CHAPTER 3

From Solo to Partied

Part I: Reporting Back

We picked up the two Slow Salamanders we’d tamed on our way back through the second floor then used the Return Scroll to exit the labyrinth. Shirone was taken away to the Guild Saviors headquarters. Kozelka raised a salute in our direction and left with Khosrow at her side.

“Arihito! You guys… I’m so glad you’re all okay…!” cried Madoka as she ran toward us. She must have been waiting for us to arrive. Igarashi smiled warmly as she approached our friend, who looked just about ready to burst into tears.

“Well, good thing that’s settled… No rest for the wicked, though. In any case, we should take a little break for the time being,” said Igarashi.

“Of course. What would you like to do for dinner?” asked Madoka. “I’ll call for it right away!”

Dusk had begun to fall, and the enticing smells of dinners being prepared wafted over from the neighboring houses. It felt like we’d been in the Plateau of Primary Colors for just a few hours, but I suddenly realized how famished I was—and it looked like the others were in exactly the same boat.

“How about we get some takeout and eat in tonight?” I suggested. “There are some other restaurants I’d like to check out, but we might end up moving tomorrow.”

“Takeout—I haven’t heard that word in a long time,” said Igarashi. “Madoka, do you think you could get food delivered to our apartment?”

“Sure, I can arrange for a Carrier to bring it to us. I think I’ll try ordering from three different restaurants to get a little variety.”

“Ooh, then let’s get something from that Refreshing Heaven place that was so good last time! And something from A Taste of Leuven and some kind of pasta or pizza!” said Misaki, pulling out a notebook she must’ve picked up at some point. She started reading off a list she’d kept of all the restaurants we’d visited. There appeared to be no objections, but then Melissa raised her hand.

“…We shouldn’t eat only takeout. I’ll make the pasta and pizza. My dad taught me how.”

“I bet even I could help you out with a dish like that,” Igarashi said. “I’ll be your sous-chef again if you don’t mind. Everything goes so smoothly with you at the helm in the kitchen, Melissa.”

“Please let me help as well. I did nothing but wait outside the labyrinth today.”

“Suzu, you’re making me look extra bad! I didn’t do a single thing… Wait, how did your morale get so full, Suzu?”

I was curious about that myself, but I figured maybe it had something to do with the close bond Elitia and Suzuna shared—that is, until I realized Suzuna had her eyes fixed on me for some reason.

“What’s up, Suzuna?”

“…N-nothing. I’m sorry, I know we only did it because you needed me to…”

“Oh-ho-hoh? Suzu, are you thinking maybe you’re all fired up now ’cause you’ve gotten closer to Arihi—”

“M-Misaki, let’s talk about this over there… Sorry, Arihito!”

Suzuna hastily slapped her hand over Misaki’s mouth and led her away from the group. Was there something special about the Trust Levels between Suzuna and me that affected her morale? I didn’t think anyone really stood out from the rest of the group in that respect.

“I get the feeling me and Theresia’s morale went up, too…,” said Igarashi.

“……”

“…It’s hard for mine to go up. Maybe I need to get more into it,” said Melissa.

“Y-you think it works like that…? Arihito, how about my morale? Does it increase pretty easily?” asked Madoka.

We’d seen Madoka use her Item Effects Morale Discharge before, but Melissa hadn’t yet activated hers even though she was maxed out. Morale gradually decreased once you left the labyrinth, and I was looking forward to seeing what her Morale Discharge did next time she had the chance to use it.

“Oh… U-umm, it looks like Theresia’s getting a little flustered, so maybe we should talk about this some other time,” Igarashi cut in.

“Fiiine. I think my morale adds up slower than yours, Kyouka. The key to a man’s Trust Levels is through his stomach, though, so I guess I should help out with dinner, too!”

If that’s true, Labyrinth Country restauranteurs must be the most trusted people around.

In my case, Trust Levels between my party members rose every time I supported them; I felt lucky I’d gone with Rearguard, even though the job still held quite a bit of mystery. We had those bonds to thank for getting us out of some pretty close scrapes.

“…Ahem. Atobe, don’t read too much into those Trust Levels. You’ll put us all in an awkward position if you start thinking about it too deeply.”

“Hm…? Obviously I think they’re very important, but what do you mean about reading too much into them?” I asked casually in response, but Igarashi just gave me a vague smile and started heading home with the others. Theresia’s complexion had taken on a lobster red tint for the past few minutes, which made it kind of awkward to walk alongside her. I wound up falling behind everyone on our walk home, a hardcore rearguard till the end.

I went up to speak with Louisa at her post in Green Hall, but she was just about to clock out for the day, so we decided to handle the post-seeking report back at our place. Once we returned to the terrace house, I assuaged my guilt for leaving dinner to the rest of the gang by promising I’d help out next time and sat down across the living room table from Louisa to talk.

“Let me begin by saying how glad I am to see you all come out of this most recent expedition safely and soundly. Word has it you came to the rescue of several Seekers in the Plateau of Primary Colors.”

“It’s kind of a long story… Did you by any chance hear what happened?”

“I understand a member of Elitia’s former party, a Ms. Shirone Kuzunoha, interfered in your affairs. Her actions represent very serious infractions against the laws of our country. I imagine she will be required to undergo reeducation after she serves her sentence.”

Gray had also apparently been signed up for the reeducation program; I wondered if the rehabilitation course would have the desired effects. From what Khosrow had said about expecting Gray to become a “brand-spanking-new man,” I felt pretty certain Shirone had some rather demanding discipline waiting for her.

“Before we get to this latest expedition, I’d like to go over your results from the Islet of Illusion… It’s quite rare for anyone to accumulate contribution points in this labyrinth as it is an officially designated health resort. Nonetheless, your party proved as exceptional as always, so I would like to begin by tallying the points you earned there.”

♦Previous Expedition Results♦

It seemed like we wouldn’t get any contribution points for defeating the ice figures Jeweled Wings had summoned into the battle. But I hadn’t expected to get any points at all, so I was happy with anything we did take away. Louisa looked troubled for some reason as she studied my license; I thought I saw some sadness in her eyes as they perused the lines of text.

“…Your Trust Levels with the members of Four Seasons have increased, yet mine haven’t budged at all…”

“Uh… Y-you know, I think that’s probably because we all teleported to the other island together. I used my support skills to help them recover magic, too.”

“You restored their magic… I didn’t know you had such a wonderful skill at your disposal. I suppose there’s no use sighing about it. I doubt I’ll ever have an opportunity to experience that skill for myself as a Guild employee.”

Louisa smiled as she spoke, but I felt a prick of guilt and the urge to apologize. I wondered if I should come up with an excuse to use Recovery Support 1 on her and try reducing the toll her office work took on her eyes, shoulders, or back.

“You must get the wooorst knots in your shoulders, Louisa. Just say the word and I’d be more than happy to give you my special massage. Think of it as my own personal way of thanking you for all you’ve done for us!” Misaki offered.

“M-Misaki… Thank you, but that’s really not necessary…”

Misaki came out of the kitchen with her apron still on, walked around behind Louisa, and began massaging her shoulders. She had some confidence in her massage skills and showed surprising finesse—at the cost, perhaps, of a short attention span, judging by how quickly she’d abandoned her post in the kitchen.

“Misaki, Melissa said she wants you to handle the pizza toppings…,” said Igarashi.

“Oh, I’m on it! You won’t find anyone better in the cheese-spreading game than me!”

“Just don’t go overboard. We’ve got a lot of other food coming, too.”

“Stop worrying so much, Kyoukaaa! We get plenty of exercise from first thing in the morning alll the way through the night.”

