Defense Specialization and Daily Life 3.

Later. Before the vast Dark Forest, the group stood as planned, ready for their expedition to the 【Maple Tree】.

"Wait, here?"

"I don’t recall a transfer magic circle like that during the event’s investigation..."

It was no surprise that Maple and Sally were puzzled. The ninth floor had been mapped exactly as the event field, and every terrain effect in each area had been thoroughly examined.

"Fufufu... well, not every event has to involve Maple, after all."

"It seems there’s a set route. Our discovery was purely accidental."

If even Sally hadn’t found it, then it was an area unreachable through normal exploration.

One would need sheer luck to reach it.

"Just made sure a few times with Kasumi, so it's certain. Right, let's go soon. Maple, [Love That Offers the Body], please. Monsters will be plenty. I can't guard four people alone."

"Understood! [Love That Offers the Body]!"

The ground around Maple glows, brightening the Dark Forest.

A useful skill, doubling as a light source.

"Looks like we don't need a lantern."

"Yeah, we can afford to stand out now."

Izu leaves the lantern half-drawn, closes the inventory.

Izu, needing preparation before attacks, and Kanade, having exhausted a powerful grimoire in the last event, take on support roles for the journey to the destination.

Attack power is more than enough, even without their effort.

Maple and Yui leading, Kasumi and Sally accompanying, with Necro close by, Crom can deal damage too, and Maple can provide cover fire as she always does.

Stepping forward, the space within is the Monster Nest. The monsters, having noticed the eight intruders, approach one after another.

【Warrior’s Arm】

【Wind Cutter】!

“【Double Stamp】!”

Cutting down the charging wolves, severing the fluttering insects. The great mace eradicates everything remaining.

“Huh, this is way easier than when we came here together. Won’t take long at this pace.”

In the absence of landmarks, Crom moves left and right for a time. Black mist begins to cling around him.

“Here it comes. Worked perfectly.”

“This seems to be proof we’re following the correct path. Just keep moving forward in the right direction—don’t let it fade.”

The same feeling as when I went with Sally to the Residual Light of Salvation!

"Perhaps that's close to what 'focusing awareness on the reaction' means. But wasn't this rather difficult?"

Through the Dark Forest, circling. The search grows hard— every step met with relentless assault from monsters.

[Maple Tree] Full roster activates automatic absolute defense mechanism—safety secured. Twelve iron-plated monster disposal units are in place; little concern for monsters is necessary.

Even now, they speak as if leaping at the enemy.

Then, move quickly through to the inner chambers! Time seems to matter.

Time, number of people, status. The conditions required for the real event's start are varied.

Crom’s assessment was nothing more than a guess, yet it did not seem far off.

Even if they had gone together, the conditions might only manifest within a limited timeframe—making discovery unlikely.

Everyone’s awareness, after the ninth layer was implemented, had turned toward player-versus-player combat, not the real event.

As time passed, Crom’s body became increasingly shrouded in black mist, taking on the form of a dark, round mass.

—Are you all right?

—Can’t see much of anything now.

—But this time, it’s safe.

Maple worries, yet she herself is fully activated in the 【Love That Offers the Body】—no issue there.

This was different from the earlier phase, when Kasumi had borne the burden of monster combat alone.

—The scenery hasn’t changed. I’m losing my sense of direction.

—Ah, if Kanade had helped, we might’ve found it sooner.

Kanade could perceive even identical landscapes as entirely different, with perfect clarity.

Fufu, I’m enjoying this freshness all the more because of it.

Then good!... Soon now.

From Crom’s form, now a solid black mass, a haze stretched forward, spreading into the air before them like a thin membrane.

The haze gradually thinned, revealing a similar dark forest beyond. Yet it was clearly not the same place they stood in.

A castle’s shadow loomed in the distance. And an eerie, massive red moon.

“It’ll close soon. Hurry, come on, come on!”

“Yes!”

“My heart’s racing…”

“Do your best, sister!”

“A castle… could there be books inside?”

“Things found nowhere else might be here.”

“Enemies within are unknown. Stay alert.”

“Alright. I’m burning with it!”

The moment of stepping into an unknown realm—no matter how many times it is lived, it stirs the blood. Eight figures, hearts full of anticipation for skills, items, and gear unseen, step through the gate that leads to the other world.