Defensive specialization and the silent forest.

They ascended the stairs with caution. Nothing occurred. They reached the summit.

The broad tree branch was wide enough for both to stand upon.

A refreshing breeze passed through. The rustling of leaves echoed.

In the calm green and wind, a green magic circle glowed at the tip of a single branch.

"Shall we proceed?"

"Yes. Naturally."

They walked along the branch, tapping softly. The magic circle shimmered as they approached, glowing brightly. It beckoned.

Maple touched the circle. Her body was enveloped in green light and vanished.

Pain followed behind. They stepped down onto another place. Opened their eyes.

The forest was utterly silent. Utterly still.

Trees stood in rows. Leaves, deep green.

A bright red fruit glowed in the thicket. Above, the sky stretched high and blue.

Yet not a sound stirred in the vibrant forest. No chirping of birds. No rustling of leaves. Not even the tread of their feet.

“Where is this...?”

Maple whispered, the only voice in this place.

“MP increase skill, perhaps? Just what we need.”

Pain began explaining what they might gain here, though Maple barely understood.

“I see. Since we’re here, I’ll do my best!”

“Good. Let’s go.”

Pain moved forward through the silent woods, glancing at a map he already held in hand. He checked it now and then. No sound. Only steps.

“Stay close. Wander off the path, and monsters appear.”

Maple followed closely behind Pain.

Pain began speaking of the boss monster ahead.

Maple listened carefully to the words, preparing herself to defeat the boss more easily.

In silence, the two reached their destination without a single monster’s cry echoing through the forest.

A clearing where leaves danced in the wind. Beyond it stood a single stump, about a meter in diameter.

“The boss should arrive soon.”

“Eh!? Yes!”

Maple fumbled with her large shield, drawing her sword.

At that moment, green light coalesced upon the stump. Then, as if tearing through it, a humanoid figure formed entirely of wood emerged.

The creature stood about 160 centimeters tall, wearing a hat woven from ivy and leaves.

In its right hand, it held a simple wooden staff, wrapped with ivy bearing flowers.

Before the two could strike, the boss raised its staff. Leaves burst upward, swirling toward them.

Pain slips past the leaf and strikes the boss, but Maple cannot do the same.

Speed was insufficient to avoid it, despite prior knowledge.

“Kyaa!”

Leaves of the tree surround Maple.

The effect swapped the current equipment with random gear from the inventory, locking the change until combat ended.

“…?”

Maple opened her eyes, the leaves having vanished, and the first thing she saw was a familiar, blinding white armor.

Unlike Pain, Maple’s inventory holds little in the way of equipment.

The adornments were in utter disarray. A crown fashioned from jungle-found materials rested upon her head. The rest amounted to little more than auxiliary gear.

“Nn, alright!”

Maple drew her dagger and stood beside Pain, who had already begun attacking the boss ahead of her.

Love That Offers the Body!

Maple intercepts the wind blades flying toward Pain. They lose their force and do not wound her.

If Maple bears the shield, Pain may focus solely on the spear.

Golden hair. Blue eyes.

The two clad in pure white armor resemble siblings.

The knight, protected by compassion, without mercy, slices through the monster’s limbs with a radiant sword.

The highest-tier attack power strips its HP without pause.

"Short-term decisive strike—now!"

Pain swings the blade with momentum.

The wooden wall created by the boss, the vine armor—both are cleaved through. Pain advances straight ahead.

Maple remains an unbroken shield, guarding without break.

The wind blades the boss hurls, the vortex of leaves—they are deflected. Pain crushes them straight ahead.

The two knew this boss monster was not an opponent one could defeat alone.

The boss monster’s wooden body crumbled into rotten timber, falling apart in pieces.

Pain immediately checked her skill set. Maple returned her gear to its original state.

Then, reaching for the inventory to restore HP using Love That Offers the Body, she fumbled for a potion—only then remembering.

“Ahh! Can’t heal with it!”

The habitual motion had already begun. A reflex.

Maple announced her failure aloud, without restraint. Pain watched.

From the look of her now, how easily victory might seem, Pain thought.