Chapter 57

CHAPTER 4 Sun and Water Make for Beautiful Blossoms Part I: Twilight Lakeside Stroll, Second Floor After trekking back through the ring of fog surrounding Lynée’s cottage, we stepped out once more onto the lake’s eastern shore. The Scarecrow Schwarz left the cover of the mist, too, but got no closer to the water. He seemed to be keeping guard; given the fact he could apparently do so all on his own, I assumed he probably had some intrinsic quality that kept monsters from setting their sights on him. “Arihito, should we try to earn more contribution points on this floor?” Elitia asked. “Or…?” “Well, we do still have to check off the ‘make it to the third floor in two District Five labyrinths’ box, so we could try to go for it here or maybe another labyrinth… Hmm?” “……” Tugging on my sleeve, Theresia pointed across the lake to the opposite shore—and drew our focus to the clashing of metal and raised voices. The clamor continued for a while, then abruptly stopped. “That sounded like another party in battle…,” Igarashi noted. “It all cut off so suddenly, though. Do you think they ran down to the next floor to get away?” “A likely scenario,” said Seraphina. “I do hope they did so by choice, but if something drove them to it, they may be in terrible danger…” We were much too far away to decipher the situation by what we heard alone. But if Seraphina was right, the party that fled to the second floor needed help. “Couldn’t they just whip out a Return Scroll if the brown stuff hits the fan?” Misaki asked. “Maybe something prevented them from using it…,” Suzuna speculated with concern. “Do you think they’ll be okay?” “…You’re right,” I agreed. “The good thing is, now we know we can hold our own against monsters in this labyrinth, so if nothing else, I doubt we’d get in the way if we lent them a hand.” “Woof!” Cion barked as if to add her two cents. It couldn’t be easy for a guard dog to stand idly by when a party seemed to be in trouble. “All right, let’s go for it and try not to run into any other monsters on our way. Who knows how long another battle might hold us up.” Hide and Active Stealth had proven effective at deflecting Madoka and Theresia from monster detection, but I’d have to use my Morale Discharge for the effects to apply to our entire party. “Madoka, is there anything on the market, any tools that make it easier to hide from monsters? It’s fine if you’re not totally sure.” “Oh… Yes, I’ve been using the budget you left with me to buy items that seem like a good bargain. One of those is called Ninja Stealth Potion.” “Wha—?! Th-they sell that…?!” “I’m starting to get the feeling Maddie has the solution to all our problems hiding somewhere in her bag…,” said Misaki. “O-oh, no, I wish. I just try to pick up items I don’t often see on the market, ones that would keep their value if we ever needed to sell them,” she explained matter-of-factly as if it were nothing, but I just had to marvel at the shrewd resourcefulness she’d already developed at such a young age. “So that potion must be worth a small fortune, right?” “Yes. It’s currently going for about fifty gold pieces, since Pharmacists can apparently only make so much of it.” “I see… Then we probably won’t be able to get our hands on another for a while if we use it now, huh?” But we don’t really have time to analyze this from every angle. I guess we’ll just use it and hope it keeps the monsters away. No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than Schwarz, standing on his single scarecrow pole, began to move. After a few steps, he looked back at us, then continued on as if leading the way. “Think he’s showing us a safe route…?” wondered Igarashi. “I can’t be sure, but let’s follow him. I think we can trust him.” Skirting the forest that held Lynée’s cottage, we walked all the way around to the other side of the lake. A monster or two just barely stepped within range of Theresia’s detection, but we managed to pass them by without engaging. We followed Schwarz until he led us to a cave carved out of a massive tree, an opening I assumed went to the second floor. This place had unquestionably seen battle; arrows stuck out from tree trunks, and blood stained the nearby ground. “Thanks for showing us the way. Please give our thanks to Lynée, too,” I told the Scarecrow. Without a word, Schwarz turned back and nodded behind his skull mask, which, after the short time we’d spent together, no longer felt quite as menacing. “……” Theresia found something—pieces of equipment dropped among the tall grasses. One, a small shield, had been pierced with arrows; the other looked like a harpoon used to fish. I couldn’t see anything wrong with them, but they must have been discarded for a reason. “Madoka, do you have any Appraisal Scrolls?” “Yes, a Mid-Grade one. I think it will give us more detail than my Appraise 1 could.” “All right, let’s put it to work. Be careful not to touch anything,” I cautioned. We never knew what unseen dangers might lurk within these pieces of equipment. Better safe than sorry, I thought, but my worries proved unfounded. ♦Nelzex Harpoon +3♦ > Increases hit rate. > Especially effective against aqueous monsters. Doubles attack damage to corresponding monsters and reduces damage from their attacks. > Modified with Drought Stone. “…Something must have made its owner drop this. Given that the stone embedded in the harpoon seems specifically chosen for this labyrinth, I doubt the owner voluntarily chose to part with it.” “I think you’re on to something, Seraphina. We should return it if we can,” Elitia suggested. “I can hold on to it, in that case. We’re better off taking it with us so we can return it the first chance we get,” offered Igarashi, then hung the harpoon from her back, spinning it deftly as she did. I could only guess her practiced hand came by way of the spear she always used. “Ah… A-Arihito, it looks like the arrows stuck in the shield have poison on them,” Madoka informed me. A District Five poison-wielding monster… The thought alone gave me chills, especially since that combination could possibly lead to a fatal situation, depending on which of my party members was the unlucky target. In this case, the shield penetrated by a blood-tipped arrowhead seemed to suggest its owner had taken the hit. “I think I’ll take your advice after all, Atobe, and acquire Bulletproof 1 so I can dodge any sudden bolts that come my way,” Igarashi declared. “Arf!” “The monsters here are really dangerous, Cion, so I don’t want you using any skills to cover for us unless it’s absolutely necessary,” she continued. “Got it?” “…Hnnn.” Cion’s Covering skill had saved us countless times before, but Igarashi had a point. Theresia also had Antibody among her available skills, but she didn’t have any points left to take it. Even if she did, the skill only activated a certain percentage of the time, making it a less-than-ideal defensive strategy. Fortunately