Chapter 1145 - Hoshikake in Transit
I don't know what happened inside the different space (instance), but seeing the grumpy Silver-Choro and the somewhat regretful Sayaka-san, it likely wasn't a pleasant process or result.
Likely, but in the first place, we didn't go there to 'conquer' it.
We—well, I'm just a means of transportation, but the reason Yura set foot in the [Deep Realm of Blue Source] was for 'investigation.' In short, even if we were turned back, it wasn't a failure.
That is, the words to describe the current situation are 'smooth without problems.' Although the sore loser was glaring menacingly at the giant lake, one could even say it's okay to be happy with a calm heart...
Well, that's impossible, in many ways.
In any case, progress is smooth. We're at the point where we can set out immediately for the 'next' after finishing the investigation of one of the four points we plan to visit. ...However, I'll dare to mention one thing.
If I were to raise a problem—
"────Please tell me honestly if you get tired; I'll call Sapphire."
Toward the second destination, a few minutes after we started soaring through the sky.
Namely, about nine-plus hours in virtual time since the start of the trio's journey. About six hours in real time had passed. I spoke to the Saintess-sama in my arms, who had already begun to adapt to exceeding the speed of sound.
"Don't worry. Though I may not look it, I'm used to long journeys."
Then, what came back was an expression and voice that didn't fit the environment. The incarnation of gentleness, different in direction from the [Sword Saint]-sama, the relaxed and fluffy Sayaka-san answered me with a relaxed smile.
It's true that based on appearance alone, she looks like a woman far removed from "traveling," but with her achievements and other things as a premise, it's boorish to say things like 'though I may not look it' to such a person...
I should just laugh back and say her dignity is reliable.
The path is endlessly long. If we don't stay appropriately relaxed with each other, our bodies and hearts will only get extra tired—and well, that, or rather this, is the greatest enemy accompanying this expedition.
The destinations are super-idiotically far from each other.
From the start, the journey I lightly skimmed through on the Sapphire express was over ten thousand kilometers, a distance of over eight hours. Unless you're extremely used to traveling, you wouldn't be able to stay smiling.
As for the [Screen]-sama, she is currently logged out inside my different space for transporting humans, the [Star Moon Guardian Hand (Dias Lunaria)]. She's not particularly slacking off; she's just not there because there's no reason for her to be there.
In long-distance expeditions in the virtual world, the 'role of carrying someone else's avatar' is an indispensable, mandatory slot. Entrusting or being entrusted with a husk is a daily occurrence, so it's not something to worry about.
In fact, I even hesitated whether I should say to the two of them, 'I'll carry you, so it's okay'—well, I didn't say it, or rather I couldn't say it, something like that.
Needless to say, what kind of meaning the act of 'entrusting an empty avatar to someone else' holds in Arcadia.
I thought that I wasn't close enough to the two of them yet to prompt it myself... so when Yura left behind the words 'I'll be back in a while' and gallantly logged out,
Well, how should I put it?
Sayaka-san was there too, and she herself was isolated within the Dialuna different space, so it was different from being one-on-one, but it's a natural human reaction to be a little happy.
As someone entrusted with being the "legs," it is the highest honor.—And so,
"Rather, it's Haru-sama. If you get tired..."
"Hm? Ah, no, no, not at all. I'm fine, energetic, okay, I can still go as much as I want."
A long journey soaring through the sky is something even I... well, I'm undoubtedly a greenhorn who can't even be compared within the current trio, but I have experience points from traveling the world far and wide in my own way.
As usual. Taking advantage of the basically safe path that is the privilege of the only player in the world who soars through the 'sky,' I received words of concern while running half-mindedly.
Then, while returning a fact that was neither a joke nor a bluff,
"If anything, I'm not the one running."
The crimson light drawing a trail in the sky (contrail). Namely, while scattering the effects of the extraordinary ability that has stained the avatar, surpassing skills, [My Name is (Rega=) The King Clad in "Red" (Rielta)].
