kscans

Chapter 335 - Towards a Full-Scale Launch

"Well now…"

"Wow…!"

Before the 'ordered items' placed on the stand, Sora and I each let out a sigh of admiration.

Watching our reactions with satisfaction—our personal artisan, Kagura-san, who looked faintly haggard for some reason, sank deep into her chair with an exhausted air.

"This one was a difficult birth… but I think it turned out to be a fine piece of work because of it."

We had visited her workshop for none other than to pick up the new equipment she had crafted for us using the materials from [Angalta, God-Wedge Sword-King] that we had left with her the other day.

My idea was for 'something we can use together'—and from the respective 'blue' and 'white' metal chunks, a pair of two-toned kite shields were born.

To call them the common almond shape would be… not just a little, but quite a distortion. They were medium-sized shields with a rather complex shape, closer to a 'magatama' than anything else.

"[Twaibolt Mirari]—just as ordered, I packed it full of those kinds of gimmicks. The catch is, they won't activate unless you two equip them together."

"It's so beautiful…!"

"Twaibolt Mirari…"

The first part of the name was a bit obscure, but I assumed the latter part was simply 'mirror.' The shield's surface was polished to a mirror finish, and its entire form, adorned with intricate patterns derived from that armored knight, looked more like a piece of art than a weapon.

It was no wonder that a girl (Sora) would gaze at it with sparkling eyes, completely engrossed… I wonder what inspired the naming this time.

"Which one is which?"

"You get the white one, Sora gets the blue. They're technically ambidextrous, but you'll probably want to equip yours on your right hand to use with that left-handed weapon of yours."

"In that case…"

"Mine will be on the left, then."

We each took our respective shields and gripped them to try them on—instantly, the belts on the inside moved on their own, wrapping around our forearms and securing the rather large shields firmly to our arms. How convenient.

"It's surprisingly… no, it's just as heavy as it looks, isn't it?"

"It's designed with the activation of its 'abilities' in mind. In terms of weight, it's on par with a greatshield, but its defensive performance is top-notch. Not just physically, but against magic as well."

"That's reassuring—Sora-san, you okay?"

"I-If I get used to it, I'm sure…!"

It was 'rather large' even for me, so it was obvious what would happen when a petite girl equipped it.

Sora, with the blue shield on her left arm, looked completely… 'worn by her equipment.' It was cute.

"You'll be fine, but what's Sora's strength stat?"

"Wasn't it 100?"

"It is…!"

"Ah, then it's not a matter of getting used to it. That thing has a STR requirement of 200, so you'll barely be able to move—but don't make that face, you don't have to worry."

Kagura-san repeated that it was 'designed with ability activation in mind' to the saddened Sora.

"I think it's fine. We had it made more to increase our cooperative options than for it to be used as a simple 'shield,' anyway."

"That's… true, I suppose."

"Of course I'll guarantee that part. I've poured all sorts of interesting… and convenient functions into it, so feel free to master them."

Did you need to correct yourself? I'm already more than familiar with your style, and I have both expectations and trust in you.

"Well, at any rate, you should get some practice in. I'm the one who made it, and I'm telling you, it turned out a bit fussy."

"But in exchange, if we master it, it'll be worth a hundred soldiers, right? The usual pattern?"

I tapped the hilt of the rabbit shortsword at my hip, smiling as if to say I understood. In response to this client who spoke with such familiarity—

"If you're done picking it up, then get out of here. I'm always starved for 'interesting requests,' so hurry up and find me some new materials."

The red-haired artisan snorted with a look that wasn't entirely displeased, then shooed me away with her usual brusque attitude.

I, completely used to her style by now, offered a crisp word of thanks and left the room without hesitation. In contrast, my partner, who bowed deeply before scurrying to catch up—

"Kagura-san is always so cool, isn't she…"

—muttered something like a young girl admiring a mature woman.

It's been a while… but if I ever get the chance, I'd love to show her Kagura's true, out-of-character self.

After leaving the Mirage Workshop's Safe Area branch, I checked the current time.

The system clock indicated it was just before 6:00 PM real-world time—in other words, our meeting time was approaching.

I glanced at Sora walking beside me… and as expected, her textbook 'nervous expression' made me smile.

"You don't have to be so tense. I think it'll be fine."

"…Of course you'll be fine, Haru, but…!"

"That's why Sora-san will be fine, too."

