kscans

Chapter 303 - Now, Having Risen

'For now, just focus completely on self-enhancement.' —

That was the only order Alicia gave me after we decided to seriously pursue the Colored Monster subjugation together.

She would handle everything required for the clear, from selecting the necessary personnel to making all the arrangements.

In the meantime, I was to pour all my time into adventuring and thoroughly strengthening myself… which, well, is the logical thing to do. There isn't really any other option.

As a true newcomer, I have neither the connections nor the knowledge to prepare for a large-scale raid. If a useless person like me has time to stand around doing nothing, then I should just focus on honing myself as a 'sword.'

Because of this, for the foreseeable future, my… no, our schedules have been packed to the brim. Unlike the Four Pillar War, where I ran off on my own, I naturally pushed for her inclusion, so my partner is now recognized by the higher-ups as a provisional key asset.

Her grand debut will be a little later, but I'm looking forward to blowing them all away—with this adorable bug of a character who is every bit as formidable as a certain princess.

"—[Neun]."

The keyword, which made its debut in this very place, has become quite familiar to her lips. It's a stylish word that would sound cringeworthy coming from me with a smug face, but when a beautiful girl says it with a serious expression, it just works.

Her quiet voice is a testament to the confidence she's built—Sora, wielding her command sword like a conductor's baton, commands her magic swords to overwhelm the enemy that once made us weep.

A volley of magic swords materializes from the void.

The seamless blades of sand rush the three [Wandering Decaying Statues] surrounding her, and with power incomparable to our 'previous' encounter, they riddle the hollow armors with holes.

"………………We've gotten strong, haven't we?"

"No doubt about it—I can't wait for the day we get to show you off."

During a lull in the fighting, I raise a hand to Sora, who murmurs softly as she stares at her empty right hand, her command sword having vanished.

"Ahaha… I would really, truly appreciate it if you didn't…"

"Oh, you sound like me from a little while ago. It's fine, it's fine. Once you get past it, it's no big deal."

"…………Says the person who hasn't gotten past it and is still agonizing over it?"

Ouch, her comebacks have gotten sharper, too. As for the high-five I was going for, its impact was as adorable as ever.

"Well, all jokes aside, those magic swords are getting crazier. Power, versatility, cost-performance… honestly, aren't they just a straight upgrade to 'magic' in every way?"

"And this is only their first tier…"

"That's terrifying."

"………………"

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it like that."

I swear, I swear on my life that was unintentional.

"If you're going to say that, then you're even more terrifying, Haru. You've finally started rampaging without even using a weapon."

"Well, that's…"

"Look, here comes your opponent. It's your turn."

As we continue to banter without breaking our stride, the next offerings—I mean, enemies—come into view at the end of the passage. Hmm, a three-man cell with a handaxe, a club, and a crude sword… are they bandits or something?

Honestly, at this point, it doesn't matter how many of these guys show up—

"Alright, here we go. Watch closely, learn from it, and be ready, you bastards."

Knowing that these endlessly spawning armored soldiers are a proper part of the dungeon's gimmick, I can't just treat them carelessly.

I throw a few words at the statues, which creak and lower their stances in reaction to me stepping forward, and scoff at the pressure that once made me break out in a cold sweat—

"Become my arm—[An=Ru Galta]!"

As I swing my arm to the side, the bracelet glows, and golden-silver rays of light burst forth—my left arm is swallowed by an armored gauntlet that reaches up to my shoulder.

It's a transparent armor composed of 'lines of light,' similar to the special form of the [Spinning Shield]. If I were to describe what this is in the simplest terms—

"Hup—and… go!"

—it's like… a fist, loaded with a greatsword.

I close the distance instantly, covering several meters in a flash.

I unleash a straight left punch, right down the middle.

Thwump—with an unnatural sound for hitting metal, the statue at the point of impact is blown away, and the two on either side are sent stumbling from the shockwave.

But this is a high-difficulty endgame dungeon, after all.

They don't waste their accumulated data, and even though it's the first time they've seen this, they try to adjust their stances to counter my familiar movements—not that I'm going to give them the time, of course.

Thwump—thwump—two more hits, a backfist and an elbow strike, respectively, and the passage is cleanly swept… 'my turn' is smoothly over in just two seconds.

"Hah, this is so much fun."

It might be a bit late to say this, but I don't hate power-fantasy games. And being able to experience that, even virtually, with my own body is nothing short of a god-tier game.

Mr. Togo, you said a lot of things, but this really is a god-tier game.

Even if experiences vary—there's no way a game where you can fully unleash the avatar you've honed with your own will upon the world isn't fun.

All hail VRMMOs—what's so wrong with them being different from existing MMOs?

Well, that aside.

As a price for my delightfully inhuman mobility, I can feel a rather exasperated gaze piercing my back….

"No, that was still within safe limits."

"I haven't said anything, you know?"

"I saw you! You were looking at me with those judging eyes!"

"I was just thinking, 'Haru is being Haru again today.'"

"I'm more sane than I was back then…!"

At least, more than I was back then, when my excitement would break every time we fought…!

"What's wrong with that? I hear that kind of Haru is quite popular with the public, you know?"

"Let's not talk about the public, it hits too close to home."

That's one of those backhanded compliments for idiots, like 'he's always so energetic and fun to be around,' right? I know it's true, but it doesn't mean it doesn't sting!

"Come on, let's get going. Even if we get beaten back again, we promised to clear it today, no matter what."

"I wonder if this will be enough to beat us—alright, alright, I'm walking, just a second…!"

I calm Sora down as she pushes me forward, her eagerness palpable.

As we advance through the cold passage, carving our undeniable growth into the world… the unsettling darkness felt much less intimidating than it did that day.