Chapter 540 - A Beautiful Flower
—And so, well... if I can master it, I think it'll be a trump card."
"I look forward to it. I have high expectations."
After the test run, time flew by as I received a lecture on Starlight Magic from Mi-na and Ri-na, and soon it was dinnertime.
We were at the private ristorante in the Yotsuya residence. As I enjoyed Chef Chitose's cooking for the first time in a week, I gave my report. Ashe simply nodded once and said no more.
Her reaction was the very picture of 'I'm not worried at all.' As expected of the princess who probably holds the world's most inflated opinion of me. Her trust is naturally heavy.
"And one more thing. My personal magitech artisan summoned me to 'come to the workshop' in a super blunt message, so I'm going to drop by after this."
"New equipment?"
"Probably. I did leave something interesting with her... Oh, what's up? What's wrong?"
Nia, sitting next to Ashe across from me, was making an indescribably odd expression. I turned my gaze to her, and the carnivorous girl, while munching on a large piece of cutlet, typed out a message.
'When Kagura-san sends a blunt message, it's a sign she's in a super good mood. She's so excited she has to keep her words short or she'll break character.'
"How cute—wait, hold on, that was just an innocent, unconscious comment on a friend's character, there was nothing else to it...!"
I was hit by a simultaneous barrage of narrowed eyes and a blank stare, and immediately raised the white flag as I piled on excuses. It's like... since the trip, their jealousy and whatnot has become much more open, hasn't it?
If that was the case, I could imagine what was coming next—
"I don't think you've ever called me 'cute.'"
'Yeah, yeah. Pretty sure I haven't either.'
"No way, wait a second. You want me to say it? Will you really be happy if I say it so on the spot and mechanically?"
'What makes it even more annoying is that you probably say it to Sora-chan so casually.'
"...He has called Nia cute. But only when you weren't around."
'Fwaebonanmyu.'
"I don't get it, I don't get it, I don't get your words or your emotions, don't come any closer! Ashe-san?! Isn't blurting that out without permission a criminal act?!"
"I've only ever been called 'beautiful.' That's not fair."
'What's this, study time?'
'Is this that thing from study time?!'
'I wonder what you two are secretly doing when I let you have your privacy!!!'
"W-wait, stop...! —We're eating! Behave yourselves during a meal!!!"
And so, this scene, which from an outsider's perspective would look like a farce, unfolded.
"Ah, youth."
It goes without saying that the adult watching from the back of the kitchen was laughing with great amusement.
◇◆◇◆◇
"—You look more worn out every time you come here. Is that supposed to be your new running gag or something?"
"...I do understand that my situation is far too blessed, and I'm grateful for it, and lately, I've even started to feel genuinely happy about it."
"Ah... ah, yeah, yeah, I get it, I get it. I don't need to hear you gushing. Sit down."
After a boisterous dinner, I made my way to my personal artisan's workshop.
It was a familiar routine for Kagura-san to tease me the moment she saw my face. I, for my part, was completely used to being teased, and I was aware that I tended to speak more freely with her—but she rarely took me seriously.
Well, I suppose that's exactly why I do it.
"So, what's the business?"
This was another constant: Kagura-san never contacted me unless it was about work. Lately, I'd been getting frequent, trivial messages from a lively group including Nia, the tiger trio from the Northern faction, that free spirit, and others like Lotta and the Mi-na/Ri-na duo...
But my number two friend on my list, the master artisan, remained a master artisan through and through. So, even without asking, I knew what she wanted.
I only asked as a preamble because—her poorly hidden grin was practically screaming, "Come on, ask me, go on, ask me." She was so obviously waiting for it.
This woman is the definition of gap moe. I might get chewed out by Ashe and Nia again, but putting aside romantic feelings, I genuinely think she's a cute person.
"Well, I'm sure you've already guessed what this is about... but first, there's one thing I need to apologize for regarding this 'commission.'"
"Oh?"
Though her words contained a negative element, there wasn't a trace of negativity in her voice or expression. It seemed quite a lot had happened.