Igarashi also had Mirage Step, so she would probably manage to evade an attack even at the very last minute. “……” “…What’s wrong, Theresia?” I thought I saw her trembling as she gazed at the broken shield, but she simply shook her head as if to say, Nothing. “I think it’s best you hang back a bit,” Igarashi told her. “Cion and I can move up in your place.” “How can we ever thank you, Kyouka? You’re always protecting our butts…” “Don’t even worry about it. I’m good at that sort of thing; it’s probably why I got to be a Valkyrie… Don’t laugh, Misaki. You’re ruining a beautiful moment.” “No, no, no, I was just laughing out of embarrassment for writing ‘Gambler’ on my form. A little late in the game, right? But…” “I could say the same thing myself…,” I added. “But maybe let’s leave the chatting for later.” “Then, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll take the lead,” Seraphina said. With our brave Guild Savior at the helm, we all made our way to the second floor. Luckily the cave was big enough for Cion to squeeze through, too. The same humid air from the floor above hit us as we stepped out on the other side. A smattering of items littered the sandy bank of a pond not too far away from us. One of the dropped belongings—a backpack—was currently being torn apart by an enormous two-legged, blue-skinned reptile. “……!” Theresia froze. In that moment, I finally understood why she had seemed so afraid. ♦Monster Encountered♦ CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER Level 12 Starving Impervious to water attribute Double-clap thunder strikes Dropped Loot: ??? It’s a starred monster… No wonder the other party had to run…! Despite the snakelike aspects of its name, the monster appeared closer to what I imaged a lizardman would look like. Its massive frame was as tall as two grown men, and its head resembled a crocodile’s; the creature held a double-edged sword in its right hand, and I could also see slits resembling gills on either side of its neck. “Crunch, munch… Gulp…” After ripping through the backpack and swallowing the contents whole, the Cursed Water Serpent Worshipper focused not on us, but in another direction. “GOAAAH!” Something slammed into the reptilian monster’s head, causing it to flail backward. Even with my Hawk Eyes, I barely managed to make out what had hit it: a small bullet-type pellet. “Mr. Arihito, I believe the party that just fled shot the monster…!” Glancing at my license, I confirmed another party was indeed trying to set up another attack on the Cursed Water Serpent Worshipper—however. ♦Current Status♦ > NATALIA activated ONE-SHOT KILL Next strike is guaranteed to hit Doubled damage Added instant death status > NATALIA activated BREAK SHOT > UNKNOWN ENEMY activated SHUTTERED EYE Nullified BREAK SHOT There’s something else hiding out there… How did it nullify that bullet, though…? Though the first blow had bent the Water Serpent backward, it hadn’t gone in deep—in fact, the reptilian creature had enough time and confidence to lift the corners of its huge mouth in a nasty snarl, then run its tongue over its chops. “Natalia, I’m going to buy us some time!” “…Wait, Leonard! Don’t get close! It’s too risky…!” ♦Current Status♦ > LEONARD activated BEAST STEP The boy called Leonard faced off against the Water Serpent twice his size. He wore almost nothing to protect himself aside from light armor covering a few vital spots on his body; maybe he was some type of martial artist? He was too far away for even our fastest fighter, Elitia—much less me—to reach him in time, but I couldn’t stand there and do nothing. “Go around to the right!” I called out, instructing him to get on the Water Serpent’s right side—in front of me. “…Hyaaah!” Following my order, Leonard ran over to the beast’s right flank and attacked; in that same instant, I loaded my magic gun with a darkness bullet and pulled the trigger. ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated OUTSIDE ASSIST > ARIHITO activated ATTACK SUPPORT 2 Support Type: DARKNESS BULLET > CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER activated BUBBLE SKIN Applied BUBBLE BARRIER to itself > LEONARD activated CRESCENT KICK BUBBLE BARRIER nullified attack > Support Attack: DARKNESS BULLET’s lightning attribute penetrated BUBBLE BARRIER What was that…? A leg-based martial art? Somersaulting to close the distance between himself and the Water Serpent, Leonard spun around on his hands and kicked the monster, his legs drawing a beautiful crescent moon through the air. “GUGAAAAH…!!” The reptilian beast wrapped itself in protective foam, only for the dark electricity from my bullet to race through every inch of its body covered by the watery barrier. Though the Water Snake nullified the damage from Leonard’s kick, at least my bullet seemed to pierce the frothy shield. Leonard somersaulted backward after landing his kicks to put some space between himself and the monster. Recoiling in pain from the electrocution, the Water Serpent’s counterattack lost steam, giving the nimble Seeker plenty of time to regain his fighting stance. “Wh-who are you…?!” “Pardon the intrusion, but we’re here to assist!” Seraphina yelled back. “…Haaah!” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated ATTACK SUPPORT 1 > SERAPHINA activated SHIELD SLAM Hit CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER 13 support damage “GAH…!” “Krh…!” Seraphina rammed her shield into the Water Serpent but failed to produce any knockback or cause it to flinch. Immediately, the monster opened its enormous mouth to return fire; it moved so quickly, I didn’t have time to choose what support type might be best. ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated DEFENSE SUPPORT 1 Target: SERAPHINA > CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER activated RAGING RAPIDS > SERAPHINA activated AURA SHIELD and DEFENSE FORCE > RAGING RAPIDS hit SERAPHINA, LEONARD, and NATALIA Reduced equipment durability Severe knockback The monster spewed torrents of rushing water from its gaping jaws as it turned its crocodile-esque head side to side. The devastating rapids engulfed not only Seraphina, who stood right beside the creature, but also Leonard and Natalia, who’d retreated some distance away. “Kah…!” Seraphina sputtered through gritted teeth. “Awoooo!” Unable to nullify the knockback as she hadn’t activated Immovable Mass, the blow sent Seraphina flying—but Cion caught her just in time. Part II: The Scarlet Emperor “Seraphina, fall back!” Elitia cried, then rushed in at the Water Serpent before it had a chance to double down. I tried to back her up as she wasted no time unleashing her most powerful attack, but the darkness bullets in my gun lost their luster and the trigger failed. If I can’t hit its weak spot head on, I’ll have to go with a Stun. Will my slingshot find its mark…?! “Elitia, I’ll support you!” “Blossom Blade!” