Chapter 335 - Towards a Full-Scale Launch
"Well now..."
"Wow...!"
Sora and I both let out gasps of admiration at the 'ordered item' placed on the counter.
Watching our reactions with a satisfied expression—our personal Magitech Artisan, Kagura-san, who looked faintly more haggard than usual, leaned back heavily in her chair, looking utterly exhausted.
"This one was a tough birth... but I think it turned out to be a fine piece of work because of it."
We had come to her workshop for none other than to receive the new equipment she had crafted using the materials from [Angalta, God-Wedge Sword-King] that I had left with her the other day.
My idea had been for 'something we can both use'—and what emerged from the two metal ingots, one 'azure' and one 'white', were a pair of two-toned kite shields.
To call them the typical almond shape... would be quite an understatement. They were significantly distorted. If anything, they resembled a 'magatama' jewel, a pair of moderately-sized shields with a rather complex shape.
"[Twaibolt Mirari]—just as you ordered, I packed it full of that kind of gimmick. The catch is, they won't have any effect at all unless you two equip them together."
"It's beautiful...!"
"Twaibolt Mirari..."
I couldn't quite decipher the meaning of the first part of the name, but I figured the latter part was simply 'mirror'. The shield's surface was polished to a mirror-like sheen, and the entire thing, including the shield itself, was adorned with the same intricate patterns as that armored knight, making it look more like a work of art than a piece of armor.
It was no wonder that a girl like Sora was staring at it with sparkling, captivated eyes. I had to wonder what inspired the naming this time.
"So, which one is which?"
"You get the white one, Sora gets the azure. You can technically use them on either arm, but since you'll be using it with that gauntlet on your left, you'd be better off equipping it on your right."
"In that case..."
"I'll take the left, then."
We each took our respective shields and gripped the handles to try equipping them—instantly, the straps on the inside moved on their own, wrapping around our forearms and securing the rather large shields firmly to our arms. How convenient.
"It's surprisingly... no, it's about as heavy as it looks, huh?"
"It's built with the premise of its 'ability' being active. In terms of weight, it's on par with a greatshield. In exchange, its defensive performance is top-notch. Against both physical and magical attacks."
"That's reassuring—Sora-san, you okay?"
"O-Once I get used to it, I'm sure...!"
If it was 'rather large' even for me, it goes without saying what it would look like on a petite girl.
Sora, who had equipped the azure shield on her left arm beside me, was... well, she was completely 'being worn by her equipment'. It was adorable.
"You'll be fine, but what's Sora's strength at?"
"Wasn't it 100?"
"It is...!"
"Ah, then this isn't a matter of getting used to it. The STR requirement for that thing is 200, so you'll barely be able to move—don't make that face, you don't have to worry."
Sora looked crestfallen, but Kagura-san assured her it was fine, reiterating, "It's built on the premise of its ability being active."
"I think it's fine. We had it made more to increase our options for coordination than to use it as a conventional shield, anyway."
"That's... true, yes."
"Of course, I guarantee that part, too. I've poured all sorts of interest—er, convenient functions into it, so make good use of them."
Did you really need to correct yourself? I'm already fully aware of the style of the 'Pyrotechnist', and I have complete faith and high expectations.
"Well, you'd better get some practice in. I'm the one who made it, but it turned out a little temperamental."
"But in exchange, if we can master it, it'll be as good as a hundred men, right? The usual pattern."
I tapped the hilt of the rabbit dagger at my hip and gave her a knowing smile. In response to such a presumptuous customer—
"If you're done here, then get going. I'm always starving for 'interesting requests' over here. Go find me some new materials, and make it quick."
The red-haired artisan snorted, not looking displeased in the slightest, before shooing me away with her usual brusque attitude.
I was already used to her ways, so I offered a simple word of thanks and left the room without hesitation. My partner, on the other hand, bowed deeply before scurrying after me—
"Kagura-san is always so cool, isn't she..."
—she murmured, like a young girl admiring a mature woman.
It's been a while... but if I ever get the chance, I'd love to show her Kagura's true, out-of-character self.
As we left the safe area branch of [Mirage Workshop], I checked the current time.
The system clock indicated it was just before 6 P.M. in the real world—which meant our meeting time was fast approaching.
I glanced over at Sora walking beside me and... as expected, I couldn't help but smile at her textbook 'nervous expression'.
"You don't have to be so tense. I'm sure it'll be fine."
"Y-You'll be fine, of course, Haru, but...!"
"That's why you'll be fine, too, Sora-san."
Our destination was a gathering place for the ranked players.
However, it wasn't the familiar 'Eastern Round Table'—but the 'Southern Throne', a place we had been invited to and would be setting foot in for the first time.
Those gathered were representatives from each faction... and a few other guests.
The topic of the meeting was, in short—'Personnel Selection for the Colored Monster Subjugation Battle'.
"My recommendation as the 'Acrobat'... is one thing. But there's no way a special asset recommended by so many veteran rankers would be overlooked, right?"
"Th-That's why! Isn't it unavoidable that I'd be nervous either way?!"
I felt a bit bad for Sora-san, who was getting worked up from the nerves and pressure, but she would just have to steel herself. Since she had declared she would stand by my side, fully aware that she would draw attention, I had no intention of holding back now either.
"Um, please wait. Let's walk more slowly...!"
"Haha."
I couldn't hide my amusement as my partner resorted to such uncharacteristically bizarre stalling tactics, which earned me a series of light thumps on my back in protest.
