Defense specialization and victory celebration.

The location shifts to the guild home of [Maple].

The excitement from defeating the Demon King has not yet faded. On the table, Iz's dishes are laid out in a row. Each person taps their tongue against their teeth as they taste the finest cuisine, exchanging thoughts on the battle against the Demon King.

"Delicious! But this amount of food, you couldn’t have prepared it so quickly."

"Ah. You had it ready. You planned to win from the start… that’s what it means."

"Yes. With such a strong team gathered. And only one chance to challenge. If you don’t expect to lose, you prepare thoroughly for victory."

Drag and Dread nod in agreement with Iz’s reply.

Indeed, even if asked to assemble a stronger party than the one Maple gathered this time, it would be difficult.

And the fact that everyone here gathered on the same day is nothing short of miraculous.

Yet... the cancellation of skills and magic remains a challenge. The Empire of the Flame Emperor harbors many mages. Facing an opponent like the Demon King inevitably places one in dire straits.

There is no alternative but to compensate through party composition. As with myself and Wil, skills hold a vital position within this game. If sealed, weakness is unavoidable.

Such opponents will grow more common. The developers have hinted as much. Though not as potent as the true form of the Demon King, even ordinary demons possessed cancellation abilities. Within the Gathering Holy Sword, many guild members prioritize status, favoring passive abilities akin to Fortis's status enhancements. Still, whether they can respond depends entirely on the enemy.

The existence of the Demon King's true form has prompted each guild master to reconsider the future.

Of course, this will not serve as a standard for creating monsters beyond the tenth layer. Yet, when preparing powerful bosses, one figure inevitably comes to mind.

Absorption, defense penetration, teleportation, instant death-level firepower, continuous damage—each of these countermeasures was packed in, along with elements one would not wish to face.

Eleventh layer. Twelfth layer. The boss strength increases. Though presented as aid to Maple, this battle proved meaningful for each guild.

Thus, all spoke their thoughts, and the celebration gradually settled.

Maple stepped out from the heated room, onto the balcony, and looked back on today’s fight.

"Everything went well..."

Maple was the one who called out to each player. She had been the one most anxious about whether they could truly win, even before the battle began today.

"Maple!"

"Ah, Sally!"

"Short break?"

"Yeah, something like that."

"The Demon King was strong, huh."

"Strong indeed. A single mistake would’ve been dangerous."

"We almost collapsed all at once. And, Maple, you wanted everyone to survive, didn’t you? To win without a single death— that was no small thing."

Even with the 【Resurrection】 ability, the Demon King’s attacks were relentless, each one claiming lives with ease.

That all had survived to claim victory was, without doubt, the best possible outcome.

"Now it’s just the event, huh."

"...Yes."

The next event.

It was the festival that Maple and Sally would attend together, the last one.

Held in conjunction with the tenth layer, a definitive stage of the event, it required only participation and medal collection. After that, one need only do their best. No need to strive relentlessly upward. A certain lightness to it.

But Sally’s heart remained unsettled. She had explored the tenth layer. Gathered the Heart of the Demon. Finally defeated the Demon.

Yes. The time had come.

“Hmm… what should I do…?”

“……”

“What are you doing!?!”

“Gyah!? V-Velvet… you startled me!”

“Ahaha, sorry.”

“We were talking about the event.”

“Aah! What’s Maple planning to do?”

“Hmm… I’m not good at PVP. If nothing else, maybe all of us together in PVE?”

Velvet clapped her hands sharply. Grasped Maple’s shoulder firmly.

“That’s it! That’s exactly it!”

“Eh…? Eh!?!”

I came to ask you, Maple, if you’d join us in PVP… if we could fight again, just once more.

Velvet speaks with a serious expression.

The last event was a battle between factions. Yet Velvet versus Hinata, and Maple versus Sally—those were direct confrontations. At that time, Maple’s side had prevailed.

Maple had never held a firm opinion on which side was better. Velvet’s unusually earnest proposal unsettles the uncertainty that had lingered within Maple.

Hmm… then maybe PVP with Sally?

Exactly! That’s exactly it!

Eh… what? Why?

Fufu… I’d like a one-on-one match this time. How about we treat it as a reward for aiding in the demon lord’s defeat?

Mmm… well, if you put it that way…

Maple had not explicitly offered a reward for assistance in this battle.

Yet the fact so many had gathered here was largely due to Maple’s standing.

That was why, when told this might be a reward, Maple felt uncertain.

“Of course, I won’t force it. But if you’re unsure, I’d be glad if you accepted.”

“Hmm… Sally, what about you? If I go alone, we can’t team up…”

“Ah, ah… well… then I’ll join the PVP. I mean, I’ve always thought it wasn’t bad.”

“Sally’s good at PVP, after all.”

“Yeah… that’s right…”

Sally answered with unusual hesitation, caught off guard by the unexpected turn.

“We’re not doing PVE together… If Sally wants to go alone… then yes! I’ll ask the others! Velvet, wait a moment!”

“Understood!”

Maple hurried toward the room, her form vanishing from sight. Then Velvet spoke.

“One loaned item.”

“…………!”

“Heh. Rare to see that expression. A bit forceful, perhaps.”

Velvet’s intent was clear to Sally. Not to make Maple choose PVP. Not to fight her one-on-one.

To place Sally and Maple in separate brackets for PVP. To create an opportunity for Sally to challenge Maple.

Velvet knew Sally’s thoughts.

“Thinking is fine. But lingering too long—regret later is worse. Sally… I think you may indulge yourself a little.”

“……Yeah.”

“If this is the first and last chance—stopping now, letting it pass, would be wasteful.”

“Yeah.”

Sally’s eyes met Velvet’s without hesitation.

I am going to defeat Maple. I will wager everything I have built.

All that has been accumulated, all that has been wished for—what was it for? What was it?

Sally no longer pretends.

Hah, you’ve made up your mind. You’ll have to tell me the result, won’t you?

Yeah. Thank you. You’ll be angry if I take it, won’t you?

Heh, I won’t take it!

Joking. But… yes. Defeating Maple is mine. If I die, the one who takes me is only one. I won’t let it go to anyone. I won’t let it go.

Every moment of doubt, every moment of surrender—now they burn as a fierce, bright flame within Sally.

Then I should head back soon. Oh, before that, I should return to my usual demeanor, right?

Yeah. Got it… Thank you, really.

No problem. More importantly... I hope you can fight properly.

Yeah. I'll try my best.

Thus, the two return to the room, delayed.

There was one thing there that Maple did not know.

Determination