Chapter 1091 - Return
—The sensation of moving between worlds is something I've long since grown accustomed to.
A sense of liberation that leaves the mundane senses of a healthy body behind in their state of restriction. An indescribably strange and pleasant feeling of omnipotence, where one is permitted to wake up freely in the middle of a dream fallen into sleep.
And then,
"—..."
A virtual sense of reality, received in full by perceptual abilities so sharp they cannot compare to the real world.
Every time I enjoy it after the rare interval of a few days, I find myself immersed in it. In this current era where virtual worlds exist, the coexistence with another self is no longer mere nonsense—
".............................................................."
Well, let's stop immersing myself in escapism (..................) right about here.
"Would it be alright if I just turned off notifications and left them alone for a bit...?"
At the edge of my vision, an icon was lit—subtle, yet certainly there—notifying me of incoming messages. When I shifted my gaze toward it, a pop-up automatically displayed the count.
What came to mind was my smartphone in the real world. My standby screen has constantly been accumulating notifications lately, but... no, this is on a different level. It's insane.
On the bed at my login point. I was lying there, my cheeks twitching as I muttered to myself; the amount of unread messages piled up during my absence over the last few days was egregious.
Therefore, while quietly averting my eyes, I summoned the system window.
Who could blame me for fluidly operating the semi-transparent holo-window and temporarily muting the 'Message Notification' icon from the interface list in my field of vision?
No, I'll check them later. All of them, later... I thought, capping my guilt with excuses.
"—Hup!"
From atop the bed, I leaped vigorously using only the springiness of my body (avatar). Kicking off the wall, kicking off the ceiling, performing a quadruple acrobatic (quadruple acrobatic) maneuver while playing in mid-air—followed by a silent, and if I do say so myself, artistic landing.
Hmm.
Without forgetting what I've learned... well, excluding cases of system-level intervention like this time, or instances where I was in a 'mindless state where I wasn't in a condition to remember anything' to begin with.
For me, who possesses the gift (gift) of 'Memory' that fundamentally allows me to immediately 'recall' things without 'forgetting' them, no blank periods occur regarding matters of the virtual world.
In addition, if I'm in poor shape, I have the experiential memory of 'how I am in poor shape,' so I can accurately grasp my condition on the spot the moment I wake up.
And as a result.
"No particular problems with this virtual body (this one) either, I guess."
Just like my body in the real world, my avatar was in excellent condition upon logging in since the conquest. No unknown glitches were weighing on my mind, and I didn't feel a hair's breadth of anxiety.
Well, in short—all I can do is observe how things go.
After the meeting that was useless but absolutely necessary. I killed time until night, was treated to a dinner handmade by the maid, and then the three of us—me, Nia, and Ashe—returned to the Yotsuya Lodgings.
Upon returning, I immediately dove on.
Well, it's only natural; part of the reason for the collective meeting was to make that possible.
As for Ashe, it goes without saying. As the top of the Southern Camp, the [Sword Queen], she has countless errands to attend to regardless of whether it's the real or virtual world. It seems certain she'll be cooped up in the office at the camp's base for a while to make up for her three-and-a-half-day absence.
It seems she stayed in contact even during the days she was dedicated to acting as my observer, or rather, my nurse, but she said something rare—that she was scared to see Helena-san. With an expressionless face.
Nia also has the title of my exclusive crafter, but in reality, that's close to a pretext; I don't have a monopoly on the [Blue Fairy (Milmarinus)].
As one of the virtual world's leading jewelers and master tailors, she naturally has 'customers' other than me and 'colleagues' in the same trade. She'll likely be tied up for a while with processing work and communications. She was spilling complaints without a voice (words). Half-crying.
...When I imagine the hardships of those two, I might be among the saved ones.
Fortunately, the [Clown]—or rather, the [Hoshikake (Clown)]—has never held nor been expected to do office work, nor am I involved in any work that carries responsibility.
