Defense specialization and second floor of the tower, six.

Apologies for the delay.

Maple and Sally stood after considering countermeasures.

"In the end, it was mostly about my skills, wasn't it?"

"Maple's skills suit the boss better than me... If I don't plan ahead, I'll definitely be defeated."

Maple is unaffected, but Sally is vulnerable to any attack.

Each of Maple's attack methods had to be considered.

"Maple, did you properly remove the black dagger and large shield?"

"Yeah, I did! If my poison resistance goes, I'll be done too..."

Maple removed the black dagger and large shield to prevent her skills from being stolen, and equipped the white dagger and large shield made by Iz.

The armor remained as-is, already stripped of its skills.

Defense had dropped below the initial plan, but there was no choice but to proceed this way, given the presence of the 【Venomous Spell】 and the need to avoid the 【Poison Dragon (Hydra)】.

The effect of 【Gluttony】 on Maple remained uncertain, so both opted for caution.

"I don't know how strong that boss is. Weakness?...Yeah, even if weakened, Maple's defense would still be stripped. Nothing we can do about that."

"I suppose. I hope it goes well..."

Maple stared at the door of the Boss Room, her expression uneasy.

"Then, Maple. I'll open it?"

"...Alright! Yes! Go ahead!"

Maple slapped her cheeks lightly to rouse herself, then gripped her shield tightly.

Sally flung the door open in one motion, and the two stepped inside.

Inside, the boss’s HP had fully restored. The first move resumed—calling forth the blade that emitted flame and the shadow that sealed skills.

“Won’t be using it from the start, it seems. Maple, when your skill gets taken, always check and tell me what was taken!”

“Yeah! Got it!”

Sally called out to Maple, moving as if to confirm.

Maple followed, stepping forward with quick, light steps.

“Same early stage—no problem!”

Sally reduced the boss’s HP exactly as before.

Maple stood in position to provide Sally with the Cover, doing nothing but using Provocation to draw the flame-emitting blade’s attention.

“Hmm… haven’t used proper Cover Move in a while. Should’ve reached at this distance… maybe get a little closer?”

Maple watched Sally as she adjusted her position slightly, observing where damage was being dealt. She checked her feet, determined not to let the seal take hold.

Sally pressed her attacks harder, aiming to reduce HP before her focus wavered. Her effort paid off. The boss’s skill page, previously stolen, opened.

“Maple!”

“Cover Move! Cover!”

Maple caught up to Sally, who had stepped back without missing the shift in action.

Immediately after, a bullet struck Maple’s body.

“Should’ve watched closely. All good now!”

Maple deflected the bullet with a loud crack, her body absorbing the impact.

“Seems so… Once taken, not often stolen again?”

That settled it. Sally pressed tightly against Maple’s back and advanced.

“Ugh… so much…”

“Last time we didn’t have time to look. The weaker monsters around us have vanished.”

“Ah, really! This makes things easier! Good… good…”

As they approached the boss, attacks began raining down from above. Maple raised her shield like an umbrella, shielding Sally.

“This… only someone like Maple could take this with their body.”

“Hmph, I’m fine with this kind of attack! No skills taken, no problem!”

“True. If nothing else is taken, let’s strike quickly.”

“I’ll keep up!”

“Yeah, please. Then… here we go!”

Sally darted away from Maple and launched her attack on the boss.

Though she had said it was impossible, Sally deflected the incoming projectiles with her dagger as if it were natural, then dashed forward.

Maple followed, shielding her as the boss’s durability decreased.

“Double Slash!”

The blue aura of Sword Dance scattered. The boss’s HP diminished sharply.

Sally avoids the bullets with skill, using multiple pillars of ice that stretch upward.

It was clear from Maple’s perspective that it had been practiced extensively.

...Sally!

I'm fine! I noticed!

The boss began using another skill in parallel, now that its HP had diminished.

The ground darkened. Two creatures slithered forth.

And, as if to mask it, the chain that had failed to react to the stolen skill once more bound Maple.

Uuu… as planned! As planned, I said!

Maple, predator—she went that way!

Maple had become the target. Bullets approached, and predators drew near.

One bit from leg to torso, its mouth wide open. The second clamped onto Maple’s head as if to swallow.

Maple flinched and closed her eyes, then slowly opened them upon realizing there was no damage.

"O-oh... So this is what's inside the mouth! We've fought together for a while, but I never knew...!"

Maple transmits the stolen skill to Sally without pause.

"【Cursed Toxin Spell】 and... 【Fortress】 and 【Love That Offers the Body】! And 【Absolute Defense】! But we'll be fine!"

Maple shouts toward Sally, unable to see ahead.

Sally replies that she's managing too. The sound of magic and the stretching of ice pillars reaches Maple’s ears.

"We can't stay here... Um, okay! Got it!"

Maple opens her inventory and pulls out bombs one after another.

The bombs fall to the ground. A chain reaction ignites when incoming bullets strike them.

"Whaddya think? Even without skills, I can attack!"

Maple smirks inside the monster’s mouth.

Within the burning flames, the chains severed, yet the two monsters that had repeatedly supported Maple still held her in their jaws.

……you can let me go now, right?

Not responding to Maple’s voice, but rather the release of their grip, the two monsters pulled away and moved toward Sally.

S-sorry, that’s not possible!

Maple, freed, scanned her surroundings. There, tiny books overflowed with flames, blades of wind, and stone projectiles flying through the air.

And from the books, white wings extended.

The boss’s attacks grew fiercer. Sally’s location was no longer clear to Maple.

Huh?

Maple glanced toward the boss, panic rising. The boss’s HP bar dropped sharply, then vanished. The boss exploded into light.

What—what was that!?

"Y-yeah... I'm... tired..."

From beyond the light, Sally stepped down onto the ground and sat there abruptly.

Maple hurried over, eyes wide.

"Did you... defeat it?"

"Yeah. With 【Love That Offers the Body】 taken, I managed to pull through. Glad we didn’t have to use healing."

"Ugh... I wanted to fight properly! Couldn’t see a thing—got bitten..."

"As the one who called you, I wanted to show you I could outshine you once in a while... I guess I was being selfish, not helping you when you were caught?"

Sally looked down, a faint hint of regret in her voice.

Maple paused, then suddenly lifted her face, as if struck by an idea.

"I see, I see! Then... I'll handle the first floor. On the third, we’ll see who finishes the boss!"

Maple says this, and Sally’s expression flickers with slight surprise.

……Hmm, can I really win?

Heh, if not, I’ll just beat you myself!

Maple says this, smiling with confidence.

Seeing this, Sally returns to her usual demeanor.

……Alright then, I won’t lose. Next time, I’ll support properly and defeat the boss!

Then, let’s go to the third floor already! Though “haste is the enemy of speed” doesn’t quite apply here.

It’s one of those “act on impulse” moments, I suppose. Let’s go!

Sally agrees. Maple immediately dashes toward the third floor.

……Alright, next time, I’ll stay calm and fight properly.

Sally reflects, then follows after Maple.

Before the two, upon reaching the third floor, lies a space noticeably wider than before—rough stone walls, and red-hot lava burning in the distance.

Another completely different feel, Sally.

That's right... Not just passage types, it seems. There are several paths here.

Shall we look at one at a time?

As Sally observed, Maple began to walk.

Then, from beneath her feet, lava erupted with a gurgle, searing her foot.

Her HP bar dimmed, just slightly.

““Ah…””

The two froze, utterly still.

Thanks to your support, the third volume has gone into a second printing.

Thank you.