A personality-mimicking thought-addition AI temporarily generated within the virtual brain... or what I've arbitrarily assumed to be 'another me,' has been left in charge of body control for a while now.
As for the main me, as I've been doing, I'm just chatting with the Saintess-sama while thinking about various things half-mindedly and appropriately. There's no way I'd get tired.
Since 'I' am also me, I won't complain about this much.
From the start, I don't find simple tasks or repetitive work particularly painful, and my fundamental nature is that of an efficiency nut. As long as it's logical, I'm a creature who doesn't mind being used by myself.
Therefore,
"I'm still a novice traveler, but in terms of stamina, I'm invincible."
"Fufu... as expected."
I can put on a cool act to my heart's content—no, the vector is different, though?
It's not a cool act for a girl I like, but a cool act to cherish the bond formed as a 'character' for her... it sounds like an excuse, but it's a fact.
"............I feel a little sorry for the Princess, though."
"Ah, that's also perfectly fine. I got 'permission' while I was house-sitting, so it's okay."
Limitedly, if my special ones don't consider it a 'sin,' I've stopped thinking of anything as such. I won't go out of my way to say it, but the fact that Sayaka-san would be accompanying us due to a sudden turn of events has been made known to every single one of them. And what I received were only words along the lines of "Good luck."
Naturally, I also mentioned that I would be touching her as necessary in fulfilling my role as the "legs," but those girls don't even care anymore. It's getting to the point where their trust is scary.
—In any case,
"If anything, it's that, practical benefit? In that sense, they were welcoming it."
"Oh...?"
"Yeah. Because if Sayaka-san is there, even if I overdo it, it won't be unreasonable."
"?"
"You know, in terms of stamina."
"Ah... fufu. If I can be of help, I'm happy."
In actual fact, as Yura said, it was a huge help that Sayaka-san came instead of Lux—and by that, I'm not infinitely dissing Lux.
It's trust in the lawless authority, one of the best in Arcadia, that the [Orb Law] lady possesses.
To put it simply, overcoming illusory fatigue.
As long as one is with her, the probability of the onset of illusory fatigue—virtual exhaustion—which is a practical binding element that exists equally for all players who enjoy the virtual world, becomes zero.
Yes, clearly zero.
That is one of the authorities boasted by her constantly active Sixth Tier Anima—the [Sacred Sky Orb Pervading Time (Blue Twilight)]—and the reason why the Saintess-sama is said to be the keystone of large-scale expeditions for which there is no substitute.
Whether in a party or a raid, players who act together with Sayaka-san are liberated from the curse of 'temporary fatigue' given by the system and basically stop getting tired.
Needless to say, she doesn't take care of the mental fatigue that normally accumulates, but just how much strategic value this holds in the virtual world... well, it goes without saying.
It's often misunderstood as being based on her appearance or behavior, but in truth, it's a famous story that her alias, which is not a rank name, comes from the various abilities she possesses.
A blessed person who brings protection just by being there. Hence, she is a 'Saintess.'
When the Shoren brothers are added as the 'Three Laws' to bring further massive support effects, it's only natural that they fill the third, fourth, and fifth ranks of the Northern Camp.
—And so. The long, long, yet untiring journey was endless.
"If it comes to that, it's that. I don't mind swapping you with Yura, so please tell me if you want a break. I'll courteously store you in the different space."
"Yes, thank you very much. ............Um, by the way."
"By the way?"
"About Yura-sama—"
"Yura-sama..."
"Ah, a-about Yura-san...! It's just, I was a little curious about how she would be carried............ that is, if it's not a problem to ask."
"Like a rice bale."
"Eh............ A-A rice bale...?"
"Or I'll hang her up in a straw mat."
"Straw mat... hanging... ────Fu, fufu..."
"Have you started wanting a break?"
"..................T-That... just a little."
It's not just about being comfortable; a 'journey' with friends is only truly one if you can enjoy it harmoniously.
And so, while chatting with the Saintess-sama, who was known to be quite playful. I continued to draw a trail in the reserved sky, leisurely and relaxed, while kicking away the speed of sound.