Chapter 100 - The Reveling Fire Artisan
After an interrogation of roughly ten minutes, I was ultimately acquitted and released.
Then again, acquitted of what? I wasn't even sure what I was suspected of… Did they think I'd abducted an innocent young girl or something? How incredibly rude.
I also lost count of how many times they asked if we were lovers, but I made sure to clearly deny it for Sora's sake.
She agreed to become my partner on the promise that our relationship wasn't romantic. If I were to misunderstand that, I'd be finished as a man.
"So, with that all cleared up, this is Sora-san, my cute partner."
"She really is cute, so I can't even argue with that."
"This little one, huh…"
"Ahaha… Thank you very much."
When I introduced her with my head held high, confident there was nothing to hide, a now-calm Nia and a Kagura-san who had slipped back into her role-play persona began to scrutinize Sora.
Though she was flustered by the repeated compliments on her cuteness, Sora seemed to sense she was being welcomed and looked happy. It's a good thing she can accept praise so readily.
I'd already finished introducing the two artisans, and Sora was happy to have met other female players. I joked that they were good people, despite being a bit quirky, which earned me a jab from Nia.
"So, um…"
Once the introductions were done and the mood had lightened considerably, Sora, who had been glancing my way for a while, spoke up as if she couldn't hold it in any longer.
I had a pretty good idea of what was on her mind—in fact, that's why I'd asked her to come at a different time. I had been waiting for this moment myself.
"What do you think?"
Anticipating her question, I opened my arms to properly show off my new attire. It was the first time I'd ever asked for an opinion on my appearance with such clear confidence, I have to say—
"…Uh, well…"
From her dazed expression as she stared at me, I could guess how I must have looked in her eyes.
"Honestly, I'm speechless… It's wonderful."
And just as I'd hoped, I received those words of approval. When I smiled back with a genuine "Thanks," the girl, who was just as shy as a certain indigo-haired maiden, blushed and lowered her gaze.
"Nia-san made this, right?"
"Mhm, that's right! It's Nia-chan's masterpiece!"
Praised so lavishly by Sora, she was clearly getting carried away, but at this point, I was in no position to say anything to Nia about it.
If anything, I'm pretty much the number one fan of her design sense.
"I'm just saying… if you had such a cute partner, you should've told me sooner!"
And just as I was giving her my full support internally, Nia shot me another deadpan stare. Maybe I should just bury this girl under an avalanche of praise.
"What, you still on about that?"
"That's not it! I'm saying if I'd known, I would have designed a matching set from the start!"
…Hey, she's spouting nonsense again.
"Huh, what? Are you saying you'll make one for Sora, too?"
"Huh? Of course I will. What are you talking about?"
She replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, turning the tables and giving me a look that said, What is this guy talking about?
—Ah, is she serious? What are you, some kind of goddess?
"…Can I get my hopes up?"
"Heheh, who do you think I am… You don't mind if I use the leftover materials I was planning on returning, right?"
"Huh… Eh?"
Leaving a confused Sora behind, I couldn't hide the grin spreading across my face. Nia, on the other hand, flashed a mysteriously wicked smile and leaned in close, making a gesture like she was using an abacus.
"In exchange, I'll be charging you properly this time. I won't show any mercy, and that includes the fee for keeping such a bombshell secret."
"I wasn't trying to hide her… well, whatever. Money is no object. Give it your all."
Don't you worry, I've got more than enough Demon Horns to fund this—
"Sorry to interrupt while you're all worked up, but it's almost time."
As Nia and I were whispering like we were hatching some evil plot, ignoring the person in question, Kagura-san looked on with exasperation, tapping her wrist to signal that time was running out. Following her cue, I glanced at the time display on my UI. The system clock read 8:48 AM.
The selection match begins at ten in the morning. Registration for the first preliminary round starts an hour before that, at nine, which meant it was only ten minutes away.
I heard the entry process itself is automated and won't take long, but… this is my first time for everything. It's probably best to move with time to spare.
"Alright, let's get going—ah, wait, you two can't come inside the venue, right?"
"That's right. Like I said, there are entry restrictions for other factions."
"Otherwise, it'd be a free-for-all for spies, you know."
So it seemed that Kagura-san and Nia, being members of the Western Faction, Vestol, wouldn't be able to come and cheer me on directly.
This was the grand debut of the outfit they'd worked so hard to create. It was a real shame they couldn't be there to see it… which was all the more reason I couldn't afford to make a fool of myself.
"Seriously, thanks, you two. I promise to go on a rampage with the utmost sincerity, so please wait for good news."
