Live Dungeon!

Diniel was still adjusting to her new bow. To help her acclimate, Tsutomu and his party headed to the Guild, preparing for another foray into the Dungeon. Yet, as they stepped inside, an unusual buzz filled the air, as if something extraordinary had unsettled the Explorers.

”Excuse me, what’s going on?” Daryl asked a nearby Explorer, who was gazing, wide-eyed, at something among the crowd.

”Just look,” came the swift reply, accompanied by several fingers pointing toward a group of five.

The party in question commanded attention even in the bustling Guild hall. Their presence alone was enough to put the other Explorers on edge — and it was not hard to see why.

There stood Weiss in all-black armor; Alma, with her Black Staff; Leon, whose golden hair and wolf ears matched the elegance of his ornate attire; Eunice, famed for her ingenious invention of the Dumpling [; and Camille, the Dragonewt Deity, casually shouldering an absurdly massive greatsword.

”…Wow,” Tsutomu muttered, a mixture of awe and resignation twisting his expression. ”Four unique skill users in one party. That’s just ridiculous.”

The luxurious group was clustered around the reception desk, finalizing their Status Card submissions and party contract. Tsutomu’s comment did not escape Alma’s notice. She turned her sharp gaze on him immediately.

”…Am I part of that count?” she asked.

”Sure, why not? That Black Staff of yours might as well be a unique skill. It’s leagues beyond anything we can pull out of treasure chests right now.”

”Jealous, are we?” Alma teased, holding up her staff and giving Tsutomu a light poke with it.

”Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Tsutomu replied with a dismissive wave.

Behind her, Leon and Camille exchanged amused glances, and the surrounding Explorers whispered among themselves, caught off guard by the casual banter.

”Wait, what?” Tsutomu asked, blinking as he noticed the attention directed at him.

He turned back to Alma, who was now wearing an exasperated expression.

”You seriously don’t know? The Guild’s always been buzzing with rumors that you and I have the worst possible relationship.”

”Really? I figured Camille would be in the loop, but I didn’t realize every Explorer cared. Have I been that obvious?”

”You have no idea,” Alma huffed. ”Look, I know I was in the wrong back then, but you need to realize your reputation carries weight. Being on bad terms with the leader of Absolute Helix is a big deal. It makes things… difficult.”

”Still hate you, though.” Tsutomu replied flatly.

”……”

Alma froze, her expression stiffening as the tension in the air spiked. The silence that followed was unbearably awkward. Tsutomu’s remark seemed to make it clear that, despite Alma having assumed that they had already reconciled, things were not quite the case.

”I was kidding. Relax. Didn’t think a little jab would freeze the air so hard.”

”Your jokes are impossible to read! And don’t pretend you weren’t half-serious — I saw the look in your eyes!”

Ignoring Alma’s outburst, Tsutomu shifted his attention to Camille, who stood quietly with a radiant red greatsword, which he had obtained from a treasure chest dropped by a Fire Dragon.

”So this explains why Amira’s been so fired up lately,” he added.

”What is ‘this’ exactly? I can’t imagine why.” Camille replied, tilting her head in feigned innocence.

”You’re joking, right? This lineup, that’s what. It’s overkill! Of course she’s feeling the pressure.”

Camille offered a faint smile but did not argue. While Tsutomu had known about the alliance between Scarlet Devil Squad and Golden Tune, seeing Camille join forces with them was unexpected. Competing against such a team was a daunting prospect. Inwardly, he sympathized with Korinna, who would inevitably find herself going up against them. ṙἈ𝐍Ꝋ𝖇Ɛš

”You know, I didn’t expect to see you here either, Tsutomu. But by process of elimination, now I know which ones from your Clan are in on the action. Diniel not being there with them IS pretty surprising, though…”

”Right… if we’re aiming for the first win against the mutated Shell Crab, maybe we should swap her in,” Tsutomu said thoughtfully. ”Like, switch her with Leleia or Amy, maybe.”

”No way,” Diniel interrupted. ”I just got this new bow, and there’s no way I’m going into a big fight while I’m still figuring it out. Besides, who’d want to go up against THAT party?”

”Harsh.” Leon said, clutching his chest. ”What did I ever do to deserve rejection from a former clanmate?”

Even Weiss’s expression tightened briefly, showing a flicker of disappointment. Camille, however, focused her attention on Tsutomu, her gaze steady, her brow faintly furrowed.

”I’m surprised you’re not joining the fight,” she remarked. ”I thought this would be the kind of challenge you’d jump at.”

”If you want a race, meet me on the eighty-fifth layer. That’s where I’ll give it my all.”

