Chapter 1097 - Lined-Up Rings
—......
—...
—...
"—Alright, I get it. Then, let's do this."
"Mm."
"Unlocking voice calls on the real side. And for three days."
"One week."
"............For one week, morning calls. From me."
"Mm."
"Plus, a guarantee of being at the venue for the retirement live in March."
"I'll prepare VIP seats."
"And... as a bonus, I'll present a 30-minute Sora-san lap-pillow course ticket, or something, so please."
"..................Mm."
Thus, twenty-odd minutes since the encounter with the self-proclaimed younger sister.
"............? ...Eh, ah, um, the end. Why was I even involve—"
Setting aside my partner, who always soothes the atmosphere with her adorable reactions, this one (......) is also undoubtedly cute in her own way, but...
"—It can't be helped. I'll forgive you."
When she's in a bad mood, she's normally 'handle with care.' It was about the time I finally received forgiveness from the great senior (younger sister) in various senses, who possesses a human level far exceeding mine despite her tiny stature.
The labor of care I spent is unmeasurable. The apologies and excuses I exhausted, the number of words I rapid-fired from my mouth to win her over, was not just eight, but eighty.
Thus, by ultimately offering several compensations (............)—
"The ticket. I'll send it electronically, okay?"
"Yes, yes..."
A quick change from a prickly pout to a limp, clingy state.
Even though there are no other customers (..........), this is still a public place; normally, this is a distance where I'd be subjecting her to the penalty of being wrapped in shadow threads within seconds. ...However,
"...Haru?"
"I'm sorry. Forgive me. Help me."
"Goodness... —I don't mind, though (something like that)."
Neither I nor Sora rebuked her, taking advantage of the fact that the place was deserted (..........).
During these twenty-odd minutes. Ri-na had been angry—not quite a full-blown rage, but close to it—and while we were both terrified by that, the extent of her worry was also accurately conveyed.
"Well... yeah. I made you worry, my bad."
"...Mm, forgiven."
It seems she had been concerned several times more than I expected. Of course, I'm sure her worry wasn't directed only at me, but it's only natural that I don't feel bad about it.
I should gratefully stroke the small head that was stuck clingily to my chest, as an 'older brother' would—well, I'm not actually her older brother, though.
I'm just playing the role of something like an older brother in response to the self-proclaimed younger sister's request.
Then, for now, I mustn't forget to create the Sora-san lap-pillow ticket... and,
"—Sorry to keep you waiting."
After the reconciliation, the first act. Without even a moment to soak in the peace that had returned after the successful appeasement, a low voice rolled into our ears just as a frolic was about to begin.
Now, our current location (..........). A space where there are no other customers, and the silence is free to ring out.
Where is it?
"Thanks, Danna (......)."
The magic craft NPC of the Istia district. It was the blacksmith workshop of my dear Haruzen-danna.
I was fired up for the greeting tour... but a greeting is something you can't do without a partner, and thus, to give a greeting, I have to take up the other party's time.
If that's the case. For now, I contacted our general about twenty minutes ago to call together my fellow camp rank-holders, my top priority greeting targets. A call was issued to gather in thirty minutes, and we came here to fill the gap time meaningfully.
For what purpose? That is, of course...
"Take them (..........)."
"Got it."
"Yes!"
For the "rings" that were handed over to me and Sora one by one.
To advance our 'Anima (Anima),' which became capable of evolution at the same time, to the Fourth Tier.
Note that, being cautious about various things (..................), I left [Early Green Moon] and [Kurikara] in my room.
It's only natural. I can't stand it if they get eaten because they sought out "color" like before, I thought. Well, fortunately, or rather, this time I wasn't asked for additional materials, but...
At any rate,
"The names haven't changed this time. Sora-san?"
"Um... they're unchanged here too."
I tapped the rings returned by the NPC exclusive craftsman and briefly checked the detailed windows that popped up. After exchanging eye contact and a word or two—
"...Yeah. I see."
