Chapter 230 - The Sword That Wishes, The Sword That Hopes, The One Awaited is Here, Part Two
—The ringing of bells wouldn't stop.
Not content with the ground, he soared through the sky, his feet never resting. The verdant trails carved by his blade and the blue threads clinging to his body were the only proof of his existence.
It was impossible to follow him with my eyes. His body had already transcended reason, leaving behind the perceptual speed of a human—of an avatar.
It was useless to chase the flash of his sword as it grazed my shoulder and passed behind me. The white and blue figure with black hair on his head was already gone anyway.
"—Fourth Strike…!"
Echoing in my head was a familiar ringing sound. And what struck my eardrums was,
"[Heavenly Snow]!"
—an unfamiliar, youthful voice.
In the midst of a high-speed battle that the eye couldn't follow, the reason his voice reached my ears as words was thanks to one of this world's specialties: a subtle system assist.
Even if our exchange lasted but a tenth of a second... a meddlesome someone ensures that the will of those who cross blades is conveyed to their opponent.
Thus, in a virtual world, reading one's presence is not as difficult as it is in the real world. Add to that the assistance of some kind of support (skill), and—
"—Hah, that was close…!"
—even if I can't see him, it's not impossible to perceive and track him.
"—…"
Or so it should have been.
I parried the assault from above, and the sword I swung in return once again cut through empty air. At the very least, I hadn't held back on my swing.
Even without any enhancements, it was a full-power strike—so, why?
Even as I tilted my head in confusion, he, who had gleefully dodged a fatal blow, didn't stop. He kicked up water, stepped on the wall, and by some magic trick, kicked off the air—and came at me, time and time again.
I parry, I counter—I can't hit him.
I dodge, I counter—I can't catch him.
I strike him down, I counter—his body slips past my sword, and
"Seriously, your reaction speed is insane...! In that case—!"
Again, and again, and again and again—
"How about this!"
The emotion transmitted through his parrying blade was, from the bottom of his heart...
Just, simply, so frightening, that I wanted to push it away.
In this virtual world, swords truly house emotions. It doesn't matter if they're positive or negative.
Just as some people's performance skyrockets when their spirits are high.
Just as a weapon swung with emotion can produce a blow that surpasses the user's own understanding.
The reason so many players in battle unashamedly shout the names of their prized techniques is nothing more than behavior that follows this principle.
The someone watching over this world is always,
always outputting human emotion into the virtual world as a form of power.
"—Wha—!?"
The power I put into my sword remained at one hundred percent. But its force could easily fluctuate without relying on skills, depending on what I put into it.
The motion was the same, the sword speed was the same—but its power was incomparable to before.
The sword I swung blew the blade from the hands of the young man, who looked surprised by the sudden increase in output, without giving him a chance to resist—
...Ah, I see.
—Even so, you won't stop.
Thought acceleration is a useless trinket. Even if I can't see him, if I try to look, there is nothing these eyes cannot see.
And so, in a world of frozen time.
My gaze locked onto that person, who, instead of fear, once again wore a smile on his face out of sheer defiance.
—It's probably going to be different again.
—My expectations will be betrayed, just like all the times before.
—When this is over, I'll go back to...
...just waiting for someone again—
"—I'm sorry."
I'll put a lid on it all.
"Wha...whoa—What…!?"
The young man, who had summoned a new crimson dagger and charged forward without flinching—stopped dead in his tracks before me.
Right in front of me, who had lowered my sword and stood perfectly still, staring straight into his eyes.
The effect enveloping his body was likely an enhancement from some skill. Judging by his relentless assault, as if he were racing against time, there was probably a time limit.
So, I won't take up his time.
It's just that, I had to—I just wanted to say a few words to the person who, for my sake, someone he had supposedly never met before, was throwing everything he had at me, straight and true.
"—I am Iris... of Sotalm."
It was a response to his introduction, one I hadn't been able to give because I had tried so hard not to show any interest. I left out the title I could never bring myself to like... and gave the name I had carved for myself, not one that was given to me.
"Not that I give a damn—just as you said, I don't know you either, but."
Are you lonely?—I don't know why those black eyes could read what was in my heart. I don't understand any of it.
So many people only see the idol, they don't read the heart within. But he did. Not only that, yes—that person had said it.
That he would make me smile.
In this world, swords house emotions.
But even without crossing blades—his face alone, without hiding a thing, wore a smile that screamed, "I'm having fun, so you have fun too!"
No matter how many times I knocked his blade away, pushed his sword back, he never flinched, never showed fear—he just kept his eyes fixed only on me, on Iris.
...So, even though it's a little late.
From this moment on,
"To you, who will face me—I will face you."
It might be different—I put a lid on that fear, and decided to place my hopes in that person.
—To place my hopes in Haru.
"...Okay. Well, in that case... we have a little over two hundred seconds left."
"That's a problem. We'd better hurry, or..."
...we'll run out of time to have fun.
"Alright then—show me everything, Haru."
"—…"
I wonder if I managed to smile properly. I can't tell from his expression, which for some reason has frozen... but right now, more importantly.
"I'll show you everything, too—[Braver, Lone Hero]."
Even if I have to place this crown on my head, the one that bears the name of solitude, the one I hate so much—I want to see what comes next... For the first time in I don't know how long, my heart was stirring.