Chapter 337 - Gathered at the Throne
This may be my first time visiting the Sotalm district, but I'm here today on specific business, so sightseeing will have to wait for another time.
We successfully made our way from the fountain square to the 'castle' without incident—and w-i-t-h-o-u-t a s-i-n-g-l-e p-e-r-s-o-n l-o-o-k-i-n-g o-u-r w-a-y. Okay, hold on, stop.
"What just happened...?"
"I didn't feel a single gaze..."
As soon as we arrived at the royal castle, El Faria, we were guided to a waiting room via teleport. Watching Sora and I stand there with bewildered looks on our faces, Momono-san, the woman who had guided us so smoothly, let out a soft chuckle.
...Well, if someone did something, it could only have been you. You have the look of someone whose prank just succeeded, you gentle-looking lady.
"Helena-san instructed me to do this... to avoid a commotion if you were spotted before preparations were complete."
When I looked at her, seeking an explanation, she gestured toward her ear.
Peeking through a gap in her pink hair was a pale, peach-colored earring swaying from her left ear, shaped like the five petals of a cherry—no, a peach blossom.
"I took the liberty of concealing you both. My skill can't compare to Tetra-kun's concealment, but it's more than enough to disrupt the perception of unsuspecting players."
Oh, so you know my junior... wait, that's not important right now.
"Concealed... us?"
"Pardon me for asking, but are you by any chance a former ranker?"
She couldn't be a current ranker. As far as I could tell from my research, there was no one named [Momono] among the Southern Faction's rankers.
When I voiced my question, Momono-san just smiled and shook her head. "Heavens, no."
"A skill that lets me discreetly escort VIPs isn't enough to earn a rank in this world. I'm merely a non-combatant tasked with assisting Helena-san."
Is that so? By the way, after everything I've been through, I've made it a rule to never believe a player in this world when they say, 'I'm not strong.'
Not until I see it with my own eyes, at least. I have a history of being messed with by a certain friend known as the [Insighter].
"I see—and, um... it seems we just passed the meeting time."
Glancing at the system clock in the corner of my vision, I remained seated on the offered sofa, implicitly asking, 'Are we still waiting?'
"I'm sorry, it seems someone is running a little late... They'd like you two to enter last for introductions, so please wait just a little longer."
"Oh... a surprise public self-introduction ritual."
"...!"
Don't worry, Sora-san. If it comes down to it, I'll throw myself to the wolves and steal all the attention.
◇◆◇◆◇
—In the end, we waited for about ten more minutes.
Once again guided by Momono-san, we were led to "that place" and now stood under the collective gazes of the twelve people already seated.
It wasn't that I'd had any specific expectations, but there were more familiar faces than I'd vaguely imagined. Sora... well, that's another story, but I, for one, felt a little of my tension ease.
There was Goldow, for starters, along with seven of the Eastern rankers, excluding the top two.
And at the far end of the long table sat a single 'Princess'.
Beside her stood a woman in a suit wearing a monocle. She had to be the famous 'Queen's' right hand—the `[Lady-in-Waiting]`.
Like the `[Lady-in-Waiting]`, the remaining three were players I'd never met. That said, I'd memorized the faces of all the current rankers when I researched them before, so I could identify them.
Two men and one woman... each with a powerful aura, which was perfectly fine; at least none of the looks directed at me felt hostile.
—So, what to do now? They seem to be expecting something, so maybe I should bust out a party trick?
Alright, you asked for it. Gaze upon my glory.
I'll show you my ultimate move, the one I performed with desperate resolve when forced to liven up a banquet during a part-time job, only to bomb completely and get hailed as a hero for my troubles—!
"Here's what I—"
"U-um—!"
Watch my right hand closely—!... Huh?
"I am Sora... Haru the [Acrobat]'s partner...!"
We had spoken at the same time. One of us stopped, the other did not.
"It's a pleasure to meet you...!"
I was so utterly shocked by my partner's unexpected forcefulness and guts that I just stood there, gaping, my stupid plan completely forgotten—
"...Ah, I'm Sora-san's partner, Haru. Nice to meet you."
With a casual wave and a laid-back greeting, one of the male players let out an irrepressible "Pfft!" and burst out laughing.
Success. I have no idea what he found so funny, but if one person laughs, it's my win. Goldow holding his stomach doesn't count; that's just business as usual.
"Sora."
I called out to my partner, who had frozen mid-bow. As I suspected, she had been pushing herself. She unfroze and awkwardly raised her head.
"Thanks for that."
"...! N-no, not at all."
Both now and when she met the elephant earlier—yeah, I guess that's what this is about.
She's pushing past her shyness to act as the `[Acrobat]`'s partner. I couldn't help but thank her.
"Can we sit anywhere?"
"Yeah, come on over."
Unsure who to ask, I played it safe and looked toward Goldow, who had just recovered from his laughing fit. I had a feeling Alicia shot me a displeased look when our eyes met for a second, but for now, ignoring it was my only option.
Following his beckoning gesture, we walked toward the area where the Istia members were gathered. The two little ones quickly captured Sora and made their getaway.
...Guess I have no choice. I'll take the seat next to Irori at the end.
"—With an introduction like that, it's hard to tell who's the 'plus-one'."
"No problem there. We're both main characters."
I brushed off Irori's immediate teasing and glanced over at Sora, who was a little ways away.
