kscans

Chapter 32 - Training Begins

"—Ahem... w-well then! Let's get this training started, shall we!"

My voice cracked at the start, an utterly pathetic sound. Sora gave me a lukewarm look. The reality that my cool-guy act doesn't last is proof that I'm just an average dude—hey, don't you smile at that.

When I let go of her hand, why did you look so reluctant to let go? Are you not aware that such an expression from a beautiful girl is a logically proven lethal weapon?

"My heart has been toyed with. The training will be spartan."

"Why!?"

Go back and study the psychological effects a beautiful girl's words and actions have on a man—right. Thinking stupid thoughts really is the best remedy for calming the heart.

"Jokes aside, I think the only way forward is through practice."

"Ugh... Practice, you say?"

We had made our way to the convenient flatlands of the [Plains of the Horizon]. Sora glanced at the boars roaming about, her expression anxious.

Well, if we practice on them, the established outcome is that she'd close her eyes, swing her sword once, and then get sent flying the next instant.

"No, I don't plan on letting those idiots be our instructors. We'll go one-on-one."

As I said that and summoned a straight sword, Sora's anxious expression—huh? Why did the anxiety deepen?

"Huh... With you, Haru-san?"

Eh? That slightly reluctant tone, how should I interpret that?

"...Is there a problem?"

"I'd rather not be sliced into pieces..."

What on earth does she think I am? I don't know what kind of face I was making, but seeing me frozen in place, Sora let out a small chuckle—you were teasing me, weren't you?

"...Ahem. Well, to put it simply, just try to slash at me over and over."

"Hehe, I'm sorry."

Sora seemed pleased that her retaliation was a success, while I cleared my throat to cover it up. Is this girl's combat power increasing as she loses her reservations around me? She's supposed to be my little sister figure, am I going to be okay?

Turning my face away from her smile, which was a little too radiant, I twirled the straight sword and offered her the hilt. Sora hesitantly took the sword, holding the unfamiliar weapon in both hands as she tilted her head.

"Is it oka... It's okay, isn't it? It's not like I'm going to hit you."

That wasn't a nuance of 'I won't hit you because it's Sora,' was it? It was 'I won't hit you because it's me,' wasn't it?

And what's more, it wasn't just trust or any positive sentiment like that; it contained a subtle mix of exasperation and resignation.

............Hmph, so this is the fruit of my daily actions, huh?

"Um, what's with that expression?"

"Oh, just thinking about how you're gradually getting used to handling me..."

"...?"

No, it's nothing.

"W-Well, that's the gist of it. It'll double as evasion training for me, so it's two birds with one stone."

"I doubt you need evasion practice at this point, Haru-san, but..."

Sora smiled wryly, probably recalling the grand spectacle I'd put on against the flock of Great Winged Birds. She shook her head slightly as if to switch gears, and the girl raised her straight sword with still-unsteady movements.

Even with her small, girlish avatar, her stats give her a strength value higher than mine. Possessing a balanced mix of agility and dexterity, she is, in reality, more than superhuman.

There's no reason she can't swing a single sword.

"Um, so... my stance, and things..."

"Hmm, I'm self-taught and an amateur myself, so I can't say for sure... but if I had to say something, relax a bit more. Just enough so you don't lose your grip, and then put your strength into it the moment you swing through, maybe?"

Of course, I've never looked up how to swing a sword in detail, but after eighteen years of being a boy, I have some knowledge. I can give simple advice on the level of a required course for boys.

"Like this?"

"Okay. Try swinging it like that once... maybe you should focus a little more on the stop? It feels like you're being swung around by it at the end."

"O-Okay. ...Hah!"

Before we actually started hitting things, I gave her a lecture on the prerequisite level of body control. .........She doesn't have a problem with it when she's just doing practice swings. The key must be whether or not there's an opponent in front of her.

"Hmph... Hah... So, how's this?"

"Yeah, I think that's not bad."

This girl, as it turns out, is not uncoordinated. I still had some lingering preconceptions, and while I didn't think she was clumsy, I had an image of her as someone not good at sports... but in reality, her form when she runs is quite beautiful.

She's good enough to watch—no, actually, a blonde swordswoman is an incredibly picturesque sight. For some reason, my own motivation is starting to rise... Anyway, her sword swing is probably fine.

"Alright, let's begin. I'll dodge for sure, so don't hold back."

"Y-Yes, please take care of me...!"

And so, with a polite bow as the signal, Sora's training began.

◇◆◇◆◇

"—Well, I guess it won't be a speed solution in a few panels like in a manga..."

When I opened my eyes, the familiar canopy of [Arcadia] came into view.

Lately, the intense sense of unease from the physical performance disparity after logging out has been easing up, which is a good thing. It's safe to say my adaptation to virtual reality is proceeding smoothly... but the off-system quest I'm currently working on is facing some difficulties.

"I thought if she could just get rid of the habit of closing her eyes, it would work out somehow..."

—Three days had passed since we started training for Sora's switch to the front line.

At first, it went smoothly... or rather, the habit that should have been the biggest hurdle was cleared in just over an hour on the first day.

As expected, when people decide they're absolutely going to do something and put their all into it, they can manage somehow. I was getting excited, thinking this might be an unexpectedly quick resolution, but—

"To think we'd go three days without getting a single skill..."

With Sora having met the bare minimum for close combat, we started on the boar plains and continued our training by retracing our steps.

It was three days, but Sora couldn't go all day long like I could. Her daily login time averaged about four hours, which translates to six hours in Arcadia.

Even so, she had been swinging her sword for about eighteen hours in real time, but... nothing. No sprouts, no gains.

