kscans

Chapter 122 - The Man in the Middle of the Storm

◇Evaluation criteria met◇

◇A Ranker Title will be bestowed—Title【Acrobat】◇

◇Based on evaluation value, the rankings of the Eastern Faction, Istia will be reconstructed◇

◇Congratulations, you have been appointed to the Ninth Seat of the Istia rankings◇

◇Special Title Acquired◇ ・『Acrobat』

"—..."

Huuuuuuh—... say what now?

The battle hadn't even lasted a few dozen minutes, yet I was plagued by a mental fatigue that rivaled my fight with [Angalta, God-Wedge Sword-King]. As I leaned on the [Prologue: Wedge Fragment Singing of Eternity (Angalta)], which had lost its martial might and turned into a skinny, withered sword, my mind went completely blank from the waterfall of information pouring down from the system.

We had both unleashed our ultimate attacks, and as a result, I had defeated the [Sword Protector]—that's fine.

Well, not fine. That bastard, I'll make him remember this the next time we meet...!!

I felt a simmering resentment, but I had bigger things to worry about right now.

Eh? What was that? Ninth Seat? What about it? —...Me?

No... no no no no.

A Ranker is one of the top forty players in Arcadia, which has a population of nearly thirty million. They're treated like top athletes or living national treasures, right?

Me... in that ranking... what, so... what???

I-I can't... my thoughts are a mess...! I don't get it, and I think I'm gonna be sick...!!

The [Sword Protector] I had been facing had logged out, leaving me alone on the stage.

Naturally, I became acutely aware that every 'eye' in the venue was focused on me—and for the first time, a shiver ran down my spine.

In terms of numbers, the overwhelming welcome party I encountered during my debut at the [Garden of Divine Creation] last month was far larger. But that place was dominated by a festival-like atmosphere that made worrying about shame or anything else seem foolish.

This moment's atmosphere, a mixture of silence and murmuring, was completely different. Being exposed to the gazes of over a thousand people in such a tense environment—my mental fortitude wasn't crazy enough to remain unfazed.

Hey... uh, can someone, anyone...

I was cornered enough to mentally plead for help from no one in particular—and it was then that a large shadow fell over me, as if to shield me.

I reflexively looked up to see a giant of a man with blonde hair standing right next to me.

"—Hang in there for a bit, kid."

His wild blonde hair, like a lion's mane, swayed as he spoke to me in a concerned voice, though a powerful smile was on his face.

The man turned his gaze away from me and looked around the venue, puffing out his chest proudly—then suddenly, he raised both his hands as if he were a conductor.

"""—..."""

"Wha..."

As if it were the most natural thing in the world.

I was taken aback as I sensed the players fall completely silent in response to his gesture, taking a stance of respectful listening.

"—I know you all have questions, but listen up."

The man lowered his arms and began to speak. He wasn't raising his voice, yet... his deep, resonant tone echoed solemnly throughout the venue.

"This guy's exhausted from a major bout, so I'll introduce him in his place."

He took a step to the side, revealing me from behind his back once more. The gazes pierced me all at once, and I started to feel genuinely sick—but a large hand placed on my shoulder gave me a reassuring warmth.

"This is our new Ninth—Haru the [Acrobat]."

"..."

I was sorry, but it was true that the severe mental fatigue made my avatar feel incredibly heavy. I couldn't stand tall beside him, but to respond to his gesture, I at least managed to lift my head.

As I returned the gazes of the crowd with a strained face, I saw the man smile in satisfaction out of the corner of my eye.

"Setting aside the battle junkie who selfishly went and got himself eliminated—I too acknowledge this man, whom this world has acknowledged."

The man's lips curled into a grin, and I saw him take a deep breath—

"T H E N T H I S C A L L S F O R A C E L E B R A T I O N ! ! ! C' M O N, L E M M E H E A R Y A C H E E R, Y A I S T I A N F O O L S — — — ! ! ! ! !"

"—Eek...!?"

The tremendous roar from beside me made me stumble back, and for a second, I wavered.

The booming voice echoed, shaking the entire venue, and for another second.

A complete silence fell as everyone present was stunned, for one more second.

And then—

"""— — — — — — — — — — — — —ッッッ!!!!!"""

A great waterfall of cheers exploded, hitting me with a force that was not a metaphor.

As I nearly fell over for real this time, the man supported me with one hand, standing tall in the unprecedented tornado of voices, meeting the stormy cannonade all by himself.

"Sorry, but the party's over for now!! The new 'Tenth Seat' seems tired!!"

"Don't worry, I won't keep 'im to myself!! Just sit tight and wait for more news!!"

"Listen up, you lot!! Don't you dare go blabbing and leaking info!!"

"'Cause if ya do, with this special hidden gem!!"

"I'm gonna give ya a spectacular victory in this war!!"

"..."

And I, the man at the center of the storm, was on the outside looking in.

Every time the man roared something, the crowd, its voltage shooting up, roared back in agreement.

There was no longer a trace of the uncomfortable atmosphere of confusion and bewilderment. And the big shot who had accomplished this—

"Alright, kid—I'm Goldow, the Third Seat, [General Commander]."

He casually introduced himself like that.

Ah... Third Seat. That means he's the de facto top dog in Istia, with the first and second seats absent... Haha, I see. He certainly has the charisma to match. I get it.

"Uh... I'm Haru."

Honestly, I wanted to get out of this place right now.

As I replied with my introduction, wondering when the teleport would kick in, the man—Goldow—smirked and stroked his beard.

"That's not right, [Acrobat]. What's your name again?"

Hey, this old guy came to help me, right? What's the point of being mean now!

"...Uh, Ninth... Seat? I'm Haru, the [Acrobat]."

Besides, what's with Acrobat? Who's an acrobat? I'm a perfectly respectable light warrior, thank you very much.

"This has to be a joke... all of it..."

I can't even keep up with the retorts. Finally, I leaned my forehead against the pommel of the [Prologue: Wedge Fragment Singing of Eternity (Angalta)] and muttered to myself.

"No joke about it—welcome, super rookie."

A rather cheerful voice dutifully replied.

A hearty laugh and a large hand patting my shoulder came down—and as my body went limp, a blue light of teleportation finally enveloped me.

Relieved that I could finally leave this place, a thought occurred to me belatedly.

I lifted my head one more time and looked over. I found my partner in the special seating area right away—

"—Sora...?"

It was just for a moment, in the instant before teleporting.

Our eyes definitely met.

The expression on the girl's face, as if she were suppressing something, was burned into my memory with a strange intensity.

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The most groggy protagonist in history.