Warm sunlight slowly pushed away the darkness inside Rio's room.
Thin rays of light slipped through the curtains and spread across the floorboards, climbing over books, bags, and scattered papers before finally reaching the bed.
Ryota's eyebrows twitched.
"...Mmm..."
He slowly opened his eyes.
For a moment he stared blankly at the ceiling.
Then memories slowly returned.
The train battle.
Crow.
Floor Two.
The hotel.
Akari.
"...Ah."
He rubbed his eyes and sat up.
The first thing he noticed was that the bed beside him was already empty.
"...Rio?"
He blinked.
Then heard the faint sound of paper moving.
Rustle.
Rustle.
Ryota turned.
Near the desk beside the window sat Rio.
Her silver hair reflected the morning sunlight spilling through the curtains.
She wore casual clothes instead of her usual game attire, and her expression looked unusually serious.
Sheets of paper completely covered the desk.
Maps.
Notes.
Drawings.
Symbols.
Arrows.
Circles.
Ryota slowly walked over.
"...What are you doing?"
Rio didn't look away.
"Planning."
Ryota tilted his head.
Then looked down.
And immediately froze.
"...What the hell?"
The papers stretched almost across the entire desk.
There were rough terrain sketches.
River systems.
Mountain paths.
Large forests.
Cave networks.
Countless markings.
Small triangular structures that resembled tents.
Supply routes.
Even danger zones marked in red.
Ryota leaned closer.
"...That map looks massive."
Rio finally looked at him.
"It is."
She pointed at one section.
"Floor Three."
Ryota blinked.
"...Seriously?"
Rio nodded.
"The biggest floor among the first ten floors."
Ryota stared again.
"...Biggest?"
Rio crossed her arms.
"The first two floors are mostly beginner environments."
"Floor Three changes things."
Her finger moved across the paper.
"Jungle environments."
"Ruins."
"Natural cave systems."
"Ancient structures."
"Large rivers."
"Multiple hidden zones."
She pointed toward several triangles.
"These are temporary expedition camps players set up."
Then caves.
"Resource zones."
Then another area.
"Danger territory."
Ryota stared.
"...You made all this?"
Rio casually nodded.
"Mostly from memory."
Ryota looked at her.
Then looked at the papers.
Then looked back.
"...You're terrifying."
Rio stared at him.
"...Thanks."
"...That wasn't a compliment."
Rio stood up.
"Come on."
She stretched both arms.
"Let's go downstairs and eat breakfast."
Ryota looked toward the clock.
8:00 AM
"...Already?"
Rio nodded.
"Come on."
They left the room.
The house remained quiet.
Only the sounds of footsteps echoed softly through the hallway.
Rio suddenly stopped near Akari's room.
Knock.
Knock.
"...Akari."
Silence.
Ryota waited.
Nothing.
Rio knocked again.
"...Akari?"
Still nothing.
Rio frowned slightly.
She slowly reached for the doorknob.
Click.
Locked.
"Hm."
Ryota scratched his cheek.
"I guess she's still sleeping."
Rio looked confused.
"...Normally she'd be awake around this hour."
Ryota shrugged.
"Maybe she stayed up late watching those romance shows and stuff."
Rio immediately looked at him.
"...She's the second-to-last person who'd watch those."
Ryota blinked.
"...Wait."
"Who's first?"
Rio immediately replied—
"Me."
Ryota stared.
"...Really?"
Rio began walking downstairs.
"I never really got into romance shows."
Ryota followed behind.
"...Why?"
Rio thought for a moment.
"...Too much misunderstanding."
"...Too much drama."
"...Too much staring."
Ryota laughed.
"...You sound like you're reviewing battle strategies."
Rio crossed her arms.
"They could solve half their problems by talking."
"...That's fair."
They finally reached downstairs.
The kitchen and dining room were empty.
Rio looked around.
Then noticed a folded piece of paper sitting on the table.
She picked it up.
Her eyes moved across it.
Ryota leaned over.
Gone to grandma's house. Be back later today
Akari, if you're reading this, tell Rio to cook up some food. I was in a hurry so I couldn't make anything.
If Rio you're reading this—cook food for yourself, Akari, and Ryota.
—Mom
Silence.
Ryota slowly looked toward Rio.
Rio slowly looked toward Ryota.
"..."
"..."
Then Rio sighed.
"...Mom really likes volunteering me."
Ryota laughed.
Rio grabbed an apron and tied it around herself.
"...Sit."
"...I'll make breakfast."
Ryota immediately sat down.
"Yes chef."
Rio narrowed her eyes.
