Chapter 301 - The World Turns and the Road Continues
"…Okay. Let's go with that for the archive, then."
"Okay, I got it. I'll pass it on."
"Yeah, thanks—sorry for leaving everything to you, but I'm counting on you."
"I'm happy to be of help, so there's nothing to be sorry about. Good luck with your adventure—I mean, your job."
"…It's not really 'good luck,' I'm just having fun, you know."
—After watching him leave the lecture hall with an apologetic smile, Kaede also stood up from her seat. She glanced to the side and saw Mizuki and the other two, who had been waiting at a distance, walking over.
…She was grateful they had waited for her. But she'd be even happier if they'd put away those smirks.
"Being the manager for a busy star must be tough, huh?"
"Oh, stop it… don't tease me, Shoko-chan. I'm just the messenger."
Parrying Shoko's words, she fulfilled her 'duty' by sending a message or two to her 'family'—the members of the Shijo family who, for reasons she still couldn't fathom, had suddenly become the sponsors of the one and only Acrobat.
"You never know what's gonna happen, huh…"
"In terms of their relationship, it was almost too convenient."
As Toshiki murmured pensively, Mizuki stated the facts in a flat tone.
As for Kaede, who should have been the one most involved… she was still struggling to process that 'fact' she'd never known until now.
It was beyond surprising—to think that the 'Yotsuya' family was actually a branch of the 'Shijo' family.
A connection through the "four" in our names? Honestly, she didn't even know where to begin. And while they were originally a branch family, the current hierarchy between them was obvious.
To act as a front for Yotsuya to support 'him,' to provide supplementary assistance, and to maintain strict confidentiality.
The reversal of their positions was clear enough for her family to accept these terms without question. Of course, her parents… especially her mother, who held the real power in the Shijo family, had been overjoyed.
So much so that she had instructed Kaede to devote herself to 'him,' as if refusal wasn't an option. Honestly, what did her mother think her own daughter was?
…Well, it wasn't as if she had any reason to refuse.
"—Sorry for the wait, shall we go?"
Having finished her messages, she left the lecture hall with her friends who had waited for her.
"I need to get good enough to handle the editing work quickly."
"Well, it'll work out somehow. You've got a spartan teacher, after all."
"Fuka-san, right… I thought she was the picture of a gentle, refined lady, but man…"
"She's always been someone who doesn't compromise when it comes to her area of expertise."
Her college life had truly derailed from what she had imagined. But the fact that she didn't think it was so bad… perhaps she was just intoxicated by the situation.
—But still,
"Kaede?"
"It's nothing. My sister is waiting, let's hurry!"
—It would be a waste not to get swept up in something so unreal.
And perhaps it was simply an undeniable truth of nature that they, not quite adults yet, would cast aside their composure and start running, driven by desire.
The destination of this suddenly laid path was still unseen, neither bright nor dark.
To become a help to their 'friend' who was racing into the distance as soon as possible—there was a mountain of things to do, aiming for an early team-up.
◇◆◇◆◇
A few days had passed since that. It had been a little while since Yotsuya's preparations were complete, and a full-fledged support system for me had been put into place.
There was the unexpected development of my classmate's family becoming my official sponsor, acting as a front for Yotsuya Development, which maintained a public stance of non-interference.
Along with that, Kaede, the daughter of the 'Shijo Group,' was appointed as my exclusive manager… or rather, messenger.
And on top of all that, when they asked me to name some people close to me and trustworthy, I listed Toshiki and the other two. They said they needed personnel who could move quickly, or something, and ended up hiring them as my exclusive team in a super-fast development.
Yotsuya was doing some crazy things, but my friends were just as crazy for accepting the offer with such rabid enthusiasm.
I get how they feel, and I understand that a person who wouldn't jump at an offer from 'Yotsuya Development' would be a rarity, but—
…Well, I suppose I should just be grateful. It's because they're handling all the real-world stuff for me that…
"—Drive on."
…I can just focus on the virtual world like this.
"—How's this!"
"Yeah, yeah, Nia-chan, you're amazing, a true genius."
"Of course I am! Mgyu…!"
She happily spun around me—and not content with just that, she tried to snuggle up at every opportunity. I pushed the indigo-haired girl away.
After equipping the items I received at her atelier, I gave a quick glance at their details and nodded. As always, her work was magnificent; I had no complaints.
"What's with that… you could praise me a little, you know."
"If you'd just tone down the intensity, I might consider it…"
Ever since that whole thing the other day, Nia's non-stop, no-brakes attitude has had me on the ropes. I was lenient with her at first, but I got scared by how her restraints were coming off without limit, which brings us to the present.
Between Iris and Nia, they come at you with no holds barred, so it's pure poison for a young man like me. I have to defend myself to keep from losing my sanity before I can even give them an answer.
"Hmph… —Well, all jokes aside."
"Which part of that was a joke?"
"I can take them back if you're going to keep that up, you know?"
"I'm so sorry, please be serious."
I really can't win against her. Girls are too strong…
"The necklace is an upgrade, and the left ring and right bracelet are new. They're not exactly high-end, but I'd say they have upper-mid-tier specs… maybe? Anyway, I guarantee they're more than good enough for the front lines."
—And with that, I received the accessories she had crafted from the spoils of my recent trip to the [Great Rock-Eating Hive].
I was finally switching from the stopgap [Magic Crystal Necklace] & [Heavenly Jade Series] to my proper equipment.
The necklace was a direct upgrade, retaining the original property of 'accumulating surplus MP during non-combat for use as a spare tank.'
It was crafted from a compound created by fusing multiple types of crystal materials with high magic affinity—its name was [Meigastahl of Color].
