Defense specialization and information gathering.

While Izu fought the lizard, Maple returned to the guild home, passing by in the opposite direction.

“Hmm… I’m back… but nothing to do. Maybe a bit of aerial walking?”

As Maple considered her next move, Sally appeared from the entrance, and Yui and Mai emerged from deeper within.

“Hey! How about all of us going on an aerial walk together? What do you think?”

“That… sounds good. Yeah, okay.”

““We’ll come too!””

All three agreed readily, and the four set out together.

Yui and Mai chose to ride atop Shiroppu, so Sally did the same. Yui and Mai seemed to prefer Shiroppu over machines.

Sally nodded to herself—likely sharing Maple’s outlook, given their shared affinity for such things.

“Everyone aboard? Let’s go!”

After confirming all three were mounted, Maple lifted Shiroppu into the air and ascended.

Where were you going, Maple?

Hmm… to the gods’ place.

“““Wait… what?!””

Their thoughts freeze, far beyond any expectation.

Sally speaks first.

What did you obtain?

Sally’s voice holds certainty. Maple considers, then replies.

Hmm… too conspicuous if used fully. Just a little. [Deploy, Left Hand]

Once disassembled, the equipment can generate weapons a set number of times.

From Maple’s left hand, numerous firearms unfold.

Uwah… really?

They fire. I just won’t.

S-Super impressive…

Maple stows the weapons before others see.

Rely on me during guild combat.

Leave it to me! I’ll work hard for the third event too! Yui, Mai—work hard as well!

“Y-Yes!”

"Still, they’re moving together with Maple. They’d likely want the Love That Offers the Body, wouldn’t they?"

"They’re already knocking monsters down with just a single hit, right?"

"Yes! We’re practicing double-wielding too!"

They spoke with lightness in their voices. Freed from their previous half-hearted attacks, they now struck with certainty—any hit meant death.

With their increased number of strikes, swinging the large maul was enough to crush monsters effortlessly.

After leveling up, deaths became rare. The game grew enjoyable.

"…Hmm. Maple. There’s a lake beneath us."

"Oh? Let’s go check it out?"

Yui and Mai nodded in agreement. They descended, lowering their altitude to the lake’s edge.

The four sat down, splashing their hands in the water. In reality, it would be cool, refreshing.

What will the guild battle feel like?

If there’s time acceleration, it must last more than a day… well then.

Sally stood slowly, speaking.

Is something wrong?

Did you find something?

Yes. One player is following us.

Sally walked forward, peering into the shadow behind a rock.

There, a player with golden hair in a ponytail stood. Frederica.

Ah… I was caught…

Following us? Why?

Maple tilted her head.

Yui and Mai looked equally confused.

Well, gathering intel for the guild battle, most likely. We have few members, so information leaks from within are rare.

More members mean harder to manage. Large guilds inevitably have someone slip up and reveal details.

"There's something I'd like to discuss with you, the one tailing me."

"W-what is it?"

Sally leaned in, whispering.

"【Gathering Holy Sword】... If you have information on 【Imperial Flame Nation】, will you hand it over?"

【Gathering Holy Sword】 was Pain's guild. That meant it was Frederica's guild.

Frederica stepped back slightly.

"Why would I have to do something like that?"

"If you hand it over, I'll let you duel me. You want my information, don't you? You can glean it during combat. Or… if you defeat me, I'll answer any single question you ask about me."

Frederica lowered her head, pausing to think.

【Duel】 was a PvP contest with defined rules.

As Sally said, information on Sally was uncertain and scarce.

In that light, Frederica concluded she should not pass up the chance to test direct combat ability.

Moreover, by leaking information about the Flame Emperor’s Realm, she risked pitting the Maple Tree and the Flame Emperor’s Realm against each other.

If that happened, she could weaken both factions at once.

Simply releasing information would achieve her goal.

Even if Sally refused the duel and fled with the data, it would not matter.

“Hmm, I’ll accept! I only know information about the Flame Emperor’s Realm—so I’ll tell you that.”

Frederica relayed every detail she knew about the Flame Emperor’s Realm, without falsehood.

She needed Sally to confront her directly, to crush her utterly.

Among the information, some was valuable.

“Huh… a Tracker, huh. Never heard of that player before.”

Then, as promised, I’m counting on you.

Frederica said it, though she doubted it would be accepted.

Sally thought it best to flee right here.

Yes, application submitted.

Huh... Ah, yes, of course.

Frederica accepted the application, bewildered.

The rule: transfer to a separate space and fight until HP reaches zero—deathmatch.

The two figures standing before the magic circle vanished.

Maple, left behind, naturally startled.

W-where did they go!?

Maple-san! M-maybe that was a duel! Such a system should exist!

I-is that true?

Yui said they would return once the outcome was decided. The three of them decided to wait, fishing.

Though, for a trio so obsessed with precision, fishing was utterly unsuitable.

The two who had transferred arrived in a perfectly flat arena. Frederica began speaking immediately.

"Tell me anything, if I win, right?"

"Of course. Not lying."

Frederica stared into Sally’s eyes. No trace of deceit was present.

Unsure of Sally’s intent, Frederica concealed her strength and studied her instead.

She planned to strike, if she seemed vulnerable.

"Ten seconds. Begin."

"Understood."

Precisely ten seconds later, the duel began.