Defense specialization and production materials.
Maple rode atop Shiroppu, soaring across the field.
Faster than walking—there was no alternative.
"Kanade! Today, count on me!"
"Leave it to me!"
Kanade rode for the sake of gathering materials.
The day after the guild's formation, Izu joined the guild.
Today, they were heading to the mine to stockpile materials in the workshop within the guild home.
Sally, Crom, and Kasumi headed to another location to collect drop items of wood and cloth.
Izu, focused entirely on production ability, was utterly inept in combat.
Apparently, she had never been good at physical activity to begin with.
Her production skill level, however, was high.
Weapons, cloth goods, accessories, furniture.
She could craft anything.
"I'll be the guard—please handle the mining!"
Kanade heads toward the mine, possessing the Mining V skill.
She will dig for ore with her pickaxe.
Golems appear in the mine, so gathering their materials falls to Maple.
"This time, the Akashic Record proved useful."
Kanade explains this skill to all guild members.
Akashic Record
Randomly selects three skills each from production, combat, and other categories—nine skills total.
Skill levels are fixed at medium or V.
The acquired skills vanish after one day.
Skills already obtained are not selected again.
"Combat skills other than staff-based ones are meaningless. Whether one gains combat ability depends entirely on luck."
When Kanade's level rises to the point where she can fight without this skill, its true value will be revealed.
The key to crafting a new strategy lies here.
Kanade can use a different skill each day.
At times, it will align miraculously, unleashing terrifying power.
"Got it!"
"Alright! Let's go!"
Several times, they were mistaken for a rare monster, and magic or arrows flew toward them. Each time, Maple leapt before the player’s eyes, drawing attention, and they managed to avoid harm.
The attacks ceased not because of Maple’s warning, but because the sudden descent of Maple had startled and confused the attackers. Maple did not know this.
"Stay close to me. We’re going deep into the wilderness."
"Understood!"
The two move deeper into the cave leading into the mine.
No beautiful crystal formations like those in a snail’s cave. But exposed ore appears in places. Kanade wields her pickaxe and performs [Mining] as soon as she finds it.
Let's keep going!
Yeah, let's do that!
Shiroppu is back in the ring, so Maple’s focus is only on Kanade.
The golem falls to weak poison attacks—no need for great shields or [Poison Dragon (Hydra)].
The golem’s drop is collected without fail.
The mine holds many kinds of ore, but rare ores do not appear often.
Iron ore, ash crystal, pebble...
Kanade’s pickaxe strikes.
Each blow yields ore, but nothing remarkable.
The two press deeper into the branching path, finishing mining at the farthest excavation point.
Well... quantity over quality, quantity!
Maple says.
No... even I can't quite agree with that...
Kanade seems reluctant to agree.
Quality matters more than quantity when it comes to ore.
"Ah, the way back—how does that go?... Just walking aimlessly should get us out, right?"
"I’ve memorized every path. It’s fine."
"Wow, good job. Then... I’ll leave the wayfinding to you."
Kanade moved through the labyrinthine cave without hesitation. She reached the exit without once taking a wrong turn.
Sally and the others stood in the forest.
This was a battlefield. They collected drop items.
"Sally’s been rough, huh..."
Crom muttered quietly.
Before Crom, Sally danced aside from attacks with effortless grace.
Each evasion hovered on the edge of contact, yet never once was she struck.
"Wow... incredible... the aura..."
Sally spoke.
A pale blue aura spilled from her body.
She had slain monsters for Maple, sold their drop items, and gathered a large sum of gold.
The level rose at that moment.
And acquired a certain skill.
Sword Dance
Strength increases by 1% each time an attack is dodged.
One hundred percent
The upward value vanishes upon taking damage.
The condition was to reach level twenty-five without taking damage.
The pale blue aura is the result of this skill.
When dealing with Sally.
To bring it down, one must strike. But each strike only deepens the disadvantage.
Even so, Maple cannot pierce through.
“What… is Maple’s VIT value?”
Ask Maple. She might tell you.
Sally glances at Crom, just briefly.
Crom’s fighting style could be described as solid.
She blocks the attack firmly with her large shield, then strikes with her short blade to inflict damage.
Skilled with the great shield, deflecting attacks with precision.
She moved slowly, checking the battlefield to avoid being surrounded.
That is the true shieldbearer.
Yes...
PS did not possess Maple's flamboyance, yet it undoubtedly surpassed her.
Maple does not need to block attacks with a great shield as Crom does, and thus lacks skill in wielding one.
Her body is harder than her great shield.
More often than not, she lowers her great shield to leave room for ill-tasting food.
This guild is the minority—ordinary ones are few…
Maple, Sally, and Kanade are outliers.
Kasumi, Crom is a regular member.
Iz is on the edge of being an outlier in terms of production.
Crom returns from the battle unharmed. The three set out on the path home.
Am I becoming ordinary… just by being in this guild?
Perhaps I might become that too?
Perhaps she’ll be dyed in Maple’s hue.
It is uncertain whether she may truly rejoice.
Now it is Iz's turn to demonstrate her skill, using the materials each brought back.
The two groups meet outside the Town and enter together.
Five conspicuous figures.
Maple, naturally.
Crom and Kasumi, winners of the first event. Their gear is elaborate, drawing the eye.
Several people instinctively reach for their weapons upon seeing Sally.
Kanade repeatedly snaps a Rubik's Cube apart and rebuilds it, passing time.
It is no surprise that someone follows the five as they head toward the edge of the Town.