“D-don’t talk about that here… Take it down a few notches, Misaki; you’re walking a fine line,” Elitia chided as she brought her hand down on Misaki’s head in a gentle karate chop. Misaki took it in stride and stuck her tongue out. Their exchange left me wondering what kind of exercise they did at night. Were they having secret pillow fights or something?

“…M-Misaki’s always so cheerful. She really knows how to liven up the mood, doesn’t she?” commented Louisa.

“She takes it a bit too far sometimes, but I can’t imagine what we’d do without this little ray of sunshine,” I agreed.

“Whoa, did Arihito just compliment me?! Do my ears deceive me?!”

“Misaki, I’m gonna take over the toppings if you can’t pay attention.”

“Wait, don’t put that mystery meat salami there…!”

“…It’s not a mystery. It’s angry boar meat.”

I’d had a sandwich with wild boar bacon not too long ago, so I gathered boar monster meat was the Labyrinth Country’s pork equivalent.

“Umm… Sorry it’s so noisy,” I told Louisa. “Would you mind helping me go over the results from the Plateau of Primary Colors expedition as well?”

“Hee-hee… It certainly is a bit more laid back doing this here rather than at the Guild.”

♦Expedition Results♦

It looked like none of the Blue Butterflies counted toward our contribution points, but we still came out of the expedition with more than 8,000, thanks in no small part to fighting two Named Monsters one right after the other.

“D-does this mean…? Mr. Atobe, do you mean to tell me you defeated two Named Monsters when you rescued the Four Seasons ladies and this woman called Shirone?”

“Yes, one each on the second and third floors… One of them had captured Four Seasons, and we couldn’t free Shirone without taking the other down, either.”

“Oh my… You know, I always steel myself as much as I possibly can before your reports, but it’s never enough. I almost fainted again when I saw these results. You really know how make a girl worry… Although I suppose I should know better than to worry about you by now.” Louisa removed her monocle. She pressed her hands to her lightly blushing cheeks a little sheepishly and smiled, tears glistening in her eyes.

“Congratulations, Mr. Atobe. The District Six ranking you see here is merely for reference as the contribution points you earn only officially count toward your status here in District Seven… All the same, given that you’ll be 1,180 out of 8,000 Seekers, you should expect to use the Upper Guild as soon as you proceed to District Six.”

We wouldn’t be starting at the bottom in the next district. Still, the competition would intensify the more Seekers were actively trying to advance to District Five—a fact that brought home just how enviable our shortcut to jump directly there really was.

“…Louisa, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you later.”

“Of course. The Guild headquarters have informed me of the particulars. I understand you’ve received a request to assist with a situation in District Five?”

A stampede threatened to break out in town two districts above us; we’d only be tasked with helping to secure the area, but even that surely meant fighting monsters exponentially more dangerous than those in District Seven. And yet, Louisa stayed perfectly calm as I recounted what Kozelka had said. I suppose she must’ve expected the possibility we’d travel to a higher district might come about ever since we were designated Advanced Seekers.

“I agree it may be more prudent to advance one step at a time toward your goal. However, you’ve always very clearly expressed your determination to reach District Five from your first days in District Eight.”

“Louisa…”

“I will accompany you to District Five. I cannot assist you in the actual battles, but I would like the opportunity to continue following your work as your personal caseworker.”

Could we really hold our ground against the monsters up there? If so, the chance to rescue Elitia’s friend might actually be within reach—and come far sooner than any of us could have imagined.

“I plan to discuss this over with everyone and then decide whether we’ll go.”

“Wouldn’t you say you’re all already in agreement on the matter? Mr. Atobe, you and your party successfully defeated two Named Monsters in quick succession. I have no doubt you possess the skills necessary to fight any average monster that may appear in District Five.”

Louisa’s encouragement reached everyone in the kitchen and made it clear there was no further need to confirm anything; we were all completely on the same page.

“We’ve come this far. We can’t just let this chance slip through our fingers… Ellie’s friend is waiting for us. There’s not a day to waste,” said Igarashi.

“…It seems like it was just yesterday. When I first met Ellie, I felt like it would take us ages before we would ever made it to District Five,” added Suzuna.

“I know I’m not thaaat much help in battle, but nothing’s gonna scare me as long as I get to be with Arihito and you guys,” said Misaki. “Oh, don’t worry, Arihito, I don’t mean that in a weird way!”

No leap in the dark could scare us as long as we had one another—or so I wished we could say. The truth was we all struggled to keep our nerves at bay every time we fought a monster.

“…Thanks, guys.”

Still, nobody understood the dangers a party on the verge of advancing to District Six would face fighting monsters in District Five better than Elitia.

“Kozelka said we’d meet tomorrow morning, right?” asked Igarashi. “We’d better eat up and get a good night’s sleep.”

The doorbell to the terrace house rang as soon as Igarashi had finished speaking. Madoka went to answer it and ushered the Carriers delivering our orders from Refreshing Heaven and A Taste of Leuven into the living room. Just then, Ceres and Steiner dropped by on their way home from the rental studio; meanwhile, the ladies of Four Seasons, fresh out of the hospital, and Seraphina and Adeline reached our door.

“I say, you always have a party brewing every time we pop in,” said Ceres.

“Don’t pretend you weren’t worried, Master. We were passing by and saw everyone gathered at the front door…,” Steiner chided playfully. Ceres, perched on their shoulder, pouted to hide her embarrassment.

“…The ladies insisted on coming to see you all off, Mr. Atobe,” explained Seraphina.

“Fortunately, they sustained hardly any injuries during the battle with the Clay Giant,” said Adeline. “They were adamant about wanting to see you today instead of waiting for the morning, so we tagged along. Lieutenant Seraphina warned us not to get too rowdy, though.”

The members of Four Seasons stood silently for a while after they came inside. I got up from the sofa and went over to greet them, racking my brain over what to say. I’m glad we all made it out okay. We’ll be heading up to other districts, but please take good care of yourselves—not bad, though not exactly the words I was looking for. But before I could land on anything better—

“…Mr. Atobe…”

“Teacher…!”

“Arihito…!”

“Arihito…!”

The four ladies rushed at me all at once—I could’ve sworn they were coming in for a hug, but they stopped at the last second and laughed shyly as they turned to face one another.

“Ha-ha-ha… We’re hopeless. It’s like we’re always on the same wavelength,” Kaede said with a laugh.

“I—I was only trying to say thank you. Unlike you, Kaede,” protested Ibuki.

“…I do believe the urge to hug Arihito is only natural, given how he came to our rescue,” said Anna.

“True, but we can’t hog Mr. Atobe all to ourselves,” added Ryouko. “Kyouka, Louisa—wouldn’t you agree?”

“Oh no, don’t let us stop you. I’m sure Atobe appreciates the attention.”

“If Kyouka says so, I’ll defer to her wishes. It’s lovely to see you all again.”

Louisa got up and shook hands with the four women. Everyone in the kitchen finished preparing dinner and came out to join us, instantly brightening up the room. Seraphina walked over to me and nodded in greeting. Adeline stood close behind, her hands balled into fists for some reason. Maybe she was trying to offer Seraphina some encouragement?

“Mr. Atobe, I shall accompany you and your party should you decide to assist in District Five. Third-Class Dragon Captain Kozelka entrusted you with this special mission…so I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to join you in battle if I might prove at all useful to you.”

“Thank you very much, Seraphina. That would be a great help. I’d been trying to figure out how we would survive any initial attacks thrown at us.”

