Chapter 567 - Reactions: Istia's Number One
"—And well, that's about how things have been on my end..."
"Fufu... Things are always so lively around you, Haru-kun."
"If 'everyone else' heard you say that, they'd all retort that I'm the liveliest one of all... Well, I won't deny it anymore."
"Is that not a good thing? That, too, is a talent for attracting people."
"Ha, ha, ha."
"Oh my... you seem to have something you want to say."
"Well..."
"Keeping secrets from your master is not something I can commend, you know?"
"It's not really a secret. It's just, you know..."
"'Just,' what is it?"
"Public opinion, or my reputation, I guess... It feels like it's shot up all at once."
"Yes."
"I wouldn't say I'm unworthy of it..."
"You look like you want to, though."
"But I won't. In the end, what I mean is, the reason I was able to climb up to this point at such a ridiculous speed isn't because of my own strength, but..."
"............"
"It's because I was blessed with people—so blessed it's almost too much. That's the biggest part of it, I think. And when I consider that... well, you know."
"'You know'?"
"I'll accept all the praise and reputation as my 'responsibility,' but... I can't be the one to praise or spoil myself without reservation."
"..."
"Because, you see—it makes me happy."
"...Yes."
"It makes me happy when anyone can watch me and have fun. So, it all starts from here, doesn't it? That's the mindset I have now. I have to give back what I've received... Hah!"
My words were punctuated by the clang of swords, a sound we'd exchanged for a long while now.
The flash of my Jade Blade, launched with a particular burst of spirit, was effortlessly parried by my master's greatsword... At the same time, the [Sword Saint] stopped our spar and looked at me.
"I'm getting tired of feeling like a rookie... From now on, I'll act with the dignity befitting my rank."
When I stated my aspirations for the future, she returned my words with a gentle smile.
"—As you are now, you will not be found lacking."
Her smile was so gentle, almost affectionate, that it made me feel self-conscious. She sheathed her greatsword and held it, drawing near.
As she approached, I knelt and bowed my head. Slender fingertips combed through my bangs.
"As for Chuden... it is still a bit too soon."
"Haha, well, that's a given."
A mischievous grin from her, a wry chuckle from me.
"Haru-kun."
"Yes."
We exchanged words, affirming our bond.
My master, the first person to whom I must 'give back,' said...
"—You've grown strong."
"Hah... I'll strive to work even harder."
I averted my eyes from her dazzling smile, and in response, she raised her eyebrows in a rare show of displeasure.
"I will not permit you to work any harder than you already are. For a little while longer, please remain my disciple."
She chided me by gently tapping my forehead, then gave another mischievous smile.
◇◆◇◆◇
It was my first login in about ten days. My master sent me a message the moment I returned to the virtual world, and I had eagerly rushed to her side about thirty minutes ago.
And as soon as we met, the [Sword Saint] declared, "My body has grown dull," and made me draw my sword. I spent a little over twenty minutes sparring with her. Now, seemingly satisfied after our long chat during the match, Ui-san is contentedly sipping from a teacup on the veranda.
However—
"—To think Haru-kun has finally grown to the point where he can fight me while holding a conversation..."
"The feeling's mutual, and besides, we were both far from serious."
My 'master,' who had always held complex feelings about her 'disciple's' bizarre growth rate, now seemed to be harboring a little dissatisfaction as well.
"For what it's worth, I am known as the [Sword Saint], you know?"
"Yes, I'm well aware, my master."
"A [Sword Saint] who is matched by her disciple in a mere two months... How embarrassing."
"N-No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!"
I haven't matched her! Not in any way, shape, or form! Seriously, not at all!
"No, um...—Please be honest. Ui-san, what percentage of your power were you using just now?"
"...Let me see... perhaps about thirty percent?"
"—SEE, I KNEW IT! I was giving it my all just now. I was using eighty... no, ninety percent of my strength. I was honestly one step short of going all out...!"
"Haru-kun."
"Yes."
"You should not lie."
"I'm not lying...!!"
I was just trying to maintain a composed expression to appear dignified, as befits my rank.
Of course, I didn't use any Arts or skills, but the same was true for Ui-san. Because it was a fight using only our pure base stats, the difference in our abilities was starkly apparent.
