kscans

Chapter 121 - In Their Respective Places

"""—..."""

No one uttered a word in the silent, hushed venue.

The special seating area, filled with the game's administrative players, was no exception.

"...Haru."

A single girl let out a sound, pressing a hand to her trembling lips as she sank into her seat.

Her emotions were overwhelming, her blurring vision frustrating.

Amidst the dust rising from the arena stage, which he had shattered by cutting down the 'unbeatable wall,' he stood.

She couldn't take her eyes off his form, leaning on a withered sword as golden light dissipated from him, his breathing ragged.

Her heart was captured, and she couldn't let it go.

—I can't.

What is this feeling? I've known for a long time.

—Because I'm not yet worthy of wanting it.

Was it that time, or that time, or maybe that time long before... that time.

—So, please.

The path was so full, there was no way to pinpoint which moment was the trigger.

—Anymore than this, please.

The figure that had taken up residence in her heart, the feeling she held for it was,

—Don't knock on the flimsy lid I've used to seal away my feelings.

The girl, whose heart was simply scorched by a heat with nowhere to go, her eyes filled with tears, trembled—

It was in that moment that the world made a 'sound'.

"...Hey."

Hearing that 'sound', the first to speak was the golden giant—the third-ranked [General Commander].

"...It's real."

Next to speak, in a trembling voice, was the 'Insider', who had stood up in a fit of excitement.

What echoed throughout the virtual world was a great tremor, enough to shake space itself—the majestic tolling of a grand bell tower, delivered to all.

The girl's eyes widened. When she had visited the [Garden of Divine Creation] before, she had heard a similar, yet different, bell tone.

Louder, more magnificent—the endlessly ringing peal was a celebratory cannonade aimed at someone.

◇An individual meeting the evaluation criteria has been recognized within the Eastern Faction, Istia◇

◇Corresponding Player Name—[Haru]◇

"Eh..."

It was a system notification directed at every player in the virtual world.

The girl let out a stunned breath at the emotionless voice descending from the azure sky—

◇Reconstructing the rankings of the Eastern Faction, Istia◇

The divine voice did not stop its work.

◇◆◇◆◇

"—..."

Seeing her best friend staring blankly at the ceiling, having dropped her cup, the [Bush Warbler] sensed what had happened and spoke up.

"This [Haru] person is,"

"...Yeah."

"Probably the 'him' you were talking about, Nia-chan, right?"

"...Maybe, so."

The selection match, where entry from other factions was restricted, and all participants' accounts were locked from posting on any forum other than the Istia-exclusive one.

They couldn't know the details of what was happening—but the news of a new Title Holder being born, which was announced to all players, let them know that something had happened.

"Hey, Nia-chan."

Across the table. When she poked her dazed friend's cheek, her best friend turned to look at her awkwardly, her indigo hair swaying—

"Your first love, he turned out to be someone incredible, huh?"

"..."

As if following an indescribable emotion, she face-planted onto the table with a thud.

"I didn't hear he was that amazing...!"

Her resentful words were tinged with an unconcealable excitement.

◇◆◇◆◇

"Who told him to go that far...?"

Could she possibly mean herself?

It was true that she had sent him words of encouragement so passionate that she herself cringed, but there had to be a limit to things.

She had wanted him to take it within a reasonable scope—so she thought with exasperation, but the crimson magic artisan couldn't suppress the smile on her face as she chuckled.

"Ah, really..."

She held her right hand up to the light fixture on her workshop ceiling—the same ceiling from which the system voice had delivered the incredible news—and narrowed her eyes.

It was a shame she couldn't witness it.

What had he done?

Who had he faced?

—Did the Narrator's Armament, the 'connection' I forged with my own hands, manage to become his strength?

"I'm truly glad I met you... Haru-kun."

A genuine smile, free from any role-play, colored her cheeks.

When he came to report, what kind of teasing should she use for his outrageous feat?

As she pondered such pleasant thoughts—she was alone, rocking her chair in a good mood.

◇◆◇◆◇

◇The rankings of the Eastern Faction, Istia have been reconstructed◇

――――――Ranker's Title――――――

◇First【Lawless】―――【Tengen】◇

◇Second【Sword Saint】―――【Ui】◇

◇Third【General Commander】―――【Goldow】◇

◇Fourth【Left Wing】―――【Mi-na】◇

◇Fifth【Right Wing】―――【Ri-na】◇

◇Sixth【Scorching Gaze】―――【Hinayo】◇

◇Seventh【Sword Protector】―――【Irori】◇

◇Eighth【Twin Fists】―――【Genkotsu】◇

◇Ninth【Acrobat】―――【Haru】◇ New Ranker!!

◇Tenth【Undying】―――【Tetra】◇

――――――――――――――――――――

"—...Not bad."

At the entrance of the Istia wartime base, [Ruvalest]. From a distance, looking at the stone monument of inscribed names that stood at the far end of the main hall.

A young man in formal samurai attire, having just finished respawning, nodded in satisfaction at the newly carved name of a Title Holder.

Even if he had ignored the tactics for winning, a loss was a loss.

Exposing his defeat in public was a painful result for a Title Holder—but it had certainly been worth it.

Most of all, it was fun.

The [Sword Protector] smiled as he recalled the match against 'him', who had parried his every move as if he were chasing him down, exceeding his expectations every time.

"Still rough around the edges... more like not even carved out yet, but..."

He had seen it, the glimmer of a raw gem that would surely shine with a dazzling light if polished—he had seen it in that 'gold'.

Only at the very end... he hadn't expected his sword and his defenses to be pierced by that gold. That alone was truly beyond his calculations.

"I'm looking forward to what comes next, rookie—...no, junior."

Outside the clamor of players surrounding the stone monument with the new name carved upon it.

The young man, leaning against a wall in an inconspicuous shadow, was smiling with genuine enjoyment.