Defense specialization, water, and mud.
“Fuu… finally done… well done, Mai and Yui.”
“Sorry. I couldn’t join in the fighting at all…”
“It’s fine! Maple was guarding us!”
“We have to conserve our strength for the boss fight…!”
Maple’s skills are very powerful, but most are limited in use. That becomes a heavy disadvantage in events like this, where combat lasts all day. That is why Mai and Yui, whose attack power never drops, take on most of the battles.
“Let’s go straight to the boss fight! We’ve figured out how to beat it!”
“That’s right. We’ll count on you, Maple, in the boss fight?”
“Yeah. I’ll push harder to make up for the parts I held back!”
Once the method of defeating the common monsters was understood, progress through the path became untroubled. Normally, even exploiting weaknesses would not result in a single blow, requiring considerable resources. But with Mai and Yui, it was enough to strike at anything that came within reach.
Mai handled the clay figures. Yui dealt with the water figures. Sally eliminated those she missed. Maple continuously protected the two with Love That Offers the Body, ensuring no harm came even if attacks struck. Against the figures that nullified all attacks, these four could not be stopped.
Thus, Maple and her companions dismantled the figures with ease, advancing step by step. They reached the door leading to the chamber where the boss was said to be.
"So many of them, took longer than expected. But this must be the boss."
"Prepared!"
"Alright! Then I'll open it!"
Maple opens the door. The four enter the room, alert. The floor is covered in patches of green moss, with puddles and mud stains scattered about.
Before the four, two figures rise—each nearly four meters tall. One is made of mud, moss and wildflowers sprouting from its form. The other is composed of water, shifting and solidifying in places.
For now, we'll proceed as before—attack by element, one at a time!
"Yes!"
The three, excluding Maple, designate the mud effigy as their first target, then advance toward the boss, flames wrapping their weapons. Maple, as if by assignment, draws the attention of the water effigy, allowing the three to focus their assault.
I’ll settle it all at once, sister!
Yes!
Mai and Yui swing the blazing great mallets in one motion, driving them down. The boss monster was not designed to withstand such power—true to promise, the HP bar drops sharply. The clay figure moves with deliberate slowness, striking at the two, but Maple intercepts with Love That Offers the Body. Her skill’s cooldown halts, but it matters little.
“This one too—can’t fall behind!”
Sally avoids the blows, amplifying the effect of Sword Dance while slashing at the ground beneath.
““One more time!””
As the clay figure stumbles from Sally’s assault, Mai and Yui’s great mallets pierce it—its HP bar vanishes without resistance.
““Good job!!””
“Wow! That’s impressive!”
“…Wait—something’s off!”
As Sally spoke, the clay figure swelled from within, bursting apart with a loud crack.
Mai and Yui absorb the impact, but thanks to Maple, they take no damage.
"Fine, fine! ……w-what?!"
Maple’s HP bar, which had just stabilized after nullifying the mud, dips precisely twenty percent a moment later. Maple glances around, searching for what caused it.
"Mai, Yui! At your feet!"
"Eh? Ah—!"
Tucked among the puddles, two feet stand upon a brown seed, its vine creeping up to wrap around their ankles. Just as Maple’s HP drops another twenty percent, Mai and Yui tear the vine apart.
"Maple, Shiroppu! You two, over here!"
Sally directs them. Dodging the seed, the three leap onto the back of the Shiroppu Maple has raised.
The seed reacts only with those on the ground. They narrowly avoid disaster. Maple’s HP recovers.
“Phew… that was frightening… ugh, but we can’t get down now…”
“Wow… and the clay figure’s reviving just from that recovery…”
“But we’re safe if we’re not on the ground!”
“We’ve trained for this… we can attack from here.”
Encouraged by the two, Maple and Sally stand back and watch the assault.
The flying mud and water still strike Maple. Amidst this, the two pull iron spheres from their inventories in turn.
The spheres, improved since the fourth event, now larger and edged with spikes, are wrapped in flame as they prepare to throw.
““Ready—!””
The playful shout releases a projectile that flies at terrifying speed, striking the clay figure’s face. The HP it had just regained vanishes again. The sphere pierces deep into the ground behind it.
Got it! Hit it!
Result of practice!
Only two people can do that kind of drill… Still, excellent control.
The catch-and-throw with iron spheres during their free time proved useful. They aim at the next target. This time, they lift the sparking iron sphere and hurl it with full force, piercing through the massive form.
Oh! Wait—how about using the great mallet instead? That’d do more damage, right?
Ah… that won’t work.
The iron sphere would shatter! I’ve already asked Iz for something harder!
Iron spheres are mere items. They break after a certain amount of damage. Once, when tested, they exploded into fragments like a snowball.
This is the result of modifications made to the sphere, since it can’t be used directly.
Can’t hand over an iron sphere this size… I’ll just have to watch.
“Leave this to me!”
Each impact of the iron sphere driving into the ground opened a hole in the watery form.
The ground was scattered with seeds, but that mattered not. The final iron sphere struck the head, severing it. The clay figure and the water figure collapsed together. Then, even the seeds on the ground vanished, all turning to light.
A notification sounded. Each member of the 【Maple Tree】 group received one silver medal.
“Phew, we made it! And one medal!”
“Yeah, good. But we must be careful. If Shiroppu hadn’t been able to fly this time, it would’ve been dangerous.”
“That’s true. We’ll revive her too… She should’ve been stronger, really.”
“We need to predict dangers from weak monsters around us, so we don’t enter dungeons that don’t suit us. Wait—forced exit from the dungeon…”
“Staying safe within here isn’t possible.”
“Alright, let’s give it our best next time!”
Maple’s body was enveloped in light, and she exited the dungeon as usual, just as she had before.