Seraphina placed her hand over her heart; she was wearing her Guild Savior uniform, which I gathered was her go-to attire on the days she didn’t need to don her armor. From the looks of Adeline’s much more casual outfit, it seemed they were free to wear whatever they wanted off-duty.

“I, Lieutenant Seraphina Edelbert, pledge to devote all my strength to thwarting any first blow the enemy may strike against us.”

“Thank you, we’re all counting on you. I know we’re much lower in level, but we’ll do whatever we can not to get in your way.”

“We’ve worked together so many times, but your humility never ceases to impress me… Wait, did that sound patronizing?”

“…Adeline, poke fun at important moments such as these and it will reflect badly on your character,” warned Seraphina sternly.

“Ha-ha-ha, you’re blushing. You only started showing me these sides of yourself after we met Mr. Atobe, even though I’ve known you for so much longer,” Adeline teased lightheartedly. Her face grew suddenly serious, and she put her hand on my shoulder. The whole room tensed in anticipation, wondering what she might say.

“Please take good care of the lieutenant. I trust she’ll be in good hands with you.”

“Wh-what are you…? You’ll trouble Mr. Atobe with such nonsense.”

“Juuust kidding. Sometimes you get an instant payoff if you switch it up and try the serious look for a change. Don’t you think, Misaki?”

“Huuuh? Ummm, I guess you could say that. Or maybe that’s just with Arihito…”

“I tagged along today so I could say hello as our commander’s going to be in your care, and to get to know you all a little better,” said Adeline. “A little late to be asking, but you don’t mind, do you, Commander?”

She wouldn’t take no for an answer, but we all realized what this was actually about. Adeline knew she would have to part with Seraphina for a while and was reluctant to see her go—or so we thought.

“Mr. Atobe, the rest of my platoon will also head to District Five as backup… Please feel no need to indulge Adeline’s dramatics.”

“You should’ve let that play out a little longer! I was hoping he’d open up and share his true feelings in the heat of the moment, but now it’s gone.”

“…Arihito, I just realized I might really vibe with Adeline,” Misaki declared with utmost seriousness. No one blinked an eye at the total disconnect between the tone and the content of what she said. Adeline actually seemed somewhat pleased; I dropped the subject after reminding myself that friendship can bloom in the unlikeliest of places.

Refreshing Heaven’s signature limited dish, the medicinal soup, had a reputation for being so good, even monks would jump over the proverbial temple walls to get a taste. They made it with meat and bones harvested from the rarest and most curious monsters one could find in the District Seven labyrinths, ingredients so uncommon that the dish appeared on the menu only once a month at best.

“I say, a bowl of something that scrumptious would drag even the most enlightened of monks out of nirvana,” said Ceres.

“It was certainly good enough to make you forget your manners and complain about getting only one serving, Master.”

The three of us were the only ones left in the living room. The others had figured we’d be better off using the public baths, seeing how large our group was, and had already started out. I told them I’d meet up with them later; I was curious to try this spa that was supposed to be specifically designed to help revitalize Seekers.

“I couldn’t help it. It was just too delectable,” protested Ceres. “I’ll simply have to pine away patiently for my next chance to enjoy it… Anyway, Arihito, what are you thinking in terms of modifications? We’ll be limited in the number of items we can process if you want them done before morning.”

“Switching out magic stones or runes should take no time at all, and I think we could make two or three pieces of equipment out of any raw resources you’ve got.”

“I see… Then, what could we add to Suzuna’s Pan’s Flute?”

“It’s got space for one magic stone and a rune. You might consider fitting it with the phonia rune if the flute proves useful in battle,” suggested Ceres.

I decided to also add the stagnation stone to Suzuna’s flute since it could accommodate more than just the one rune. It seemed likely adding stagnation-inducing capabilities to a wide-ranged sonic attack would render it that much more powerful. I still had one extra frost stone, but decided to hold on to that as I could also use it in my magic gun. That left the alter rune, which could apparently use half your remaining magic to restore up to full vitality, and the vellum rune we’d recovered from the Merciless Mourner. I considered having Seraphina use the alter rune, given its particular effects, but we might find other options to consider if we acquired other equipment with a rune slot.

I appraised the vellum rune and found more details about its effects.

♦Vellum Rune♦

“This vellum rune… It’s a bit tricky figuring out where to put it, given the risks involved. Incapacitated would mean your life is in incredibly great danger,” Ceres explained.

I guess this would be best for someone with a higher level like Elitia, or higher vitality like Cion or Seraphina, but neither Elitia nor Cion has any slots for runes on their equipment. I’ll have to check with Seraphina if she’s got one later.

“Now let’s see, what other resources could we process…? Oh my! You’ve picked up quite a few varieties of skill-enhancing fruits.”

“It’s hard deciding what to do with resources this valuable. Does it look like you could find a use for any of these?” I asked Ceres.

“It’s generally recommended to process these so as to maximize their effects, even for high-level Seekers. It might be best to let a powerful Healer carry them for you, if you ever run into one. They should be able to make some very potent medicine with them.”

“I see… Then I think we’ll just hold on to them for the time being.”

“The other resources you picked up look like they’d be good for making accessories,” added Steiner.

♦Materials Available for Processing♦

“In that case, it might be a good idea to ask everyone what they’d like to use them for,” I said.

“Hmph. I’d wager they’d all want one of these… You don’t have enough for everyone now, so maybe you’d best give them out as presents as you find more.”

“Ohhh, right… Women do love pretty jewelry, don’t they? I should’ve thought more about what they might like instead of focusing only on equipment.”

“Just the kind of keenly insightful advice we’d expect from you, Master, what with your many, many years of studying the human experience and— Ow!”

“Age is no matter to either of our races. Isn’t that right, Arihito?”

“Y-yes, ma’am…”

I hadn’t gotten a very good look at Ceres when I ran into her in the bath, thanks to all the steam, but from what I had made out, she appeared to have been much more mature than the young girl standing before me now. I couldn’t bring myself to ask what that was about, though.

“Then what say we meet up with the other ladies at the public bath and ask them what they fancy?”

♦Changes to Magic Stones and Runes on Equipment♦

♦Processed Equipment♦

Part II: Doubt

I caught up with the others at the spa. After our baths, we all gathered at the lounge that also served as a bar, so I took the opportunity to go over our newly available skills.

♦New Available Skills – ARIHITO♦

♦New Acquired Skills – KYOUKA♦

♦New Available Skills – THERESIA♦

♦New Available Skills – MELISSA♦

Leveling up had given us access to new skills, but there were also many others we lacked the points to afford. We could always acquire them as the need arose, so it was better to hold off on everything except for the ones we knew for certain would prove useful. Theresia’s Trap Detection 2 sounded great, but Antibody also required two skill points, so I decided not to get either for the moment. Weapon Bite would likewise come in handy only if we ran into a monster that fought with some kind of weapon. Dodge, on the other hand, I did have Theresia acquire since it complemented her skill set, worked with her buckler, and cost only one skill point. Melissa told me she wanted an evasion skill, so she wound up taking both Cat Walk and Cat Step.

The members of Four Seasons begged to stay the night; for a second it looked like we’d run short on beds until the ladies whipped out sleeping bags they’d apparently used before and turned the second-floor bedrooms into a regular campsite. I dozed off on the sofa to the raucous voices coming from above and before long fell into a deep sleep.

It was the dead of night the next time I opened my eyes. They took a second to adjust to the darkness of the room but eventually landed on Theresia, who’d fallen asleep seated on the sofa without anything to keep her warm. I laid her down so she could stretch out and covered her with a blanket. I worried I might wake her up, but she was fast asleep.

