kscans

Chapter 395 - In the Vortex, Yet Out of the Loop

◇ You have defeated [Tsarkalv of the White Throne] ◇
・Subjugation rewards will now be granted—Acquired [Glass Orb of Transfiguration].

◇ Title has been updated ◇
・'One Who Aims for the White Throne' ⇒ 'One Who Knows the Colors'

◇ Skills have evolved ◇
・[Flip Thru Talk] ⇒ [Mistlurade]
・[Whirlwind] ⇒ [Lumina Raygust]
・[Exchange Voltate] ⇒ [Exchange Implode]
・[Foreknowledge Eye] ⇒ [Eyes Oculus]
・[Adamant Sky Dash] ⇒ [Goma Soten]
・[Mana Efficiency] ⇒ [Master of Magic]
・[Embodied Protection] ⇒ [White Dragon's Blessing]

◇ An update to your evaluation value has been recognized in the Eastern Faction, Istia ◇

◇ Reconstructing the hierarchy of the Eastern Faction, Istia ◇

—…… ——————…… ——————————……

◇ The hierarchy of the Eastern Faction, Istia has been reconstructed ◇

—Ranker's Title—

◇ First [Lawless] — [Tengen] ◇

◇ Second [Sword Saint] — [Ui] ◇

◇ Third [General Commander] — [Goldow] ◇

◇ Fourth [Peerless] — [Irori] ◇

◇ Fifth [Left Wing] — [Mi-na] ◇

◇ Sixth [Acrobat] — [Haru] ◇ Rank up!

◇ Seventh [Right Wing] — [Ri-na] ◇

◇ Eighth [Scorching Gaze] — [Hinayo] ◇

◇ Ninth [Undying] — [Tetra] ◇

◇ Tenth [Twin Fists] — [Genkotsu] ◇

—————————————————————

◇ Congratulations, you have been promoted to the sixth seat of the Istia hierar—

"Hyaa!"

I crumpled up the system log window, which was streaming in like a torrential downpour, and hurled it into the far distance with all my might.

From top to bottom, the whole thing was nothing but questions, confusion, and things to retort. Was this really the time to be staring at the results and celebrating?

Anyway, the first thing I wanted to ask this virtual world was—

"Are you serious? You didn't rank Lady Sora???"

"It makes no sense."

"Huh!? Wh-wha… mweh."

The most nonsensical part of the results drew a hundred-percent exasperated comment from me, and Iris's immediate agreement was the only correct response.

And what, pray tell, is this young lady from the Yotsuya family so surprised about?

If Arcadia's rankings are determined by evaluating a player's 'worth as a warrior in a broad sense,' then there's no way Sora-san wouldn't be chosen. She's outstanding in combat, whether solo or in a group, more than capable as a support, and even possesses command abilities.

Plus, she's got good looks, a great voice, and a good personality. There's literally nothing to complain about. No, I'm not kidding. There's a suspicion that charm and charisma and the like are also factored into the evaluation, so… seriously, why?

If they had time to raise my rank for no reason, they should have replaced the absent first rank with Ui-san or Goldow and put Sora in the rankings—

"I-It's fine! Someone like me is still a long way off…!"

"—If 'I don't need it' was a valid reason, then I wouldn't want it in the slightest either."

After being shown that scene, the atmosphere on the former battlefield wasn't exactly one for victory cries.

As everyone sat down, looking bewildered and thinking, 'Well, I'm dead tired,' a family member who had come over directed a dissatisfied voice at Sora.

The Master, knowing that he wished to cast aside his title in order to interact as a clan member, was at a loss for words, a troubled look on her face.

"Well, we can worry about the 'whys' later, right? Good work."

"Yeah."

"Good work."

"…You too."

Even Tetra, who wasn't a direct combatant, couldn't hide his exhaustion as he flopped down beside us.

As the three of us, still unwilling to move, returned his words… in that moment, I felt the taut string of tension finally snap.

"…Haaaaaaaaaaah…!"

I couldn't exactly lean on the two girls I was sitting back-to-back with, so I threw my body forward onto the hard ground, not caring one bit.

This wasn't my first day anymore.

Even if I did a spectacular face-plant, my leveled-up body, bolstered by the VIT from my equipment, wouldn't take any damage.

"I'm done for… wake me up in about a week…"

"You say that, but you'll be running around full of energy tomorrow, won't you?"

As I lay on the ground, spouting nonsense out of sheer exhaustion, my ever-present junior (kouhai) tossed back a curt reply.

You say that—but with the news of the 'Colored Monster's' defeat being loudly announced to the world, and the uproar it's causing right now… do you really think the world will allow for such a peaceful tomorrow?

Well, anyway.

"We won… right?"

"Mm… the end was, anticlimactic."

"Anticlimactic… I'm not sure if you can call that anticlimactic."

I voiced my question, lacking any sense of reality. And Iris, showing her honest confusion, gave a noncommittal nod that wasn't quite an affirmation.

Meanwhile, the only normal person in our temporary party… or so she probably thought of herself, our third exceptional member (Sora-san), tilted her head with a wry smile.

I mean, yeah, I'll admit that Sora, Iris, and I each landed a serious 'finishing move.' Against a normal raid boss, that might have been enough extreme firepower to hope for a one-turn kill… maybe.

But our opponent this time was none other than a 'Colored Monster'—

"…Maybe it never even had HP to begin with."

"Hn-eh?"

"At least, not that 'white dragon.'"

She probably wasn't as exhausted as the rest of us. The reason she wasn't standing up and remained seated was likely to support Sora, now that I had moved and they were sitting back-to-back.

And that Iris, with her usual lightning-fast mind… may have arrived at some 'what if' on her own.

Having drawn our attention with her cryptic murmur, she blinked quietly two, three times, and then,

"…I don't know. I'll have it sorted out by the victory party."

She smiled, looking just a little tired—

And in a rare display, she playfully declared, 'You'll have to wait.'