Defense Specialization and Symbiosis 3.

For several days after that, Maple logged into the game, setting fires in a corner of the flatlands every day. That routine was finally nearing its end.

She replenished her items with Iz, and at times received aid in movement from Kasumi, Sally, Mai, and Yui. She continued relentlessly to defeat monsters using only items. The quest advanced steadily, one step at a time.

“Yosh! Done!”

When Maple detonated the final monster with a bomb, the screen switched to quest completion.

“Phew… took longer than expected.”

It was indeed reckless for a player who rarely used items to make them her primary weapon. Still, she had succeeded. Her defense was absolute—she could withstand any attack. As long as her items held out, she could fight indefinitely.

“Is it over now?”

Maple checked the quest. Unfortunately, it appeared there was still more to come.

—Mm… Well then, gathering items, I suppose.

A variety of items were listed. Some were accessible—meat from common monsters, obtainable with little difficulty. Others required rare materials, only available from higher-tier monsters, such as a dragon’s wing. Still others were entirely unknown—such as a demon’s heart, with no clear source.

—Perhaps I should ask everyone.

The members of 【Maple Tree】 had faced many different monsters. Unusual items might be remembered clearly. They might recall where they obtained each one.

Maple sent a message to the guild members. She turned toward the guild hall.

Maple arrived at the guild hall after a considerable distance from the Town and with no means of travel other than walking. By then, all had already gathered.

"Sorry I’m late!"

"Has the quest advanced to the next stage?"

"Yes! They said to collect various items."

"Collecting items… Should we list them out?"

"That would be easier to see!"

Sally checked Maple’s quest and projected it onto the large monitor in the guild hall so all could view it together.

"Hmm… Some of these are familiar. Probably already in Maple’s possession."

"Let’s mark the ones we’ve all confirmed we have?"

"Right. Hmm, I’m not sure I’ll be much help. Were there any rare ones?"

"We always end up with the same things, me and my sister."

"Yeah. We explore together all the time."

One by one, they search through everyone’s inventory, pulling out the items listed.

Eight of them, having explored no fewer than nine layers, had encountered a wide range of locations. Most items emerged from someone’s inventory.

“The heart of a demon… not here.”

“Indeed. We’ll have to look for a monster that matches.”

“Ah! I’ve got it… when was that?”

“The one you mentioned before—‘Brutality’? Or maybe something like the fake Maple from the eighth event?”

“That could be it!”

“Still have it, huh…”

“Strange items tend to end up with Maple, more than anyone else. I only get things that drop in regular fields.”

“Not bad, considering how many we’ve gathered.”

“Um… only a few left, really!”

The focus lies not on discovering, but on gathering. All locations where items not currently in hand can be obtained are already known. The reasons for lacking them are clear—low drop rates, or insufficient experience points when farming alongside level-up, resulting in no effort made.

"Then let's divide the work. No one’s told Maple she must do it alone."

"Thank you!"

Dividing the task where possible improves efficiency. Areas with poor drop rates, requiring many enemies to be slain, would waste Maple’s time unnecessarily.

Thus, the decision is made to split the gathering duties, each heading to locations best suited to their strengths.