kscans

Chapter 16 - Something Like a One-and-Only Partner

◇You have defeated the [Sand-Eating Great Scorpion].◇

◇You have acquired a title.◇ ・‘Vanquisher of the Sand-Eating Great Scorpion’ ・‘The One Who Protected’ ・‘The Untouchable One’

◇You have acquired a skill.◇ ・Jump Maneuver ・Carry Running

――――――――――――――――――
◇Status◇
Name：Haru　 Lv：28（40）
STR(Strength)：15
AGI(Agility)：110
DEX(Dexterity)：100
VIT(Vitality)：5
MID(Mind)：5
LUC(Luck)：5

◇Skill◇
・All-Weapon Aptitude
`Quick Change`
`Weapon Dart`

・Accel Tempo
・Boar’s Heart
・Acrobatics
・Jump Maneuver New!
・Carry Running New!
――――――――――――――――――

A few minutes after our counteroffensive began, the Sand-Eating Great Scorpion, which had been relentlessly pummeled by me, and Sora, who had been subjected to my human-powered roller coaster, went down at the same time.

One exploded into a phosphorescent light, while the other was completely dizzy and incapacitated in my arms. Now that I had calmed down, I realized, “I’m definitely going to get lectured for this later,” and, belatedly panicking, I leaned against a rock and tended to Sora.

“Auu… auu…”

The sight of a beautiful girl on my lap was quite surreal and sweet, but knowing that a lecture was waiting for me, I had no room for any ulterior motives.

And seriously, I felt bad. As I earnestly fanned her with my hand to show my sincerity, Sora groggily opened her eyes a crack.

“Uh… a-are you okay?”

“………………”

I received a textbook deadpan stare and couldn’t help but look away. As I awkwardly continued fanning her while looking away, I heard a small sigh from below.

“…I’m not that angry. I was the one who held us back, and thanks to you, we were able to clear it.”

Her voice was slightly peeved, but… when I glanced back at her, her expression wasn’t particularly angry, just as she had said.

It seemed I had avoided the lecture. As I relaxed, Sora met my gaze for a moment—before quickly looking away.

It was a suggestive, sullen gesture, but she couldn’t escape Arcadia’s specification of having overly expressive emotions. Seeing her faintly blushing cheeks, I could tell she was just embarrassed.

“Um… sorry about that. I know I did something crazy, even if it was on the spur of the moment…”

She still didn’t seem to be trying to get up, so she must still be feeling unwell. When I honestly apologized, Sora, still looking away, glanced at me.

“…The boss was mean. So, please don’t worry about it too much.”

“Haha… hearing you say that…”

Her concern, turned back on me, stung. She really is a good kid…

After a while, Sora recovered, and we checked our newly acquired skills and allocated our stats. There didn’t seem to be anything left to explore, so we passed through the ring of light that had appeared in the plaza after the boss’s defeat and returned to the city.

I checked the time and it was just before 4 PM in the real world. We could still keep going if we wanted to, but—

“I’m sorry, Haru-san, but I think I’ll call it a day…”

“Oh, right.”

Unfortunately, this was it for Sora. …Well, we’ve been logged in for quite a while in real-world time, which translates to over ten hours here. She must be tired, and it wouldn’t be surprising if she had other things to do.

…Me? I don’t have any plans, and I could go all day!!

“Um, Haru-san, you’re…”

“I think I’ll keep going for a bit. I plan on taking a break later, though.”

She probably expected as much from my demeanor, but when I told her, Sora’s face fell slightly—

“I see.”

—and she smiled as if to hide something.

…I get it. That feeling of sadness when your partner, who you’ve been adventuring with from the start, goes on ahead while you can’t play.

—To be honest, Sora doesn’t seem like a hardcore gamer, or even a light gamer. She seems to be the diligent type, as she’s done her research, but judging from the way she would tilt her head at the gaming terms and internet slang I sometimes used… this girl is probably just a “normal girl” who is unfamiliar with this kind of thing.

In conclusion, my playtime and Sora’s probably won’t match up. It would be impossible for us to progress through the game at the exact same pace.

If we were to try to force it, I would have to halt my progress and match Sora’s pace, but… that feels wrong, somehow.

I might be able to pretend at first, but eventually, my unfulfilled desire to progress would build up. And Sora, being on the side that was “being waited for,” would likely feel guilty, given her personality. I can easily imagine that.

If that were to happen, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the game anymore.

That’s why I have no intention of doing that.

“Hey, Sora.”

“Yes?”

“Our pace of progress might not match, but we’re still the only newcomers around, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

We can’t hope for any newcomers to join us, and the players ahead of us have at least a six-month head start. In that case… ah, I’ve already put the words together, but it’s a little embarrassing to say this kind of thing with a straight face.

“So… uh, well, you know. We’re each other’s one-and-only partner… something like that.”

“Partner…”

Sora’s small repetition of the word fanned the flames of my embarrassment, but her sad expression from before seemed to have done a number on me. I wanted to properly dispel any unnecessary anxiety she might have, and I found myself thinking that.

“I might go on ahead, but I won’t leave you behind. Feel free to call me whenever you have time.”

“But, then Haru-san would be—”

“I won’t find it troublesome or a bother, okay? If we’re going to continue as a pair, your progress is a plus for me too. It’ll be good practice for party play… so it’s not so much helping you out as it is a form of self-improvement for me.”

When I stated my true feelings simply, Sora, who at first had a complicated expression, gradually softened her face.

“…Please don’t push yourself. If you ever think it’s a bother, please tell me.”

She smiled hesitantly, saying it would be easier for her to accept if I were direct.

“Well, for starters, there’s no way a guy would find it a bother to be relied on by a girl.”

When I added that lighthearted remark as a final push, Sora seemed to be convinced.

“Fufu… Sometimes you turn into a flirt, Haru-san.”

And with Sora’s gentle smile dealing a critical hit to my mental state as the final act… my adventure with my adorable partner came to a temporary close.

---

――――――――――――――――――
◇Status◇
Name：Haru　 Lv：28
STR(Strength)：30
AGI(Agility)：130
DEX(Dexterity)：100
VIT(Vitality)：5
MID(Mind)：5
LUC(Luck)：10

◇Skill◇
・All-Weapon Aptitude
`Quick Change`
`Weapon Dart`

・Accel Tempo
・Boar’s Heart
・Acrobatics
・Jump Maneuver
・Carry Running
――――――――――――――――――
Backstage explanation of skills not detailed in the main story.

`Quick Change`—An active skill exclusive to the All-Weapon Aptitude tree. By clearly visualizing the details of the target equipment, it enables instantaneous equipment switching without needing to use the UI.

`Weapon Dart`—Provides aiming assistance and a slight damage bonus when throwing a weapon.

`Accel Tempo`—When the same active skill is used consecutively, its cooldown time is progressively reduced. The effect is broken if a different active skill is used, but passive skills that activate automatically do not interrupt the effect’s continuation.

`Jump Maneuver`—Assists and stabilizes the avatar’s movements during jumping actions.

`Carry Running`—When running while carrying a heavy object, the load is reduced according to the STR and DEX values.