Defense specialization and recent developments.
A review on current skill acquisition and direction.
On a certain day, Iz and Kanade were discussing within the guild home.
"We'll likely serve as support for those four."
Iz focuses on support beyond combat.
Kanade is a valuable rear guard.
"I tried learning offensive magic, but since it felt unnecessary, I've shifted direction a little."
Before Kanade can attack, the front-line four already defeat the monsters. Kanade reaches only for skills that boost allies' stats or healing magic.
"My staff is mine alone. I can learn skills no one else can."
Kanade can master more varieties of magic than Sally can.
That is Kanade's distinctiveness within this guild.
"Strengthening those four will have them defeat enemies without fail."
"Yes. Truly dependable... Ah, and Kanade’s gear is ready as well."
"I summoned you for this today," Iz says.
Kanade has added only minor upgrades to her initial equipment. Her appearance remains nearly unchanged since the second event.
Iz hands the crafted gear to Kanade.
A crimson cap, matching the color of her hair.
The rest is predominantly black and red, resembling everyday clothing more than armor.
These items incorporate Maple’s wool as a material.
All pieces grant enhancements to 【INT】 and 【MP】, making this gear alone a significant boost for Kanade.
"Armor doesn’t suit me," Kanade says, slipping on the gear.
She exits the guild hall.
On this day, Kanade heads toward obtaining the 【Magic Barrier】 skill.
Within the guild, Kanade now acquires skills more rapidly than anyone else.
Kanade must be defeated, or support and healing will cease.
Yet in some cases, defeating Kanade requires defeating Maple in her Archangel state.
And Maple’s 【VIT】 is enhanced by Kanade.
Her HP, when depleted, can be restored.
The day may soon come when avoiding battle with Maple and the others becomes common sense.
Or perhaps it has already arrived.
Elsewhere, at the edge of the second floor.
Sally stood within the forest there.
“Phew… I’ve taken no damage this far… but I should begin preparing for when I do.”
In recent days, Sally had already acquired several skills.
Still, she lacked many more skills needed to reach her ideal.
“Hinata must level up too.”
As she walked through the forest, monsters appeared one after another.
Sally focused on evasion this time, lightly injuring monsters before dispatching them with Ling’s aid, steadily increasing her level.
After fighting for some time, Ling’s level rose.
“Phew… checking… oh?”
Sally smiled brightly upon confirming Ling’s skills, then stroked Ling gently.
“This might not even need preparation for damage taken.”
Sally paused her leveling, then turned and headed back toward Town.
Crom stood in the second layer of the desert.
“This is bad… I don’t feel like dying.”
He blocked a monster’s attack with his great shield, then swung his cleaver.
His HP restored rapidly just from fighting, and he could heal further with Battle Healing.
If his HP dropped too low, he could always use Spirit Light.
Crom brought down the final monster and sheathed his weapon.
Maple’s gear is undoubtedly part of the Unique Series. The great shield and short blade are certain to have skills attached. Only the armor is missing.
For Crom, 【Unbreakable】 was welcome.
No maintenance required.
Maple’s gear probably has 【Unbreakable】 too.
Crom did not know it possessed a skill far more terrifying than that.
Let’s hunt a little longer.
Crom, now able to fight solo safely with the great shield, continued the battle.
Great shield users of 【Maple Tree】 are neither common nor ordinary.
The great shield class does not inherently combine attack and defense.
Kasumi was also in combat.
Kasumi was the player within 【Maple Tree】 who delivered the most consistently stable damage output.
Sally wielded a short sword, Crom and Maple carried short blades—making them the most reach and power in the front line.
Indeed, their 【STR】 was highest among the members, and 【AGI】 was also above average.
Though defense stats remained uncertain, that doubt was resolved by the archangel Maple.
Truly, overwhelming stability.
"Then... perhaps it's time to return."
Kasumi noticed a message had arrived.
"From Maple? Hmm..."
It was stated plainly.
From the second layer of Town, due west.
Come to shear the wool.
I’d appreciate it if you could hurry.
"Hm? Well then, I’ll go."
Kasumi set off toward where Maple was.
Ten minutes back.
Maple had journeyed west to test her wool-growing skill.
"【Fleece】!"
At just the right spot, Maple spoke, and the view was instantly obscured by a thick, fluffy mass of wool.
"Still, can't regulate the amount that grows... hmm... hmm! Got it!"
Maple shifts her body diagonally downward from the center, thrusting her head out from the wool.
She extends her limbs the same way.
"Can I move like this?"
Movement serves no purpose.
Yet, by seeing a monster attack her directly while in this state, she noticed something.
"Could this wool be reflecting my defense stat too?"
Exactly so.
While growing from her body, the wool is part of her body, and thus inherits her stats.
"Staying inside the wool makes me strong—unless someone uses 【Shear】 on me?"
She considered various uses, but none came to mind. Then she realized.
"Oh! I can't do this alone!?"
Players, having noticed the strange woolen mass, were approaching from afar.
To remain thus was to be exposed as a quadruped.
Maple hastily contacted Kasumi.
"R-return, return!"
Maple hurried back toward the center of the wool, forcing poison outward to keep players at bay.
"Ahh!? Kasumi can't approach either!"
There was no undoing it.
The voices from outside grew louder, but no one could perform 【Shearing】 due to the poison.
After some time, the poison faded. When Kasumi collected it, Maple’s identity became known. The incident was discussed again on the bulletin board, as yet another inexplicable act.