Defense specialization and the valley.

After a while, Kasumi’s body returned to normal. She went back to the fourth layer and headed to report the destruction.

“Huh… not bad. I see, I see. Let’s continue. It was something that happened in a distant valley… no one knows how many times we searched to confirm the rumor’s truth… but somehow, a mist had formed. In that mist, I saw two red lights.”

The frog stopped speaking there.

“What’s wrong?”

Kasumi asked, surprised. The frog chuckled lightly and changed tone.

“Kekke… I don’t remember anything beyond that. I just realized I’d run back, and somehow ended up here.”

Hearing this, Kasumi sighed and let her shoulders drop, thinking there was nothing more to learn. A single piece of paper was then handed to her.

It was a simple map. A red cross marked the place believed to be the destination.

“If you’re so certain, see for yourself. But don’t blame me if you die.”

The frog said nothing more and began drinking.

Kasumi was certain now there was no further information. She studied the map closely, searching for the next destination.

“This… where is this? A mountain… a forest… a spring? If this mark is a valley… then…”

She displayed the maps of each layer, comparing the terrain with the simple map.

At one location, the terrain matched perfectly.

“…The valley in the Seventh Layer!”

She had been there before. Back then, there were no high-experience monsters, nor any worth joining as allies. She had left without further exploration.

“This must be the signal.”

She tightened her resolve. The real task had begun. Kasumi turned back toward the Seventh Layer—the front line.

A quest that concludes in the Seventh Layer—there is hope in that.

Fatigue overtook anticipation. Kasumi moved forward without pause, heading straight for the valley marked on the map.

……Still unchanged?

The valley was deep, wide. At the bottom, after a careful descent down the cliff, a thick forest lay visible. Yet it looked the same as when Kasumi had been there before. No mist like a veil. Clear view of the trees at the valley’s base.

There is no choice but to descend.

She spoke, then descended the cliff with light, practiced steps. No difficulty. She reached the valley floor without incident.

Still no monsters to be found…

The forest was utterly still. Not a trace of monsters. Not even the sound of birdsong or the rustle of leaves.

Only one course remains—search without direction.

The simple map given by the frog revealed the valley as the destination, but not its precise location.

With only the information she currently held, there was nothing to do but search the forest methodically, using the roller strategy.

Something must change.

No quest completion notification appeared. She walked in circles, certain the valley must hold something, yet found nothing extraordinary. Time passed.

Every direction led only into deeper forest. No sign of anything, as before.

…Perhaps she had come to the wrong place. Could she have missed something…?

She continued searching for a while longer, but the expected change did not come.

Without change, fatigue set in. Her pace slowed.

Fuu… Today is over…? Hmm?

She closed her eyes, surrendering to exhaustion, her gaze lowered for a breath. Then, lifting her face as if to log out, she found before her a forest wrapped in thick fog.

“This… good!…?!”

Her moment of relief was brief. A terrible killing intent flared behind her. She instinctively reached for her blade and turned.

Two crimson lights flickered in the deep fog, where even a step ahead was invisible.

“Can’t move! Paralysis!?”

The lights drew closer. Her body remained utterly still.

Then she understood. They were not light. They were eyes.

Red eyes. The sound of something crawling through the silent woods. White scales blending into the dense mist.

The last thing Kasumi saw was a serpent far larger than herself, jaws wide open in a silent, gaping maw.

She closes her eyes with resignation, then opens them again after a moment. As expected, Kasumi has returned to the Town in the Seventh Layer.

…Truly, a serpent appeared. Now, what to do?

Not fear. Something unmistakably akin to a debuff has rendered her immobile. Yet the log shows no such status.

Not paralysis, then? Can nothing be done? Even if she tries something…

Kasumi’s expression darkens. The conditions for encountering it are unclear. Every failed attempt forces a restart.

This will be a difficult path to conquer.

But a white serpent… Ah. Yes. Good.

Her earlier frown vanishes. Nodding as though she has found something worthwhile, Kasumi looks remarkably pleased.