Defense specialization and event end.

Finished! Second event concluded!

"Ghah!"

"Goodbye."

The players fade away into light.

Sally sheathes her dagger and sits down.

Despite several attacks, no one managed to wound her.

The sixth day was nearing its end.

"About thirty minutes left…"

No one had come since the last attack. The time now stood at eleven thirty.

If Maple's ability returns, the seventh day will allow free movement.

She may stay within the dungeon as before, or go outside.

"Will this be the last… opponent… today?"

Sally stands. Draws her dagger.

Footsteps approach.

"Hm?"

"…Hm?"

The intruder and Sally lock eyes.

One intruder.

Clothed in a clean kimono, wielding a sword.

"Again... met you!"

"Hm... what are you doing here, Kasumi?"

Yes, the intruder was Kasumi.

Kasumi did not touch her blade.

No intent to fight.

Sally had no intent to fight either.

She would have fought if attacked, but this was someone she had once aided through a dungeon.

She had no intention of attacking first.

"I’m a gold medalist, after all. Thought I’d hide."

"We’re the same, then."

"So Maple’s here too? Can’t see her..."

"Maple’s holed up in the back."

"Can I go see her?"

"Step on poison and you’ll die in an instant."

Sally said this. Kasumi understood the danger ahead and did not move forward.

Maybe she’ll show up soon. I gave Maple a medal… so it’s like we’re hunting players who target medals here.

Kasumi heard this and offered a suggestion.

Then, can I stay here? Walking outside always ends in combat…

Kasumi was known to many players. Walking outside would mean more fights.

Fine. Kill anyone who comes.

Understood. I want that gold medal too.

The mid-boss pair now consisted of two.

With Kasumi joining, fewer players would mistake them for monsters.

But now the lure of the gold medal added new risk. The chance of combat remained much the same.

They watched the passage ahead while speaking. From behind them, the corridor brought Maple.

Sally! My level’s up! Look, look! …Huh?

Maple ran from ahead, Shiroppu and Hinata following close behind.

Maple met Kasumi’s eyes.

“Kasumi!? Why are you here!?”

“Hmm… well, I’m here to protect the medal… but what are those two?”

Kasumi was the first to see Shiroppu and Hinata, besides the two of them.

“These are my partners!”

She spoke of the strange birds, which had not been mentioned during their previous meeting.

Kasumi was astonished by the impossible strength of the creatures and that the two had defeated them.

“A reward egg… only two people have it now. I’ve met many players, but never seen one.”

Kasumi’s guess was correct.

Only Maple and Sally had tamed spirit beasts.

How events would unfold in the future remained unknown, but likely, a high-difficulty dungeon would need to be cleared.

“That’s right, Hinata—here you go.”

“Mm, thank you.”

They restore their gear to its original state.

"Where to now? Leave this cave?"

Maple had returned. She should be able to survive without hiding.

Yet Maple did not seem eager to leave.

She wished to protect the medal carefully.

Maple conveys this to Sally.

"Then... if you could block the passage for now, that’d be helpful."

"Uh, got it!"

Maple walks to the entrance of the hall and raises the crescent moon.

A large purple sigil unfolds—after a long time.

"【Poison Dragon (Hydra)】!"

The Poison Dragon pushes forward through the narrow passage, crushing it flat.

It swallows a party mid-stride. It knocks a player’s face clean off, just by chance, as it nears the exit. Maple does not know any of this.

Maple walks down the passage without pause. At a point further along, she deploys the Venom Capsule, then returns.

"This should secure our safety!"

"I can't leave either, not that I'd want to."

"Ah, right. I remember. I trust you."

Kasumi cannot escape under these conditions.

Thus, the theft of the medal becomes possible.

Neither of them would consider such a thing, even if asked.

"Now we just wait a full day."

The hour has already passed twelve.

It is best to rest here for now.

No need to arrive at the seventh day exhausted.

They take turns sleeping, one keeping watch as precaution.

No intruder appears. Morning comes.

At the entrance, some players step in, claiming poison resistance, then die.

"Good morning."

"Good morning!"

Good morning. It’s the final day.

The long event finally reaches its end.

The two of them have achieved their goal. The event was fulfilling.

Ah, right! I don’t know when the medals will be needed, so I’ll give you yours now, Sally?

Maple takes out Sally’s medal from her inventory and hands it over.

Thank you.

Sally takes it firmly and puts it away.

Kasumi had no interest in silver medals, only gold being acceptable, so neither of them carried large quantities of silver.

But still, being here for a full day is boring, isn’t it?

That’s true.

Then, shall we play with Maple’s toys? You brought a variety, didn’t you?

Maple agrees to Sally’s suggestion and begins laying out everything she brought.

Among them is a set of Othello pieces.

Kanade was strong, wasn’t she?

Maple recalled playing with Kanade. She had promised to play again when they met.

“Kanade? Who’s that?”

Kasumi did not know Kanade, so Maple explained.

In the course of the explanation, the battle with the giant squid came up. Kasumi was startled.

Two players like them, fighting strong enemies in succession, must be rare.

“Is it just that Maple’s weak?”

“Hmm… you said it? Then let’s play me?”

“Sure.”

Maple played black, Sally white. The game began.

Result.

The board was mostly covered in black.

“Huh… isn’t Maple strong?”

“I’m pretty good at it. I lost to Kanade… but…”

“Then next time—something else! Something we can all play.”

Sally could not accept losing, so they decided to try another game.

Othello offered no chance of victory.

During the time the three of them played, no other player appeared to interfere.

And finally.

The moment of event conclusion arrived.

An announcement echoed across the field. Five minutes remained before transfer back to the original field.

Another farewell to Kasumi.

“Then, see you when we return.”

“Yeah. Until then.”

New encounters. New power acquired.

The second event concluded, fully satisfying for both.