Defense specialization, and onward to the fifth layer.

The posting pace should slow down slightly soon. Not yet, but just a little longer…

Seven of them—Sally and the others—advanced toward the dungeon, cutting down monsters as they went.

Crom took the attacks; Yui and Mai only needed to strike.

Aside from the fact that their movement speed had dropped to the minimum due to Maple’s absence, the party was complete without complaint.

“O, I see it now.”

Crom, who had taken the brunt of monster attacks in battle, pointed ahead. A cave mouth yawned open.

“Shall we clear it quickly?”

Kanade spun a bookshelf above her head as she spoke.

“Right, let’s go.”

Without pause, the seven entered the dungeon.

The dungeon teemed with monsters that nullified physical attacks and others that greatly reduced them.

Reduced-damage monsters could kill Yui or Mai in one strike, but those that nullify attacks could not be bypassed. So Kanade and Crom took turns attacking, progressing through the dungeon.

All except Izu, who avoided combat, had grown accustomed to fighting monsters resistant to physical damage, from repeated exploration of the fourth layer.

Flame attacks from the familiar humanoid-type monsters of the normal field were blocked by Crom’s swift guard, then dispatched by Kanade.

When damage was taken, Izu immediately restored them with an item.

Weak enemies with mere resistance were irrelevant.

Even an incomplete party like this one could not be threatened by the swarm of common monsters in the dungeon. It was expected.

Sally’s advance continued. No difficulty reached the Boss Room.

“Then, I’ll open it.”

Sally turned and spoke. All nodded in silence, adjusting their gear.

The door burst open. All surged inside.

At the far end of the room stood a large fox with nine tails. Its yellow fur shimmered, tails swaying gently.

"Everyone—execute the plan!"

Sally’s command split them apart.

Sally dashed left and forward. Kasumi, with Kanade beside her, moved right and forward.

The remaining four waited at the entrance, Crom leading.

Sally and Kasumi activated items passed from Izu as they ran.

Crushing the yellow crystal in their hands, crackling yellow light split across both weapons.

The plan relied on crystals that induced paralysis in weapons for a set duration—enough to immobilize the swift fox.

"Look this way—!"

Sally cuts at the fox’s front paw to draw its attention. The fox attacks with bites, claw strikes, and a sweeping tail swipe. Sally evades using the newly acquired Ice Spire, countering with precision.

As Sally dodges, Kasumi and Kanade gain freedom to move.

“Paralyze Bomb!”

“Four-Step Slash: Cyclone!”

Kanade’s spell induces paralysis. Kasumi’s four-hit strike imbued with paralysis.

Sally continues to draw the fox’s focus with damage, so after a moment, the fox’s movements halt—temporarily immobilized by paralysis.

Paralysis weakens with each recurrence. This window of opportunity occurs only once.

But with Yui and Mai present, one chance is enough.

The ultimate weapon, shielded by Crom from the shockwave of attack, advances straight toward the fox.

Each step is a countdown closer to death.

"Double Stamp!"

The twin strikes, delivered from the long reach of the great mace, bury the fox’s movements without regard.

What two can create is always disregarded. What the absent guildmaster would do is to examine every detail, then crush each one with care.

Seven days after the group safely advanced to the fifth floor, Maple arrives at the fourth floor guild home. Only Sally is there.

"Everyone’s already at the fifth floor?"

"Yeah, shall I help? If you’re going, we don’t have much time—want to go as fast as possible?"

Maple accepts Sally’s concern with quiet gratitude. She signals she can log out, if needed.

“Ah… last thing… how was it? Strong?”

“Hmm… well, among the monsters that appear at this level, it’s probably the strongest.”

“The strongest… wait, really!? So, Sally, you fought it alone?”

“…? No, seven of us went. But Maple could’ve handled it alone, I suppose…”

“I see, I see. So you’ve gotten that good, huh.”

Maple’s expression brightened, as if lifted by those words.

“Well… yeah. Sorry I couldn’t keep you company. If I hadn’t had plans…”

“It’s fine, it’s fine! I’m sure you’ll be fine. You said Sally could do it, and I’ve just started being able to go myself.”

She said that, then bid Sally farewell and left the guild.

“Wanted to go right after the flu cleared up, huh? Hmm… well, no matter. No time to waste!”

Sally hurried to log out, not wanting to be late for her real-world errands.

Maple runs straight toward her destination. She has plenty of drive—everyone ahead has already gone, and she must catch up quickly.

"Alright, here we go…."

She takes one deep breath, then steps into the room.

"Ta~ mo~ ou!"

"Oh…? I didn’t expect a human to come here."

The tall, pale-white demon answers Maple’s words.

Maple now faces the strongest of the four layers.

"Fufufu, I’ll be heading to the fifth layer!"

Maple declares cheerfully to the demon.