Live Dungeon!

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Garm had asked a Guild staff member to guide him to where Camille might be, hoping for a private conversation. However, to his surprise, he found not just Camille at the table, but also Amy — her white tail bristling with an obvious agitation. Garm’s grimace deepened when he noticed Amy narrowing her eyes at him, a mutual disdain flashing between them.

“What’re YOU doing here?”

“I could ask you the same.”

Before the tension could escalate further, Camille, who had always been like a mentor to Garm, raised a calming hand.

“Well, Garm, take a seat. It seems you both are wrestling with similar troubles. Why not try to get along for once?”

Reluctantly, Garm settled into a chair. Amy’s eyes widened, her surprise evident as she pointed an accusatory finger at him.

“Wait, does that mean he’s here for the same reason I am?”

“Yup,” Camille confirmed, her hands clasped neatly under her chin. “Garm came to consult me about something similar earlier today. Although, I must say, Amy, I was actually expecting you to seek some… relationship advice. A pity, really — that would’ve been interesting. But since we’re all here, why not exchange a few thoughts?”

Camille’s teasing grin contrasted sharply with the serious expressions on Garm and Amy’s faces, who looked as though they were children forced to finish their least favorite food. Their mutual reluctance to engage in any conversation was painfully obvious, prompting Camille to let out a resigned sigh before turning her attention to Garm.

“I understand why Amy’s concerned, but Garm, do you really need to be so worried? Surely, you’re more than capable of staying ahead of that Xeno fellow and your apprentice, Daryl.”

“…That’s what Tsutomu said, too. He assured me there was no need to rush and even helped me map out my path forward.”

“What!? Then what’s your problem?” Amy interjected. “Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out!”

“Shut up.” Garm’s retort was swift and sharp, his glare cutting through Amy’s biting tone. He then turned back to Camille, his brow furrowed with concern. “So, here’s the deal — I have no qualms about following Tsutomu’s lead. In fact, I’m eager to pursue the path he laid out for me. If I stick to it, I’m confident I’ll make it to the main team. Tsutomu’s instructions were precise, and his encouragement left me with no doubt.”

Garm had already sought Tsutomu’s guidance, and his faith in the latter’s plan was absolute. Tsutomu’s insights — and knowledge of God’s Dungeon — drawn from his countless hours playing Live Dungeon, had painted a clear path for Garm, one he was eager to follow.

As a Cynokin, it was in Garm’s nature to find satisfaction in following a leader he respected. There was no discontent in him — the plan Tsutomu had devised left him with no nagging sense of unfulfilled ambition.

“But I’m starting to think it’s not good for Tsutomu — or for the Clan, for that matter. Relying on him too much might create a perception of favoritism. The other members might start to see him in a negative light, and that’s not healthy.”

Garm’s concern wasn’t for himself, but for the one who had helped him so much. He was well aware that Tsutomu had a soft spot for those who had been with him since the beginning — like Amy and himself — before Absolute Helix had even taken form. Back when Tsutomu had struggled to find even a competent party, those who had stayed by his side were often given special consideration.

Garm had benefited from this more than once, and he knew it. Even Amira, once a bona fide problem child, had been welcomed into Absolute Helix simply because she was Camille’s daughter. Tsutomu’s loyalty extended to the Forest Apothecary, the shop of whom he frequented even when it was out of stock, and to Silver Beast, a Clan that Garm knew Tsutomu kept a watchful eye on.

But Garm couldn’t shake the feeling that he was exploiting Tsutomu’s goodwill. His initial approach to Tsutomu had not been entirely altruistic; it had been prompted by the auctioning of the Black Staff that Tsutomu had supposedly obtained from a golden treasure chest, compelling him to assist the latter as part of his duties as a Guild staff member. Now, that sense of duty was overshadowed by the realization that he might be taking advantage of Tsutomu’s generosity — and it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Even Daryl, once timid and indecisive, had found his own path after joining Absolute Helix. The thought of being outdone by his apprentice gnawed at Garm’s pride.

“That’s why I want to forge my own path, without relying on Tsutomu,” Garm declared.

“Oh, feeling confident, aren’t you?” Amy’s eyes narrowed, sharp as knives, as she responded to his declaration.

Garm scowled at her, his irritation barely concealed.

“I hate to bring it up, but you’ve been getting plenty of special treatment from Tsutomu too. Why not use it to your advantage? It’s not like it’s a bad thing. But I won’t do the same.”

“What!? I’m not using him! Tsutomu’s not that easy to manipulate! If I even tried, he’d see right through it and immediately cut me off!”

“…I wouldn’t be so sure. The old Tsutomu might’ve done that, but now… who knows?”

Amy’s face twisted into a mocking sneer as she jabbed a finger in Garm’s direction.