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated ATTACK SUPPORT 1 > ELITIA activated BLOSSOM BLADE Elitia flashed her scarlet blade in a flurry of strikes. But that very same moment, the Water Serpent responded with such incredible speed, Elitia’s attack looked almost as if it moved in slow motion. “SHAAAA!!” ♦Current Status♦ > CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER activated BUBBLE SKIN Applied BUBBLE BARRIER to itself > CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER activated SWORDSNAKE STANCE Blocks all sword-based attacks “Rgh…?!” Coated in a film of foam, the Water Serpent’s blade ran down the length of Elitia’s sword. ♦Current Status♦ > CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER blocked BLOSSOM BLADE 13 support damage “GA…AAAAH!” The monster deflected Elitia’s attacks, but Attack Support 1 pierced its defenses; still, a single stage didn’t even manage to make the lizard reel. Her Blossom Blade rebuffed, Elitia couldn’t immediately switch to another tactic even though she had less than a second before the Water Serpent went in for the counter. But then— “Yaaaaah!” “Igarashi…!” —our Valkyrie had already rushed up close to the crocodile-headed monster, firmly gripping the harpoon she’d just picked up. Right… That party might’ve chosen that harpoon specifically to fight this monster. Let’s hope it does some damage…! “Arihito…!” “Not yet, Suzuna…!” Though Misaki stood too far away from the monster for her cards to reach, the distance meant nothing to Suzuna’s arrows—but I couldn’t have her shoot just yet. That thing is going to wait for Igarashi to strike…to make its move on her—no doubt about it…! ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated ATTACK SUPPORT 2 Support Type: FORCE SHOT: STUN > KYOUKA activated THIRSTY THRUST Hit CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER Weak spot attack Canceled BUBBLE BARRIER CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER was Stunned “GAAAAH!!” Powered by the Drought Stone’s special effects, the harpoon in Igarashi’s hands blew all the protective foam surrounding the monster’s body away. And yet she didn’t stop there. “Surge forth… Lightning Rage!” ♦Current Status♦ > KYOUKA activated LIGHTNING RAGE Hit CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER Weak spot attack > CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER was Electrocuted “GOAAAA…!” Electricity pulsed through the Water Serpent as it writhed in pain. The jolt also hit the pond, forcing Igarashi to take a huge jump back. “—?!” The very next instant, Igarashi’s eyes flickered away from the reptilian monster in a completely different direction. This is it! Faster than I could process the scene in my mind, faster even than I could yell out the orders, I instructed Suzuna to release her arrows—with a skill. Command Support! ♦Current Status♦ > KYOUKA activated BULLETPROOF 1 UNKNOWN ENEMY detected POISON ARROW > ARIHITO activated COMMAND SUPPORT 1 Now possible to guide party members’ targets > SUZUNA activated AUTO-HIT Next two shots will automatically hit > SUZUNA activated FORBIDDEN ARROW “Suzuna!” “Hit your mark…!” Suzuna cried, unleashing her arrow toward a mangrove-like tree not at all near the Water Serpent. The bolt seemed destined to lodge itself in a tree, but it flew past the obstacles in its way and hit the monster lurking in the shadows. “—?!” ♦Current Status♦ > UNKNOWN ENEMY activated SHUTTERED EYE Ineffective against AUTO-HIT > FORBIDDEN ARROW hit UNKNOWN ENEMY > UNKNOWN ENEMY revealed to be LAMIA OF THE DEEP > LAMIA OF THE DEEP was Stunned Action canceled With an unholy wail, the hidden foe flailed backward and finally came into view, revealing an appearance true to the Lamia name: a monster with the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a snake—specifically, a water snake. Fortified by the Merciful Winged Mirage Morpho’s feeler, Suzuna’s bow now had the power to send out bolts that dipped and dodged past obstacles to find their mark. What’s more, those arrows seemed impervious to the monster’s Shuttered Eye skill, which evidently served to block incoming projectiles. It was the best attack we could’ve dreamed of. Those arrows seem to do more damage than her usual ones. If we can keep feinting from this distance, we’ll destroy those monsters in no time. “……!” “It’s okay, Theresia. Don’t push yourself. Leave this to us.” “……” By no means could I have Theresia join this battle. If my hunch was right, that Cursed Water Serpent Worshipper bore a great resemblance to the monster that turned her into a demi-human. As long as we were able to work out an effective formation here, we could let Theresia rest and still cinch that victory. “…I…I can still fight…!” Though her Blossom Blade had been parried, Elitia squared off against the Water Serpent once more. The monster covered in aqua scales, no longer suffering under the throes of electrocution, looked derisively down at our blond swordswoman. “Elitia!” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated DEFENSE SUPPORT 1 Target: ELITIA > CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER activated STRIKING FALLS Hit ELITIA “……!” “No, Ellie! Don’t try to fight it on your own…!” Igarashi shrieked, her voice echoing off the water as Elitia parried the crocodilian monster’s downward slash—but that did nothing to stop the aqueous blades that rushed at her in the same strike. The bows tying Elitia’s hair back snapped; blood streamed down her face. Even so, Elitia stood her ground. “…I’ve always…been so afraid…of losing myself. But now…” “Ms. Elitia, you mustn’t! If you continue like this—” “I’ll…be fine…,” she insisted. The drive and determination filling her voice overpowered all our concerns. She’d defeated more than a thousand monsters to save her friend, only to have the skills she’d relied on completely rebuffed—and she could not let that stand. Elitia would never allow herself to lose a swordfight to anyone before we defeated the Simian Lord. The power rippling through her shoulders as she rose to her full height said it all. “…I can get stronger. And it’s all thanks to everyone here…!” ♦Current Status♦ > ELITIA activated BERSERK and RED EYE “Ah… AAAAAH…!” I couldn’t help the fear that overtook me the first time I saw her transformation. Time and time again, she’d challenged gigantic monsters that easily crushed Seekers and slain them with her blade—the Death Sword. The Cursed Blade. Manipulated by the blighted sword, she’d come this close to losing her sense of self countless times; even so, she kept on fighting. And despite all that, she had never hurt her friends. In fact, she only ever used the cursed weapon to protect us. Not for a second had I ever believed she was a truly crazed warrior. “…Ellie… You have to win…,” Suzuna said. But she didn’t try to stop her friend—we all knew too well she’d made up her mind. “All birds one day alight from their nests, chrysalises