kscans

Chapter 280 - To the One I Was Waiting For

A tea party—which meant she desired a certain amount of 'conversation,' so I had made some preparations even before I knew who I was meeting.

That said, considering the time.

I thought serving cake or coffee so close to midnight might be a bit much… so the lineup I had prepared was filled with things I felt hesitant to offer a 'princess.'

At the very least, I'm pretty sure no one has ever entertained the world's Alicia White with 'hot barley tea.' I wouldn't know for sure, though.

"It's delicious."

"Well, you're welcome…"

However, the person in question seems to be engrossed in my homemade cheese cookies, which I'm serving as a snack. They only have the flavor of cheese without actually using any, and they're ridiculously low-calorie—my standard late-night snack. I never imagined the day would come when I'd serve them to a world-famous celebrity.

I'll have to thank Chef Nishikino (41), a father of two from the restaurant where I used to work, who taught me various money-saving, healthy recipes during my part-timer days.

I wonder how those twins are doing.

"…So? Can I assume you're going to explain this situation in detail?"

"Yes, I'll explain everything."

Iris—or rather, Alicia—nodded obediently to my question. For some reason, her atmosphere is quite different here in the real world compared to the virtual one.

Well, of course it is, considering we're meeting in completely opposite environments: normal life in reality versus combat in Arcadia… but because she responds so honestly to my words, I feel a sense of innocence in her that goes beyond her appearance.

—Speaking of which, that 'appearance.'

Back when I had just started Arcadia. When I saw her on TV, I had assumed her looks were 'fabricated,' but to think they were just a simple color swap from reality… honestly, even this high-end room provided by Yotsuya doesn't seem to do her justice.

From silver-blue hair and garnet eyes to black and black.

Despite having the default color of a Japanese person, which belies her name (White), I doubt any of her fellow countrymen would see her and think of her as one of them.

It would be more realistic if she were dressed in a gown and tiara and introduced as a princess from some country. It's not just because she's beautiful, but the very air she carries is of a different quality—

"—Haru?"

"It's nothing."

If I were to confess the truth, I could only say I was captivated. Not as a man, but more in the way one would admire a work of art as a human being.

"So… first of all, why is Iris here?"

As I asked the question, I started to feel a sense of discomfort with my own casual tone, though it was a bit late for that. I can't really tell her age from her appearance, but more importantly, her standing is completely different from a newcomer like me….

It might be too late, but maybe I should switch to more formal language.

"Same as you. I also received an offer from Yotsuya Development."

While I was lost in my jumbled thoughts, Iris answered concisely with a sweet, cool voice, unchanged from the virtual world.

Her confident demeanor was a far cry from the awkwardness of our first contact.

…As an aside, I'd really appreciate it if you'd stop staring at me so intently. I don't think there are many people, men or otherwise, who could remain composed under that gaze.

"From the way you say it, it sounds like you received it at the same time…"

"That's right, the same as you."

That's, well… another mystery added to the pile, is it?

Yotsuya reached out to me to protect me, someone who was mentally just an ordinary person. By doing so, they could prevent me, having risen as a prominent player, from being crushed by real-world constraints and hindering the game's conquest.

So, why reach out to Iris now?

While her position is incomparably higher and weightier than mine, she managed to get by for three years without relying on Yotsuya. Why now, of all times?

Or was the offer made a while ago? Was it just that Iris accepted the offer at the same time as me?

If so, why had she refused or put it on hold until now?

Why did she decide to accept that offer now?

…If I asked everything, she would probably answer. But I'm very sorry to say that my honest feeling right now is—

"Hmm… —I see."

—right now, I honestly don't have the energy to dig into it so intently.

Since she's here to see me, it's probably not completely unrelated to me. So I won't say I'm not interested, but as for whether I need to know every single detail… I think probably not.

Besides, it's not like we're close enough for me to pry into her affairs.

"Well then, I guess that makes us colleagues… no, that's not right, is it? Even if we both signed a contract with the same place, it's not like we'll be working as a team."

"That's… right. I have to lead my own clan."

