The next day, we challenged the boss of the 34th floor.
"Left at the next fork. There’s a monster to the right, but we can ignore it for now."
Roxanne led the way through the 34th floor with visible enthusiasm.
"Understood."
"Straight through the next intersection. Ah, wait—if we go left, there are Rock Birds. The scent is strong, so there’s likely a group of them. Shall we take them as a little bonus on our way?"
"Sure, why not."
"I’m looking forward to the 34th-floor boss, so I’d like to get there quickly."
"I-I see."
Even though we were actively collecting Down, Roxanne treated the monsters as mere "bonuses," and she was actually excited about the boss. I wasn’t quite sure what expression to make at times like this. I suppose I could only laugh.
"Outside of the Quratar Labyrinth, it’s said that on floors above the 34th, explorers often encounter the boss before they even reach the boss room," Sherry informed me, her expression serious as always.
"Is that so?"
"I am referring to the Treasure Chests found in the small side rooms. Sometimes, a boss will be mimicking a chest."
"Oh, right. Those."
Now that she mentioned it, I remembered hearing about that. Bosses could hide as Mimics. If we found one, we could fight the boss without having to travel all the way to the boss room.
"They appear on lower floors occasionally, but their frequency increases significantly once you pass the 34th floor."
"I see. So if you’re exploring without knowing where the boss room is, you’ll likely run into one eventually."
"Many parties actively hunt for those Treasure Chests, so it isn't guaranteed, but it is common."
When a boss mimics a chest, it appears alone. A single Mimic is much easier to manage than the multiple bosses found in the boss rooms. Naturally, many parties would target them. In the end, earning money in the Labyrinth meant killing monsters, and a Treasure Chest was still a Treasure Chest, even if it was a monster in disguise.
"Should we try to fight a boss once before we head into the boss room?" I asked the group.
I thought I’d come up with a brilliant idea. If we wandered the floor searching for chests, and if it took, say, a day to find one, then between searching and the battle itself, we could effectively cut our progression speed in half. I wanted to adopt this strategy. Seeing the boss once before facing it in the boss room would be much safer. If we stumbled upon one quickly, then so be it.
"That is unnecessary. At this level, it does not matter how many bosses appear; they are no match for us," Roxanne said, effectively killing my "safety first" idea.
Well, she wasn't wrong. They certainly weren't a match for her.
"There is likely no need to go to such lengths right now," Sherry added. "If we reached a floor where we felt even slightly uneasy about entering the boss room, that would be a sound tactic. On such a floor, we would be fighting there for a while anyway, so we would naturally encounter a Mimic. Besides, the boss of the 34th floor is the Kobold Jaeger."
Sherry followed Roxanne’s lead in failing my proposal. When Sherry spoke, she carried a certain weight of logic. If a floor was dangerous enough to warrant caution, we’d be training there long enough to find a Mimic regardless. The system was well-designed.
And then there was the matter of the "weak" Kobolds. Even their higher-tier boss, the Kobold Jaeger—who ranked above the Kobold Kämpfer—was being treated as a non-threat. I didn't quite understand why a "Hunter" (Jaeger) was ranked higher than a "Warrior" (Kämpfer). Perhaps it was a being that hunted warriors. If so, shouldn't it be fairly strong?
"It’s no problem!" Miria chirped.
"I believe it will be fine," Vesta added.
No problem, huh? Well, if Sherry and the others said so, I’d take their word for it.
"Vesta has become quite formidable as well. It is truly the result of Master’s enlightened guidance," Roxanne said, sounding deeply moved.
"I-Is that so?"
I felt like Vesta had been this reliable from the start. If there was any "guidance" involved, it was likely the bad influence of a certain someone who dodged every monster attack with effortless grace.
"Yes. It is best if Roxanne and Vesta handle the bosses, correct?"
Even if it was just a 34th-floor boss, Roxanne was being cautious enough to suggest two people hold the line. It seemed she had grown a little after all.