sprout wings, and swords—be they drenched in blood—gleam shining light,” I heard Ariadne say. She was trying to tell me something was about to change. “I’ve always…always been afraid of the Scarlet Emperor. Terrified I might drown in its overwhelming power…but not anymore.” Gradually, the sinister menace imbued in the cursed sword’s crimson energy that enveloped Elitia’s body faded away—in the end, all that remained was the purest scarlet hue shining as brightly as a red star. ♦Current Status♦ > Conditions to unlock colored weapon met > First-level seal on the SCARLET EMPEROR lifted SCARLET EMPEROR transformed Assumed new name: ANTARES > BERSERK skill converted to ULTIMATUM > RED EYE skill converted to ASTERISK “Elitia…!” Her sword began to take a new shape, its blade a brilliant scarlet—one that no longer held any ominous resemblance to blood. “This young woman had come within one step of her evolution. Then, fearing not to shed her own blood, she paved this path with her sword…” “Murakumo… Think I can back her up?” “But of course. You, Master, know well what you must do.” I’d fought side by side with Elitia all this way, inspired and pushed forward by her strength. She’d now reached a new level of power, but I knew I could nonetheless find a way to help. Reaching over my shoulder, I wrapped my fingers around Murakumo’s handle. The Cursed Water Serpent Worshipper raised its sword to pummel Elitia once more—but I could already see what would happen next. Part III: A Rainbow After the Rain Something in Elitia had obviously changed, and we weren’t the only ones to notice; the Water Serpent seemed to have caught on, too. “SHOHHH…!!” ♦Current Status♦ > CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER activated CLOUD BURST Area Effect: Heavy Rain Added water attribute follow-up attack With a loud whoosh as if expelling a great gust of air, the blue-scaled lizard raised its sword straight overhead, then froze. In the blink of an eye, storm clouds gathered over it and burst, unleashing a powerful deluge of rainfall. “Rgh… Ugh… Wh-what is this rain…?!” It weighed heavily as it poured down on us, sticking to our bodies and slowing our movements. “Grrr…rrr…” “A-Arihito… This rain…it’s like craaazy heavy…!” ♦Current Status♦ > CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER’s stats increased Added BUBBLE BARRIER The crocodilian monster’s skill created an area effect that augmented its powers and restored the Bubble Barrier that Igarashi had dispersed. Drenched in rain of its own making, the Water Serpent had clearly grown stronger. I wanted badly to support Elitia, but this heavy squall would surely throw all my bullets off. I’ve got to stop this rain… I’ll use Rear Stance to get behind the monster…! “Master, you have no need to rush,” Murakumo advised, and I abandoned the hasty idea. “Rain is a blessing for blooming flowers. Let us watch over our young friend… We can assist her best at the end of it all.” “RAAAAAAH!” ♦Current Status♦ > ELITIA acquired COMET RAID > ELITIA activated ULTIMATUM Attack power and speed increased Added SCARLET TRAILS This is no Berserk… The sword isn’t manipulating Elitia anymore. She’s in control…! Elitia raised her blade to the ready. The very instant she lowered into her fighting stance, the Water Serpent’s double-edged sword came crashing down on her. “JUOOOO!!” ♦Current Status♦ > CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER activated STRIKING FALLS > ELITIA activated COMET RAID Added SWORD BARRIER The monster’s enormous sword slammed into the rain-drenched sand with explosive force—but Elitia was no longer there. “DRRRRAAA!!” ♦Current Status♦ > CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER activated BACKSLASH Now capable of immediately activating sword-based skills > CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER activated HORIZONTAL WRITING Our brave swordswoman leaped through the pummeling rain as if it were nothing. With speed unimaginable for a monster so massive, the lizard quickly unleashed a counterattack that swept sideways, slicing through the deluge. However— “…!” —the strike did not find Elitia. ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated DEFENSE SUPPORT 1 Target: ELITIA > ELITIA evaded > CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER activated additional water attribute attack Nullified by SWORD BARRIER and DEFENSE SUPPORT 1 > SWORD BARRIER rebounded Hit CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER Accumulated one SCARLET TRAIL Elitia raced with ever-increasing speed over the sludgy sand that should have sucked her down. The bright scarlet light hugging her body formed a protective barrier that left streaks of brilliance in the air behind it like the dusty tail of a shooting star. But it was no mere lingering light; the moment the Water Serpent’s additional blades of water sliced through it, a streak of the crimson blaze shot back up and slashed the monster’s arm. “GAAAAH!!” ♦Current Status♦ > CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER activated RAGING RAPIDS ELITIA evaded Though the onslaught of sharp, watery daggers raining down left not a hairbreadth’s room for error, Elitia spun through the air, gaining speed with every change in direction, and perfectly evaded them all. She even managed to ensure none of the failed shots strayed toward any of us. Then, finally, Elitia secured the perfect blind spot—directly above the Water Serpent’s head. She knew an opening would come as soon as it finished spewing its treacherous fountain—and she was not going to let that slide. “Arihito, now…!” What kind of support did she want? Attack Support 1? No—that’s right. Moments like this call for… “Elitia… I’ll support you!” ♦Current Status♦ > ELITIA acquired DUAL WIELD Activated immediately > ARIHITO activated ATTACK SUPPORT 2 Support Type: BLADE OF HEAVEN AND EARTH I unsheathed Murakumo. That same instant, as if she’d seen exactly what I was going to do, Elitia reached out and clenched her empty left hand. “Behold, quintessential rearguard swordsmanship. Elitia, avail yourself of my power…!” The instant Murakumo called out to Elitia, a second blade materialized in the swordswoman’s left hand. “Arihito…!” cried Suzuna. “……!” My feet hadn’t moved, but I was also right by Elitia’s side. The feeling beyond all comprehension now felt natural, comfortable. “Scatter your brilliance in step with my sworded dance, O blade of flowers!” ♦Current Status♦ > ELITIA activated SCARLET DANCE Skill evolved to STAR PARADE due to change in occupation > ELITIA activated BLOSSOM BLADE Conditions met Skill evolved to LUMINOUS FLOW That’s when everything changed. The cursed blade revealed itself to be, in fact, not only a weapon meant to throw its user in harm’s way, exchanging great power for even greater mental anguish. The longer one toiled and endured that turmoil, the greater the rewards it provided. Its vibrant