“…Zzz…”

I could hear her softly snoring and saw her chest rising and falling very, very slowly, almost imperceptibly. It looked at first glance as if she wasn’t actually breathing, so I kept an eye on her for a bit to make sure.

…I guess it’s kinda creepy to stand here in a dark room watching her sleep.

I tiptoed out of the room and decided to get some fresh air—and ran into Igarashi standing just outside the front door in her pajamas.

“Igarashi, what’s up? Why are you out here so late?”

“Atobe, I’m so glad you’re up… You were sleeping so peacefully, I didn’t want to wake you. I think Elitia and Suzuna went out somewhere.”

“Elitia and Suzuna…? Okay, I’ll take a look around the neighborhood.”

“Oh, do you mind? I wish I could join you, but I’m a bit underdressed.” She had a point; I imagined she’d be a little chilly in her pajamas with only a cardigan draped over her shoulders. The weather in District Seven the past few days had reached summertime highs during the day but got quite cool once the sun had set.

“…It’ll be chilly if you go out like that,” she said. “Here, why don’t you put this on?”

“Oh… But if I take it, you’ll be cold, too, Igarashi. I’m okay, really…”

I tried to refuse politely but lost in the end and found myself with that same cardigan now draped over me. It smelled really nice—not that I could tell that to her, though.

“You have such broad shoulders… Good thing I went for the larger size.”

“Th-thank you very much. All right, I’ll be back.”

“Okay, be careful.”

Igarashi saw me off as I left the house. My license told me right away where to find Elitia and Suzuna: at a park in a residential district about a five-minute walk away. Trees were a rare sight in the cities of the Labyrinth Country. This park must have been installed as a green respite from the city’s stony architecture; the trees there appeared to have been planted after it was created. The soft glow emanating from the magical lampposts gave me just enough light by which to see the two girls sitting in front of a monument erected in the park.

“…Ellie, do you think we’re not strong enough yet?” I heard Suzuna say, and I stopped in my tracks. I debated whether to call out to them; depending on the topic, I figured they may not feel comfortable including me in their conversation, but standing here and eavesdropping wasn’t much better. Still, I couldn’t just leave them.

“You’re worried it’s going to be too dangerous…especially if we don’t work our way through the labyrinths in District Six first, right?”

“…I can go back to District Five alone if I have to. But I couldn’t do anything on my own… That’s why I needed to find friends to help me.”

“And we can all go together now. There’s nothing holding us back…”

“…I know. And I know you’ve all agreed to go to District Five… It’s all thanks to Arihito and everyone else that we’ve even gotten the chance. That makes me really happy…but at the same time…”

Elitia was confused. She’d thought the day we would get to advance as a party to District Five would still be a long time coming, and now it was suddenly before us. We’d face greater risks this way by skipping the normal order of things. But the Guild had called on us because they needed all the reinforcements they could get to quell the impending stampede.

“I’ve never actually fought a District Five monster head-on. We had a few different groups in the Brigade, and I was in the third party… I shouldn’t have even been able to get into District Five back then. I was only level eight when the Shining Simian Lord attacked us. The only reason I got into the Brigade in the first place is because my older brother’s the captain and my father’s the founder.”

“…Ellie…why were you on the expedition when this Shining Simian Lord monster attacked…?”

“The third party’s mission was to go into the labyrinth and create a diversion to make sure the enemy’s forces wouldn’t all concentrate in one place… We were supposed to lure out one of its underlings: a general in its forces but not its strongest fighter. But that day…we went to the area where we’d been told we’d find the general, but the Simian Lord caught us off-guard in a sneak attack…”

These monsters had created an entire organization with the Simian Lord—a creature cunning enough to deceive Seekers—sitting at the helm. That same Simian Lord had stolen Elitia’s friend from her in an ambush. It was no wonder all these feelings had come rushing back to her now that we actually had the chance to go to District Five. I myself had gotten a taste of true, if only momentary, despair when Shirone separated me from my friends. What if I hadn’t gotten back in time? What if they hadn’t been able to defeat the Clay Giant without me?

“The Brigade didn’t mean to pick a fight with the Simian Lord. We were trying to get our hands on a cursed weapon from one of the Seekers he had captured. The second party completed that mission, and our captain gave the order to retreat. But no one ever came to help us fight off the monster.”

Beyond Liberty had also employed some questionable methods and excluded other Seekers from accessing the best hunting grounds. I didn’t entirely agree with it, but I did understand the logic behind it. The White Night Brigade’s way of doing things, on the other hand, I fundamentally opposed in every respect.

“…Was it the Brigade’s policy not to go in and conduct rescue missions?”

Suzuna seemed afraid of the answer she’d get. Her voice quivered, but she looked Elitia straight in the eye as she spoke.

“…My brother used to be all about helping each other out whenever we raided labyrinths. But then something happened before we left District Six…and he did a total one-eighty. He made it his top priority to get ahead at all costs and gain the strength to do so. He only recruited people who agreed with this no-holds-barred approach; that’s how the Brigade got to be what it is today.”

“So…he didn’t care if his friend fell behind, as long as he got what he wanted…?” asked Suzuna with what I first thought sounded like shock at how callously the Brigade treated its members. But it turned out there was much more to it than that.

“I certainly believe every party has the right to determine how they conduct themselves. I know I’m in no position to criticize, but…”

“…The first party was supposed to take on the Simian Lord. But we all understood that, as members of the Brigade, we had to accept the same risks as everyone else, so nobody really stood up to the captain or left the Brigade in protest. A few people did speak up in favor of rescuing Rury from the Simian Lord, but it wasn’t enough to sway the entire group.”

But Elitia never gave up. I couldn’t imagine what she must’ve felt the moment her party decided to abandon her friend. The thought alone filled me with rage and resentment.

“You got attacked by such an overwhelmingly powerful monster… How is it that nobody but Rury got hurt…?”

I would’ve expected the party and their battle formation to crumble and descend into chaos after the Simian Lord’s sneak attack. And yet, only one person fell captive. Elitia trembled as she began revealing the reason behind this mystery. She wrapped her arms tightly around her body to try and keep herself from shaking.

“…Rury’s job isn’t cut out for battle. But she’s got a Morale Discharge that can save her party in an emergency.” Elitia explained how Rury’s Morale Discharge, Salvation, had the power to send her party back to the entrance of the current labyrinth floor and inflict damage on her enemy at the cost of her own vitality, and that she’d activated this powerful skill that fateful day.

“The next thing we knew…we’d escaped the Simian Lord, but Rury was nowhere to be found… I tried to go and look for her, but the captain…” She said the captain, her older brother, knocked her unconscious. By the time she awoke, she was back at the Brigade’s lodging.

“Rury never would’ve had to use her Morale Discharge if I hadn’t been so weak… If only I’d stopped him and done my job as vanguard…or known how to use the Scarlet Emperor better…Rury would still…” Tears streamed down Elitia’s face as she voiced her deepest regrets. Suzuna held her close and for a while said nothing.

There was something I still couldn’t wrap my head around, though maybe that just meant I had a different way of thinking. The Brigade’s first and second parties should have had a real chance of saving Rury, but they left her behind without making any attempts. Did they count themselves lucky she’d saved them from going up against the Simian Lord and decide to call it a day? Actually, it didn’t matter. Nothing would convince me what they did was right.

Elitia had traveled all the way back to District Eight to find help, met Suzuna, and teamed up with us. I still didn’t know everything about her past. But ever since the moment she joined our party, her mission had become an important goal for us all. She’d helped us countless times. And so we would help her. Nothing could ever change that.

“…Arihito.”

“…!”

I walked out into the light of the streetlamp. The two girls noticed and looked my way.

