Chapter 368 - Those Who Aim for the White Throne
After finishing lunch and parting ways with Ashe, I logged back in. There were still thirty minutes until the meeting time, but I have to admit, I was getting antsy.
Fortunately, I'm not so out of shape that a little extra warm-up would tire me out. I might as well head to the training grounds for some final adjustments to kill time—
"—Whoa there."
"Huh? Ah…"
Just as I thought that and returned to the virtual world… I found the shared space of our clan room, my second visit today, was already occupied.
Tetra is only interested in customizing his own room, which is slowly turning into a suspicious laboratory, while Sora and I have been so caught up in training and other things that we haven't had a moment to spare.
As a result, our castle, which we haven't furnished at all, is still a cavernous and rather lonely space.
The 'room' apparently exists in a separate dimension, and while you can't physically go 'outside,' there are windows that show a simulated landscape.
So, for now, the only visual comfort is the serene flower field and the vast azure sky that befits our clan's name. I should really start decorating once things calm down… but anyway.
"Practicing in a place like this? I take it you're feeling quite confident with your control now."
"W-Well, I took into account that this area has the same non-destructive properties as the training grounds…"
She must have been aware that it was a bit improper.
Sora averted her gaze shyly at my teasing and, with a wave of the staff in her hand, extinguished the flame sword that had been floating in mid-air.
"Looks like you've got a perfect handle on that thing, too."
"Ehehe…"
Until now, she had used a single 'conductor sword' to manipulate the magic swords she created. It wasn't that the conductor itself had any special effect; she was simply using it as a pose to aid in mental control…
But the new power she gained when her [Cradle] advanced to the second tier unfortunately couldn't be wielded with her conductor sword in the same way as before.
The reason was simple—she couldn't hold it.
The slender sword, a mass of condensed thermal energy, didn't recklessly spew heat like a raging fire.
However, it did radiate enough heat to create a shimmering haze when she summoned dozens of them. In other words, it wasn't some conceptual, special kind of fire; it was just plain hot.
And that heat would burn even its master's skin on direct contact… Essentially, if Sora tried to grip it like a staff, she'd take damage just like anyone else.
One might think she could just make the conductor sword out of 'sand' like before, but it wasn't that simple either.
It had to do with a skill called [Attribute Conversion] that appeared in her
She couldn't use 'sand' and 'fire' interchangeably; she had to switch her attribute each time. It's unclear what the future holds… but I felt a mix of disappointment and relief.
The fact that her Anima, which had been on a fast track to becoming completely overpowered, now had a clear limitation… well, it made things feel more real, somehow.
If someone asked me if that was really such a big limitation, I'd have to admit they had a point, but—
At any rate, that's how it was. For a time, Sora had practiced controlling her powers without a conductor sword, but she still struggled and wanted an external substitute.
And so, she had Kagura-san create this 'staff' for her.
[Integral (The Dawn's Lodging Staff)]—a short staff created by combining a mysterious piece of wood from an unknown source called [Thin Dawn Spirit Wood Shard], which she got from Lux, with Sora's own long-unused [Ancient Mushroom-Bed Wood].
Actually, I'd already used a piece of that material myself for the sheath of my Rabbit Shortsword. Thinking back, it's quite nostalgic; the first spoils we ever earned together have finally all made their public debut.
It's a compact piece, about twenty centimeters long and extremely slender. While not as delicate as a conductor's baton, its appearance is quite similar.
The gradient from the black handle to the whitish wood at the tip is a stylish touch, embodying its name by evoking the image of dawn.
…Incidentally, the 'holster' Kagura-san tried to make her wear on her thigh was rejected by a firm 'NO' from Sora-san and is now attached to her slender waist.
She's wearing a knee-length skirt, you know. I think that's for the best, too.
No matter how much the system in Arcadia is designed to prevent you from seeing anything, I'd probably get so flustered every time she drew the staff that I'd get into an accident and die. I'm sure of it.
"—And what about you, Haru? Have you gotten used to it?"
"Ahh… honestly, it's a bit awkward."
As Sora sheathed her staff, her gaze shifted to my right hip. There, housed in a black leather sheath that matched my [Rabbit Shortsword: Parabellum], was a single straight sword.
It wasn't that I'd added another weapon type to my arsenal at this late stage… The identity of this unnecessary dead weight was none other than my beloved sword, still going through its rebellious phase.
It was my [Everquartz (The Sky-Soaring White Crystal Sword)], which had materialized a few days ago and refused to turn back.
"It's heavy on my hip. Feels really off."
"Ahaha… I guess you've never had to carry a weapon around before, have you?"
Not once, aside from the Rabbit Shortsword, which is practically weightless… well, I guess I carried a few things back in the very first 'forest'.
I have no idea what's gotten into my selfish other half. It's not even in its usual translucent, spirit-like form; it's completely materialized, and I'm at a loss.
To top it off, it gets rejected by my inventory, and it completely ignores my attempts to switch it out using Construction as if that were its divine right. It's doing whatever it wants.
I mean, you could materialize all along? Why didn't you disclose all your abilities to your master???
"…I don't know for sure, but I'm sure…"
Not content with just staying materialized, it won't even respond to requests for autonomous movement—it's completely silent. As I repeatedly tapped the pommel of this problem child, Sora watched me and spoke with an amused smile.
"I think it's saying, 'Use me.'"
"Ahh, yeah, probably………… Wait, so it uses 'boku'?"
"I-It's fine, isn't it? It's just an impression, an impression…!"
I teased Sora back, letting out a wry laugh of my own.
"Honestly… you don't have to be so obvious about it."
What else would I use besides you, partner?
I know. This isn't just my revenge—it's our revenge. Don't you worry, I won't forget that.
"We've still got a little time… Let's head to the training grounds. Someone else might be there."
"…Hehe, let's go."
I've never told Sora the full details of the reckless, absurd 'grudge' I have with the White Throne.
But my partner here seems to have easily sensed my hidden feelings.
That's right, I'm looking forward to it, I've been waiting for it—for the moment I can once again slam this beloved sword, which has transformed from a simple pickaxe, right into that thing.
The thigh holster was, with a heavy heart, rejected for being impractical.