Live Dungeon!

After witnessing Absolute Helix clear the ninetieth layer, rebounding from the brink of defeat when they were down to just a single Healer, Ealdred Crow’s team reverted to their original composition. With that decision came the opportunity to trial several of Teams 2 and 3’s Attackers and Tanks — those who had also reached the ninetieth layer — in Team 1.

[Overall, he’s the best pick we have…]

Stephanie, the sole Healer who retained her position in Team 1 without being rotated out, reevaluated Sova, one of the mid-trial members. As far as pure combat talent went, Haltto likely had the edge. But Sova’s adaptability and his keen sense of the party as a whole — his ability to act with consideration — caught even Stephanie off guard.

”Give me a [ for now. No need for [ just yet.”

He had a strong awareness of the Healer’s role. Stephanie had always applied [ to him as a matter of course, and compared to the Birdkin Haltto — who relied on her entirely to strategize — Sova was far easier to support. Of course, Stephanie’s skill was more than sufficient to keep up with Haltto’s swift movements, but the effort still added up. She couldn’t deny the strain.

Sova, on the other hand, moved much like Amy — conscious of his Healer at every step. On the ninetieth layer, where Healers bore the brunt of the burden, and where Stephanie herself had been losing her composure in her effort to catch up with Tsutomu, that kind of presence was a Godsend.

”[!”

He had also grown noticeably as an Attacker as of late. In the past, his lack of a unique skill earned him the unflattering label of a ”B-grade Weiss clone.” But now, by mimicking Weiss’s movements, selecting what suited him and discarding what did not, Sova had forged a style all his own.

”EAT THIS!”

”GIIIIIIEH!!”

He had even begun to make active use of magic tools — something Weiss never touched. Today, he brought one of Ealdred Crow’s own inventions, a grenade-like explosive. While not especially powerful, when timed right, it could stagger the Corrupted Shell just long enough to provide cover for the Tank. It was a subtle but effective addition to the team.

Ultimately, Team 1’s lineup lacked cohesion and was wiped out, but they had come close. As they returned to the Guild, Stephanie watched Sova exchange a few lighthearted words with Bittman.

[So he broke out of his shell after being demoted from the first team? …No, that wasn’t a simple breakthrough. Something must’ve happened.]

Ever since Sova lost his position to Haltto, he had been floundering. In the end, he stopped listening to Team 2’s manager altogether and began joining Guild-matchmade parties on his own. Stephanie, who had spent much of her childhood with him, knew better than anyone how stubborn he could be. Nothing she said would reach him. So she chose to say nothing at all, focusing instead on her own training. Once he had exhausted himself, she intended to have Rook intervene and guide him back.

[He’s always been talented enough to play with finesse, considerate of those around him. But by trying too hard to imitate Weiss, who’s much more of a solo Explorer, he had lost sight of his own strengths. Now, though… now he’s finally moving like himself. It’s not perfect yet, but it’s good enough. More than good enough. But could he really have reached this point alone?]

She still remembered when they were children — how he had overtaken her in musical ability almost immediately after they both began practicing for the marching band. He had always been that kind of person — naturally gifted. So indeed, it was not unthinkable that he could have pulled this off on his own.

But after seeing Weiss once as a boy, he had become utterly obsessed. When God’s Dungeon appeared and Weiss showed up on the Monitors, Sova had been ecstatic. From then on, he used the same weapons, mimicked his movements — over and over for years. It was a fixation he could no longer break on his own.

”Sova.”

Stephanie’s voice was frayed, her eyes sharp and off-kilter from overwork. In her desperation to draw even a little closer to Tsutomu, she had been forcing her body and mind through hellish training, comparing herself to the man on the Monitors with each passing day. When she called out to Sova, he turned to face her with a wary expression.

”…What’s up?”

”Did you really develop your current fighting style all by yourself?”

”…More or less.”

He crossed his arms and gave a vague nod.

”I highly doubt it. Judging by your demeanor, I’d say… you spoke with Weiss, didn’t you?”

”…..”

”You’re beaming, you know. Must’ve felt wonderful, hearing from your hero at last.”

Her voice held a cutting edge, soft and sharp all at once. Sova gave a sheepish grin that couldn’t quite hide the resignation in his eyes.

