Chapter 183 - Two Pair: The Acrobat and the Indigo
"—What in the world are you?"
"—What in the world are you?"
We threw the exact same exasperated question at each other at the exact same time.
After that handshake, we had grown a little closer. Irori, in a more relaxed mood than ever, had casually invited me to a light spar, saying, "Since we're at it, I'll show you my 'different path.'" However…
We got a little too into it, and several dozen minutes after it devolved into a genuine brawl, we found ourselves here. Having likely reached a mutual understanding, we were now just glaring at each other.
"What do you mean, [Sword Protector]…? That other style is your real strength, isn't it, you bastard."
"And you—calling you an [Acrobat] is a joke. I was wondering how you managed to master the [Shukuchi] technique, but it's just a brute-force method that's borderline cheating!"
"Hey, who're you calling a clown, Blonde Samurai?"
"Oh, pardon me. Was I mistaken about the Gilded Jester?"
Wh-What… where did he get that information?!
—It couldn't be anyone but my master, could it? She's really been telling him all about me…!
"Honestly… I had hoped that seeing another user of [Shukuchi] would give me some insight, but I was completely wrong on that front. Why don't you try learning a more delicate technique befitting your title?"
"You…! Alright, fine. You go clear the [Spiral Crimson Tower] and get [Rabbit Run]. Go on, experience a world where a sliding step becomes a long stride, and a single step turns into a jump, and then we'll talk…!!"
Ever since my training began in earnest, I'd been trying my best to replicate the Sword Saint's god-like body control, only for this skill to constantly trip me up—or rather, this untamable horse had been kicking my plans to bits.
I mean, it's an excellent skill. For someone like me with a mobility-focused build, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a god-tier skill.
But that only applies when high-speed maneuvering is required. When trying to perform delicate martial arts that demand subtle footwork, the skill's effect of 'reducing startup frames on steps' immediately becomes a massive handicap…
"What's that, a unique skill?"
"It's a special passive you get by meeting certain conditions. Just learn any old stepping skill and run through that paradise of killer rabbits, and you can get it."
"A passive that's always active… Hah, I'll pass. I'd be in trouble if it changed my 'Extended Step' skill."
This guy…! Laughing off my suffering—
"Huh?"
"Hm?"
Just as I was about to lose my temper, a message notification chimed in my head, as if to calm me down.
Irori let out a sound at the same time, and when I looked over, he was also looking away from me.
Our eyes met for a moment… Irori shrugged and opened his system window, and I decided to check mine as well.
I wonder who it's from—huh? What? Eh, what's this?
Why is she suddenly so pissed off???
"Ah, umm…? Hey, uh… sorry, something's come up, so let's call it a day…"
I looked up from the message, which seemed to be composed of ten parts momentum and ten parts rage, and what do you know—Irori over there was also frowning with an indescribable look on his face.
"…What a coincidence. I seem to have something to do as well, though I'm not sure what it is."
Our eyes met again, and without understanding why, we both just knew.
—Ah, some kind of mysterious event has just landed in his lap, too.
◇◆◇◆◇
"—Alright, do you know why I've summoned you?"
"I do not."
And while we're at it, I also don't know why I've been forced to sit seiza-style on the floor of your Atelier. When I honestly shook my head, the indigo-haired master of the room glared at me, looking thoroughly displeased.
Unlike with Sora, I couldn't say she wasn't scary at all. When this girl puts on a serious face, she has a certain presence… Maybe it's because I've seen her as an artisan, but I can't help but feel a sense of intimidation.
"…"
"…Umm…"
Nia just stared at me, as if applying pressure, asking, Are you sure you don't know? Since I genuinely had no clue, all I could do was awkwardly meet her gaze.
"…The Four Pillars event is tomorrow, right?"
"…Yes."
"It was good of you to show up the day before yesterday for your clothing maintenance. Well done for not forgetting to bring it."
"Ah, uh… thank you?"
"And you made sure to ask Kagura-san for equipment maintenance, too. I picked this up, so I'll return it."
"Huh, what?"
A trade window opened before my eyes, and a flood of armaments poured into my inventory without my consent. These were the items I had left with our dedicated magicrafter when I asked Nia to perform maintenance on my [El-Gran Series] the day before yesterday…
"Why go to the trouble…? I was planning to get them from Kagura-san tomorr—"
"Hey."
Wait, this is scary. Why is your voice so flat? That's scary!
"Your weapons and armor are ready, your clothes are perfect. So? Is there nothing else you need?"
"No, um…"
Leaning back deeply into the sofa with her legs crossed, Nia looked down on me… or rather, she was practically looking down her nose at me. Seeing me at a loss for words, she gave me a sweet smile.
"What am I?"
"Huh?"
"What. Am. I?"
"…N-Nia-chan, desu."
WHUMP!
"Eek…!"
She snatched a cushion from beside her and slammed it onto her own lap with such violence that I let out the most pathetic squeak of my life. Nia glared daggers at me, looking more furious than I had ever seen her—
"I'm a jeweler, aren't I?!"
"YES, MA'AM, I'M SORRY!!"
Naturally, the words "So what?" never came to mind. Overwhelmed by her sheer force, I shot up straight and affirmed her statement. Meanwhile, Nia continued to visit unearned and unreasonable punishment upon the cushion between each word.
What is this?
"What are you? What's wrong with you? Were you planning to head to one of this world's greatest battlefields with that without a second thought?!"
"W-Wait a minute! I get that you're angry, so could you please calm down and explain things in order—"
"How many accessories are you wearing?!"
"Yes?!"
"How! Many! Accessories! Are! You! Wearing?!"
What, wha—the number? The hair ornament, the brooch, and the ring…!
"Th-Three, ma'am."
"I see, three. Accessory slots, by the way? You have seven of them, you know?"
"…"
And at that moment, I fully understood the reason I was being scolded.
"How long… were you planning to leave your equipment slots empty, when every other combat player has them filled as a matter of course?"
"…"
"When you have, you know? This cute jeweler right here, you know? Who's cheering for you, you know?"
"…"
"Or maybe it's that. Maybe the superstar on the rise that everyone's talking about doesn't need any cheap accessories—"
"I get it…! I get it! You're right, it was my fault, I'm sorry!"
This was, without a doubt, my complete and utter failure, one that deserved to be condemned.
It wasn't just that I hadn't thought about it and failed to even consult Nia. If she hadn't summoned me like this, I would have unknowingly committed the grave sin of sandbagging against every single player participating in the war…
When I bowed my head and peeked at her, she had completely sulked, her cheeks puffed out as she hugged the cushion as if to strangle it. She must have been genuinely upset that I hadn't relied on her.
"…I'll give you one chance to explain yourself. Go ahead."
"…"
Faced with a mission whose difficulty rivaled that of the Sword Saint's [Shukuchi], I pondered and agonized for a full thirty seconds, and then—
"…Shoul…"
"Shoul?"
"…Should I give you a shoulder massage…?"
—And so, the verdict for my garbage-tier answer came in the form of a cushion flying straight at my face.
"…Idiot."
Her small voice, heard through the lump of cotton, was… well, I don't even know what to say.
In the end, I had no choice but to meekly pay the ridiculous price of an "I'll-Do-Anything-You-Say Coupon" at the ripe old age of eighteen… and I swore to myself that from now on, I would try to be a little more considerate in life.