Defense specialization and reflection.
Several days after clearing the dungeon with Lily and the others. Maple walked alone through the four-layered, eternal night Town. She had friend-registered with Lily and the others, but had not met them since. After defeating the boss, they had disbanded on the spot, leaving little time to speak afterward.
"Next event, huh..."
Lily and the others had ultimately defeated the boss using their summoning skill. Since they had seen it, they could not ignore the need for countermeasures. Sally was considering strategies based on the information she had gathered and what was currently possible. All of this was in preparation for the next event, which had not yet been announced.
It was certain the efforts would one day prove useful. So Sally was preparing early, preparing early.
"Everyone was amazing... hmm, if it were just me and one other, it'd be Sally."
Recently met Velvet and Lily had grown stronger through paired combat, their synergy amplifying their power. Sally, too, was formidable, but without such synergy, victory might prove difficult.
"Must check the medals—see if any useful skills exist!"
Maple had no particular desire to win at all costs, but when she committed, she did so fully, and never willingly accepted defeat.
Yet she did not spend all her time striving to outdo other players. Today, she intended to visit the newly opened cat café on the fourth floor, as rumored.
"Could bring Sally along next time!"
As Maple pushed open the shop’s door, a blue-clad girl with blue hair played among several cats in the back.
"Ah..."
Maple and the blue-haired girl—Mii in disguise—locked eyes and both uttered it in unison.
Maple entered the shop and confirmed no other players surrounded Mii before speaking.
“Mii came too.”
“Yeah. I heard it was new, didn’t expect to meet you here.”
The two, having coincidentally arrived together, spoke while playing with the cats.
“Rapid Fire and Thunder Storm… we’re told to watch out for those in our guild.”
“I met the top two from that guild. They were incredibly strong.”
“The guildmaster has that kind of power—can push back even when outnumbered. They’ll likely rise to the top in upcoming events.”
No ranking events had occurred in recent days. They would be showing their full strength now.
“Yeah. They were really strong. I think I’ll make the top ranks too.”
“…You don’t seem particularly focused on that kind of thing, Maple.”
“Huh? Well… I guess as long as it’s fun.”
Fufu… you didn’t have to come attacking during the fourth event.
"Ah, back then we were all trying to finish within the top ten!"
Maple tilts her head, though she quickly understands why she answered as she did. To enjoy the happiness of those around her, Maple must have worked hard at that time, striving for the top, for the sake of all who aimed higher.
Fighting alongside everyone else was enjoyable too!
Good. Full effort, just like an event should be. Well, it's like a festival, after all.
Yet as Guildmaster of the Empire of Flame, Maple cannot be outdone. The guild members await their chance for revenge.
This time will not go as it did then! Instead, we shall bring you down.
O-oh, please… gently…
It cannot be done that way.
"Muuh… then I’ll counter with a newly acquired skill too!"
"Wha—? D-did you find something else again?"
"I can’t show it yet… not with my promise to Sally. But yes! I found something strange!"
"Haha… p-please… gently…"
"Fufu… that might not be possible."
"Hahaha… I can’t lose either, can I?"
"Yui’s my rival too. The others have grown stronger too."
"If we’re fighting together, call me. With Maple, I’ll have a better chance."
"Yep! I’d love to fight with you again!"
Thus, the two continue their conversation, stroking the cat.
"Oh, right. Velvet acted just like Yui did."
"Really? I’ve heard about her fighting style, but I’ve never spoken to her directly."
"It was a different reason than Yui’s… but…"
"Y-yeah… there’s no one like me… is there…?"
Unlike Mii, whose actions could no longer be reversed once she had gone so far, Velvet’s performance remained acceptable even if its artifice were known.
“At first meeting, she seemed so proper… but when she fought with all her strength, the atmosphere changed completely. I was shocked.”
Maple speaks of her first time fighting alongside Velvet and the reason behind the performance. Mii nods slowly, affirmatively.
“I see. But I can understand too. You know, equipment can influence a person. If I hadn’t acquired those items or skills, I might have been different.”
The skill [Flame Emperor] and the matching equipment determined Mii’s path. To move a character on screen is one thing. To fight oneself—then equipment and skills carry weight.
“Maple, don’t you ever think this gear would be better, even without the performance?”
“Maybe I do!”
Maple had, on occasion, chosen gear that matched her skills, or worn garments suited to the atmosphere of her destination. Acting might be an extension of that same impulse.
“This is a virtual space. Things like that are allowed, aren’t they? Going too far… might lead to regret… ugh.”
The day when she could confess to Mii would likely never come. That was why she felt a slight envy toward Velvet.
“Shall we meet Velvet sometime? I can introduce you!”
“Yeah, I’d like that. From what Maple’s told me, she sounds lively and fun.”
“Then I’ll ask her again!”
As Maple spoke of her recent days, the conversation naturally turned to Mii, and topics flowed without pause.
At that moment, Sally was thinking about two guilds she had encountered recently, in the guild home.
“Hmm…”
How to win. From the information held, conclusions drawn are all unfavorable.
At least I alone am too weak… If Maple were beside me…
Still, too many unknowns remain. The odds could shift at any moment. Velvet declares she holds a trump card. The others, Lily and the rest, their limits remain unseen.