Considering that my style relies on the full use of my skills while hers is different, and even accounting for our different technical focuses, I am still nowhere near the level of the [Sword Saint].
Just like the [Sword Queen], Arcadia's top two are in a league of their own. I, who have been leaping to greater heights by relying on trump cards that are akin to self-destruct moves, am on a fundamentally different stage.
"Fufu... I understand what you wish to say. However—"
I'm aware I must have been making a rather indescribable face. Thus, it was a given that my master, who sees through her disciple's every thought, would read my mind.
"—It was, in a way that is hard to put into words, a magnificent performance."
"...Thank you very much."
"My grandfather and I watched it over and over again."
"I-Is that so..."
Such direct, unreserved praise. I tried to sip my tea to cool down, but I couldn't hide the blush on my heated face.
Like a child being praised by a parent, or a student by a teacher—when praised by a master you revere, a disciple can't help but react this way.
"I imagine... that I could not defeat the Haru-kun from that battle."
"..., ..."
And to the words that followed, I could only respond with silence. It was partly out of reverence, and partly because I myself did not want to say it—even if it were true.
First of all.
"I can't really use [Lightning Gale] in an actual battle. Or rather, I won't. To be honest, the situations where it would be effective are just too limited."
The biggest problem is having to complete the fifty-second-long incantation without moving. And then there's the question of returns—is it worth taking the risk of that biggest problem to use that spell?
In a one-on-one fight, it's not even an option from the start. What about multiple opponents? To be frank, it probably wouldn't be useful in most of those situations either.
The premise is that if my allies can cover for me, the incantation will succeed—which means they are strong enough to buy time or hold their ground even with me completely out of the fight. If that's the case, then if I just kept fighting normally on the front lines, we'd likely be able to push the advantage.
Conversely, if they can't even buy time, then I wouldn't have a moment to leave the front lines.
In short, the opponent has to be one where the incantation can succeed and using that spell will barely secure a victory... The 'range' of opponents it's effective against is just too narrow.
Furthermore, there's the overriding issue of that incredibly heavy cost. All in all, there are few situations where it's the right move, and it's not something I can use lightly.
"What happened this time was a 'special' case where everything just clicked."
That was my conclusion.
"It only worked because I had an exceptional partner like the [Sword Queen] protecting me. Normally, it's not a technique that would work out so cleanly."
And to add to that—
"...To be honest, I think we would have won even if I didn't use it."
"...Ufufu... I imagine so. You and Ar— Iris-san could have defeated that final fox demon together."
"Yeah, we just went for the excitement and fun..."
Hm? Did I just hear something strange...?
"My grandfather said it, too. 'This kid's an entertainer,' he said."
"Eh? Ah, haha... How embarrassing."
"And about that final 'Hayate' as well. He praised it magnificently, looking so delighted."
"I'm honored... but I don't think you could even see that in the video."
"Even if the flash is not visible, one can generally understand the principle of a technique by observing its initiation and follow-through."
"Seriously...?"
Feeling like I'd been skillfully deflected, our pleasant conversation continued on.
Another five, ten minutes passed, and we spent the time in peaceful harmony... —
"............"
I wonder which of us let the words trail off first.
Listening to the sound of bamboo leaves rustling in the wind from the grove, I watched the profile of the [Sword Saint], her gray hair swaying in the same breeze.
"—...The number one rank, huh."
The incomplete words, which I couldn't follow up with 'so what?', naturally slipped from my lips.
"............It seems to have become that way."
She didn't ask what I thought. She simply affirmed my statement, and without turning to look at me, she quietly looked up at the moon and closed her eyes.
She closed them, and opened them.
"...I went to see 'Tengen'—Grandfather Amamoto."
"...You, ...know him in real life, then."
As I hesitated at her unexpected words, she finally turned to me.
Ui-san smiled quietly and—
"He is the one who persuaded my grandfather and guided me to this virtual world."
"—..."
More unexpected words. My head was spinning—but I quickly found what I needed to say.
"A benefactor, then."
"Yes. For me—"
"For you, of course, but..."
