Defense specialization and final preparations.

As the event drew near, Sally continued final adjustments in the solitary training hall.

Sally chose a future she could not have reached alone—aided by Velvet.

Maple decided to participate in PVP alone, despite there being no future possible unless someone strongly urged it, and despite PVE being an option for everyone together.

Sally’s wish, never spoken aloud, was approaching fulfillment after a long journey—after making many friends and spending happy times.

Thank you, Velvet.

Maple’s strength, the length of time she has played, may all end here.

Therefore, one must not hesitate and miss the chance.

It will surely lead to strong regret later.

A step known but never taken.

Sally finally steps forward.

She wants to win. That is enough...

She would wish to be strong enough that Maple could not win, if only that were possible. Strong enough to be defeated by her.

But that is not something Sally can achieve. To compete, the opponent must match her intensity. That had been Sally’s concern.

Now, she no longer cares.

Once a decision is made, doubt serves no purpose.

What Sally can do is sharpen her skill. So that when the time comes, she will not make the moment dull through her own weakness.

“[Hyper Acceleration]!”

She evades the enemy’s spell barrage with high-speed movement, closing the distance to deliver a single slash. The enemy’s barrage is dense, yet Sally avoids it as if it were natural.

“Fuu… not bad. But…”

Hit-and-run, striking the moment she closes in.

Simple, yet powerful. The method she has used since her beginning. But it does not reach Maple.

It was not due to the responsiveness, but because of that defense. Before a barrier that nullifies both physical and magical attacks, Sally is forced to use skill-based strikes.

Not making more openings...

Something she had wished for deep within her heart, up until this very moment. The means to defeat her closest friend had been obtained. The way to reach that end had been considered.

Now only to make it higher in standard.

Sally spent another long day confined within the training hall, sharpening her own blade.

Preparations for the event are not the sole burden of Sally.

Iz had used most of her items in the battle against the Demon King. She focused on recreating weapons for attack and barricades for defense.

The door of Iz's workshop opened. Maple entered.

"Master Izu! I've brought the materials!"

Thank you, that’s a relief! Just finished a section, so I’ll take these and rest a moment. Maple, would you like tea and sweets?

Are you sure? I’ll have them!

Fufu, I’ll prepare them. Just wait a moment.

Yes!

Maple left the workshop and sat on the sofa in the shared space, waiting for Iz.

After a while, Iz emerged from the workshop, placing freshly brewed tea and pastries before Maple.

Wow, that looks delicious…

You may eat as much as you like. If you need more, there’s still a row in the inventory.

No cooking was needed during the Demon Lord’s battle, so it remains full without replenishment.

Maple savored the delicious tea and pastries, then began speaking with Iz.

You’re a PVE group, aren’t you?

“Yes. Either way, the reward medals are the same. So it’s better to join the PVE group. Besides, neither I nor Kanade are skilled at one-on-one combat.”

Iz, who places no emphasis on combat ability, and Kanade, who has had to rely heavily on arcane tomes for rear-line support during the demon lord battle, both have diminished combat strength.

Even Mai and Yui, though they can participate as a pair, lack strong defense and have never particularly favored PVP.

“Besides, there’s talk everywhere that the monsters in the PVE are testing the ones from the eleventh floor. It’s convenient. Let’s all go check it out together.”

A monster battle without Maple and Sally. Against the powerful creatures of this floor and beyond, it serves as a proper trial to test the challenges ahead for the Maple Tree.

They all thought this was the perfect moment to face battles without Maple and Sally.

They would fight now without the two of them.

Fortunately, Mai and Yui provided firepower. Crom offered defense. Output would decline, certainly. Yet the remaining six had proven, time and again in past battles, their skill at the highest level.

Iz smiled at Maple. Do not worry.

“Yes… please do your best!”

“Yes, leave it to us. All of you are reliable.”

As they spoke, the guild home’s door opened. Crom and the others returned. Everyone except Sally, who remained locked in the training hall, gathered in one place.

“Oh, Maple too? Come to deliver supplies?”

“Yes! You too, Crom?”

“Ah. Just returned from defeating a monster we heard was strong. Brought back good drops.”

The enemy was one whose weakness my attack and Yui’s could exploit. The usual setup landed perfectly.

With Sally absent, Kasumi and Kanade took the role of drawing attention. Crom raised his shield and advanced. Mai and Yui struck—sixteen blows in a single instant.

Such an opponent was beyond the reach of mere conventional strength.

“This event is to test how well our ‘this’ holds up.”

“Ah, right! We were just talking about that!”

“Ahaha, so that’s what it was?”

