Defense Specialization and the Floating Castle 2.

The light of transfer fades. The two open their eyes. Before them stand trees with deep green leaves—unseen in the fifth layer. Familiar in appearance, yet fresh, if this were the fifth layer.

"Oh! Photo! Photo!"

"Can't see the info from here—gotta feel my way... hey, Maple!"

Sally turns toward Maple. She sees Maple stepping back to adjust the angle for a photograph. Here, on the floating castle, at the edge of the transfer point, only sky lies behind.

"Huh? W-wait!"

"Whoa! Be careful. Falling here probably isn't just a damage-type situation."

Just in time, Sally pulls her close. Maple avoids falling from the cliff behind. Even with Maple’s high defense, falling into a place set for instant death would serve no purpose.

"Made it... this was the edge, huh."

"Uh-huh. Not just the castle— the whole surrounding terrain's like a dungeon."

They look around again. Behind them, a cliff stretches endlessly into a sea of clouds. Before them, a forest and a mountain face rising steeply, like a cliff itself, with the castle jutting out from its side.

"A castle built into the mountain, and the forest around it... this path might be tough. Can we fly with Shiroppu?"

Flying through the air with Shiroppu could bypass the traps along the way. Yet after a pause, Maple shakes her head at Sally’s suggestion.

"Hmm... no, not this time!"

"Really?"

"Yep! I'd rather feel the satisfaction of conquering it head-on!"

"I see."

"And besides, we've been planning to come here for ages. If we just finish it quickly, it'd be a waste!"

"Alright. Then let's go straight and steady—straight to the heart of the floating castle!"

"Yesss!"

And so the two take their first step toward the castle, glimpsed faintly atop the mountain peak.

As soon as they enter the forest, a deep roar echoes from the distant castle.

"!"

"Predator!"

Sally draws her weapon. Maple summons a creature. Both assume defensive stances.

Immediately after, small lizards with wings leap from the shadows of the trees, breathing flames at them.

"Fine!"

Maple still has Love That Offers the Body active. Sally does not need to dodge. The creatures appear to be the first weak enemies in the floating castle. The flames strike Maple with no effect. Seeing this, Sally relaxes. She begins to strike, one after another, cutting each down cleanly.

"Woah— they move faster than I thought!"

The lizard dodges the 【Predator】's mouth with swift movement, rendering the attack ineffective.

"Sally, leave it to me!"

"Right! Just 【Love That Offers the Body】 would help!"

With Maple present, the advantage of overwhelming numbers vanished. The lizards, unable to summon any technique beyond firebreath, were defeated one by one without resistance.

"Good work, Sally!"

"Mm, just a warm-up, really."

Sally stares intently at the distant castle visible through gaps in the trees.

"That roar just now... not the lizard's..."

"Could it be the boss?"

"Maybe. Could be another dragon hunt."

Maple and Sally have fought monsters they could call dragons before. The powerful roar evokes their image instantly.

"Still, it’s strong..."

"Still, the boss should be quite strong. But that’s exactly why it’s good!"

"Hehe, I think I’m starting to understand Sally’s feelings. That kind of tingling in the arms, right?"

"Exactly."

Yet the castle where the boss is likely located remains far off. Lingering here will only bring dusk.

"Right then, we must push through the forest first!"

"You’re used to walking through forests by now, aren’t you?"

"Yes!"

Thanks to Love That Offers the Body, ambush defenses are complete. The freedom to observe surroundings returns. Closer inspection reveals small animals darting through the undergrowth, colorful mushrooms sprouting at tree roots. Maple’s eyes gleam at each one.

"Always finding joy in such fresh things… it’s nice."

A faint smile forms. Sally checks the area for monsters, then speaks to Maple.

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, I just keep thinking about combat and skills."

"I'm still a beginner!"

"Really? I think you've done quite a bit already."

"Compared to Sally, I'm still far behind."

Given that Sally is the benchmark, Maple's words hold weight.

"Then, as an advanced one, I must try harder."

"I'm counting on you!"

"Then, shall we begin combat right away?"

Immediately after Sally spoke, two serpents taller than a person slithered from the underbrush. Sally, sensing them first, dodged a swift lunge to the side and slashed from head to torso.

"Yosh, [Provocation]!"

The great serpent twisted sharply in response to the skill, turning toward Maple. Maple anticipated the attack—poison or paralysis, no concern. If it tried to constrict or bite, she would simply brace her large shield.

"【Bad Eating】—there you go! Ah!"

She caught the snake’s head mid-leap with her great shield. The serpent’s body vanished into the shield’s surface, swallowed in an instant.

"Okay! That worked!"

"Nice! Yeah, I think you’re getting used to the monster’s movements."

"Heh, I’ve fought plenty of different kinds, after all."

"Guess you’ve graduated from beginner, huh?"

"Heh, you’re jumping ahead."

They spoke lightly, yet cleared the entire swarm of monsters without injury, arriving at the foot of the mountain where the castle stood.