December 29, 2022. 2:28 PM — Karluin, Floor 5

  Blink & Brink was packed. Ever since players had discovered that one of its desserts granted a luck buff inside the city, the restaurant had turned into a constant pilgrimage. Veget's party, however, wasn't there for a miraculous sweet. They were there to plan.

  Between maps, comments, and quick bites, Silver had been quiet for a long while. Even for him.

  Then, when a brief silence fell between jokes, he spoke:

  —Guys... I need to ask you a favor.

  The others looked up right away. Silver never asked for anything.

  Miwa reacted first, with that smile of hers that always promised trouble.

  —Is this favor for some girl? Is she prettier than me?

  Silver shot her a tired look, more resigned than annoyed.

  —Do you have to ask that every single time I mention any woman at all?

  —Oh, someone's sensitive today —Miwa replied, feigning offense as she lounged back in her chair.

  —No one's more beautiful than you, Miwa-chan —HappyGoose said with utter solemnity, giving her a thumbs up.

  Miwa didn't even turn her head; she simply ignored him with elegance... though a tiny, treacherous smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Goose nearly passed out from pure love.

  Veget stepped in before the scene could get any more complicated.

  —Silver. The favor.

  Silver drew a deep breath.

  —Do you remember when I told you about the orphanage on the first floor? The five kids a player is taking care of.

  This time Miwa didn't add anything. She'd already had her fun.

  Silver went on:

  —Forkaf confirmed there'll be a New Year's event in Karluin. There'll be fireworks. I want to take the kids to see them... but you can't see them properly from inside the city. There's a clearing about a kilometer away. I need you to help me scout it: mobs, routes, respawn times. Everything we need to secure the perimeter.

  Silence fell at once.

  Veget studied him for a long moment. Silver spoke with conviction; he'd thought through every detail. This wasn't an impulse. It was a plan.

  —We need to map the outer area anyway —Veget conceded—. But...

  Silver barely had time to feel relieved before the hit landed.

  —...do you really think you can secure a perimeter for children with just two adults?

  —Two? —Miwa straightened up, a shameless spark lighting her eyes—. There'll be seven of us.

  —Right, Goose? —she added, almost sing-song.

  HappyGoose jumped out of his chair as if someone had yelled "battle formation."

  —Of course! We'll protect those little ones with our lives!

  Then Miwa turned to Silver, wearing a conspiratorial smile.

  —I'm guessing Yu-chan's coming too, right?

  Silver nodded without a word.

  —Miwa... —Ryuho tried to stop her.

  She pinned him in place with a sweet, poisonous smile.

  —If you don't want to come, you can stay in bed and wait for the notification of my death, onii-san.

  Ryuho shut his mouth without another word. Veget hid a smile.

  Finally, Ryuho looked at Silver, his expression grave.

  —If anything happens to my sister, it'll be on you.

  Silver met his gaze with a conviction he didn't show very often.

  —If anything happens to any of you... it'll be after I'm down.

  Ryuho swallowed and nodded.

  Veget let out a long sigh.

  —All right. You've all decided for me anyway. We'll do it. But I have one condition.

  —Whatever it is —Silver answered without hesitating.

  —You pay for lunch for the whole party for a week.

  Silver froze. He'd thought Veget would ask for watch rotations, tactical distribution... something serious. Not that. After all the crystals he'd bought the day before, his wallet was already in critical condition.

  —...Fine —he said at last, like a man signing his own sentence.

  Miwa clapped. Goose clapped too, still not entirely sure why.

  Veget raised one finger.

  —We head out at 6:00 PM. We'll check the clearing while it's still light, then watch the nighttime respawns. And one more thing...

  Silver looked at him, alert.

  —Your friend. The one from the first floor. She has to come.

  —What? Why?

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  —I need to see her fight. To know if she's actual support... or a liability.

  Silver shot to his feet; the chair hit the floor with a sharp thud.

  —How dare you!?

  Veget didn't even flinch.

  Ryuho spoke in a calm tone that cut sharper than any sword.

  —Sit.

  Silver obeyed. There was no voice more definitive than the samurai's when he was serious.

  —You said she's never left the first floor —Ryuho continued—. We don't know how she'll fight here. You don't either. And that should worry you.

  Silver clenched his fists, furious... because he knew Ryuho was right.

  He sat back down slowly.

  —...I'll tell her to come.

  Veget nodded.

  —Good. And don't take it personally. But a defense line changes a lot if it's six protecting six... or five protecting seven.

  Silver clenched his jaw, frustrated with himself for not having thought of something so obvious.

  Then he felt a small, warm hand rest on his clenched fist.

  Miwa.

  —Relax —she said with a soft smile, rare for her—. I already saw her against Blitzen. Yu-chan's not inferior to any of us.

  Silver drew a breath. His hand finally opened.

  And for the first time since he'd started talking... he felt relief.

  The portal in the central plaza lit up with a blue flash. Out of the light stepped a girl with black hair, honey-colored eyes, and a nervous smile that somehow outshone every torch in the city.