"Um, Master," Sherry interrupted. "Starting from the 34th floor, two bosses will appear simultaneously in the boss room."
I blinked. Two bosses? So Roxanne and Vesta would each hold one.
"And the other monsters?"
"Just the two bosses. No others."
Trading two small-fry monsters for an extra boss was definitely a step up in difficulty. It seemed the Labyrinth wouldn't be making things easy from here on out.
"Since Miria has petrification, having Vesta take the lead on the second boss is the right call. Vesta, are you okay with facing a boss you've never seen before?"
While I felt Roxanne could handle anything on a first encounter, I was a bit worried about Vesta.
"Yes. I believe I can manage."
"It is simple," Roxanne explained. "If you watch the opponent’s movements closely, it does not matter if it is your first time seeing them. When the enemy moves with a 'whoosh,' you simply dodge with a 'swish.'"
She hasn't changed at all.
Regardless, even if we had fought a Mimic, it was unlikely we’d see enough of its patterns in one fight to make a huge difference. Furthermore, with fewer enemies, it would be harder to tell if Miria’s petrification was failing or if it was just a string of bad luck. I suspected that if her petrification ever stopped working, it would be a gradual decline rather than a sudden stop. You couldn't judge that after just one or two fights.
There was no reason to delay. We followed Roxanne’s lead straight to the boss room.
"Roxanne, take one boss. Miria, Vesta, and I will surround the other. Vesta, you take the front."
"Please pull them to a position where I can target both," Sherry added.
We confirmed our formation and stepped inside. As it turned out, the careful planning was mostly unnecessary. Miria petrified one of the bosses almost instantly. While having her as a mobile attacker had made sense on paper, she was so fast that the battle was basically over before it began. Her petrification was still perfectly effective against a Kobold Jaeger Lv 34.
If Miria could end the fight that quickly, then decreasing the total number of enemies from three to two actually made things easier, even if both were bosses. Since they were bosses, I could also use my Gambler’s Status Ailment Resistance Down without holding back. Once we surrounded the remaining boss, Miria petrified that one just as quickly. We still had plenty of breathing room, even against "boss" versions of the Kobolds.
"The monster on Quratar’s 35th floor is the Palm Baum," Sherry briefed us afterward. "It has no elemental resistances, but it also has no elemental weaknesses. When it appears as a boss on lower floors, it is alone and relatively weak, but encountering them as standard monsters from the 33rd floor upward can be troublesome because of that lack of weakness."
The 35th floor sounded like the point where things were going to get serious.
"Well, let's test the waters. Roxanne, find us a small group."
"Yes, Master. This way."
We cleared the boss room and stepped onto the 35th floor to begin our practical testing. We started with a modest group of two Palm Baums. I thought they would be an easy warm-up, but they proved to be quite a nuisance.
"I did it!" Miria announced.
The battle dragged on until Miria finally petrified them. I had unequipped my Gambler job immediately after the boss fight, which didn't help, but these were definitely a step up from the Kobold Kämpfers.
"So this is the level of monsters on the 34th floor and above? We can still fight quite comfortably," Roxanne remarked.
I paused. Was I the only one who thought they were troublesome? Also, please don't lump the Kobold Kämpfers in with these things.
"Compared to a Drive Dragon with total elemental resistance, I suppose they don't seem like much," Sherry noted. "The lack of a weakness is merely a minor inconvenience."
I see. Sherry’s level-headedness was, as always, a good reality check. So the comparison was the Drive Dragon? In that case, I suppose they weren't that bad. But shouldn't we be comparing them to the Drive Dragons on the 33rd floor? Or even the 23rd? If you compared a Drive Dragon Lv 35 to a Palm Baum Lv 35, the dragon was certainly the bigger threat.
"I'll work hard!" Miria said.
She couldn't petrify every single monster every time, after all.
"I think it will be fine," Vesta added.
Well, if they were confident, I suppose I should be too.
"Alright. As everyone says, it seems we can handle the 35th floor."
