Chapter 31 - A Proposal for a Sulking Girl
"Ugh… that was just awful…"
"There, there. A standard party in Arcadia has six members, right? It's no surprise we struggled when we challenged it with less than half that number."
About two hours after we'd set out to conquer the [Cliff Road of the Sky Bridge], we were back in the Istia district. Though we had ultimately returned triumphant after a respectable fight, Sora was completely exhausted, having been tossed around and defeated by the flock of Great Winged Birds.
Here in a corner of the tavern that was becoming our regular spot since Kagura-san first showed it to us, the girl sitting beside me had slumped weakly over the counter.
On top of that, even though we'd managed to clinch victory in the end, she seemed rather displeased that I was able to offer support with a cool expression after our tough battle.
"I've pretty much given up at this point… but Haru-san, you're a fraud. No beginner is like you."
"My, you're making me blush."
"I'm complimenting you, but I'm not complimenting you."
As I suspected, it seemed the number of those things that appeared was proportional to the number of challengers. This time, four appeared at the start, but two more were added over time, eventually turning the battlefield into a hellscape with a total of eight of them dancing wildly in the air.
I had sealed away my monstrous hammer and played the role of an evasion tank, holding back on my attacks. But the sight of me dancing for several tens of minutes in a kill zone where one wrong step would have gotten me pecked to death… well, even I have to admit it was pretty insane.
If someone showed me a recording from a third-person perspective, I doubt they'd think I was a beginner who had just started three days ago.
"I want to fight on the front lines a little, too. It's not fair…"
She glanced at the shortbow slung over her shoulder and sighed wistfully. Her sullen, pouting expression was quite a sight to behold, but I was beginning to understand that her sadness was genuine, so it was hard to tease her about it.
Sora had been surprisingly eager to fight since we first met, but the close-quarters combat she longed for… was unfortunately on hold. She had a fatal habit of closing her eyes when she swung a weapon at point-blank range, a habit she just couldn't break.
I could tell she had halfway given up on it herself, judging by the way she was obediently investing her status points into a magic-based build…
"…Hmm."
I watched Sora from the side as I sipped my drink—which still didn't quench any thirst. She was still sulking slightly, her gaze fixed on the contents of the glass she held. My mind began to turn.
From my perspective, I think it’s best to just cut your losses on a path you're not suited for and charge down one where you have room to grow. But I understand that not everyone can make such a clean break.
Besides, Arcadia is a game. It's entertainment. No one's going to blame you for abandoning your strengths to work on your weaknesses.
If I had to point out a problem, it might be the trouble it could cause teammates during party play, but right now, I'm the only one in that position.
So, well, when it comes down to it…
"—Sora, could I see your current status for a second?"
If I was okay with it, then there was no one around to object.
When I finally spoke up, Sora, who had been making a strange face at what was likely her first experience with a virtual beverage, tilted her head slightly before obediently saying, "Of course," and making her status visible.
In games like this, a player's personal stats are usually treated as important information. Was this a sign of her trust in me as a partner, or simply the carelessness of a beginner? I'll choose to believe the former.
Now then, her freshly unveiled status screen showed—
――――――――――――――――――
◇Status◇ Name: Sora Lv: 27
STR: 40
AGI: 40
DEX: 40
VIT: 50
MID: 100
LUC: 50
◇Skill◇
・Light Magic Aptitude
[Heal Light]
・Shortbow Aptitude
・Archer's Calm Breath
・[Spectate Ale]
・[Observing Eye]
・Healer's Precept
――――――――――――――――――
"…Hmm."
I scanned it from top to bottom for a few dozen seconds. Watching me study the window, Sora seemed a bit tense, as if she were being graded on something.
――――――――――――――――――
◇Status◇ Name: Haru Lv: 35 (10)
STR: 30
AGI: 230
DEX: 110
VIT: 5
MID: 5
LUC: 10
◇Skill◇
・All-Weapon Aptitude
[Quick Change]
[Weapon Dart]
・Embodied Protection
・Heavy Attack Manipulator
・Accel Tempo
・Boar's Heart
・Acrobatics
・Jumble Step
・Carry Running
――――――――――――――――――
For reference, this is my current status. She probably had no idea that I was inwardly drowning in a storm of self-deprecation, thinking, Wow, my stats are so unbalanced it's hilarious.
Yeah, no, her stat distribution was a model of good sense. Very respectable. This game, unusually for an MMO, generally recommends a balanced build.
Anyway, her high MID was due to her magic focus, but since we were still in the early stages, it was reversible. The MID stat also affects magic resistance, so it was recommended even for non-pure mages.
"Sora, I know we're a little ways in already, but—you want to try aiming for a switch to melee?"
"……………………Huh?"
Though she had been sulking, she had, in reality, all but given up on the matter. My proposal, which must have seemed completely out of the blue to her, made her amber eyes widen in surprise.
"B-but… But I, my habit…"
"Well, it'll definitely be a challenge, but if we train relentlessly, I'm sure you can fix it, right? It's not like there's some psychological reason for it; it's just an unconscious habit, isn't it?"
That's what she'd told me, and since there was no reason to lie about it, it had to be true.
"That's true, but…"
We had tried training a few times before to no avail, so it was understandable she lacked confidence. But that wasn't a reason to give up.
"I'm just here to help, so you can decide, Sora. It's a simple question of whether you want to try it or not."
I swirled the cup to prompt her. Sora opened and closed her mouth, looked up and then down, and after a good thirty seconds of deliberation…
"…………I want… to try my best."
I nodded at her reply, drained the contents of my cup, and stood up with a surge of energy.
"Alright, let's go. As the one who started this, I claim the right and responsibility to see you through this, no matter what."
I purposefully rattled on, cutting Sora off before she could say anything, and tossed the payment for two to the owner behind the counter as I extended my hand.
…Whoa, a nice catch without even looking. Just like a fantasy world, never lets you down.
"Sora-san, did you see that? Arcadia really delivers on all the classic tropes—oh, and you can skip the whole 'you don't have to pay for me' part. We've been through that enough, right?"
"…………Honestly."
After a moment of an indescribable expression, a troubled smile broke across Sora's face, and she timidly raised her hand. Taking that as permission, I took it in mine. I then led her out of the tavern and headed straight for the transfer gate.
—Yeah, look. Even I get embarrassed when I do something so obviously cheesy.
What demand is there for the blushing face of an average-looking guy? I kept walking ahead of Sora, feigning composure while carrying a sense of shame that not even a dog would touch.
We both pretended not to notice the vaguely sweet and awkward atmosphere hanging between us.