kscans

Chapter 252 - Is My Date an Angel or a Bomb?

—And so, the next day after the Four Pillar War. The customary get-together, dubbed the 'after-party,' is a festive uproar that's held every time, regardless of the previous day's wins or losses.

The venue is the [Otherworldly Underground Castle - Ruvalest], which also served as our wartime base. While I was on my way, I messaged Goldow about various things and found out that all players who participated in the war were invited.

Additionally, title holders with VIP status are each given one guest invitation, so the total number of attendees is three hundred plus alpha, making it a fairly large gathering.

And I, too, had been told I could bring one person, regardless of their faction, so I had invited Sora in advance.

I owe a great debt to my master and my two artisans, but this was a 'one-choice' situation… In fact, if I had neglected my important partner, I'm sure the other three would have scolded me. I'm confident my prediction is correct.

As for the format of the after-party, it's not some elegant buffet-style party in a ridiculously spacious entrance hall. Apparently, it's normal for it to be a big ruckus with drinking and singing.

There's even something like a 'stage' set up against the wall, so there might be performances and other events. If there's a magic show unique to this virtual world… no, this other world, I'd definitely like to see it—

"What do you think, Sora-san?"

"—...! ……P-please look forward…!"

In a hall where the cacophony had vanished as if it were a lie, though not quite to the point of complete silence, my partner, who was hiding behind my back and shrinking herself smaller than ever before, pleaded in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

It was five minutes to nine, right on time for the gathering.

As I teleported into this place from that spatial rift, I was greeted by a roar of cheers so loud I thought the sound pressure would blow me away.

I couldn't make out a single word, but there was no doubt it was a welcoming reception. Familiar faces and new ones alike all rushed towards me—and then, a few seconds later, they all froze.

Their countless gazes were fixed on one point.

"H-heuuu…!?"

On the single girl hiding behind me, and no one else.

Sora is not so naive that she wouldn't understand what it means to appear in this place as the guest of the 'Acrobat.'

And yet, when we met before the war last night, it was she who had agreed to my invitation. She had been fidgety ever since we met today, but not once had she spoken of backing out.

As always, she must be conscious of her desire to 'stand by my side.' I can't help but be moved by her devoted figure, who shows no sign of running away even when frightened.

—Anyway.

"[Construction]."

Keeping my left side shielding Sora, I took a step forward and, with my evolved weapon-switching skill, summoned a massive black rock battle-axe to my right hand.

"Wha—"

"Huh?"

"Eh!?"

A battle-ready stance with no warning. Of course the crowd surrounding us was surprised, but—

"Wh-… Haru!?"

—it's no wonder the voice of surprise from behind me belonged to Sora. Before my partner's hand, wavering for a moment between confusion and admonishment, could reach my back—

"—Hoooooooooo!!"

A flash of power, an impact, and then a roar and a shockwave. The [Giant's Hand Axe], striking the indestructible floor of the castle, sent a shower of sparks into the air.

Even for a group of seasoned veterans, being hit with a surprise like this without warning when they're all relaxed for an after-party would surely startle them.

…It's not like that, okay? I swear I wasn't trying to intimidate them with a 'How dare you gawk at my partner' kind of threat.

In any case, after confirming the reactions of the not-insignificant number of people who recoiled or jumped in surprise, I turned to the now completely silent hall and—

"H E Y E V E R Y O N E, G O O D E V E N I N G! Y O U H A V I N G A G O O D T I M E?!"

—let out a meaningless shout, just like that time with the 'ladies and gentlemen.' As I swept the gazes that had been on Sora completely onto myself, I scanned the crowd for the face I was looking for… and when our eyes met, I gave the person I was looking for a full-force wink.

And as expected, 'he,' who looks like the very embodiment of recklessness but is surprisingly considerate, gave a wry smile and—

Following the roar I had created, a thunderous clap echoed through the hall. The crowd, stunned by the antics of some acrobat, was taken by surprise and turned in unison towards the source of the sound—

"Havin' a good time? The party ain't even started yet."

The golden-haired titan who now held the attention of the crowd—the General Commander, Goldow—erased his wry smile and laughed heartily, the corners of his mouth turned up in a grin.

"Well then, let's get this started—alright you lot, raise your cups! If you don't have one, raise your fists!"

A smooth opening address. As I sent a silent thank you to the commander for understanding my intent and drawing the attention away, I turned to my partner who was frozen behind me.

I gave a smile to the girl who was blinking in confusion at the rapidly changing situation—

"Here, Sora-san, you too."

Taking advantage of the fact that almost no one was watching, I took her hand, which had missed its chance and was hovering in the air. I took her hand, and then—

"Keep it going! T O I S T I A ' S V I C T O R Y!!"

"""""T O V I C T O R Y!!"""""

—As always, a roaring cheer that gets into the spirit of things.

And in this place, there's no one who wouldn't get into that spirit.

The partner whose small hand I held let out an adorable squeak of "Hya!" overwhelmed by the commander's address and the subsequent roar of three hundred voices.

"To victory!—you know?"

I smiled as I raised our hands together, and somehow… with the added note of a slightly forced smile, I succeeded in drawing out a smile from her.

Excellent—since we're here, let's have some fun.