Chapter 150 - Sweep Away Your Worries and Go All Out
"Um, are we really going to do this for real...?"
"If we're going to do it, we're doing it right."
We were in the outdoor training hall, the same one I used for my match with Ui-san. Standing in the center of the large circle drawn in white stone, Sora still looked hesitant, but I just nodded back.
"We've done plenty of mock battles in training, but we've never gone all out against each other, have we? In that sense, I'm actually looking forward to this a little."
"You know, I'm not exactly thrilled about being forced to challenge a ranker..."
Haha, don't be silly. If you had properly prepared and entered this selection match, Sora-san, I have no doubt you would have gone on a rampage no less impressive than mine.
I've been praised and celebrated to death in this short time, but one of the reasons I can't fully enjoy it is that fact—the fact that only I in this world know that "my partner is even more ridiculous."
"Sora... ah, are you okay with this?"
"Mmm..."
What I mean by 'okay' is fighting for real—in other words, the act of pointing our blades at each other with clear intent.
Sure, we've done plenty of mock battles. But in all of them, neither I nor Sora have ever directly inflicted damage on the other...
...Ah, wait, there was that one time. Specifically, when Sora-san miscontrolled a certain skill and I was ground into dust.
Anyway, that's the kind of resolve I was asking about. And indeed, Sora's expression turned thoughtful, her brow furrowing in concern.
"Um... honestly, I don't know. Up until now, I didn't have to think about it because it was under the pretense of 'training,' but if we're going to have a real match..."
The girl looked at me with an anxious expression.
"Will I be able to attack Haru... or rather, attack a 'person'...?"
"That's the big question, isn't it?"
This virtual world is ridiculously realistic. So much so that it's hard to believe it's a game.
Of course, if you actively look for flaws, you can find things that feel off. For example, the fact that "everything is too beautiful."
Furthermore, even the ugly things are beautifully ugly. It's like... it's a 'graphic' that's indistinguishable from reality.
Knowing [Arcadia] and its extraordinary technology, that's probably intentional. Perhaps to prevent the sense of immersion from reaching a point of no return, or to draw a clear line between the real and virtual worlds.
An obvious example is people—the design of avatars, or the details. Specifically, the 'skin' is just too perfect.
In reality, during my part-timer days, my reckless lifestyle led to some skin problems, and I started to take a little more care of myself after that—but frankly, it's on a completely different level from my real body.
My avatar, which is based on my real self, has smooth, egg-like skin that would make a baby jealous.
The surface is so smooth and without blemishes that you have to squint to even recognize pores as pores. I wonder if this isn't one of the factors that makes the world of Arcadia, which is nearly indistinguishable from reality, feel strangely two-dimensional.
So, while even this virtual world's sense of 'real people' is diminished—if a 100% sense of reality drops to 95%, how much of a difference does that really make?
Their appearance, their texture, the expressions and emotions they hold—they're 'people' not so different from those in reality.
How many people can swing a weapon at that without hesitation? It's probably one of the highest hurdles in this virtual world's PvP.
I once thought that PvE suited me better than PvP, and this is one of the reasons.
Monsters have an incredible sense of life to them, no doubt... but still, there's a difference between people and everything else. The level of instinctual aversion is inevitably different.
However, once I actually experienced a real battle, the sensation when a blade hits, which is subtly unrealistic, and the flashy, game-like visual information of the hit effects... In a good way, Arcadia's PvP felt less real.
So, I guess if you can experience it at least once and accept the unique tension and excitement that you can't get from fighting monsters... then it's fine.
"Well, if it really feels too much for you, we can stop. Or we can just stop our attacks right before they hit."
"Stopping an all-out attack right before it hits...?"
Even if we misjudge the distance, it's a game, so it's not really a problem.
"Ui-san isn't a battle maniac, so I doubt she'd demand that much."
She did ask if we were okay with PvP beforehand. She probably just wants to see how the 'magic sword' moves in a fight, so I think a match where we stop short would be fine.
"—It's no problem. There's no need to force yourselves because of my selfish request."
"Hyuh—..."
A calm voice from the side.
Eh, huh...? When? When did you get here? Was that your Shukuchi again?
While I stood there flustered and surprised, Ui-san seemed to be walking over to the anxious Sora to offer some support.
"Let's see... if this is your first time in a real match, perhaps we should do this."
After exchanging a few words to confirm something, Ui-san said that and clapped her hands together beautifully. The sharp sound echoed cleanly through the quiet woods, where the only other noise was the rustling of the wind—
◇Special Safe Area [Yueltemis, Cradle of the Divine Hall]: Shifting to Second Safety ◇
"Fweh!?"
"Ooh...?"
It wasn't that sudden, I guess. Her clap was probably the activation key. A system message informed us that some kind of facility had been activated.
"—There. Now your attacks won't hit each other."
"Won't hit...? What do you mean?"
She smiled as if it were the most natural thing in the world, but I couldn't keep up. Having no other choice, I asked, and Ui-san thought for a moment before saying, "Let's see..."
"Then, Haru-kun, please try to land a blow on me."
"No."
Ui-san spread her arms as if to say, "Go on," and I responded with a dead-serious, deadpan expression without a moment's hesitation.
I mean, look, I kind of get what you're trying to say, but absolutely not. Please don't give me that 'Eh?' look of genuine confusion.
"Um, it's okay, I promise."
"On the contrary, Ui-san, you go ahead. Come on, make it quick."
Doing something like that in front of Sora—or even if she wasn't watching, there's no way I could do it, both for the visuals and for my own conscience.
Sora must have felt it was inappropriate to have a strong reaction in front of the person she called her 'savior' and admired. As I spread my own arms in response, she stood beside me, a faint, twitching smile on her face.
"Is that so...? —Then."
As expected of the Sword Saint, she unleashed a magnificent slash devoid of all mercy, hesitation, or compunction... or was about to...
...Wait, a slash? Uh, you're not even holding a greatsword, you're not holding any—ZZZRAAACK-SHIIIIIIING!!!
"Hyauu!?"
"—...! ..."
The weaponless Sword Saint delivered a hand-blade strike—I only realized that after the roar, like metal clashing against metal, had passed. It was only then that I noticed her perfectly straight hand was poised at my neck.
As always, an unparalleled 'strike' that could only be described as terrifying... but what stopped it was a barrier that momentarily appeared between her and me, just before my head was lopped off.
"...And so, as you can see, when the system detects an attack, it will automatically protect you."
The transparent wall of light dissipated, scattering faint pink particles. Gesturing towards the remnants, Ui-san smiled and said, "So please, go all out without any worries."
I, frozen speechless, turned to Sora, who had let out a scream beside me—
"...See that, Sora? That's the Sword Saint for you."
"............U-um... ah, aha, ha..."
When I gave her a mysteriously triumphant look, the girl just laughed vaguely, as if to say, "I don't even know what face I'm supposed to make anymore."