"Right. So for now, I guess I can just think of you as a comrade with the same goal?"

"Yes, I suppose."

"Okay. I get it, for now."

For Yotsuya, conquering Arcadia is something like a long-cherished wish—the details of that are still unclear to me, but if that's the case, then it makes sense for them to approach the 'strongest player.'

And for whatever reason, a contract that had been on hold has now moved forward due to various circumstances. Yep, that makes sense.

However, if there's one problem….

—It's that the 'princess' before me looks completely unconvinced and is emitting a mysterious pressure in my direction.

"…Is that, it?"

"No, I mean… what else am I supposed to ask?"

I was certainly surprised by Iris's sudden appearance. In fact, I was so surprised that I've become paradoxically calm. In any case, the situation of the [Sword Queen] relaxing in my room with barley tea and cookies feels far too unreal.

I sense that she has some 'business' with me.

But our relationship isn't deep enough for me to judge whether I should ask about it or not… so I can't bring myself to ask, is more accurate.

I hope to God this isn't some 'payback' for the newcomer who managed to defeat her—as I, still quite nervous myself, tried to distract myself with such joking thoughts,

"I see—I understand now."

The girl's atmosphere changed distinctly.

Yes, it shifted from a somewhat leisurely and calm demeanor,

"H-Huh?"

—to a state of, for all intents and purposes, a battle-ready stance accompanied by a mysterious 'power' that made me, along with my chair, unconsciously retreat a step.

Unfazed by my involuntary flinch from the unidentifiable pressure—Iris quietly stood up and walked around the table, approaching me.

Our distance was only a few steps.

The same close proximity as when we crossed swords the other day.

Unlike the [Acrobat] of the virtual world, I couldn't dodge or escape in time—the girl leaned over my chair, placing both hands on the backrest, trapping me.

"Hey, wait, you…!"

"You're not interested in me. Are you."

That's a misunderstanding, or maybe there's some truth to it, or it's close—

"But even more than that, you're indifferent to being the object of someone else's interest."

"Wh-what are you talking…"

"To be precise, you don't believe in your own worth."

"—… ………………"

A sudden, extreme approach followed by an unannounced revelation.

As a result, it was I who was silenced.

"But… that's fine—I don't care."

Then why did you just expose my innermost thoughts without permission—I was about to complain, but then I realized.

—…Are you lonely?

—It's boring, isn't it?

—There's no challenge, is there?

—I'll make you laugh.

————Enjoy yourself to the fullest, Iris.

…What a fool I am. As if I have any right to complain—it was none other than me who exposed her first, without permission.

Someone with whom I had once laid bare my heart and clashed.

An illusion or reality, someone with whom I had exchanged emotions through the sword.

How much of my inner self can she see now—

"Haru."

"Y-Yes."

"I'll return your words. I couldn't care less about your personal circumstances."

That was, indeed, on the night two days ago.

One of the presumptuous things I had said to Iris.

"So… if you won't ask, I'll just say it. The reason I came here, the reason I accepted Yotsuya's invitation—was all to meet you like this."

"………………"

"Don't ask why. Just as you threw your 'everything' at me… I'll throw my 'everything' at you, without permission."

"W-Wait a minute… you're, way too close—"

Even if I tried to push her away, her staggering beauty made even touching her feel like a sin. Trapped in my chair, I had no escape, so I tried to make her back away with words alone.

Even though I knew the 'heat' in her eyes meant she wouldn't back down for something like that.

"Even if you're not interested in me, I'm interested in you."

"Interested…"

My mind in chaos, I repeated her word like a parrot, and immediately regretted it.

Because—I had managed to draw out a soft smile from the girl who was supposed to be bad at smiling.

"When a woman tells a man she's 'interested'—I think there's usually only one reason."

Wait, I thought, but my voice wouldn't come out. It is true, and most regrettable, that—

—this time, as a man, I was completely captivated by that smile.

"—Hey, my long-awaited prince."

There was no longer any escape for me.

"I think this is 'love'—what do you think?"

My first-ever, head-on 'love confession' was—

—from the princess of a distant, virtual world.