Defense specialization and pursuit.

Several days after Maple revealed her tentacles, the three who had not yet allied with a monster sat in the guild home, considering which creature to recruit.

I tend to fill in gaps for everyone. Not a specialist, but someone versatile. I have someone in mind, though.

Healing ability would suit me well. We have no healer here, and—well, my quest progress is uncertain for now. It depends on that.

I’m only looking for a production-type monster. I’m certain they’ll be prepared separately from combat types. The information should be available soon.

She wishes to meet monsters that allow each of them to utilize their individual strengths. Yet such beings would likely number only a few. Moreover, since the guilds competing in the event are the Gathering Holy Sword or the Flame Emperor’s Nation, it would be better to have potential sufficient to oppose them. That makes the search for companions all the more difficult.

"Once the search is done, we’ll move more easily as a group. Well then, let’s finish it today!"

Crom rises. Since their goals differ, they must act separately. It will take more time to traverse the Seventh Layer together.

"Be safe. I shall go see the Town."

"I suppose I’ll do the same. There might be quests."

The three depart the guild home, each with their own purpose.

"Still… I don’t have a destination in mind."

Kanade walks alone through the wide town, step by step. She checks for changes in the town’s appearance first. She remembers every face of every NPC she has passed while exploring. No need to examine each one individually. By comparing known information—where quests are, where NPCs are—with the current state of the town, any unfamiliar face becomes clear immediately.

Another day, another routine survey.

……Wait?

As Kanade walks, humming a tune she knows will yield no results, she catches sight of a man at the edge of her vision.

A store-bought mantle, longsword, buckler, light armor. An NPC like any other.

But Kanade does not recognize the figure. In her world, such a common man appears markedly out of place.

Perhaps I’ll follow him. Nothing else to do anyway.

Kanade stops circling the Town and follows the man. The man does nothing, walking in slow circles through the Town. Kanade follows without pause, step by step.

After a while, the man alters his route slightly, turning toward a quiet alley, then enters a house.

Kanade follows and opens the house door.

"Not here…?"

He should not have vanished. Something must have happened.

"Been logging in quite often lately… didn't think it'd be a wasted effort…"

The possibility remains that she simply missed him. Kanade searches the room for a time. Nothing. She sits on the chair built into the room.

"Phew. Thought there'd be something."

Kanade rises from the chair and reaches for the door handle to leave.

"…………Nothing at all."

Kanade murmured and stepped outside.

"Ah, well."

A moment later, she entered the room again. There was reason behind the unease. Kanade would not leave this house until she understood.

"Ah… hm."

The interior, as before, stretched out unchanged. Table, chair, bed, bookshelf.

Yet Kanade could not miss that one book had shifted position.

"Here it is."

When Kanade touched the book, it faded smoothly into transparency and fled from her hand at blinding speed.

"Found it at last. Even the town’s library holds useful information."

The monster Kanade sought was a slime that mimicked objects perfectly.

The moment Kanade found it, the quest activated.

"Mirror Image, huh. Not bad."

Kanade accepted the quest without hesitation and stepped out of the house, walking toward the field.

The destination was already known. A cave lined with massive crystals that formed mirror-like surfaces, reflecting the body perfectly, as promised.

"Then, it should be enough if it matches the ability I’m thinking of."

She had not fought much recently, so her magical tome reserves were fully replenished.

She would clear it swiftly. Kanade moved toward her destination.