Chapter 272 - A Return to Form
"I see… so things have settled down for now, huh?"
"Yeah. Though my mental state hasn't caught up at all."
"I'm not surprised—oh, which do you prefer, emerald green or topaz yellow?"
"Same as always, I'll leave it to your sense of style."
It was a natural progression of things. For a while, I'd been explaining my 'safety' to Nia, who had been worried about my real-life troubles.
Of course, I couldn't get into the crazy details about 'Yotsuya Development' or a 'fake engagement,' but Nia was the understanding type when it came to sensitive topics. She accepted my explanation readily and was now rummaging through her shelves for my 'request.'
"Mmm… It's not a bad feeling to be trusted, you know."
—After showing me that mystical display and reviving the shattered [Agaphanthus Amulet].
For whatever reason, Nia was completely back to her old self… or rather, she had returned to how she was when we first met.
In fact, Nia's 'strange behavior' wasn't limited to just today.
Every time we met, she'd become mysteriously more demure, her mood unstable, and she'd get lost in a self-destructive spiral of emotional highs and lows. Most recently, I'd even speculated on the 'reason' for her inner turmoil and gotten flustered myself, but…
"Hm, hm, hmm… Yeah, with the gems I have on hand, I can only make something temporary at best."
Somehow, here we were. In a one-on-one situation with me, where she had usually been on edge, she was now completely natural.
Should I be confused? Should I be relieved? I wasn't sure, but…
"If you have any leads on some good materials, I can go get them."
"Hmm… That would probably be better. I mean, if I asked you to get something like a [Rusty Onyx], you seem like the type who'd actually bring one back."
"A Rus… what?"
"It's a drop from a phantom unique monster called [Livramett Wolf]."
"…First of all, the fact that you're calling it a 'phantom' means just encountering it is a problem."
"For the record, it's only ever appeared once, about a year ago."
"Could you please suggest a more realistic 'lead'?"
One thing was certain—as expected, or maybe just… I didn't dislike this casual back-and-forth with Nia in the slightest.
My first impression of her had been one hundred percent 'what is with this girl'… well, my opinion of that one incident would never, ever change.
Thinking back, from 'obnoxious body-paint girl,' we'd somehow grown quite close. Considering that, maybe we were fundamentally compatible from the start.
"…Hey, you're making a face like you're thinking something rude."
"It's just your imagination."
I brushed off the pointed stare from the artisan fiddling with her gems and got to work on my own task.
In addition to asking Nia to 're-evaluate my accessories,' I had decided to make a major change to my stats.
―――――――――― ◇Status◇
Title: Acrobat
Name: Haru
Lv: 100
STR: 300
AGI: 350
DEX: 100
VIT: 0(+50)
MID: 0(+250)
LUC: 300
――――――――――
In the end, the MID bonus from my `Crimson Wheel of the Spiral` was completely devoured by my evolved `White Crystal Sword of the Sky Soarer`. Fortunately, the even more important 'authority' was inherited by the Anima, so I avoided disaster—but it still hurt, honestly.
Even considering the power boost from my Anima reaching its second tier, a stat debuff equivalent to 10 levels isn't something I can just ignore.
To make matters worse, the fact that the `White Crystal Sword of the Sky Soarer` is a new MP guzzler is just rubbing salt in the wound. The [Rabbit Rapid], the [Parabellum Bullet], [Fatal Leak]—they all devour their master's magic.
My [Rabbit Rapid]'s cost is a bit special, so that's fine, but… if I tried to use [Fatal Leak] and the white crystal sword at the same time, an MP pool of just 250 would be gone in seconds.
So, the conclusion was—
"I guess I have no choice but to do this…"
―――――――――― ◇Status◇
Title: Acrobat
Name: Haru
Lv: 100
STR: 300 ⇒ 200
AGI: 350 ⇒ 250
DEX: 100 ⇒ 0
VIT: 0(+50)
MID: 0 ⇒ 300(+250)
LUC: 300
――――――――――
"…………………………"
—I closed my eyes, swallowed a few choice words, and after a few seconds, glanced at it again.