“I heard you guys were out and about so I came to look for you. I caught most of what you said.”

“…I’m sorry,” Elitia began. “You’ve all been so supportive about going to District Five, but when I think of the kinds of monsters that means we’ll fight, I just can’t…”

“So…you think we might not be ready for it, huh? You’ve got a point. We’d definitely be in a better position if we built ourselves up in District Six first.”

“Arihito…,” Suzuna said nervously.

I could’ve focused only on the plus sides of going to District Five and put all worries aside. That was certainly a valid option, given the formidable opponents we were sure to face—but it wouldn’t be what Elitia needed to hear.

“But you know, we’ve done pretty well fighting with high-level Seekers like Seraphina, not to mention you. We’ve confronted level-nine Named Monsters like the Merciless Mourner and the Clay Giant…and come out on top. To me, that says we’ve got what it takes to fight run-of-the-mill District Five monsters, even if they might be a little stronger than we are.”

“…But…”

“I’d like to find out what the average monster level is up there. Not that a big number would change my mind, of course.”

“It depends on the labyrinth, but…they’re usually around level eleven. The Shining Simian Lord was level twelve.”

This information brought home just how unusual it must have been for level-9 Named Monsters to appear in District Seven, but it only bolstered my point. We’d fought the unthinkable here and won; trying our luck in District Five seemed in no way like a fool’s errand.

“So maybe we’ll skip over level ten and fight a level-eleven monster right off the bat… We may only manage to take one down, but I don’t think we’ll be totally useless.”

“…But…just one hit could…”

“It’ll be okay, Ellie. As long as we all work together, I’m sure…”

“What she said! A little late to be worrying about all that now, isn’t it?” a voice called out behind us. We turned around and saw Misaki, who must have followed me at some point. She appeared from the shadows of the streetlamp I had stood under myself a moment ago.

“Sorry, Atobe… We got worried and ended up coming, too.”

“Woof!”

“…You’re way stronger than me, Elitia. I’ll try not to get in your way.”

“……”

Igarashi, Cion, Melissa, and Theresia followed shortly after, with Madoka and Seraphina bringing up the rear.

“U-um…I know I can’t fight, but if you all go up to District Five, I’d like to accompany you…!” chirped Madoka.

“In terms of levels, I’m only barely on equal footing with the monsters in District Five…,” began Seraphina, “but I believe this party will contribute in a manner befitting the Advanced Seekers honor it was bestowed.”

Tears shimmered in Elitia’s eyes, but she covered her face before any spilled out. The next time she looked up at us, the fierce, familiar sparkle had returned to her gaze.

“…Thank you. Nothing would make me happier than going up to District Five with you all by my side.”

“Of course. Let’s do this together, Elitia,” I said, and offered her my right hand. She took it and pulled herself to her feet. Suzuna stood up after her and turned to look at me, her own eyes glistening as well.

“Thank you for coming to look for us, everyone,” she said.

“Seriously! You guys really gotta stop leaving me out of these precious moments. I’m just as big an Arihito fan as youuu!” pouted Misaki.

“I’ll bet comments like that are why they didn’t invite— Um, I mean, you must have been sleeping so soundly, they didn’t want to wake you,” said Igarashi.

“I was so worked up about tomorrow…or I guess today. For a while it looked like I wouldn’t catch a wink of sleep. But then I toootally passed out!”

I figured her story was probably half true, and I chalked the rest of it up to that knack she had for lightening the mood and raising our spirits.

“…It’s too soon to cry. Save your friend first and then cry all you want,” Melissa said to Elitia, who smiled.

“You’re exactly right, Melissa… First things first; I’ve got to fight with everything I’ve got, no matter what the Guild asks of us. Otherwise, there’s no point in us going to District Five.”

“So…that’s settled, then. Shall we head back?” I suggested. “There’s still some time before morning. We should rest up as much as we can.”

Everyone started heading back home. I was about to follow them when I caught two figures walking in from the other side of the park: Steiner in their usual armor, and Ceres perched on their shoulder.

“Arihito, we’ve finished up the work you ordered and are off to bed, too. Give us a holler if you need anything while you’re in District Five and we can meet you there.”

“By that she means, ‘Do call for us, pretty please.’ We can get our hands on some quality ore there to strengthen your equipment, too.”

“Thank you both. I’ll be sure to reach out once we get permission to stay in the district if we have any questions about our equipment.”

“Don’t forget to pick up that suit Corleone’s making for you whenever it’s ready. And don’t do anything too rash. This is your first emergency summons; getting out alive should be your top priority.”

I nodded in response. Staying alive did come first—we’d figure everything else out after that.

Part III: Monsters of the Sandy Sea

We breakfasted early at the break of dawn and were getting ready to push out when a report from the Guild headquarters came in for Seraphina. The stampede in District Five had broken out earlier than expected, and the local Guild Saviors forces, other Advanced Seekers called upon to fight, and district residents had already begun responding to the situation.

We rushed to the Guild Saviors headquarters in Green Hall and found Kozelka and Khosrow, along with a platoon of Guild Savior soldiers, on standby.

“You have my gratitude for accepting our request. The battle is already underway in District Five; we shall now explain where the situation stands.”

“This stampede’s coming out of the Dead Sea Sands… The monsters there’ve got these godforsaken habitats that make it damn near impossible to keep their numbers down, so we’re left to deal with this mess just about once a year. They’re nasty suckers; a single one can give a party with an average level of ten a run for their money. Of course, we’ll all go at ’em together if they do break out into town,” Khosrow explained.

A party with an average level of 10—that’s far stronger than us, if you’re looking at hard numbers, but even they have to put up a fierce fight against just one of these monsters. On top of that, they’re going to start crawling all over the town once it’s a full-on stampede. Those of us on defensive duty will also have to split up to cover the area. I can’t imagine we can count on purely advantageous battle conditions, either.

“That said, we can still win this thing if we get ’em one at a time. Take out their Named Monster, and we end the whole stampede, but we’ll really be in for the fight of our lives if it manages to get a little posse going ’round with it. This ain’t gonna be easy, but try to focus on isolating these sons of you-know-whats and keep an eye out for any party that might be in over their heads.”

“Understood. We’ll stay vigilant and act accordingly.”

“…You don’t have to come at me with that kinda deference. I’m not your boss or anything, you know, so…it’s kinda…”

“Khosrow, this is no time to indulge in bashfulness. Do not let your guard fall for an instant,” scolded Kozelka.

“Yes, ma’am! Noted!”

I hadn’t meant anything special by it, but I guess Khosrow liked how I’d responded. Maybe previous Seekers who’d been called to duty from other districts had been a bit more bumbling from nerves.

“…That’s one of Atobe’s charms. Kind of rich for me to say that, though.”

“What was that, Igarashi?”

“N-no, um… Ahem. I was just trying to say, you know, we’d better do all we can to live up to the trust they’ve put in us.”

“Ohhh? That’s not what I heard at alllll…”

“M-Misaki… You really shouldn’t push her buttons like that…,” Suzuna cautioned nervously.

“I agree, that is certainly one of Mr. Atobe’s graces… It’s hardly a wonder Sergeant Khosrow would also grow fond of him,” said Seraphina without the slightest hesitation. Her expression was entirely sincere, completely unaware of how her input made this even more embarrassing. Khosrow awkwardly scratched at his cheek.

“I understand there are non-combat-oriented members among your party, Mr. Atobe. We’ll have them wait within the District Five Guild Saviors headquarters after we teleport over,” explained Kozelka.

“Thank you for the kind consideration. Should we expect to head straight into battle, per your orders?”