I wasn't entirely convinced, but no one was showing any signs of anxiety. We had defeated them without injury, which was what mattered.
"Yes, exactly," Roxanne said.
I wondered if she was going to keep pushing us.
"Then, let's head back to the 34th floor—"
"No, wait a moment, Master. There are monsters very close to us. There seems to be a decent number of them, which is perfect. Since we are already here, let’s hunt them."
Roxanne stopped my retreat. This wasn't exactly "unreasonable," but I wished she’d stop treating monsters like a "bonus on the way." Although, we had been doing that for a while now. Was a "decent number" supposed to be "just right"? I thought a small number was just right. At this point, I guess one or two extra didn't matter to them. I was losing my grip on our difficulty scale.
I followed Roxanne’s lead. We ran into a group of three Palm Baums, one Kobold Kämpfer, and two Drive Dragons. A maximum-size group of six. Roxanne, "decent number" and "maximum group" are not the same thing.
I spammed Fire Storm.
"Miria, take the Drive Dragons!"
"Yes!"
"Vesta and I will take the others!" Roxanne commanded.
While the front line held, I focused on my role as a magic turret.
"I did it!" Miria cried.
"Falling back!" Roxanne called out.
The Kobold Kämpfer fell first, followed by one Drive Dragon being petrified. We retreated slightly under Roxanne’s orders, causing the remaining monsters to line up in front of us. This allowed Sherry’s spear to reach them, and the risk of being hit by all-target magic dropped significantly. From there, it was a battle of attrition.
"I did it!" Miria shouted again.
She petrified the last Drive Dragon, ending the fight. It was essentially a race to see how long we could hold out until Miria triggered her effect.
"As I thought, the Drive Dragons take the most time. The Palm Baums are insignificant," Roxanne observed.
I really had to wonder where her sense of scale came from.
"They have full resistance, after all. They aren't just for show," Sherry added.
Sherry was more grounded in reality, but comparing everything to a Lv 35 Drive Dragon seemed like an extreme benchmark.
"Well, the Drive Dragons are stronger here than on the lower floors," I pointed out.
"They are merely Drive Dragons," Roxanne dismissed.
Roxanne was definitely a bit skewed. She claimed the number was "decent" and then led us to a maximum group. She truly seemed to believe they were nothing to worry about. Was I just being a coward?
We returned to the 34th floor for more boss battles, then transitioned back to the 35th for more hunting. We fought through the day without a single crisis. Perhaps I was being too cautious. Usually, things felt difficult at the start of the day and became routine by the end. Acclimation was a powerful thing. I worried about my sense of danger dulling, but since there hadn't been any actual close calls, I supposed it was fine.
However, that night, I realized the truth. My Libertine job had leveled up. As it gained levels, the Intelligence Increase (Medium) effect and the power of the Beginner Fire Magic skill both increased. The battles were becoming easier because I was getting stronger. It was a simple fact.
So that was it. I hadn't just "gotten used to it," though that was part of it. My sense of danger wasn't dulling; the threat was actually decreasing. I could keep fighting without worry tomorrow.
The next day, we challenged the boss of the 35th floor.
"From here on, the boss battles will likely be serious. I’m counting on you all."
"Yes! I’m looking forward to it!" Roxanne exclaimed.
I wouldn't go so far as to say I shared her excitement, but if she was that confident, I supposed it was okay.
"The Kobold Jaeger was practically a trial run," Sherry noted.
Treating a 34th-floor boss as a "trial run"... I guess that’s just how it was now.
"I'll do it!" Miria said.
Miria was reliable. I’d be counting on her during the boss fight, especially since some members of the party seemed to have a terrifyingly high threshold for "excitement."
"I believe it will be fine," Vesta reassured me.
Having the tall, sturdy Vesta guarantee safety was a huge relief for someone like me who fought from the sidelines. I chose not to question if she was just saying that to be polite.
"Alright, let's go."
