December 30th, 2022. 16:18 — Town of Beginnings, Floor 1

  Silver and Veget appeared in the town plaza through the portal. Although Silver had everything under control, Veget had insisted on meeting Sasha to get to know her and coordinate the children's small excursion to Floor 5 as smoothly as possible.

  They reached the cathedral and entered through the church, a place Silver had already grown familiar with. The girls were in the kitchen when they saw them arrive. They stood and greeted them politely. Yuiha made the introductions:

  —Sasha, this is Veget, the party leader.

  —Veget, this is Sasha, the children's caretaker and head of the orphanage.

  They shook hands cordially.

  —Thank you so much for helping us. The kids will be thrilled —said Sasha.

  —If we can give those little ones something to smile about, it's worth it —Veget replied.

  Veget unfolded a hologram of Floor 5 onto the table and explained the planned route: from the city gates, circling around the center of the forest, with two small clearings intended for rest stops.

  —Considering the kids' pace, it'll take around ninety minutes to reach the spot —he concluded.

  —Everything's planned out very well. I'm grateful —Sasha smiled.

  —That takes care of the route. How do you plan to handle food? —asked Veget.

  —Simple. We'll hunt rabbits and birds and cook them —Silver answered confidently.

  Veget stared at him for several seconds.

  —And what if they don't like pheasant or rabbit meat?

  Silver went silent. Yuiha stepped in to rescue him.

  —Sasha and I will prepare enough food for everyone. Thanks to the cold, durability won't be an issue.

  Veget nodded and continued.

  —For safety, we'll need to leave at five to arrive before nightfall. The kids will be outside for many hours. What about rest time?

  —They can sit on the ground —Silver answered, as if it were obvious.

  Veget took a long breath.

  —It's winter. It will likely rain or snow tomorrow. You're planning to seat them on the ground?

  —Well... we'll bring blankets.

  —Right. And do you have any blankets with moisture and cold resistance?

  Silver had no answer.

  —We'll need to build a simple pergola. A floor, some beams, a roof. The forest is nearby, so wood won't be a problem —Veget declared.

  —Good idea, but... who knows how to do that? —Silver asked.

  —You do. You're the organizer.

  Silver froze for a moment.

  —What? ME!? I don't have any lumber or carpentry skills!

  —You have twenty-four hours to learn —Veget sentenced.

  Silver looked at Sasha for support... and she gave him an exaggerated bow.

  —Thank you, Silver-san.

  Then he turned to Yuiha, his last hope... but she was smiling with a mischievous glimmer that promised zero mercy.

  —If you go to the carpenter in the main plaza, he'll give you a quest to unlock the Tree-Cutting skill and an axe.

  —And if you go to Jinrai Village on Floor 2, there's a quest that unlocks Carpentry. It doesn't take more than two hours. After that, you just need eight hours to level the skill.

  Silver felt that smile crawl down his spine like frost.

  —With that, everything's settled —Veget concluded—. We'll meet tomorrow at 16:45.

  They said their goodbyes and left. Just then, Neru ran past them. Veget froze. His eyes unfocused, and he whispered:

  —Shiori...

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  —No, that's Neru —Silver corrected.

  Veget snapped back to reality.

  —So... what are you going to do about what we discussed?

  Silver gave a crooked smile.

  —I'll take responsibility.

  —Good boy —Veget replied.

  December 31st, 2022. 16:52 — Karluin, Floor 5

  The kids stared in awe at how different Karluin was from the Town of Beginnings. For most of them, it was the first time they had seen anything beyond the walls.

  Silver, Miwa, and Ryuho were waiting. Silver greeted with a wave, Ryuho with a serious nod... but Miwa was something else entirely.

  —Welcome, kiddos! —she exclaimed as she hugged each one and kissed their cheeks.

  Kain, Kiku, and Ginn turned red instantly.

  —They're adorable! —Miwa squealed.

