Chapter 598 - Three Choices
—And so, a short while later.
"Yo, glad you could make it."
"It ended up being just for the very end, but… yes, hello."
Welcomed by Goldow, who was beaming like a grandpa meeting his grandchild, I brought Sora-san—who had logged in after safely finishing her errands—into the special seating area.
After several months of knowing each other and deepening their bond during that trip, their level of comfort with one another was considerable… or rather, my partner no longer flinched at the incarnation of muscle, but it was our General Commander who seemed to be growing more and more smitten by the day.
It seems she is steadily expanding her beloved status in various circles, which is just splendid.
Incidentally, her prim and proper greeting came after she completely unfazed, caught the red blur that has become a perfect template of a first-move pounce. This one, too, is growing formidable in her own way.
"The final match… It's Hinayo-san and Genkotsu-san, right? That's an unusual combination, or… was the footage just not publicly released?"
"Nah, that ain't it. Just like you said, this is a surprisingly new matchup."
"Gen-chan, despite his gravitas, is actually Irorin's junior, you know."
"This is only his fourth time participating in the selection matches."
Beside the four of them—Sora and Goldow, along with Mi-na and Ri-na, who had unconditionally transformed into clingy bugs in Sora's presence and were now cheerfully chatting away. I looked around the special seats, a different instance from before but with no discernible difference down to the particle level, yet saw no one else.
Putting aside the Night-Type Boy (Tetra), who had logged out earlier with a parting, "I'm tired, going to sleep," it seemed neither Yurayura-shi nor Irori had any intention of showing up.
Irori, at least, was probably just as dead as I had been earlier. It seems even the invincible samurai gets humanly exhausted after consecutive, serious battles with fellow rankers.
"Even outside of a stage like this, have you ever seen Hinayo-chan and Gen-chan have a serious battle? I'm actually looking forward to this."
"Yeah. As for the matchup… Genkotsu has the advantage, I suppose."
"That thing he has is just unfair, isn't it—Hey, Onii-san. What are you doing just standing there blankly? Sit down, quickly, in the seat next to Sora-chan!"
As I was vacantly watching the four of them, my body still dragging from fatigue, the crimson girl came at me, grabbed my arm with a yank, and slammed me into the designated seat with a thud.
If this were my real body, my tailbone would have definitely screamed in agony.
"What the hell was that for…? I was being considerate, thinking you two would want to sit on either side of her."
"Hehe, no need for such consideration. Because I'll be taking this lap!"
"Sora, feel free to toss her off without hesitation."
"Ah, haha…"
"Not fair. I want that lap, too."
"First come, first served!"
I'm still not sure what chain of events led to them becoming so attached to her from our very first meeting, but this is what always happens when you put Sora and the two little ones together.
And when Goldow is also present in that situation.
"Hey, General Commander."
"Hah?"
"Your face is melting. Are you a grandpa?"
He turns into a sight that can't be shown to his subordinates. That, too, is business as usual.
◇◆◇◆◇
And so, time passed, and just before evening, the 11th Four Pillar War Selection Match safely concluded all its events.
The winner of the tournament was the current ninth-ranked, Lord [Twin Fists]. The selection match is meant to gauge the participants' strength and their suitability for the Four Pillar War, so there's nothing particularly special attached to the title of 'winner'… but it is an honor, nonetheless.
Well, in reality, Gen-san is ridiculously strong, so the title of champ fits him perfectly.
He tends to be a bit less conspicuous due to his personality and fighting style, but in terms of potential, he's a player who exudes an overwhelming sense of invincibility, truly embodying what it means to be a ranker. No Istian would question the fact that he won.
—And so, once the festival was over, the Eastern Faction, with its super-class of capricious members, went back to normal. As if to say, 'everyone rest,' all personnel were mandated to take time off, giving me the entire second half of the day off.
Following the friend registration we had casually exchanged, I messaged him to ask for a meeting place and headed to a location that was more or less expected: a training room inside the castle.
"Yo, you came."
"Yep, that I did."
Is it rude to think 'unexpected' of someone I've only exchanged a few words with? I raise a hand and offer a light smile to the silver-haired beauty who had arrived first and was waiting… but apart from her words, she gives me a dead-serious silent treatment.
How should I put this… It's—it's so easy to understand, it's incredibly easy to deal with.
Even with just a brief exchange, I was able to grasp that utterly simple way of being. In that case, I'll go ahead and take it easy myself.
