kscans

Chapter 364 - White, Slowly Stained

"—Hmph. So, you guys ended up making your own, then?"

"It was the easiest and most straightforward option."

"Straightforward... Isn't it a little late to be playing the pacifist?"

"Don't make me sound like a troublemaker... I don't mind a bit of chaos, but that doesn't mean I want to cause it on purpose, you know?"

"Right. Okay, left hand up."

"Are you even listening to me???"

I exchanged words with Nia for a while as she tinkered with various parts of my outfit, making what she called 'final adjustments,' while asking me this and that.

The topic shifted to the clan matter I had briefly mentioned recently, but she remained as dismissive as ever while working. I couldn't help but think, you're the one who brought it up... but her flawless, efficient movements were so cool that I swallowed my complaints.

Artisans are just unfair. Like the master and Kagura-san, they have this strange presence that seems to quell any minor unreasonable behavior with a mysterious force—

...Well, maybe it's just that I have a certain admiration for 'professionals'.

Craftsmen are just cool, pure and simple.

"Mmm... I think that's about it? Try twisting your body around a bit, see if anything feels off."

"Nope. It feels so natural, it's almost weird."

Apparently, the automatic fitting function like the one on those lounge clothes requires a bit of the item's ability resource. So, not just for hardcore players, but it's standard practice to have combat attire optimized for the individual like this each time.

I once thought Nia was the type to 'finish the product upon delivery'... but it turns out, that style is the 'norm', not just for her.

"An-n-nd... the finishing touch!"

And then, for the umpteenth time, the aquamarine charm was fitted into the intentionally empty slot on my chest.

One hundred percent intentional.

There's no doubt she did it with a very pleased, happy smile, having calculated exactly how I would react.

"...Hehe."

"It's not 'hehe'... Haven't you been a little too brazenly cute lately?"

"I dunno. It's your fault for being weak to my cute act, isn't it?"

It's not that I'm weak to her cute act, it's more that she's just... Whatever I say, I'll just be digging my own grave. I should retreat on this front.

"By the way, is it okay to keep the Purify enchantment on it?"

"Yeah, that's fine. Thanks."

After hearing all about her 'eyes', I've come to cherish the [Agaphanthus Amulet] with even greater gratitude—it's fine, in fact, it's an unparalleled trump card that I can honestly say is 'the best I could ask for'.

The most troublesome thing about incapacitating status effects like stun is that, normally, 'once you're hit, you can't do anything about it yourself'.

Well, of course. You can't act. If you can get healing from an ally, that's one thing, but the greatest strength of these effects is that the victim can't break free on their own.

In that case, the [Agaphanthus Amulet], which can dispel such effects with a single, instantaneous mental command and no lag... as Iris said, it's just plain broken.

My durability has improved a bit lately, but considering my frequent self-damaging actions, I could never claim to be 'tough'.

My build is such that if an accident happens after I charge in, there's a high probability of instant death. This amulet is undoubtedly one of the reasons I can floor the accelerator without fear of accidents.

—And so, when I showed hesitation at monopolizing an item that so many players would drool over, she was the one who, after Iris spilled the beans, pinned me down with a 'if you even think about giving it back, I'll smack you'.

...I'd rather not be smacked, and I certainly don't want her to sulk, so my only option is to 'gratefully accept it'.

"But, of all things, you had to be 'water' too... You might be able to use Purify yourself eventually, you know."

Separate from that, Nia seems to have another concern regarding my awakening to the same magic attribute as her.

Since she's completely hopeless in combat, she may understand the demand for her abilities, but it might be difficult for her to imagine just how huge the actual benefit is.

"Putting aside whether I can even learn healing magic... even if I could use it myself, this thing's position wouldn't be threatened."

First of all, there's no way I'd have time to chant when I need it for myself.

Maybe for something like 'poison', which I've never been hit with, but if I'm solo, any action-inhibiting effect is an instant loss.

And because those kinds of effects would normally be an instant loss, this amulet allows me to pull off a heinously unfair surprise counterattack.

Its effectiveness against monsters is unknown, but in PvP, I'm sure I'd be hit with complaints about it being a cheat and an unfair move.

—And so, out of my daily gratitude, I passionately explained its usefulness, and Nia's cheeks relaxed into a not-so-displeased expression.

In about two seconds, it would probably turn into a smug look.

"H-Hmph...! W-well, it's not that big a deal...!"

See, what did I tell you? Cu—... what a transparent girl.

"—Okay, if anything feels off, bring it to me right away. If it's an emergency, you can contact me in the real world, too."

"Such great after-sales service. Very reassuring."

After we finished adjusting the new outfit and sharing information, it was just about dinnertime. We were both at a good point to log out, so parting ways was the natural course of action.

She says such reliable things... but should I think of the artisan who says 'contact me anytime' as simply reliable, or should I feel guilty for making a girl wait who so casually says 'contact me anytime'?

Should I even feel guilty in the first place?

If that's just for my own self-preservation or self-satisfaction, then perhaps being straightforward and acting as I always have is the more 'sincere' path.

...I don't know.

I still don't know anything, but—

"Hm? What's wrong?"

At some point, she stopped trying to hide her straightforward affection.

