing something different really is embarrassing, isn't it?"

Sally resolved in her heart to never do such a thing again unless absolutely necessary.

The two began inspecting what they had acquired from the battle.

【Jigsaw puzzle that can be completed in four days】