"Yes. The boss of Quratar’s 35th floor is the Canaria Camellia," Sherry briefed us. "Like the Naive Olive and Palm Baum, it has no elemental weaknesses or resistances. You can consider it a significantly stronger version of the Palm Baum."
We charged into the boss room. I kept Beginner Fire Magic as my Libertine skill. If the boss had no weaknesses, this was my best option, especially with the job's increased level.
The smoke coalesced into two bosses. They were tree-like monsters, much like the Naive Olive and Palm Baum, but unlike the Needle Wood or Love Shrub, they were covered in vibrant green leaves. That lush foliage was likely why they weren't weak to fire despite being trees.
I fired off two Fire Storms and applied Status Ailment Resistance Down to the Canaria Camellia on the left—the one Miria and Vesta were engaging. I took a wide detour with Durandal to join the fight against the other boss. Roxanne and Vesta naturally took the central positions, followed by Sherry for interrupts and Miria for petrification. As the last in line, I had to sneak around the periphery.
It wasn't that I was running away; being at the edge just made it harder for the monsters to hit me. Victory was what mattered. As the saying goes, whether you’re called a dog or a beast, winning is everything.
"I did it!" Miria announced.
She petrified the first boss almost immediately. We then swarmed the remaining Canaria Camellia. It became a race between our combined damage and Miria’s petrification. With Roxanne dodging everything and Sherry and me ready to cancel any magic, there was no danger. We even had enough leeway that I chose not to bother with Status Ailment Resistance Down on the second one.
I cut down the remaining boss with Durandal before Miria could petrify it, then we finished off the first one.
The Canaria Camellia wasn't just leafy; it also had flowers. When I first heard the name, I expected a canary to be perched on its branches, but that wasn't it. Instead, a single yellow flower bloomed at the top, right where a face would be. I assumed that was the "Canaria Yellow."
When we finished off the petrified boss, it dissolved into smoke—and the yellow flower fell with a heavy thud. It didn't scatter; the entire thing just dropped.
"Whoa! So that’s what happens."
The suddenness of it made me let out a strange noise. I hadn't noticed with the first one; maybe because this one was petrified, I had the chance to watch the death animation.
"Yes," Sherry said. "The entire flower falls like a human head being severed. Some people consider it an unlucky monster for that reason."
I wondered if "luck" really applied to monsters. It would be a problem if there were "lucky" monsters too. And comparing it to a human head... well, it was in the right position for one. The flower that fell had its petals dissolve into smoke, but the central core remained. This was the drop item.
"So the fruit inside the flower is the item?"
"That is Camellia Oil," Sherry clarified.
"I see."
Appraisal confirmed it. The fruit itself seemed to be the oil. It was convenient that it didn't need to be pressed.
"It is a high-end product, both as a cooking oil and for general use. It is said to be quite delicious."
"Also?" I prompted, noticing Sherry’s tone. She sounded a bit hesitant. I had a hunch.
"Um..."
"It is used for furniture maintenance," Roxanne took over. "It brings out a deep gloss. Furthermore, if applied to the hair or skin, it adds shine and tension, making one beautiful. It is also said to be healthy."
"I see."
"And, um... if used for massage, it is said to promote blood circulation and aid in recovery from fatigue," Roxanne added, her face slightly flushed.
I understood everything from their expressions. "Massage" meant rubbing, kneading, and stroking skin-to-skin while all tangled up. Roxanne and the others. All together. Their bodies slick with oil.
Gulp.
I was going to do it. I definitely wanted to do it. I had to do it.
"Is everyone okay with spending the rest of the day collecting Camellia Oil?" I asked.
No objections would be tolerated. Rebellion would be met with punishment. Heresy with sanctions. I had to nip any thoughts of mutiny in the bud.
"Yes. Boss hunting, then," Roxanne said naturally.
"Yes," Sherry agreed, looking like she’d expected this.
I felt Roxanne might be slightly misunderstanding my true intentions, but that wasn't a problem.
