kscans

Chapter 339 - Lighting the Fuse

After confirming the abnormality of the Colored Monsters—a feature that seemed to kick the very foundations of the existing "PvE" genre to the curb—the meeting proceeded with surprising smoothness under Helena-san's expert guidance. It made one wonder if she was a professional moderator.

Perhaps it was less a meeting and more of an introduction and a confirmation of future plans. After all, the first topic of discussion—the "slots" for current rankers—was neatly resolved since exactly ten people, excluding Mi-na and Ri-na, were gathered here.

I suppose it was also a venue to get approval for my partner, who currently has zero "achievements," to enter as a special exception.

"Then, it is unanimous."

She surveyed the scene, where everyone but Sora and I had their hands raised.

Helena-san, who had been leading the proceedings from start to finish, gave a single nod and turned her gaze to my partner, who was frozen stiff with a tense expression in her seat a short distance away.

"Sora-sama will be formally welcomed as a member of this annihilation battle."

"No objections!"

The Traveler's particularly bright voice overlapped with the Lady-in-Waiting's dispassionate statement of the results—and with that, the final topic on the agenda concluded without a hitch.

There was no need for me, her partner, to say anything. With the strong endorsement from Mi-na and Ri-na, who had witnessed Sora's abilities as a player firsthand, her inclusion was successfully approved.

When Arcadia's most powerful artillery cannons praise someone as a talent capable of filling the void they leave behind, the persuasiveness of their words is self-evident.

As for Sora herself, she was utterly overwhelmed and rigid as a board, but—

"—Oi, junior."

"Eh… what is it, senpai?"

Just as I was secretly letting out a sigh of relief without letting it show on my face, Irori called out to me from next to my seat. Sensing a hint of exasperation in his tone, I glanced over to find the Blonde Samurai giving me a perfectly infuriating smile.

And before I could glare back with a what do you want?—

"You're grinning."

"You've got to be kidding me, how embarrassing."

My poker face, which I hadn't realized was compromised, was pointed out, and I discreetly pulled up the hood of my outerwear while trying to vanish.

I remained a motionless statue until the meeting ended—

all while feeling the gaze of the Princess enthroned before me.

◇◆◇◆◇

"Well, well, Crown-kun! I was so looking forward to meeting you!"

Just as the discussion concluded and a relaxed atmosphere settled over the room, a flash of grassy-green flew at me from a distant seat. Before I could react, my hand was seized at blinding speed and forced into a handshake.

"Uh, thank you… It's an honor to meet you, too."

"I've heard sooo much about you from Tora-kun and the others! I didn't see the war or any of that stuff, so I don't really get it, but they were so happy they'd made a new friend! Thanks a bunch!!"

"Ah, hah… Well, your friends have been a great help to me, too—"

"You're great, you know that? Really great! What's great is your name, Crown! Crown! A king's crown! Treasure! It just has a great ring to it!"

"Um, that's not actually my name—"

"B Y T H E W A Y ! That hair ornament is suuuuper pretty, it looks like a real treasure! I was wondering if you could pretty please tell me where you found it—"

"Okay, fine, I get it! If that's how you're gonna be, then I won't hold back either! Get off me, you're too close, you're annoying!!"

"Whoa, so energetic!!"

She was, after all, the number one ranker of the North. I mercilessly grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and, with a gender-equal pitch, hurled her away. But the incarnation of smiles simply did a flip in mid-air and landed with ease.

"Get back, Sora, she's dangerous…!"

"Ah, haha…"

She must have been taken aback by the sudden comedy show.

I shielded Sora, who had come over and was now frozen with wide, blinking eyes, and glared at the dangerous individual approaching with a slow, bizarre motion.

This one's bad news… I can't read her thoughts at all…!!

"You make friends with everyone at lightning speed, don't you, big bro?"

"In a way, that's his greatest talent."

"Is it some kind of medical condition where you die if you don't get dragged into events?"

Mi-na, Ri-na, and the Blonde Samurai, all saying whatever they pleased… Hey, you, Istia's top dog (Goldow), stop holding your stomach and laughing and get a leash on the North's top dog—

"Lux."

"Oh, A-chan."

—and so, salvation arrived like the wind.

The silver-blue figure appeared silently beside theキラキラ head, casually lifted her by the scruff of the neck, and swiftly neutralized the dangerous person.

""—""

Our eyes met for just a moment… but unfortunately, from the garnet eyes I hadn't seen in a while, I couldn't read the Princess's inner thoughts.

Ashe averted her gaze from me and looked at the woman dangling from her hand.

"I always tell you. I know you don't mean any harm, but you have to consider the other person and hold back."

To be honest, seeing her act like that was a little surprising.

Or rather, it was just that I hadn't seen that side of Ashe very often…

"Ah… Nihaha, sorry, sorry. It's been a while since I've been back in the city, so I got a little carried away."

And speaking of surprises, this was another one.

The Traveler, whom I had judged to be the type who doesn't listen to people after just a few dozen seconds, immediately wilted after being scolded by Ashe.

What's with you two? Are you friends?

"—Haru."

"—...Yeah?"

As I was spacing out, a familiar voice called my name.

However, no one here knew that Ashe and I were acquaintances… or something. Helena-san seemed a bit suspicious, but Ashe probably hadn't told her everything either.

For a few reasons of my own, I hadn't even been able to tell my partner, Sora, until today.

So, for a split second, I faltered—but we had already decided how we would act in front of others in preparation for this moment, so I had no choice.

"What is it?"

"She's not a bad person. So I'd like you to be friends with her."

"If you say so, then I guess she is. Okay."

"Mm… She's just a little… different."

"Whether it's just 'a little' is debatable, though."

"We're not really in a position to talk."

"When you put it like that, I don't have much of a comeback…"

Without any particular act, we spoke as we always did.

Naturally, to an extent that might seem unnatural to an outsider.

And when we were done, we broke eye contact without hesitation.

"Oh my."

"Oh…?"

"Eh, what?"

"Well now…"

"Hohoh?"

"Wait a sec, seriously?"

"No way, is that what's going on?"

"Huh…"

"Ahh… so that's how it is."

"…?"

—Indistinguishable voices reached my ears simultaneously… and it's not as if there were many people here who were insensitive to subtleties.

At Ashe's request, the closeness I had hinted at without hiding it had likely been read perfectly by them all.

And, of course…

"Eh—… Eh?"

My partner, her large eyes wide open in surprise, was no exception.

"…………………………Eeeh…!?"

She looked at me, then at Ashe, then back at me, then back at Ashe—and as I watched Sora's face grow increasingly confused, I wondered if it was okay to look away.

For now, well… the role of supporting my partner, who had stumbled from the shock, would be—

"Gotcha!"

—left to the red-headed girl who had sensed the abnormality and rushed over.