"I can still poison your plate."
"...SORRY."
Rio moved around the kitchen naturally.
She opened the refrigerator.
Pulled out eggs.
Meat.
Vegetables.
Cooking oil.
Soon—
Sizzle—
The sounds of cooking filled the room.
Warm smells spread through the house.
Eggs cooking.
Meat grilling.
Fresh bread heating.
Ryota rested his chin on the table.
"...You cook a lot?"
Rio flipped meat on the pan.
"...Sometimes."
"My mother works a lot."
"So Akari and I help."
Ryota smiled.
"...You're surprisingly responsible."
Rio looked at him.
"...Surprisingly?"
Ryota immediately panicked.
"I MEANT—"
Knock.
Knock.
Both of them froze.
Rio blinked.
"...Hm?"
Ryota stood up.
"I'll get it."
He walked toward the front door.
Click.
The door opened.
Then Ryota froze.
Standing there was a girl with pink hair tied into soft twin tails.
She wore a light hoodie and carried a small bag over her shoulder.
Large eyes blinked innocently.
She smiled brightly.
"...Good morning!"
Ryota stared.
The girl tilted her head.
"...Umm..."
"...Is Akari here?"
Silence.
Ryota's brain slowly connected the pieces.
Pink hair.
Best friend.
Coming today.
Evermount.
No way—
"...Memory?"
The girl's eyes widened.
"...Eh?"
Inside the kitchen—
Rio's hand stopped moving.
Very slowly—
Very slowly—
She turned her head.
"...Memory?"
And upstairs—
Behind a locked bedroom door—
Akari suddenly opened her eyes.
"...Huh?"
Then she froze.
Her soul nearly left her body.
"...WAIT."
The atmosphere near the entrance suddenly became strange.
Very strange.
Rio stood near the kitchen holding the spatula in her hand while staring toward the front door.
Ryota stood frozen.
And standing outside—
Memory blinked innocently.
"...Eh?"
The pink-haired girl tilted her head in confusion.
"...How do you know my name?"
Ryota slowly looked behind him.
Rio had narrowed her eyes.
Very slowly.
Very, very slowly.
Ryota felt danger.
"...Rio?"
She didn't answer.
Instead—
She walked toward the entrance.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Memory immediately straightened herself.
"Ah—hello!"
She bowed politely.
"M-my name is Memory!"
Rio stared at her.
Then smiled.
"...Hello."
"Don't worry my sister talks a lot about you"
Ryota nearly sighed in relief.
For a moment there he thought Rio was investigating a murder case.
Memory smiled brightly.
"I'm Akari's friend! We were supposed to meet today!"
Rio nodded.
"I know."
Then she looked upstairs.
"...Akari's probably still sleeping."
Memory blinked.
"...Sleeping?"
Rio nodded.
Memory looked genuinely surprised.
"...Huh?"
Then suddenly—
"I guess we really stayed up all ni—"
SLAM.
A hand suddenly covered her mouth.
Memory's eyes widened.
Akari had appeared out of nowhere like a ninja.
"...MMMMMM!!"
Akari's face had turned completely red.
"Don't."
"...Say."
"...Another."
"...Word."
Memory struggled desperately.
"Mmmmph!!"
Ryota stared.
Rio stared.
Memory was then dragged backward upstairs.
Her feet practically left the floor.
"MMMMM!!"
Akari continued dragging her.
"YOU HEARD NOTHING."
"MMMMM AKARI I'M SORR—"
SLAM.
Bedroom door shut.
Silence.
...
Ryota suddenly burst out laughing.
"Pffff—HAHAHAHA!!"
Rio looked upstairs.
Then sighed.
"...What are they even doing?"
Ryota laughed harder.
"I don't know anymore."
Rio returned toward the kitchen.
The sound of cooking resumed.
Sizzle—
Eggs cooked softly over the pan.
The smell of grilled meat spread throughout the house.
Bread warmed beside the stove.
Soon—
Around 9:00 AM
Breakfast was finished.
Ryota sat across from Rio while happily eating.
"...This is really good."
Rio drank from her cup.
"...Hm."
Ryota looked at her.
"...Hm means thank you?"
"...Maybe."
"...You really don't say thank you often."
"...Eat your food."
Ryota grinned.
After finishing breakfast Rio prepared another tray.
Two plates.
Extra bread.
Eggs.
Meat.
Juice.
Ryota tilted his head.
"...For them?"
Rio nodded.
"Akari probably hasn't eaten."
She grabbed the tray.
Ryota followed behind.
They walked upstairs and stopped near Akari's room.
Rio placed the tray beside the door.
