Defense specialization and strongest four.

Apologies for the delay.

"Haha... well done, human."

The demon laughs, still seated.

It brushes dust from its body with a few light taps, then rises slowly.

"Follow me."

It begins to walk. Maple follows behind.

Stepping onto the magic circle the demon summoned, Maple returns to the chamber on the fourth floor.

"Well then, human. Keep your promise and take up my mantle. You came with that intention, didn't you?"

The demon’s hands glow. Two cups stained crimson appear.

It hands one to Maple, then pours liquid from a newly summoned large gourd into both cups—Maple’s and its own.

"I didn’t expect a human to inherit this. Demons’ wine is not for humans. You can’t drink it. But... at least the form remains."

"Yes, of course!"

When the demon and Maple finished drinking it, Maple received a notification of skill acquisition.

『Skill [Hundred Demon Night Parade I] acquired』

She listened for a moment, nodding occasionally, then the demon concluded the conversation.

"There are places you must go, countless of them. Come again anytime. I'll fight you until the day I die."

"I... don't want to fight again, but yes, I'll come back!"

Maple waved to the demon, exited the room, closed the sliding door, and stretched deeply.

"Phew... ugh... I'm done... I won't fight for a while..."

Maple had taken considerable damage during the battle. She had not lost, but she was worn thin.

She intended to avoid not only grueling battles, but even mild ones, for the time being.

That’s right, I should check the skill first. Um...

[One Hundred Demons, Night Procession I]

Summons the Red Demon and the Blue Demon for one minute.

The demon’s status depends on the skill level.

During this time, all skills held by the user are in a [Sealed] state. Equipment skills remain unaffected.

After confirming the current status of both demons, Maple noticed something.

"Um, there’s a one attached... the method of increasing it..."

Maple recalled one possible way.

The demon had said to her, *I’ll fight you until you die.*

Then there was only one way to raise the skill level.

Once more. Again. Over and over. There was no other way.

Maple thought so.

"Wow... if that’s true, then I’m fine with that..."

The words escaped her, dazed and unthinking. The feeling of not wanting to fight the demon again was clear in them.

Maple stepped out of the building and into the Town, stretching once more.

A memory surfaced from deep within her mind, as if the motion had refreshed her thoughts.

"……Can't go to the next layer!?!"

Maple’s clear, high-pitched cry echoed through the fourth layer of the Town.

Confused by why she could not advance to the fifth layer, Maple asked the players still lingering in the fourth layer.

"Ahh... misjudged. Misunderstood."

Maple sat on a bench installed in the Town, leaning back heavily against the backrest.

She realized.

The demon had not been a foe worth fighting.

" Fifth layer. What should I do now?"

Maple remained seated, too weary to fight today, when a group of six, including a familiar figure, approached from the central area of the Town.

"Frederica?"

"Mmm, Maple? What’s wrong?"

Frederica, who fought Sally regularly, had often spoken with Maple as a result.

She paused at the sound of Maple’s voice.

“I’m fine. Oh, Frederica—”

“Ah, I’m heading to the fifth layer with six others now. So—let’s play another time.”

“Ah… so you are?”

Maple stood slowly, speaking.

“I’d like to come along. I can protect everyone. That’s all I can do…”

She mentioned she could not use many skills.

“Hmm… hmm… Sure. There’s an open spot in the party.”

There was no reason for Frederica to refuse.

After all, she brought a sub-boss to defeat the main boss.

It was reassuring to know the group would be more stable.

“Then, thank you!”

Maple walks beside Frederica, moving forward.

But Maple's pace is truly that of a turtle—worse, even.

“Can’t help it, I’ll carry you.”

Frederica casts a buff upon herself, lifts Maple onto her back—white wings sprouting from Maple’s form—and accelerates into the dungeon.

“Uh-huh, defense’s on me… though I can’t do much else.”

“More than enough.”

Where Maple stands, an absolute protective domain forms.

The dangers of the journey vanish entirely.

Naturally, the seven reach the Boss Room without a single loss.

“Stay close—move forward!”

The group stands before Maple as they enter the Boss Room.

Maple’s Love That Offers the Body has been used repeatedly during the fourth event, known now to many players.

Since all attacks are rendered powerless regardless, proceed straight toward the boss.

And so, HP is chipped away, chipped away, pressing the great fox into retreat. If Frederica and the others are top-tier, with Maple's support, they would not lose so easily.

It’s faster now!

As Frederica said, the fox’s speed increased abruptly.

Unable to grasp, the attack swings wide.

The fox's health is barely above twenty percent, nearly gone, yet its attacks land scarcely at all.

Not quite like Sally...

Frederica mutters, continuing to fire magic.

It would strike true, but it would take time—this much was clear to all.

The fox leaps back. Frederica exhales.

Troublesome...!?

What was learned through fighting Sally.

Something like the instinct Dread had spoken of.

What reached Frederica was an unpleasant sensation from behind.

At the same moment she turned.

“[Hundred Demon Night Procession]”

Maple’s radiant golden hair darkened to black. Her wings dissolved into light.

In their place, flames surged forth.

Purple flames rising behind Maple.

Beyond them, a flood of demons. Two great demons standing on either side of Maple.

The Hundred Demon Night Procession, led by Maple. A line of nightmares.

“Go.”

The two great demons, wielding golden rods, leapt forward.

No space remained to dodge for the approaching fox.

Their massive forms met the fox’s bulk. The demon confronting it was equally massive.

Demons of lower status could not fell the fox in a single strike.

Still, they struck again and again. Three colossal figures, filling the entire floor.

Before the stunned eyes of Frederica and the others, a red flower bloomed.

Damage effects bloomed from the fox like spilling blood.

No matter how much evasion ability increased, there was no point if no space remained to avoid.

Attempting evasion in a place with no room to survive was meaningless.

Frederica and the others watched silently as the fox fell, its form collapsing—calm, as though enlightenment had come.