Defense specialization and the underwater temple four.

— Fuh… well done.

— Well done, Sally! You were able to fight inside the Love That Offers the Body just fine.

— True. But dodging never gets easier. And she kept her distance, so I had to stay sharp.

There is a limit to how long one can stay underwater. It is best to finish quickly.

— Everyone moves fast. It’s hard to catch up in the water.

— I’ll dive in when it gets too dangerous.

— Yeah! I’ll be ready.

— That helps. Any ideas? The scales are glowing brightly…

The remaining scales, bathed in the boss’s final light, now shone a clean white. The dim underwater space had grown noticeably clearer.

The two scanned the area, searching for anything they could carry back. They found a pile of white scales, stacked in a shape unlike the rest.

"Can we take this back?"

"Really? Amazing! So big."

"The boss was that size, you know."

"If we'd had one this size back then, we could've made shields much faster."

"Yeah, we collected scales before. Maple didn't catch much then."

"We couldn't dive, so we had no choice but to fish... but this time, thanks to this, Sally could keep up!"

Maple points to her sturdy, tightly fitted diving suit enveloping her body.

"...heh, you're a lifesaver. I never thought I'd see Maple in the water. Use it if you need to. If you show it to Iz, they might upgrade the white set."

"Really?"

"I just got a new one, after all."

Sally’s equipment consisted solely of unique series items, making upgrades distant. So Maple gathered the fallen scales into her inventory. As she moved the glowing scales aside, something else beneath began to shimmer.

Something there?

Looks like it. Let’s clear them all and check.

Once both had stored every scale in their inventory, the object’s true form became clear.

It was a mass of light. No solid form, hands passing through it easily, yet it seemed like an item—capable of being stored in the inventory.

What is this?

A rare item? Seems to be the only one of its kind...

Could be! Then, Sally!

Huh, me? I’m fine. Let Maple take it.

Mm... it’d be unfair if I took everything. I already took the scales.

If this also belongs to Maple, then Sally’s gain from this battle amounts to little more than experience. That would be unbalanced.

……I don’t actually need anything at all. Hmm. Let me check what this item is first. Maybe I’d reconsider if it’s equipment.

Understood. Let me check it.

Maple places the lump of light into her inventory and examines what it is.

Hmm… ‘Light from Above.’ Strange. It feels odd, even underwater.

…Ah. There’s something in the description?

Hmm… Something about the previous sky-light or whatever. Want to see it?

Yes.

Sally looks at it too. A small line of flavor text appears, but it does not function as equipment, nor does it lead directly to a quest.

"Maple, you mentioned earlier—didn’t you say there were other odd items too?"

"Um… ah, the Lost Legacy?"

"That one. Both might have a use somewhere. Defeated a hidden boss, and the drop felt rare."

"Hmm, I see."

"Maybe something’s hidden on the eighth floor. We could look for it next time."

"Uh-huh."

"Come on, the return magic circle’s appeared too. Let’s go back. Staying here too long, we’ll drown."

"Ah! R-right! Hurry, hurry!"

Guided by Sally, Maple steps onto the magic circle and exits the underwater temple.

As they rise toward the surface, Maple tilts her head slightly, a faint sense of something forgotten.

"Ahh! The rare item just now! Sally!"

"Ah, caught? Just keep it then."

"Ugh…"

Maple puffs her cheek slightly, watching the rare item—‘Light from Above’—slip into her inventory unresisting.

“I’m sorry, sorry. Then, how about we look for a place to use it together? I know I’m not as lucky as you, or as sharp, so I probably won’t help much.”

“That’s not true! And yes, of course, I’d help— but then I’d still be relying on you too much.”

Sally hesitates, then speaks with quiet certainty, outlining her own benefit.

“You find skills all the time, don’t you?”

“Yeah… just by chance.”

“So if we go together, I can learn from your discoveries. That’s a big deal. There are so many strong skills in this game. And even if I get one, you can’t use it. But now, the opposite is true.”

Sally now possesses the skill [Reality Inversion]. Thus, it is more advantageous for Maple to acquire the skill than for Sally herself. The ability proved effective even within the underwater temple, so Maple understands Sally’s reasoning.

Indeed… that might be true. Mmm, I feel as though I’ve been persuaded well.

Heh heh, is that so? You really don’t need to worry. I’m content with this… satisfied. But if it bothers you so much, perhaps I’ll take it next time?

Yes! Do that!

Alright, alright, I’ll let you have your way.

Now, the two return to the guild hall, their focus shifting to finding uses for the two items.