Chapter 94 - The Appointed Day Arrives
—Just as she said, Sora's logins became few and far between after we formed our contract.
In fact, over the past week, she only visited the virtual world twice, including the day we climbed the [Spiral Crimson Tower] together.
The second time, she didn't have much time either, so we just spent about an hour chatting leisurely. Come to think of it, that might have been the first time I've ever just done nothing in [Arcadia]—we both had a laugh about that…
"Hmm…"
A single, giant tree stands atop a desolate hill.
A fantasy tree as massive as a building. Balancing on a branch at its very top, I was savoring the solitude of being solo while reflecting on the past week.
My own two feet in a vast field that could only be described as another world.
I thought I didn't mind this sort of thing, or rather, I was the type who preferred it—
"I've gotten spoiled, haven't I?"
I had to laugh at myself for how clearly my excitement was being suppressed by Sora's absence. It's not that my motivation was down… it was more like being alone put a ceiling on things.
A one-of-a-kind partner to adventure with.
A presence I had longed for time and time again back when I dreamt of adventuring in this world.
A month ago, I never would have imagined I'd meet someone like that on my very first day in a virtual world, to the point where her not being by my side now feels unnatural.
And to top it all off—an understatement, really—that someone is a cute girl like Sora. If I told my past self, he'd probably laugh and say, "Yeah, right. In your dreams."
…Just as I was indulging in this lonesome reverie to kill time, a distinct, high-pitched cry reached my ears.
That sound, like a woodwind instrument echoing through the sky, was proof that my hunting target had respawned, a process I'd been repeating for about two hours now.
—Alright, time to get back to work.
Clutched in my left hand was a newcomer to my arsenal, a knife I'd acquired a few days ago.
The handle itself was shaped like a trigger, and the black blade was only about half its length—a curious design that looked as if it wouldn't fully function as a weapon.
But that was just as I'd ordered; its main purpose wasn't for slaying foes.
The moment I squeezed the trigger of the knife held in a reverse grip—the [Panga Fool]—BZZT! A flash of crimson lightning coursed through my body.
This new weapon, a creation of my personal magitech artisan, has a very simple effect.
Pulling the trigger siphons off exactly ten percent of my HP and grants a short-term status buff—
"—[Ignition]!"
Basically, it was made for this.
Top speed without the acceleration phase. With the added minor buff from [Panga Fool], I became a human bullet in an instant, my destination: the sky.
The giant white bird, a rare monster that had just respawned—Stilac Elbrud, the White-Shining Bird of Fortune—let out a terrified cry at the sight of the respawn-killer incarnate charging straight for it, and then—
"[Blink Switch]—Hah!"
—before it could do anything else, the massive weight of a deployed [Angalta (Prologue: The Wedge-Fragment that Sings of Eternity)] smashed its head, scattering its HP.
Died at the ripe old age of nine seconds. I recommend it prays to be born as something other than a rare monster that drops useful items in its next life.
Confirming from the results screen in the corner of my vision that I had collected the target number of materials, I muttered to myself while absorbing the now-familiar sensation of falling.
"And with that, mission complete."
Having sprinted through one of the most densely packed weeks of my life, I was wrapped in a rather pleasant sense of satisfaction and fatigue—stretching as if to embrace the roaring wind, I let out a long sigh.
――――――――――――――――――
◇Status◇
Name：Haru
Lv：100
STR(Strength)：300
AGI(Agility)：350(+10)
DEX(Dexterity)：100(+10)
VIT(Vitality)：0
MID(Mind)：0(+250)
LUC(Luck)：300
◇Skills◇
・All Weapon Aptitude
《Blink Switch》
《Piercing Dart》⇒《Flip Stroke》 Up!
《Gusty Limb》 New!
《Exchange Voltate》 New!
Greed's Precept New!
・《Quit Counter》⇒《Reflect Blowarl》 Up!
・《Tremble Slide》 New!
・《Ignition》
・《Floating Leaf》
・《Farsight》
・Embodied Protection
・Combo Accelerate
・Awakening Blow New!
・Heavy Attack Manipulator ⇒ Overheavy Attack Manipulator Up!
・Idaten ⇒ Adamant Sky Dash Up!
・Rabbit Run
・Fataless Jumper
・Rhino's Heart
・Guardian's Cradle
・Telepathy
――――――――――――――――――
◇◆◇◆◇
"—How'd it go?"
"—Excellent!"
At the now-familiar tavern, five days—no, I had to commission and pick up the [Panga Fool] later, so was it four days ago?
My eyes feasted on the sight of her elegant kimono, which felt like a long time coming. I raised my own wooden cup to meet hers in a toast.
"I've pretty much gathered all the noteworthy materials you told me about, and my skills have grown a ton. I'm probably still a nobody compared to the veteran players, but…"
I looked down at my avatar's hand, which had grown incomparably stronger than it was a week ago, and nodded.
"Yeah, I guess I've gained a little confidence."
I tried to say it with a feigned air of conceit—or at least, that was the plan. Why was she giving me a look that said, You're only just realizing that now?
"A rookie running around the Garden solo and you're saying stuff like that? Just so you know, combat in this game, whether it's against small fry or not, is generally party-recommended. Don't you forget it."
"S-sorry… ?"
"Why are you apologizing? Go on, show me you can be even more of a menace."
I thought I was being scolded, but it turns out I was being praised. I have to admit, I genuinely like this side of her hedonistic personality—
"—How. Long. Are. You. Two. Going. To. Be. Chatting. All. By. Yourselves???"
Hey, don't just pop up from below like that.
I almost smacked you out of reflex.
"Unfortunately, I don't have any jewel materials on me."