Sally considers this when the guild home’s door opens and a familiar face enters.
“Eh, ah, Sally’s here!”
“…You’re entering like it’s your own guild. What now, Frederica?”
“Same as always, but—something wrong?”
Seeing Frederica twirling her staff as usual, Sally recalls something.
“Hmm, right. You were the information specialist, weren’t you?”
“Not just ‘one of,’ actually?”
“…No, I think I’ve been fed false information.”
"Only Sally could do something like that, I guess."
"Never mind. You know 【Rapid Fire】 and 【Thunder Storm】? Got into a bit of a bind, ended up fighting together."
"Hmm, I’ll tell you after you win the duel."
"Kinda hard to say that when you’re losing every time... Fine. Let’s do it."
"Yes, yes. Today I’ll win for sure."
They move toward the duel.
Minutes later, Frederica returns with a scowl, leading the way. She flops face-down onto the sofa and flails her legs.
"Didn’t feel like myself today. Thought I could manage it."
"Switches when battle starts, that’s what I said."
"Hmph. Machine girl."
"Yes, yes. Promise kept."
"Alright. Now we’ll finish each other off, right?"
She checks her notes, then shares what she knows with Sally.
"It's not certain, though. First, 【thunder storm】. Calling it a debuff on Hinata is mostly accurate—it's mostly movement restriction—but that limitation means it can be managed effectively, so using it well gives an advantage."
Managing it requires either removing the debuff or evading it skillfully. That's more difficult than simply stating it.
"I can say it with certainty."
"True enough. On the other hand, Velvet keeps summoning thunder indefinitely. Its power grows over time, making her strong in prolonged fights. She usually stays in the fifth layer, but she's been lingering in the sixth lately. Something might have happened there. Since Velvet summons rain of thunder, Sally, be careful."
"I'm fine. I've avoided it."
"Isn't avoiding rain that extreme?"
"My evasion has improved."
"That's the one thing I've noticed most... Anyway, next."
Frederica turns the page of her notes and begins speaking about 【Rapid Fire】.
“Skipping what Sally has seen, Wilbert is said to shoot arrows with perfect accuracy. No proof, but he never misses. Lilie is more troublesome when dressed as a maid than when playing the king. There is a limit to how many she can summon at once, but only the upper bound is certain.”
If she can be replenished each time she is destroyed, Lilie’s summoning is effectively limitless. Still, Sally is more concerned with Wilbert than with the number of summons.
“Perfect accuracy… I thought there might be something like that somewhere.”
A skill Sally cannot deal with. Perhaps it is fortunate she has not encountered it until now.
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t take it until I find you. I’ve decided I’ll be the one to defeat you.”
“Ah, sorry, but I already have plans. Still, thanks. You’re doing your job as information gatherer properly.”
—It was just a mistake back then, really.
Recalling the time Sally had been misled, she glanced away, cheeks faintly warm—yet she cut off any teasing with a sharp, “If you mock me too much, I’ll mix in lies of my own.”
I’ll expose you.
Ugh… I really don’t want to do it, but I can’t help it. One more thing. Those four summoned beasts—no one’s seen them yet, it seems.
Understood. I am grateful. Unexpected, yes—though I did not foresee it.
...Perhaps I should just toss them into the sixth layer.
"Sorry..."
They exchanged jests, and after Frederica’s resolve returned, they fought several duels, each ending as always.
A short while after Maple and the others met Lily, the details and timing of the eighth event were finally announced.
125 Name: Nameless Spearman
A fully cooperative event?
126 Name: Nameless Archer
The time is still a little further off.
No player-versus-player elements, unlike last time.
127 Name: Nameless Greatsword User
Monsters might be quite strong, then.
Players will cooperate.
128 Name: Nameless Greatshield User
No PvP means we can just go easy on it for now.
Don’t mind tension, but not fond of it either.
129 Name: Nameless Archer
Still, details remain scarce.
Only known is that exploration is key, and it affects the eighth layer.
130 Name: Nameless Spearman
Likely similar to the pass from the fourth layer.
131 Name: Nameless Greatsword User
That was true enough.
Cooperative, rewards distributed to all based on outcome.
132 Name: Nameless Greatshield User
No time acceleration, seems. If strength is lacking, reinforce as needed during the period.
133 Name: Nameless Mage
Strengthening forces... Could mean I’ll grow stronger myself.
134 Name: Nameless Spearman
What is it?
135 Name: Nameless Mage
I don’t know if it’s a summoned monster or a real event, but there’s a white monster in a secluded valley with no one around.
It’s not a crustacean. It looks like it’s wearing armor. Clearly radiating a dangerous aura.
136 Name: Nameless Greatsword User
Oh? Seriously? I’ve never heard of that.
137 Name: Nameless Greatshield User
Nice. Probably a sacred beast or guardian beast of that sort.
138 Name: Nameless Archer
That’s going to be a problem if we’re not first.
139 Name: Nameless Mage
I wasn’t ready at the time. I fled the moment it looked my way.
Still, I plan to check it out again soon.
140 Name: Nameless Spear User
Good luck.
141 Name: Nameless Greatsword User
Aiming to boost combat strength, huh? That’s you, Maple-chan!
142 Name: Nameless Mage
Ah! I’d be happy if I could catch up. I’ll look into it.