Chapter 703 - The Thread-Weaver and the Acrobat
The gem that was the source of that brilliance was called [Rampagelight Tourmaline]. Among the secret treasures brought back from the dragon's lair, it was the one ranked second in quality, excluding the special-grade unique item.
To be more specific, if one were to overlook the fact that it unleashed a massive demerit upon activating its properties, it was the problem child ranked first in terms of performance potential when processed into equipment.
Reborn and housed within the transformable combat garment, [Sakura Hanaori], its name as a core jewel was [Hellgread Ignis]. Its hidden authority… 'Resonance' seems the most fitting description.
To put it simply, this jewel was crafted from a stone with the extremely peculiar property of 'generating magic of the same quality while heating up limitlessly when touched by magic during its excited state.'
"—On behalf of the audience, I'll ask, just in case."
In other words, my avatar, now wearing such an item.
"What in the world is that form…?"
"Unfortunately, it doesn't have a specific form name or anything…"
By forcibly writing the 'properties' of the magic it 'accepted' into my very existence,
"For convenience's sake—'Me, Black Flame ver., presented by the [Thread-Weaver]'… or something."
"All I understood is that your naming sense isn't functioning."
I become a half-material, half-magical demon.
Engulfed in flames of darkness, I bantered while grabbing a bundle of 'threads' and tearing them apart with brute force. Of course, I was touching the black flames, but I took no damage.
On the contrary, I myself now harbored those same black flames.
Due to the commonality of its demerit, or whatever you want to call it, its name leans toward the [Crimson Red Ruby] that I relied on during the past Four Pillar War. However, the fundamental concept of the creation itself was inspired by none other than my own star magic, [Lightning Gale].
It's not just cladding my limbs; the ends of my tied-up hair, which sway and scatter embers, have transformed into black flames—a perfect example of what I mean.
Of course, it's not a perfect magical body like that one…
"Well, the biggest advantage is, as you can see."
"…………Wait a second. No way, you've got to be kidding me."
Haha, nice. Now we're even.
"—From now on, black flames won't work on me."
Look at you, you don't look so relaxed anymore either.
In any case, it's a self-evident truth that a massive cheat like being able to nullify an enemy's attribute entirely just by accepting it wouldn't be allowed to exist without a price.
There's no hiding it, not that I could even if I wanted to. Because the moment the jewel revealed its authority, a 'Crown' began to shine above my head.
The enhancement effect of the unique title 'Acrobat', [Crown Crown]—its effect is a self-damage stopper that activates the moment self-inflicted damage reaches ninety percent of my total HP during combat.
"…Don't tell me."
Yes, which means that for this crown to be in effect…
"Without that crown, you'd self-destruct in a second, wouldn't you…?"
"Correct!"
"Get a grip, you crazy Acrobat."
I think I just heard a pretty harsh insult, but anyway.
By exploiting [Crown Crown], I can ignore the insane cost of, depending on the properties of the absorbed magic, something like losing a tenth of my total HP every tenth of a second.
Well, it's not like I'm ignoring it; I'm still getting a good ninety percent of my life shaved off. But since I've never invested resources into defensive stats to begin with, my durability is worse than a regular player's.
When facing monsters like the rankers, it's a rarity to survive a single hit, so whether I'm at ten percent health or a hundred, there's really not much difference.
Lately, I've heard some chatter that '[Acrobat]'s Crown Crown is kinda lame when you think about it,' but I want them to think about it calmly.
My authority, which can bypass 'self-damage'—a common element in games that, because it's a 'demerit', often brings with it super-powerful merits—
…isn't going to give up its 'overpowered' label that easily.
"Alright… Here I come, Natsume-senpai."
I tossed aside the remnants of the severed threads and took a step forward. I grasped the finer details of my status, now altered by the inclusion of the dark-attributed black flames, and stepped out vigorously despite my near-death state.
It's not over, and it won't be. Right, senpai? This is where it really begins.
"…………Hah, really, so annoying."
If you ask me, if you can make a face like that in this situation—
"I'm gonna crush you!!!"
—then I think we can get along just fine.
◇◆◇◆◇
—Annoying, so annoying, I really, really find this annoying.
He had overcome her lethal black flames with some unknown trick and was now pressing forward with confidence. Natsume… continued to toy with him, making him dance left and right, same as always.
All the while, deep in her heart, for a long, long time… ever since the last Four Pillar War, where she couldn't show a single good thing about herself, for the entire time, that feeling just wouldn't fade.
Is it because he's stronger than her, his senior? No.
Is it because his words and actions lack cuteness? No.
Is it because his piercing gaze feels like it's seeing right through her heart? Because everyone talks about him as if they're delirious with a fever? Because it feels like he's being blessed by the entire world? —All wrong. Everything is wrong.
First of all, she's directing her feelings at the wrong person. Or rather, Natsume isn't annoyed with 'someone,' but with the current 'situation' itself.
Because, for just over eight months.
Because, for the eight-odd months since she became a ranker.
Because, for the eight-odd months she had been secretly waiting.
Natsume, the [Thread-Weaver] and former rookie ranker…
"C'mon, what's wrong! Get over here, Acrobat!"
"Did your personality just change—whoa, that was close! Ah?!"
…wanted to show her cool side to the 'junior' who would come here next, after her.
—In other words, to 'him' and no one else.
To think, she had wanted to look cool.
Becoming a ranker… at first, she thought she'd rather not. She was praised as a genius and all that, lifted up without really understanding why, and given a name by the world (system) against her will. She thought, 'Do I have to be in the public eye here, too?'
But everyone was kind to her. They were happy for her. They welcomed her.
She couldn't be honest in the real world or the virtual one, and her harsh words were her default setting. But they looked after her, almost annoyingly so, and cherished her, and that made her happy.
She was blessed with so many seniors, regardless of faction boundaries.
So she decided she would do the same for her juniors, returning the favor without caring if they were from her faction or another.
She was all fired up to play the part of a splendid, cool senior—
"But a crushing defeat in the first match just isn't cool, dammit!!!"
"What are you even say—whoooaaah!!?"
So this is her lashing out.
At the poor junior who wasn't blessed with a certain senior, from a certain senior who had gotten herself into a corner out of frustration, helplessness, and embarrassment.
It was an incredibly dishonest, utterly clumsy way of showing affection.