Defense specialization and revelation.

After the battle, Izu moves away to collect dropped items. Mii approaches Maple.

"Wha—wait! What was that just now!"

"Hehe, I said I had something I wanted to show you, didn't I?"

"Well, yeah, but—don’t you think that’s a bit much? Not like that!"

To Mii, it looks as though Maple has just acquired a new, extremely powerful attack. In truth, nothing has changed from before. The change in appearance is so sudden, she fails to notice.

"I wanted to test it on the boss. Could this become a finishing move?"

"It could, it could. I was starting to think we’d run out of firepower, but that’s not the case after all."

"You showed me Ignis. I wanted to show you something too."

Maple smiles innocently. Mii’s lips curl in response.

The next guild battle is coming. I’ll need to plan for Maple—attack, and defense, of course.

Fufufu, I’ll face it head-on! Everyone’s gotten so strong, too.

That’s true… I can feel it.

Mii glances briefly toward Iz. She had thought there might be a powerful buffer among the 【Maple Tree】 members, but she revises that thought.

Just then, as they speak, Iz finishes gathering materials. The three decide to exit the dungeon.

Next?

Eggs from the cliff-dwelling monsters, ice flowers from the snowy mountains… coral from beneath the sea, venom from scorpions… and furs, too.

She lists the needed materials. Maple’s eyes widen at the sheer quantity.

That sounds exhausting… What kind of item are we making?

None of them are practical. A potion made through alchemy, a sword forged through smithing, and a garment crafted through tailoring.

It is difficult to carry it through to completion without maximizing all production capacity. As Iz said, even if it is medicine or a sword, the finished item is exclusive to the event and unusable elsewhere.

There is nothing for it but to gather slowly. One day will not be enough, even for this.

I will always lend my aid.

Ah, if the timing aligns, you may call me without hesitation. Then, if Ignis is present, we shall proceed from a more convenient place.

Yes, that would be helpful! Then... perhaps the cliffside?

Understood. Leave it to me.

Miyu turned sharply at Ignis's command and moved toward the cliffside.

Iz would spend several days traveling far and wide to gather materials. During that time, another member was moving from place to place, searching for companions. That one was Crom.

Next this way... huh, long indeed.

Crom unfolds the map he acquired as an item. Not merely a map, but one that bears the look of a treasure chart.

This is the quest Crom has been pursuing. From the map found during dungeon exploration, to another map obtained as a rare drop within a designated dungeon—so far, he has already explored over ten locations marked on the maps.

Along the way, he has acquired several items meant for resale, but no monsters have yet appeared that might be recruited as companions.

The exploration has gradually led to places worthy of being called a hidden realm—dense forests, snow-laden mountains—so many challenges now lie within a single day that progress slows.

"Perhaps it will end soon..."

Crom’s current destination is a seaside cave. He looks at the map pointing toward the sea and recalls Maple’s missing arm.

"Would be helpful if the one here were calm in appearance… but this is where it leads."

The cave, normally sealed by water and home to violent shark-like monsters, opens at certain times.

Crom had discovered the timing through exploration. This was the attempt to conquer it.

"Unstable footing. Deeper in… dark. Hold on!"

Crom secured the light source to his waist, braced his large shield, and advanced cautiously. Along the way, he passed human skeletons clad in tattered rags. The atmosphere grew increasingly like the unknown rock formations Maple had described.

"Can't take ghost-types as allies. Wait—really that kind?"

Crom tightened his grip on the shield. From the lantern-lit darkness, skeletons with rusted axes and sabers approached, clattering their bones.

"Single path—no fear of groups."

He blocks with the shield, then strikes. No need to fell them in one blow. One by one, he uses the narrow path to avoid their attacks, dispatching each in turn.

"Phew... no bats. Skeletons only?"

He does not yet know what kind of dungeon this is. Crom continues to explore, expecting something ahead.