"Yes?" Miria tilted her head.
"I believe that would be good," Vesta added.
No signs of rebellion. A relief. All was right with the world. I doubted Miria or Vesta fully followed the subtext, but then again, that applied to Roxanne too. It didn't matter.
"It’s a high-end cooking oil, after all. Miria, I was just thinking... if we fried fish in Camellia Oil, it would probably be incredible."
"Collect quickly!" Miria shouted.
She started marching toward the exit with a brisk, determined pace. When she reached the door, she turned around and stood with her legs apart, looking like the warrior Benkei. Her eyes were fierce, rebuking us for dawdling. She looked like she was fuming at the incompetence of a general who failed his lord.
The rest of us scrambled to catch up. I hadn't actually done anything to be blamed for, but if even Roxanne was rushing, I’d follow suit.
We left the boss room. However, Miria didn't perform a flamboyant Tobiroppo exit, so I’d have to deduct points for that later.
"It was a bit hot this morning, so maybe fried food isn't the best idea. Let's wait for a cooler day," I teased.
"I'll do it!" Miria insisted.
"We don't have tartar sauce either."
"Kuh... Lemon!"
Wait, what? Don't mess with me. That’s a declaration of war. It’s one thing to put it on your own portion, but squeezing lemon over everyone’s fried food without asking is a crime! People have strong feelings about that. Even as the Master and Owner, I cannot allow a slave to ruin the fried food for everyone. That would lead to a total collapse of order. A coup d'état!
"It cannot be helped," I muttered.
Well, if Miria was the one cooking, I’d let it go. Even if the kitchen got hot, it wouldn't be by much. As long as I wasn't the one standing over the stove, it would be fine.
"The monster on the 36th floor is the Spice Spider," Sherry informed us.
"That worked out perfectly. Even if we run out of seasonings, we can just use Pepper."
"Defeat them!" Miria was clearly motivated.
"This way."
Roxanne led us onto the 36th floor. Miria followed so closely she almost overtook her. If only she showed this much energy all the time. Then again, having two people with Roxanne’s level of intensity might be a bit much. It wasn't that she was usually lazy, anyway.
"The Spice Spider is resistant to Earth and weak to Water," Sherry said as we walked.
"Wait, really? I don't think the Spice Spiders on the 3rd floor had a weakness."
"That is correct. Monsters on floors 1 through 11 are weaker and often lack resistances or weaknesses. It is said this is to prevent beginners from being discouraged by unfavorable monster combinations. Boss-class monsters are different, but standard monsters on low floors are simplified."
The Labyrinth uses humans as bait and lures them in. If monsters had complex resistances, a party might find the 10th floor easy but the 11th floor impossible just because of an elemental shift. The Labyrinth wants people—especially beginners—to keep coming.
If "that floor is a pain" becomes a rumor, beginners will avoid it. Since parties with Mages or expensive attribute swords are usually upper-class, their word carries even more weight. If they avoid a floor, it might even lead to dangerous Monster Houses being left behind. So, keeping things simple on the early floors was just good business for the Labyrinth.
"I see. That makes sense."
I set Beginner Water Magic to my Libertine skill slot. From here on, it was Water Storm spam.
Roxanne led us to a single Spice Spider. A lone monster was rare. I fired off two Water Balls. Two orbs of water flew and struck the target. Unlike the Storm spells, the Balls made it obvious I was rapid-firing. Even with Chant Omission, I had to think the command twice. I wondered if I could do it once. Probably not. I tried to think of two simultaneous shots, but it was impossible. Maybe with training? It didn't seem worth the effort, and I’d probably end up with a split personality.
Since we usually fought groups on the 35th and 36th floors, I wouldn't be using Water Ball much anyway. The slight delay between Storm casts wasn't an issue. The only reason I cared was because firing two Water Balls at once looked suspicious to outsiders. Since I only used it to finish off the last enemy when the battle was already won, I didn't need to push it.
