kscans

Chapter 237 - Finale, and Then

—Ten seconds remaining.

At the end of a full-out sprint. My virtual body, having long since surpassed its limits, was on the verge of collapsing. I managed to stay upright by quickly stabbing [Samidorizuki] into the ground for support.

—Nine seconds.

From behind me, I heard the sound of water as 'her' body, which had been sent flying into the air after our exchange of ultimate blows, landed on the ground.

—Eight seconds.

"—, —"

In that instant, the words that followed struck my ears. Her voice, unlike the restrained tone she'd used before, carried a heat that sounded like a different person's—

When I turned around, all that remained was a flower of red phosphorescence, dissolving into the void.

"—…"

—Remaining, five seconds.

"Hah, so it's your win, huh…"

The emotion in her voice, was it praise? A blessing—?

I couldn't tell, but one thing was certain.

"Sorry again, Princess—"

—Three, two, one.

"—This one's a draw."

In that moment, the threads of mana bound to my avatar's body all changed their appearance. From a faint blue glow to a vivid, shining red.

[Trickster of Zenith]—duration: three hundred and thirty-three seconds.

When pulling the trigger for this skill, the user is forced to make a 'pact with the world' in the form of a vow. In accordance with that promise, which cannot be escaped by any means—

The puppet strings that had granted me 'power' I was not yet worthy of fulfilled the mission hidden within their glow.

The red-dyed mana, right up to the tips of the strings that connected me to the void, wrapped itself around my avatar—and well, that's what it comes down to.

My battle, which I entered having forsaken victory, has come to this.

Right. Since I have the chance, if I'm going to strike a pose at the end…

"I suppose the [Acrobat]'s 'performance' for this evening is now over—is how it goes?"

—Hahaha, ah… I shouldn't have done that.

As I muttered the line with an exaggerated, theatrical flair, I let out a bitter laugh, instantly assaulted by shame—

As if becoming one with the threads that reaped its life, the white and blue avatar, dissolving into red phosphorescence, left the 'stage.'

The scattering particles of light added a touch of color to the lonely sky, now empty after the 'performer's' exit—

And two pillars of light, shooting up into the heavens, announced a 'finale' to the battlefield.

◇◆◇◆◇

—, —, —, —, —, —

"—…Hello. This might be the first time you've contacted me directly."

"Hello. It's been a while."

"I was watching. I found myself holding my breath, completely engrossed, despite my age."

"…………"

"…Ah, no, we're not quite on friendly enough terms for casual banter yet, are we—well then, what can I do for you?"

"……………About the matter I declined before."

"Yes."

"It's been two… no, almost three years now, so it might be too late, but."

"Yes."

"…………If I still have the option, I will accept."

"—…………"

Over the terminal, he had certainly heard those words. 'He,' leaning against the corridor wall as his strength left him, had to restrain himself from launching into a torrent of welcoming words.

Because—

"—But, there is just one thing."

The words that would follow from 'her,'

"A condition—…………no, a 'request' that I have."

—was something he had been able to predict without even thinking.