Chapter 125 - Sufficient, Yet Insufficient
“—Because I became a ranker, I can’t participate…?”
“Not as you are now, at least.”
Twenty seconds after Mi-na was dragged away by Goldow like a kitten by the scruff of her neck, the conversation finally shifted to the main topic.
The conclusion was thrown at me with a speed that made the previous farce feel like a distant memory. Unable to keep up, I could only tilt my head in confusion.
“Um… in the Four Pillar War, right? But why? And wait, what do you mean I can’t participate anymore? Does that mean I would have qualified otherwise?”
“…Of course.”
When I voiced my question in a rather dopey tone, Tetra, sitting beside me, chuckled as if to say, “What are you talking about?”
“Lotta-kun sent all of us your battle record. I was quite surprised myself,” Hinayo-san… added, casting a sidelong glance my way.
“Normally, your preliminary record alone would have guaranteed you a spot. We’d do anything to have a kid who shot up the ranks with a quintuple score over second place.”
“Plus, you had one crushing victory after another from the first round to the third. If you exclude the rankers, whose matches are more like exhibitions… well, you were frankly the top qualifier,” Goldow added.
“That’s amazing, big brother! I should’ve gone to watch!”
…What’s with this? They’re all praising me so much.
“W-well, thanks…”
Following Hinayo-san and Goldow’s comments, even the red-haired girl chimed in, all of them looking at me with strangely cheerful expressions. Why… do I feel a mysterious chill? Is it just my imagination?
“S-so…? What does becoming a ranker have to do with any of this?”
“Wow, he’s really clueless.”
“Mi-na.”
It seems I’d exposed my ignorance yet again. The red-haired girl, who let the comment slip, was nudged by Ri-na beside her.
It’s not like my ignorance is anything new. I’ll let her spontaneous remark and slightly mocking, annoying face slide with a smile.
—That’s two more strikes.
When I gave her a warm smile, she must have sensed something. The red-haired girl, who had just been on the receiving end of my indigo-girl-approved iron claw, ducked her head under the table as if to hide.
What is with her?
“…Ahem, well.”
And Goldow, seriously, isn’t your sense of humor a little too fragile? You can’t hide it, you know. You look like a grandpa beaming at his grandchild.
“The Four Pillar War has special rules for rankers.”
“Oh… like a limit on the number of participants?”
If that were the case, it would make sense that a newcomer like me wouldn’t have a spot—
“Nah, not like that. There are a few, but—first off, we rankers don’t get to respawn.”
“Wait, normal players can respawn?”
“You don’t even know that?”
“Mi-na.”
Sorry about that… I was a little busy, you see. Taming a ridiculous weapon called [Parabellum Bullet] completely devoured all my preparation time.
One more strike.
“Yeah, so… what was I saying? In any faction, a ranker is treated like a boss monster. Once they’re defeated, that’s it for them, you know?”
That made sense.
So each ranker was a powerful piece on the board; once taken, they were gone for good.
“The important part comes next. In the war, there’s a special rule that lets you target and eliminate a ‘boss’ with another ‘boss’—it’s called Engage (Forced Engagement). It’s one of the keys to conquering the Four Pillars.”
Goldow spoke with a dramatic flair—and in the next instant.
“Whoa…!”
A hologram-like image suddenly materialized above the Round Table that we eight surrounded.
I started to rise from my seat in surprise… when I noticed the red-haired girl across from me, wearing a smug expression. What, did she do some—
“Yo, thanks for that, Ri-na.”
“…It’s easier to understand with a visual.”
It wasn’t her. Why are you taking credit for your partner’s work?
Pushing the disappointing girl out of my mind, I focused on Goldow’s explanation, aided by Ri-na’s visual.
By the way, Ri-na-san, how are you doing that?
“—And well, that’s the gist of it.”
“I see… I see.”
I understood the general idea. And with it, the reason why they couldn’t let me participate as I am now… Yeah, I had to accept it.
“Please don’t take this the wrong way, okay?”
Misinterpreting the look on my face as I leaned back deeply in my chair, Hinayo-san spoke up, her brows furrowed with concern.
“The battles we face in the Four Pillar War are incredibly fierce. On top of that, given our position as rankers…”
“Even as a newcomer, I can’t afford to make a fool of myself. I get it, so it’s… fine.”
The top players of each faction in Arcadia. The ten rankers were the faces and stars of all players.
Both for those living in this virtual world—and for the people all over the world peering into it from reality.
I could only imagine the hell that would break loose if someone under so many watchful eyes were to disgrace themselves. In short, the conclusion was—
“I’m just not skilled enough right now.”
“Well… unfortunately, yeah.”
I didn’t feel like they were letting me down after building me up so much.
Their words of praise were from the perspective of me as a normal player. They weren’t directed at ‘me’, the new ranker, the Acrobat.
“You’re taking this more calmly than I expected.”
That surprised voice came from two seats over.
You’ve got some nerve—I snorted and shot a sideways glance at Irori.
“You talk big for someone who let me win so obviously.”
It started the moment my [Angalta, God-Wedge Spirit Sword] cut him down.
As the shock of my golden blade devouring his silver light without any resistance faded, my mind rapidly cooled. And then, one after another, memories of the fight surfaced—a series of events that unfolded all too conveniently, as if designed to let me shine.
Come to think of it, he never once tried to use any mix-ups or feints against me.
He saw my skills and reacted.
He showed me his skills and let me react.
That was the entire fight.
“…Well, I figured you’d be holding a grudge.”
I’m not angry.
I just feel like the excitement was spoiled… To be honest, I’m just sulking. I know it’s pathetic, but that’s how serious I was about it.
“Senpai.”
“It’s fine, I get it.”
I gave Tetra a nod and a wave, signaling “no worries” as he tried to intervene.
“It’s more of an exhibition match, right? I understand that getting instantly defeated in front of a crowd wouldn’t fulfill my ‘role’.”
Letting out a sigh, I settled back into my chair. Seeing this—and to my slight surprise—Irori looked at me with an apologetic expression and bowed his head.
“I know it was a serious match for you, and I can assure you that I fought with all the power my position would allow—but still, I’m sorry.”
“…………Yeah, I get it.”
Faced with such sincerity, I couldn’t keep sulking like a child.
We’ll call it even for now—as for a rematch, we’ll save that for another time.