"I did it!" Miria finished the spider.
Well, it was only one. With Roxanne in front, Miria only had to swing the Estoc of Rigidity from the side to trigger the petrification. I didn't think her motivation changed the actual drop rates, but if she swung more often because she was excited, then I guess it helped.
"Good job, Miria."
"Yes!"
I patted her head and cat ears. I was perfectly content with that. I still didn't know how strong a Lv 36 Spice Spider really was, but it didn't matter.
Having Roxanne find small groups for testing felt like a waste of time now. On these floors, we had already seen all the monsters in the boss rooms. Then again, Miria didn't always get an instant petrification. Starting slow was the right call. We had confirmed that petrification worked on Lv 36 enemies and that Roxanne could dodge them easily. We also confirmed I could kill them with magic.
"It seems we can fight on the 36th floor without any issues," Roxanne concluded.
"Well, we only fought one."
"True. Next time, I will find a larger group."
I felt like I’d just walked into a trap. Was Roxanne plotting this? Or was it just natural instinct? The latter was scarier.
For the rest of the day, we cycled between 35th-floor boss battles and 36th-floor hunting. We could handle it. Having a weakness to exploit made a huge difference. Even on the 36th floor, the only real threat was the Drive Dragon.
But we couldn't underestimate them. A Drive Dragon Lv 36 was stronger than a Lv 35, which was stronger than a Lv 34. They were slowly scaling up. What would happen on higher floors? Drive Dragons might become rarer, but eventually, we’d hit a floor where the common monsters were resistant to my primary spells. I had to stay ahead of the curve.
While Miria walked back with a beaming face, I was full of worries. Still, thanks to her, we had a massive supply of Camellia Oil and Pepper. I could understand why she was so excited as we went shopping.
"I'll leave breakfast to Miria today."
"That is a good idea," Roxanne agreed.
In a world where people only ate two meals a day, having a heavy fried breakfast wasn't strange. I’d grown used to it. Besides, saying no would have triggered a mutiny.
"Leaving it to me!"
While teaching Miria some more Brahim, we finished our shopping and went home. I handed over the white fish, red meat, and Camellia Oil in the kitchen.
"The problem is the old oil. How do we handle disposal?" I asked Sherry.
If we were switching to Camellia Oil, we had to clear out the old stuff. Until now, we’d just been topping off the pot. This was our first time producing "waste" oil. I didn't think environmentalism was a thing here, but pouring it down a drain felt wrong.
"It is a waste to throw it away," Sherry said. "If you provide some Beeswax, I can make candles."
"Oh! You can do that?"
"I have never actually done it myself, so it is only a 'probably'."
"Well, it's fine even if you fail. I'll count on you. I don't have any Beeswax, though."
Beeswax was a Grass Bee drop. I’d have to go farm some.
"Yes. For now, we can just store the oil in a jar."
While I talked with Sherry, Miria began frying. She was moving with fierce intensity. The kitchen temperature rose noticeably. Golden-brown fish was piled up in a magnificent mountain.
I had to move fast. If I wasn't done with my dish by the time she finished, she’d be furious. I’d given her extra fish to buy myself some time. With Vesta’s help, I chopped meat and vegetables for a quick stir-fry.
I managed to finish just as Miria pulled the last piece of fish from the oil.
"Looks good."
"Yes!"
I suspected a piece or two had "disappeared" during the cooking process, but I chose not to investigate.
"Shall we eat?"
"Yes, Master."
Roxanne had a slight wry smile. Since Miria was the one cooking, no one could complain. Roxanne had rushed her soup to match the pace, and we all moved to the table. Vesta carried the massive platter of fish fry; Miria had made so much she couldn't even carry it herself. Miria sat down immediately, looking between the fish and me with eyes full of expectation. She knew she had to wait for me to serve the soup before she could start.
"Alright, let's eat."
I served the soup quickly and gave the signal. I took a piece of fish. Even with the fancy oil, it looked like regular fried fish. If it had been purple or blue, I would have been worried. The smell was pleasant, but not revolutionary.