"To be honest, we failed. We managed to give it a form, but in many ways, it's far from something we can proudly present to a client."
She's suddenly saying something incredible, but then why is her face a picture of pure, unadulterated triumph? —And, hang on. We?
"On top of that, I have a bold favor to ask."
Setting my question aside for now, I focused on Kagura-san's words, which had taken on a serious tone. Well, she was still grinning and her triumphant look was still cute, but... her eyes, you see.
They were glittering, just like when she'd thrown the [An-ri Galta (Prologue: The Wedge-Fragment that Sings of Eternity)] and the [Parabellum Bullet] at me.
And then, with a soft clink, 'it' was placed on the table.
"As the [Acrobat], Istia's Title Holder, I, the [Firecrafter], and the [Crimson Arm] have a 'commission' for you—we want you to use this and achieve a great victory."
"...May I?"
"Yeah, go ahead. It's a 'sword' that only you can handle."
I didn't fully understand, but I grasped that this was turning into something big. However, there was no point in worrying or getting nervous until I'd examined the item.
With that thought, I picked up the object from the table, the one she called a 'sword'—a pendant on a thin chain, with a rather large, oval top piece.
It was transformed, but I remembered it. The honey color was gone, replaced by a crystal-clear stone that sealed within it a modest cherry blossom.
Transfigured by the hands of the greatest artisans, its name was—
[αtiomart -Sakura=Memento-] Weapon: Zero-type Magic Power Manifestation Armament.
In the distant past, the age of gods. The memory of a sacred cherry blossom that bloomed silently at the world's end.
Even as a remnant, even as a fragment, the splendor of the cherry blossom witnessed by the moon is still here.
Be proud. Be pure. Be enchanted. Be intoxicated.
I ask you, wielder and my host. Is your ideal of beauty the bloom, or the scattering?
"————————..."
Okay.
Let's just... take another look at that, shall we?
[αtiomart -Sakura=Memento-] Weapon: Zero-type Magic Power Manife—
"The name, or rather, the category including the name, is way too long!! Let's start with that!"
And the detailed specs that flowed into my mind the moment I picked it up were!!!!!
"Hey, sorry, but I'm gonna be honest and just throw my first impression out there—Hey, don't cover your ears! Acting cute won't get you off the hook! What is this?! I don't wanna use it!!!"
Seriously, truly, simply put, this is the kind of ridiculously high-recoil weapon I want to avoid using if at all possible! It's practically a cursed item!
"Kagura-san? Isn't the [Crimson Arm] the current leader of the Western Faction?"
"Well, yeah. And my clan master."
"Could the former and current leaders please not team up to create a hellish cursed item?!"
"...Calling it a 'cursed item' is pretty harsh. It's not like the price is the kind you can't take back. It's nothing to make such a fuss about."
"'Time' is the kind of thing you can't take back, you know...?"
Okay, sure, it seems to have some insane performance to match the ridiculously high recoil, or rather, the extremely heavy price, but still...!
"Oh, be quiet, be quiet. I apologized beforehand, didn't I? I know I made it hard to use, and I feel bad about it—but on the other hand, I'm also confident that I perfectly answered your order for 'something interesting.'"
"Ugh... so that's the basis for your shamelessness...!"
It's frustrating, but I have to agree that it looks damn interesting. And if I can nod to that, then the order I placed as a commission has indeed been fulfilled.
But still... ugh... I don't want to use this myself...
"Well, look. I'm not going to force you to use it, and I can't. So just keep it as a good luck charm, an 'ace in the hole' for when you really need it."
In that case, its chance to shine would naturally be in a situation where a 'great victory' is on the line. She laughed nonchalantly, and having completed her work, she relaxed her body with satisfaction.
Meanwhile, across from her, as I glared at the massive problem child I'd just dubbed a 'cursed item,' I let out a long, thin sigh.
"Eeaaghh..."
Remembering the definite fact that said opportunity would arrive this very weekend, I couldn't help but let an indescribable feeling leak from the corner of my mouth.