Defense specialization and minerals.

The next day. The three gathered once more in the fourth-layer zone, flying via aircraft to the next quest's destination. Crossing the portal to the other world is what truly matters, so reaching it is not difficult.

They arrive safely at the destination, reduce output, and land. The portal appears. They enter.

Having experienced it once before, they enter without fear. Before them stretches a wide canyon.

"Below... is a rapid current."

"Looks like we can descend along the cliffside from here."

Standing at the edge and looking down, they see water rushing fiercely between sheer cliffs at the canyon's base. No guarantee of life if caught in the current. If death is certain upon falling, even Maple with overwhelming defense would face the same fate.

"Can we not use the aircraft?"

At first glance, it’s not unacceptable… but. To descend so openly with a flying machine feels slightly off-kilter.

Agreed. Not a trap per se, but there’s a sense that some countermeasure is waiting.

The battle yesterday was clearly designed with flying machines in mind. Not every area may have safeguards, but making flight too effortless feels like stepping onto a wrong path. Uneasy.

Perhaps we should follow the designated route?

Let’s try that. We have time, and can adjust our pace.

Then this way. Be careful not to fall.

The narrow path along the cliff’s edge is about forty centimeters wide. Fighting here would be difficult. The flying machine is available, but as before, concern lingers about flight. It remains a last resort.

After walking for a while, they find a crack in the cliffside, wide enough to enter.

Not much wider than the space needed for three to walk side by side, but far more stable than the cliff edge.

"Through here."

"Good. We can move more easily now."

"Will enemies appear?"

"Likely. Prepare your defenses."

"Understood."

"I'll keep the light here."

The narrow passage has a low ceiling, limiting Sally and Kasumi’s mobility.

Maple should lead, positioned at the front, ready for sudden attacks.

Maple holds her large shield firmly, peering cautiously around corners, testing the way ahead.

"Your experience in the fifth layer is showing."

"Being caught off guard would be disastrous!"

"Good vigilance."

The path slopes gently downward. Ahead, an orange glow embedded in the wall comes into view.

"I'll check this."

"Okay. Be careful."

Maple walks forward, her touch safe on most things. The source of the glow is a mineral, its interior pulsing with flickering light. It is firmly fixed in the wall, rooted deep—no sign it would fall loose.

Maple taps it lightly. A burst of light spills out. A small flame leaps forth.

"Ah!"

She jerks her hand back, startled. No damage. She exhales. A small relief.

"Flame comes out."

"Was supposed to gather material. Maybe this is how it works?"

"Boss material is needed. But this could become an item tied to some attribute."

"If it can be carried, let's bring it back."

I think it'll do. Izu-san would probably be pleased.

The small object before them served only to indicate what it was. After advancing further while searching for a mining point, the three came upon a glow so intense it swallowed the light of their lanterns.

"Oh—!"

Rows of ore, both in size and quantity, dwarfed what they had seen earlier. The mining point they had sought was exactly where it should be. Maple stepped forward, gripping her pickaxe with determination.

……?

At the ore's base, Maple caught a flicker of unease at the edge of her vision. She glanced sideways.

Clatter, roll. A hand-sized piece of ore detached from the wall, moving with a soft sound. A health bar hovered above it. By the time Maple realized it was a monster, it had fallen to the ground, spitting tiny sparks.

"Maple! Love That Offers the Body!"

Sparks erupted in sequence. The ore all around burst into flame. A torrent of fire, as if flung into the maw of a fire dragon, consumed every path it had traveled, reducing all to ash.

"...Made it in time."

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah! How about you?"

"Fine. I'm coming now."

Amidst the crackling roar of flames, voices rose to confirm safety. After a moment, the flames subsided. Two figures parted the fire and reached Maple's side.

"Surprised... what?"

"Um, there was a monster that looked like a tiny piece of ore. It ignited somehow."

"This chain reaction. Might need to bring out the boss soon."

"Possible. If it's the same design, Maple's presence should handle it... but..."

A sense of intense area attack. If it engulfs the entire passage like this, Kasumi’s 【Heart’s Eye】 and Sally’s skill will be useless.

“Keep 【Love That Offers the Body】 as-is for now. It flared up right before us this time, but we can’t rule out flames erupting suddenly from deep within.”

“Got it! Stay close by.”

“Yeah. We can’t let ourselves burn out before reaching the boss.”

“Then let’s get mining here too. If Maple’s around, even a misfire should be fine.”

“Let me handle it! First, this spot… ah.”

An effect resembling a judgment, and a clearly unfavorable event, occurred at the base of the pickaxe Maple struck—the sound was dark, low, and unmistakably ominous.

The danger of the material proved too great for Maple’s current status; a spark, far larger than before, ignited the surrounding area in flame.

As front-line combat specialists, their stats were wholly inadequate. Though mining equated to triggering a gimmick, Maple shielded everything, forcing a resolution. The ore was secured safely, sufficient for the task.

“Did well, huh?”

“Yeah. Did… did well. Yeah.”

“Not quite as expected… but that’s that.”

She stuffed the inventory full of ore and moved deeper. Flames roared repeatedly, but there was no need to concern herself.

The next stone they encountered glowed with blue light.

“…Water?”

“Watery.”

“Water, probably.”

Maple and the others read the stone unanimously as one that would release water. They considered what might happen.

“If it’s just ordinary water blades, fine… but I don’t want to be knocked back by a torrent, or choked by water.”

“Let’s handle the choking first. Fortunately, we have plenty left over from the eighth layer.”

“The knockback… I’ll manage it for now. It’d be a waste to place a throne, but I want to verify if it happens.”

Sally tied herself to the ground with string, then extended it to Maple.

“Kasumi, check it.”

“Understood.”

Kasumi stepped into the glowing blue ore, free to move. As expected, a small stone rolled out—then instantly, the entire passage filled with water.

“This… no knockback.”

The sensation of the thread conveys no force pulling Maple forward. Water fills the space, but no current flows.

“Maple, how are you?”

Not a suffocation attempt, perhaps, but it feels far weaker than the fire from earlier.

Though no damage has registered, Kasumi checks whether the attack has affected Maple, who automatically shields all damage.

“…Ah! Maybe that’s it!”

“Anything found?”

“HP, MP, and [VIT] are halved! Duration is sufficient!”

“Full status reduced by fifty percent? Heavy… well, still, Maple can handle it?”

“Yeah, [VIT] is still around ten thousand! The others were zero to begin with…”

“Then there is no issue. An attack strong enough to break through that is uncommon.”

“True. We should avoid it ourselves, though. Thanks, Maple. Be careful.”

“Water after fire. The element remains, but… who knows?”

For now, move forward. We don’t know when this water will recede.

That’s right! Our legs aren’t moving any slower, so it’s fine!

"Then, Maple—lead the way. I’ll untie the thread."

Yes?

The water trap was navigated without issue. The three moved deeper into the passage.