Chapter 482 - The White Star Wears Red, The Blue Star Wears Black, Part Eight
"If you… if you let go, I'll be angry…! I mean it, if you let go, I'll be furious!!"
"Got it, got it, got it, I won't let go, I promise, you're safe, it's okay—hey, sorry, but I need you to buy me some time!"
While holding a frantic Nia in my left arm, I released the [Alv Stella, True White Star Sword] from my uncontrollable, dangling right arm down to the ground.
I don't plan on taking long, but without me, that chaotic mess probably wouldn't last more than a few minutes. A single autonomous Anima can only buy an extra ten seconds or so—I assume she understands the various senses of crisis we're facing.
"—Ugh… You owe me! One!!"
"Put it on my tab, you can have ten!"
Atop the beating wings of the dragon, I offered a word of thanks to her as she swallowed her words with a gulp. The reason this event's difficulty skyrocketed is undoubtedly my fault, and having to drag a non-combatant into this is inexcusably my blunder. Just because she's my partner doesn't mean I have any intention of skipping out on paying her back for her help.
And so…
"Wh-what, what do I need to do? Is there anything I can do?"
As Nia, still suppressing her panic but with confusion thick in her voice, asked her question, I handed her the [Aquamarine Rabbit Heart] that I had pulled from my hair.
She took her own creation reflexively. Then she looked back and forth between it and my face, my now-untied hair flowing in the wind—and the [Milmarinus], who seemed to have a faint understanding, heard my request.
"I need you to find something. You're good at that, right?"
◇◆◇◆◇
These 'eyes' of mine, lauded as the only ones of their kind in this virtual world, are actually not that big of a deal.
That 'Princess' was also mistaken… or rather, I haven't publicly detailed their true power, so that's to be expected.
'Imbuing jewels with magic' is just a little cheat, a backdoor use of this Anima's ability—with an eye that sees through objects, I find the 'core' within a jewel suitable for holding magic and perform a minor prank on it.
In other words, the true benefit of this Anima is—
"—[Truthnight Aquamarine, Night Queen Seeing Through the Moon]."
—that it just makes my eyes a little better than a normal person's.
The 'eyes' I entrusted to my beloved along with the jewelry returned to my own, and my opened pupils shone, becoming twin stars in the night sky.
The power of the Third Tier [Celestial Aquamarine, Shimmering Blue Jade Twin Stars] is an eye that 'sees through and perceives all material existence.' With this 'x-ray vision' that can even see through ultra-dense jewels…
It's not impossible to find someone hiding among the deep forest trees.
Except for things and people that house mana—namely players, NPCs, monsters, and 'creations' made by magicrafters—the gaze of these twin eyes penetrates all matter.
Of course, there are limits imposed by the system for ethical reasons—but as a proper weapon for a player to fight against the world, there's no reason for my sight to be obstructed.
And so, as a matter of course.
"—I think… I found it…!"
It didn't take long to meet the gaze of the exception floating in the transparent world.
"Seriously? Nia-chan, you're too good at this…! Where is it?!"
"Over there!"
"Sapphire!"
I can tell we're racing against the clock. Was the word she shouted even a 'name'? The dragon, responding to the call, beat its wings with force.
I understand that I'm protected by his skill, but I can never get used to this, no matter how many times I experience it. Even if there's no physical strain, the sheer abnormality of the scenery flying backward at immense speed is more than enough to make me scream.
But still…
"Ugh… mm, a little more to the right!"
"Point again for me!"
"Over there!!"
Trusting his words that he would never let go, I kept my eyes open and fulfilled my role as a guide.
Because I'm sure something like this won't happen often. Me, who had always just sent him off with a 'do your best,' now being held in his arms, racing through the battlefield together.
The fear, the excitement, the pounding of my heart, this unreal feeling is almost too much—if I don't force my eyes open, I feel like my future self will scold me for 'missing out.'
◇◆◇◆◇
Several hundred meters from our base, which has become a battlefield, in the direction Nia is desperately pointing, a 'starry sky' is visible in the gaps between the trees. A set of two, one large and one small.
Well, well, with this, the zodiac series is complete—the giant 'Ox' and the bean-sized 'Rat' perched arrogantly on its massive body.
It's obvious at a glance which one is the 'head.' I remember there was some kind of story about that!
"Nia, sorry! I don't plan on letting go, but I have no choice, I have to let go for a sec, just let me use my left arm, please, thanks, thank you!!"
Before I could even finish my request—or rather, my plea—my partner screamed "Nngh!!" and clung to me. I rapidly thanked her as I called my other partner to my freed left hand.
In an instant, the [Alv Stella, True White Star Sword] leaped across space and settled into my grasp. I raised it high—
"'In the name of Spring (the beginning), I open the present.'"
I spun the key phrase without hesitation, and the pulsating Star Sword flashed, seeking a 'name.'
I'm making a snap judgment that the 'Rat' type is the command unit. I'm going to completely ignore the 'Ox' type, which seems to be its bodyguard, along with any special abilities it might have.
This is no time for a leisurely battle. I need to get back to the base as soon as possible and get back to the enthusiastic work of annihilation—
"'White (Alv)—it harbors the boundary, what it seeks in slumber is true freedom.'"
—and I'll be skipping the rest of the chant.
It'll be at its absolute minimum power, but I doubt a target that small has insane durability. I believe that as long as I hit it, it'll be obliterated… Here goes, one shot!!
"[El Solas, Piercing Divine Arrow]—!"
I invoked the name of a single pillar, but I poured the necessary 'power' into it.
Therefore, the released [Alv Stella, True White Star Sword] vanished from my hand—and in the next instant, it pierced the 'Rat' sitting on the throne-like back of the 'Ox.'
"—My bad. The power's pathetic, but this thing's a guaranteed hit."
"Uh, isn't that a little cheap…"
I don't know what kind of defenses it had, but there's no way to block a ridiculous conceptual weapon that confirms a hit the moment it's thrown. I'll pretend I didn't hear Nia's comment.
Atop its fidgeting, presumed subordinate, the small, crucified rat faintly turned its head toward the sky….
"—Yes!"
After confirming the starry sky burst apart (mission complete), I tapped my heel against Sapphire's back, and she swiftly turned around.
Leaving the pitiful ox-type behind, I immediately switched gears with a 'well, time for another round of work.' My partner, whom I had pulled back into my left arm, made an indescribable expression, and then—
"Heh…?"
—she let out another indescribable, vacant-sounding noise.