kscans

Chapter 131 - Seventh and Ninth

After successfully repaying a small favor, I passed through the goal room's transfer gate and zipped back to the city in the Safe Area.

The portal dropped us off, as if by design—and it probably was designed specifically for her—right in front of the major artisan clan Nia belonged to, [Mirage Workshop].

"Sorry for rushing you."

"You've got a tight schedule, right? Don't worry about it, Mr. Famous!"

It seemed she liked the gift after all. As Nia teased me cheerfully, I could only manage a wry smile. "Please, spare me."

"—Alright, see ya! And make sure you bring your clothes in for maintenance regularly!"

"Yeah, yeah. I'll drop by to say hi once in a while."

That's the third time she's said that in this short period.

I gave a wave in response to her reminder, and with a satisfied smile, she said, "Good enough," and headed back to her home base. Of course, not without turning back at the last second to wave dramatically.

What an energetic person. I don't dislike it.

"...Now then."

I'll thank Kagura-san another day. For now, I've taken care of the essential errand. What comes next is my duty as the newest member to join the ranks of the numbered—it's time for some 'training.'

"Nfuh..."

I can't help but laugh. Training.

The fact that it's a serious matter born of necessity just makes it funnier—

"—What are you laughing at by yourself?"

"................Do you make a hobby of appearing next to people without a sound?"

An exasperated voice suddenly spoke up. I glared sideways at the presence that seemed to have materialized out of thin air, only to see a young man in a kamishimo standing there as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

What's with that look? You're the one with that weird, annoying smile on your face.

"Honestly, I was surprised. I wondered what business you had, but..."

Irori trailed off, glancing at the [Mirage Workshop] home base before turning back to me with an amused expression.

"I thought there was a strange sense of déjà vu when I looked at you, but now it all makes sense. The clothes you wore in the match—and the ones you're wearing now—they're 'her' work, aren't they?"

That blue-haired girl... is she such a skilled artisan that even the other rankers know her? At this rate, Kagura-san must be on another level too...

"And that strange dagger and your other outlandish weapons must be from the 'Yukahito' clan. I don't know which of them you met first, but I assume your connection to [Milmarinus] is through them as well."

"Are you a psychic???"

Even if you could read minds, your timing is too perfect. It's creepy.

"I thought you handled those two little ones with a strange level of skill, but are you surprisingly good with women? You're quite the dark horse."

"Ugh, stop teasing me, you're annoying...!"

I started walking away to escape his grinning face, but the [Sword Protector] headed in the opposite direction, saying, "It's not that way." Swallowing my pride, I did a U-turn.

"...So? What exactly is this 'training' all about?"

This proposal had come up so casually at the Round Table, but I hadn't received any details.

When someone said, "Let's decide on a plan," this seventh-ranked member was the first to raise his hand, saying, "There's someone I want you to meet..."

At that, Goldow and Hinayo-san had smiled knowingly, saying things like "Oh?" and "Hmm." The red one grinned, and Ri-na and Tetra gave me looks filled with something like pity. I had a very bad feeling about this.

Genkotsu-san had fallen asleep at some point. What does it even mean to sleep in a virtual world? Is that like... double-sleeping?

"Just as I said, there's someone I want you to meet—the second-ranked member."

"...Yeah, I figured as much."

Istia's second-ranked member, the [Sword Saint]—Ui.

A strange character who had been living in retirement, spending her days training alone ever since participating in the first Four Pillar War. A powerhouse who still holds the second seat despite not having appeared in public for over two years. And the person my partner idolizes.

Ui... I'm pretty sure Sora had called her "Ui-san." Just from the sound of the name, it gave off a cute, somewhat laid-back impression. But she's the second-ranked member of the battle-crazed Istia, and a [Sword Saint], right?

In my mind, I was picturing either a muscular giant even more built than Goldow, or an old man who was the living embodiment of the word 'master.'

"...For reference, what's she like?"

"..................First of all, how do you not know someone so famous...? But I suppose it's better if I just swallow those words."

About that, I'm truly sorry. At this point, no matter who it is, I'll readily bow my head in apology for my extraordinary ignorance.

"Hah... What's she like? —She's a wonderful person. For anyone who wields a katana in this virtual world, she is like a god."

"............"

I was momentarily speechless because there wasn't a hint of doubt in Irori's voice or expression. In other words, this seventh-ranked member truly believed her to be a 'god.'

