Defense specialization and spoils.
Content thin as paper.
Sorry.
"Alright, defeated!"
Maple lowers Shiroppu's altitude.
She tries to descend slowly, clinging to the feet, but slips off as expected.
Maple returns Shiroppu to her ring and moves toward Sally.
"Back now!"
"Maple sometimes does things I don't understand."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Among the items obtained during the second event are a large shield and a scroll.
These were found in the cave where the snail lived.
They had intended to check them later but forgot, so they decide to examine them now.
Depending on their properties, Maple may undergo further evolution.
"First, the scroll."
A scroll that allows the acquisition of the [Inspire] skill.
Sally and Kasumi possess it as well.
[Inspire]
Increases the [STR] and [AGI] of all party members within fifteen meters by twenty percent for one minute.
Has no effect on the user.
"This is for the party… I can’t use it, can I?"
Even if Sally raised Maple’s status, it would be meaningless.
Zero increased by any percentage remains zero.
A boost to [VIT] would change things, but not this pair of enhancements—neither is necessary.
Still, Sally learned it anyway.
Maple, of course, learned it as well.
"Then next is the large shield."
The large shield, exchanged for the staff and spear given to Kasumi, was made of purple crystal.
Maple sees the shield and recalls vividly the cave overrun by snails.
"Like this wall, wasn’t it?"
"Yes… If not for the snails, I might go back."
Maple checks the shield’s ability.
『Purple Crystal Shard』
[VIT +30]
[Crystal Wall]
Maple checks the skill.
The value of this great shield depends entirely on this skill, as its increase in VIT is lower than that of snow.
[Crystral Wall]
A wall of HP equal to the user's current HP appears within a five-meter radius.
After use, it can be reused after five minutes.
“Hmm… usable, yet not quite.”
Had this been equal to Maple’s VIT value, it would have been terrifying.
A barrier with the same defense as Maple appears every five minutes, surrounding her.
“If Maple’s HP were higher, this might have been useful.”
Spending a stat point on HP increases it by twenty. The same applies to MP.
Thus, allocating points to HP rather than VIT—gaining skills like meditation that restore steadily—would certainly improve survival.
This is also why VIT maxing doesn’t come up often.
Only when she reached Maple did she realize the damage reduction from 【VIT】 came from becoming a monster.
"Perhaps I should try using it once in a while."
Maple stowed her great shield into her inventory.
She doubted Maple would ever completely refrain from using her 【Crystal Wall】.
"Maple’s great shield is more than enough... that’s what Sally meant, of course."
The reference was clearly to 【Shadow Night’s Copy】.
A great shield surpassing that would not come along easily.
"Come to think of it... my level has increased too."
"I’ve increased as well. I was catching fish while Maple played with the squid."
Maple
Lv29
HP 40/40〈＋160〉
MP 12/12〈＋10〉
【STR 0】
【VIT 180〈＋141〉】
【AGI 0】
【DEX 0】
【INT 0】
Equipment
Head 【Empty】
Body 【Black Rose Armor】
Right Hand 【New Moon: Poison Dragon (Hydra)】
Left Hand 【Shadow Night’s Copy: Evil Feast】
Foot 【Black Rose Armor】
Footwear 【Black Rose Armor】
Accessory 【Bond Bridge】
【Toughness Ring】
【Life Ring】
Skill
【Absolute Defense】【Giant Killer】【Poison Dragon Eater】【Bomb Eater】【Meditation】【Provocation】【Unyielding Cruelty】【Great Shield Proficiency IV】【Body Maneuvering】【Attack Deflection】【Shield Attack】
【HP Boost Small】【MP Boost Small】
【Cover Move I】【Cover】
【Unyielding Guardian】
【Psychokinesis】
【Fortress】【Inspiration】
Sally
Lv24
HP 32/32
MP 45/45〈＋35〉
【STR 30〈＋20〉】
【VIT 0】
【AGI 85〈＋68〉】
【DEX 25〈＋20〉】
【INT 30〈＋20〉】
Equipment
Head 【Mist Scarf: Mirage】
Body 【Ocean Coat: Great Ocean】
Right Hand 【Deep Sea Dagger】
Left Hand 【Deep Sea Dagger】
Legs 【Great Ocean Leggings】
Boots 【Black Boots】
Accessory 【Bond Bridge】
【Empty】
【Empty】
Skills
【Status Attack III】【Rapid Strike Sword II】
【Gale Slash】【Strength Boost Minor】
【Rapid Strike Boost Minor】【Down Attack】
【Power Attack】
【Switch Attack】【Martial Arts V】
【Shortsword Proficiency II】【Handy Poorly】【Defense Break】【Super Acceleration】【Ancient Sea of the Past】
【Follow Blade】【Inspire】
【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 Boost Minor】【MP Cut Minor】
【MP Recovery Speed Boost Minor】【Magic Proficiency II】
[Fishing] [Swimming X] [Diving X] [Cooking I]
[Harvest Speed Boost Minor] [Stealth II]
[Stealth Detection II] [Silent Step II] [Leap III]
[Poison Resistance Minor]
"Almost to level thirty!"
"Made decent progress, but the gap still feels wide."
"Who's the highest level right now?"
"Before the event, it was sixty-one? Maybe? Now level one hundred is the limit... but if that person reaches it, the cap might be lifted."
"Sixty-one!? Wow... that's incredible... We'll never get there anytime soon."
"Those people are on another level. No... Maple too, is on another level."
Sally, who speaks, is already being recognized as an outsider on the network.
Though the footage isn't streaming this time, unlike last event, she hasn't gained that much fame yet. But it's only a matter of time.
She's close to joining the ranks of beings beyond this world.
"Tomorrow’s school... feels like it’s been a while."
"Yes. Shall we log out early today?"
"Uh-huh. Let's do that."
The two logged out.
The field of vision filled with light.
Maple returned to the real world and checked the clock.
"...It's only been two hours...?"
Seeing the clock in the real world confirmed it again.
The dense seven days of the event rose clearly in Maple's mind when she closed her eyes.
There had been difficult battles, but more vividly remembered were the joyful moments spent with Risa.
"Another event like that...? Next time, it'd be nice to be with Kasumi and Kanade too..."
Maple lingered in the afterglow for a while. Then she shifted focus, prepared for tomorrow, and turned to her studies.
"Is Risa studying properly...? She probably fell asleep..."
Just as she was about to tell Maple to study properly before it was forbidden again, Maple noticed something.
"Really… I’ve fallen for it too."
The idea of playing games with Risa reminded her of how Risa had been before Maple started playing.
Friends influence each other.
"Now… I might understand a little why Risa was so eager to invite me."
Maple decided to talk about many things when they met again tomorrow, and turned her attention to her studies.
Next time: a real conversation.
I’ve checked thoroughly, but there’s still a chance the status values are wrong.
Probably not… I think.