Knock.
Knock.
"...Akari."
Silence.
"...I brought food."
"...You and Memory eat before it gets cold."
Silence.
Then—
"...T-Thanks Nee-san!"
"...Thank you Rio-san!!"
Rio stared at the door.
Then looked at Ryota.
"...They're definitely hiding something."
Ryota immediately looked away.
"I don't know anything."
Rio narrowed her eyes.
But eventually sighed.
"...Whatever."
They returned to Rio's room.
Ryota sat beside the bed and equipped the headset.
Rio looked outside briefly through the window.
Morning sunlight filled the city.
A small smile appeared on her face.
"...Floor Three."
Then—
She equipped her headset.
Darkness swallowed everything.
Evermount Online
Light slowly returned.
Rio opened her eyes.
The hotel room inside Nendu greeted her vision.
Ryota appeared beside her.
One after another—
Blue lights flashed around the room.
Kiraya.
Hinabi.
Ramos.
Silla.
Sayanaki.
Indra sleeping comfortably atop Ryota's head.
Everyone had gathered.
Rio blinked.
"...Sayanaki?"
The crimson-haired assassin crossed her arms.
"My plans got cancelled."
She shrugged.
"So I came."
Ryota smiled.
"...Nice."
Kiraya stretched both arms.
"Looks like everyone's here."
Auram stood near the wall silently.
Even his massive presence somehow made the room feel calmer.
Rio walked toward him.
"...Thank you."
Auram looked down toward her.
"For protecting everyone."
Auram lowered his head slightly.
"It was no problem, Lady Rio. If you need me just call out my name"
Golden particles slowly surrounded his body.
Then—
He disappeared.
Ramos looked amazed.
"...Every time I see that dragon I lose years from my life."
Silla laughed softly.
Rio clapped once.
"Let's move."
Everyone nodded.
The City of Nendu remained lively despite the early hour.
Players filled the roads.
NPC merchants shouted from shops.
Carriages moved through the streets.
The group slowly made their way toward the Inner Rim.
Toward the center.
Toward the largest structure in Floor Two.
The World Teleporter Crystal.
Everyone looked upward.
The crystal towered over the city.
Massive blue crystal structures floated around it.
Ancient runes slowly rotated around its surface.
It looked less like a machine—
And more like something created by gods.
Silla stared with wide eyes.
"...Amazing..."
Ramos looked equally stunned.
Rio stepped forward.
"Everyone ready?"
Nods.
Rio placed her hand onto the crystal.
Immediately—
The runes lit up.
[Floor Selection Available]
[Floor Three — Aethelspire]
[Teleport?]
YES
Rio pressed it.
The world exploded into light.
For a few seconds—
Nobody could see anything.
Only endless light.
Endless movement.
Then—
Cold air struck their faces.
Rio slowly opened her eyes.
Stone.
Darkness.
Cave walls.
Drip.
Drip.
Water slowly echoed from somewhere nearby.
Ryota looked around.
"...A cave?"
Sayanaki looked around carefully.
Kiraya unsheathed Lionheart slightly.
Everyone slowly stepped forward.
Light from the cave entrance shined ahead.
Then—
They walked out.
And everyone froze.
Nobody spoke.
Not even Sayanaki.
Not even Rio.
Because before them—
Was a world unlike anything they had seen before.
Gigantic forests stretched endlessly beneath the sky.
Massive rivers curved through the land like shining silver snakes.
Ancient mountains wrapped around the entire horizon.
Floating clouds drifted between mountain peaks.
Far away—
At the absolute center—
Rose a colossal mountain.
No—
Calling it a mountain felt wrong.
It looked more like a pillar holding up heaven itself.
The peak disappeared beyond the clouds.
Waterfalls flowed from impossible heights.
Birds larger than wyverns circled around it.
The wind itself carried life.
A world untouched.
A world waiting to be explored.
Ryota slowly spoke.
"...No way..."
Hinabi stared.
"...It's beautiful..."
Kiraya smiled.
"...So this is Floor Three."
Silla looked overwhelmed.
"...I've never seen anything like this..."
Even Ramos forgot to speak.
Rio smiled.
Slowly.
Confidently.
Then turned toward everyone.
"Our destination..."
She pointed toward the giant mountain at the center.
"...is there."
"Aethelspire's Center Mountain. M.t Verdantia"
Everyone looked up.
Rio crossed her arms.
"We're at the far edge of Aethelspire."
"Which means from this point onward..."
She smiled.
"The real adventure begins."
Silence.
Then—
Ryota grinned.
"...Now that's what I'm talking about."