Chapter 488 - Dragon and Tiger
“—and then to start playing the game right after that… I’m not exactly admirable, am I?”
After parting with Ashe, who said she had another errand to run, I finished breakfast in ten minutes and, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, logged in.
Since the request I received from Yotsuya-san is to ‘conquer the most difficult content,’ what should have been self-improvement for my own gaming satisfaction has now acquired the grand justification of being my ‘job,’ which is extremely unhealthy.
It’s not like I hate studying, but… when the invincible virtual world is lined up next to it as another ‘thing I have to do,’ the competition is just too unfair—
But that, too, is just a pathetic excuse.
If you want to laugh at my weak will, go ahead. I’ll be pointing and laughing at myself right alongside you.
“Hup, there.”
In the still-empty private room of the clan house. I sprang up from the bed—the only piece of furniture, which also serves as my respawn point—and in mid-air, I executed a triple axel, kicked off the ceiling, then the wall, and landed on the floor at a sharp angle.
Alright, okay. My moves were a bit sluggish, probably from lingering fatigue, but the avatar’s condition was ‘so-so,’ just a step short of great.
Though my right arm is still hanging limp, as usual.
◇◆◇◆◇
“Oh? Ah, mornin’!”
“Hey, hey, morning to you too.”
Lately, when I walk through town, more and more players have been casually calling out to me… or rather, greeting me.
Some, like the male player just now, call out energetically, while others give a subtle wave or a nod. The reactions vary, but I can feel that the emotions from everyone are positive…
Well, it seems like I’m being accepted, which makes me genuinely happy. Though it comes with a side of embarrassment.
Anyway—
Floating in my vision is a window displaying three messages. I received them all while logged out, and they all arrived around the same time, about thirty minutes ago.
The first is from my precious partner.
【Sora】— “I’ll log in after noon.”
Incredibly concise. But we’d already promised to meet the day after the event, so the message conveyed what was needed and more. Roger that.
We did exchange real-world contact information again on that day, but I still haven’t received a single email or message from the ‘Sora-san’ over there.
I wonder if she feels some mysterious sense of embarrassment about real-world interactions.
The second is from my dear master.
【Ui】— “Good morning. Good afternoon. Good evening. Thank you for your hard work during the event. Last night… although for us it was four days ago, we missed our sword maintenance. If you’re available, please show me your face tonight so we can exchange stories. Yui”
The triple greeting is so earnest it’s endearing.
And how her katakana is so perfectly katakana in text.
And how almost no one adds their name at the end of an in-game message.
And how I’m pretty sure I told her it might not be a good idea to use her real name, my dear master—there are many questionable parts, but the content is one hundred percent heartwarming.
I’ll be sure to keep my evening free.
And the third message is from an unexpected sender.
【Tiger☆Lucky】— “Yo. Gimme some of your time, whenever’s good.”
I open my friends list and check his login status.
Among the names listed, the lively string of characters that stands out with overwhelming presence is shining brightly, as if loudly proclaiming, ‘I’m here.’
◇◆◇◆◇
“So, what’s up? A challenge?”
“What’re ya sayin’ with your arm danglin’ all limp like that? What happened to it?”
“Just paying off a loan. It’ll be back to normal in about thirty minutes.”
When I trotted over, my meeting partner was, as always, decked out in flashy tiger fashion, letting out a massive yawn while sprawled majestically on the ground.
What’s the official name for that pose? The one where you lie on your side, propping your head up with one arm while lazily watching TV, a sight likely observed in living rooms across the nation.
Something like ‘Perfect Relax, the Embodiment of Sloth’? Anyway,
The designated meeting place wasn’t in the city, but a corner of a field. Not somewhere in the [Garden of Divine Creation], but the oh-so-nostalgic boar plains.
The intention was probably less about making it easy for me, a member of Istia, to get to, and more about the convenience of securing a private instance nearby.
This tranquil plain, where the Fool Boars just munch on grass and nuts, is one of Arcadia’s most peaceful zones, as long as players don’t go on a rampage.
“So, what do you need? Oh, and morning.”
“Yo, mornin’ to ya.”
Exchanging belated greetings, I followed my completely relaxed counterpart’s lead and plopped down on the grass with a stretch.
With one arm out of commission, I lost my balance and tumbled to the right. A charming mishap.
“Well, it ain’t nothin’ major. Just wanna swap info on how the event went.”
“Huh… I don’t mind that at all, but why me?”
“‘Cause I’m sure you’re the one who got up to the most interestin’ stuff, that’s why.”
“I’m not sure whether to take that as a sign of trust or a jab.”
Judging from his tone, I was probably the first person he contacted. Maybe I’m surprisingly well-liked—the thought made me feel a little awkward.
“Whatever… Info exchange? Okay, you’re on.”
“Alright! Then first, on the count of three, let’s compare our Stardust Beasts. I’m sure you managed to tame one too, right?”
“Stop with the ‘I’m sure.’ Don’t treat me like I’m some guaranteed-to-clear-all-fun-events entity. Not that I mind comparing, though…”
Seeing the mysteriously proud look on his face, he must have managed to tame a magnificent Stardust Beast. Speaking of magnificence, my ‘servant’ would also be categorized as unconventional, but this guy, despite his playful—no, hilarious—name, is a Northern Faction ranker.
A tiger? Is it a tiger?
If the great ‘Great Tiger’ himself managed to tame one of those big tiger-like bosses that appeared in our raid… that would be wonderfully fitting and amusing. I’ll be sure to congratulate him with a “Congrats, Tracky.”
And with that,
“Alright, here we go, on three!”
“Man, you’re really into this—Come forth, [Sapphire].”
“Come forth, [Tiger Star]!!”
I thought I heard a somewhat indescribable name, but I maintained my poker face with an iron will, determined to ignore it.
Me, sitting down relaxed, and Tiger-bro, standing tall and proud. From the shadows of our contrasting figures, a ‘starry sky’ overflowed.
The ‘wings’ that spread with force stirred the wind.
The ‘legs’ that stamped the ground sent a tremor through the earth………… or not.
As the nearby boars, likely terrified by the pressure from one of them, fled at full speed, we, having revealed our respective ‘Tamed Beasts,’ stared silently at each other’s starry figures—the silence lasted for a little over ten seconds.
“Ah, wha………… a dra, dra—”
“Huh………… a do—”
And our memorable first reactions were, as it turned out,
“—It’s a dragon!!?!?”
“—It’s a dog…”
Exchanged with perfectly contrasting levels of excitement.