kscans

Chapter 30 - The Invincible Concept of an Innocent Beauty

"If you do something like this again, I'm going to hate you."

"I deeply regret my actions. Yes, ma'am."

After a full-throttle, no-damage descent to the cliff bottom using weapon-stepping, I was, of course, subjected to a lecture from Sora-san while kneeling.

I was the perpetrator, so there was no arguing. Having transformed into a groveling apology bot, I was finally granted a pardon and allowed to stand up.

"Honestly... Still, this fog is incredible."

Just as it was when I visited yesterday, the fog was abnormally thick, visibility reduced to mere inches. Seeing it for the first time, Sora was on high alert, surveying her surroundings.

And since she'd just been lecturing me, she still had her "I'm angry" face on, but her anxiety seemed to win out, as she wouldn't stray from my side.

"There shouldn't be any enemies, so you can relax for now. But like I said before, the end point is dangerous, so be prepared."

"O-Okay..."

She huddled up, nervously looking around like a little animal. I found it endearing and started to walk ahead to lead the way, and Sora scurried to stick close behind me.

"How did you ever find a place like this...?"

"Less 'found it' and more 'got completely lost.' I fell off the cliff and struggled out of desperation, and it surprisingly worked out somehow."

"...Well, I suppose if you can fly—or rather, jump through the air—you can manage anything."

Unfortunately, I hadn't yet mastered mid-air maneuvering at that point, but confessing to even more ridiculous feats would only earn me a side-eye. Not that it would be much different from the look I was already getting, which was like I was some kind of freak.

"I don't think I'd understand even if you told me... but what exactly are you doing to jump like that?"

"Ah, um... well, to put it simply, right after I quick-change weapons, there's a momentary coordinate lock on the object that appears, and I—"

Along the way, I explained the trick behind my aerial jumps to Sora, who kept asking questions with a half-lidded gaze—

"Oh, I know about that. It's the growth weapon quest every player experiences, right?"

"Huh, so it's famous... Wait, hold on, a growth weapon? What's that? That old man never once said a word about—"

And in the middle of explaining the quest I was currently on, Sora dropped some unconfirmed information on me—

"................"

"...Look, it was an accident. I had no idea I was doing something so weird."

I let it slip and ended up being forced to confess the details of the "Forum Flame War Incident," earning myself an indescribable look—

—And so, about ten-odd minutes later, we safely made our way back to the city.

.........Huh? Oh, yeah, that's right. We returned in one piece. Well, maybe 'returned' is the wrong word... more like 'resurrected'—

"—Haru-san! Haru-san!! What was that, what was that!! It was so huge! It was white and it was huge!! It was amazing, it was a dragon, it was so cool and amazing!!!"

...Yeah, what is this? She's bugging out in a way I didn't expect.

After that, as planned, Sora and I had our first encounter with that thing—Tsarkalv of the White Throne. Immediately after, Sora's excitement levels went through the roof, just like this.

Of course, we were both obliterated and respawned together, but even after having our virtual bodies pulverized, her elation hasn't faded one bit.

Given its rather biologically horrifying appearance, I'd expected her to be scared or go into a frenzy, followed by a lecture. I never imagined I'd get a reaction like this.

"Uh... S-Sora-san. Please calm down a bit."

As usual, we were in the fountain plaza of the starting area, and there were, of course, a lot of people around.

If it were just me, respawning solo and muttering curses about what killed me, I'd attract glances for a moment at most. But when it's a beautiful girl avatar with a beautiful girl voice getting all worked up, that's a different story.

—We're being watched. We're getting a lot of stares.

Also, Sora-san, is your sense of personal space bugged? When she gets excited, this girl gets really close.

"I know what that is! I knew it!! That! That's a Colored Monster!! It's one of the most famous major content additions in Arcadia—"

"Okay, okay, miss, right this way. This is a public space, you know? Let's move somewhere else, okay?"

It's not that I'm a shy boy who can't handle being looked at. But Kagura-san just warned me to keep a low profile for a while, so the timing is just bad.

It's definitely not because I felt threatened by the male players who were looking at me with expressions that were one step away from giving me the middle finger. I grabbed the still-excited Sora and hastily retreated from the plaza.

◇◆◇◆◇

"................I'm sorry you had to see that unsightly display."

"Nah, compared to me, it's nothing, right?"

Compared to the guy who bugs out every time he fights, it's no big deal.

And so we found ourselves back on the cliff road. In this beginner area, devoid of other players, Sora finally regained her composure. She huddled up, turning away to hide her embarrassment.

A beautiful girl is cute no matter what she does, so it wasn't unsightly in the slightest, but it would be pointless to preach such universal truths to her.

"Come on, pull yourself together and let's get back to clearing this area."

"Ugh..."

Setting the boss fight aside, the path through here is a playground for anyone with a ranged attack. I'll have her take the main attacker role with her bow to her heart's content and quickly make her forget her embarrassment.

I'll seal away my mid-air maneuvers and stick to being Sora's dedicated tank escort—though my durability is one times my usual. A fragile body that will crumble with a single poke.

Clutching her shortbow and psyching herself up with a "Right," I set out to escort my adorable partner on our second trip through the cliff road.