About a week has passed since our expedition with Tiger and the others—and while she had accumulated 'power' at a speed that would have shocked my former self, for better or worse... no.
In an infinitely good way, my partner remained as refreshingly unchanged as ever.
Still, the ever-changing world would not stop for us—and it was time to fulfill the role that 'Yotsuya Development' had requested of us.
And more than that, to enjoy this world to the fullest as players.
The first step towards the subjugation of a 'Colored Monster' was just around the corner.
――――――――――――――――――
◇Status◇
Title: Acrobat
Name: Haru Lv: 100
STR: 250
AGI: 300
DEX: 0
VIT: 0 (+150)
MID: 300 (+350)
LUC: 300
◇Skill◇
・Gandharva
《Construction》
《Flip Stroke》
《Whirlwind》
《Exchange Voltate》
《Greed's Precept》
・Water Magic Aptitude
《Aqua》
《Flood》
《Water Enchant》 New!
・Active
《Reflect Blower》⇒《Reflect Explode》 Up!
《Breath Moment》
《Rocket》
《Floating Leaf》
《Fatal Leak》
・Passive
《Embodied Protection》
《Awakening Blow》⇒《Attentive Limit》 Up!
《Heavy Attack Manipulator》⇒《Gigant Figure》 Up!
《Adamant Sky Dash》
《Hare Real》
《Land Insulate》
《Floating Star》
《Trickster of Zenith》
《Dangerous Light, Fast Recovery》
《Cutting Body, Unyielding Advance》
《Guardian's Cradle》⇒《Luna Nobody, Guardian of the Shimmering Moon》 Up!
《Mana Efficiency》
《Telepathy》
《Four-Sided Blessing》 New!
◇Arts◇
【Kesshiki Ittoryu】
《Flying Water》
《Striking Iron》
《Heavenly Snow》
《Withered Flame》
《Seven Stars》
《Blade Thunder》
Secret Technique: 《Bound Wind》
――――――――――――――――――
◇Status◇
Name: Sora
Lv: 100
STR: 100
AGI: 200
DEX: 100⇒50
VIT: 100
MID: 550⇒600 (+200)
LUC: 100
◇Skill◇
・Magic Sword Aptitude
《Optimize Alert》
《Load Bullet》 New!
《Magic Sword Kinesis》+《Homing Shot》⇒《Player of the Magic Sword》 Up!
《Magic Sword Generation Efficiency》⇒《Monarch of the Magic Sword》 Up!
《Position Construction》 New!
《Attribute Conversion》 New!
・Light Magic Aptitude
《Qualia Veil》
《Fast Light》 New!
《Circlet》
《Light Enchant》 New!
・Active
《Scareless》
《Quit Counter》⇒《Glad Bounce》 New!
《Tremble Slide》 New!
《Observer's Eye》⇒《Uplooking Amber Eye》 Up!
・Passive
《Mana Cladding》
《Acrobatics》⇒《Magic-Controlled Sky Dash》 Up!
《Jump Maneuver》⇒《Jumble Step》⇒《Featherfoot》 New!
《True Eye》
《Healer's Precept》⇒《Healer's Devotion》 Up!
《Mana Efficiency》⇒《Master of Magic》 Up!
《Telepathy》
《Four-Sided Blessing》 New!
――――――――――――――――――
There's so much to explain... Good luck, future me.
※It's messy, so here's a version without the acquisition/growth log.
――――――――――――――――――
◇Status◇
Title: Acrobat
Name: Haru Lv: 100
STR: 250
AGI: 300
DEX: 0
VIT: 0 (+150)
MID: 300 (+350)
LUC: 300
◇Skill◇
・Gandharva
《Construction》
《Flip Stroke》
《Whirlwind》
《Exchange Voltate》
《Greed's Precept》
・Water Magic Aptitude
《Aqua》
《Flood》
《Water Enchant》
・Active
《Reflect Explode》
《Breath Moment》
《Rocket》
《Floating Leaf》
《Fatal Leak》
・Passive
《Embodied Protection》
《Attentive Limit》
《Gigant Figure》
《Adamant Sky Dash》
《Hare Real》
《Land Insulate》
《Floating Star》
《Trickster of Zenith》
《Dangerous Light, Fast Recovery》
《Cutting Body, Unyielding Advance》
《Luna Nobody, Guardian of the Shimmering Moon》
《Mana Efficiency》
《Telepathy》
《Four-Sided Blessing》
◇Arts◇
【Kesshiki Ittoryu】
《Flying Water》
《Striking Iron》
《Heavenly Snow》
《Withered Flame》
《Seven Stars》
《Blade Thunder》
Secret Technique: 《Bound Wind》
――――――――――――――――――
◇Status◇
Name: Sora
Lv: 100
STR: 100
AGI: 200
DEX: 50
VIT: 100
MID: 600 (+200)
LUC: 100
◇Skill◇
・Magic Sword Aptitude
《Optimize Alert》
《Load Bullet》
《Player of the Magic Sword》
《Monarch of the Magic Sword》
《Position Construction》
《Attribute Conversion》
・Light Magic Aptitude
《Qualia Veil》
《Fast Light》
《Circlet》
《Light Enchant》
・Active
《Scareless》
《Glad Bounce》
《Tremble Slide》
《Uplooking Amber Eye》
・Passive
《Mana Cladding》
《Magic-Controlled Sky Dash》
《Featherfoot》
《True Eye》
《Healer's Devotion》
《Master of Magic》
《Telepathy》
《Four-Sided Blessing》
――――――――――――――――――