Live Dungeon!

While watching Team 2’s battle on Monitor #2, Tsutomu found himself exchanging thoughts on future plans with Smith. With his popularity finally starting to cool, he was considering relying on the latter’s Shield magic for crowd control.

”So… you’re not going to tackle the hundredth layer?”

”We will, once we’re ready. I’d also like to wait for Team 2 to catch up.”

”You sure they’ll be fine? They seem to be… struggling, to put it kindly.”

”If they don’t win before Ealdred Crow reaches the ninety-fifth layer, I’ll step in. But judging by how they’re doing, I’d say they’ll pull it off just fine.”

Korinna had shown him a set of revised formations and tactical approaches for Team 2 that morning. Watching the results play out now on the Monitors, it was clear whether they stood a chance. The party had faced countless problems along the way, but they had overcome most of them on their own. And now, rather than simply following in the footsteps of Team 1 or Ealdred Crow, they were trying out a style of their own.

Tsutomu and Korinna might have shared the same role of Healer, but their Jobs were fundamentally different. Too closely imitating Tsutomu’s tactics would only hinder her personal improvement. On the other hand, if he gave too much advice, she would become little more than a puppet, parroting his commands. And that would not earn her the trust of the Clan to lead the charge into the hundredth layer.

So Tsutomu had been content to let her and her team struggle and experiment within. From the day she joined the Clan, he had provided her with the foundational knowledge she needed. What remained was for her to take that and build something of her own. Not to become his shadow, but to stand as a leader in her own right.

Now, as he watched her image on the screen, her expression had clearly changed. She no longer bore the pained look of someone trying and failing to fill someone else’s shoes. As she shouted orders to Amira and healed both Tanks with confident precision, her face was lit with purpose.

[Looks like she’s finally found her identity as a Healer. Took her nearly a month, which is rough timing-wise… but I’ll take growth over speed. Hopefully they’ll clear the ninetieth layer soon.]

The party had solid status ratings overall, and their proficiency against the Corrupted Shell had improved dramatically. With proper tactics, they should be able to pull through. Both Garm and Xeno had become far more stable as Tanks, no longer taking critical hits during the monster’s heavy attacks…

”[! [! [!”

[Amy’s getting there, too. Maybe not on world champion levels like SoloShotFirst… but she’s pushing into top-tier territory in terms of damage output.]

Amy, who had been training with Tsutomu’s personal guidance, was now executing skill rotations rivaling those of the top Dualbladers from Live Dungeon. She had learned to ignore the mental fatigue that typically slowed her down, optimizing her skill usage to maintain peak performance. Coupled with her natural combat instincts, she was now packing serious power.

In fact, her current mastery even enabled her to abuse a hidden mechanic: chaining skills during [ within a 0.2-second window to gain subtle forward momentum. It was the kind of uncanny, game-breaking behavior that evoked memories of the original Live Dungeon. It was a sign of true min-maxing madness.

”DAAAH!!”

[Amira, on the other hand, is just ridiculous. Unique skills really are cheat codes…]

Amira glowed faintly as she fought, the Dragon’s power coursing through her. Wielding a Dungeon-looted greatsword weighing over a hundred kilograms, reforged and customized to her specifications, she deflected the Corrupted Shell’s claws head-on. That kind of brute-force showdown was something only Amira could pull off. She had grown so powerful, it was hard to even imagine the floundering girl she’d once been.

[She’s got the raw burst and intensity of Hannah, but there’s something more dependable about her. Well, I guess if you can rattle a layer boss, you’re going to be someone people rely on… Korinna probably saw that too, hence the new strategy built around her.]

The wings on her back flared red as she took flight, and her mouth unleashed a disciplined breath attack that no longer looked awkward or forced. She had gained full control of her [, and with [, she could even enhance her allies’ status ratings. Her reckless, self-centered style had mellowed. With those changes, her rise to the party’s ace Attacker was very much justified.

”Hmm… Amira’s moving a lot better all of a sudden,” Hannah commented.

”You know, she’s more sensitive than she looks,” Leleia replied, nodding. ”I think she was overly conscious of the others before… held back by trying to match their expectations. This is probably the first time she’s had to properly coordinate with the rest of the party.”

”…Sensitive? I guess that’s one way to put it.” Daryl also nodded, seeming to accept the argument despite still not being quite convinced.

Hannah, on the other hand, tilted her head with a clueless frown.

”Amira? Sensitive? Really?”

”She hasn’t been an Explorer for very long, and not to mention, she’s only sixteen. Compared to you, she’s still a kid. You’ve got two years on her, after all.”

”Right!? I’m already a grown woman, after all!”

[Riiight… most grown women don’t rack up debt like it’s a hobby.]

Amy’s efforts had helped rein in some of Hannah’s spending habits, but the debt itself still loomed. Both Leleia and Diniel shot her a cold look, but she remained blissfully unaware, beaming like she’d just passed some maturity checkpoint. When Tsutomu exchanged a glance with Daryl, the latter could only offer a sheepish smile in return.

”They’ll clear the ninetieth layer on their own,” Tsutomu said firmly. ”So let’s focus on our own tasks: gathering materials from the Ancient Castle layers, and refining our combat proficiency against the monsters there. That way, once Korinna and her party make it through, we’ll be ready to carry them straight to the ninety-ninth layer.”

Even if Korinna’s team pushed forward from the ninety-first layer at a steady pace, they wouldn’t be able to overtake Ealdred Crow, who had already advanced ahead. That was why Tsutomu was having Daryl, Diniel, and Leleia sharpen their understanding of the Ancient Castle’s structure and threats, training their reflexes and routines accordingly. He also intended to craft new gear using gathered materials, building a logistical bridge to carry Korinna’s team toward the final stretch of the current Dungeon.

As for Hannah, while her grasp of enemy patterns might remain shaky, the Magic Fist technique she wielded was more flexible on regular layers than in a boss fight. Even if she did not master all the fine details, she’d still prove useful.

[I was worried about how carrying her team would affect Korinna’s morale… but judging by how she’s handling herself now, she’ll be fine. She’s no longer a Healer hiding in my shadow.]

Armed with his intimate knowledge of Live Dungeon and tempered by countless hours obsessively analyzing Monitor broadcasts, Tsutomu had adapted thoroughly to the Explorers of this world. His command ability stood head and shoulders above the rest; whether leading a ragtag team of orphans or guiding those blessed with unique skills, he had a knack for drawing out the full potential of any party.

Even without Team 2’s Attackers and Tanks acclimating themselves to the ninety-first layer, he could still accelerate their progression. And with the help of Garm and Amy, both original members and remarkably adaptable, there was little risk of things going awry.

”Starting tomorrow, we’ll be farming materials and grinding levels from the ninety-first layer onward. Be ready.”

”Roger that!” Hannah replied cheerfully.

”[.”

Ignoring the curious glances from others nearby, Tsutomu nonchalantly fired a [ bullet at Hannah’s head, as if swatting a troublesome child. The self-satisfied look on her face, still delighted by being treated like an adult, remained undisturbed. Daryl, catching on to Tsutomu’s intent, bit back a quiet chuckle.