Having finished her one-on-one battle with the Flame Goblin, Chika continued her exploration of the Cave of Heat.

She sweated in the sweltering spaces, then found rooms and took showers. She casually defeated the monsters she encountered. She never came across the mimic from before again.

Without anything particularly noteworthy happening, Chika made her way through the floors and finally reached the boss room.

"We finally made it...! Okay, let’s get started right away."

She stopped at the entrance to the boss room, then quickly continued onward and entered.

"This place is..."

The structure of the boss room was circular, with a diameter of about thirty meters. The ceiling was a rounded dome shape, and there were no noticeable obstacles. Straight ahead, there was another entrance leading to a different corridor than the one she had just entered through. No other entrances or exits existed.

"Ugh, uh... it’s really hot... this... it seems dangerous to stay here any longer... and that... that is..."

The heat inside was considerable. The space itself seemed to warp from the intensity, and Chika felt dizzy almost immediately after entering.

Nevertheless, she managed to regain her balance and turned her gaze to the shadow that had entered the room from the opposite entrance at the same moment she stepped inside.

"..."

Its appearance was human. About 170 centimeters tall, wearing a black robe. Because the hood was pulled down low, its face was impossible to identify. In its hand, it held a staff about as long as its body, adorned with a red jewel.

Above that person’s head, it displayed: Illusionist Yuuen Lv45.

"That’s the boss here... Hmm, it’s hard to get a good aim...!"

"... Washing Flame."

Because the heat distorted the space, making it difficult to see clearly, Chika tried to cast a spell to secure the win with her first move—but she couldn’t get a proper aim right away.

Then, as if seizing that brief opportunity, Yuuen raised the staff it was holding. At the same time, a white flame erupted from the jewel atop the staff. Chika had been watching intently to identify the figure, so she had no time to look away—she saw the flames clearly.

"Ah... uh, ah... ah, ah..."

"Huh... what’s that... a sign...?"

In that moment, Chika felt dizzy—and then her vision, no, her entire world, distorted.

"Uh... am I... just imagining things...?"

But the dizziness and distortion lasted only a moment. Chika decided the heat in the boss room was the cause and prepared to cast her magic again.

"Phew... Water Lance!"

Yuuen remained motionless, still holding the staff that ignited white flames. Aiming directly at it, Chika unleashed her magic. The spear of water flew straight toward Yuuen—and hit its target perfectly, sending it flying.

"Okay... wait, what...? Why...?"

"..."

Her joy at its being blown away was short-lived. In the blink of an eye, Yuuen’s form was still there—exactly as it had been before it was blown away. Chika was surprised but immediately prepared to cast again.

"Wind Sword! ...Thunderbolt! Water Cutter! Stone Lance!"

One shot, then another, then another. She unleashed a barrage of spells, each time sending Yuuen’s body flying—but the next moment, it returned to its original state.

"Uh, uh... why... is there another one-on-one duel event here...? Or rather, my vision is... uh, uh..."

No matter how many times she cast magic on Yuuen, she felt no response. Chika wondered if there was a way to defeat it—but she couldn’t find the answer.

"Ugh... ugh... it’s hot... my vision is getting even more distorted... I have to defeat it quickly... ugh, Water Lance!"

"..."

Meanwhile, the room grew even hotter. It became unbearable just to be inside. Her vision distorted further—she could barely make out anything in the room anymore. She couldn’t even tell what Yuuen looked like.

Chika continued casting spells, aiming at the only clearly visible thing: the white flame.

But no matter how much she fired, it had no effect. Even after being blown away, Yuuen immediately returned to its original state, simply standing there as if nothing had happened.

"Why... uh... if this keeps going..."

"..."

Yuuen remained motionless, only holding the staff that emitted white flames. Chika stared intently at the white flames, wondering what to do—but she couldn’t find an answer. One reason was simply a lack of information. Even more than that, the heat was causing her ability to think to decline.

"Ah, ah... I have to do something... somehow... somehow... somehow..."

She kept thinking even though she couldn’t come up with an answer. Eventually, Chika stopped casting spells altogether. With a vacant expression, she stood in a daze, her vision distorted and hazy.

"Well... somehow..."

And then—perhaps she had reached her limit—Chika froze in place, unable to move.

"Hehehe..."

"Ah..."

In front of Chika, who had fallen motionless with a vacant expression on her face, stood Yuuen. In its hand was the staff emitting white flame.

This white flame was called Washing Flame. It was magic that had the effect of confusing the viewer’s mind. Because of this flame, Chika had been casting her magic in the wrong direction. Both her vision and her ability to think had become distorted, leaving her with only a vague, empty expression.

"Hehe, hehehe..."

Seeing Chika with that vacant expression—completely unmoving—Yuuen nodded with satisfaction. It extinguished the white flames that had been continuously emanating from its staff, then grabbed Chika’s hand and slowly pulled her along.

Without resisting, Chika began walking, following the lead, her expression still vacant.

"...Hehehehe..."

"Uhh..."

While guiding Chika—who did not resist—Yuuen wore a lustful smile beneath its hood. It turned back the way it came.