“Wow, you really don’t get it, do you? Sure, you’re safe because you went crying to Tsutomu, asking how to become a main team Tank. But if you go whining about favoritism, he’ll see right through you and cut you off. If you’re going to play that game, you’d better stick to your current approach.”

“…Are you suggesting I begged Tsutomu for help?”

“You basically already did. Going directly to him, the guy who decides the teams’ lineups, to ask for advice? That seems pretty calculated to me. You were quick to accuse me of sucking up, but you were the one wagging your tail, begging for help like a lost puppy!”

Her taunting words struck a nerve, and Garm’s eyes darkened with fury as he glared at her, his restraint thinning by the second.

“…What about you?” Just look at what you were doing in the Royal Capital — parading around, singing, and having fun instead of training to get into the main team. You keep telling people you were doing it for Tsutomu, and you had no idea he didn’t care — no, actually, I’m sure you KNEW he didn’t care about the Capital at all. If you really wanted to make it into the main team, you’d have been honing your skills. But you didn’t! You just couldn’t resist flaunting yourself in the Capital!”

Amy’s eyes narrowed to slits, her hands instinctively twitching toward the swords at her waist.

“What? You better stop spouting nonsense… or else!”

“Take your own advice.”

“Now, calm down.” Camille’s voice cut through the tension, her hands gripping both their heads and forcing them back into their seats.

Even the Guild staff members, who had edged closer to intervene, hesitated under Camille’s stern gaze.

Camille sighed deeply. Their mutual hostility was plain to see, each rattled by the other’s words, and it was clear they had no intention of backing down.

“Listen to me, Garm. Amy feels the same way you do. She’s reluctant to lean too heavily on Tsutomu, which is precisely why she turned to me. You need to understand that.”

“Ha! Look who’s getting scolded now!”

“And Amy, enough! Knock it off!”

“Gyah–!?”

Amy’s triumphant smirk was short-lived, however, as Camille’s karate chop landed between her cat ears, making her wince in pain. Garm, still held in place by Camille’s hand, remained seated like a dog obedient to its master.

Camille looked at the two with exasperation, then lightly tapped the table, drawing their attention back to her.

“I always knew you two were never on good terms.” She sighed, “but I’d hoped that being part of Absolute Helix would’ve at least mended things a little. It seems I was mistaken.”

“You may not see eye to eye, but you’re both striving for the same thing. Neither of you wants to rely on Tsutomu, and both of you aspire to earn your place in Absolute Helix’s main team. You’re an Attacker and a Tank — you need each other to succeed.”

“Well…” Amy hesitated before speaking. “We did team up against the Winter General.”

“Exactly, and that very experience is what’s got you on edge — isn’t it, Amy? Well? What about you, Garm? Anything to say for yourself?”

Amy had felt threatened by the rise of the two Dragonewt Attackers, their potential unsettling her, just as Garm had been intimidated by Xeno, who had once fought beside him.

During the final stages of his Winter General battle, Garm had come perilously close to death, pushing himself into a berserk state that left him vulnerable to a devastating blow. Xeno, maintaining his composure and health throughout the fight, had stepped in to cover him.

Before then, in the Mount Golem battle, Garm had underestimated Xeno, dismissing him as inferior to Daryl. But the current Xeno was no longer someone to be looked down upon. He had rapidly honed his pain tolerance, developing stability in battle that rivaled even Daryl’s.

Unlike Garm, Xeno had evolved into a significant force within the party, his resilience especially evident during the Winter General battle. This newfound strength in Xeno had sparked a fierce sense of rivalry in Garm.

Then there was Hannah, always a formidable competitor. Her evasion-based Tanking style was something Garm could not emulate, and she had even begun to grasp the practical basics of the Magic Fist technique, albeit clumsily. Despite her recklessness, she had grown more focused since the end of the Stampede.

“Remember what Tsutomu said.” Camille continued. “You don’t have to become best friends, but teamwork is essential. A party’s strength isn’t just about individual prowess. When an Attacker and a Tank work in harmony, the entire team becomes stronger. That’s how the power of friendship actually works.”

Amy rolled her eyes. “Uh, I KNOW you’re referencing some novel or something… I mean, could you not? We’re kinda having a serious conversation here.”

“Come on, Tsutomu would’ve at least chuckled at that.”

“Just a chuckle, huh?”

“That’s more than enough,” Camille replied, nodding with a strangely earnest expression; even a small laugh was a victory compared to the blank stares she usually got. “But seriously, if you two want to make it onto the main team, you need to start working together. You managed it during the Devourer Dragon fight, so you don’t get to say it’s impossible.”

“Sooo, about that power of friendship–”

“…Okay, okay, fine! We’ll do it, okay!? We’ll do it!”

“Ugh…”

Camille smiled in satisfaction at the knowledge that, despite their reluctance, they were now at least on the same page. Forced into a handshake, the two listened intently as Camille proceeded to outline how they could sharpen their skills.

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