Defense specialization and the sixth floor.

The two of them, having defeated the monster before them, let out a sigh as they picked up the materials scattered on the ground.

—Uuu… defense…

—Haa… incredibly hard…

The golem, a common monster from the cave with a gemstone body, could not be harmed by Maple’s attacks at all. The only way to defeat it was with Sally’s piercing defense skill.

Yet Maple had no effective counter to the defense provided by her own 【Love That Offers the Body】.

—Maple’s defense wasn’t broken, so we didn’t lose… but it’s just a pass-through, really.

Fighting it would only waste time. Even if the materials were valuable, the recovery efficiency was too poor. There was almost no reason to fight.

—If the boss is like that, it’ll be bad.

—Then I’ll push harder. I promised I’d do my best, even for the fifth floor.

Yeah, defense’s on me!

As the two move forward, a fork in the path appears.

And like it was waiting, a humanoid monster made of shimmering ore steps forth.

Three of them, shield and spear in hand, stand side by side, blocking the way as they advance.

We could dodge them… but what now?

Dodge, dodge! That one’s definitely got high defense!

Pushed by Maple, they dart down the side path.

Maple’s feet won’t outrun them… they don’t seem like the chasing type.

Phew. That’s a relief.

Let’s go as far as we can—carefully, avoiding combat.

Got it! Hope we don’t run into more monsters…

But Maple’s wish is unheeded. At every fork, a monster emerges from one side.

Perhaps the monsters are the correct path? Hmm. But no decisive sign.

What should we do? Fight again and go that way?

The branches are clearly marked on the map. It’s fine. Either way, we’ll end up lost. Let’s keep going until we hit a wall, then backtrack and reassess.

Yeah, got it!

Maple and Sally chose a route to avoid combat, pressing deep into the dungeon. They advanced steadily, until they reached a large chamber at last.

Not the Boss Room… probably not.

The passage still leads further in. It’s not that. But something will emerge. Stay alert.

Yeah. Sally, stay behind.

The moment Maple stepped into the room, a sharp *crack* echoed from behind. The wall, made of the same ore as the monsters, sealed off the exit.

At the same instant, stone rose from the floor of the great chamber—identical to the walls—and sprouted countless monsters.

"Uwaa, Monster House!"

"Eh? Eh!? What's going on?!"

"Whatever, this is bad! We can't fight them one by one...!"

Some monsters looked unlike any she had seen before. Sally, wary of piercing attacks, pulled Maple back toward the narrow stretch of passage still left open.

"Um, better if the attacks don't reach us, right?"

"I'd like to, but—"

As if in reply, Maple extended a burst of wool from her body. It stretched to the edge of the narrow passage, forming another wall.

Maple popped her head out, speaking to Sally between the wool wall and the stone wall.

"Back there’s being shoved hard, but this side’s fine!"

"Phew... okay. Then I can manage this. I’ll go in, Maple. It’ll take time, but we’ll handle them one at a time."

"Please, please, welcome!"

"Yes yes, I’m intruding."

Sally shifted through the wool, her face appearing from the other side. She struck at the monster, unseen until now, one after another.

With no risk of piercing attacks, there was nothing to fear.

"Can't burn me if it's not a person. Strong, isn't it?"

"Fluffy iron wall guard, that's me!"

"Contradiction... doesn't exist."

And so, as Maple fought, speaking casually between strikes, the kind of battle unique to her unfolded.