red hue transformed to a dazzling sheen which enveloped Elitia, making her sparkle like a star in the night sky. “GUOHHHHHH!!” The Cursed Water Serpent Worshipper roared. Until this point, it had bellowed to intimidate; now it seemed to howl in recognition of the veritable threat before it. “Raaaaah!!” ♦Current Status♦ > STAR PARADE increased the number of ELITIA’s attacks > MURAKUMO’s special effect dispersed CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER’s BUBBLE BARRIER > 42 stages of LUMINOUS FLOW hit CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER Accumulated 40 SCARLET TRAILS > ELITIA activated additional attacks 28 stages hit > CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER activated BLOODY CONFUSION Attack power drastically increased Entered CRAZED WARRIOR state The onslaught of slashes unleashed beneath Elitia’s resplendent shine forced the Cursed Water Serpent Worshipper to teeter back and forth as they carved bright red gashes into its skin. Since she’d begun her assault with the second Murakumo in her left hand, Elitia had also managed to disperse the Bubble Barrier and prevent the monster from deflecting her strikes. “GAAAAAH…!!” Just like any other monster pressed up against a wall, the crocodile-headed lizard activated a skill to turn its dire situation around—however. “Arihito, give me your original support!” “You got it!” I answered her call without a second thought, absolutely confident I knew exactly what she’d asked for. “Elitia, I’ll support you!” No sooner had I activated my support than Elitia—before my eyes—returned her sword to its scabbard. ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated ATTACK SUPPORT 1 > ELITIA unleashed accumulated SCARLET TRAILS Activated 71 stage attack 923 support damage > Defeated 1 CURSED WATER SERPENT WORSHIPPER > Area Effect: Heavy Rain was lifted “GWAHHH…AHHH…” The monster wailed as every single gash carved in its flesh added a fresh, new slash on top. The devastating number of Elitia’s strikes blew past any remaining defenses the lizard had, slicing it open from crocodile head to toe. Though it had withstood her Luminous Flow once, the Water Serpent finally began to hemorrhage blood like a geyser, then collapsed on the spot. “Whaaa—?! Wh-what the heck was that…?! Ellie just clink put her sword away, and something crazy just slice, slice, sliced that thing up like sushi…!” Misaki, her admiration tinged with nervous apprehension, summed up exactly what I’d seen—but we still had one more enemy left. “……” “…Wait—you already got her, Theresia?!” After I’d told her not to push herself too hard, Theresia had accepted she couldn’t help in the fight against the Water Serpent and came up with her own plan. Our ingenious friend now dragged the Lamia of the Deep over from the shadow of that distant mangrove and lay her on the sand. Checking my license, I saw she had used Sneak Attack to knock the monster unconscious. “H-her hair looks like snakes… Is she some sort of Medusa?” Igarashi wondered. “That can apparently be used as a material called Water Serpent Locks…,” Madoka informed us. “A-Arihito, what should we do with her…?” “The monster’s Shuttered Eye blocked even long-range attacks, and it would seem she has other useful skills as well,” Seraphina pointed out. “Based on what we’ve seen thus far with humanoid monsters, I would suggest she may very well be tamed.” “Good point. Let’s tie her up and send her to the Monster Ranch.” I picked up the bow and arrows the Lamia of the Deep had dropped, instantly realizing only monstrous strength could draw that bowstring. We’d have to significantly modify it for Suzuna to ever use, or alternatively have the Lamia equip it herself and join us in battle. “Theresia, you did an amazing job. You all did…,” I told the group. “Since we’re all soaking wet, how about we head home for the day?” “Arf!” Cion shook the water off her body, making us all laugh. Elitia then rejoined the group, looking cheerful, if a little abashed. “Ellie…!” Suzuna rushed over and wrapped her arms around her friend. Seeing the two embrace, my other party members also gathered around them. “I’m sorry to have scared you so much…,” Elitia said. “You finally mastered it, didn’t you…?” Suzuna marveled. “Or did you uncover how to draw out its true power?” “Both, I think. For so long, this sword had a strong hold over me. I’ve also been drawn to its power, though, so I feel as if I may have lost myself in fascination. But now it’s like I can trust it…like I can finally use this sword as I would any other weapon. I can’t remember the last time I felt this way.” “Now that I think of it… I know it’s quite late to ask this question, but why did you choose Swordswoman as your job, Ellie?” Igarashi asked, after which Suzuna took a step back and held her eyes to keep the tears from flowing. Gently, with great care as to the emotional toll this had all taken on Suzuna, Elitia wrapped her hand around the handle of the Scarlet Emperor—now Antares. “Well, I practiced fencing in my last life and thought that experience might be helpful here… But I wasn’t very strong so I couldn’t do much for my party. My job did depend on speed, though, so they usually asked me to bait our enemies and draw their focus.” “Fencing… I had no idea,” I told her. “Wait, that’s the one with the super-skin-tight full-body suit, right…?” Misaki asked. “You wore that, Ellie…?” “Don’t make fun. It’s the official uniform,” Igarashi chided. “It’s fine; it’s all in the past anyway. I do sometimes miss that mask and uniform, though. But I don’t have many fencing-related skills, so now I’m just a Swordfighter.” As Elitia spoke, I suddenly remembered a note that had popped up on my license but I hadn’t had the time to read during the battle. “Elitia, I think I saw that your profession changed during that fight…” “Perhaps she regained her Swordfighter position,” said Seraphina. “Otherwise…Ms. Elitia, would you please check the details?” Elitia pulled up the screen on her license. Her eyes widened slightly as she read it. Then she bashfully turned it around so we could see. ♦Seeker Information♦ Name: Elitia Centrale Occupation: Flawless Knight, level 11 SEEKER STANDING District Five Provisional Ranking: 346 Overall Ranking: 5,601 “H-hold up, this says you’re a knight…!” Misaki gasped. “Wait, what does Flawless mean again?” “I’ve heard it used in relation to jewelry… Do you have a better idea, Atobe?” “I think it also means something like ‘pure and undamaged.’” “Would that suggest…mastering control of your weapon allowed you to transform from a Cursed Blade into a special, advanced occupation? The incredible, lightning-fast speed with which you dealt your attacks seemed far beyond what I would expect from someone of your level,” Seraphina noted. We couldn’t have asked for a better boost to our forces or morale before our battle with the Simian Lord. Plus, we still hadn’t seen