kscans

Chapter 465 - White That Rends the Dark and Crimson Fireworks, Part 1

"…………All right, I have a question."

"What is it?"

"The dough I just saw you punch seemed to explode to twice its size. What's the principle behind that phenomenon?"

"The latent mana element I let rest in its base state reacted with the Cast Immersion Oil I kneaded into the dough, causing a super-excited expansion. It's a reaction similar to pseudo-fermentation."

"As usual, I don't understand a single thing you're saying."

After fulfilling my duty as escort for the two ladies on their stroll, I returned to the base.

From the various options for killing time, I'd offered to 'help the head chef,' but the cooking methods were so mysterious from start to finish that I was proving to be utterly useless.

Even if I were assigned menial tasks, there was truly no role for me in Arcadia's streamlined cooking system. The best I could do was be a lively presence next to him.

Some might call that a hindrance. How sad.

"I think you're someone who cooks a fair bit in the real world."

"Am I that obvious?"

"I can tell by the way you stand in a kitchen. A novice wouldn't be mindful of their lines of movement."

I see. The fact that Tetsu-san could say that meant he himself probably did more than 'a fair bit' in the real world. To stand in a kitchen in both worlds, he must be a true cooking enthusiast.

"Surprisingly, people like that are often unsuited for cooking in this virtual world. Their real-world common sense gets in the way, and they just can't accept the outlandish cooking methods."

"Huh… Is that how it is?"

"Yeah, that's how it is. Just like how you, who are still new to the virtual world, were able to rocket to the top by skipping ten steps, unbound by this world's common sense. The principle is the same."

"I wonder if those two things should be lumped together."

It's true that there are probably cases where having incomplete knowledge is better for learning… I guess.

Well, I was hoping to learn by watching if I got the chance, but if I'm suspected of having no talent, then it can't be helped. It's interesting enough just to watch, like some kind of crazy chemistry experiment, and he doesn't seem to mind my chatting, so I'll just continue being a lively presence—

"Tonight's raid."

"Yeah?"

Just as I was about to make another comment on the cooking process, which stimulated my curiosity from every angle, Tetsu-san interjected.

He was usually the listener, so this was a little unusual.

"Assuming the scale doubles again from last night… will you be okay?"

The quiet, calm black eyes, unlike his partner's orange ones, held a color not of concern for the outcome, but of concern for me. The meaning was different not in substance, but in direction.

In other words, he wasn't saying, 'Good luck,' but rather, 'Don't push yourself.' And really… everyone here is so good-natured that,

"Don't you worry. I'll be showing off the real deal, Acrobat Ver3.0, so look forward to it."

"…I see. In that case, I will."

…it makes it all the more worthwhile for me to put on a good show.

◇◆◇◆◇

On the third day, just before the appointed time of 10:00 PM VM.

As usual, the thirty-two combatants, excluding myself, were at their respective posts, watching the stirring forest and awaiting the start of battle.

Five parties of six were divided among the decoy storehouses, with the remaining two players, selected for their defense-oriented builds, assigned to guard the three artisans.

We had ample time to prepare, and thus our meetings were thorough. I could sense their tension even from a distance, but it wasn't enough to make them lose their footing.

Now, as long as I don't have an accident, everything will be fine. And the 'adjustments' to prevent any and all accidents were completed last night… so, well, you know.

As long as the System doesn't go crazy with the game balance and throw a 'Crimson' version of the [Stardust Beasts] at us, there shouldn't be a problem.

If that happens, I'm sending an angry feedback email immediately. You got that?

"Well, I doubt that'll happen, though."

On the roof of the barracks—or rather, even higher. On a high platform newly constructed for tonight's defensive battle, I muttered to myself, brushing away the white hair that the night wind blew annoyingly into my face.

It was a watchtower built solely for durability, with no ladder to climb, no internal mechanisms, no safety rails—nothing but tall, sturdy timbers assembled together… not a watchtower, but a solo stage.

Over ten meters high, with a platform about five meters in diameter, the great tower had only one role.

To stand unshaken, a foothold for the one who would rage above.

