Chapter 574 - The Wielder and the Weaver, Unchanging as Ever
"So—how was it?"
"Couldn't have been better."
After finishing the preliminary and first-half matches of the Four Pillar War selection tournament, I dragged my utterly exhausted body over to the workshop. Kagura-san skipped all pleasantries and cut straight to the chase, and I could only offer a weary smile in return.
Still, my answer to her question was, naturally, entirely positive.
I gave a little wave with the hand sporting my brand-new gear, a gesture of thanks. She let out a sigh of relief and slumped back into her chair with a thud.
It was a rare sight, and my weary smile naturally shifted into a genuine one.
"If you were that worried, you didn't have to rush to finish it by today."
"...Don't be an idiot. This is your time to shine, in a way. There was no way I was letting you wear that slapped-together remake from last time."
"I'm still plenty attached to it, though. I'll put the old one on display in my room."
"Oh, just stop it, you're embarrassing me."
Though she says that, she can't hide the fact that she's not entirely displeased. That's what's so cute about her—not that I have the guts to tease her to her face, so I'll just keep that to myself.
"Anyway, the performance was flawless, absolutely perfect... but it felt a little tight when I was moving around. Could I ask for an adjustment?"
"Ah, figures. Rushing a job is never a good idea... Hand it over. I'll take a look."
So that's what had been on her mind, prompting her to ask the second I walked in.
At my request for a fix, she put a hand to her forehead and looked up at the ceiling. I did as she said, placing the new gear that protected my hands and feet—a set of four pieces—on the indicated table.
They were simple gloves and boots in terms of shape. Anyone could tell they were cut from the same material—a matching fabric woven from a black metal with intricate silver patterns running through it.
The base material was a spoil of war from my recent solo battle against a fated enemy. It was a peculiar material called [Shining Steel of the God-Wedge Armor], obtained from my second official subjugation of [Angalta, the God-Wedge Sword-King].
Their names were [An=Di Galta (Flashing Hand of the God-Wedge)] and [An=Vo Galta (Flashing Leg of the God-Wedge)]—high-end gear, without a doubt, stamped with the mark of "masterpiece" by the master artisan known as the [Fire-Player].
Including the two-piece set bonus, they provided a status boost of VIT +100. It was a top-tier effect value rivaling the [Ice Weave] series for my transformed body... but that wasn't all.
The result of me going absolutely nuts on a boss whose difficulty scales with the challenger was a monster that had become a raid-class enemy. The materials it dropped produced a unique item equipped with a special effect.
The hidden ability was called Flashing Wedge Armor—in short, it was essentially heavy armor for a lightweight warrior, with zero weight and zero discomfort, that only demonstrates its incredible durability during moments of attack and defense.
It looked less like heavy armor and more like thin leather or cloth gear, yet its numerical defense rating was easily tougher than the full plate armor worn by most heavy warriors. It was astounding.
I took Kagura-san at her word when she said, "You should be able to punch back even against heavy weapons," and I have to admit, I was spooked when I deflected a challenger's full-swinging greatsword with a backhand. I'd had an emergency escape plan ready, just in case.
What's more, this wasn't just 'armor'; it was 'armament' that served both offense and defense.
This meant that the armor's hardness, weight, and power were conveyed to the opponent not only when taking a hit, but also when I dished out my own violent punches and kicks.
In other words, it was just like the Anima of the Southern Faction's second-in-command, Uni the [Heavy Tank]—the weight-faking [Dual Heavy, Starfall Twin Black Steel]. This was the kind of ridiculous gear that cheats the system.
"...Just to be clear, I'll say it again: the performance is perfect, no complaints."
Lately, I've been actively incorporating hand-to-hand combat into my actions. So, for a piece of gear to not only assist my punches and kicks but also function as a weapon in itself—it was nothing short of a dream come true. I threw a follow-up comment to the artisan, who was correcting her mistake with a scowl.
"I don't need your pity. My pride won't let me hand over something half-assed. So even if you forgive it, I won't forgive myself."
"There she goes, saying cool stuff again..."
But my words were immediately shot down.
It's been about five months since we met, but she hasn't changed a bit. Despite having her character collapse so many times, she's got a strong heart—
"Don't stare at me with that weird look on your face while you're thinking strange things. I'll smack you."
"A... a weird look...?"
It seems that in terms of the 'depth of our relationship,' things are progressing smoothly, as she can now read my thoughts as a matter of course.
Excellent. Let's stay on good terms for a long, long time, ma'am... oh?
Ah, crap.
"Sorry, wait, I'm out of time...! My bad, I'll come pick it up again tomorr—"
"Here, take 'em."
Just as I checked the system clock in the corner of my vision, shot up from my seat, and turned to leave, the four adjusted pieces of armor flew into my hands. She's as quick on the draw as ever.
I instantly equipped them on my hands and feet, which I'd almost run out on bare. A familiar flash of light scattered as they settled into place—
"How's it feel?"
"Perfect! Thanks, see ya!"
The strange sensation—a feeling of tightness despite the gear having zero weight—was completely gone. She had rushed to finish it for me today in the first place, so with the readjustment, there was no word other than 'perfect' to describe her work.
And with that one word, our communication was also perfect. My refreshingly businesslike relationship with Kagura-san needed no lengthy wordplay.
And that's precisely why.
"Haru."
"Yeah!"
"Your real fight is tomorrow, isn't it? Well... good luck."
"...Heh, I'll go give it everything I've got!"
Getting a rare word of encouragement like that makes it hard not to grin like an idiot.
I'll touch upon the third battle with [Angalta, God-Wedge Sword-King] later.