The place we were heading to was a gathering of rankers.

However, it wasn't the familiar 'Eastern Round Table,' but the 'Southern Throne,' which we had been invited to and would be stepping into for the first time.

Gathered there were representatives from each faction… and a few other guests.

The topic of the meeting was, in a word—'Selection of Personnel for the Colored Monster Subjugation Battle.'

"My recommendation as the Acrobat… well, that aside. Do you really think a special combat force, recommended by several other veteran rankers, would be overlooked?"

"That's why! Isn't it unavoidable that I'll be nervous either way!"

I feel for Sora-san, who's getting worked up from the nerves and pressure, but she'll just have to steel herself. She's the one who said she would 'stand by my side,' fully aware that it would make her stand out. I have no intention of holding back now.

"Um, please wait. Let's walk more slowly…!"

"Haha…"

She'd even started resorting to some uncharacteristic delaying tactics. I couldn't hide my amusement as she started lightly tapping my back in protest.

It had been about a week since our expedition with Tiger Lucky's group—and though she had accumulated 'power' at a speed that would have shocked my past self, for better or worse… no.

In infinitely good ways, my partner remained as refreshingly unchanged as ever.

Even so, the shifting world would not stop time—in order to fulfill the role that 'Yotsuya Development' had asked of us.

And even more than that, to play this world to its fullest as players.

The first step towards the subjugation of a 'Colored Monster' was just around the corner.

---

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◇Status◇
Title: Acrobat
Name: Haru　 Lv: 100
STR: 250
AGI: 300
DEX: 0
VIT: 0 (+150)
MID: 300 (+350)
LUC: 300

◇Skill◇
・Arms of Gandharva
[Construction]
[Flip Stroke]
[Whirlwind]
[Exchange Voltate]
[Greed's Precept]

・Water Magic Aptitude (New!)
[Aqua]
[Flood]
[Water Enchant]

・Active
[Reflect Blower] ⇒ [Reflect Explode] (Up!)
[Breath Moment]
[Rocket]
[Floating Leaf]
[Fatal Leak]

・Passive
[Embodied Protection]
[Awakening Blow] ⇒ [Attentive Limit] (Up!)
[Heavy Attack Manipulator] ⇒ [Gigant Figure] (Up!)
[Adamant Sky Dash]
[Hare Real]
[Land Insulate]
[Floating Star]
[Trickster of Zenith]
[Dangerous Light, Fast Recovery]
[Cutting Body, Unyielding Advance]
[Guardian's Cradle] ⇒ [Luna Nobody, Guardian of the Shimmering Moon] (Up!)
[Mana Efficiency]

[Telepathy]
[Four-Sided Blessing] (New!)

◇Arts◇
【Kesshiki Ittoryu】
[Flying Water]
[Striking Iron]
[Heavenly Snow]
[Withered Flame]
[Seven Stars]
[Blade Thunder]
　Secret Art: [Bound Wind]

――――――――――――――――――

◇Status◇
Name: Sora
Lv: 100
STR: 100
AGI: 200
DEX: 100 ⇒ 50
VIT: 100
MID: 550 ⇒ 600 (+200)
LUC: 100

◇Skill◇
・Magic Sword Aptitude
[Optimize Alert]
[Load Bullet] (New!)
[Psychic Sword Control] + [Homing Shot] ⇒ [Maestro of Magic Swords] (Up!)
[Magic Sword Generation Efficiency] ⇒ [Monarch of Magic Swords] (Up!)
[Territory Construction] (New!)
[Attribute Conversion] (New!)

・Light Magic Aptitude
[Qualia Veil]
[Fast Light] (New!)
[Circlet]
[Light Enchant] (New!)

・Active
[Scareless, Song of the Scales]
[Quit Counter] ⇒ [Glad Bounce] (New!)
[Tremble Slide] (New!)
[Observation Eye] ⇒ [Observing Amber Eye] (Up!)

・Passive
[Mana Cladding]
[Acrobatics] ⇒ [Magic Sky Dash] (Up!)
[Jump Maneuver] ⇒ [Jumble Step] ⇒ [Featherfoot] (New!)
[True Eye]
[Healer's Precept] ⇒ [Healer's Devotion] (Up!)
[Mana Efficiency] ⇒ [Master of Magic] (Up!)

[Telepathy]
[Four-Sided Blessing] (New!)
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