I bit into it while Roxanne, Sherry, and Miria all reached for their own.
Oh. This is... not bad.
But was it "special"? It was delicious, but everything tastes good when it's deep-fried. The batter was crisp, and the fish was sweet and melting, but I couldn't be sure if that was the oil or just the quality of the fish.
"This is wonderful, Master! I am so happy to eat something like this with you," Roxanne said.
"It has been a long time, but Camellia Oil really is as good as they say," Sherry added.
"Delicious!" Miria cheered.
"It is amazing," Vesta agreed.
It seemed to be a hit with everyone. I guess it was good. It had a certain sweetness to it. Not literal sugar-sweetness, but a richness. I couldn't quite find the words, but since everyone was happy, that was enough.
"A Priest or a Shrine Maiden can heal the entire party at once, right?" I asked, changing the subject.
"That is what we have heard," Roxanne confirmed.
"Yes."
"I see."
"However, a Monk’s healing is said to be stronger for a single target," Sherry added.
If the multi-heal was just as strong as the single-heal, the Monk job would be obsolete. There had to be some trade-off—maybe MP cost or casting time. I hadn't heard of any "once per day" limits or life-threatening side effects, so it should be fine. I hated that feeling of despair when MP ran out, so I hoped it wasn't a massive drain.
"Regardless, I want us to get the Priest and Shrine Maiden jobs."
"A Shrine Maiden? That sounds lovely," Roxanne said.
"Um... I cannot obtain that job," Sherry reminded me.
"I'll do it!"
"I believe it will be fine."
Sherry had failed the training once before, but that wasn't a problem for the rest of us.
"As we go higher, we’re going to be hit by more all-target magic. Battles will be longer, and the frequency of attacks will increase. If we get hit in rapid succession, a Monk’s First Aid might not be fast enough. We need to be prepared before that happens. So, I’ve decided to stop our floor progression until we get these jobs."
"Stop?" Roxanne asked.
Sherry looked thoughtful.
"Yes. We could probably keep going, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. We know how to get stronger; we should prioritize that instead of overextending."
"I see." Roxanne began to consider it.
"I agree," Sherry said. "We could likely reach the 44th floor as we are, but higher floors might feature multiple waves of all-target magic. It is only logical to prepare our defenses first."
Sherry was being very supportive. Though hearing her say we could reach the 44th floor made me want to hide under the table. I was glad I’d called for a pause.
"Understood. Safety is the priority," Roxanne agreed.
Safety first. Focus on survival.
"I still cannot become a Shrine Maiden, though," Sherry said quietly.
"That’s fine. But you’ve done the training before, so you can guide us."
"Yes, I can do that."
"Does the waterfall have to be a specific one?"
"The guilds usually have designated spots, but I haven't heard of any specific requirements for the waterfall itself."
"The problem is finding one, then."
"I know one!" Miria raised her hand.
"You do?"
"Fishing!"
She must have seen one while looking for fishing spots.
"Did you go there recently?"
"Yes! Just the other day."
"She said she heard about it when she went fishing during her last day off," Roxanne translated.
"Is there a waterfall near that port?"
"Apparently, there is one the guild used to use. River fish live there."
Miria’s information gathering was always food-focused, but it worked out.
"If the guild used it, it should be perfect. Why did they stop?"
"Dangerous."
"A Labyrinth probably appeared nearby, bringing monsters with it," Sherry explained. "It happens quite often."
The world was a dangerous place. If it was just monsters, though, we could handle it.
"Let’s go check it out."
"Checking!"
We weren't going there to fish, but I didn't bother telling Miria that.
After breakfast, we headed to the Imperial Capital.
"We’re going to the clothing shop to get training robes."
"Um... I..." Sherry hesitated. She already had the job, after all.
"It's okay, Sherry. You’re our guide. We’ll get you a set too."
"O-Okay."