  Yuiha had barely begun to look around when Miwa ran toward her as if they'd been friends their whole lives.

  —Yu-chan! —she cried, pulling her into a tight hug—. I've been wanting to see you.

  —I've wanted to see you too, Miwa —Yuiha replied, hugging her back just as sincerely. Then she turned to her right, greeting the other boy she knew—. Hi, HappyGoose. Thanks again for your help last time.

  —Just call me Goose —he said, smiling awkwardly.

  —Or you can call him an idiot —Miwa added without missing a beat.

  Goose smiled as if she'd just praised him.

  Yuiha, however, murmured on reflex:

  —Miwa...

  The redhead made a dramatic gesture, overplaying her innocence.

  —You'll understand once I tell you everything.

  Yuiha smiled... and then her eyes met Silver's.

  That single glance was enough.

  A silent greeting.

  A quiet calm that he only ever felt when he looked at her.

  Silver cleared his throat, uncomfortable with how much they were saying without words, and introduced her to the group.

  —This is Yuiha. My friend from the first floor.

  The introduction was brief, almost blunt, but honest.

  —That's Veget, our party leader —he added, pointing to the young man in dark armor.

  Veget lifted a hand.

  —Nice to meet you.

  —And this is Ryuho... Miwa's brother —Silver went on.

  Ryuho squinted.

  —Seriously? My official role is "Miwa's brother"?

  The burst of laughter was immediate. Everyone except him, of course.

  Yuiha gave a graceful bow.

  —It's a pleasure. Silver's told me a lot about you.

  Veget nodded in approval, then shifted into leader mode.

  —All right. The plan's simple. We'll head out to the clearing outside the city. We'll assess the terrain, define a safe perimeter, and record the mobs and their respawn timers. We'll stay out part of the night to make sure everything's manageable.

  Everyone nodded. Yuiha included.

  —In case of emergency —Veget continued— Silver and I will hold the mobs so you can use your crystals. Once you're gone, we'll do the same.

  —Excuse me —Yuiha cut in—. I get the idea of an organized escape... but isn't it dangerous for only you two to stay behind?

  Veget smiled with a calm that sent an odd jolt through Silver's chest.

  —Anything outside a safe zone is dangerous. But if we all use crystals at the same time and one person is left behind, they die. Silver and I have the highest odds of surviving on our own. Believe me, miss, this isn't our first night outside.

  Silver frowned, not entirely sure why Veget's smile irritated him so much.

  Veget opened his interface and sent out a party invite.

  Silver accepted without hesitation.

  Yuiha did too. And for the first time since Floor 1...

  They were six again.

  The path toward the clearing wound through twisted trees and shadows that shifted with the wind. The party cut down small groups of goblins without much trouble, but one problem was obvious:

  Silver.

  He was never in position.

  Instead of holding the front line alongside Veget, he kept falling back, over and over, to stay within a meter of Yuiha—throwing himself between her and danger even when there wasn't any.

  Veget had already lost his patience three times.

  After yet another trivial fight, his weapon hit the ground with a sharp clang.

  —That's it! —he roared—. Silver, you're putting the entire team at risk!

  Silver tried to speak.

  —Wait, I was just—

  But Veget wasn't in the mood for excuses.

  That was when Yuiha stepped forward.

  —Veget, can we try one more time? —she asked, voice firm but gentle—. If it happens again, I'll go back to the first floor right away.

  The leader met her gaze.

  There was no stubbornness there, no defiance.

  Only honesty.

  He drew a breath and nodded.

  —Fine. One last time.

  Yuiha took Silver by the arm and led him several meters away from the group.

  Once they were alone, she spoke without circling around it.

  —You're putting your friends in danger.

  Silver swallowed.

  —I'm not doing it on purpose. But... I worry about you.

  She shook her head slightly.

  —Please don't treat me like dead weight, Silver.

  He stepped back half a pace, as if her words had hit him physically.

  —What? No! I would never. Not ever.

  For the first time all afternoon, Yuiha smiled for real.

  She rested her fingertips against his right cheek.

  A brief touch.

  Soft.

  But enough to set him on fire from the inside.

  —Then trust me —she whispered—. I can take care of myself. And I'm not alone. Miwa, Goose, and Ryuho can cover me if anything happens.

  Silver lowered his gaze, unable to hide the sadness in his eyes.

  The look of someone who knew how to protect... but not how to let go.

  With a tenderness that wasn't meant to soothe so much as strengthen, Yuiha added:

  —I know you want to protect me. And I'm truly grateful for that. But we have to do this right. For Kain. For the other kids. Okay?

  He took a deep breath. Then nodded.

  They went back to the group.

  Silver took his place beside Veget.

  —I'm sorry. I'll do it right this time.

  The rest of the walk was different.

  The formation held steady.

  They answered a coordinated ambush without breaking rank.

  And Yuiha not only defended herself—she saved Ryuho from a goblin hidden in the shrubs.

  When Veget saw that, a satisfied smile curved his lips.

  They hadn't added dead weight.

  They'd added exactly what they needed.