kscans

Chapter 370 - Re: Straight Down the Cliff

Now that I've thoroughly experienced the vastness of the main field, the [Garden of Divine Creation], it makes perfect sense, but apparently, the 'beginner areas' for all factions, not just Istia, are in a state of extreme depopulation.

With a boundless, unknown world stretching out to the east, west, north, and south, there's no reason to return to a tutorial map where you can't expect any decent loot.

For that reason, and because we didn't have any peers, Sora and I never thought about it, but it seems the various fields of the [Trial Spheres of Partition] were basically instant-generated spaces.

Well, that's to be expected… Even these maps, when measured against the standards of the analog games Arche mentioned, could be considered vast in terms of area.

However, a scale of that size could never handle the chaos of the service's initial launch. It was a natural design choice to manage the massive number of players before they moved on to the virtually infinite main field.

So, the seven maps prepared for each faction are structurally the same as dungeons.

Unless you manipulate the 'settings' like we did during our run, it uses an automatic matchmaking system up to the maximum number of people. If you properly tweak things, you can also enter a party-exclusive instance.

—So, wouldn't that mean multiple 'White Thrones' could exist simultaneously in the final areas of these instances? As for that question, unfortunately, the players haven't found a correct answer.

It has been confirmed that you can't enter the crater if someone else is fighting in another instance… but apparently, you can still visually confirm that 'it' is in the center.

In other words, it's a fact that multiple versions exist simultaneously in different spaces.

'Boundary'—since it's a being that governs space, I guess that makes sense. It's an entity beyond comprehension from the start, so there's a limit to how much we can speculate.

In any case, the important thing is that, for these reasons, we don't have to worry about interference or a gallery.

After we all piled into the transfer gate, led by Arche, I can imagine the commotion on the other side as people realize, 'Could it be?'…

Whether we win or lose, the events of today's battle will be uploaded to the archives anyway. The public uproar is just a matter of sooner or later.

And so, the march toward the 'White Throne,' which began in a surprisingly calm manner—

"Is this a mountain climbing tour?"

"…W-well, you could call it a grand spectacle, I suppose."

Even Sora's attempt to smooth things over was a little lacking this time.

The nostalgic [Cliff Road of the Sky Bridge]—trailing along its narrow, unreliable cliff path was a long, long line of over a hundred top-tier players.

Clad in their glittering armor, chatting animatedly with those in front of and behind them, the scene… was, to put it simply, exactly that of a mountain picnic.

It was a sight you often see on elementary school hiking trips.

Except the ones climbing weren't innocent children, but innocent (?) gamers decked out in sparkling gear.

Well, well, it seems morale is high, which is a good thing.

"In a few minutes, all of them are going to start jumping off…"

"That would be, well, quite a sight… I mean, are we really jumping off?"

"Eh, I don't know. From what Arche told me, probably?"

It wasn't a major issue for me either way, so I only asked briefly, but when I questioned how we'd get down the cliff, she said, "We'll just go down normally."

The [Sword Queen] going down normally.

With all due respect, I couldn't picture her using ropes or anything else 'normal,' so I just arbitrarily decided, ah, so we're just jumping off normally.

Well, it's an attraction that a rookie around level thirty can survive with a desperate struggle. Considering that everyone here is max level and a top-tier powerhouse, a full-on freefall is at least plausible.

…And so on.

Having been ordered by Goldow to 'help any idiots who lose their footing,' my partner and I had been serving as the rearguard for several minutes now.

The front of the line must have reached the most convenient drop point, the one closest to the great crater. The column, which had been advancing at a leisurely pace, came to a halt.

Well then… I suppose I should be proactive about socializing.

"Excuse me, handsome older gentleman over there."

"Whoa…! Oh, what's up, Lord Crown?"

Since I'd been asked to handle any accidents, I'd kept some distance from the back of the line to get a better view of the whole group.

Because of that, I hadn't been chatting until now, so he must have been surprised when I suddenly spoke to him. Though he initially had a big reaction, the nice middle-aged man with light gray hair and a dandy beard immediately flashed a friendly grin.

They may praise the rankers to high heaven, but from a truly general perspective, every single player gathered here is the 'cream of the crop.'

In other words, to varying degrees, they are also leaders.

They might get rowdy and cheer, but if you talk to them, they'll respond as 'fellow players.'

As someone who's about to become their comrade-in-arms, it's a relief, and I'm grateful for it.

"Pardon my ignorance, but I've only been given a vague explanation. What's the plan from here? I heard we're just going down normally, but…"

Exposing my own ignorance is nothing new to me at this point.

I asked in a way that feigned embarrassment, though I myself thought, 'Who are you to talk?' The handsome man with a longsword slung over his back just nodded without a care, saying, "Ah, I see."

"That's right, we're just going down normally. There's a spot ahead where the cliff face becomes a bit gentler… well, 'gentle' compared to a sheer cliff, anyway."

"I see. Well, I guess with our avatars' physical abilities…"

"Yeah. The advance team will lay down some cushions below, and as long as we just slide down, there shouldn't be a problem… and if a problem does arise, the advance team will help us out too."

"Got it, got it… I understand. Thanks for the explanation."

"Don't mention it—we're counting on you today, our Seventh!"

"Haha—you can bet I'll work like a horse, so look forward to it."

I returned his proffered fist with my own, and with that, our excellent communication was complete. Let's see… I think his name was Mouton-san.

I did go through introductions with the selected members the other day for a 'meet-and-greet,' but I've perfectly memorized all one hundred names.

As always, my memory is disgustingly good, even to me.

If I could use this in the real world, I probably wouldn't need study groups… wait a minute. If I somehow duplicated my lecture notes over here and memorized them—

"Haru?"

"Yes."

"I don't know what it is, but you're making a wicked face."

"It was just a thought. Forgive me."

How did she know… well, she's right, cheating isn't good. Especially since I'm already enjoying the massive real-world cheat of Arcadia, which gives me 50% more entertainment time compared to those who can't partake in its benefits.

In truth, I don't even know the detailed mechanics of 'memory' over here, so I have no idea if such a scheme would even work.

But that aside—

"Long story short, it seems we're sliding down rather than jumping. There's a point where the sheer cliff becomes more like a super-steep slope."

"Long story short…"

Sora chuckled at my choice of words… Perhaps happy to avoid jumping, she nodded in satisfaction. "Right, that's what's normal, isn't it?"

At this point, I think she has quite the aptitude for action herself, but her everyday mentality never strays from that of an 'extremely modest' young lady of the Yotsuya family.

There's no need for any tactless rebuttals—so, there are other things for me to consider right now.

A steep slope, almost a sheer cliff.

Sliding down with great momentum.

We are at the very back.

And Sora is wearing a knee-length skirt.

"………………Nope, not happening."

"Yes?"

"I don't think that's going to work."

"Wha, huh…? What do you mean, what's wrong—"

There's no what's wrong about it.

And so, a short while later… let's check our answers—this is what I meant.

No matter how excellent Arcadia's Tough Skirt System (TSS) is, men are simple creatures who get excited just by the glimpse of skin between a skirt and long boots!

"Like hell I'm letting anyone look up from below, you idiots!!"

"Who are you talking to and what are you doing!?"

There was absolutely no other choice. I completely ignored the slide, which was more like a controlled fall.

After seeing Mouton-shi disappear into the fog below with a thumbs-up, I naturally scooped Sora up into my arms—

"Alright, let's go! A counterexample to 'people can't fly,' Part 2!"

"Stop, let g—mooooooooooooh!!"

Just like that one time, I stepped off the cliff without a hint of hesitation.