kscans

Chapter 129 - With an Artisan

"Ugh..."

"Well, what did you expect?"

Deep in the forest south of the player town, the Safe Area in the [Garden of Divine Creation], I gazed at the familiar crimson majesty from a safe distance, my eyes scanning the surrounding scenery as a bitter groan escaped my lips.

Beside me, Nia, hiding in the bushes with me, spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world... but come on. Seeing what I'd caused with my own two hands was enough to make anyone hesitate.

"This place is absolutely packed..."

"Like I said, what did you expect?"

Alright, I get it... so stop poking me in the side. How many times do I have to tell you that VIT: 0 gives me zero impact resistance?

Even her weak elbow jabs sent my vision juddering. Within my sights, a crowd of players easily numbering in the triple digits bustled about. Some were checking their gear, others stared intently at their windows, and groups large and small were locked in serious discussion. In short, they were all here to attempt the dungeon again after news of the first clear had gotten out.

"Well, after it was all over the news..."

"Don't say it."

I've been trying my best to ignore it all, you know... Every time I overhear someone talking about it, I break out in a cold sweat.

"Looks like it'll be impossible to get in without being noticed..."

"Does it matter if they notice you? If you just say, 'Sorry, in a hurry!' I doubt anyone will give you trouble."

...Now that she mentioned it, she had a point. Since there's a personality screening when you sign up, the players in [Arcadia] are generally a decent bunch. There are exceptions, like that ridiculously over-the-top welcome party, but I'd heard that people who did their research beforehand actually enjoyed those...

"Alright then, let's just go normally."

"...Are you sure? I can't do anything, you know?"

Nia shrank back anxiously, but I had no intention of making her work. This wasn't about her artisan build being useless; I'd brought her here primarily as a 'thank you' from me to her.

"Don't worry about it. C'mon, let's go."

"Are you really, really sure about this...?"

With Nia still skeptical, I led her out of the bushes and walked confidently toward the entrance of the [Spiral Crimson Tower]—

◇◆◇◆◇

"............'I doubt anyone will give you trouble,' huh???'"

"Hey, don't look at me! It wasn't about you, so I wasn't lying!"

She wasn't wrong. Thanks to my still-shoddy disguise, the one who got mobbed wasn't me, but Nia.

Well, I got dragged into it too, but...

—Hey, isn't that [Milmarinus]?

—Nia-chan is outside the city...?

—With... a... guy...???

That's how the nightmare began. A chaotic storm of questions erupted, a veritable pandemonium over the blue-haired girl.

With the exasperated gazes of the few female players at our backs, the excited mob of guys descended upon us, directing their lamentations at Nia and their fury at me with an intensity that was honestly unnerving.

As I tried to answer their bewildered questions, their eyes started to gleam with a dangerous light. We ended up having to flee into the [Spiral Crimson Tower] to escape...

I bet the hate directed at me went through the roof. In the heat of the moment, I had grabbed Nia's hand and practically dragged her into the portal.

The dungeon interior is an instanced space. Since we weren't in a party with them, no one else could follow us into the same area. We didn't have to worry about pursuers... but I was infinitely terrified of what would happen later.

"You're... pretty popular, huh."

Or should I say, they were all over you? The way those guys were freaking out, you'd think they were in the presence of a famous idol.

"............I-I have no idea what you're talking about."

I asked, but the blue-haired girl stuck to her story.

Hmm... well, the thing is—this girl has an incredibly beautiful voice.

Sora's voice is cute, and Kagura-san's is crisp and refined, but... honestly, Nia's is on another level.

In Arcadia, where avatar creation is possible and everyone is handsome or beautiful, I remember reading somewhere that 'voice' is a more important factor for popularity than looks. Add to that her forward, high-energy personality and easygoing nature... and well, I could sort of see how she'd appeal to a wide range of people. On top of all that, she's a top-class, multi-talented artisan. It made sense that she'd get that kind of treatment in Arcadia... or did it...?

I mean, I get it. As a guy, I can see that she's plenty charming just the way she is. But my first impression of her—that body press—is still seared into my memory, not to mention the bazooka-like bursts of energy that seem to seize her from time to time...

"...A-Anyway! Enough about me!"

Waving her hand as if to say 'just forget it,' Nia looked up at the spiraling tower and changed the subject. "So, what's the plan now?"

...Well, if she doesn't want to talk about it, I won't press her. I'll push her surprising popularity to the back of my mind and switch gears to the main topic.

"You don't have to do anything. I'll just carry you."

[Blink Switch]—that omnipotent god-tier skill doesn't just work on weapons. As I instantly swapped out my entire set of gear, starting with the [El-Gran Series], Nia gave an exasperated laugh. "So convenient."

The [Crimson Rabbit Hair Ornament] even had a handy feature that automatically styled my hair into a pre-set look, though the intense tickling it caused was a bit of a problem.

"Carry me, huh... I was made to understand in no uncertain terms that this place is insane, but I've never actually seen you fight before."

I know you're amazing, but I have no idea how or why. Her anxiety was perfectly reasonable.

"How should I put it... Just think of it as a super-upgraded version of this morning's little trip."

"What's that, are you telling me to die?"

"It's okay, I'll protect you."

"You'll have to say it with a little more conviction if you want it to have any effect!"

Ah, whatever. No matter how carefully I treat her, she's going to complain anyway. I might as well just make her experience it firsthand—

"Hey, don't you run away."

"Of course I'm gonna run! Just like this morning, what are you doing trying to casually scoop me up?!"

"I told you, it's fine. I have a skill for transport."

"That's not the point!"

With her pathetic AGI, Nia impressively managed to slip out of my reach. She struck a bizarre pose, thrusting both hands forward in a clear show of警戒.

"What is with you and being so weirdly used to women?! I get the feeling Sora-chan isn't the only reason!"

Says the girl who's been coming on super strong to a guy she just met???

"What, you really don't want me to?"

I sighed and opened my arms, asking for her decision. The blue-haired girl seemed to choke on her words, her gaze flitting about restlessly—

"I-It's not that I... don't want you to, but..."

Ah, so that's a yes. I've got your verbal consent.

No matter how wary she was or how much she scurried around, catching a single artisan who wasn't used to combat and had stats comparable to a real person was a piece of cake.

Without even needing a skill, I leaped behind Nia in a single bound. She froze, unable to react, and I scooped her up with a hyoi.

"Hyaaah?! Wh-hey—geeeezzzzz!"

"Are you a cow?"

"It's Niaaa!"

I have to say, I'm really starting to enjoy these exchanges. Let's keep getting along, okay?

She seemed to have complaints, but just as she'd said, she didn't seem to hate it. Once I picked her up, she just curled up and fell quiet. This girl's kind of like a cat.

"Alright, let's get going."

"...Fine, do whatever you want."

Don't be so grumpy—this is a special occasion. Allow me to demonstrate a carry that's a cut above the rest, a Ver. 2.0 carry.