I regretted interrupting her, but I couldn't stop the sudden overflow of emotion from spilling out.
"He's our benefactor—for Sora and Irori, who were inspired by you, the Sword Saint, to start their journey. For me, who was able to come this far because I met you. And... well, for a whole lot of other people."
"...Fufu, a whole lot of other people, you say?"
"Yes, absolutely. He's the great benefactor to the hundreds of millions of [Sword Saint] fans around the world."
The former #1 of the Eastern Faction, [Tenka Muho]—a player who entered the virtual world in the form of a perfectly ordinary old man, a sight strangely out of place in a fantasy world.
Only one recording of him remains: a hero of the East who, despite being struck down by the prodigy of the virtual world, Iris, in the first 'Four Pillar War,' still led Istia to victory.
He was a true monster who ran through a battlefield teeming with superhumans without a single skill or piece of equipment.
Because of his all-too-quick and sudden retirement, almost no information about him remains. As a result, his legend is fading into obscurity... a man who seems to belong half in a fairy tale.
"Grandfather... I've heard Goldow call him 'old man' too, but... is he doing well?"
To achieve such a great victory and then announce a sudden, unexpected retirement. Considering that, plus his apparent age from the nickname, anyone would have the same thought.
So I asked, somewhat timidly... Ah, thank goodness.
"'Looks like we'll both still be swinging swords fifty years from now,' my grandfather and he were saying to each other happily. It did not sound like a joke."
From her light laughter, it seems a youngster's worries were needless.
"Is Mr. Tengen a swordsman as well?"
"No, Grandfather is less of a swordsman and more of a... warrior, I suppose."
"A warrior."
A warrior... in modern Japan.
"I apologize, I cannot think of a better way to put it... He is a person who has mastered not only the sword, but all manner of martial arts. No, not just martial arts—"
As she explained to a bewildered me... Ui-san put down her teacup and formed some kind of 'stance' with her hands—then, with a soft "bang," she struck a pose that would undoubtedly be lethal to any Sword Saint fan who saw it.
"He is also familiar with things like this."
"Ahhh..."
I feel like I vaguely understand what that means, or what kind of person he is.
So, well... I guess I won't think too deeply about it. I'll just use my gift to etch this super cute, once-in-a-lifetime image of my master's "bang" into my virtual brain.
"I see... So you went to see Mr. Tengen because..."
"Yes... —I wanted to receive some encouragement from the former number one ranker."
"............"
Somehow, I understood the meaning of her words without having to ask.
The one who had been content with her position as number two, with the number one spot vacant. I understood what she meant, and that's why I was about to open my mouth, but—
"I wanted to... but..."
Seeing her face, as composed as ever, I held my tongue.
"'It's just a game, so don't worry about stuff like that, ya know?'—is what he told me, in a rather careless and dismissive way."
"Could you please do that impression one more time—"
"He also told me that if a replacement vessel appeared, I should just leave it to them."
"If you could also do that part with the impression it would be a great help ow hey owkay (I'm sorry)...!"
Instead of the words I held back, I tried to lighten the mood, but it seems I chose the wrong approach. I accepted my master's hand pinching my cheek without mercy, and by apologizing profusely, I managed to draw a smile from her, so all's well that ends well.
"Honestly, this boy... You are, after all, my prized disciple. It is troubling that if asked whether I can entrust it to you, I would have to answer that I can."
"About that, I'm a bit lost on the circumstances and what you're talking about..."
Something about a vessel, which probably relates to that strange question Goldow sent me the other day... but I have no clue.
I don't get it, but...
"It is fine for you to not understand, Haru-kun. ...It is better that way."
If my master says so, then so be it.
"...That said, I cannot simply remain as I am. So that I am not overtaken and left behind by my disciple... and my 'student'—"
Even as time passes and our respective positions change.
"Perhaps it is no longer the time to feign a quiet retirement."
"If that's... if that's the case, then when you plan on going out, please be sure to let me know."
Even as our respective hearts change.
"I will accompany you anywhere, Master."
"...That sounds very, very fun."
To help my precious master continue to achieve her dreams, I will always...
...continue to be her ill-tempered, un-cute, prized disciple.