"Mm..."
We both slipped the rings back onto our respective right middle fingers. Then, understanding and acceptance raced through my virtual brain, and we nodded to each other... and once again.
"Thanks, Danna. We'll gratefully aim for the 'next' one."
"Thank you very much...!"
We gave our thanks together. Then, the craftsman, who was a muscle-bound powerhouse to put it mildly,
"Yeah. Come again."
Was extremely brief. I couldn't tell if he had smiled or not; he just moved the corner of his mouth by a millimeter and then went back into the workshop at the back of the store with heavy steps.
He's still got a great character—and with that,
"...Less than a year since debut, and the Anima is at the Fourth Tier?"
"In many ways, it's way too late to say that now."
"Ah, haha..."
For now, it was refreshing. Congratulations on the Fourth Tier.
◇◆◇◆◇
—And then,
"This is quite the sky (..........), isn't it."
Since our goal was achieved and the owner had retreated to the back, there was no reason to linger, and just a second—or rather, an instant—after leaving Haruzen-danna's workshop.
Including the way here, this was the second time I'd seen it. I looked up at the 'sky' that was extreme in its abnormality even in the fantasy world of Arcadia, and muttered.
"[Guanalizerai of the Blue Dot]... huh."
A pitch-black canopy that I couldn't help but call space rather than the sky. In its center... I have no way of knowing where the center of the sky is, but at any rate, a "blue" dot shining vividly.
It's likely gargantuan, but situated in the middle of the endless sky, it's a perfect sphere of blue that can only be called a 'dot'... a massive abnormality that reportedly appeared a few days ago.
◇You have encountered [Guanalizerai of the Blue Dot]◇
The system announcement common to first encounters with 'Colored' entities. That standard thing, which manifested dramatically as an undeniable self-introduction (......), was...
"If we don't know anything, there's no way to even make a move..."
"Forget making a move, there's not even a way to think about it."
Currently, it's entirely meaningless and its intent is unknown.
I muttered. Ri-na picked it up. And Sora, while her eyes were stolen by the undoubtedly fantastical sight, was quietly looking up at the sky—not just us (players).
This time, even the virtual (N) world (P) residents (C) have clearly stated (..........) that 'not a single thing is understood,' so there's truly nothing that can be done about it right now.
Has something already happened somewhere?
Or is something about to happen?
Right now, we don't know anything. Whether it's a good situation or a bad one, not a single thing... —which is why, looking at it from the other side.
"............Well, what will be, will be."
"Mm."
The current general consensus is that since there's no point in worrying, we shouldn't.
Of course, some... for example, the information gathering units the Southern Camp prides itself on, must be running around the virtual world with the intensity of vomiting blood, but that's that.
Even without looking at it from the other side, ultimately this is a game and we are players.
"...Something big will happen again. I'm sure of it."
"Well, I'd welcome that."
"We can just think about it after something happens."
If you want to uncover the mystery, run to uncover it; if you want to wait for whatever is coming, prepare for it; if you want to maintain normalcy despite the abnormality, relax.
We just have to accept it through our respective gameplay. Namely—
"...Time?"
"Right. Then, shall we head out soon?"
"Ah, yes!"
Just like me, heading toward the Round Table to report my safety to my friends.
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◇Status◇
Title: Hoshikake (Clown)
Name: Haru Lv: 121【0】
STR: 300
AGI: 300
DEX: 0
VIT: 0(+100)
MID: 350(+450)⇒400(+450)
LUC: 300
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◇Status◇
Name: Sora
Lv: 108【0】
STR: 50
AGI: 150⇒100
DEX: 50
VIT: 100
MID: 700(+200)⇒800(+200)
LUC: 100
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(T/N: Status after allocating the +50 encounter bonus points from the 'Blue Dot.' Sora-san also seems to have used her once-a-month status reset to adjust her values from AGI to MID.)