kscans

Chapter 165 - Tenth Seat, 1/2

Five of the Eastern Faction's ranked players. By normal standards, it was probably an incredible sight.

Leaving me aside, since my face isn't widely known yet, the other four are undoubtedly famous… They're practically world-renowned stars, but—

"Haru-kun, how are you feeling?"

"Haha… Sorry, just a little more—"

"Hmph."

"Nope, I'm totally, completely fine, no problem, shall we resume?!"

"So easy to read."

"Having motivation is a good thing."

And then,

"Anyway, do you really have time to come check on us?"

"The selection matches are over. We don't have that many miscellaneous tasks to deal with in the first place."

"We have our own administrative staff, after all."

"There are people who work as admins while playing the game…?"

"I hear they get paid a proper salary."

"Seriously…"

And then,

"So, so, so~? I hear you were on a date, big bro~???"

"I was just adventuring with my partner."

"Hah! We've got the dirt on you, so you might as well fess up! Come on, come on!!"

"She's my partner."

"…I heard she's cute."

"You're getting in on this too…?"

"Are you talking about Sora-chan? She was indeed a very lovely girl."

"Sora-chan, eh?"

"Sora-chan, hmm?"

"Sora-chan?"

"Hey, stop ganging up on me! I'm not saying anything!!"

And then,

"If you're being so suspicious with your partner, then what's the deal with you and the [Milmarinus]?"

"You… at a time like this…!"

"Mil—what? Whaaat?! Why are you bringing Nia-chan into this!?"

"You know her too…?! There's nothing going on, we just adventured together a bit—"

"It looked like you were getting along quite well."

"You!! We weren't 'getting along'!!"

"But you were… one-sidedly?"

"Whaat?! Big bro, whaaat!!??"

"Ah, shut up, shut up!! I said there's nothing deep going on!!"

And then,

"Haru-kun?"

"Y-Yes…?"

"Dishonesty is not acceptable, you know?"

"—Please wait a moment, I am about to offer a sincere explanation, so may I have your full attention?"

"Hey, isn't your attitude a bit too different between Ui-chan and the rest of us?"

"Of course it is."

"Reasonable."

"Rinne-chan? Why did you look directly at me when you muttered that?"

"Because it's Teacher > Others > You."

"Whaaat!!??"

And so on, and so on.

It was, how should I put it… what? There was no otherworldly atmosphere, no tension, just a completely normal, everyday feeling.

The conversation that had started around me while I was down continued on and on—

"You better introduce us properly sometime, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it… We'll have plenty of chances to meet anyway."

I roughly pushed away the persistent red one and shoved her back towards Ri-na, only to be met with an annoyed look from the girl who was supposed to be her partner.

I know you're a relatively sensible person, so for the good of everyone, please take responsibility and keep her on a leash.

"—Hey, who do you think I'm doing this for? Watch properly."

"Is this my fault???"

I turned at the exasperated voice to see Irori looking down at me from the raised stage. Facing him stood Ui-san—

"You don't have to tell me, I'll be sure to watch closely."

At the end of their chat, at Ui-san's suggestion—well, basically, the [Sword Protector], who had a track record of catching her, was going to show me how it's done.

Learning something from Irori is annoying—well, I'm not that stubborn about my pride. I understand that he's clearly my superior right now, so I'll humbly learn from him.

"Are you ready?"

"OK."

"Whenever you're ready."

Ui-san called out to both me and Irori, and we both replied. I put my foot on the edge of the stage to watch, and Irori—he simply stood there naturally, without any particular stance.

Naturally, there was no sign of tension on Ui-san's face, nor on Irori's.

"Chaser or runner?"

"Let's do one of each. Irori-kun, you may go first."

"Understood—well then."

Irori went first. Facing the calmly standing [Sword Saint], the [Sword Protector] finally narrowed his eyes in concentration—

"Alright. Then—begin."

Their first steps were simultaneous, both right feet.

They both took a large step forward from opposite ends of the stage, closing the distance to where they could easily reach each other with one more step, and—

"…Huh?"

A sound escaped my lips as both of them came to a sudden halt.

…No, on closer inspection, they were still 'moving.' From the knees up—in a range that didn't involve their step count—the two continued to make extremely subtle movements.

The bend of their knees, the movement of their fingertips, the tilt of their shoulders, the direction of their gaze… it was as if they were engaged in a back-and-forth of feints using just these minute preliminary movements.

"—…!"

After nearly ten seconds, Irori took his second and third steps.

Not forward, but backward. The second step was a half-step with his right foot in pursuit, and the third was a retreat that canceled out his first step. In contrast, the Sword Saint's second step, which she had taken a moment earlier… was forward.

As a result, they maintained their distance, with their roles effectively reversed. Irori kept his sharp gaze fixed on Ui-san, while she slightly lowered her brows—and smiled, looking somewhat pleased.

"—…Four moves ahead, seven steps."

"—Yes, that's right. Excellent."

"…Wait, what?"

And just like that, it was over. While I was confused, the two of them, having decided the match with 'words,' calmly returned to their starting positions as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Uh, excuse me…?"

He said he would show me how it's done, but this isn't it, right?

I get it, okay? It's that classic master move, the "we don't even need to fight" thing, right?

It's cool and all!? And I reflexively thought, 'Wow, that's cool, I want to do that too,' but still!?

"'Four moves ahead, seven steps,' my foot! Tee-hee, he's just scared to touch Ui-chan!"

"Quiet, you in the peanut gallery…! —And you, what's with that blank look? I'm not trying to be mean."

Irori, who had returned to a starting position close to where I was clinging to the fence, glared at the red one who had interjected, then turned to me with a serious expression.

"Just watch closely and remember everything. This is what this training is for."

"Even if you don't understand it now"—he said just that, then turned his gaze forward to begin the second round with their roles reversed.

Ui-san, who had been waiting for our exchange to finish, quickly announced the start of the second match… and this time, both of them engaged in a dynamic, active game, a stark contrast to before.

The opening step was the same as before, a step forward. From there, Irori began to run in a circle, with Ui-san in pursuit.

As for who had the upper hand,

"—…gh, kuh."

The pained expression of the one on the run told the story.

And then, at the end. The Sword Saint, who hadn't even moved her hand when they passed at close range, raised one hand—and reflexively, Irori, with several steps to spare, took a step back and let out a regretful sigh.

"…I concede."

"No, that was excellent. A fine performance."

Once again, the match ended with the chaser's victory without a single touch—

"………………"

I had been carefully counting their steps. Ui-san had taken nine, and Irori fifteen… which meant that with only one step left, she had been at her limit, while Irori, who could still run for five more steps, had conceded on his own.

It wasn't like he was cornered or in a checkmate position…

………………N-No… I… I don't get it…

"Well… you've got the look I expected."

Seeing my face, which must have been a mask of confusion, Irori, who had finished his 'demonstration,' snorted without a hint of apology.

"Did you watch carefully? Did you remember?"

"Well, I did… yeah."

"Good. Don't forget it, and keep at it, junior."

He repeated that it was fine if I didn't understand now, then bowed to Ui-san and stepped off the stage.

Next, my eyes met with Ui-san's, who had been watching his back with a pleased expression.

"And so—let's get to it, shall we, Haru-kun?"

"Ah… yes."

As I was told to resume my training, I tilted my head in confusion and climbed over the fence.