Defense specialization and subterranean.

The sun shifted. Maple and Sally decided once more to tour the town together, seated in a café within the two-story stone-built settlement.

“Huh, Friend.”

“Yeah! I was just looking around for where to go next, and happened to stumble upon it during a break!”

Maple’s Friend refers to Velvet and Hinata.

“A guild called 【thunder storm】—they’re the guild master!”

“I know that guild. During the fourth event, they caused quite a disturbance. If it’s lightning magic, I recall the footage—those flashes, right?”

“Huh?”

“Yeah. The lightning formed pillars, blinding white so intense no player could be seen.”

Velvet was likely at the center. If Maple couldn’t see the player’s face, it was natural she didn’t recognize her.

"Really strong. Ah! And she punched monsters like Sally did, like this!"

Maple clenches her fist and thrusts both hands forward in quick succession.

"My 【Body Arts】 skill was just a lucky accident tied to evasion, so it's a bit different, really."

"Oh, that's right."

Maple looks slightly disappointed. She can't copy that. Sally listens as Maple mentions the skills they used, then nods slowly.

"Strong. Hinata focuses on debuffs, Velvet handles the heavy damage... that's how it works..."

Both the high-impact punch and the wide-area lightning strike have weaknesses. The first, short range. The second, immunity through skill or escape beyond range.

But with Hinata beside her, the situation changes.

"Maple, isn't it easy to hit an opponent who doesn't move?"

"Yeah, I don’t think I’d hit Sally… even if I tried."

"That’s why being able to stop completely and strike from within range is strong."

"Uh-huh."

"Well, I suppose I could say we’re not a good match."

Sally relies entirely on close-range attacks, so she must step into the range of thunder strikes and debuffs. Velvet and the others would be difficult opponents in one-on-one combat.

"Seems like she prefers fighting head-on. If I’m careful, I can avoid battle altogether."

"Her first impression was completely different. I was surprised when we talked after the dungeon. Maybe we should meet up again sometime, Sally?"

"Mm, I suppose I’m curious. From what I’ve heard, Velvet doesn’t seem to like gathering information secretly, but still—information matters."

Avoiding attacks through reflex alone has its limits. Knowing the range of a skill’s attack becomes essential.

See you next time! I should introduce Sally here, since there are two of us over there too!

Fufu—so that’s what you mean by partner?

Yes! That's right!

Sally lets a slight smile escape as Maple speaks with finality. She looks again at Maple, replying.

……then I must show my partner something worthy of the title.

Fufufu— I’m looking forward to it, Sally.

Yes, leave it to you, Maple.

The exchange ends. They turn to today’s purpose. Today’s plan: second-layer tourism. The second layer differs little from the first, unlike the higher tiers. Together, first and second layers form the initial, orthodox field. Sally handled the second layer’s intelligence gathering. Maple watches, anticipation in her posture, awaiting the next words.

“Ah, well, I’ve got one place in mind for you, Maple. Though time is limited—so we’ll take it slow.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Somewhat far, you know.”

“Then let’s buy bento and head out right away!”

“Sounds good.”

Thus, Maple and Sally set out toward the field beneath the sinking sun.

Two stories deep, as in one, no opponent warranted their full effort. They altered their attire to avoid notice. Sally carried Maple through the fields toward their destination.

“What do you think it will be like?”

“Hmm… it has to be night, right?”

“That’s right.”

Maple had experienced such events before. The same as when, during the second event, monsters changed only at night, and new events followed.

“But if it’s ghosts, Sally wouldn’t introduce them.”

“…Yeah, that’s true.”

“So it’s night, then.”

“Do you get it, a little?”

They decided to check the answers on-site, and the two continued forward through the field. Sally arrived at a cave gaping open like a mouth. From the entrance, the path inside appeared to slope downward, though the rear side of the hill was not raised. Without a teleportation magic circle, they would descend into the earth.

"Ah… underground..."

"Uh? Unexpected?"

"Yeah. I thought we’d see the stars. You know, like when that meal changed my hair color. It was night then too."

"Fufufu... Well then, let’s go!"

"Okay!"

"I’ll light it up."

Sally pulled a lantern from her inventory and moved forward, casting light into the dark cave.

"Monsters might appear, so watch out."

"Okay."

Yet it remained no more than a negligible level, so Maple activated Love That Offers the Body.

"...Don't need the lantern?"

"Maybe not."

Sally paused, eyeing the ground glowing with the radiance of Love That Offers the Body, and began to stow her lantern. Seeing this, Maple hesitated, then offered a suggestion.

"...Hey, Sally, maybe we don't need Love That Offers the Body after all?"

"Hmm? Well, I think I'll be fine without it, given the monsters here."

Sally looked puzzled, unable to discern why Maple would make such a suggestion.

"Look, I mean, this isn't about clearing the dungeon. The place we're after is supposed to be beautiful. The atmosphere along the way matters too, don't you think?"

"Shall we treat the cave like an adventure?"

"Exactly!"

"Then... yes!"

Sally withdrew several new items from her inventory and arranged them before Maple.

Torch with helmet-mounted headlamp, rope and pick, large pack—each item carefully selected to suit the theme of exploration.

"Having an inventory means we don’t need a pack, but look—doesn’t it set the mood?"

"Exactly! You’re brilliant, Sally!"

They each donned two of the prepared items. The pack, resembling the small pouch Sally sometimes wore, allowed storage of several items outside the inventory. Maple stowed the rope and pick inside, completing her gear.

