kscans

Chapter 230 - The Sword That Wishes, The Sword That Hopes, The One Awaited is Here, Part Two

The ringing of the bell was relentless.

Not content to stay on the ground, he soared through the sky, his feet never resting. The verdant trail carved by his 'blade' and the 'blue threads' enshrouding his body were the only proof of his existence.

It was impossible to follow him with my eyes. His body had already defied logic, breaking past the limits of an avatar's perception.

Chasing the sword flash that grazed my shoulder and passed behind me was pointless. The white and blue figure with black hair was already gone from there anyway.

"—Fourth Strike…!"

The familiar ringing of a bell echoed in my mind. And what struck my ears was,

"—[Heavenly Snow]!"

The unfamiliar voice of a young man.

In the midst of a battle so fast the eye couldn't follow, his 'voice' reached my ears as 'words,' a subtle little production this world was so fond of (system assist).

Even if our clash lasted but a fraction of a second… by the hand of some meddlesome 'someone,' the will of those who cross blades is conveyed to their opponent.

Thus, in a virtual world, reading an opponent's presence is not as difficult as in reality. Add to that the assistance of some kind of skill—

"—Hah, that was close…!"

Even if I cannot see him, it is not impossible to watch and follow him,

"—…"

—or so it should be.

I parried the assault from above and unleashed a counter-strike, but it cut through empty air again. At the very least, I hadn't held back in my 'swing.'

Even without any enhancements, it was a full-power strike—so why?

While I tilted my head in confusion, he, who seemed to be enjoying himself as he dodged my fatal blow, didn't stop. He scattered the water, kicked off the wall, and by some magic trick, kicked off the air—coming at me again and again.

I parry, and return a flash of my own—it doesn't connect.

I dodge, and return a flash of my own—I can't catch him.

I strike him down, and return a flash of my own—his body slips past my sword, and,

"Seriously, your reaction speed is insane! In that case—!"

Again, and again, and again and again—

"How about this!"

The emotion coming from his parried blade, from the bottom of his heart…

It was simply, utterly, 'frightening,' and I wanted to push it away.

In the virtual world, swords truly harbor emotion. It doesn't matter if it's positive or negative.

Just as some people's performance skyrockets when their mood lifts.

Just as an emotionally swung weapon can produce a blow beyond the wielder's own comprehension.

The fact that so many players who throw themselves into battle shamelessly shout the names of their prized 'techniques' is nothing more than behavior in accordance with that principle.

The 'someone' who watches over this world is always, always,

—outputting 'human emotion' into the virtual world as a form of 'power.'

"—Wha…!?"

The power I put into my sword was the same, one hundred percent. But its might could easily fluctuate not by relying on skills, but by what I put into it.

The same motion, the same sword speed—yet its power was incomparable to before.

My swung sword, with a power that rose without warning, sent the blade flying from the hand of the young man, whose face showed surprise—

………Ah, I see.

—Even so, you won't stop.

Thought acceleration is a useless trinket. Even if I can't see it with my eyes, if I choose to look, there is nothing these 'eyes' cannot see.

And so, in a moment of frozen time.

Staring straight at 'that person' who, instead of fear, showed only a relentless 'smile' on his face in his surprise.

—It will probably be different again.

—Just like all the times before, my hopes will be betrayed.

—When this is over, once again…

Back to the days of simply waiting for 'someone'…………—

"—I'm sorry."

I'll put a lid on it. On everything.

"Hah…! Whoa—What…!?"

The young man, who had brandished a newly summoned crimson dagger and charged forward without hesitation—froze in front of me.

Right in front of 'me,' who had lowered her sword, stood perfectly still, and stared straight into his eyes.

The effect enshrouding his body must be some kind of skill enhancement. Considering his furious, life-or-death assault, there might be a time limit.

So, I won't take up his time.

It's just that—I wanted to say a few words to the person who, for my sake, though we've never met, is giving me his absolute all.

"—Sotalm's… Iris."

It was a reply to the introduction I couldn't return, partly because I was trying not to take an interest. I omitted the title I could never bring myself to like… and gave the name I had carved for myself, not one that was given to me.

"'That's none of my business'—just as you said, I don't know you either, but…"

Are you lonely?—I don't know why those black eyes of his could read what was in my heart, I don't know any of it, but.

So many people only see the idol, they never see what's inside. But he did. And not only that, yes—that person said it.

I'll make you laugh.

In this world, swords harbor emotion.

But even without crossing blades—his face was filled with an unconcealed smile that seemed to say, 'I'm having fun, so you have fun too.'

No matter how many times I parried his blade, no matter how many times I knocked his sword away, he never faltered, never feared—he just kept his eyes fixed on me, Iris.

…So, even though it's a little late.

From this moment on,

"I will face you—just as you are facing me."

It might be different—I put a lid on that fear, and for him.

—For Haru, I found myself wanting to take a chance.

"…………Okay. In that case… we have about two hundred seconds left."

"That's a problem. We'll have to hurry…"

Or we'll run out of time to have fun.

"Well then—show me everything you have, Haru."

"—…"

I wonder if I managed to smile properly. I can't tell from his frozen expression… but right now, more importantly.

"I'll show you everything, too—[Braver, Lone Hero]."

Even if I had to place this hated crown, bearing the name of solitude, upon my head—the desire to see what comes 'next'… for the first time in I don't know how long, my heart was stirring.