Chapter 121 - In Their Respective Places
"""—………………"""
A hush fell over the entire venue, not a single person daring to speak.
The special seating area, where the event staff players were gathered, was no exception.
"…………Haru…"
A single girl, the only one to let out a sound, pressed a hand to her trembling lips and sank into her seat.
She couldn't control her emotions, and her blurring vision was frustrating.
She couldn't tear her eyes away from the figure in the dust rising from the tournament stage, the one who had cut down and shattered the undefeatable 'wall.' He was leaning on a withered sword that had scattered its golden light, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Her heart had been captured, and she couldn't get it back.
—I can't.
What it was, she had already realized long ago.
—I don't have the right to wish for that yet.
Was it that time, or that time, or maybe that time so much further back… that time.
—So please…
The path they had walked was so full, it was impossible to pinpoint a single trigger.
—Please, no more…
The figure that had taken up residence in her heart, the feelings she held for him…
—Don't knock on the flimsy lid I've placed over these feelings.
The girl, her heart simply burning with a passion that had nowhere to go, her eyes welling with tears, trembled—
It was at that moment the world produced a 'sound.'
"…………Hey."
The first to speak upon hearing that 'sound' was the great golden warrior—the third-ranked [General Commander].
"…He's the real deal."
Next to speak, his voice trembling, was the [Insider], who had shot to his feet, unable to contain his excitement.
The sound echoing throughout the virtual world was a great tremor, enough to shake space itself—the solemn toll of a great belfry, delivered to all.
The girl's eyes widened. She had heard a bell like this before, when she visited the [Garden of Divine Creation], but this was different.
Louder, grander—the sound that rang out without end was a cannonade of blessing, aimed at someone.
◇A player in the Eastern Faction, Istia, has been confirmed to have met the evaluation criteria◇
◇Corresponding Player Name—[Haru]◇
"Eh…"
It was a system notification directed at every single player in the virtual world.
The girl let out a stunned breath at the emotionless voice descending from the azure sky—
◇Reconstructing the rankings for the Eastern Faction, Istia◇
The divine voice did not stop.
◇◆◇◆◇
"—…"
Watching her best friend stare blankly at the ceiling, having dropped her cup, [Bush Warbler] sensed what had happened and spoke up.
"This [Haru] person…"
"…………Yeah."
"He's probably the 'him' you were talking about, Nia-cha."
"…………Maybe… so."
The selection tournament restricted entry from other factions and locked all participants' accounts from posting anywhere but the Istia-exclusive forums.
There was no way to know what was happening inside—but the announcement of a new Titled Ranker, sent to all players, served as undeniable proof that something had happened.
"Hey, Nia-cha."
Across the table, she poked her dazed friend's cheek. Her best friend turned to face her, her indigo hair swaying, her movements stiff—
"Your first crush turned out to be someone incredible, huh?"
"…………"
As if obeying an emotion she couldn't put into words, she slammed her face onto the table.
"I didn't know he was that incredible…!!"
she grumbled, her voice nonetheless buzzing with an excitement she couldn't hide.
◇◆◇◆◇
"Who in the world told him to go that far…"
Could it have been her?
It was true that she had sent him words of encouragement that made even her own heart flutter, but there had to be a limit to things.
She wished he had taken it within the bounds of common sense—and yet, as she sighed in exasperation, the crimson artisan couldn't suppress a chuckle, a smile spreading across her face.
"Ah, really…"
She held her right hand up to the light fixture on her workshop ceiling—the same ceiling above which the system voice had delivered its incredible news—and narrowed her eyes.
It was a shame she couldn't have witnessed it.
What did he do?
Who did he face?
—And was the Terror Armament she had forged with her own hands, their connection, of any help to him?
"I'm so glad I met you… Haru-kun."
A genuine smile, free of any role-play, colored her cheeks.
When he came to report, how should she tease him about his absurd feat?
As pleasant thoughts swirled in her mind—she sat alone, rocking her chair in high spirits.
◇◆◇◆◇
◇The rankings for the Eastern Faction, Istia, have been reconstructed◇
――――――Ranker's Title――――――
◇First [Unrivaled]———[Tengen]◇
◇Second [Sword Saint]———[Ui]◇
◇Third [General Commander]———[Goldow]◇
◇Fourth [Left Wing]———[Mi-na]◇
◇Fifth [Right Wing]———[Ri-na]◇
◇Sixth [Scorching Gaze]———[Hinayo]◇
◇Seventh [Sword Protector]———[Irori]◇
◇Eighth [Twin Fists]———[Genkotsu]◇
◇Ninth [Acrobat]———[Haru]◇ New Ranker!!
◇Tenth [Undying]———[Tetra]◇
――――――――――――――――――――
"—…Not bad."
In the entrance hall of the Istia wartime base, [The Otherworldly Underground Castle - Ruvalest], he stood far from the stone monument of names that towered at the far end.
The young man in the formal samurai attire, having finished respawning and made his way here, nodded in satisfaction at the name of the newly minted Titled Ranker.
Even if he had ignored the proper way to fight for a win, a loss was a loss.
It was a painful result for a Titled Ranker to have his defeat broadcast publicly—but it had been worth it.
Most of all, it had been fun.
The [Sword Protector] let a smile slip as he recalled the match against 'him,' the one who had weathered every blow he'd thrown as if to chase him down, meeting his expectations perfectly.
"Still rough around the edges… In fact, he hasn't even been carved out yet."
He was a diamond in the rough that would shine if polished—no, he was a raw gem that would glitter with a dazzling light. He had seen that brilliance for certain in that 'gold.'
He just never expected his sword and his defenses to be shattered by that gold at the very end. That part, admittedly, was not part of his calculations.
"I'm looking forward to what comes next, rookie—… no, my junior."
Outside the clamor of players surrounding the monument where the new name was carved.
The young man, leaning against a wall in an inconspicuous shadow, was smiling with genuine delight.
What was that about maybe not being able to update daily... (confused)