Even the aptitude tree, which is supposed to be relatively easy—or rather, possible to acquire on the same day if you just use the corresponding weapon type for a while—didn't even begin to bud.

It's pretty awkward for me, who made a big declaration and has been sticking by her side, but the extent of her own disappointment is truly heartbreaking.

From Sora's perspective, it's as if the system itself is telling her, "You're not cut out for this." When we parted ways today, the light was about 80% gone from her eyes.

—I'll probably never forget the look on Sora's face when a skill for the shortbow tree, which she hadn't even been using, sprouted up as if to say, Just go back to your real job already.

Who was it that said a beautiful girl is a beautiful girl no matter what she does...? Nah, a truly angry one is actually scary. I never knew people could have such cold eyes; if that look were directed at me, I'd die instantly.

"Haa..."

As I let out a sigh, wondering what to do, I got up from the [Arcadia] machine.

Seeing her dejected expression as I logged out, it's probably about time she needs some emotional support. I also have a responsibility for having fired her up—I wonder if I can find some wisdom on the internet, not just on how to acquire skills, but also on how to comfort a woman (real-life information unknown)...

Lured by the smell of dinner, I left my room, my head filled with悩み over how to acquire skills I couldn't get from my part-time job.

◇◆◇◆◇

"Is something wrong, my lady? If you keep making such a grumpy face, your cute face will be ruined... well, you're still cute though, you know?"

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

"Oh my, it's surprisingly serious."

She must be so down that she's ignoring my usual comment about calling her 'my lady.' Not so much ignoring as her mind is elsewhere; she's been like this since we started preparing dinner.

She's been gradually losing her energy for the past three days or so, a world of difference from a few days ago when she was all excited about starting Arcadia.

"What's wrong, Sora? Is something bothering you?"

When I put aside my teasing and asked, I succeeded in getting her attention, and her gaze turned to Itsuki.

"............It seems I don't have any talent."

Talent? What kind of talent, I wondered, and when I asked her directly—

"Talent with a sword..."

With a fleeting expression, the young lady I adore declared such a thing.

For a moment, I almost laughed, wondering if this child was a resident of some medieval or fantasy world, but I was at least perceptive enough to realize she was talking about the game.

"Hah, a sword... I certainly can't imagine you fighting with a sword, Sora."

"...The game told me so too."

I don't quite understand what she's saying, but it's clear that she's hit a wall and is feeling down.

"Hmm... Well then, why don't you try relying on that knight everyone's talking about?"

"Haru-san has already been with me for three days... I'm taking up his time, but I haven't made any progress..."

Not good, it seems I've stepped on another landmine. And this Haru-san person she's always with, he seems to be trusted by her a lot, but what kind of person is he?

It's not like I can get my own [Arcadia] machine and join them, so it's a bit frustrating that I can't see his character for myself.

"I don't know much about games, but since it's a game, you're losing out if you don't have fun, you know?"

"I know, but... Haru-san went out of his way to encourage me..."

It's rare for this child to be so openly dejected. Considering Sora's personality, it's not her own lack of progress that's bothering her, but the fact that she's causing trouble as a result.

"Haru-san is a man, right? Then you should just inconvenience him all you want. He might even be thinking he's lucky to be relied on by such a cute girl, you know?"

"You're saying strange things again... Haru-san and I are both in our virtual avatars. Appearance doesn't matter."

"Oh, but you haven't changed your face, have you, Sora?"

"I-I wouldn't go out of my way to tell him that! It's bad manners to disclose real-life information in Arcadia!"

I only have general knowledge about Arcadia as a form of entertainment, but it seems there are various rules. In a virtual reality that's indistinguishable from the real world, I suppose that's only natural.

"If it's too difficult, why don't you try something else? Look, since it's a fantasy world, why not try magic or something?"

"...In the virtual world, I wanted to try moving my body to the fullest. Because my real self is like this."

And with that, Sora pointed to herself, showing her dissatisfaction. Born with a weak constitution and forbidden from strenuous exercise, she has never been able to fully participate even in school P.E.

Her innate athletic sense is excellent, and contrary to her graceful appearance, she enjoys moving her body. As someone who knows this, I feel sorry for her, but I never thought a game would also stamp her as unsuitable.

It's pitiful, and in times like these, I can't help but feel sympathy for the young lady who is so unfortunate in many ways.

In the end, there's nothing Itsuki, who knows little about Arcadia, can do but listen to her complaints and weaknesses.

As she was subjected to a pitying gaze, Sora was comforted by her sister-like maid, her face gloomy the entire time.

---
Status Update for the two characters after the time skip.
――――――――――――――――――
◇Status◇ Name: Haru Lv: 44(10)
STR (Strength): 30
AGI (Agility): 280
DEX (Dexterity): 150
VIT (Vitality): 5
MID (Mind): 5
LUC (Luck): 10

◇Skill◇
・All Weapon Aptitude
《Quick Change》
《Weapon Dart》->《Piercing Dart》 Up!

・Embodied Protection
・Heavy Attack Manipulator
・Accel Tempo
・Boar's Heart
・Acrobatics
・Jumble Step
・Carry Running
――――――――――――――――――
◇Status◇ Name: Sora Lv: 38(10)
STR (Strength): 50
AGI (Agility): 80
DEX (Dexterity): 80
VIT (Vitality): 60
MID (Mind): 100
LUC (Luck): 50

◇Skill◇
・Light Magic Aptitude
《Heal Light》

・Shortbow Aptitude
《Snipe Arrow》 New!
・Archer's Calm Breath

・《Spectate Ale》
・《Observer's Eye》

・Healer's Precept
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