  —She's so beautiful... —whispered Neru, mesmerized.

  —Thank you for noticing, sweetheart —Miwa replied, delighted.

  Mina was already preparing a mischievous comment, but Silver stepped in before she could unleash chaos.

  —All right. Veget and HappyGoose went ahead to clear the path. We'll move like this: I'll take front, Ryuho will cover the rear. Miwa and Yuiha on the sides. Sasha and the kids in the center.

  Everyone nodded, but Ryuho spoke up:

  —I want Miwa on the left flank.

  —Ryuho... —Miwa protested, but Yuiha spoke first.

  —I'd rather take the right side.

  Silver tensed. That side was the most dangerous.

  —Yu-chan, don't listen to Ryuho —Miwa warned.

  —It's not because of him, Miwa-chan —Yuiha smiled—. My detection and listening skills are high. It's safer if I'm there.

  Silver widened his eyes.

  —So that's how you sensed those players in danger from so far away?

  Yuiha nodded.

  Ryuho looked satisfied.

  The trek went smoothly. Veget had chosen the perfect route. They encountered no dangerous monsters, and the kids enjoyed every rest stop in the clearings.

  HappyGoose and Veget were waiting at the final clearing. Veget marked the exact spot for the pergola, and Silver began cutting trees... surprisingly well for someone who had learned the skill the day before.

  Ryuho and Goose helped while Veget stood watch like a stone sentinel. Miwa, Yuiha, and Sasha played with the children.

  When night fell, they had dinner under the pergola. Sasha's sandwiches were so good they outclassed even the high-level cooking from the upper floors.

  The kids fell asleep under the roof, and the adults stayed by the fire chatting. For Sasha, who almost never had adult company, it felt like breathing new air.

  Ten minutes before midnight, they woke the children and seated them on the logs Silver had cut.

  The fireworks began.

  Everything had been worth it.

  Ryuho held Miwa close. Goose watched from a meter back, completely missing the small gesture she made for him to get closer. A little farther away, Yuiha stood beside Silver.

  Then Neru ran toward Veget.

  —Ojisan... can you lift me up so I can see?

  Veget looked at her... and smiled like never before.

  —Of course. Come here.

  He lifted her in his arms. Mina appeared instantly:

  —Veget-nii, can you lift me too?

  Veget crouched, hoisted her onto his shoulders, and kept Neru in his arms. The two girls cheered at every burst of color.

  The rest of the group stared in disbelief.

  —Is he a doppelganger? —Goose whispered.

  When the show ended, Sasha and the children said goodbye and used their crystals. Yuiha stayed a moment longer with Silver.

  She rested her head on his shoulder.

  —Thank you for making the kids so happy —she whispered.

  Silver wanted to wrap an arm around her... but hesitated. He always hesitated.

  After a few seconds, Yuiha lifted her head, sighed, and looked at him.

  —Silver... you don't owe me anything. You don't need to stay by my side because I gave you bread that day.

  Silver froze.

  —...What?

  —The other day you said you stay with me because I saved your life.

  Silver searched his memory until the moment resurfaced. Yuiha had already stepped back three steps.

  —No! —he shouted.

  She stopped.

  He stepped closer.

  —That's not true. I know I said it, but that's not what I meant. Yes, I owe you my life... but I'm not with you out of obligation. I'm with you because... I like being with you. I feel good. I forget we're trapped here.

  She closed the distance until she was right in front of him.

  —I've never been good at putting feelings into words... —he murmured.

  Yuiha didn't answer with words.

  She rose on her toes... and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek.

  —For a first attempt, you did pretty well —she smiled—. See you, Silver.

  She activated her crystal and vanished.

  Miwa opened her mouth, ready to throw a comment, but even she couldn't muster one.

  Silver stared at the sky.

  Smiling like a kid.

  Because Yuiha had told him he did well.

  And she had kissed him.

  And for him...

  that was more than enough.