““We’ll do our best!””

“Do your best! You’re the core of our offense!”

““Yes!””

Iz decided to leave their own discussion there and turned to Maple.

“But I was a little surprised. Maple-chan, fighting PVP solo?”

“Asked by Velvet… ah, but there’s another reason.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

“The first event I ever joined was also a solo PVP effort.”

So it was the first event.

Yes... I remember it well, long ago.

I first met him when I was still a complete novice. It brings back memories.

So ending it the same way might not be a bad thing.

Indeed. So this adventure, in a way, is about testing just how much we’ve grown?

That’s right!

Maple’s growth. Hmm. That pace is hard to match.

Do you think so?

I’m sure everyone here would agree with me.

Mmm.

The journey so far. The changes it brought to Maple. The right moment to measure them. The same setting as that first time.

Velvet’s request was part of it. But the main reason was this.

To look back on all the joy, to see the self I was when I first joined an event.

I hope we can feel that growth clearly.

Yes! I’ll do my best too!

"Maple-chan, Sally-chan, do your best!"

"Please do your best!"

"Yeah!"

Receiving the encouragement in return, Maple felt her resolve for the event strengthen.

The day before the event arrived. Maple and Mizari walked home together from school.

"Tomorrow, it's finally here."

"Yeah. So much has happened, it feels like it came out of nowhere."

Time passes quickly.

Especially enjoyable moments vanish faster.

"I'm counting on you, Maple."

"I'll give it my all. No rankings, it seems."

"Right. Let's stay relaxed, but still enjoy it fully."

"What will the field be like?"

"From the advance information, it doesn't seem very large, but specific details haven't been revealed. Still, it looks like there are various terrains. One-on-one matches with no interruptions, or sudden battle royals—those are options too."

A field exclusive to PVE has been prepared separately. Monsters do not appear at all.

A space dedicated purely to PVP.

"See? We’ve beaten even the Demon King… let’s go all the way without losing."

"Ooh, that’s a solid goal!"

"If the Second Demon King loses, it’d be embarrassing."

"Wait—Second Demon King!?"

"Sure, you inherited skills. Oh, but you’re also the heir to the oni… with the Hundred Demons Night Parade, so to speak. Hmm, Maple’s in demand everywhere."

"Got all sorts of skills, haven’t you…"

"Even received Love That Offers the Body from an angel. And the Cruelty came from absorbing a demon… Oh, didn’t you inherit the Machine God too?"

"That’s right! I’m the third heir!"

"A successor chimera…?"

"N-no! I mean, maybe not… but maybe I am?"

Just as the dishonorable title seemed within reach, she settled on the second-best option—the one that carried the most weight, the most resonance, the second 【Demon King】.

"I can’t let you win as the 【Demon King】, now can I?"

"Good. Keep that spirit."

"But if I’m the 【Demon King】, I’d like to give Risa something too."

"Really? Hmm… she’s part of the 【Maple Tree】 Guild, and Maple is the Guildmaster, so maybe 【Officer】 or 【Four Heavenly Kings】?"

"Hmm… doesn’t quite feel right, does it?"

"True. Then how about taking one from Maple’s skills? Though her skill isn’t one of the most iconic."

Risa fights with agility and precision—few flashy techniques, like Maple’s.

And due to her usual tactics, she rarely uses large, showy skills at all.

Maple ponders, but nothing settles clearly in her mind.

"Frederica sometimes says I'm like a ninja."

"Ah! I can split into copies, make smoke screens, vanish entirely—ninja, ninja... huh..."

Maple pauses, thinking. A ninja was indeed a fitting title for Frederica. Yet, calling Maple a "Demon Lord" felt, in some way, a step down.

"Decided! Then, Frederica is the 'Hero'! Of course—when you have a Demon Lord, it must be a Hero! Hehe, it's just like in the games Frederica showed me!"

"...A Hero. Yes. That matches the rank of Demon Lord Maple."

"Right? Frederica really is strong, after all."

"Still, she might be overdoing it. But I'll take it as it is."

"Then keep at it like that!"

"Yes, yes."

Maple’s energetic encouragement lingers in the air as Risā absorbs the exchange, word by word.

It is not that she understands the meaning.

Yet still, the naming of the current 【Demon King】 as 【Hero】 stirs within her a sensation like fate.

She will go to defeat the 【Demon King】.

That is what a 【Hero】 is.

Resolve swells. A flush of heat rises through her body. She exhales deeply, suppressing it.

It is the eve of the event.

A moment on the usual path home—two days from the stage of a dream from childhood—slightly different, yet unchanged.

The final event.