“Yeah… But don’t go overboard if it looks like taking them down’ll be too much for you. Seekers aren’t duty-bound to quell a stampede, but some parties choose to pitch in. We may not necessarily be going at this as the underdogs.”

That sounded exactly like what had happened back in the District Eight stampede. So many people who normally had no qualms going up against monsters in the labyrinths chose to stay out of the fight the moment it spilled over into town. It’s not like they were obligated to help with the stampede, and they knew someone would take care of it eventually if they just waited it out. At the same time, the Guild Saviors needed all the help they could get to ensure Seekers could raid labyrinths as safely as possible. That’s why they’d come to us.

“…Additionally, several special corridors have been constructed throughout District Five in order to corner any vicious monsters that do manage to invade the town.”

“Third-Class Dragon Captain Kozelka, I’m afraid it may be premature to share such classified information with them…”

“Not at all,” Kozelka retorted. “We have street corner cars and other armored vehicles, as well as specialized weapons installed in different locations around the town, at the ready to use against rampaging monsters. Should you find yourself in a situation where you must rely on one of these weapons, please ask the closest Guild Savior for instruction as well as you are able. And if a Guild Savior deems it necessary to utilize said weapons, put as much space between yourselves and the targets as you can to avoid becoming collateral damage.”

“You can leave herding that Named Monster into the corridor to us Guild Saviors. But if it looks like we may need your help…well, we’ll be countin’ on you,” said Khosrow, then bowed his head. This one gesture proved beyond a shadow of a doubt they’d asked for our help out of real need, not mere decorum in regard to our title.

“We will provide every party participating in this mission with up to two level-three poison resistance amulets,” explained Kozelka. “Please confer and decide among yourselves who in your party will equip them.”

“Desert plus poison equals, say it with me… Scorpions. Course, these hard-assed monstrosities are easily the size of a few people put together.”

“Eeek! …S-so you’re saying there’s tons of scorpions on the loose?!” asked a terrified Misaki.

“They live burrowed deep beneath the sand, so it’s no easy feat to cull their numbers. We face a similar predicament with airborne monsters as well,” Kozelka told her.

Scorpion monsters with potent venom; I could see them coming at us with long-range attacks, but we needed to prioritize the safety of those who’d fight them on the front line. I handed one of the amulets to Seraphina and fixed the other to Cion’s anklet.

“Now then…I shall teleport us to the District Five Guild Saviors headquarters. All present, fall in line.”

“““Yes, ma’am!”””

Kozelka left the room, Khosrow and her battalion close behind. Adeline had said her platoon would follow afterward as backup, but they were all fully equipped and ready to deploy. They lined up in formation and saw us off.

We entered a hall with several doors at the end of the corridor. Kozelka raised her hand up to one of these; as she did, crystals embedded into the wall next to it illuminated a 5 in the Labyrinth Country notation and the door gave way.

Are all the Guild Saviors headquarters in every district connected? If so, does that mean Kozelka and the others sometimes travel to the top three districts as well?

We passed through the doorway and walked for a bit before we sensed a change in the air. Kozelka opened another door and led us somewhere very similar yet different from the District Seven headquarters. At that moment, Guild Saviors awaiting our arrival came rushing toward us.

“Third-Class Captain Kozelka, as previously reported, the stampede broke out prior to sunrise this morning! We’ve confirmed a hundred and thirty-four monsters and defeated thirteen! The battle zone begins at the entrance to the Dead Sea Sands and is currently expanding to every corner of the district!”

“Roger that. We’ll assess the situation and mobilize where we are needed. I’ve reported with my battalion and one party of Advanced Seekers; we have one more battalion to follow that will provide backup as soon as they arrive.”

“Understood! I’ll inform Third-Class Dragon Major Furet at—”

“Attention, headquarters, multiple enemy units are racing toward the eastern quadrant at high velocity! Evacuation of noncombat personnel to the designated shelter area is underway but has not yet been completed!”

I can’t imagine District Five is starved for Seekers, but they’ve only defeated 13 out of 134 of these monsters, and it’s been several hours since this stampede broke out. Must take a lot of time to bring a single one down.

“The eastern quadrant… That’s a residential area for predominantly support staff. Captain Kozelka, what’s your order?”

“We must make haste. Mr. Atobe, I’m going to send you a map of the area. I would have liked to do this sooner, but the system does not allow us to display it outside of District Five… I apologize for the delay.”

“No need to apologize. It’s still plenty helpful learning this now.”

“I gotta tell ya, I like that practical thinking. Think you could come with us, Atobe? I want to buy some time for the support staff and other residents in town who can’t fight.”

“Of course. Madoka, hang back here for me. We’ll come get you as soon as we have this under control.”

“Okay…! Please be careful, everyone…!”

The District Five Guild Saviors headquarters, it turned out, was built underground just like the one in District Seven. We ran down the halls and flew up the stairs, the familiar sensation of teleportation hitting me at some point during our ascent, and finally made it to the building’s ground floor.

“Mr. Atobe, everyone, stop!”

We were still inside the Guild, a place where I had assumed we wouldn’t need to worry about fending off any monster attacks. I had assumed wrong.

♦Current Status♦

Kozelka froze just before she stepped into the hallway at the top of the stairs—a split second later, something came barreling down that very same hallway with ferocious intensity.

“Arghhh! They’re shooting off their toxic juice in the Guild… Stay on your toes! That liquid’s poison, but it’ll also melt whatever it touches. Don’t let anything those bastards hack up get on you, unless you want some new holes in your best armor!” Khosrow warned.

“Khosrow, I’m going in. I want you all to make your escape while I draw the enemy’s fire.”

“Hey…I can’t stand by and let you go all by yourself, Captain. Leave the dirty work to your subordina— Aaand she’s not listening!”

♦Current Status♦

They’re so fast… Kozelka’s one thing, but even Khosrow’s got a high-speed skill, and he’s a big guy… Wait, this is no time to be staring in awe…!

“Kozelka, Khosrow, I’ll support you!”

I jumped into the corridor and saw Kozelka, followed closely by Khosrow, racing toward the monster that had broken into the building.

♦Monster Encountered♦

Armored plates covered every inch of the scorpion so enormous, it must have been roughly three times the height of an average person. It trained the stinger at the end of its tail at Kozelka as she sprinted toward it at breakneck speed.

♦Current Status♦

“Hyaaah!”

Kozelka spun her blade buffed by her magic-infused defensive skill and met the poisonous jet stream that shot out of the scorpion’s tail head-on, dispelling it on impact.

“Khosrow!”

♦Current Status♦

“Taaaaake thaaaaat!”

“KYEEEE!”

The instant Kozelka stepped aside, Khosrow came up from behind and brutally tackled the giant scorpion, blasting it backward.

“This extra power… Was that you, Atobe…?” Khosrow asked incredulously.

“Let’s boot it right out of here!” cried Elitia.

“……!”

Elitia and Theresia lunged for the scorpion and rained Slash Ripper and Azure Slash down upon it. Azure Slash had a fire attribute so the attack itself didn’t cause much damage, but Theresia activated it for the accompanying knockback effect, which sent the scorpion flying out of the building.

“Elitia, Theresia, I’ve got you!”

♦Current Status♦

What did it do…? We’re done for if it comes at us now…!

“Once you get to District Five, you must never let a guaranteed chance to attack escape you!”

♦Current Status♦

“What in the—?!”

“—!!”

The Death Stalker had been poised to strike Elitia and Theresia, but Kozelka forced it to direct its stinger at her instead. In a split second, she managed not only to draw the enemy’s fire to herself, but also to dodge that attack.