all of Elitia’s skills; surely one of them would help lead to a breakthrough. “If your overall ranking is 5,601, that must mean there aren’t too many people in the four higher districts, right?” Misaki deduced, putting to words the thought that had probably crossed all our minds when we saw Elitia’s license. All the rankings in the districts we’d passed through so far had been in the tens of thousands, but those numbers suddenly leaped up once we made our temporary move to District Five. “Yes, exactly. Though every individual resident is a powerful Seeker as a matter of course. Some elect to stay even after retirement to assist with defending the districts. They say the stronger the monster, the less frequently they cause stampedes…but if they do, they could create unmitigated havoc we call a Catastrophe,” Serapina elaborated for us. “Eeep!” Misaki squeaked. “B-but I guess that makes sense. Even District Five looked like a full-on war zone in that stampede…” Simply maintaining a spot in upper districts represented an incredible achievement. We had to focus and make real gains in strength, too. That was what it truly meant to move forward. “……” Theresia tugged on my sleeve. Only then did I notice the two Seekers who’d been fighting the crocodile monster walking toward us: the young boy who’d specialized in kick attacks and a woman holding a firearm that looked like a rifle. Young boy… Wait, maybe a young girl? Leonard sounds more like a man’s name, but… Upon closer inspection, this Leonard person looked pretty androgynous—or, rather, more like a young girl in boy’s clothing. “Thank you very much for saving us. My name is Leonard.” “And I’m Natalia. We were in real trouble until you came around. Our party had been hunting for the normal version of those Water Serpents, but then all of a sudden we fell into the Named Monster’s sights… It sprang out of the water in a sneak attack and we all ran for it, but the two of us didn’t make it into our party’s Return Scroll range and got left behind.” “That sounds terrible… I’m glad you’re both all right,” I replied. “Would you like to use one of our healing potions?” Madoka offered. “No, thank you. We’ve sustained some injury, but nothing too serious,” Natalia politely declined. “…However, I would greatly appreciative it if you would let us purchase a Return Scroll from you.” I asked Madoka to retrieve one from our storage. Apparently, only so many Return Scrolls could be sold at a time, sometimes not enough to go around if a few parties stocked up on extras to save for themselves. “Thank you, you really saved us out there. Our party is called Eisenritter,” Leonard informed us. “I hope we meet again in town so we can properly thank you…” “Don’t worry about it, we should all help each other out in a pinch,” I told him. “If we do run into each other again, I hope you’ll tell me a bit about your seeking adventures.” Leonard and Natalia looked at each other, then at me. In a surprising turn, Natalia shot me a wink; I never would’ve pegged her as the type to do so. “Wh-wh-wha—?!” “Fellas like you remind me the Labyrinth Country’s not all bad. You too, ladies—thank you so much. We couldn’t have gotten out of that without your help. Until we meet again,” Natalia said, then practically fled via the Return Scroll—with Leonard in tow, of course. “…Wh-what in the world was that? Atobe, care to explain?” “U-umm…I think perhaps she was on a bit of an adrenaline rush after getting through that scrape…” “That rifle of hers… Firearms are precious rare equipment in this country, yet she appeared to have mastered its use. Evidently, your leadership skills can leave even such experienced Seekers in amazement, Mr. Arihito. I feel exceedingly proud to be your subordinate.” “W-wait… I don’t think of any of you as my subordinates. We’re all equal party members,” I insisted. “Manager Arihito, looks like we crushed our mission! Requesting permission to take a quick look-see on the third floor!” “M-Misaki, you couldn’t think of anything higher than manager?” Igarashi asked. “Arf!” Cion chimed in with perfect timing, though it was anyone’s guess as to whether she understood the gist of the conversation. The rain let up, revealing a beautiful rainbow in its wake. We took a short break to admire the radiant scene, laughing and congratulating each other on a job well done. Part IV: Family Using the key Melissa had lent me, I transported the Cursed Water Serpent Worshipper to our Repository; we couldn’t very well carry it ourselves. The Lamia of the Deep, on the other hand, had become Submissive after we bound her with the winding tendrils of a vine bullet. “……” “……” Once she’d awoken, the snake-haired monster locked eyes with Theresia; they seemed to be somehow communicating. After a few moments, though, the monster closed her eyes. “Should we take that as a sign she will no longer resist…? Cion, could you carry her for us?” Seraphina asked. “Arf!” Our trusty Silver Hound easily tossed the Lamia of the Deep on her back. It looked like we wouldn’t have an issue taking her with us. “Madoka, does District Five also have Carriers we can hire?” I inquired. “Yes!” she chirped. “They run through the Merchants Guild here also, but the prices are higher since it’s much riskier to work in this district’s labyrinths.” “I see… Thanks. We wouldn’t want to leave materials deep in a labyrinth after working so hard to defeat the monster.” “Couldn’t we just transfer them to the Repository?” Igarashi asked. “That’s a good point,” I said. “We should do a price comparison and see if it works out better for our budget to rent more Repository space.” Suzuna, Elitia, and Misaki came over as Madoka, Igarashi, and I discussed the issue; they apparently had something particular in mind. “Arihitooo…,” Suzuna cooed. “Ah…!” “Huh?” “Ah…n-no, sorry. It’s just, I got so used to hearing Misaki call you like that, it just slipped…” “Haaah, you almost gave me a heart attack, Suzu! I thought you’d decided to cross over to the dark side with me for a sec. I’d be allll for it if you did, of course.” “D-don’t…,” Suzuna protested. “That’s not what I—” “Wh-what’s up? Something on your mind?” I cut in. Elitia showed me her license; according to the display, it looked like the Water Serpent had dropped a Red Box, though we hadn’t found any. “That was a pretty intense battle, though, so I think maybe it’s buried somewhere,” Elitia said. “This only came up on my license, probably because I was the closest one to it.” “Right, I see…” I mulled over the prospect. “Why don’t we try looking for it with Fortune Roll and Moon Reading? I doubt we’ll have any other use for those two skills today.” “Yes, that’s what I was hoping to suggest… Arihito, could you please give us a cheer?” Suzuna requested. “Pretty pleeease!” Misaki added. Figuring that meant Morale Support, I asked Suzuna and Misaki to turn around, then laid a hand on each of their backs and activated the skill. ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated MORALE SUPPORT 1 Party morale rose by 13 points “…Th-thank you very much…” “Man, I feel like I could take on all the worlds when my morale maxes out.” “…A-Arihito, don’t you get drained after using your skills on us so much?” Elitia nervously asked. At this point, I was so constantly focused on having everyone walk in front of me, you could’ve called it a vocational compulsion. But after checking my license, I saw Morale Support had barely made a dent in my magic supply. “That takes barely any magic, so I’m fine to raise your morale as far as it can go. But I can’t use it more than once at a time, meaning it’d take at least forty minutes to completely fill your morale if we started from zero.” “Th-that’s… I’ll keep that in mind, but that’s really not what I meant…” “W-well, if it does not greatly tax Mr. Arihito, then perhaps we need not concern ourselves. He is the heart of our party, after all,” Seraphina added, uncharacteristically flustered. I turned to Igarashi and Madoka for an explanation, but the former averted her gaze and Madoka just looked somehow mystified. “Did you maybe start using a new technique, Arihito?” she asked. “It felt a little different from how you usually cheered us on when you were fighting those big ghosts…and my magic went back up, too.” “Yeah, I acquired a skill called Tactical Reload. Whenever I reload—add more bullets to keep shooting—it restores the magic I used in the previous shot and sends the same amount to all of you.” “Ah-hahhh… So that’s what it was, huh? I toootally got the feeling my magic was, like, welling up inside me or, like, that I was getting an extra espresso shot of the stuff.” “I was not aware you possessed such a skill, Mr. Arihito… And yet the total magic you shared with us greatly exceeds the amount you restored unto yourself. How very like you to replenish our magic stores.” “Seriously, were you some kind of saint in your past life? I don’t know how else anyone would get access to a skill like that…” Igarashi sighed. “A-and one more thing. Whenever possible, do let us know if you’ve picked up a new skill. We need to mentally prepare ourselves for it, you know.” “O-of course. I’ll be sure to update you all if I get a skill that will affect you in any way. I’m sorry to shock you.” “I wouldn’t exactly say we’re shocked, but… Y-you know what, never mind. Just keep doing what you’re doing, Atobe. We’ll make it work, right, ladies?” Memories of my days at the company came rushing back, vignettes of moments when colleagues asked, “Is it just me, or does Ms. Igarashi send you all the hardest work?” or, “How do you keep up with all that?” While I’d also thought she could be somewhat aggressive with her demands, I could sense that all the hard work would pay off in the end and told them, “Making what your boss asks for work is all part of the job.” For better or worse, after that, people sometimes called me a “Model Corporate Drone.” “…S-speaking of which, Misaki called me Manager a minute ago, but you’ll always be the Manager in my eyes, Igarashi.” “Don’t be silly… You don’t have to worry about that anymore. You’re in charge of operations now, aren’t you?” “O-oh, no, I wouldn’t say that…” “Aw, don’t be shy. You’re always charging my operations, for sure. Right, Suzu?” “The way you put it sounds a little rude, Misaki… But I do always feel like I can rely on you to lead us in the right direction, Arihito.” For some reason, explaining Tactical Reload had everyone turning toward me with admiration in their eyes. A little uncomfortable with all the attention, I cleared my throat to get us back on track. “Ahem… Miskai, Suzuna, think you can give it a shot?” “Sure caaan! Morale Discharge, Fortune Roll!” “Morale Discharge, Moon Reading!” ♦Current Status♦ > MISAKI activated FORTUNE ROLL Next action will automatically succeed > SUZUNA activated MOON READING Success Suzuna’s eyes glazed over as she pointed in a certain direction; following her lead, we saw a blue light shining over a section of the sandy lakeshore. Cion padded over and started digging. After a little while, she unearthed a red treasure chest. “Woof!” “Thanks, Cion. Now then… I’d like to just take a quick look around the third floor. Who’s up for it?” “How about I go instead? If we’re just going to touch ground, I think I can probably make the trip the fastest,” Elitia offered. “……” “You want to come with me, Theresia? All right, let’s be careful not to let any monsters find us.” After calling on Suzuna’s Oracle again to get an idea of where to find the entrance leading down, Elitia and Theresia ran off in that direction, activating skills to speed up as they went. “Earlier during battle, I believe I saw Ms. Elitia wielding two blades. Is that an intrinsic skill she possesses?” Seraphina asked. “Yes, I think that comes from her Dual Wield skill, but the sword she held was a temporary blade I used one of my skills to make.” “Is there nothing you cannot do…? Is this sort of support something you can share with other party members as well?” “It’s possible, but you’d need to have one hand open for it to work. That skill I mentioned lets my party member use whatever weapon I have on me for a secondary attack, so I don’t know how often that specific kind of cooperation would come in handy.” “Understood. I had wondered if perhaps you could provide me with a sword should my blunt force attacks fail to find purchase, but in light of what you said, it may be wiser to request you continue supporting me as you have thus far.” “Sometimes that support lets us use Atobe’s weapons that carry attributes we don’t otherwise have to get our enemies in their weak spots,” Igarashi recalled. “Hopefully I can find ways to effectively support you all, especially now that we know ice attributes are the Simian Lord’s weakness.” I’ve gotta make sure I never stop brainstorming ways for our party to do the most damage possible. Then, just as a promising thought seemed to come to me, I saw my license mark Elitia and Theresia as being on the third floor. A short while later, it once again switched back to showing them on the second. “Theresia and Elitia are on their way back. I think we’ve probably earned enough contribution points, so maybe it’s time to say good-bye to this labyrinth for now.” “Understood,” Seraphina agreed. “If we go up to the first floor, though, we might find more of those phantom monsters…,” Igarashi said nervously. “Let’s be careful not to run into any others.” Once we’d reunited with Elitia and Theresia, we returned to the first floor and found Schwarz the Scarecrow waiting for us. Following the safe route he led us through, we saw no more monsters and safely exited the labyrinth. “That was so nice of Lynée, sending him to guide us out,” Igarashi noted appreciatively. “I imagine getting to seal the Altargeist away meant a lot to her,” I said. Though we