Chapter 441 - To the Never-ending Unknown
"—You're laaaate!!!"
"I'm not late. It's before our meeting time."
The moment I slipped through the door of the now-familiar atelier, a blue blur came flying at me with a complaint, which I smoothly sidestepped.
She must have been waiting restlessly. My partner put on an exaggerated pout, but I had no intention of letting her get all clingy so easily.
Well, not that I won't let her, but if I allow her to go full-throttle right from the start, the next three days will be a nightmare... Anyway.
"Don't think I'm the same frail, weak, and defenseless version from before, you hear? If you want to get your butt kicked, feel free to come at me."
"Yeah, yeah, your smug face is so cute."
"Shut up."
Now that I've adjusted not only my equipment but also my stats, this alternate avatar has finally become somewhat viable for combat.
It's still not perfect, but handling one powerless girl is no problem at all.
"You were rushing me so much, are you ready?"
"Well, you say that, but I can't bring any materials or facilities with me, so this is all the 'preparation' I can do."
As she spoke, Nia spread her arms to show off an unfamiliar poncho in shades of light purple and black. Her usually bare feet were covered with thick knee-high socks and boots, a stylish yet practical coordinate that screamed 'travel attire.'
Starting with the loungewear I got from Kagura-san during my rookie days, I've ended up wearing mostly clothes made by Nia. I could tell from a single glance at the design sense that it was her own work.
............This is fashionable, right? Well then, in that case...
"It suits you."
"H-Huh?"
"It has a certain 'kid excited to wear a raincoat on a rainy day' vibe to it."
An unnecessary bit of coyness slipped out, but I'll just let her ignore that part and pick out the good bits—after all, this was supposed to be a substitute for a date.
I can't just completely ignore that. I'll do my best.
"Wh-What's with you all of a sudden? You're throwing me off..."
"Just like I declared. I've decided to take things easy, too."
I ignored Nia-chan, who was clearly flustered by the sudden compliment, and quickly got my own preparations in order.
All we can bring to the stage of the [Starry Paradise], the super-massive field 'Alv Nychro, the Mirrored Sky-World,' for which details haven't been released, is 'equipment.'
As long as it doesn't violate the activity restrictions, you can pack spares and other items into a special inventory, provided they fit within a rather strict weight limit.
At this point, the [Giant's Hand Axe] and the [Gravidon Hammer] are unfortunately staying behind. If I were to equip those normally, I literally wouldn't be able to take a single step, so they'd be flagged as an error under either condition.
For now, I'll hang the Rabbit Shortsword on my lower back as usual, and the [Samidorizuki] in its sheath on my right side... Hmm, this alone is pretty heavy.
"That katana is surprisingly big, isn't it?"
"Yeah, well, it's over a meter long."
Even though I've slung it at my waist, it would probably be impossible for this alternate body's build to draw [Samidorizuki] as is. In a pinch, it's best to rely on the Rabbit Shortsword.
Then there's the Crimson Valor spear and two types of shields... but I'll leave them behind this time. I have the demon of versatility, the supreme single blade, and reliable uniques on my right hand and left arm—that should be more than enough.
Besides, my spare inventory is already full with that thing I got from Kagura-san.
Apparently, even if you have different equipment registered for each of your alternate forms, you can only bring the set you were wearing at the time of transfer. There was a note about it, so I'm sure.
However, that only applies to weapons; armor and outfits are mercifully overlooked. It saves me from having to gallivant across the mountains in just my underwear.
"By the way, are you going with that as your main?"
"Hm? Oh... nah, it's on cooldown. I just switched back when I got the equipment from Kagura-san, so I can't change back for another thirty minutes or so."
"Ah... I see. Well, it doesn't really matter which one you use."
"Stop it, don't mess around."
As I brushed away the hand poking my cheek, I waited for the system announcement that was sure to come soon... and then I noticed her face, looking like she had something to say.
There's still time, and that look at this moment is like her saying, 'Ask me about it'—well, I know exactly what she's thinking, so I won't ask.
"'I'm going to have fun my own way, so don't worry about me,' she said."
"Huh...?"
"A message from my partner. Addressed to 'Nia-san.'"
"..., ............"
By the way, the message, or rather, the words for me were—'Haru, I won't forgive you, so you better worry, and worry a lot, for all three days.' All I can do is worry a whole lot and pray that Sora has a good time with Lux.
Naturally, Nia and Ashe were already informed that my relationship with Sora was 'in motion.' I told them everything during my mad dash the other day.
And both of them have come to terms with it.
Or rather, Nia's response was a bewildered, 'I always thought Sora-chan was my biggest rival from the very beginning, though?'
She wasn't sure if Sora's feelings were explicitly directed at me, but regardless, she saw her as the biggest obstacle because they were just too close.
Really, this was all just me wrestling with myself and running in circles—putting aside that terribly embarrassing incident...
"I've also broken through a lot of things, so I won't hesitate anymore. I don't know what I should do, and I can't predict what will happen... but anyway."
Still, what needs to be done—what can be done—is limited.
"When Nia is by my side, I'll look at Nia. So, come at me with that in mind."
I honestly don't even know if I'm capable of 'love.' That's why, to find the answer, there's no other path but to move forward without fear.
She's not my sidekick, and she's not my partner.
And she's certainly not my fake fiancée, as amusing as that relationship was.
"...I-If you were going to act cool, I wish you'd done it as a boy."
"My apologies for that."
But this girl who keeps conveying her clumsy and straightforward feelings to me—she is, without a doubt, a precious person to me whom I can no longer treat carelessly.
—And so, after about ten more minutes of idle chatter...
"...!"
"Whoa, there it is."
A great bell tolled, its sound echoing not metaphorically, but throughout the entire virtual world.
Nia, caught off guard, jumped like a cat, and at the same moment I, who had anticipated the time, looked up—
—The World Event [Starry Paradise] will now begin.
—Participating players, please stand by in any safe zone.
—Transfer to the event field will commence shortly.
—Transfer to the event field will commence shortly.
—Transfer to the event field will commence shortly.
"...Uh, Nia-chan? You're making a crazy face."
"I-I can't help it...! This is my first time experiencing something like this myself...!"
Watching my partner flail about at the resounding system announcement, I couldn't help but let out a relaxed smile—and realized that my own tension was undeniably rising, a grin spreading across my face.
There are a mountain of things to think about,
countless things to do,
and many things to see,
But since this is a huge event, it'd be a massive waste not to enjoy it from the bottom of my heart, right?
"Here."
"...!"
Nia reflexively grabbed my outstretched hand. I pulled her in, catching her panicking body. As I gently patted her head over and over, she fell silent, either having calmed down or reached the peak of confusion. Ignoring her for a moment—
I shifted my gaze, and on the window I had pinned, the numbers aligned.
That is—'00 (days) : 00 (hours) : 00 (minutes) : 00 (seconds)'
"Alright then..."
What kind of fantasy awaits us where we're being taken?
Whatever it is,
"Well, let's have some fun!"
"Huh, what—"
—Executing transfer to 'Alv Nychro, the Mirrored Sky-World.'
—The World Event [Starry Paradise] will now commence.
Meanwhile, what will become of the Sora & Lux pair, whose adventure was guaranteed to be a constant riot from the very beginning thanks to the sky-high excitement of the [Traveler] before it even started?