kscans

Chapter 253 - The Unveiling

A get-together where regular players and title holders mingled… However, some degree of separation was necessary to maintain a minimum level of order.

The venue was generally divided, with the regular players in the main hall and the Ten Seats members in special seats on the second floor, connected by an open atrium.

It wasn't a strict rule, but it was an unspoken agreement that only title holders were allowed on the second floor.

Therefore, for interactions, the title holders would descend to the lower floor, and anyone who came down was fair game—that was the custom established over the past three years.

However, that was just the general rule. If someone was invited by a member, there was no problem with them stepping onto the upper floor.

Thus, without a second thought—or rather, practically dragged along—Sora was now, as usual, behind me… except this time, that wasn't the case.

"Here, here, Sora-chan, I recommend this one!"

"Here you go."

"Ah, than… thank you so much…"

My partner, seated at one of the several table sets scattered around a large central table laden with various snacks, was wide-eyed and flustered as she was fawned over by two tiny figures.

I don't know why, but they'd taken a huge liking to her.

The red one (Mi-na) was darting around her, recommending all sorts of strange food and drinks, but the blue one (Ri-na), despite having met Sora only minutes ago, had naturally claimed her lap as her own.

Going by their avatar appearances alone, they could pass for an older sister and her twin younger sisters, and the scene itself was purely and utterly heartwarming—

—but the difference in their titles… or rather, their positions, was a bit…?

"No, no, no, I told you, you don't need to be so formal."

"You can just call me by my name."

"Eh, ah… um, well…!"

Even for a genius girl acknowledged by the Sword Saint herself at first sight, Sora, who was not only a non-title holder but had yet to even appear in public, was, in no uncertain terms, a regular player.

Surrounded by the high-ranking 'Eastern Wings,' she looked so flustered it was almost pitiful. And those two, just how fast were they trying to close the distance?

What was even more unexpected was that Ri-na, who was usually the calmer of the two, seemed to be acting out of character. Did she fall in love with my angel at first sight? If so, I guess it can't be helped.

…And so. What was I doing, not even trying to protect my partner in this situation?—

"Look, I'll say it as many times as I have to, there's nothing shady going on here."

I was sitting straight-backed, seiza-style on the floor.

A heavy weight had been politely placed on my lap, and I was being subjected to the punishment of 'teasing' in the name of good fun. I kept getting distress signals from Sora, but I was the one who needed help.

Aside from the two who were engrossed with Sora, the rest of the members were almost all gathered around me.

Irori and Goldow, who weren't even trying to hide their smirks.

Tetra, my senior and junior, whose poker face couldn't hide the fact that he was laughing on the inside.

Hinayo-san, the only one who looked slightly apologetic, but was still not stopping her curious 'interrogation.'

And Genkotsu-san had already bailed and was participating in an arm-wrestling tournament on the first floor.

Damn it, I have no allies…!

"Okay, let this be the last time—I met Sora on my first day in the virtual world. We bumped into each other in the Istia starting area forest, formed a party, and just kept going. We went through all sorts of tough situations together, like secret raid bosses and hidden area boss clears, and somewhere along the way, we developed a sort of unspoken bond, like indispensable partners, you know? So signing a partnership contract was just a natural progression, and that's how we got to where we are… The end."

I hadn't told a single lie, and there was nothing more to tell. My audience didn't look convinced in the slightest, but I didn't care.

"That's, um…"

"A duo made of miracles and absurdity…"

"I'm aware. But well, that's the whole story."

I gave a wry smile to Hinayo-san and Goldow and rolled the mysterious black ingot I had been holding onto to the side. It felt like it weighed around two hundred kilograms, but for my STR: 300 self, it was nothing.

I stood up and headed towards my partner, who was being pestered by the little ones.

No matter how much I was teased, I was the only one Sora could rely on in this place where she knew no one… I stood beside her chair, and my partner's face visibly relaxed in relief.

I won't leave you alone for long, so don't worry, okay?

"So, this is my partner, Sora-san—once again, please take care of us both."

"Ah… n-nice to meet you all…!"

As we bowed our heads together to mark the end of the introduction, we were met with a few half-hearted claps. I don't mind the casual vibe, it's all good.

"Yes, yes! It's a pain to be all cautious and tiptoe around, so can I just get straight to the point and ask something?!"

Just as I finished explaining how we met, it seemed the Q&A session wasn't over yet. Mi-na, who had taken her partner back from Sora's lap, raised her hand energetically, and there was only one possible answer.

"No."

"Okay, got it!—So, are you two actually dating?"

"Hehweh!?"

"I thought so, but you really don't listen, do you???"

It seemed the right to refuse to answer had never existed in the first place.

I was prepared to be teased and had an answer ready, but as for Sora, her face instantly turned bright red, much to the delight of everyone around us.

However, we were both aware that we looked like a couple. We had made a contract with the mutual understanding that 'we'll just clear up any misunderstandings as they come.'

So—

"Sorry to disappoint, but we're not a couple. Sora and I became partners on the condition that we wouldn't get into that kind of thing, so please spare us the speculation."

I stated it flatly, and Sora nodded desperately beside me—fortunately, there was no one here who would be so persistent as to keep pressing the issue.

"Hmm… so you're just really, really good friends, huh."

The one who seemed most likely to be unable to read the room, the red one, was surprisingly understanding. As expected of the players of Arcadia, who are full of common sense, unlike what you'd expect from an online game, and even more so of those who stand at the top and are constantly in the spotlight.

"Yeah, that's right. We're just really, really ridiculously good friends."

—And so, the problem wasn't with them, but with us.

Okay, Sora-san, you can't be blushing there. Your innocent reaction to my words is adding points to the infinitely cute category, but they'll just tease us endlessly, you know?

As I sent that thought to her with my gaze, relying on our usual 'telepathy,'

"Hmph…—!"

—what I received in return was a disciplinary swat, as if to say, 'It's your fault!'