kscans

Chapter 342 - A Wicked Invention

"—Alright, your turn, Har-kun!"

"I don't know what you mean by 'alright,' but…"

Following Sora's turn, I placed my fingertip on the magic circle of the journal offered to me, a wry smile on my face.

The instant I did, [Reminiel Traveler] glowed once more—and with that, my beloved sword, [Evairquartz], was likely recorded in her Anima as well.

As for [Cradle of Sword-Craft], because it was directly related to the annihilation battle's strategic plan, a formal meeting was arranged and the request was made.

…But apparently, Lux makes a point of asking to copy the Anima of every player she has any sort of interaction with.

So, with no particular reason to refuse, I agreed without a second thought.

When you hear about a troublesome situation like only being able to accumulate experience for evolution by recording new Anima… well, I'm happy to cooperate that much.

By the way,

"So, what's the rarity?"

"Hmm… Two stars!"

I knew it, but it seems my beloved sword is still a work in progress.

Well, yeah. A First Tier… so basically a [White-Flawed Straight Sword], with a degradation penalty on top of that, it's no wonder. Let's do our best from now on, partner.

"Just so you know, it's super rare to get anything three stars or higher, okay? Considering its tier, it's more than enough! In fact, I have super high hopes for its future potential!"

"Huh…"

That extra bit of info just makes [Cradle of Sword-Craft]'s monstrousness stand out even more…

"Um, I'd like to confirm something, just in case…"

Sora, who had been watching me get copied from the side, timidly raised her hand.

"I don't mind you using my Anima, but… um, this child is apparently a bit difficult for others to handle."

"Yup, yup. Not just 'a bit difficult,' from what I understood."

Lux nodded with an exaggerated flourish, laughing cheerfully, while Sora frowned, seeming to search for the right words.

"So, um… h-how is it? For you, Lux-san…"

Can you handle it properly—that's what she wanted to ask.

Sora had been able to generate and launch magic swords with ease from the very beginning. Having witnessed that up close has skewed my perception a bit, but even without thinking too hard, [Cradle of Sword-Craft] is a massive problem child.

The difficulty of the thought-based controls required to use its abilities and manage its movements is, in a different way from the quick-change skills, nothing short of "extremely high."

Lux, who surely understood this fact through the power of her own Anima, replied—

"Ahh, let's see—well, I think it'll be fine?"

She laughed breezily, her tone utterly light as she declared it a non-issue.

"Of course, I can't do the same things you do, Sora-chan. But look, the Magic Sword Aptitude Tree! I was amazed that an Anima had its own dedicated tree, but it seems that imitating your partner grants it to me on a limited basis."

"Wow…"

So that means the skill tree is part of [Cradle of Sword-Craft]'s ability? No wonder it got a bugged-out rating like eight stars.

"So, umm… you know that thing! There are those automatic homing projectile skills, right? I'm not as good as you, Sora-chan, but I'm good at thought control too, so I can probably manage to summon magic swords one after another!"

I see. As long as she can generate the magic swords without issue, she can more than fulfill the role of an artillery cannon just by spamming them with skills…

"As for firepower, with your build, Lux…-san, it shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"Hmph-hmph! I'm a perfectly respectable mage, you know!! Also, you can be as casual with me as you are with A-chan, okay? Feel free to call me Lu-chan or something—"

"Alright, Lux it is then."

"So cold!"

Realize it, Lux. I know a hundred percent that you don't see me as a man in the slightest, but Ashe has been staring at you as you've been getting closer and closer.

"But anyway, I'll be sure to practice, so don't you worry! In the real battle, I'll go on a rampage with the magic swords I inherited from Sora-chan and my own magic! Ahaha!"

"…You think you can handle operating magic swords and magic in parallel?"

"U-um… I'm able to, for the most part, but…………"

I asked Sora, who was standing beside the heartily laughing Lux. Judging by her reaction… or even without it, I could tell it was probably incredibly difficult—

Well, she may act like that, but she's the number one of the Northern Faction… In this regard, it might be pointless to worry.

After all, Ashe and Helena-san, who know her far better than we do, haven't voiced any concerns or questions.

…Wait, speaking of which—

"What's the cooldown on the copied [Cradle of Sword-Craft]?"

"Hm? Oh, ten days!!"

"Whoa… uh, is that okay? How are you going to practice?"

When I asked about the problem I had just thought of, Lux gave me a genuinely puzzled look and said—

"You can do it as much as you want using the duel system, right? Any cooldowns or costs that happen during a duel get reset."

""Ahh…""

Hearing the answer she gave as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, Sora and I, who must have had the same question, let out a sound of understanding.

