Defense specialization and second floor of the tower.
Maple and the others move through the wide library.
The library, tangled like a maze, presents the same view in every direction. It is impossible to tell if they are progressing inward.
Maple changes her equipment, as if to shift her mood, now wearing the green dress she acquired in the sixth-floor mansion.
“How large is this place?”
“Hmm… we’ve come far, but… ah, we’re back here again.”
Sally calls out to Maple, having noticed several books flying from the dark corridor ahead.
Maple does not speak. She raises her weapon.
“Fufu—[Attack Initiated][Poltergeist]!”
As Maple speaks, the laser fires, sharply adjusting its trajectory to follow the motion of her hand, chasing the books and burning them to ash.
The tower, high in difficulty, does not fall quickly. Yet one of the multiple lasers strikes true, chipping away at her HP.
The narrow corridor suits Maple perfectly.
"Ooh... getting better... but slightly off."
"It's simple—just move them one by one. Like swinging a sword!"
Maple demonstrates, waving her hand back and forth.
Books flying straight ahead lose HP steadily. Then vanish, dissolving into light.
"Ranged attacks—impressive. Strange, yet... strange."
"But this attack deals little damage. I’m still clumsy. Too slow for fast enemies."
"Still, that’s just practice. It should hit easily enough."
"True... has everything vanished now?"
Maple narrows her eyes, staring down the corridor’s far end.
Sally checks as well, confirming nothing remains.
"Uh-huh, perfect."
"Alright then, let's go!"
They advance further, kicking aside books that appear intermittently.
At every turn, Sally carefully checks ahead, avoiding combat whenever possible.
"Alright, Maple. Maple?"
"How do I look? Smart?"
Sally turns toward Maple, who now wears glasses taken from her inventory, one thick book held in her hand.
A single book is missing from the bookshelf forming the wall.
"...What if that hadn’t been said?"
"Ugh... really? Hmm, I see."
Maple murmurs, flipping through the removed book.
Sally steps close and peers over her shoulder.
"Blank? Nothing written at all..."
"Should we write something? Ah—!?"
As Maple speaks, the book flares with light and vanishes from her hand.
Then, after a moment, it reappears quietly at the place it had been.
"Can't take it with us... Too bad."
"Would be dangerous if someone misused it, wouldn't it? Right?"
Sally stares at Maple, her gaze steady.
Maple notices the weight of that look, and looks away.
"Like... well, sometimes strange things happen. Hmm... I'm being targeted, but not really. I mean... not really targeted?"
"Indeed. Yes, indeed."
Sally nods slowly, reviewing Maple’s actions and their outcomes, satisfied.
Targeted, but not targeted.
That was true.
"Ah— sorry, sorry! Um, should we move on now?"
"Ah, yes. Right. No signs of enemies so far. But... it gets a little darker from here. Be careful."
They discussed it briefly. Maple would hold the light.
She was suited for it. If she chose, she could add more shields or weapons.
Maple withdrew a lantern from her inventory and illuminated the passage.
"Sally? This light… weaker than usual?"
"...Perhaps it's a place like this. I don't know... then, 【Fireball】!"
Sally cast her spell. A smaller fireball than normal shot through the corridor.
"Some magic or skills seem weakened. Light, flame—maybe? Maple, your offense should be fine, right?"
Sally spoke while recalling Maple's abilities.
Maple's skills were based on light or darkness. Her offensive abilities bore names that were not bright.
"Come to think of it... 【Love That Offers the Body】 seems unchanged. Why is that?"
Maple’s 【Love That Offers the Body】, which she had been using since entering the second floor, showed no change in appearance.
Perhaps it will shift if she advances further. She should avoid taking damage for now.
She can do it, can’t she?
Of course. So be sure to block area attacks with that shield.
Leave it to me!
The two moved forward through the dim passage with even greater caution, eliminating danger wherever possible.