She was trying to act tough, but she couldn't hide her nervousness... Well, Mi-na and Ri-na will probably help her out. She's gotten quite comfortable with them, and next to them is Hinayo-san, another friend she gets along with well.
—Just then, it seemed it was their turn.
After exchanging a glance with Iris beside her, the woman with the monocle stepped forward and gave a respectful bow—so beautiful I was almost mesmerized—in my and Sora's direction.
"My name is Helena. I expect we will be seeing a lot of each other in my capacity as Iris's assistant, so I look forward to working with you."
Is it just my imagination—no, this probably isn't my imagination.
Her self-introduction was directed at both of us, but the part about 'seeing a lot of each other' felt like it was eighty percent aimed at me.
Perhaps Alicia has already told her something—
"By the way, that large man over there is my biological father. He may be blunt, but we're not on bad terms, so please don't worry."
"—...Hah, huh, wh-what did you say?"
"Eh, eh?"
Wait, don't just step back with that composed look on your face. You just pointed at our General Commander and dropped a bombshell. I require a proper explanation—
"Well then, I suppose I'm next."
Oh, come on, the next person is already standing up... Well, I guess there's no need to pry. It's just that the gap between their appearance and demeanor was so unexpected it startled me.
"I'm Fuji, rank four of the South, `[Full Auto]`. A pleasure to meet you both."
As Sora and I returned his nod, I couldn't help but react to the name I remembered. I hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to speak up—then my eyes met his, which were glinting with amusement from behind his glasses, and I decided to engage.
"My senior here warned me plenty about you, the man who's my natural enemy."
He was none other than the gentleman I had been repeatedly warned to 'avoid encountering' during the Four Pillar War.
While I suppose I have ways to deal with him and a chance of winning, in terms of raw specs, he is indeed my natural enemy. At the very least, he's not someone I'd want to fight willingly.
"A pleasure to finally meet you, Lord Acrobat. I, too, was thinking the same during the recent war. I was hoping for a chance encounter, but..."
The slender man with navy blue hair and matching eyes, clad in a robe, shrugged his shoulders—
"Now that I've reviewed the archives, I could never say such a thing. Goodness, I'm glad we didn't run into each other. It would have undoubtedly been an instant kill for me."
He said it with a gentle smile, making it hard to tell if he was serious or joking.
Well, he's not wrong... it would probably have been one of us getting instantly killed or the other being toyed with and slaughtered...
"No doubt about it. Though, like my partner here, I'd probably be taken out instantly too."
We're a terrible matchup—as I was thinking that, the other male player stood up in a smooth transition. A tall warrior in light armor with auburn hair and eyes.
"Same faction, rank five of the South, Orin of `[Adamant]`. I'm not exactly his partner, but we're stuck together in this duo by some twist of fate."
He said, "Nice to meetcha," with an incredibly handsome face and a broad grin, followed by a playful wink.
What's with this guy? He's definitely popular, I just know it.
"...Hey, what's with that look?"
"Oh, just thinking about how there are different types of handsome men."
There's the refreshing, likable handsome type, and then there's the refreshing but irritating handsome type... Hey, whoa, hold on a sec...! Don't you start reading my mind and reaching for your sword too!!
"Haru—is that alright?"
"Whoa!"
As I was trying to placate my angry senior with a look, a voice called out to me, making me jump. It was Orin, who must have walked all the way around the table.
"I watched the whole thing in the archives, too. It's strange for the losing side to say this, and it's frustrating, but..."
He extended his right hand with another cheerful smile.
"—Nice fight. That was incredibly intense."
"..."
Yep, confirmed. This guy is absolutely, positively, one-hundred-percent popular.
"Thanks for that—Orin... is that okay?"
"Of course. When you have some free time, let's have a match."
I shook his hand, and he returned to his seat, leaving behind a somewhat friendly smile. I'll have to remember to send him a friend request later.
Which means, the last one left is—
"Well then, I guess I'll be the grand finale."
If I had to describe the woman who stood up in one word, it would be adventurer.
Clad in leather top and bottoms with a traveler-esque black long coat, her physique was neither large nor small, neither muscular nor delicate.
Average build... is that a bit rude to say about a woman? But for some reason, perhaps because of her excellent posture, she looked more stylish than her height and build would suggest.
Her stance—or rather, her entire aura—was brimming with confidence, and her childlike face, which held golden eyes, was filled with a triumphant smile that seemed to say, 'How's this for you?'
The bright, spring-green hair tied at her neck, swaying like a small tail, suited her perfectly, as she embodied 'full of energy' with her entire being.
"Nice to meet you, Acrobat-kun, and you, his partner-kun."
Her voice, slightly husky yet cheerful, was exactly what I'd imagined... As I said, I've at least memorized the faces of the current rankers.
That, of course, includes the face of a faction's top player.
"I'm Lux, rank one of the Northern Faction, Nortalia, the [Traveler]."
Is she a young girl or a grown woman...? Like Alicia, her age was difficult to guess from her appearance. She puffed out her chest, her smile shining as brightly as light itself.
Whether she knew or not that the two newcomers were dumbfounded by the sheer presence of the 'North's Number One,' who was famous for being a straightforward problem child,
"I've heard all about you from Tora-kun and the others—next time, you have to come on an adventure with me!"
The `[Traveler]`, Lux, concluded her words with childlike innocence, bringing the round of introductions to a powerful close.