”Unfortunately, my obligations keep me from advancing that far. That’s why I saw this as a rare chance.”

”…You’d better not underestimate Korinna. I put her in charge for a reason — and not because I thought this mutated Shell Crab would be a walk in the park.”

”Oh?”

The mutated Shell Crab had become a phenomenon, its allure extending far beyond seasoned Explorers. Even Tsutomu, who had little interest in fame, could not ignore the fervor. Moreover, the Shell Crab’s recent rise in popularity among the general populace had skyrocketed the fiftieth layer’s visibility. The spectacle of the monster overwhelming Explorers had captivated audiences, especially children.

Adding to the stakes, Dorren Workshop — Absolute Helix’s only sponsor currently — had specifically requested that they retrieve the mutated Shell Crab’s Magic Stone if possible. The Workshop had reforged and fine-tuned much of their gear found on the Light and Darkness layers, and cooperating with such a request was something they wanted to do if they could.

”Korinna’s got instincts I don’t. Her eyes are just… special, you know, and her foundation as a Healer is solid. Sure, she’s not the most confident, but she’s more experienced than she lets on and has room to grow.”

”It’s not like you to praise someone this much.” Camille observed.

”I’m just stating the facts,” Tsutomu replied matter-of-factly. Yet his words carried weight, drawing the attention of nearby Explorers — especially one specific person who could no longer remain silent.

”Hmph! And you think you’re just ‘stating facts,’ do you?” Eunice’s sharp voice cut through the conversation room as she approached, her tone accusatory. ”Then why haven’t you practiced the Dumpling [?”

Tsutomu turned to her, his weariness plain. ”Because I don’t need it right now.”

”Don’t need it? What a ridiculous excuse! It’s jealousy, plain and simple. And to think you’d stoop so low — it’s pathetic.”

”…Jealousy? Where’d that even come from?” Tsutomu asked, his voice low and even.

Eunice pointed an accusing finger, her conviction unshaken. ”What else could it be? The Dumpling [ has been praised by Healers and Dungeon Maniacs alike, but you refuse to acknowledge it. You haven’t even tried to practice it! Admit it — your pride as a mentor is stopping you from recognizing your student’s success!”

Tsutomu’s expression hardened. ”Unbelievable… I can’t even have a proper conversation with you.”

Without another word, he nodded to the others behind him, then turned on his heel and strode toward the Guild’s reception desk. Garm and Diniel followed immediately, while Daryl hesitated, glancing nervously between the two groups before reluctantly trailing after his leader.

Eunice remained rooted in place, her face a turbulent mix of anger, shock, and something unfamiliar yet so needle-sharp as she stared at Tsutomu’s retreating figure. Behind her, Xeno watched the scene unfold, his gaze conflicted. Finally, he glanced at Camille, who stood silently. Their eyes met, and with a slight shake of his head, Xeno conveyed what words could not: ‘this was not his place to intervene.’

Prompted by Xeno’s glance, Camille called out, ”Tsutomu, wait a moment.”

Tsutomu stopped, though his reluctance was evident. When he turned back, his expression bore a clear edge of displeasure.

”What is it?”

”You’re awfully tense today. Is this really something worth getting so angry about?”

”…Are you going to accuse me of being jealous too?”

His voice was cold, sharp enough to make even Alma flinch. Though she was not the true target of his ire, she glanced uneasily at Camille, who bore the weight of his frustration without faltering.

Camille offered him a calm smile. ”That’s quite the accusation. If you’re going to take it out on me, at least save it for when we’re alone at home.”

”……”

Her remark, lighthearted yet pointed, left Tsutomu momentarily speechless. The teasing grin that followed deepened the awkward silence, punctuated only by Garm’s quiet sigh, his tail drooping. Meanwhile, Xeno, for some reason, gave a cheerful thumbs-up.

Tsutomu exhaled heavily, his anger draining away. ”You’re right. That was out of line. And yes, I took it out on you. Sorry for that… though just to be clear, we’ve never been alone at your home.”

”We have, plenty of times. Like when you taught me how to make that pot-au-feu…”

”Okay, stop,” Tsutomu interrupted. ”If you’re just wasting my time to mess with me, we’re done here.”

”Wait, wait. Don’t run off yet.” Camille reached out, her grip surprisingly firm as she caught his wrist.

Though he scowled, Tsutomu did not resist further. Camille held his gaze, her tone softening.

”You seemed really disappointed in Eunice earlier. I’d like to understand why.”

”Why do YOU care?”