”You heard I was practicing with the matchmade parties, yeah?”

”Yes, I’d caught a bit of that.”

”Well, during one of those runs, I just happened to team up with Tsutomu and Daryl. Afterward, Tsutomu gave me some advice… and even introduced me to Weiss. That probably helped, yeah.” 𝘙а𝐍ƟᛒÈꞩ

”……”

Sova had not intended to speak of it, but at this point, it was only a matter of time before people found out he had been in a party with Tsutomu. Better to admit it now. Besides, until recently, he had not even had the confidence to talk back to Stephanie, not when she kept improving while he stayed stuck. But now, he was sure. Even if he had to leave Ealdred Crow, he felt it would be fine. That certainty gave him the courage to say what needed to be said.

Still, the raw, unfiltered madness in Stephanie’s eyes had not gone anywhere. And when she lowered her head and began to tremble, Sova instinctively stepped back.

He was too late, though — she lunged forward and seized him by the collar.

”Why didn’t you call ME at that time, Sova!?”

”H-how could I!? You’re the face of Ealdred Crow now! You don’t belong in some random matchmaking–”

”Ealdred Crow means NOTHING to me anymore! I–! I’m doing all this — for HIS sake!”

”…Damn it, get a grip, Stephanie! That’s exactly the kind of thing that creeps him out!”

The words escaped before he could stop himself — spoken in the blunt, casual tone he used in the old days… which he instantly regretted.

Stephanie’s expression twisted with fury, and a dark, terrible energy spilled from her eyes. Sova knew he had the upper hand physically, but the sheer intensity of her emotions made him take another step back.

”What could YOU possibly know about Mister Tsutomu? Are you saying you understand him better than I do?”

In Stephanie’s view, there was no one — no one in the world — who understood Tsutomu better than she did. No one had watched him as closely, burned his image into their mind as vividly, or trained with such devotion in accordance with the texts he had entrusted to her. He had passed down everything he had, and after that, he quietly stepped away from the front lines.

That was why Stephanie had resolved to become the very best among all Healers — to prove, in his stead, that Tsutomu’s ideals were not misguided.

But then, as if to scold her arrogance, Tsutomu returned to the spotlight on the ninetieth layer — his technique honed to a frightening degree, his brilliance impossible to miss. He led his team to a dramatic, almost miraculous victory.

The sight had left her too electrified to sleep, her brain alight with such heat it felt scorched from within.

[Of course he’s incredible. I still can’t match him at all.]

That realization reminded her of the reverence she owed her mentor. It crushed the prideful self who had forgotten, and in its place, a new self was born.

And now, she felt fulfilled. Each day she trained with renewed focus, striving once more to reach him. That he had never spoken to her — never acknowledged her efforts — was only natural. She had grown complacent, mistaking the nearness of his back for catching up. A fool of a student who thought herself close enough to reach him with an outstretched hand deserved nothing. So she would work harder. For Tsutomu.

Yet then came Sova — speaking as if he understood Tsutomu better than she did. That arrogance had to be corrected. This man had to be shown his place.

”I-I didn’t say anything like that,” Sova stammered, clearly shaken beneath her withering glare. ”I just… talked to Tsutomu about you. That’s why I… know about it.”

”……”

”Cough… cough…”

His words trailed off as Stephanie, who had seized him by the collar, finally let go. He clutched his throat, coughing from the pressure — both physical and otherwise — as she leaned in close and peered up at him.

”…!”

The look in her eyes — there were no words for them. No single description could capture what burned within.

”Let’s hear the details, shall we?”

”…A-all right. All right,” Sova said, swallowing hard.

Regret welled up in him — regret for speaking to her the way he used to, back when things were simpler. This woman before him was no longer the same Stephanie.

He told her everything Tsutomu had said the last time they met — that Tsutomu had asked questions about her, and that he had said they might meet again once the Dungeon explorations had calmed down.

”As for that moment — when you bit through your own fingers right in front of him — yeah, he was clearly bothered by it. But… I didn’t get the sense that he wanted to cut ties with you altogether. So I think–”

”Be quiet.”

That single phrase was all Stephanie said. She turned away, her ringlet curls swaying as she walked briskly toward the locker room, head bowed.

All Sova could do was watch her go…