The ring and bracelet also followed the same concept of being focused solely on MID reinforcement.
They were the [Elmelia Emerald Ring] and [Elmelia Emerald Bracelet] respectively—a set of equipment crafted from a rare gemstone called [Elmelia Emerald], providing a total of MID+100.
The total boost was the same as before, but considering the previous number included a three-piece set bonus, this was a proper upgrade.
Getting +100 from two pieces was, by the standards Nia herself had told me before, better than 'top-tier'… so of course I had no complaints.
"No joke, they're perfect. Thanks a lot."
"Mhm! And here, this is for Sora-chan. Give it to her for me."
"Thanks for that, too. Nothing that needs explaining… right?"
"Nope. They're basically the same as yours, MID-boosting Elmelia Emerald accessories. For Sora-chan's magic crystal, I made it into a hair ornament instead of a necklace."
Through the trade window, I received Sora's items directly into my inventory. My partner's Elmelia Emerald accessories were two bracelets and one ring—three pieces for a total of MID+150.
With these, my actual spirit stat would be 650, and Sora's would be 700. The fact that neither of us are pure mages is almost laughable.
"Got them—so, what's the price?"
"You brought the materials this time, so… Hmm… then, about this much, I guess."
She said, flashing a peace sign in front of my face.
"What, two hundred million?"
"Are you an idiot? It's two million (2 mega)!"
"That's a pretty reasonable price."
"You should be aware that your sense of money is completely broken."
Well, haha… except for the old man, I only really associate with top-level artisans.
In reality, I still have a surplus of money with not much to spend it on. My weapons need maintenance, but it's not like huge sums of money fly out of my wallet for it.
First and foremost, my three main weapons are just too good. The lineup of an `Anima` with no durability concept, a `Terror Armament`, and a self-repairing rabbit short sword is just insane.
On top of that, both Sora and I have fighting styles that, in their own ways, are hard to hit… so our armor, or rather, our outfits, don't need repairs all that often.
"Next is your clothes, I guess."
"Hm?"
"Your clothes! That El-Gran Series isn't exactly a high-end set, so I'll make you a new one when you get some higher-tier materials."
She says it so casually, but.
"Eh, it's fine. I like this one."
When I reply just as casually, Nia's words catch in her throat for a second—ah, crap.
"I-I'm happy that you like it, but…"
And there it is.
Ever since that day, Nia-chan's switch to that kind of mood has become as sensitive as a touch panel, not just a simple on-off switch.
Realistically, my choice of words just now shouldn't have been anything to get worked up about… yet the sight of her smiling, her cheeks softening with delight—
"W-Well—well then, see ya!!"
—was, for me, synonymous with the signal to retreat.
"Huh…? Ah, wha—wait a sec—"
Sensing her approach, I bolted from the room, a voice that pulled at my heartstrings reaching my back… but I mustn't be mistaken.
No matter how much her earnest behavior throws my heart into disarray, she is now—
◇You have a new message◇
【Nier】— I've got a favor to call in. I want a date.
"…Whether I run or not… huh."
—a fearless maiden in love who will turn the tables on me, no matter what.
―――――――――――――――――― ◇Status◇ Title: Acrobat Name: Haru Lv: 100 STR: 200 AGI: 250 DEX: 0 VIT: 0(+50)⇒0(+150) MID: 300(+350) LUC: 300
◇Skill◇ ・Gandharva 《Construction》 《Flip Stroke》 《Whirlwind》 《Exchange Voltate》 《Greed's Precept》
・Water Magic Aptitude 《Aqua》 《Flood》 New!
・Active 《Reflect Blow-All》 《Breath Moment》 《Rocket》 《Floating Leaf》 《Fatal Leak》
・Passive 《Embodied Protection》 《Awakening Blow》 《Heavy Attack Manipulator》 《Adamant Sky Dash》 《Hare Real》 《Land Insulate》 《Floating Star》 《Trickster of Zenith》 《Dangerous Light, Fast Recovery》 《Cutting Body, Unyielding Advance》 《Guardian's Cradle》 《Mana Efficiency》
《Telepathy》
◇Arts◇ 【Kesshiki Ittoryu】 《Flying Water》 《Striking Iron》 《Heavenly Snow》 《Withered Flame》 《Seven Stars》 《Blade Thunder》 Secret Technique: 《Bound Wind》 ――――――――――――――――――
【An=ru Galta (Hypothesis: The Wedge-Armor that Sings of the Royal Road)】Terror Armament: Bracelet VIT+100 One of the wedges that enshrines a god, a fragment of an epic poem bestowed from Angalta, God-Wedge Sword-King. Having returned to its true form, the tip of a decaying finger acknowledges its bearer. The path forward is now visible. At the end of that path, far in the distance, the gold you seek surely lies.
【Meigastahl of Color (Mixed-Magic Crystal Necklace)】 As explained in the main text, an accessory that can be used as a spare MP tank. It requires a large amount of high-quality magic crystals that can be collected from the ants in the [Great Rock-Eating Hive], making it a reasonably high-class item… However, since 'MP expansion accessories' are practically essential for any build, it's a major item owned by almost all high-level combat classes. The main character has a necklace, while Sora has a hair ornament, showing that it can be crafted to fit any desired part. Each player pours materials into theirs to upgrade it, so the quality varies widely. As Nia-chan said, the main characters' items are about 'upper-mid' tier. The highest-tier version currently confirmed can store an amount of MP equivalent to a player with MID 300. The owners are a certain tiny duo.
※ A player's MP capacity = Assuming a state with no points in MID as 100%, MID:100 = 200%, MID:250 = 350%, etc., the maximum value increases. Note that natural recovery rate also depends on stats, so the difference in total manageable magic power widens even further.