...I'm going for training, right? I'm not being led to the slaughter as a sacrifice, am I?

◇◆◇◆◇

Several minutes later, Irori led me to a transfer gate.

It was a long and arduous battle—I lost count of how many times I heard cries of "Kyaa! Irori-kun!!" and the sideways glances I, walking next to him, received were all along the lines of "Uh, who's that?"

There were probably some Istia players who recognized me, occasionally giving me an "Oh?" kind of look, but so what?

After experiencing it for the first time, I learned one thing—walking next to someone so famous that every single person who passes by has some kind of reaction is so damn exhausting...!!

"...You okay?"

"...What? I'm fine. A portal? Let's go. Let's go right now."

I conveyed my desperate desire to escape the public eye with my tone and expression. Irori chuckled wryly, saying, "Alright, alright," and quickly operated the system window.

I accepted the party invitation that appeared before me in half a second, and the blue light of teleportation immediately enveloped me—

—————————Teleport.

————————Teleport.

———————Teleport.

—————Teleport.

——Tele...

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa."

One transfer gate after another, a relentless series of teleports. Out of the city, across fields, over mountains—huh? Where are we? This place is a massive bamboo grove.

"What, where are we heading? Some uncharted region? Wait, a hermit sage? Is the [Sword Saint] a hermit sage living in an uncharted region???"

"I can see you're confused, so just calm down a bit."

Being led by the hand to an unfamiliar place is a situation that naturally stirs up anxiety. Especially since this is the [Garden of Divine Creation], a vast world that might as well be another dimension. If I were to be abandoned alone in an undeveloped area, I'd be seriously, hopelessly lost.

"There are some special circumstances. You can't reach her without going through the transfer gates in a specific order."

"Seriously...? Players can set up a system like that in this game...?"

Just the fact that players can create transfer gates is already an insane level of freedom for an MMORPG.

"...So, are there more teleports?"

Honestly, I was feeling a bit sick. I'd never experienced so many consecutive teleports before, and passing through that unique sensation over and over was a little rough...

"Don't worry, that was the last one—we'll walk a bit. This way."

"That's a relief... Right."

In the surrounding bamboo grove, there were no landmarks other than the transfer gate we'd arrived through. With nothing to guide him, Irori walked confidently through the uniform green, where there wasn't even a path—

"—Hey, Ninth."

As we were walking, he called out to me from behind, his voice tinged with a certain seriousness.

"...What is it, Seventh?"

From the atmosphere, I had a feeling it was about the match again. But we'd already settled that back at the Round Table. Irori had simply fulfilled his duty as a ranker, and yet he'd even bowed his head when there was no need to. I had no reason to doubt his sincerity now—

"About the match."

I don't, but... seriously, it's about the match?

"I have no hard feelings about it."

"That's not it."

When I honestly spoke my mind, Irori, who was walking ahead, stopped and turned around.

"It wasn't just an apology. I wanted to tell you. Our match was the first time in a long while that I had a fight I could enjoy from the bottom of my heart... is what I wanted to say."

There was no hint of teasing or mischief in his sincere tone or in the blue eyes that stared straight at me.

"So... yeah. When I said I welcomed you, I meant it. In other words... what I'm trying to say is..."

Struggling to find the right words, Irori awkwardly held out his right hand.

"Since we've met like this, I was hoping we could get along... without any lingering bad feelings."

—In the end, he looked me straight in the eye and said it.

That was probably not him as the [Sword Protector]. It was obvious from his hesitant manner that he wasn't used to doing this. I realized that the hand extended by this young man, who was only two years older than me, was likely that of someone his own age, seeking a 'friend' on equal footing.

Well, whatever. If I just ignore his blindingly handsome face for a moment—

"—You can call me Haru, Irori."

Even I know that this guy is a good person.

When I casually returned his handshake, the tension visibly drained from the face that was at a similar height to mine.

Haven't you worked as a model or something? You're probably a veteran at socializing, so why are you being so formal with a regular guy like me?

"I'll be gunning for a rematch soon, so you better be ready."

I let go of his hand with a deliberately provocative tone and held up my fist instead.

For a moment, Irori's eyes widened in surprise—

"...In that case, next time I'll make mincemeat out of you without holding back—Haru."

He flashed his trademark confident smirk and bumped his fist against mine without hesitation.