”Because it looks like there’s a misunderstanding between you two. Let’s start with your thoughts on the Dumpling [. Please.”

”Ugh…”

Tsutomu heaved a sigh as he glanced at the nearby Guild staff, who were busy ushering away curious onlookers.

”Fine,” he muttered, now feeling ashamed that he had not kept his emotions in control, and how that resulted in making Garm and Xeno worry.

Camille released his wrist, and Tsutomu turned, raising his staff slightly to indicate Eunice.

”The Dumpling [ is undeniably useful,” he began. ”It’s a safety net for Healers in case of death. Stephanie recently used it to clear the eighty-fifth layer. It’s a technique that will probably stay relevant on the frontlines.”

”And? What do YOU think of it?” Camille prompted.

”…Like I said, I don’t need it right now. That’s all.”

Eunice’s fox ears twitched at his clipped tone, but Camille remained composed.

”Why don’t you need it?”

”Because I don’t fight in a way that puts me at risk of dying. Following Ealdred Crow’s example has helped sometimes, sure, but I haven’t died in the Dungeon since my first time. So, I have no use for it.”

”B-but! The eighty-fifth layer–” Eunice started, but Camille cut her off with a gentle admonition.

”Calm down, Eunice.” She crouched slightly, her gaze meeting Eunice’s with an air of quiet authority. ”Appealing to him emotionally won’t work. And lying definitely won’t. Tsutomu’s not Leon — he’s never going to pick up on a woman’s feelings.”

”And why am I being criticized here?” Tsutomu muttered, exasperated.

Ignoring him, Camille continued, ”You’ll have to face him honestly. Misunderstandings won’t clear up otherwise. Now, Eunice — were your earlier words truly how you feel?”

Eunice’s bravado crumbled. She hesitated, then shook her head, her ears drooping.

”Then go and tell him the truth,” Camille urged. ”Don’t worry — I’ll pick up the pieces if it goes poorly.”

”I’d rather not end up in pieces…” Eunice muttered under her breath.

Still, she turned toward Tsutomu. Trembling slightly under his cool, detached gaze, she forced herself to look him in the eye.

”The words I said earlier — I take them back. I know you weren’t jealous of me. I understand that much. At first, I didn’t intend to learn anything from you. But… I’ve watched you and your other students. I’ve seen how you handle things as a Healer on the Pedestals. Even if I didn’t want to admit it, I know how capable you are. What I said earlier… I only said it because I was annoyed.”

”……”

”And you mentioned earlier that Dumpling [ isn’t needed right now. Does that mean you’ve already gathered all the equipment needed for the eighty-fifth layer?”

”…That’s right.”

”Then, given your style, I’d agree it’s probably not needed,” Eunice conceded. Her shoulders slumped slightly, but she did not let her gaze drop. ”You never seem to make mistakes managing aggro, even when it’s nerve-wracking to watch. And your support and healing — honestly, it’s unsettling how meticulous you are. With the way you operate, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Healer dies unless it’s to an unavoidable area attack.” Her voice faltered for a moment as her eyes glistened, but she pressed on. ”Still, I can’t predict what’ll happen beyond that. The day might come when Dumpling [ could make the difference.”

”For example?” Tsutomu asked.

Eunice hesitated, then said, ”In a boss fight. Even the Fallen Lich had devastating area attacks. There’s a good chance the ninetieth layer’s boss might do the same. If that happens… even you could die.”

”Let’s say the ninetieth layer’s boss uses an area attack that wipes everyone out, like what happened with Ealdred Crow. Even if I used Dumpling [ and revived myself, then what? Could I turn the fight around on my own?”

Eunice frowned, resting her chin in her hand as she considered his question. Camille’s earlier advice echoed in her mind: ‘don’t appeal to him emotionally’. She had to think it through carefully before answering him. She stole a glance at Tsutomu, who stood silently, his patience giving her the space to organize her thoughts.

”That… would be difficult.” She admitted at last. ”On the eighty-fifth layer, when the Healer was revived, there was room to retreat. But in a boss fight, there wouldn’t be many places to escape to. If a Healer revived themselves using Dumpling [, they’d immediately draw aggro. Then they’d have to revive the Tank and heal them, which would generate even more aggro. It’d take time for the Tank to take control again. It would be… a very tough situation.”

”Then isn’t it unnecessary after all?” Tsutomu pressed.

”But what if it’s near the end of the fight?” Eunice countered. ”If the boss is almost down, reviving everyone — even if it means drawing aggro — might be worth it. I-I mean, from your perspective, you might see that as just another self-sacrificing Healer move, but for the sake of defeating the boss…”

She trailed off, her voice growing faint as if realizing she might have overstepped. Tsutomu, however, simply scratched his brow.

