After the event, defense-focused.

Maple and the others had prevailed in one fierce battle after another. One week after the event ended, a quiet rhythm had returned to 'New World Online'.

Some continued quests and exploration on the ninth floor. Others took a break, exploring more like tourists.

And yet others hurried about, searching for skills they wished they had during the event.

Thus, each person’s daily life resumed.

In the midst of this, Maple could be seen arranging a mountain of pure white plates on the table, received from Iz.

"Launch launch—!"

"Though we've passed the moment..."

"Still... isn't that unavoidable?"

There was a reason the celebration did not begin immediately after the event ended.

Among the members of [Maple Tree] arriving one after another, one cause for the delay. The guild home door opened. Velvet peeked out, suddenly.

"Here I am—!"

"Excuse me."

"Ah! You're early!"

"Hmm? Looks like you're first to arrive!"

"Yeah! Everyone else will be here soon, so wait a moment!"

Maple guided the two to matching chairs and waited for the remaining players she had invited.

The reason the celebration could not begin immediately after the event ended. It was because aligning the schedules of twenty players—[Thunder Storm] with [Rapid Fire], [Empire of the Flame] with [Gathering Holy Sword]—required careful coordination.

It was fortunate that their schedules had aligned within a week. That was quite early, by any measure.

As she waited, the door of [Maple Tree] opened again. Two members of [Rapid Fire] entered.

"Hey, thanks for the invite."

"The event was intense. Well done."

"Please, take a seat and wait."

"Then I shall."

Velvet approached Lily and Wilbert as soon as they took their seats.

The two had been in separate castles at the time of the resolution. There would be no shortage of topics to discuss regarding the final stages.

Then, eight members from [Gathering Holy Sword] and [Empire of the Flame Emperor] arrived. [Gathering Holy Sword], having allied with them, would have liked to invite everyone, but the guild home of [Maple Tree] was at capacity. Thus, this time, only those registered as friends by Maple were invited.

"Maple, thanks to you, we managed to win the event. It was good we formed an alliance."

"We won't lose next time. No matter the format of the event."

"We'll do our best too!"

After a brief greeting with Pain and Mii as guildmaster, all took their seats. Izu arranged the meal. They exchanged remarks, reviewed the event, and grew animated.

“Still… impressive lineup.”

“Yeah. Makes sense, I guess…”

Crom and Kasumi murmured, surveying the assembled players. Present were guildmasters who had led the event, and core players from each guild.

Only the strongest players would gather to defeat Maple. Through battles and shared experiences, friendships had formed. Maple’s friend list had grown into something extraordinary.

“I thought Mii and Velvet’s strength would carry us through.”

“Ha. Pain didn’t lose either, did she?”

Sighing, Shin gave a slight shake of her head at Drag’s smugness, as if there were nothing to be done about it.

“Even Crack Sword couldn’t handle it.”

“Attack from Multiple Full Transference—truly dangerous. If my Resurrection hadn’t come in time, that alone would have—”

“Got blown away, just like that. Brutal.”

Shin recalled, nodding deeply. Pain, having absorbed all buffs, swung the sacred blade as if unbothered by Crack Sword’s impact.

The blade’s light, no less intense than Mii’s flame or Velvet’s thunder, exceeded what Flame Emperor’s Realm had anticipated. Still, it was unavoidable. That Multiple Full Transference was a one-time special design—otherworldly enhancement treating everyone as allies. Even Frederica, its wielder, had never seen such power or range before.

If we’d managed to win once somewhere, it’d have been different… I’m so frustrated!

That’s right. It was a close match. I could’ve held out a few more minutes…

You did more than enough, Lilie.

Velvet also pressed hard, I thought.

The large-scale battle during the day.

The fighting that followed the midnight ambush. The final assault on the castle.

Every one of those moments could have changed the outcome.

Maple’s group barely edged ahead, just enough to escape. That was the victory.

As they spoke, Velvet suddenly lifted her face, as if remembering something, and looked toward Sally.

That’s right! I want to ask you something, Sally!

Me?

The thing at the event! How does it work?

What Velvet meant was, of course, Sally’s combat style. Canceling a skill mid-execution, unleashing unseen strikes, altering magical effects, changing the weapon itself. Frankly, it was chaotic.

“I was caught by it myself. You don’t actually have Kasumi’s skill, do you?”

Sally’s combat—cutting down Shin head-on, felling Hinata and Wilbert—had been observed, felt, watched from the viewing area. Even so, it remained enigmatic.

“Of course, it’s a secret.”

“Then I’ll find it through practice!”

“Hey, I had the prior claim, you know?”

“Wilbert? Could you look into it as well? I’d appreciate it.”

“An idea worth considering.”

Sally would not employ her deceptive style unless cornered.

Velvet, Frederica, Wilbert. By skill composition alone, Sally is decisively at a disadvantage. Yet that is precisely what Sally excels at handling.

“Sally-san……”

“D-don’t be so popular…!”

“Aha, perhaps it’s time for duels and reservations?”

“It feels almost like we’re sending formal challenges.”

“Aah, that might not be far off.”

“I wouldn’t want to face her on the battlefield.”

As she had thought while watching from the spectator area, Sally’s vigilance now matches Maple’s.

Rather, Maple had only been too visible, hidden in plain sight—now, in direct combat, her threat has crystallized abruptly.

【Maple Tree】—all members are high-risk. Among them, Maple most of all. This was common knowledge. Yet Sally had now broken free. In close combat, the fact that Sally showed no openings at all, unlike Maple, only intensified the rise in her own vigilance.

The Gathering Holy Sword must aim higher. More guilds are closing in, no longer easily outpaced.

Ah, can't help it. Must keep watch.

The Flame Emperor's Nation too. Can't afford to be careless.

Yes. Not as easily contained as expected... Must investigate the others as well...

This event offered much to Pain and Mii, as guild masters. Only through actual combat did they begin to see how their position had changed since the fourth event.

The Maple Tree, of course. Thunder Storm. Rapid Fire. Other guilds are pressing forward. Still, defeat will not come so easily.

But that is for the next event. Gathering information matters, yet now above all, enjoyment is the goal.

A lively discussion unfolds. If only we had done it that way there, it might have worked. What was the effect of that skill again?

A day and a bit. Still, the event had been so intense that conversation never lacked for topics.

One cannot appear at every battlefield. Especially the smaller skirmishes scattered across the field—each one held unknowns, making them all the more intriguing.

As guild lines blurred, Sally turned to Maple.

“How was it? First real combat in a while, wasn’t it?”

“Everyone was strong… it was tough. But I’m glad you and the others from [Maple Tree] helped me out!”

From Maple’s expression and words, the difficulty of the situation was clear—but so was her ability to enjoy it without reservation.

“Winning was partly thanks to you, Maple. Pushing through in [Rebirth’s Shadow] like that.”

They told me I could do it—so I realized it could be done.

I met their expectations.

Yes!

Victory. Not just that. The many exchanges leading up to it were etched into memory.

Maple laughed, calling the whole thing a pleasant event. Sally smiled back, mirroring the moment.