Towards a troublesome guy who can't even handle a normal romance... her gaze towards me has also remained unchanged—and because of that,

Because of that, if there's one thing that has changed within me.

"One week from now."

"Huh?"

"You know, the day of the decisive battle."

"...Ah, wha... seriously, already?"

"Yeah. The personnel selection and scheduling are done, and everyone's motivation is high. There's no point in dragging it out, they said."

"Haaa... s-so... I see. Wow, wait, my heart's starting to pound, this is bad..."

"I've been feeling a little restless since I heard, too."

"I see..."

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

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

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

"...Um... is that it?"

"...That's it, I mean... it'll be over then, I mean."

"Mm, mmm...?"

—Well, yeah, I guess so.

I'm trying to do something I'm not used to, and my own mind is pretty much a blank slate, so it's probably too much to ask her to understand...

"I mean, basically... after a week, my schedule will clear up for a bit."

"Clear up..."

"Regardless of whether we succeed or not, there'll probably be a 'good job for now' kind of break, and I'll have some time..."

"Time..."

"So, uh..."

I know I shouldn't be thinking this, but in this situation, I, who am already clumsy and awkward, can't help but think 'what if'.

What if... yes, what if—

"Once I have time, I won't make excuses to turn you down or run away... is what I'm trying to say."

If the girl who confessed her feelings to me had been the only one.

I wonder if I could have avoided saying such incredibly uncool, passive words.

I wonder if I could have been the one to ask her out on a date, face to face.

"...Uh, um."

"...Sorry, I know what I'm saying is weird."

I can't look at Nia's blank face, so I avert my eyes and unconsciously scratch my head. Ugh, my pathetic behavior is leaking out.

"One or the other, or both... considering the current situation, it would be wrong for me to ask you out, right? Well, the current situation itself is already wrong, but—"

"Hey, um. You know, let's just calm down for a second?"

As I endlessly panicked, even Nia couldn't help but give a genuine, wry smile.

As if to reset the parting conversation, she took my hand and, with an exaggerated "heave-ho," tossed me onto the sofa.

This is, to put it mildly—

"I'm being incredibly uncool right now..."

"To some people, it might look that way."

To all of humanity, no doubt... With that self-deprecating thought, I looked up, but the expression I saw wasn't one of exasperation or disappointment at my pathetic state.

To the girl who saw a man who, to some people, looked incredibly uncool, she was just looking at him happily.

"You know..."

"Yes."

"When the person you like is being uncharacteristically clumsy and trying so hard to think about you..."

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

"There's no way I'd think you're uncool."

"...Now, after the guilt, I feel like I'm going to die of embarrassment."

I can't meet the gaze of Nia, who is kneeling in front of the sofa and looking up at me—it's just too bright.

"The princess said it too, right? It's no one's fault. And if you'll allow me to be selfish, I'd rather you not go around creating villains."

"That's a difficult selfish request..."

"And besides, from my perspective... and I think the princess would agree...

My sleeve was tugged, and my gaze was naturally pulled along with it. When our eyes met, her expression hadn't changed.

"Being confessed to by two people at the same time, that's not normal, is it? I don't really want to put it this way, but if we had to say 'who's the victim here,' I think it's you."

"Hey, you can't just..."

"Of course, I'm not the perpetrator either! If we're going to point fingers, then it's just 'fate'—so you can curse your own fate!"

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

"And one of them was love at first sight! Unpredictable and unavoidable! How's that, admit defeat!"

"........................Your face is bright red, you know."

"Sh-shut up...!"

It's not a very smooth ending, which is so very her—or so my past self would have thought.

But my current self can read her correctly. I can laugh and say she has no room to talk, but I know that Nia is keenly aware of her audience and chooses her words with precision.

"So, anyway... what I'm saying is, you're overthinking it. It's not like you're two-timing us, and right now is our approach time, isn't it?"

I hadn't meant to be looking down, but a gentle push on my forehead made me look up.

"Have you forgotten who put you in the position of having to choose?—And I, for one, feel not a shred of guilt about it, thank you very much."

Slender fingertips gently brushed my bangs aside... and in my now-clear vision, the large, sparkling aquamarine gems were vividly reflected.

Reflected—and I just thought.

"I... I don't have time to be thinking about that stuff right now."

As I listened to those words, which were so sweet to me,

"All I can think about is how to make you fall in love with me."

If only the name that occupied my mind was just one.

"So if you have time to think about troublesome things, just hurry up and fall for me—and with that, I think I'll make a reservation for a date right now!"

Even if I can't break my passive stance, just waiting would be insincere.

So at the very least, I have to show a more proactive attitude... but that half-baked idea was brilliantly shot down—

Forget all that, just look at me, she says.

"...Nia."

"Yes?"

"You're too close. Don't try to use the chaos to attempt excessive skinship."

"What's the big deal? It's not like you'll wear out!"

"Yes, it is! A lot of my mental fortitude will wear out...!"

And that's why, with each passing day, I think.

I have to be able to give an answer soon—no, not out of a sense of duty.

"Hey, author, don't play with your own creation's ears."

"Well, I was just thinking, I really am a genius... Hey, a picture?"

"Nope."

"Aww... what's with the 'aww'...?!"

I want to be able to give an answer soon, from the bottom of my heart.