We entered the shop and were greeted by the usual clerk.
"Welcome back."
"I’d like to order four sets of those white Shrine Maiden robes you showed me."
"Thank you. I have everyone’s measurements on file, but allow me a quick check to be sure."
The four of them were led to the back. This shop probably knew the measurements of every noble lady in the city. A literal mountain of data.
"It will take five days for the tailoring. Is that acceptable?"
"That’s fine."
"The fabric is silk, so they are 1,500 Nahl each. However, as a special service for a regular customer, I can do all four for 4,200 Nahl."
I’d lost my sense of whether that was a deal or not. Money didn't feel real anymore.
For the next five days, we continued hunting on the 35th floor. Knowing we’d paused our progression made me feel a bit more relaxed, though the battles were still intense. I doubted we could have reached the 44th floor as we were. I was proud of my decision.
The next day, we went to scout the waterfall. We warped to Hafen first to pick up some seafood at the market.
"Miria, lead the way."
"This way!"
She walked with absolute confidence. Her knowledge of fish-related geography was flawless. I’d thought about hiring a guide, but she didn't need one. We followed her through the woods, and I kept Durandal ready.
The path eventually turned into a narrow animal trail. Since the guild had abandoned the spot, no one came here. The woods became a deep forest. My Durandal acted more like a sickle as I cleared the brush. We were carving our own path.
Finally, the forest opened up.
"There’s the river," Sherry pointed out.
It was a decent-sized river. Miria must have followed the sound. We followed the bank upstream; the walking was easier here. Miria kept stopping to peer into the water for fish.
I saw something in the distance. Not a fish—a bee. A Grass Bee. Its yellow-and-black warning colors stood out against the green. It was a Lv 1, and it flew straight for us. These things were aggressive. We must be near a Labyrinth or a migration path.
"It's coming!"
"I’ve got it."
I stepped in front of Roxanne and swiped with Durandal. One hit, and the bee fell.
"As expected of Master!"
"Grass Bees... that’s definitely why they abandoned this place," Sherry noted. Most trainees were low-level; a swarm of these would be lethal.
We pushed further and found the waterfall. The roar of the water grew louder. It wasn't a massive cataract, but it was impressive—over ten meters wide with a three-meter drop.
"It’s a good size."
"Yes," Roxanne agreed.
"The guild chose well," Sherry added.
"Amazing!"
"It is a fine waterfall."
Even for Vesta, it was large enough.
"Alright, this is where we’ll do it once the clothes are ready."
We confirmed the location and headed back.
When the robes were finally finished, we picked them up and had everyone change at home. The robes were pure white silk. Matching white robes for everyone. Even Sherry’s set, which I paid full price for.
The robes made them look incredibly modest, yet because they were just single layers of thin silk draped over their frames, they were strangely seductive. Roxanne and Vesta had some... interesting tension at the front of their robes. The fabric was thin enough to be slightly translucent over their shoulders and arms. It reminded me of schoolgirls with their undergarments visible through their shirts.
I really wanted to pounce on them, but I had to stay focused. Patience.
We returned to the waterfall. First, we cleared the area of any stray Grass Bees. There were a few, but nothing we couldn't handle. The air near the water was cool and refreshing. It was a good thing it was summer; I didn't want to do this in the cold.
"So, we just stand under the water?" I asked.
"Yes. It is meant to shatter worldly desires and achieve union with the gods," Sherry explained. "That union grants holy power and the skills to heal."
I didn't care much for the theology.
"Can you show us a demonstration?"
"M-Me? But I failed..."
"It’s okay. Just show us the form."
"U-Um... right. Someone should keep watch from above the falls."
Roxanne moved to the high ground. Sherry finally steeled herself and stepped into the basin. As the water hit her, the white silk robes immediately became transparent, clinging to her skin.
It was exactly what I’d expected.
I stripped down as well. This was for the sake of our training. Sherry stood under the torrent, her head bowed as she endured the crashing water, white spray flying in every direction.