The system clock ticked away, and a presence overflowed from the stirring forest. The voiceless [Stardust Beasts] announced the beginning of their 'march' with a rumbling of the earth, and at the same time—

"—…Haha, of course. I knew it."

Shaking the trees, scattering the leaves, a new 'starry sky' broke through the great forest's sea, and the hints that had been presented to me time and again finally bore fruit as the answer.

A long neck, a long tail, and a body equipped with enormous wings that could be mistaken for the night sky itself.

The shape of its head was a bit unique, a slight deviation from the classic, cool fantasy staple, but…

"—A 'Dragon'… I guess. So it really is the zodiac."

There was no more fitting name for it than 'dragon'.

Starting with the 'Monkey,' then 'Wolf,' 'Boar,' 'Rabbit,' 'Snake,' and 'Sheep'—with a lineup like this, anyone would have figured it out by now. Whether this is the motif for all [Stardust Beasts] or just for this forest, I have no way of knowing, but it's safe to assume this is basically confirmed.

The wolf is a slight deviation, but I think it's fine to just treat it as the 'Dog'.

Also, to be honest, I thought a major player like the 'Dragon' would appear on the final day. My prediction was off, which is a shame—but in a way, it's just what I wanted.

A debut battle is all the more brilliant the flashier both sides are, right?

In that case, let's raise a loud 'celebratory cannonade'.

"—[Ruby Rabbit Bullet]."

Summoned to my right hand was a single, crimson-glowing matchlock rifle. Compared to modern firearms, it was an old-fashioned weapon with a simple structure that could be mistaken for a 'stick'.

For a work by the renowned [Pyrotechnician], its form was surprisingly simple, a faithful model—except for the fact that it was made of a single crimson color from muzzle to stock, and that crystals were sprouting wantonly from various parts of the barrel.

For a little while now, I'd had one complaint about my build.

My partner, for one, and all the other notable powerhouses out there, all possessed 'strengths' that I lacked, both large and small, which made it all the more—

…unavoidable to think that I was lacking. That's why I had this made.

…………Well now. The starry sky on the ground has begun to overflow from the edge of the forest, and in the sky, one or two starry skies with wings have begun to increase their giant numbers.

Plenty of targets. Let's not drag this out; let's get started right away.

My arm stretched straight up to the sky. True to my word, my mentality was the same whether throwing or shooting: 'I'm going to punch them from a distance.'

A flame of mana lit the match cord.

With complete faith in the skill and words of my exclusive Magitek Artisan, this was a live-fire test with no practice shots—I squeezed the trigger, filled with anticipation and tension, and it was pulled without a sound—

"Guh—!"

A violent recoil and a deafening roar threatened to blow away the gunner who had planted his feet firmly on the stage. The crimson barrel shattered into dust, launching a crimson warhead.

And—3, 2, 1,

"—Boom."

The warhead, which hit one of the 'dragons' without missing its mark—a reaction warhead packed with my mana—detonated the moment it detected the 'prey's' mana at close range.

This was no comparison to the <> that only scattered low-power fragments.

A crimson light of mana raged, completely engulfing the dragon's massive body… and as I stood there, taken aback, all that remained after the light faded was an empty void, devoid of stars.

"……………………Huh?"

Obliterating the 'dragon' it directly hit was just as expected, which was fine, but the fact that the aftershock knocked down several others flying nearby was more than expected, or rather, unexpected.

I had heard it was a 'spec that boosts its power according to total MID,' but… well, this is good, isn't it? Very good.

This is, without a doubt, the area-of-effect firepower I've been wanting…!

"All hail Kagura-san. Alright then—"

Summoned to both my hands were the second and third versions of the shattered matchlock.

The 'stock' I had packed into my inventory was more than enough. And the 'reload' would continue as long as my mana, with a MID value approaching fifteen hundred, held out.

I could already feel the astonished gazes from all around, even more so than my own, but the approaching horde of [Stardust Beasts] neither flinched nor waited.

And that's precisely why—

"—Let's start the fireworks festival with a bang!"

—there is no need for mercy or hesitation in pulling the trigger.