Chapter 500 - The Invitation: The Case of the Exclusive Artisan
With the impromptu trip's schedule now set in stone for the near future, Ashe gave me two missions.
Well, they weren't so much given as they were naturally occurring responsibilities that I was entrusted with, but either way, they were unavoidable and had to be completed.
I never expected a sudden development like 'we're leaving in three days,' and in hindsight, I can only lament that I should have brought it up the moment the plans were made—
"—So, that's the deal, Nia-chan. Wanna go to the ocean starting the day after tomorrow?"
"I'm gonna smack you, you know?"
Time passed cannot be reclaimed. Rather than lamenting the present, it's better to hope for the future. And with that in mind, I began my task of delivering the princess's invitation to the two of them, as per her command.
I debated sending a message in the real world, but for now, I dove into Arcadia, found one of their names online, and came to her Atelier to see her in person.
And Nia's reaction was only natural. Generally speaking, an invitation like "Let's go on a trip in a few days, it'll be for a week" is considered absurd, so being looked at like "what is this guy talking about" was well within my expectations.
"I know it's really weird to spring this on you without any warning, and I'm sorry, but this is Ashe's plan. Just think of it as one of those things and accept it."
"Doesn't that indirectly mean you're saying the princess is 'someone who springs weird things on people without warning'—"
"Sorry to interrupt, but for various reasons, I have no intention of refusing. My attendance is confirmed, so please consider it with that in mind."
"You're interrupting in two different ways… but fine, whatever."
On the large sofa, one of her two usual spots, Nia sank into the cushions of the high-end piece of furniture—which also serves as a respawn point, much like a bed—with a subtle expression that was hard to put into words.
"I'm the one who got to have you all to myself first, anyway. So, like, are you sure it's okay for me to come along? That's kinda how I feel…"
"It's not just 'okay for you to come along,' it's more like I was told to bring you no matter what…"
"Huh…?"
Though not to the same extent as the clearly perplexed Nia, I felt a similar way inside.
Ashe had previously said something along the lines of 'I was the one who had him to myself first,' so she probably considers things even right now.
And on top of that, the Sword Queen, who values 'fair play' to a degree that makes me want to retort, "Are you some kind of knight?" told me this:
"To put it in my words, she wants to have a fair, fun, and satisfying fistfight with you."
"…She actually says things like you do."
"Hold on a minute, both you and Ashe. I've never once said anything like a battle junkie (Irori) would say, okay?"
'Mutually enjoyable' is undeniably my creed and part of my identity, but I have absolutely no memory of saying something like that with a focus on brawling.
Right? I haven't, have I? I shouldn't have.
"…A-Anyway, that's the situation. I know it's incredibly sudden, so it might be difficult, but she said a reply right up to the day of is fine, so please give it some thought—"
"I'll go."
"Please do, tha— Wait, seriously? Um, I think I mentioned…"
Though my rambling in the middle made it debatable whether it was an instant reply, Nia's positive answer, given without much hesitation, caught me off guard.
"I was listening. Other people are coming too, right?"
"Yeah, so, that means we'll be meeting face-to-face in the real world…"
"It's fine. We're both—well, I used to be—rankers in Arcadia. That alone is more than enough to trust each other. And if the princess and you are there, it should be fine."
Her expression held no trace of worry, just as her words suggested… Recalling the 'date invitation' that felt like so long ago, I found myself wondering whether to be impressed or exasperated by her strange boldness and decisiveness.
"It feels like there's a huge disconnect between my view on the line between games and reality and everyone else's…"
"That's because most people, including me, see it as an entertainment, but not an unreal game. You can't remake your account, and it's tied to a one-of-a-kind 'identity.' So, the more famous someone is, the less likely they are to do anything bad in either the real or virtual world."
"Yeah, that I can understand."
In short, the more your face and name are known in the virtual world, the more 'showing your face in the real world' becomes an act of presenting your own credibility and, at the same time, showing trust in the other person.
Realistically, I'm probably at a point where if I did something wrong in one world, both of me would be finished. My fame is directly linked to responsibility, which in turn builds 'trust.'
"So, tell the princess 'I gratefully accept your kind offer' for me… actually, I'll do it myself, so it's fine."
"Okay, got it, roger that—well then, I still have something else to do, so I'll be taking my leave for now."
When I indicated my departure, she gave me a slightly lonely look. We see each other almost every day, for crying out loud… I swallowed such tactless words with a wry smile.
"Good night, Nia."
"…Mhm. Good night."
Realizing she was sad about our usual parting, I failed spectacularly at suppressing the smile that spread across my face as I waved a hand and left the room.
Just as I had read her inner thoughts, she must not have missed my reaction either. I decided to ignore the happy smile that appeared on her face, since it was just too embarrassing.
◇◆◇◆◇
"………………—Vesna."
Responding to the call, a small starry sky emerged from its master's shadow.
Its tiny body could fit in the palm of a girl's hand. It had large ears, a slender tail, and as a trademark, two white stars shining where its eyes should be.
The 'mouse,' which had managed to rattle the 'Acrobat' the other day with its superb swarm command, keenly understood the words and emotions of the master who had acknowledged and named it.
Therefore, as if to fill the loneliness and uncertainty it sensed, it skillfully grasped the thumb of the hand it rested on with its front paws and nuzzled its small head against it in comfort.
Watching this devoted and adorable display, its master let out a small laugh—
"Every time we meet, saying 'see you later' gets harder and harder."
Confronting her own emotions that continued to run wild, the girl murmured to no one in particular, her face a mixture of happiness, sorrow, and confusion.
―――――――――――――――――― ◇Status / RIM◇ Name：Veshna Lv：31 STR(Strength)：0 AGI(Agility)：0 MID(Spirit)：310 ――――――――――――――――――
[Veshna]
The name comes from a certain someone who came to mind when she saw its "white stars."