If there are any necessary items I impose upon myself, it's about meeting the expectations of the public and my acquaintances as a rank-holder... and, for a while—
—However, Haru, you must absolutely report to us without hiding anything if something happens.
—Absolutely, okay? It's a promise.
—Absolutely means absolutely, okay? If anything happens, you're banned from the game.
—And, let's add the penalty of wearing a maid uniform as a bonus.
...In order to strictly observe such commands, I must be especially mindful of my physical condition in both the real and virtual worlds. No, let's forget that last bit about the nonsense maid.
What even is a 'maid uniform penalty'? I can only tilt my head wondering if it's okay for Itsuki-san to call her own identity (?) a punishment, even if the target is a man...—
While I was carefully measuring my condition for such reasons.
"Mm."
The sound of a reserved knock rolled into the room.
This is the instance home (instance home) of the guild [Sora]. Therefore, the possibilities for visitors—the options for guests—are the four guild members excluding myself... plus one blue self-proclaimed younger sister who has been activated with a spare key, or rather, the right to enter and exit freely. Five people in total.
However, once again, my gift of 'Memory' is all-powerful.
Distinguishing a visitor from the sound of their knock is a truly simple matter.
"—Yo, it's been a short while."
"—Ah, y-yes."
Thus, the answer-check upon opening the door was a hundred percent hit. The virtual form (avatar) of the girl who appeared swayed her golden hair, blinked her amber eyes, and stared at me as I welcomed her with a smile.
Having accepted the mission entrusted to her by the busy Ashe and Nia... even without that, she likely would have visited early. It was Sora-san, who had come to see how I was doing out of concern.
"Um, er... h-how is your condition?"
"I'm fine. I don't feel anything concerning so far."
Thus, an immediate confirmation. While thinking it was adorable how she observed me from head to toe as if that would tell her anything, I answered, and she let out a sigh of relief.
Even while letting out that sigh.
"Um, Haru..."
"I know. I'll promise as many times as it takes; if anything happens, I'll say so immediately."
"...Yes."
It's something I understand no matter how many times it's repeated, but worry is worry, and it doesn't disappear. That applies to how I feel toward everyone, and if that's the case, I can accept that the reverse is also true.
Therefore,
"I won't think you're being annoying, so please worry as much as you like."
"............Yes."
There's no way I'd think it's tedious. All I feel is gratitude and endearment.
"Mm...—Well then, anyway."
Let's try taking a look outside for now, I thought. Let's go behold the transitions of the virtual world that occurred through our 'conquest'—I took my partner's hand,
"Ah, ..."
"Whoa, there...?"
Just as I was about to pull her and walk out of the room.
In the form of being pulled back by Sora, who didn't move from that spot... in short, my hand (STR: 300), which I hadn't been conscious of, was pulled back intentionally by Sora's hand (STR: 50) + α, which was output with conscious intent,
And I was stopped right there.
Being stopped, I turned around—and was greatly surprised.
"........................Ah, eh... Sora-san............?"
"Y-yes...?"
Sora didn't seem to realize it. On the contrary, what I thought was an intentional pull-back of my hand seemed to have actually been unconscious.
...Realizing it a moment late, Sora herself seemed surprised.
"Ah... h-huh... eh, huh?"
Like a dam bursting.
Truly, as if something unexpected, in an unexpected way, had opened a small hole in a dam—she was shedding tears before she even noticed.
"............"
"No... eh, huh... what, why............"
As if hiding from me as I turned and stared, frozen, she used her free hand. Leaving her left hand, which wouldn't let go of mine, she covered her face with her right arm in confusion.
I could tell from the sound of her voice. There was zero deception, and a hundred percent chaos.
Sora herself seemed bewildered by the fact that she had suddenly started crying.
"...,"
I took two steps back from the hallway, entered the room, took one more step back,
"Ah, u............"
And quietly closed the door.
I simply hid my partner, who looked utterly troubled, from the world.