still knew hardly anything about Lynée, I was sure her assistance would prove invaluable. “Phew, I’m staaarving. Raiding a labby is always such hungry work… Wait, it’s so dark out here! I must’ve lost my sense of time since it’s, like, aaalways twilight in there, but I guess we were there for a while, huh?” “Yeah, time for dinner. Let’s drop off this Lamia of the Deep at the Monster Ranch and head to the Forest Diner,” I suggested. Our next steps decided, we started heading out. That’s when Theresia stopped in her tracks. “…Theresia?” I called out from behind. She turned around—and gave me a terrifying shock. Though I never got to hear her speak for herself, checking in with her expressions always gave me a sense of relief. But this time, it brought an unspeakable thought to mind: This person standing in the dark against the backdrop of the town’s streetlights looked like a total stranger. “Theresia, what’re you gonna get? Ah, sorry, you talking to Arihito-poo?” “……!” Theresia gasped, startled by Misaki’s voice, then quickly turned away from me and ran to catch up with the others. What I’d just seen could only mean one thing: The Etch-a-Hex was claiming more and more of Theresia. Bitterly, I realized I couldn’t afford to spend every last minute before our time here ended to prepare. We had to finish our Curse Eater and destroy that Simian Lord, and we didn’t have a second to waste. I knew I should tell the others about the change I’d noticed in Theresia. What if it forced her to do something against her will while we all raided a labyrinth…? The safest thing would probably be to leave her behind, but I didn’t want to remove her from our party—and on and on went my contradictory ruminations. Right now, she’s still okay. We haven’t had any problems…but… “…Mr. Arihito, I hope you’re not unwell?” Lost in my thoughts as I walked, I suddenly realized I knew the two people approaching us from the opposite direction. “Ah…I-Ivril. Sorry, I just have a lot on my mind…but I don’t want to keep my friends waiting. I should go catch up with them,” I told the prim-and-proper young belle in the wide-brimmed hat. Given the late hour, her umbrella hung unopened from her hand. Viola stood faithfully behind her mistress. “Please do know we are taking every possible measure to prepare so we may assist you in battle at a moment’s notice. Once we successfully raid the Blazing Red Mansion, I would be so terribly delighted to share a meal with you.” “Of course. We received permission to stay here for six days, counting today, but I believe I may ask for your help sooner rather than later.” “Very well. I do want to inform you that both Viola and I are at level twelve. As such, while I may seek your opinion in regards to the battle plan, please do feel free to entrust us with any task, regardless of its difficulty. We shall not disappoint.” “Thank you for letting me know. Our party average is relatively low, but I’m sure we can work together and do what we must as well.” Ivril’s eyes flitted over to Elitia walking ahead, chatting with her friends. Her expression must have looked quite different from the haggard young woman Ivril had seen the night before. “I no longer see the wayward shadow clouding her countenance… She must have long ago earned the qualifications to grow into her power and needed but a catalyst to begin the transformation.” “I absolutely agree. We can all feel the real progress she’s made.” “…What a remarkable breakthrough… Truly heartening…to behold,” Viola praised, her speech halting and plodding. The moment she began to speak, it almost felt as if time itself had slowed. “I do apologize, Viola is a woman of very few words… Even I had not heard her voice for quite a while.” “…I…beg…your pardon…” “Please, don’t worry at all. It makes me happy to hear others recognize my party’s growth.” “…As does…the opportunity…to fight alongside…you…bring me—” “I share her feelings entirely. Well then, Mr. Arihito, have a pleasant evening,” Ivril cut in, not waiting for Viola to finish her sentence before leading her away. They seemed headed toward an area with plenty of restaurants, so I assumed they were going to get some dinner as well. We first went to the Monster Ranch and got the Lamia settled, modifying my Summoning Pendant so we could call on her, too. Next, we dropped by Ceres and Steiner’s workshop, where Falma had just arrived. We invited the three of them along for dinner. On our way to the Forest Diner, I caught sight of three people coming our way. “…Atobe, is that…?” “A cat woman… Is that Melissa’s mom…?” Just as Misaki had guessed, Melissa was walking somewhat shyly side by side with a woman a little taller than herself. The woman wore leather armor over the white fur covering her body, and she had a cat mask on her head marking her as a demi-human. “Rikerton, Melissa… Looks like you were able to meet up after all,” I said. “…Yeah.” As expected, Melissa’s demi-human mother said nothing. But once she’d learned we were her daughter’s party, she bowed slightly in our direction. “How very sly of you, Mr. Arihito… So you knew my wife was in this district,” Rikerton said with a tinge of embarrassment as he walked over to me. From his expression, it seemed likely he had come up to District Five without knowing whether he’d be able to see her. “I was hoping you three would take advantage of our time here and find a moment to reunite.” “…That’s very kind. Melissa has brightened considerably after meeting you and your party…and she seems overjoyed to be with Ferris, my wife.” “Dad, you didn’t have to tell Arihito that.” “Whoops, looks like I crossed a line… Ferris’s party leader—someone I owe a lot to for treating me so well back in the day—has agreed to allow my wife to spend the day with us as a family.” “Really? That’s wonderful.” Rikerton nodded, beaming from ear to ear. Suzuna brought her fingers to her eyes to hold back tears at the heartwarming sight of Melissa and her parents, while Madoka pulled down her turban to hide her face—clearly, the scene had greatly moved them both. “I’m so happy for you, Mr. Rikerton, that you all got to meet,” Falma said warmly. “Ferris,” said Ceres, “Steiner and I work exclusively with Mr. Arihito’s party as well. We all look forward to your safe return.” Ferris said nothing, but she gently lay a hand on Melissa’s shoulder. Just as with Theresia, her mask covered everything but her mouth; still, her expression felt peaceful and warm. The Rikerton family hadn’t yet eaten, either, so we added them to our ever-growing dinner party and headed for the Forest Diner. “……” Theresia closely watched Melissa and her family and stood rooted to the spot. Only once I had caught up to her did she slink over to my side and follow me. “Hm? …What’s wrong?” She took hold of my shirt, as gentle as always. She was still the same old Theresia—I’d never let that change. ♦THERESIA’s Status♦ Evil Domination progression: 13