Defense specialization and skill acquisition.

A minor correction.

When Maple chose the extra quest route, she exited the temple and searched for the woman’s form.

The woman was nowhere to be found.

"Perhaps she returned earlier…?"

After searching around the temple for a while, Maple mounted Shiroppu and returned to town.

Upon arriving in town, Maple headed straight for the woman’s house.

"...What could it be?"

Maple quietly opened the door to the woman’s home.

The girl was asleep.

The troubled expression from before had vanished. Her face was calm.

"Sir… my daughter… she won’t wake…"

Maple approached the girl and looked closely. Only one thing was certain: the girl was not breathing.

"Wha… no… really? What?"

"I… I’ll go buy apples for my daughter… she likes apples…"

The woman stepped out, her gait unsteady.

She did not appear to accept the situation. She looked unnatural.

"Wha… wait! Wasn't the quest progressing!?!"

Maple checked the quest she currently held. After a moment, she noticed the girl’s body beginning to glow faintly.

Maple approached and stood beside her.

Observing, Maple realized something.

"Light… forming letters?"

Yellow light spilled from the girl, shaping words in the air.

"Three days from now… [Ruined Church]?"

As Maple read the words, the light from the girl faded and vanished.

"Should I go there…? But where…? There was a library in this town… perhaps I should look there?"

As if in exchange, Maple stepped out, replacing the returning woman.

Maple arrived at the library as scheduled.

Now then… there should be maps, right?

Maple searched for a book containing the map of the second layer.

She found several, but none contained detailed information.

At best, the terrain could be discerned.

Hmm… not what I expected…

Maple still had time. She decided to pause the game for today and ended her research.

The next day.

Maple exited the library after finishing her research.

History section… I must have missed it…

Maple discovered a small note about the church tucked in the corner of a book detailing the game’s history.

Three days from now… I don’t know what will happen. Maybe I should buy a potion.

With preparations complete, Maple headed to the church without fail three days later.

"Thanks to Shiroppu, it's comfortable!"

Praising Shiroppu, she heads south.

At the entrance to the forest to the south, she dismounts from Shiroppu and steps into the woods.

"Without anyone to guard it, it's easy enough."

Monsters appear at intervals, slamming into her armor with dull thuds.

They cannot harm Maple.

To Maple, they are no different than if they did not exist.

Yet, without Shiroppu, she would move so slowly she could not believe it—she arrives at the church after two hours.

"Hah… haven’t walked in a while…"

Exhausted by the contrast in comfort, Maple decides to walk through the woods once in a while.

Before her, finally, lies the ruined church.

"Good, let’s go in!"

The door has fallen off entirely. Inside, ivy and weeds have claimed the walls.

Maple walks through the center of the room lined with pews.

On the wall ahead, a large cross leans at an angle, still asserting its presence despite age.

Maple notices something sparkling on the floor directly beneath it.

"Is this...?"

The source of the light is a small glass vial filled with glowing gas.

Maple checks the vial’s information.

[Fragment of an Archangel]

"Th-this feels... intense..."

Maple carefully tucks the vial into her inventory, then hurries toward the girl as quickly as she can.

Maple gently opens the door to the woman’s house and steps inside.

"Sir... is something wrong?"

"I just wanted to try something."

Maple stands beside the sleeping girl, then removes the vial from her inventory and unscrews the cap.

At that moment, the girl’s body begins to glow brightly.

"Wah!?"

"Sir! Are you alright!?"

"Eh, d-don’t you see it!?"

The light pouring from the girl took shape once more, just as it had when forming letters—this time, a beautiful woman.

Maple stares at the woman who has appeared. She begins to speak.

"Thank you. You were about to take this child’s life."

"Y-yes… that’s right…"

"You have taken part of my power… now I can return…"

The light fades upward into the sky after those words.

At the same moment, the girl stirs and rises.

"…Mom…?"

"A—ah… yes…!"

The woman embraces the girl.

The girl does not seem to understand what has happened.

"Perhaps… it is settled?"

Maple does not fully grasp this ending, but accepts it, as the quest completion notification appears.

Maple quietly steps outside and checks the skill she has acquired.

"Love That Offers the Body… w-wait… what is this?"

Maple mutters while reviewing the skill details.

She turns and runs toward the guild home.

"Sally!"

"...What is it? You're in such a hurry."

"I need you to make a full set of gear... Can you do it?"

"Well... it's not impossible, but I'd like to know what kind of gear you want... Did something happen?"

"...I don't know myself, so could you come with me for a moment?"

"Really... what happened...?"

Maple leads Sally toward the field.

There, Maple activates her new skill.

Five days pass from that day.

When logged in, Izzy thinks in the workshop, crafting and refining prototypes until satisfied.

"No... this isn't right... the gear doesn't match...【That】...!"

Her voice echoes through the workshop.