"—Which means, it's GACHA TIME!!"

"I don't know what you mean by 'which means,' but…"

Watching Lux, whose boundless energy kept her fired up all on her own, I'd grown used to it enough to relax with a cup of tea in hand.

I was trying to set an 'example' with my behavior, but… Sora, true to her nature, couldn't relax, and still seemed a bit tense.

Being surrounded by a group of rankers, it couldn't be helped, but if she didn't get used to it bit by bit, things would be tough for her later. I'd have to support her.

"Um… is this also part of the 'agenda'?"

Anyway, I pointed to the suddenly excited Lux and asked Helena-san—but the lady-in-waiting, who never let her sharp expression falter, shook her head.

"That is merely her 'habit.'"

"A habit, you say."

"Yes! This!"

Before I could retort with what's this.

Lux stood up from the sofa, still in a mysteriously good mood, and walked to the side of the table… she operated some kind of window, and in the next moment.

"Ta-da!"

"Whoa!"

"Feh…!"

What Lux pulled out of her inventory was a massive leather sack, likely bigger than she was. It slammed onto the waiting room floor with a loud thud, and the resulting vibration made Sora let out a small yelp of surprise.

"This is a thank-you for letting me record your Anima! A gift for each of you from the collection I've gathered as a Traveler wandering this wide, wide virtual world!"

"Oh?"

What's this? This is actually… No, it's frustrating for some reason, but this is actually kind of exciting…!

"I see, gacha… so that's what this is?"

"Hee hee hee hee… As expected of Har-kun, you catch on quick…!"

"Your laugh just got creepy all of a sudden."

"That's so mean!!"

Seriously, that was the kind of thing you wouldn't hear even from a drunk old man—anyway,

"What exactly is in this 'collection'?"

"Who knows?"

"'Who knows?'???"

The person who prepared it has no idea what's inside?

"They're all gems I found during my adventures that made me go 'This is it!', but they're all unappraised, so I don't really know!"

"Seriously…"

"Ah, haha…"

"Haru. And Sora, you too."

Just as Sora and I were feeling bewildered by this mysterious gacha of unknown contents, though it certainly seemed interesting, Ashe spoke up.

"This child is like that, but when it comes to adventuring—treasure hunting—no one can beat the Traveler. There are no duds among the things Lux takes an interest in, so you can get your hopes up."

"Huh… well then, I guess I'll get my hopes up."

"Hee hee hee, what's wrong, A-chan? You're making me blush!"

I couldn't quite figure out their relationship, whether they were close or not… but judging by Ashe's attitude, they seemed to be connected by a strange sense of trust.

Well, if it has the Sword Queen's seal of approval, my expectations can't help but rise. In that case—… in that case, um, what do I do?

"Should I just stick my hand in?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, yeah! Then here you go!"

After giving the leather sack a vigorous shuffle with a clank-clank, Lux turned the opening, just wide enough for an arm, towards me with a triumphant look.

That was a pretty violent sound just now, you sure some priceless, unknown item didn't just get shattered to pieces inside?—Anyway,

"Alright, excuse me… Oh, you want to go first?"

"H-ah, no, please, you go ahead…!"

Nodding to Sora, who let me go first, I plunged my right hand into the leather sack—or rather, the gacha box.

Hmm… feels like ore, feels like wood, a mysterious rough texture, and a smooth, squishy feel like an animal's skin—what is this, it feels gross!?

Hey, I hope I'm wrong, but there aren't any actual living creatures in here, are there!? C'mon, I can't keep my hand in this abyss for long!!

I grabbed the first round something that my fingertips brushed against—

"I choose you!"

I blurted out a strange catchphrase in my panic and yanked my hand out with force. In my right hand was—a clear, amber color, much like someone's eyes.

No, not just amber-colored… it was amber itself.

A perfect oval, about five centimeters in diameter. Through the smooth, unblemished surface, sealed within with a calm sparkle, was a pale pink—

"Are those… cherry blossom petals?"

"Maybe…?"

As Sora's words, who was peering over my shoulder with great interest, suggested, the five characteristically shaped petals were undeniably those of a familiar 'sakura.'

When I tapped the amber with my fingertip… a window popped up, revealing the item's name to be [Sacred Sakura Amber Stone].

Judging by its appearance and name, I'd think it was a fairly valuable item… but unfortunately.

The problem was that no one around could tell me just how good of a pull this was.

"…………Go ahead."

"Y-yes…"

So, with the excitement somewhat dampened, I stepped aside and prompted my partner.

—And a few seconds later, it goes without saying that Sora's scream, likely from touching the mysterious squishy thing, echoed through the waiting room.