kscans

Chapter 183 - Two Pair: The Acrobat and the Indigo

"—What are you, really?"

"—What are you, really?"

We threw exasperated voices at each other at the exact same time.

It was probably because our handshake had brought us a step closer. With a newfound casualness, Irori had invited me to another light spar, saying, "Since we're at it, I'll show you my 'other path.'" But...

Things got a little heated, and we ended up in a serious brawl that lasted for several tens of minutes. Having likely reached a mutual understanding of each other's feelings, we were now glaring at each other with narrowed eyes.

"What do you mean, [Sword Protector]... so that's your real talent, you bastard."

"And you have the nerve to call yourself an [Acrobat]. I was wondering how on earth you managed to learn 'Shukuchi,' but it turns out it was just a borderline cheating brute-force method."

"Hey, who are you calling a clown, Blonde Samurai?"

"Oh, my apologies. Was I mistaken about the Gilded Jester?"

What the—where did he get that information...!!

—It couldn't be anyone but my master, could it? She seems to have talked about me quite a bit...!

"Honestly... I had hoped to gain some insight by seeing a 'Shukuchi' other than Sensei's, but it seems I was mistaken. How about you learn a technique more befitting of your title?"

"You...! Alright, I get it. You go clear the [Spiral Crimson Tower] and get [Rabbit Run] right now. Then you can talk after you've experienced a world where a shuffling step becomes a long stride, and a single step turns into a jump...!!"

Ever since my training kicked into high gear, this wild horse of a skill has been doing nothing but tripping up my legs—or rather, kicking them around as it pleases—as I tried to replicate my master's divine body control.

No, it's an excellent skill. For someone with a mobility-focused build like me, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a god-tier skill.

But that's only when high-speed maneuvering is required. When trying to perform delicate martial arts that require subtle footwork, the skill's effect of 'reducing stepping motions' instantly becomes a massive handicap...

"What's that, a unique skill?"

"It's a special passive skill you get under certain conditions. Just learn a decent step-type skill and run through that paradise of killer rabbits, and you'll get it."

"A passive that's always active... Hah, I'll pass. It would be a problem if my 'Extended Step' changed."

This guy...! Laughing at my struggles—

"Huh?"

"Hmm?"

Just as I was about to get seriously heated, a message notification sound echoed in my head, as if to calm me down.

Irori, who had let out a sound at the same time, also seemed to be looking away from me for some reason.

Our eyes met in a sideways glance... and following Irori, who shrugged and opened his system window, I decided to check mine as well.

Now, who could it be from—huh...? Oh? Wait, what?

Why is this girl suddenly on the verge of snapping at me???

"Uh, umm...? Hey, uh... sorry, something seems to have come up, so let's call it a day for now..."

I looked up from the message, which seemed to be ten parts momentum and anger—and lo and behold, Irori was frowning with an indescribable expression on his face as well.

"...What a coincidence. I also seem to have something that's come up, though I don't quite understand it."

We looked at each other, and without really understanding why, we both got the gist of it.

—Ah, some kind of mysterious event has just dropped into this guy's lap, too.

◇◆◇◆◇

"—Alright, do you know why I've summoned you?"

"I do not."

And I also don't know why I'm being forced to sit in seiza on the floor of your atelier without any room for argument. When I honestly shook my head, the indigo-haired mistress of the room glared at me, looking quite displeased.

Unlike with Sora, it's not like she's not scary at all. As long as she keeps a serious face, she has a certain presence about her... Maybe it's because I've seen her as an artisan, but I can't help but feel a sense of intimidation.

"..."

"...Um, uhh..."

Nia, staring at me intently, seemed to be pressing me with a look that said, "Are you really sure you don't know?" As for me, who really didn't know, I could only endure her gaze awkwardly.

"...The Four Pillars is tomorrow, right?"

"...Yes."

"It was good of you to show up for your clothes maintenance the day before yesterday. You did well not to forget to bring them."

"Ah, uh... thank you?"

"And you properly asked Kagura-san for your equipment maintenance, too. I took care of it, so I'm returning it now."

"Huh, eh?"

A trade window opened before my eyes, and a host of armaments flowed into my inventory without any say from me. These were the items I had entrusted to my exclusive Mako artisan when I asked Nia for maintenance on my [El-Gran Series] the day before yesterday...

"Why go to the trouble... I was supposed to get them from Kagura-san tomorrow."

"You know..."

Wait a minute, this is scary. Why is your voice so flat? It's scary!

"You've got your weapons, your armor, your clothes all ready to go. So? Is there nothing else you need?"

"Well, um..."

Leaning back deep into the sofa with her legs crossed, Nia looked down on me... or rather, looked down at me, and gave a sweet smile as I struggled for an answer.

"What am I?"

"Huh?"

"What. Am. I?"

"...N-Nia-chan, desu."

WHUMP!!

"Eek...!"

She grabbed a cushion from beside her and slammed it onto her own lap with such violence that I let out the most pathetic shriek of my life. Nia, looking more furious than ever before, glared at me sharply—

"A JEWEL! CRAFTER! AREN'T I!!"

"YES, YOU ARE, I'M SORRY!!"

Of course, words like "so what" didn't come out. Overwhelmed by her intensity, I straightened my back and affirmed her statement. Meanwhile, Nia continued to visit unprovoked and unreasonable punishment upon the cushion between each word.

What is this.

"What are you? What's wrong with you? Were you really planning on heading to one of the highest-level battlefields in this world with that without a second thought!?"

"W-Wait a minute! I get that you're angry, so just calm down and explain it to me step by step—"

"How many accessories are you wearing!?"

"Yes!?"

"The number! Of accessories! You have equipped! Is how many!?"

What, wha—the number... a hair ornament, a brooch, and a ring...!

"Thr... Three."

"Oh, three, is it? Well, you have seven accessory equipment slots, you know?"

"..."

At this point, I fully understood the reason I was being scolded.

"You know... how long were you planning on leaving your equipment slots empty, slots that every combat player naturally fills?"

"..."

"When you have, you know, such a cute jewel crafter right here who's cheering for you?"

"..."

"Or maybe it's that. The superstar on everyone's lips has no need for flimsy accessories, is that it—"

"I get it...! I get it! I was wrong, okay? I'm sorry!"

This was, without a doubt, my complete and utter failure, one that deserved to be condemned.

Not only did I fail to even think of consulting Nia, but if she hadn't called me over like this, I would have unknowingly committed the grave sin of sandbagging against every single player participating in the war...

I bowed my head and peeked at her. The artisan, who must have been deeply displeased at not being relied upon, had her cheeks puffed out in a full-blown pout, hugging the cushion as if to strangle it.

"...I'll give you one chance to explain yourself. Go ahead."

"..."

Presented with a mission of a difficulty rivaling that of the Sword Saint's 'Shukuchi,' I agonized over it for a good thirty seconds before finally—

"...Ma..."

"Ma?"

"...May I perhaps massage your shoulders...?"

—The verdict for my trash-tier answer came in the form of a cushion flying straight into my face.

"...Idiot."

I heard a small voice through the wad of cotton, and it was just... really, just what can I say.

In the end, I was meekly forced to pay the ridiculous price of an "I'll do anything you say" coupon at the ripe old age of eighteen... and I deeply swore to myself that from now on, I would live my life with a little more consideration for others.