Live Dungeon!

“So the >… takes effect after about a minute, right?”

“Mh-hmm, that’s about it, yes. But try to keep track of the exact seconds if you can.”

“Really? I’ve got to do that much? Isn’t that kind of a pain?”

“A single second off can be all it takes to wipe a party. You don’t need to get it perfect right now, but eventually… yes.”

“Ngh… okay, fine. Then I’ll do it one more time!”

Korinna, with her soft smile tinged with a melancholy that seemed to cling to her like mist, was guiding a group of beastkin orphans, each of whom had awakened as Channelers. Her background as a nurse made her a natural with children, and under her calm, patient instruction, they were learning quickly.

A short distance behind them, Hannah was poring over a letter from Tsutomu while giving instructions on evasion-based Tanking.

“Okay, umm… so next is >! You gotta keep up the flow! If you can consistently get >, it’ll feel really good! Apparently!”

“Now, try it on me!” Xeno encouraged them. “Hit me with everything you’ve got!”

Hannah was using the detailed documents Tsutomu had left behind regarding the Boxer class, a welcome shift from her usual explanations, which were filled with baffling sound effects and little else. In live combat, she was without a doubt one of the best evasive Tanks around, and because the orphans respected her enough to follow her lead, the self-professed teacher was practically glowing with satisfaction.

Garm and Leleia were here as well, overseeing physical training.

“Next, push-ups,” Garm commanded.

“Huff… huff…”

“Lower your chest close to the ground,” Leleia said with a smirk. “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t lose to a girl?”

“Y-You’re a monster…”

Even after running a full circuit around Dungeon City, which would leave most seasoned adventurers winded, neither of them was even breaking a sweat. The more cocky and defiant orphans, newly arrived and quick to mouth off, were rapidly learning to revise their opinions.

Lorena watched from the recently renovated and expanded Silver Beast Clan House as the members of Absolute Helix not only held things together but also found time to teach the orphaned children the fundamentals of being Explorers. She could not help but feel a sense of admiration.

[It’s almost embarrassing how I once worried this Clan would fall apart without Tsutomu…]

It had been months since Tsutomu’s departure, and in that time, Korinna had ascended to take his place as one of the three best Healers in town. Though she had already been respected, her true ability became undeniable once she proved capable of filling the void Tsutomu had left. Then, shortly after reaching level 100, a new unique skill appeared on her Status Card: >, and with it, her fame surged.

Garm had once sunk into a slump after Tsutomu and several other members left the Clan, worn down by the unfamiliar burden of leadership. But with support from the highly educated trio of Xeno, Leleia, and Korinna, all of whom had studied in the Royal Capital, he had managed to stabilize. And over time, he grew into the role.

Hannah, meanwhile, had pulled back from frontline work and begun training directly under Melchor, the founder of the Magic Fist style. She was learning both the martial arts forms and the philosophy behind them, drawing plenty of curious attention. Just the other morning, Lorena had spotted her meditating cross-legged in the garden for hours, with a bird perched serenely atop her head.

[What in the world is she even trying to achieve…?] Lorena had wondered, equal parts amused and baffled.

The current party for Absolute Helix consisted of four core members: Garm, Xeno, Korinna, and Leleia. The fifth spot usually went to Madeleine, a specialized Sorcerer, though Hannah and other Attackers sometimes rotated in. At one point, Ealdred Crow had overtaken them in terms of Dungeon progress, but now they had caught up and were vying for dominance once again.

[…Of course, this is all exactly how Tsutomu predicted it would go. Which just makes it more irritating.]

The letter Lorena had received from Tsutomu began with polite thanks, but that formality was quickly brushed aside. The rest of it outlined, in careful detail, his vision for a long-term alliance between Silver Beast and Absolute Helix, and how their future would unfold. Though some of the specifics diverged, the broad strokes of his predictions had come to pass.