―――――――――― ◇Status◇
Title: Acrobat
Name: Haru
Lv: 100
STR: 200
AGI: 250
DEX: 0
VIT: 0(+50)
MID: 300(+250)
LUC: 300
――――――――――
…What is with this lack of 'cohesion'? What is this person even trying to be?
"…? What, what are you doing—ewwwwwww."
A little over a month since my last stat redistribution, my second stat remake successfully made Nia, who was peeking over my shoulder, recoil in disgust.
As soon as I made the window visible, that sound escaped her lips. I, aware of my own abnormality, couldn't say a word in my defense.
Even though this was a decision I'd made after careful consideration….
"Th-There are too many things to comment on… DEX: 0? What are you, in need of nursing care?"
"That's the least of my worries."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"I'm starting to lose confidence in what I'm saying, too."
Well, in all seriousness, I really don't care about DEX.
Thanks to the high-tier light-arts skill `Adamant Sky Dash`, it's effectively 200… even though the effect wears off in less than ten seconds at top speed.
It's a small boost, but I also get a bonus from [Hare Real]… even though that's the very skill turning my avatar into an unstoppable runaway train.
—Looking back on it now, what the hell is with this avatar of mine? Is this a joke?
"You've cut down your agility by a ton, too… Are you sure you're okay with sacrificing your identity?"
"Well, with skills and 'Matoi' and everything, I can still hit the equivalent of 500 AGI."
"Could you please get serious?"
"Stohp it, leh goh."
Come to think of it, has it been a while since she's been this physically forward without hesitation?
As she pulled my cheek, I wanted to shout something out, something I could only say now after facing so many skilled players.
That is to say—an objection that 'I'm not the only weird one here.'
"When it comes to speed, Irori and Iris are just as nuts. I know for a fact they don't even have 200 AGI."
"You need to realize your points of comparison are through the roof, okay? Comparing yourself to weirdos and calling it normal just makes you weird, you know?"
Still, if you consider the range, those guys are way crazier. The time Iris straight-up outpaced 'Shukuchi' was a genuinely terrifying experience.
Stop nonchalantly overcoming a nearly two-fold AGI difference.
"Wait, Iris… You're calling the 'Princess' by her first name…!"
That's what you're focused on?
Well, maybe it would normally be presumptuous, but from our very first encounter, we had a desperate, life-or-death battle… so it feels more like she's a 'comrade-in-arms,' despite being an enemy.
…I wonder if calling her 'that girl' would get me convicted by some people.
"Well, whatever… Huh? You're boosting your MID that much and you still need accessory reinforcements?"
Normally, Nia's question would be perfectly reasonable. After all, the top priority I requested for my accessory overhaul was 'reinforcing my MID stat.'
However, the red-and-white combo that has now happily become a double-front is anything but 'normal armament,' so it can't be helped.
To be honest, even after boosting it this much—
"My MP has nearly doubled, but I probably still wouldn't last a minute if I went all out with everything."
"Since when did you become a mage?"
"I was and always will be a light warrior."
Hey now, what's with that look? Acrobat, light warrior, they're pretty much the same thing, right?
"Well, if you're fine with it, I guess it doesn't matter… In that case, let's see."
Whether she was convinced or not, the fact that she could brush it off so easily meant Nia was also getting used to me as a player.
As a client, there's nothing more reassuring than having the understanding of your personal craftsman. So, we spent some time hashing things out, exchanging opinions back and forth.
No holding back, no mercy.
When did it happen? The scales that had tipped in my favor as Nia grew quieter had, before I knew it, flipped once more—
"C'mon, you can do it, right? Compared to a one-on-one with the Princess, that should be…"
"You need to realize your own standards are getting warped, you know?"
Words were exchanged, and an unguarded, relaxed smile escaped my lips.
The time spent with this artisan, who tried to tease me with high-tension energy like she did when we first met—for the current me, it was easy, comfortable, and deeply appreciated.
A short-lived tranquility.