“Don’t hog all the fun, Captain. Share the wealth!”

“Follow after those two ladies, Khosrow.”

♦Current Status♦

Kozelka’s attack flowed as fast as a raging current. Her silver sword meted out a slew of slashes on the Death Stalker, piercing through its armor and slicing it to shreds. Elitia and Theresia doubled down with their own offensive and forced the enemy to lose its balance. Khosrow’s attack took a moment to activate, but his shoulder packed such an incredibly explosive punch that it sent the scorpion tumbling through the air. This was no normal knockback; the scorpion had been forcibly ejected from the battle entirely, if only for the moment.

“Atobe, he’s not down just yet!” Khosrow shouted. “Leave this one to us; you guys head over to the eastern quadrant!”

“We’ll regroup as soon as we’re able! If for some reason you run into the Named Monster, please do not test your fate!”

“We may not have the luxury of choice, depending on how it goes… But we’ll do what we can! All right, everyone, let’s do this!”

“““Okay!!”””

We ran out the front doors of the Guild building and headed east past a group of Seekers and Guild Saviors in a fierce melee with several scorpions. The monsters’ Poison Blasters had melted away the outer walls of several buildings in the area, and their stingers had ripped up the stone pavements everywhere we looked. Some combatants failed to realize the significance of the Devil Scorpion Stance and paid the price when the monsters’ counterattacks sent them flying. Others fell in immediately after and pummeled the scorpions with concentrated gunfire from a distance until a veil of smoke rose from the ground. However, the giant creatures rendered the blasts near useless with their defense against attributed attacks and came leaping through the smoke to begin their violent onslaught once again.

“““KYEEEEE…!!”””

“C-can we really…make it out of this mess alive…?” asked Misaki, gasping for air as we ran. I couldn’t think of anything to say. We’d definitely seen some fierce action in the last stampede in District Eight, but this was on an entirely different level. Each and every single one of these foes boasted enough strength to bust through any defensive line, as well as iron-clad protection and the capability to attack from near or far. And they did not go down quietly, even when faced with the full might of an eight-person party.

“Keep goin’ on down that street! They’re gonna break through to the residential district any minute at this rate!” shouted one of the Seekers in the brawl.

“…All right! Good luck out there!”

“Thanks…! How d’ya like this?!”

Then it hit me: These people were technically in front of me, meaning I could support them on the fly with Outside Assist.

Support those two men and that lady… Will it work…?!

♦Current Status♦

“KYEEEE!!”

A Guild Savior with a shaved head slammed the scorpion’s pincers with his war hammer, forcing them to swing up into the air. His comrade, a samurai with a straight sword katana, then hit the monster with a double attack, quickly followed by the bolt of a crossbow let loose by their third companion. The onslaught overwhelmed the scorpion and left it foaming toxic bubbles at the mouth as it teetered back and forth.

“What the—?! D-dunno what happened there, but those were some killer moves… Freakin’ amazing…!”

“Did someone give us a drive-by support boost…?! Thank you, whoever you are!”

“E-either way, this is our chance… Don’t let up for a second!”

My support extended the stun effects on the Death Stalker and would at least make sure the monster stayed immobile, even if it didn’t add much damage. The group’s remaining party members joined in with their own attacks and hit the scorpion with further status ailments, finally bringing their victory closer within reach.

“Simply incredible, Mr. Atobe. How you managed to support them in such a short time leaves me at a loss for words…,” said Seraphina.

“Well, I figured out from our last encounter that stun attacks work on them.”

Still, Outside Assist really drained my magic. I struggled not to spill any of the potion I drank to replenish it as I ran. I started to think I might eventually need to acquire Back Order and have my friends split a bit of their magic with me.

I glanced down at my license to check the District Five map—there was some kind of red dot up ahead, maybe a monster headed for the residential district? It moved so quickly, I couldn’t believe my eyes, and it would stop every once in a while to engage in some sort of battle, or perhaps attack innocent civilians.

“We shall soon engage an enemy ourselves. How would you like us to proceed?” asked Seraphina.

“I’m going to do whatever I can to stun it with one of Suzuna’s attacks before it can shoot that Poison Blaster at us. Vanguards, I want you to follow that up as usual and do what you do best. If it takes that Devil Scorpion stance, though, I’d like you to go after it with your shield, Seraphina. We should be able to avoid a counterattack that way and get around behind it. Looks like that skill strengthens its defenses against head-on attacks but leaves them pretty thin in the back.”

“Understood…!”

We hadn’t yet seen everything the Death Stalkers could do. That support attempt had gone off without a hitch, but I couldn’t let my guard down; proving our mettle in District Five was great, but I needed us all to get out of this alive.

Theresia took the lead and picked up on something just as she was about to turn the corner at the next building. Her Scout Range Extension 1 clued her in to our enemy’s presence far before the rest of us had any idea.

“……!!”

“Theresia!”

She knew running out ahead would set the Poison Blaster’s target squarely on her back. And yet, she ran into the fray without hesitation—she’d spotted two people trapped in the rubble of a building destroyed in the stampede. A middle-aged man lay hunched over his daughter in an attempt to protect her.

My Hawk Eyes told me they had no easy escape route open to them, though I couldn’t see the monster just yet. But Theresia was looking up, not at the ground. Her eyes were focused on something farther back and to the right of the building that blocked my view. The scorpion was clinging to the top of the building’s facade.

What do I do now that I can’t pinpoint the trajectory of its attack? Do I get Theresia to draw its fire? No, she might not make it in time even with one of her evasion skills if she tries covering for the two people in the rubble. There’s gotta be something we can do… Something!

“Suzuna, play your flute! And use the magic stone!”

“Okay!” Suzuna called back loud and clear. She took out her flute and began to play. Just then:

♦Current Status♦

“Eyes on me, you overgrown scorpion!”

“……!!”

“Bow! Bow!”

Theresia and Elitia ran ahead to distract the enemy as well as give Cion the space she needed to swoop in and take the father and daughter to safety. The stagnation stone slowed down the Poison Blaster we had all seen coming so effectively that Theresia dodged it without activating any extra skills.

But the stone’s special attack proved far too powerful. I was worried it had some equally dangerous risks we weren’t aware of, and my fears had unfortunately come true.

“…Ah…”

“Suzu!” Misaki cried out, catching Suzuna as her legs gave way.

The move devastated her magic stores; it had gotten us out of this sticky situation, but I now knew for sure Suzuna would be able to use it only once until she managed to increase her maximum magic potential.

♦Current Status♦

The stagnation stone’s effects wore off the moment the flute’s whistle faded. The scorpion bounded back to its original speed and without missing a beat doubled down in pursuit of the one who had evaded its attack: Theresia. There was nothing particularly strange about its movements. Just devastating, dizzying speed. Theresia wouldn’t even have the chance to lift up her shield in defense. Seraphina could never make it in time; I had to call on our secret weapon.

“Ariadne!”

♦Current Status♦

“……!!”

Ariadne’s Twin Guard Arms shot out and stopped the oncoming attack—but only from one of the scorpion’s two pincers.

“…Ngh… Guh……!!”

This was what it meant to fight in District Five—what a level-11 monster could do.

The enemy’s overwhelming power came crashing down on me and left me staggering. It was Redface all over again; all the turmoil I’d felt at the sight of that senseless violence came rushing back with renewed strength.

“Arihito, snap out of it!”

“……!”

Misaki’s shout pulled me back to my senses. I’d known—or should have known—all along that Guard Arm wasn’t foolproof. I needed to get Theresia out of there as soon as possible, but how?

