Chapter 1039 - The Continued.
The light filled the room about two weeks after the celebration.
The reason why it happened a bit earlier than the predicted end of the month was obvious. The Four Pillar War broadcast on New Year's Eve seemed to have acted as fuel, and players' motivation had been on a steady upward trend since the start of the year.
That was only natural. While it was slowly calming down, the heat for the latest content, the Key Tree, was still going strong.
The accumulation of the total conquest value gauge, which had slowed down, was proceeding at a pace that rivaled the record speeds seen before.
Of course, it was a welcome development.
Combined with the news shared last year about the elite reaching the 100th floor and the speculations about the Door...
We declared yesterday that we would finally attempt the conquest.
In reality, we were using the results of all Arcadia players as a key, but that was a bit late to mention now.
Along with the fact that the implementation of the Thousand Memories raid, a content all players could enjoy, was promised upon completion, the grand quest of the virtual world, the Colored conquest, was being entrusted to the top players in a truly unprecedented way for an MMORPG.
It wouldn't be zero, of course.
But compared to the whole, complaints and jealousy were in the minority. Most people offered support and expectations for those who were challenging a raid with a difficulty level that defied common sense.
At least, that was the atmosphere as far as I knew.
So what we could do was recognize the arrogance of accepting that support, carry the responsibility of meeting those expectations, and enjoy ourselves to the fullest on behalf of everyone else.
And so, today.
"Phew... ... I'm actually getting nervous. This feeling."
"I get it... I've reached the point where I'm more comfortable when there's a gallery around."
It was Saturday, early afternoon.
I was gathered with my companions in front of the gate of the large hall at the very back of the 100th floor of the Key Tree, where the Door awaited. We were right on the verge of opening the curtain on the stage with our own hands.
Plenty of sleep. Plenty of nutrients from lunch. Reality and the virtual world were both in ultra condition.
I was nervous. Of course I was. But with special events happening one after another, and the constant need for self-management, I had gotten used to it.
While I had always been prepared to move at any time, I was proud of myself for being able to follow through with the immediate decision from yesterday.
I've grown in that way, too... and while I was being relaxed with Tora-kichi, who was also the type to grow through self-praise lately...
"Hah! Ha! Hahaha! Do not worry, Nia-jou! As I have told you countless times, I, Kendy, will repel and destroy any shadow that creeps toward you, for you are a precious person to my esteemed guest!"
"... Ah, yes. Please. Lower the volume by half. Please."
"By your command!"
"Ah, it's no good. He's not listening again today..."
And so, the two of them were getting along in a rowdy way.
It had been less than a month, but after many twists and turns, the pair of the one to be protected (Nia) and the one who protects (Kendy) had managed to find some common ground.
In the virtual world's artisan community, Nia-chan was known as a hidden fan-favorite machine who was bright and friendly to everyone, but she actually had one type of person she was clearly bad with and tried to avoid at all costs.
That was...
"Umm, Mr. Knight..."
"Please call me Kendy! With friendship!"
"Enough already. We've done this a million times. Just let her call you Mr. Knight and give up..."
That, or...
"... Well, I guess it's not so bad. We ended up in a decent spot, didn't we?"
"Yeah. You too."
... In short, men with strong pressure.
Kendy-dono was obviously full of knightly momentum. Tora-kichi had a rough appearance and a strong way of speaking... specifically, a Kansai dialect.
The timid Nia-chan was scared to death by both of them.
I, along with the invincible Ashe and the considerate Sora-san, had been following up with "It's okay, they're not scary," and she understood that rationally, but her instincts said no.
Kendy-dono was fine since he had the mental fortitude of a dragon scale, but when Tora-kichi accidentally made her scream by calling to her from behind, he would sometimes become a mopey tiger. It was nostalgic to remember how Sora-san made me sit in seiza when I laughed at him.
But regardless...
"... Well, I suppose we've become a party."
"Yeah, more than enough."
The Princess, who was watching Nia acting a bit more comfortable, was someone who could no longer be called a love rival.
The garnet eyes looking at Nia were filled with an affection that was more like an older sister or a mother than a friend. As usual, I wondered what her perspective was.
Even if it had only been two months, Nia was the older sister...
"... Sorry! I kept you waiting!"
The peaceful scene was enlivened by a flash of light and an angelic voice.
At the center of the large hall, Sora, who had just joined the party through the teleport gate... a privilege for players who had already conquered the 100th floor... came running toward us.
Super cute... my heart has been saying that a lot lately. I'm really head over heels.
But putting that aside.
"Are you okay?"
"Y-yes! I made sure there were no worries before coming!"
It wasn't like she was late. Even if she was, no one here would complain, but the fact that Sora didn't look particularly apologetic was proof.
Since this had been decided so suddenly, she had worked hard to finish her busy morning housework before logging in.
In that case, there was only one thing to say.
"Good job."
I resisted the urge to pat her head, but Sora-san herself looked happy just from my words and smile, so I'll count that as a win and skip the rest...
"Sora. Do you want to rest a bit?"
"No, I'm fine! I logged in right after taking a breath!"
"I see. Good girl."
Ashe reached out and stole the head-patting for herself. I don't feel jealous at all, so please, keep being close to each other from the bottom of my heart.
"Hey, Haru."
"Huh?"
"You've got a gross look on your face."
"What was that? Don't look at me, you jerk."
Anyway... enough with that.
That preamble should be sufficient. The two men stood up at the same time. At that moment, the gazes of the angel and the princess, who were acting sweet together, and the knight and the fairy, who were still making a racket, gathered.
"... ... Phew. Alright, let's go."
The first voice. The start came from Tiger☆Lucky, the Great Tiger who had been assigned as the system's party leader for various reasons.
"Yes. Let's go."
Next was the actual figurehead. Alicia White, the Sword Queen, who possessed the greatest strength and the greatest mind, stepped forward and began to lead the way.
"...!"
Then, my partner, who made a cute little fist to pump herself up, had already become someone who wasn't intimidated by such a grand stage.
"... Then, shall we? ... I repeat, do not worry. I will protect you."
He seemed out of place, yet he was the one who belonged here more than any of us. The knight who lived in the virtual world continued with a volume that was unlike him and a meaningful smile.
"Ah, yes. I'm counting on you... ugh..."
Even now, she looked as though she still hadn't made her peace with the situation. She looked terrified as she tottered forward...
"... Come on, let's go. Haru-kun, please protect Nia-chan too."
As she moved forward, she looked back and gave me a half-glance.
"Hah... Yeah, yeah. I'll do that gladly!"
I gave her a smile and followed my companions.
I followed them to the place ahead. The six slots, the outer circle, were filled with the light of the results accumulated over time. The patterns forming the massive Door on the floor...
[sign in to guest account... accept.]
The logic of the world, the system, groaned.
It's started.