"What is your problem, so cold! Nia-chan wanted to do the 'How'd it go?' 'Excellent!' thing too!!"
"How'd it go?"
"Excellent! —That's not it! Nothing is excellent for me!"
This racket doesn't grow on me, nor does it give me a strange sense of comfort.
It's just loud. Visually and audibly.
"Nia-chan."
"What is it!"
"You're bothering the other customers. Please be quiet."
When I responded in an extremely calm voice, the aquamarine-haired girl dutifully zipped her lips and then poked me in the back. Apparently, she hasn't put any points into STR, because her punches were utterly feeble, poko poko.
"You two really get along, don't you?"
"Can we stop trying to force this 'best friends' tag on us?"
"What's your problem with the adorable Nia-chan!!"
"That, right there."
Ignoring the mysterious creature that had zipped its lips again and resumed its assault, I opened the usual trade window. I sent the bundle of materials I'd collected over the past week to Kagura-san.
"So, yeah, that's about it."
"…Mm, more than enough. I've worked out a few ideas on my end, but if there's anything you need, I'll prioritize that."
"Hmm… Even the [Panga Fool] you whipped up on the fly was that well-made. I feel like I could just leave everything to you at this point."
That woman crafted that knife in less than twenty minutes after I asked for it on a whim.
Apparently, it was only because the materials I'd given her before—the [Withered Fragment of the God-Wedge Armor] and the [Ruby Rabbit Demon Horn]—were so rare that the production time was so long. According to Nia, this lady is usually lightning-fast with her work.
"Do any of those ideas include a big weapon?"
"Ah, you used to use a great axe, right? I thought you might not need one since you have [Angalta], but… that thing ended up as a blunt weapon in its base form, so I figured you might want a slashing option. I've got something in mind."
"Oh, in that case, I'm totally fine with leaving it to you."
"You got it. Consider it done."
My personal artisan is God for perfectly guessing my needs.
Skillful, fast, and understands her client perfectly. That's one hundred percent customer satisfaction right there.
—Oi, you aquamarine girl, how long are you going to keep that poko poko up?
"Fumugyu!?"
It was getting seriously annoying, so I gave her an iron claw as I turned around. Nia, who had started drumming out some weird rhythm, let out a shriek.
"What is wrong with you? Are you bored?"
"Pwah! What's wrong with you is more like it!!"
After a brief counterattack, I just gave her a weary look. Freed from my grasp, Nia protested with tears in her eyes, pressing her temples.
I suppose her small avatar using its entire body for such exaggerated gestures could be called cute… but, well, her personality, you know?
"I came all this way to see you, and this is how you treat me! Pay more attention to me! Be nicer!"
"What exactly are you expecting from me…"
Seriously, I have no idea where all this affection is coming from.
"Hmph…! What's with that, hmph! Nia-chan's not just sitting around bored, you know."
"You can pout all you want, but I haven't even heard what you came here for."
It's not that I'm intentionally treating her dismissively. I really wish she would reflect on her own consistently bizarre behavior.
"Now, now, don't be so harsh on her."
Just as I was thinking that, an unexpected word of support came from Kagura-san. I glanced her way… and she was still watching us with amusement, but was now opening the trade screen again for some reason.
Subsequently, a trade screen popped up in front of me as well. I tilted my head in confusion but accepted the trade, and a portion of the materials I had just given her was returned to me.
What was it…? It was the materials from Stilac Elbrud, the White-Shining Bird of Fortune—the very ones she had messaged me about getting this morning.
"My bad, I took the whole batch. Give those to her."
"Huh???"
I tilted my head again, expressing my confusion as Kagura-san gestured toward Nia.
The Pure White Feather of the Lucky Bird and the Azure Sky Feather of the Lucky Bird—they're feathers. What's a jewelcrafter supposed to do with them?
"…It's Nia-chan's side job, you see."
The familiar pouty face faded in from the side.
"Side job?"
"Besides being a crafter, Nia's also a tailor. The clothes you're always wearing, she's the one who gave them to me in the first place."
Come again?
The linen top and black leather bottoms that have practically become a part of this avatar. The creator of this high-fashion fantasy costume was this aquamarine-haired girl…?
"Uh… —Nia-san."
"Huh… S-san?"
I straightened my posture and turned to her with a serious expression. Nia just looked bewildered.
"This is a magnificent outfit. I've been using it with great care. I look forward to your continued patronage…"
"It's too late to be all polite now!?"
And so the indignant artisan-slash-tailor began to poko poko me once more.
I didn't skip the detailed description of Stilac Elbrud, the White-Shining Bird of Fortune, for no reason. It really is just a big white bird.
If I had to add anything, it's just so massive that even with [Angalta], which is over two meters long, you can only smash its head.
――――――――――――――――――
◇Status◇
Name：Haru
Lv：100
STR(Strength)：300
AGI(Agility)：350(+10)
DEX(Dexterity)：100(+10)
VIT(Vitality)：0
MID(Mind)：0(+250)
LUC(Luck)：300
◇Skills◇
・All Weapon Aptitude
《Blink Switch》
《Flip Stroke》
《Gusty Limb》
《Exchange Voltate》
Greed's Precept
・《Reflect Blowarl》
・《Tremble Slide》
・《Ignition》
・《Floating Leaf》
・《Farsight》
・Embodied Protection
・Combo Accelerate
・Awakening Blow
・Overheavy Attack Manipulator
・Adamant Sky Dash
・Rabbit Run
・Fataless Jumper
・Rhino's Heart
・Guardian's Cradle
・Telepathy
――――――――――――――――――
My skill list is getting cluttered!
I plan to explain all of them in the story eventually, so please feel free to speculate about their effects while you wait.
Poor Idaten, enraged by its demotion to a muscle-head skill.