"Looks the part, doesn’t it? Though the clothes might be out of place."

They remained in their usual attire for early-layer travel—simply regular garments, nothing more.

"Maybe next time we should bring proper gear."

"Could work."

"Uh… we just go all the way to the back, right?"

"Yep. No issue with that."

"Yosh! Let's go!"

Maple thrust the torch upward, stepping forward with resolve. The second level offered no complex mechanisms, no powerful monsters—only comfortable exploration. Sally’s magic held sufficient strength here, and enemies fell before they could draw near.

"Be careful not to slip."

"Uh-hun! Light my feet... it's been steadily descending."

"Maybe change is starting soon? Maple, try putting out the torch for a moment."

"Got it!"

After confirming no monsters surrounded them, they extinguished the light. Darkness swallowed the space instantly. Yet, upon careful inspection of the ground, faint glimmers became visible—subtle, barely noticeable, scattered in places where light had once been.

The light did not shine so much as remain fixed in place, as if held by some strange force. Maple crouched, studying the glow intently.

"Ah—yes, I see it. This is the marker."

"Indeed… one might easily miss this if searching normally."

"Even when searching thoroughly, one still overlooks things. There are surely places no one has ever found."

"Hmm, then we’ll just have to keep walking and searching."

Maple smiled broadly, this time with Sally beside her. Sally returned the smile with a soft, knowing nod.

"You’ve found the marker. After that, just check at the fork in the path."

"Got it! Then, torch by torch!"

Once the marker is found, there is no more confusion. Follow Sally’s instruction. Check at each fork. Move through the dark cave without hesitation. Compared to the entrance, the path narrows gradually. The need to shift posture increases.

“Fii… we’ve come far, haven’t we?”

“Yeah. Just descend the vertical shaft a little further.”

“Ooh! We’re really doing it now! Alright, let’s go!”

“Yeah… just don’t fall… might not need to worry about that, but still…”

“Please, please!”

Sally secures Maple to her back with a rope. She ties her body to a nearby rock. She hangs a second rope down into the vertical shaft. Maple, who usually leaps from Shiroppu or lands by self-destructive flight—relying on defense alone— would likely fall without issue. Yet if that were so, she would not have used torches this far.

Hold on tight.

If a monster comes, I’ll paralyze it!

Thank you. Alright, let’s go down.

Maple clung to Sally, keeping her short blade ready, prepared to activate Paralyze Shout at any moment. Once she confirmed the readiness, Sally tautened the rope and stepped onto the wall, sliding downward smoothly.

The rough rock surface was dry. Sally descended without slipping, making steady progress down the vertical shaft. She occasionally shone the headlamp downward to check for danger, and when bats flew toward them, Maple paralyzed them as needed, sending them crashing to the ground. The two reached the bottom safely. After dealing with the paralyzed bats and confirming no more monsters were near, they exhaled, relieved.

Phew. You can let go now.

Yeah!

Sally lowered Maple once she had defeated the last monster with magic. Before the two who had conquered the vertical shaft stood a narrow horizontal tunnel. Light marks dotted the ground and walls, faint but visible.

Like fireflies.

Indeed. We’re almost there.

Sally switched off her headlamp and gestured for Maple to do the same. The glowing markers had grown bright enough to provide ample light on their own. Movement would be unimpeded.

They walked through the luminous tunnel. At last, they reached their destination—the deepest part of the cave.

In the dome-shaped space, colored orbs floated, emitting soft light. As on the path before, the lights on the ceiling and floor increased in number. The two walked forward, as if entering a planetarium, until they reached the center of the chamber.

At the chamber’s center stood a single column connecting ceiling to floor, from which an intense light radiated. Approaching it, the light appeared unlike the other floating orbs—more like a gem glowing with inner fire.

“Maple, take it?”

“Uh… whoa! It came loose! Hmm… [Celestial Object in Hand]?”

The glowing sphere in Maple’s palm showed no immediate effect. Yet she stared at it, eyes bright.

“Ooh—beautiful! Worth the journey, wasn’t it?”

“Mm-hmm. Good. It’s still without known use.”

“Huh.”

“Hard to reach, and though it’s lovely, it’s not popular.”

“So it’s a hidden spot, then?”

“Exactly. You can relax here as long as you like.”

The two sit quietly. They look up at the ceiling, as if it were the night sky. Then, Maple realizes her guess was correct.

“Ah, it really is a starry sky!”

“Y-yes. A starry sky underground. From what I’ve found, each level has one spot themed around the night sky.”

“Huh. Then we should complete them all!”

“Good idea. If Maple enjoys it, I’ll go exploring anytime. Besides, maybe something will appear after we’ve seen them all?”

“If so, even better! But even if not, it’s fine…”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It was fun just getting here!”

For Maple, the sight and the lively journey with another person had been reward enough. And that would not change.

“S-so. Yeah. I think I feel the same.”

“Ah! Right, Sally! We only got one souvenir this time. What should we do?”

“…Just let Maple keep it.”

“Me?”

"Yeah, so we can recall it anytime."

"Then you'd want one too, Sally?"

"Fufu, I won’t forget it, so I’m fine."

"Really? I’m not that forgetful!"

"Is that so?"

"It is!"

They glanced at each other without intent, and smiled—visible even in the dark. Time passed slow and steady. Above them, the underground stars glowed. They ate the bento they had bought.