Lorena could not help but feel annoyed at how thoroughly he had foreseen it all.

Korinna’s rise to fill the vacuum left by his absence had revitalized the Channeler community. Explorers had pushed beyond the hundredth layer, shifting market dynamics throughout Dungeon City. All of it had unfolded in near-perfect sync with Tsutomu’s vision.

He had even addressed the departure of Diniel and Amira, and had structured the resource-sharing system and long-term alliance with Silver Beast with those losses in mind. On the surface, Absolute Helix had once seemed like a Clan held together by the singular leadership and healing prowess of Tsutomu, much like the Scarlet Devil Squad, which functioned thanks to the commanding presence of Weiss.

And yet, even with Tsutomu gone, Absolute Helix continued to function without disruption. Xeno, who had prior experience as a Clan Leader, and Leleia, though less adept at command, proved to be exceptional second-in-commands, supporting the new leadership. Ollie, who had handled the core of the Clan’s management, had been visibly shaken by Daryl’s departure, but she had never once shirked her responsibilities. Thanks to them all, Absolute Helix remained steady.

[Oh, yeah… It didn’t seem like Tsutomu saw Daryl’s departure coming, huh?] Lorena pondered. [I guess he’s not infallible after all.]

In the letter he had left behind, Tsutomu had written that Daryl would likely fit in easily with Silver Beast, smoothing over interpersonal conflicts as a kind of social lubricant. But Daryl had since left Absolute Helix, and now led his own group centered around orphans from the Royal Capital.

Lorena held no ill will toward Daryl. In fact, she admired his work. Like Silver Beast, he had dedicated himself to the care and empowerment of orphans. Still, having worked closely with Misil, she understood all too well that managing such a group was no simple task.

Silver Beast itself had grown rapidly since forming a long-term alliance with Absolute Helix and making it through the hundredth layer. Now, they were beginning to rival even Ealdred Crow in scale. But with the increase in numbers came an inevitable uptick in interpersonal conflicts and logistical problems. Misil alone could no longer keep up.

Fortunately, Silver Beast had long invested in the education of its younger members. Years of mentorship and support had helped them avoid the worst outcomes. And compared to profit-driven Clans like Ealdred Crow, they suffered fewer serious incidents.

While the occasional clash between veterans and newcomers flared up, they were unified by a shared understanding of hardship. That common ground made reconciliation far easier. Moreover, many Explorers who had risen through Silver Beast’s ranks with Lorena’s support now gave back to the next generation. They taught what they had been taught, repaying the kindness they had received. This cycle of mutual aid created a natural resistance to resentment and discontent.

There were many ways to run such an organization, but without a strategy, it would simply collapse into a mob. Daryl seemed to be avoiding that fate so far. At least, Lorena had not heard any troubling rumors, which only made her more curious about how he was managing it all.

[I’ve been so busy gathering Oil lately… but once that calms down, I’d like to sit down with him and talk.]

Ever since the discovery of Imprint Oil, a rare substance used to enhance gear. It was found beyond the hundredth layer, and the arms and armor market had become fiercely competitive over it. Blacksmiths and craftsmen were throwing themselves into researching its properties, and fierce bidding wars were now a frequent occurrence.

Lorena herself had advanced far enough to obtain the stuff, and with her progression came new obligations. She had to develop ways to utilize new skills, particularly the Sub-Job techniques of the White Mage. At the same time, to train the next generation. She could not afford to focus on Daryl’s group right now, no matter how curious she was.

[…If you don’t hurry back soon, Tsutomu, we might just leave you behind!]

There was no way she could allow herself to fall behind as a Healer while he was gone. If anything, she had to grow strong enough that he would need her when he returned. She would make herself someone worthy of pulling him back up… and this time, she would thank him face to face, not through a letter.

Holding that ambition close to her heart, Lorena continued teaching the next wave of Explorers, while refining her own techniques as a Mobile Healer, always pushing for greater heights.