kscans

Chapter 385 - The White Journey Unburdened, Part Nine

"—Can I give you my thoughts?"

"No, you may not…!"

On top of the now-motionless 'vermilion' one. I offered Sora a hand as she sat slumped over, and she immediately shot me down, telling me not to say a word.

Too bad, but oh well. The fact that I thought she was super cool and amazing is a given, and I can tell from her beet-red face as she looks at me that the praise has already been conveyed.

Any effect my earlier plan of making the rounds to greet everyone—so as not to make them needlessly nervous before the fight—might have had has likely been completely blown away by now.

At the very least, the people who were here have probably realized the rather serious fact that my partner is even crazier than I am.

—Anyway,

That makes five of the 'vermilion' ones we've taken down across the 'Boundaries'… and based on what Ashe said when we ran into each other at the fourth one, this must have been the last of the ten.

"Which means… something else is about to happen. You okay?"

"I'm not, okay, but………… I can still… keep going…!"

Shaking off her deep fatigue, Sora took my hand with a start and stood up, clenching her fists as if to steel herself.

Super cute. I want to pat her head—the fact that such thoughts are popping into my head suggests that my own mental fatigue is accumulating quite a bit.

But regardless, the third phase of the [White Throne] annihilation battle was now complete. Naturally, the surviving raid members began to gather in this location one after another.

"—Nineteen people. Should we see that as a lot, or a few… I wonder."

Lord [General Commander], who had come over to my side, muttered as he looked around at the assembled members—

"It's better to think of it as few. Both in terms of fact and for morale."

Next to him, the voice that rang out belonged to the sole exception among the members, who were all, to varying degrees, covered in fatigue. The princess, with her prim and proper face, showed no signs of tiredness or negative emotion.

"You could say that thanks to the guys who put their bodies on the line, we rankers made it to the next stage at full strength. Considering this was a completely blind, forced improvisation…"

"We might be able to consider this the best possible outcome."

The two from the south, Orin and Fuji-san, followed up from behind him.

"Though it was INCREDIBLY exhausting!!!"

Lux, who popped his head out from even further behind, followed with a vivaciousness that seemed impossible for an ordinary human, his face a mixture of utter exhaustion and boundless energy.

Glad to see you're doing well. Just stay right there, okay?

My partner is tired too, so if you come flying at her with that energy, I won't hesitate to catch and release.

—And,

"………………Um, Hinayo-san, I'm really sorry. That deadpan stare is effective on me in a lot of ways, so please have mercy."

Having chucked aside my 'escort' duty as Irori had requested and run to my partner's aid, the older lady was currently giving me the side-eye.

"Oh, I'm just kidding. I don't mind at all, really."

"Even if you say that without a single twitch of your expression…"

I know she's joking, but unless she shows me her usual mischievous smile, I can't really feel at ease—

Ah, that's the one. Thank you very much…!

"You seem pretty relaxed, huh."

"Ah, haha…"

And so it went. A pair of observers watched the extremely pathetic clan member heave a sigh of relief upon receiving a soft smile.

The sight of the petite Sora and Tetra standing side-by-side, chatting amicably (?), had a unique healing effect.

I know I'm not one to talk, but it's heartwarming to see my comrades getting along. If it helps, you can use me as a topic of conversation as much as you like.

"—Haru."

"You hold onto it for a while longer. We don't know what's coming next or for how long."

"…Alright. I owe you one."

"Don't owe me anything. Don't worry about it."

To Irori, who had made a show of returning [Samidorizuki] with a solemn face, I indicated that he should keep it, trying to sound as casual as possible. I knew he hadn't been able to prepare a spare sword for certain reasons, and the fact that he hadn't said anything meant he had been able to use it without issue.

In that case, there was nothing more to be said. I would go so far as to say with confidence that if my master knew it had been of help to Irori, she would praise me instead of scolding me—

…………………………So, anyway?

"…Isn't this taking a while?"

"A break time, perhaps…?"

To Tetra's muttered question, Goldow, stroking his chin, replied.

It had been a while since the last 'vermilion' one had stopped moving. As they looked around the 'Boundary,' where a hush had fallen except for the murmuring of players regrouping,

Our party, which had happily emptied our MP, had already been resupplied by Tetra and was back in fighting shape. If some other kind of separation gimmick were to activate, we were at least in a position to go on a rampage… but,

As Goldow said, perhaps we were being granted a brief respite.

Just as someone was about to ask another question about the minutes-long lull—it happened.

"—Up."

The warrior who had been standing silently by the [General Commander]'s side as usual, muttered quietly as he looked straight up. Everyone who heard his voice was guided by it and looked up as well—

"""——————————"""

The moment everyone was rendered speechless, the field began to transform once again.

The pure white walls that had separated the 'Boundary' cracked without a sound, shattering and dissolving into the air with an almost unnatural silence.

And so, the battlefield, now reconnected, returned to a state where the original large crater could be seen in its entirety—and from the 'hole' that had opened in the canopy covering the vast space, no one could tear their eyes away.

""…………What the hell is that, the gates of hell?""

The chance matching of words came from me and Goldow. However, not a single person objected to the line we had both uttered.

The massive vortex that had opened in the center of the sky was on such a ridiculous scale that it was impossible to gauge its size from a distance.

With a roar that felt like an illusion, the swirling clouds changed color from 'white' to 'vermilion,' and from 'vermilion' to 'red' the closer they got to the 'hole'—

And in the center of the vortex, something came into view.

What was formed by the torn fragments of red clouds was too vague to be called a 'figure.'

However, its distinctive form—

"………………Hey."

"This is a little strange, isn't it…?"

"That's…"

"How in the world did that happen…?"

Questions arose in the murmurs of one person after another.

Those who had faced it directly, of course, but also those who had only ever seen its 'figure' in videos—all of them asked why.

That pillar was the color of red.

If it were likened to a living creature, it was the form of a 'great stag' with two magnificent horns.

What was drawn using the clouds was a massive head, far removed from its original… previously formed body. However, that alone was enough for recognition.

At the tips of its twin horns—the majesty of another pair of 'eyes' modeled above its head was something you could never forget once you saw it, even in a video.

"—'Red Circle'… Rierta, Helia."

The one who spoke its name was the [Sword Queen] who had once taken its head.

Ashe, staring straight back at the giant head of the 'Red Circle' that looked down from the heavens with its two pairs of eyes at the small creatures crawling on the earth, was about to speak again… the next moment.

"————Ngh…"

At my waist, the crimson blade trembled as if trying to tell me something.

The great stag of 'red,' which had flickered in the sky far above, dropped a 'tear' from its eyes.

The red drop, a small tear-like droplet—swelled to an enormous size as it fell.

"Is this bad…?!"

"Hey, you've gotta be kidding—!"

"————ALL HANDS, EVACUATE!"

Before the [General Commander]'s order was even finished, every player had turned on their heel and fled for their lives, and behind them, it dripped… down…

And carved another 'deep crimson hole' in the center of the large crater.