Defense specialization and overcoming.

Having finished the dungeon run with Maple, Sally sat deeply into the guild home's sofa, eyes closed, her face drawn with concentration.

"Something wrong? You're thinking so hard. That's rare."

"Kanade? Ah, well... yeah. Just a little..."

"Thinking about the next player battle? You know, with the new skill you've acquired."

Maple and Sally are not the only ones. Mai and Yui have also gained new power. Today as well, Mai and Yui swung their eight-foot maces in the field, growing accustomed to their new combat style, earning kills as they went.

"By the way, Kanade? How about you?"

"I'm just collecting spellbooks while watching other guilds. Just like you said, I couldn't identify the two tame monsters of 【thunder storm】."

Kanade's combat power shifts only when using a single-use spellbook. She lacks any special abilities beyond that, making repeated battles inefficient for leveling. For this reason, Kanade chooses to spend her time observing other players.

"Right. If we understand it, we can prepare."

"But they're interesting. With such flashy displays, they're easy to locate."

Where Velvet and Hinata are, lightning strikes abound, cold air lingers, and objects sometimes float. They stand out as much as Maple does.

"Maybe we should check 【Rapid Fire】 next."

"Uh-huh. It'd help if we figured something out."

"Try not to expect too much, okay."

Yet as she speaks, Kanade hesitates, watching Sally with a quiet unease, as if something weighs on her mind.

"Um… maybe talk to Maple about it? Well then, see you later."

Kanade waves lightly, then departs from the guild home.

"Talk to Maple, huh…"

After a pause, Sally stands abruptly, resolve set in her stance.

The next day, after school in the real world. Risa finishes packing her bag, closes her eyes, and exhales deeply. Then, a soft patter of footsteps approaches. Maple arrives.

"Risa, let's go!"

"I was thinking I'd stop by the game shop first."

"Really? New game out?"

"Not exactly…"

Risa's hesitant tone makes Maple tilt her head.

"Want me to come with you?"

"...Of course!"

Maple walks beside Risa, noting the difference in her usual demeanor. A quiet unease settles, yet she follows without question toward their destination.

"I've been here a few times. I know the way by heart."

"Ah, then you should lead. See what catches your eye."

"Hehe, I don't know what's good, so I'll just look around."

"Still, that's one way to enjoy it, isn't it?"

The package is the face of the game. Just glancing at it, reading a few lines of description—enough to make it seem worth playing. Simply picking up something that looks promising is enough to bring pleasure.

Yet even here, Risa, who usually quickens her pace as they near the shop, moves with unusual heaviness today.

"Risa, are you alright?"

"Eh, yeah... I'm fine."

Though she does not look it, Maple presses on, insisting only that they return. Still, she walks with concern, and together they enter the game shop.

“What brought you here today?”

“Um… that is…”

Risa walks slowly, stopping before a shelf.

“Eh!?!”

Maple stares, startled. There, arranged clearly by packaging and title, is a horror game.

“R-really?”

“Yeah… I think… I’m ready to face it.”

She has avoided combat zones entirely since recently being deemed unfit for duty, unable to explore even the sixth layer. Even in other layers, she has steered clear of places where such monsters appear. Now, she has decided to confront it.

“You should probably not. You’ll never sleep again.”

“Huh…!”

The horror in normal games differs from that in horror games. A person worn thin in the former cannot possibly endure the latter. Maple had seen such resolve in Risā before, over many long years of companionship. Each time, the outcome had been retreat after retreat.

“If you’re set on it… I won’t stop you… but… well….”

Since the Seventh Layer had been conquered only days ago, Maple could already sense the result. Risā hesitated, pondered, and finally made her decision.

“I—I’ll do it! I’ve decided this time!”

“Have you chosen which one?”

Maple spoke, and Risā picked up a single game.

“V—VR? A—Are you sure this is safe?”

There is a difference between watching this unfold on screen and experiencing it oneself. Risā, in a state of heightened focus, feels she can manage it. To Maple, it is merely the same as always. Still, having declared she would do it, she must now produce a result to end this tension.

“This can be played by two people, incidentally…”

“Eh? Ah!? I got dragged in!”

“O-Of course I plan to clear it alone! But… well, you know?”

“Ugh, fine. I wonder if I can make it to the end.”

“During a break in the ‘New World Online’ event.”

“Hope it goes smoothly. It says it’s terrifying.”

Maple has no particular aversion to horror. She takes the package from Risā and reads the backside instructions.

“Then I’ll go get it… phew… alright.”

Risā left those words behind, composed herself once, then turned toward the register.

"Then I'll do my best!"

"Y-yeah..."

Having declared she would clear it alone, Risā could not immediately ask for help. She clutched the bag containing the game, steeling herself.

"Let me know when you clear it!"

"Y-yeah... I'll try at least."

She could not complete it entirely, but she could advance the story a little. Dual-player mode existed, but single-player remained the standard.

Maple would see her at school tomorrow. How far she progressed would be spoken of then.

Walking home, the two parted ways at their usual spot, each heading toward their respective houses. Moments later, Risā stared at the bag in her hand, her expression uneasy.

"I can do it... I decided to overcome this... soon..."

She walks home, intending to begin once she arrives, but does not hurry the way she usually does to get to her game. Her steps are heavier than usual.

"Welcome back."

Risā returns to her room, sets down her bag, changes from her uniform, and places the horror game on the desk.

"Maybe... I should eat first."

The game will take considerable time to complete, so Risā sets it aside for now and turns to the day’s assigned tasks.

"Once you understand it, it’s not so hard."

She works through the problems smoothly, as long as she focuses. She senses, vaguely, why her concentration comes so easily, but pretends not to notice, passing the time in silence.

She worked through one task after another, hands moving steadily. The light outside faded completely. A signal from the ground floor announced dinner was ready. Risa, having finished her studies just then, left her room and descended the stairs.

After eating, she bathed. Then returned to her room. Normally she would begin a game now. But when she reached for her usual setup, something stood there, heavy with presence.

...No. I will. I will do it.

Still, her hands lingered. She moved the pieces again and again. Time passed.

Well. It’s too late for that tonight. I’ll start tomorrow, right after I return. Yes.

Risa concluded. She set aside the game for now. She began another instead.