”Using it recklessly wouldn’t make sense,” he said. ”But as a situational option, it’s valid. Besides, the strategies used against the Fallen Lich should still be useful against the ninetieth layer’s boss. It’s hard to imagine a high-VIT Tank dying outright to an area attack, so…”

Eunice’s ears perked up at his words. ”Ah! In that case, the Dumpling [ really could shine, couldn’t it!?”

”Exactly. If the Tank is weakened in the process, they’d naturally draw aggro away from my revival and healing. In that case, recovery would still be manageable. For situations like that, Dumpling [ is effective. That’s why I’ve been practicing it a bit in my room.”

”Y-you have?”

”Unlike the other Healers who mindlessly prioritize Dumpling [ practice without much thought, I’ve chosen not to make it my go-to solution. Instead, I’ve been preparing for scenarios where it might actually prove useful… When you accused me of being jealous, I was deeply disappointed. But it seems you’ve been giving it some thought too.”

Tsutomu had felt an irritating surge at the mention of jealousy. At that moment, it had struck him that Eunice was not fully considering things. A fleeting thought crossed his mind: [perhaps Dumpling [ wasn’t something she’d discovered through careful trial and error, but merely a stroke of luck.]

Yet, what she shared suggested she’d put some thought into it, which offered him a bit of reassurance.

Turning to Camille with an expression that plainly said ‘Satisfied now?’, he was met only with a deepening smile. Camille glanced at Eunice, who now seemed noticeably lighter.

[Am I… really this easy to sway?]

Not long ago, Eunice would not have had such an impact on him. Even when she had accused him of jealousy earlier, he would have dismissed it with a laugh and moved on. But the reason for his unsettled feelings now felt painfully clear.

During the Stampede, when death loomed so closely, Eunice had rushed into danger. In the end, it had not been her saving him — if anything, it was the other way around. But that moment had undeniably shifted her place in his heart.

Coming to terms with that realization, Tsutomu clicked his tongue and began to walk away. But just as he was about to leave, he felt a light tug on his sleeve.

”W-Wait! Just one last thing — I want you to hear me out.”

”…The Guild staff probably don’t need more trouble, so make it quick.”

With several famous Explorers causing a scene, a crowd of onlookers had gathered, and the Guild staff were visibly struggling to manage the situation. Feeling it was high time to disperse, Tsutomu urged Eunice to hurry. Flustered, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

”P-Please praise me!”

”…What?”

Caught off guard by her request, Tsutomu made a baffled sound. Eunice, visibly frustrated, clenched her fists and began flailing them.

”You haven’t praised me yet for creating Dumpling [! So, praise me already!”

”What are you even saying?”

”Why!? You praised me for the Dumpling before! It’s only natural to praise Dumpling [ too — maybe even more, because it’s much more difficult! I only made it because I wanted you to praise me! It doesn’t matter how much everyone else does — it means nothing if it’s not you! So! PRAISE! ME! NOW!”

”…Ugh,” Tsutomu muttered under his breath, feeling a twinge of secondhand embarrassment as Eunice shut her eyes and shook her entire body, as though throwing a tantrum.

”Even after all this… you still won’t praise me?” Eunice’s voice trembled as she gazed up at him, her eyes pleading. ”W-What if… what if I get on my knees and beg?”

At that, Tsutomu found himself unable to completely turn her down.

”Well, I guess you did well on your own. Since the Pedestal didn’t have anything you could reference, you must’ve gone in blind, uncertain of success.”

”Y-Yes! It was so nerve-wracking… I thought it might all be for nothing.”

”Yeah, but you stuck it out, and it paid off this time. That’s impressive.”

”…Then pat me on the head. Like I saw you do it in the newspapers!”

”Pat your head? Are you regressing into a child or what?”

Tsutomu furrowed his brow at Eunice’s increasingly absurd behavior, but his hand, almost by instinct, reached toward her head. Unlike Amy’s soft, thin hair or Lorena’s firmer texture, Eunice’s fox ears were unexpectedly thick. As he gently massaged them, Eunice let out a contented sigh.

”Ehehe… I’m so glad. It was worth it — all the effort was worth it.”

Tears of joy welled in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks and pooling at her feet. As her nose began to run, Tsutomu fumbled for a handkerchief in his pocket. But before he could offer it, Eunice collapsed forward, resting her head against him.

”Zzz…” Supportively holding the now completely unconscious Eunice, Tsutomu sighed. ”She’s just like a child…”