Chapter 541 - Thus, the Blue Sky Offensive is Underway
With the date of the assault, which had been thrown together with one hundred percent momentum, looming near, and the two new "cards" that had fallen into my lap both being top-class problem children—what came next was a given.
And so, the next day, in the afternoon, I once again found myself at the training grounds.
"...I just don't understand you anymore, Haru. What are you aiming for?"
"...For now, I can say I'm not aiming to become a monster."
It was a carbon copy of yesterday. There I was, in my transformed body, collapsed like a rag against the wall. Crouching beside me was Sora-san. And ringing in my ears like a mockery of the user's pathetic state was the crackling of residual magic.
No, really, seriously, for real. I can accept inhuman feats as a 'this is fantasy' thing, but I don't particularly want to become inhuman myself.
If anything, I see myself as the basic type who thinks that heroic characters who surpass monsters while retaining their human form are the coolest. So, having that mix of exasperated, troubled, and resigned expression directed at me is extremely vexing.
"Well, I mean, of course I'll help you with your training... but is this something that can be managed through training? The 'sword' is one thing, but this..."
"That one, in the end, just has a heavy price to pay."
"No, it's not just that. To begin with, I want you to be aware that your handling of weapons in general isn't normal."
Oh, she's scolding me but also praising me. I thought, and when I gave a weak laugh, Sora gave me a half-lidded look and said, "Is this any time to be laughing?" as she pulled my hand to help me up.
"Dagger, straight sword, greatsword, katana, spear, and axe. And then, a hammer... was it? It's amazing how you can use so many different weapons. I know it's a bit late to be saying this, but still."
Come to think of it, I haven't shown Sora-san my cheerful new armament, the "gun." I have a feeling I'll be on the receiving end of another amusing look from her in the near future.
Anyway—
"I think that's simply thanks to my aptitude skills."
The reason why, in the virtual world, even a beginner can engage in "combat" (if they have the resolve). The so-called 'knowledge of battle' that gets installed in your brain when you acquire a weapon aptitude skill.
Without it, I'd just be Average Person A, unable to properly swing even a stick, let alone a sword... and when you consider that, my trash-tier [All-Weapon Aptitude] isn't entirely without its subtle merits.
After all, just by acquiring and setting it, you can instantly grasp the basic principles of various weapons. Since I've never acquired a specialized aptitude, I can't compare, but even if a dedicated aptitude grants 'deeper understanding,' there should still be a demand for this.
In any case, the foundation is that skill. When you add the Sword Saint's teachings on top of the system's infallible prerequisite knowledge, it's only natural that you'd surpass a certain level.
I've never seen her use them myself, but Ui-san is surprisingly knowledgeable about weapons other than katanas. She's actually taught me a bit about spearmanship and such—and, so?
"Sora-san?"
I posed the question to my partner, who, after pulling me up, showed no sign of letting go of my hand. A swing to the left, a swing to the right... I see, so that's how it is.
"...You see, I think rest is important."
"Oh, rest."
"And I think you get better results if you focus and work hard in short bursts."
"I see, focus."
"Besides, I'm 'helping' you, so I think it's okay to get a rewa—...a reward, don't you?"
Ah, a reward.
"I get it. You were about to retract the word 'reward' because it sounded childish, but you couldn't think of another way to say it, so you gave up—ouch, ow, ow, ow!"
She squeezed the back of my hand, and I immediately surrendered.
Ah, I understand. I bet the first word that came to mind, 'compensation,' sounded too business-like, and you didn't like that either. I get it perfectly.
She's so cute. It's painful.
...Now that I think about it, Nia said something about that. It's true that I seem to toss out words like 'cute' to Sora quite casually.
I kept it in my head this time, but there's a possibility I've let it slip out in a casual moment. In fact, I have a few memories of doing just that.
I should be more careful for the sake of fairness... but wait, is 'being careful' about something like that the right way to go? Isn't thinking consciously about fairness and whatnot actually insincere? Rather, shouldn't I be honestly expressing my genuine feelings? Isn't that what's required of me now—
No, I have no idea. How would I know? I'd appreciate it if you'd just let me be me.
For now, there's only one thing I want to say from the bottom of my heart. It may be true that Haru Kasuga as a person has a weakness for older women, but that aside...
"Younger girls are unfair..."
"E-excuse me???"
It's like... the word 'cute' is unconditionally attached to all their thoughts and actions. Of course, it probably requires the additional condition of being a 'cute younger girl' like Sora, but... wait, cute, and younger girl? Doesn't that just mean 'cute cute'? The theory that cute plus cute equals the strongest is born—
"...Um, Haru."
"Yes."
"Putting my reward aside, let's take a break after each attempt. You're making a face I've never seen before, like you're thinking something very strange. You're tired, aren't you?"
"YES."
"Shall I give you a lap pillow?"
"Wh—That's surprising! Since when did you learn such wiles?!"
"Sh-sheesh... D-don't use such lewd words!"
Uh, where's the border for lewd? Well, in the old-fashioned sense, she's not wrong—but wait, this is not the time...!
"Wai—sto—Hey, isn't this pattern happening a lot lately?!"
Given our starting positions, with me against the wall, I had no escape.
Furthermore, Sora-san's playful attempt to corner me and drag me to the floor met with my resistance, but her and my actual STR values were an even 100 each.
Even with that, I was already at a disadvantage if she used [Mana Cladding] for a boost—and then, there it was. The red card, instant ejection, foul play!!!
"You can't use that?!"
"...It's your fault, Haru! What do you mean, this pattern? I've never done this before!"
"There's a deep and complicated reason for th—gwaaaahhhhh!!!!!"
Thirty minutes of stat transfer. With her strength stat inflated several times over in a single instant, the slender girl's delicate arms easily pinned me down.
When transformed, my arms are also 'slender girl's delicate arms,' for the record—but anyway,
"Sad news: Sora has finally turned delinquent."
"Don't say such rude things!"
Defeated in words, in strength, and in position—trapped by a younger girl's lap pillow, I had no recourse. My dignity as an elder was nowhere to be found.
Has it been this way for a while? Ah, yes, it has.
"...Haaah."
"...What's that? Are you dissatisfied with my lap? I know, you know. That Ui-san sometimes gives you one too."
"'Gives me one' is a gross misrepresentation of the facts..."
"I don't want to hear it. If you want me to forgive you, then be quiet."
While spouting such angry-sounding lines, she mercilessly blinded me—or rather, covered my eyes—as I tried to read her expression. With my vision blocked, what reached my ears instead was a faint voice.
Hearing that satisfied tone, I once again thought to myself.
"Younger girls are unfair."
"Oh, you're still saying that?"
Or rather, that my partner was the most unfair person in the world.