"So, what's on the agenda? I'm guessing this isn't about deepening our friendship."
"This is just how I am. I know it's not great, but…"
I doubt they're the type to jest about knowing they're not great. I wait for them to continue without responding… and they, or she, continued, as if to say, "That's the right move."
"You know about that thing in September?"
"Yeah, I know—it's the 'Triangle Duo,' right?"
When I answered immediately with the name of an event I'd been told about since two months ago, I received a single nod that seemed to say, "Saves me the trouble."
"I'm passing on the Four Pillar War, but I'll have to show my face at that one… It's not my choice, but since I'm back, I have to. And when that happens, I've got to 'show' the newcomer what's what beforehand, you see."
I have no idea what they're talking about—or rather, I do.
Combined with the information I'd vaguely learned about [Screen], the purpose of this meeting is becoming clear from the flow of the conversation. At the same time, I'm quietly revising my evaluation of the senior player before me.
I think I get it now. This person is the delinquent with a heart of gold type—a tsundere.
The 'Triangle Duo' in question is the name of a semi-official, large-scale real-life event that involves PvP with a different flavor from the Four Pillar War.
Its main content is a tag-team tournament featuring a chaotic mix of rankers from the three combat-oriented factions: North, South, and East… Well, the details of the event don't matter right now.
What's important is that there's a possibility that Yurayura-shi and I will fight each other on that day.
And that it would be a huge problem to face this [Screen] for the first time in an arena that, even more so than the 'Four Pillar War,' is hyper-focused on entertainment and exists solely to please the audience.
Why? Because no one, past or future, could possibly establish a proper fight against this player on their first encounter.
In other words, Yurayura-shi called me here for one reason and one reason only.
"I'll give you thirty minutes. Memorize it, go home, and figure out a countermeasure."
In the unlikely event that we have a 'match' in the future. They're going to let me learn their moves so that I, [The Acrobat], don't get utterly destroyed and make a fool of myself without being able to do a thing.
…I wonder what their reaction would be if I said it out loud?
Oh well, let's just try saying it once.
"You're harsh with your words, but you're actually pretty kind, senpai."
"Maybe I should make it three minutes after all."
"My apologies, I won't say anything smart again. Please stop glaring at me, your face is scary enough as it is."
I see. So this is what you call good communication.
Not bad.
"Good grief… I really can't figure out what you're thinking."
"Oh, it's been a while since someone said that to me…"
"Huh?"
Nope, it's nothing, I'll shut up now—Ah, I feel so drained.
I don't dislike this type of person.
It's not that I don't have to be considerate in the same way I am with Tora-kichi… It's more like they boldly declare with their attitude that I don't have to be considerate, but I don't have to be considerate. It's that kind of feeling.
I'm not sure if it's role-playing or their true nature, but I feel like I could get along with the Yurayura-shi of the virtual world… —at least, it doesn't seem like they want to.
Well, I'll just let our future friendship route take its course.
"That's enough, quit your rambling and let's get started—Out of 'Status,' 'Skills,' and 'Magic,' which one do you think you're best at?"
I understand that they're taking time out of their day for me.
Therefore, I have no complaints as they, or she, cut off the conversation as if their patience had worn thin and got down to business. And since I know the general outline of the unique ability that [Screen] possesses, I have no questions about their question.
Status, Skills, Magic. Of these three 'miracles' granted to players by the world's system, the one I feel I'm most accustomed to handling is—
"Well… 'Status,' I guess."
I imagine most people would answer the same, but having been taught by my master and dabbled in concepts of 'inner' and 'outer' force, I'm far more proficient than others. I accomplish things that normal players use skills for with my superhuman avatar specs alone… so, yeah.
'Status,' the foundation of it all, is what I'm best at. That would be correct. 'Skills' would be next, I suppose. I haven't used 'Magic' enough to say I'm good at it yet.
And with that.
"Alright, we'll start with that one. Try not to get blown away by the fluctuation."
"Yeah, I'm ready when you are."
The Screen, having received my answer, opens their mouth.
"—[Invertia (Tongue of the Inciter)]."
And inside it. On the tongue, a stark crimson against the silver hair and white skin, a complex and bizarre pattern glows faintly with an eerie light…
"[Zel Celeste Zeatese (March of the Innocent Fool)]."
The Anima, hailed as the 'strangest' in the virtual world, activated in accordance with the declaration.