Stun the enemy and stop it in its tracks. We could save Theresia if we could just loosen its grip on her.

“Let Theresia go…you monstrosity…!”

“Hiyaaaaah!”

“Release Ms. Theresia…at once…!”

Elitia, Igarashi, and Seraphina all charged the scorpion in unison. We couldn’t afford to combine our attacks, or else we might end up hitting Theresia if we overshot the range. Our only option: Hit the scorpion over and over to stun it into submission.

♦Current Status♦

“KYEEEE…!”

♦Current Status♦

“……Ah……!!”

My heart began beating in slow motion.

My vision turned black and white save for the blood dripping from Theresia’s mouth, which retained its crimson hue as she turned her face toward me, helplessly locked in the scorpion’s pincers.

There was no time to waste. If I wanted to protect Theresia, I had to do what I alone was capable of.

“Master, I shall aid you in your quest to save this faithful maiden.”

♦Current Status♦

“KYEAAAHHH!!”

I didn’t unsheathe the sword from my back, nor deal the blow that followed—that Murakumo materialized to do herself. She thrust the naked sword powered by both my magic and her own at the scorpion faster than the eye could see, as if piercing new stars into the velvety night sky.

But the scorpion’s strong defenses surrendered no purchase to her head-on attacks, and it began thrashing its stinger too quickly to follow. I screamed. She would know what to do, even if my voice failed to reach her.

♦Current Status♦

I grasped Murakumo by the hilt and brought her with me around behind the scorpion. But that spot offered us no guaranteed safety from this enemy’s attacks. The scorpion could react in a split second and lash out behind it with its razor-sharp needle.

Or rather, it could have, if Seraphina hadn’t been standing before it. Her Provoke had turned all its hostility—and its stinger—toward her.

“Yaaaaaah!!”

Seraphina’s cry rang out, and I once again requested Ariadne’s aid.

“I grant thee, dear devotee, my protection. May these Stellar Mechanical God armaments shield you from all harm!”

♦Current Status♦

“KYEAAAAH!!”

The scorpion let out an ear-piercing wail. It had struck at Seraphina’s shield too quickly to see, but we all saw how the stinger on its tail snapped off on impact and went spinning through the air until it sank into the wall behind it.

“Master, this is our moment…!”

“Make it count, Murakumo!”

Murakumo stepped slightly in front of me while the scorpion attacked Seraphina. We were allowed only eight people per party, but Murakumo was no mere person; she was my trusty weapon and, therefore, eligible to receive my support.

“Let’s gooooo!”

♦Current Status♦

“……!!”

“Awooooo!”

The scorpion’s pincers loosened their grip, and Cion wasted no time dashing in to save Theresia from their clutches.

“Cion!” Igarashi cried.

“Master, retreat!”

♦Current Status♦

“……!”

The scorpion began secreting poisonous gas from every pore in its body. It was an attempt to injure us now that we had it cornered, revealing just how deep its vindictive nature ran.

“Bow!”

“This poison cannot hurt me. I don’t want to test my protection against anything stronger, but such petty fumes won’t even touch me.”

I patted myself on the back for giving Cion the poison resistance amulet; she used Covering to protect Theresia from the attack and immediately activated Emergency Withdrawal to take her to safety. I directed my Recovery Support 1 in Theresia’s direction as she rode away. I wasn’t sure it would do more than ease her pain, but I wanted to help her recover in any way I could.

“GYEE…GYEEGYEE…!”

“You’re not going anywhere!”

“C’mon, Kyouka… We’ve gotta join them!”

“You know it!”

Melissa saw her chance and took it before Elitia could begin her charge. She rushed at the scorpion with her butcher’s knife and swung the enormous blade down hard.

♦Current Status♦

Melissa’s knife sliced through a gap in the scorpion’s armor and lopped off half its tail. Elitia and Igarashi followed soon after with a set of coordinated attacks. The scorpion refused to go down, however, and started attempting to escape the battle. Melissa transferred the tail she’d harvested into her Repository and tried to go after the scorpion but stood no chance of catching up to the desperately fleeing arthropod.

This must be why so few of them have been killed… Talk about a real pain in the ass…!

“I cannot allow you to escape. We’ll work together and stop at least one of you…!”

♦Current Status♦

Suzuna’s Auto-Hit had one powerful thing going for it: It never failed to find its mark, no matter how quickly that mark was fleeing.

“……”

“Suzu…!”

Storm Arrow drained another large chunk of Suzuna’s magic. She once again collapsed into Misaki’s arms from the strain, but her arrows had stopped the scorpion in its tracks. Even this mighty beast capable of resisting attacks of any attribution was no match for a powerful gale.

♦Current Status♦

It appeared the scorpion’s luck had run out; it couldn’t call on that skill to save it from the brink of death again so quickly. I cocked my sling and raised it, ready to support Elitia and Igarashi, who ran out in front of me.

“GYEEE… GYEEEGYEEE…!!”

The scorpion let out a screeching wail and lifted its pincers skyward.

At that moment, the very air around us changed. Several beacons of light rose from behind the rooftops of the buildings lining the street, and another engulfed the Death Stalker we had just been fighting.

♦Current Status♦

The sky contorted.

Then, almost as if crawling out of thin air, a gigantic scorpion covered in dark gray armor fell from the sky. It landed right on top of the Death Stalker that had its pincers raised toward the heavens in prayer, crushing it on impact and shattering the cobblestones where its legs dug in to support its staggering weight.

♦Current Status♦

The seven shafts of light we’d seen rising up came falling down like shooting stars, straight into the gigantic scorpion’s gaping mouth. The faithful scorpion crushed beneath it soon transformed into particles of light and joined its brethren in the belly of the beast.

“It ate their souls…and turned them into energy…”

“This must be…the District Five Named Monster…!”

The monster’s dark gray armor turned bone white. This was the Death Stalker Named Monster; it had the commanding presence of an armored tank and the regal poise of the highest nobility in equal measure.

♦Monster Encountered♦

“GOHHH… OHHH…!!”

Its cry rang out loud and clear: This monster very clearly ruled as queen above all the other scorpions, as the name of its skill implied.

“Eeek! …I-it’s growing more tails…!” squealed Misaki. The one menacing stinger it already had split into nine separate tails. Each one was thinner than the ones on the ordinary Death Stalkers and didn’t seem to have the same function.

“Heed my warning, dear devotee. You must distance yourself from this monster as much as possible and take shelter.”

A hint of urgency rang through Ariadne’s usually dispassionate voice. I felt my blood run cold. The white scorpion began glowing with energy that surged down its body toward its tails.

“Mr. Atobe, let’s use this mome—”

“No! Everyone, take cover immediately! Anywhere you can!”

Elitia and Igarashi stopped mid-charge as soon as I reined Seraphina in. Everyone had heard me. Even Cion would still make it to safety with Theresia on her back.

The energy gathered at the tips of the white scorpion’s nine stingers. The scorpion queen lifted both pincers in the air, poised to unleash the sinister energy converging within.

“My dear devotee, allow me to grant you at the very least my—”

I understood what she meant. Things would not end well for us if that monster released its attack.

“Everyone, run! I’ll stop this…!” Seraphina yelled.

She wasn’t moving, let alone attempting to run. She’d realized she was the only thing standing between the white scorpion and the residential district just barely visible in the distance.

I should’ve known this would happen, that the day might come when I wouldn’t be able to protect my party from a wide-range attack like this on my own.

No, I can’t give up yet… Keep searching or you’ll never forgive yourself. Do whatever you can…!

I had one chance to block The Calamity’s attack and save Seraphina’s life. And I went all in.