Defense specialization and key information.

Sally plunges straight to the fissure's edge, holding a light in one hand, and moves deeper, illuminating the crack.

The entrance narrows, but beyond it opens into a tunnel. Light filters through gaps in coral, making tropical fish scales glitter.

Sally advances carefully, checking for danger. She notices a stone tablet, wrapped in seaweed and coral, at the dead end.

……

Sally shines the light on its surface. She parts the seaweed, cuts away the coral, and reads the markings.

After confirming the inscription, she saves it as an image and ascends.

"Puha! Maple, we found something."

"Oh? What was it like?"

Sally climbs up the Shiroppu. Maple approaches quickly, eager to hear.

Sally shows the image to Maple. It was a rough sketch of the entire Seventh Layer.

Marks were scattered across it.

"Like this. It’s different from the map Crom mentioned that drops... but definitely meant for another event’s exploration."

"Uh-huh! Ugh, but there are so many. It says three keys here..."

"Just look at the spring we saw earlier. It’s marked too. So probably one of these marks is the correct one, and the others are hints."

The sketch was rough, so marks were placed per area. At this point, they could only search every region from desert to jungle.

"Should we go back? Maybe someone has information!"

"True. Looks like events start in many places. Someone from the guild might have touched it already."

If they were going to run through the Seventh Layer in every direction, they might as well return to the guild home.

The door to the guild home opened. Kanade, Mai, and Yui sat across from one another at a table, playing a board game.

"Ah? You’re back. How about continuing the game?"

With one hand, Kanade made the next move. Mai and Yui slumped forward and raised white flags.

"Um… I just came by to ask if you knew anything today."

Maple explained the situation to the three. Kanade nodded a few times, as if something came to mind.

"Then maybe the Town’s library has something. There were several towns that once prospered. They say they once communicated with monsters more skillfully than we do now… The locations were somewhere around here."

Kanade pointed to several marks on a map. One of them marked the place where a spring had once been.

"Wow! Great info, Sally!"

"Really, you knew that well. I mean, the library has quite a lot of books, right?"

"Yeah, well, I read them all."

"“All of them!?”"

Mai and Yui spoke in perfect unison. Kanade began preparing the next board game.

"Quite interesting. There are hints for events written in there too. You should look through it yourself. Heh, it'll take time, though."

Yet why Kanade had read them all—this was a matter of individual ability.

Sensing the difference in processing capacity, Mai and Yui slumped heavily into their chairs.

"Big sister... I just don’t feel like I can win anymore..."

"Y-yeah... I never thought I could, anyway."

"Then I’m counting on your report. And when you return, will you play?"

"Sure! I’ll master it completely and come back—this time, I’ll get my revenge!"

Maple hasn't won a single match, has she?

But it's fun. Kanade adjusts the levels like a game!

Yes, something like a computer.

Sally looked toward Kanade, eyes wide with surprise, as if asking if it were true. Kanade, as always, offered a slight smile and nodded. Sally accepted it. She thought nothing strange about Kanade being capable of it.

The two of them are doing what I am at level one.

Too strong from level one!

"Up to level ten, is that right...?"

Ahaha, then I’m off! You two work hard and win, now!

"I will try my best."

Accompanied by the three watching, this time they move toward the field with certain knowledge.