"There, there. Don't be so tense. Just go have fun, okay?"
When I put on an uncharacteristically solemn face, Nia, now back to her usual self, slapped my back repeatedly.
"Come on, come on, let's go! Nia-chan will see you off at the entrance!"
"Yeah, yeah… Sora, let's go."
"Ah, right!"
As Nia zipped past me and dashed out of the shop, I let out a wry smile and called to Sora, preparing to head outside myself—
"—Haru, wait a sec."
I was about to move when I froze in surprise.
…And what surprised me was that, aside from the times she was flustered and unconsciously called me "Haru-kun," this was the first time Kagura-san had ever called me by name.
"…Um, is something wrong?"
"My bad, I forgot there was something I needed to tell you about your armament—Sora."
"Y-Yes?"
Next, she turned her gaze to Sora, who tilted her head in confusion. Kagura-san gestured with her finger toward the door Nia had just exited.
"I'll give your partner back in a moment, so could you go keep Nia company outside for a bit?"
…Yeah, well, I can kind of guess what she's getting at.
And there was no way Sora-san, who could read the air so clearly even I could, would miss the point—
"Okay, I'll be waiting for you."
Smiling as if she hadn't noticed a thing, Sora left the tavern.
Now it was just me, the one who'd been stopped, and Kagura-san, who had created this one-on-one situation for some reason. The master, who had become part of the background, didn't count.
"…About my armament?"
"Yeah, that's right—bring out [An-ri Galta (Prologue: The Wedge-Fragment that Sings of Eternity)]."
Oh. I thought it was just an excuse to get me alone, but she really did have business with my weapon? Not that I had any reason to refuse. I did as she said and summoned my Terror Armament—
"Wh—huh?"
Due to its outrageous weight, this strange greatsword was difficult to hold up even with 300 STR—Kagura-san's surprisingly slender hand rested on top of mine, which was supporting the blade with its tip on the floor.
I almost let out a strange noise and instinctively reacted… but I stopped. I realized the passion in her hand wasn't directed at me personally, but at us.
Me and [An-ri Galta (Prologue: The Wedge-Fragment that Sings of Eternity)].
At the Terror Armament she'd woven as its creator, and at its wielder.
"It felt short, it felt long, but that one month went by in a flash."
It was the voice of the ever-confident Master Artisan. Yet, her tone seemed to carry a sentiment I had never heard from her before.
"You know, I didn't exactly start playing [Arcadia] of my own free will, nor did I have any particular goal."
"…"
I figured I didn't need to say anything. Her copper eyes were telling me, without words, that she just wanted me to listen.
"I've had a decent amount of fun these past three years. Making things is fun, hanging out with my clan mates is fun, even listening to troublesome clients' orders is fun—if you just go with the flow, you can enjoy things, to an extent."
True to her words, her expression was reasonably bright. So, her three years, which I knew nothing about, must have been positive enough.
But whether she was truly fulfilled by it was another matter—in that case, I suppose I should ask this.
"So, how about now?"
I started to spread my arms—but that would probably put a huge hole in the tavern floor, so I just tilted my head back and gave her my best smug look.
In response, Kagura-san, who had been wearing a reasonably happy smile, let her eyebrows soften into a look of genuine satisfaction.
"I'm glad I met you that day. It pays to check the forums on a whim—thanks to that, I finally found my purpose."
She looked down for a moment, and when she looked up again, her eyes were no longer reflecting some half-hearted amusement.
"I'll support you. So you just run."
This purpose she'd found in her third year since setting foot in this virtual world. The smile on her face as she looked straight at it was more captivating than any expression I had ever seen on her before.
"Run as far as you can and show me what lies 'ahead.'"
"…Hah, well, for now I guess I'll start by raising some hell in the selection match?"
"Not good enough. Just sweep aside all the nobodies. What I want to see is much further than that."
Nobodies, she says…
As I gave a wry smile, Kagura-san scoffed and pulled her hand back from mine and [An-ri Galta]'s—then, the fist that now held all her conviction struck my chest.
"Listen here, Haru. You're strong. You're special—I, Kagura, the Sub Master of Vestol's Mirage Workshop, the 'Reveling Fire Artisan,' guarantee it."
"—…"
What I saw in her eyes was yet another expression I'd never seen before.
As I stood breathless before her dignified gaze, the red-haired artisan laughed and declared.
"Get to the top, and do it fast—I'll be looking forward to it, Haru."
After this, she'll look back on how cool she acted and flail around in embarrassment by herself.