Chapter 784 - The Indigo Girl's Struggle
The body-integrated Anima that [Milmarinus], the sixth-ranked member of the current Western Faction, Vestol, possesses within her body—[Celestial Aquamarine (Shimmering Blue Jade Twin Stars)], Third Tier—combines numerous rare characteristics.
First, it belongs to the already rare body-integrated category… in other words, despite the catchphrase “a part of one’s soul (Anima),” it ended up becoming one with her body after all.
Second is the “Remote Constant Independent Standby” ability, which Nia utilizes as an artisan within a very narrow scope. Expressed in words alone, it sounds nonsensical, but in short, it’s the “power” that constantly resides in the cornerstone of my build, the [Aquamarine Rabbit Heart].
That secret ability that’s something like, “for each eye, one magic spell can be stored in a suitable gemstone”—it seems that’s not exactly what’s happening.
It holds a magic spell, which has been placed in a standby state with a gemstone as its focal point.
By maintaining that state indefinitely, the miracle of the blue jade allows a sparkle to be born at any time, any place, according to the will of the one it was bestowed upon—yes, it’s obviously an absurd feat.
We’re not talking on a paltry scale of minutes, tens of minutes, or hours. A few days is a given; it could even be months or years. Even if unused, Nia’s eyes will forever and eternally watch over the one graced by her protection.
In other words, it’s not that her power is temporarily lost due to a miracle-worthy deed. It’s simply that because she is continuously watching, she becomes unable to use her other powers.
According to Nia, there’s likely no limit to the duration of the power. Furthermore, the power she bestowed upon me, who frequently zips off to the far corners of the world on her prized legs, has never been broken. So, for now, it seems highly likely there’s no limit to the distance either.
It’s an endlessly staggering limitlessness, but as someone who has spent time with her and… well, gotten to know her to some extent, I can only say, “It suits her.”
Devoted and earnest. The fact that it feels a tad heavy is, perhaps, part of her charm.
Well, putting those first two points aside. The third, the clairvoyance ability activated by the full release of her twin eyes, [Truthnight Aquamarine (Night Queen Seeing Through the Moon)], is the key to this operation.
During my trip, when a mobilization order was issued for all current rank-holders of the Western Faction, she was summoned.
When Nia confessed the details of her Anima, which she had kept hidden from the world until then, the venue apparently erupted for various reasons. The fact that the Ashe showed a genuinely troubled face in public, and that the Helena looked up to the heavens, speaks volumes.
Of course it would. For the joker in the strategy against [Green Connect], whose future was unforeseeable in many ways, had been trembling in their arms without them even knowing.
From its initial first tier, [Celestial Aquamarine] has possessed a single, core ability that has remained its only one through two evolutions: the power to see through objects.
It’s a power that doesn’t just stop at physical transparency, but also sees the conceptual origin hidden within an object. While its gaze is blocked by “beings containing strong magical power” like players and enemies, it works on most inanimate objects, with the exception of works created by a Mako artisan.
And, this also happened while I was soaking in the hot spring. Nia, who was escorted—or rather, carried—with the VIP treatment of being personally accompanied by the [Sword Queen] herself, confirmed it with her own eyes.
In the abnormal space on the “back” of our battlefield in two days’ time—[Green Connect, Jehatreglie]—her power was confirmed to be effective.
Along with that, another fact that would make anyone say, “Huh???” was also confirmed… but since it’s unclear if that’s related to the strategy, we’ll put it on hold for now.
So, in other words, that means, in any case…
“………………………………………… I can’t, I’m gonna die.”
“Hey, mister.”
“I’m being considerate! Super considerate! Here, Nia, you okay? Don’t push yourself.”
She herself said, “It’s not something for long-term use,” but it’s impossible not to expect great things from her. Again, neither I nor anyone else wants her to overdo it, but since she’s a trump card that’s perfectly suited for this攻略, she probably feels the pressure herself.
The genius Nacchan-senpai, who ended up adapting to the high-tension Sapphire at lightning speed, is one thing. I, who continue to watch over her, firmly securing her slender avatar, am another.
Together, the two of us have repeatedly told her, “Don’t push yourself,” but Nia keeps pushing past her limits, only to collapse like this.
I support her faltering body before she even asks, holding her close, but since everyone here is dead serious right now, there’s no room for embarrassment. Nia, who entrusts her entire self to me without hesitation… judging from her exhausted expression, she probably feels the same.
When it’s “work,” this girl flips a switch. I already know she’s a cool one.
“Uueeeh…………………… How long… was that…?”
“Just about a minute, right?”
“Yeah. That’s two seconds longer than last time—whoa, whoa, whoa, hey, stop it, I’m not teasing you.”
And so, several hours have passed since the training began. My initial offhand comment of “five minutes” was apparently a truly impossible, reckless, and absurd piece of nonsense, and I deeply regret it now.
I suppose I deserve to be punished by a barrage of headbutts. Anyway, as for our current progress, she can maintain it for less than a minute, followed by an interval of about ten minutes of rest.
I sincerely repeat the words “don’t overdo it,” but I’m not one to approach even a game with a half-hearted attitude. So, I won’t hold back on stating the facts.
Considering the various factors involved in the [Green Connect] raid, the duration is far too short, and the rest time is too long. To be blunt, she’s unusable as she is now.
However, she improved by two seconds since last time. …And from the time before that to the last, she improved by one second, and from the time before that, she improved by a whole three seconds.
This is despite the undoubtedly immense strain on her eyes and mind from the combo of high-speed flight and an unfamiliar way of using her power. The necessary interval has also been steadily, surely decreasing, finally settling at around ten minutes.
She's working hard.
Super hard.
So hard, it's just insane.
“…Nia?”
“Yesh…”
There’s absolutely no doubt about it.
“You’ve got guts. I like that in a person.”
“…Yay… thank you sho mush…”
Enough for that tsundere kitten to start showing her dere side.
And as for… well, me. It’s not something that needs to be said again at this point, but still.
“Uwaaah…”
“Come on, mister. Give her some proper praise.”
“Is that really a role to entrust to a guy?”
“Then Haru. Give her a proper ‘good girl’ pat.”
“Can’t exactly run away when you call me out by name, can I…”
Unlike Nacchan-senpai, I’m in a position where I can’t say it so lightly. A position where it’s difficult to say in front of others, even if I don’t mean it lightly.
Unfortunately, I don’t plan on giving her words here and now—
“…Gufuhehehee.”
“That laugh. Are you sure about that, miss?”
As I held her limp body, I took Senpai’s command as my excuse.
As I gently and carefully combed through her indigo hair, which swayed in the wind, a strange reaction escaped from my arms. I let out a wry smile but didn’t stop my hand.
Well, whatever. When the time is right, I’ll do it later.
Just telling her that I honestly like (think it’s good) that part of her… that much.
I want to believe that something like that wouldn't be a crime.