kscans

Chapter 482 - The White Star Wears Red, The Blue Star Wears Black, Part Eight

"If-if you let go, I'll be mad...! I mean it, if you let go, I'll be furious, for real!!"

"I got it, I got it, I got it! I won't let go, I promise, you're safe, it's okay—Hey, sorry, but can you buy me some time!"

While holding Nia, who was clinging to me with a desperate look, in my left arm, I released [Alv Stella, the True White Star Sword] from my limp, uncontrollable right arm, sending it down to the ground.

I don't plan on taking long, but without me, that chaotic situation probably won't last more than a few minutes. A single autonomous Anima can only buy me a dozen seconds at best—or so I assume, but the sense of crisis seems to have gotten through to her.

"—Hmph... IOU! One!!"

"Put me down for ten, not just one!"

A quick thank you to her for swallowing her words on the back of the soaring dragon. The reason this event's difficulty spiked so hard is undoubtedly my fault, and being forced to drag a non-combatant into this is my mistake, no excuses. I have no intention of welshing on the price for her help just because she's my partner.

And so...

"Wh-what, what do I need to do? Is there something I can do?"

To Nia, who, despite her panic, was trying to suppress it and ask her question through the thick confusion, I held out the [Aquamarine Rabbit Heart] I had just pulled from my hair.

She reflexively took her own creation. She looked back and forth between it and my face, my now-untied hair fluttering in the wind. Then, to the [Milmarinus] who seemed to have a faint idea, I told her my request.

"We're looking for something. You're good at that, right?"

◇◆◇◆◇

These 'eyes', lauded as the only ones of their kind in the virtual world, aren't actually that big of a deal.

That 'Princess' was mistaken... or rather, I haven't publicly disclosed their true power, so that's to be expected.

'Imbuing jewels with magic' is just a little trick, a backdoor use of this Anima's ability. Using my eyes that see through things, I find the 'core' within a gemstone capable of holding magic and perform a little mischief.

In other words, the true benefit of this Anima is—

"—[Truthnight Aquamarine, Night Queen Seeing Through the Moon]."

—it just makes my eyes a little better than a normal person's.

Along with the hair ornament, the 'eyes' I entrusted to the person I care for returned to my own, and my opened eyes shone like twin stars in the night sky.

The power of the Third Tier Anima, [Celestial Aquamarine, Shimmering Blue Jade Twin Stars], is the ability to 'see through and perceive all physical existence.' With this 'x-ray vision' that can even see through super-dense gemstones...

Finding someone hiding in the deep woods is not impossible.

My vision passes through all physical matter, with the exception of people or things that contain mana—namely players, NPCs, monsters, and 'works' created by magicrafters.

Of course, this is within the bounds of what the system ethically allows. But as a proper weapon for a player to fight against the world, there's no reason my sight should be obstructed.

And so, naturally.

"—I... think I found it...!"

It didn't take long to meet the gaze of the exception floating in the transparent world.

"Seriously? Nia-chan, you're too good...! Where is it?!"

"That way!"

"Sapphire!"

She must understand that every second counts. Her shout was barely a name, but the dragon responded to the call and beat its wings powerfully.

I understand that I'm protected by his skill, but I'll never get used to this, no matter how many times I experience it. Even if there's no physical strain, the sheer abnormality of the scenery flying backward at high speed is more than enough to make me scream.

But still.

"Gh... ugh, a little more to the right!"

"Point again for me!"

"Over there!!"

Trusting his words that he would never let go, I kept my eyes open and fulfilled my role as a guide.

Because I'm sure something like this won't happen many times. The me who had only ever sent him off with 'Good luck' is now held in his arms, rushing into battle together.

The unreality of it all—the fear, the excitement, the pounding of my heart—it's so thrilling, I can't stand it. If I don't force my eyes open, I feel like my future self will scold me for wasting this moment.

◇◆◇◆◇

Several hundred meters from the battlefield, in the direction Nia was desperately pointing from her perch on my arm, the 'starry sky' I saw through the gaps in the trees was a set of one big and one small.

Well, well, with this, the zodiac series is all here—a giant Ox and, perched arrogantly on its massive body, a tiny little Rat. The collection is complete.

It's obvious which one is the 'leader'. There was some old story like that, wasn't there!

"Nia, sorry! I don't plan on letting you go, but I have no choice, I just need to use my left arm for a second, sorry, thank you, thank you!!"

Before I could even finish my request, my partner screamed something like "Nnngh!" and clung to me. I rattled off my thanks and summoned my partner to my free left hand.

In an instant, [Alv Stella, the True White Star Sword] crossed space and settled into my grasp. I held it aloft and—

"'In the name of Spring, I open the present.'"

—unhesitatingly spun the key phrase, and the pulsing star sword flashed, seeking a 'name'.

I'm betting everything on the Rat-type being the commander. I'll completely ignore the Ox-type bodyguard and whatever unknown special abilities it might have.

This is no time for a lengthy, strategic battle. I have to get back to the base as quickly as possible and get back to the exhilarating work of annihilation—

"'White—it harbors the boundary, what it seeks in slumber is true freedom.'"

The rest of the incantation is omitted.

Its power will be at rock bottom, but I doubt something that tiny has insane durability. I believe that as long as it hits, it'll be obliterated... now, let it fly!

"[El Solas, Piercing Divine Arrow]—!"

I only invoked one name, but I poured the necessary 'power' into it.

Therefore, the released [Alv Stella, the True White Star Sword] vanished from my hand—and in the next instant, it pierced the Rat sitting on the throne-like back of the Ox.

"—Sorry. The power's pathetic, but this thing has a guaranteed hit."

"Uh, that's a little unfair..."

I don't know what kind of defenses it had, but there's no way to stop a ridiculous conceptual weapon that confirms a hit the moment it's thrown. I'll pretend I didn't hear Nia's comment.

Atop its presumed subordinate, the impaled little rat faintly turned its head to the sky....

"—Yes!"

After confirming the starry sky had burst and scattered (mission complete), I kicked Sapphire's back with my heel, and it immediately banked sharply.

Leaving the pitiful Ox-type behind, I immediately switched gears to 'one more job,' and my partner, whom I had pulled back into my left arm, made a rather indescribable face before—

"Heh...?"

—letting out an equally indescribable, listless sound.

---

◇You have successfully tamed a [Stardust Beast]◇

◇The contractor must give the [Star] a name◇

・[Celestial Aquamarine, Shimmering Blue Jade Twin Stars] Anima: Magic Eyes, Third Tier
An extremely rare body-integrated type, and even rarer among those, a magic eye type Anima. The creator was a jewel-crafting NPC from the Western Faction, and the base item (before being integrated into the body) was a brooch. Its ability, as described in the story, is the power to 'see through and perceive all physical matter.' It can see through anything that holds no mana, or only a minuscule amount. As can be inferred from her nonsensical statement about "finding the 'core' within a gemstone capable of holding magic," it's not just about physically seeing through things, but also perceiving them in a conceptual sense. Yes, it is indeed a very big deal. When the clairvoyance ability is fully activated, there is a bonus where her visual acuity improves according to her MID stat.

Nia's misunderstanding was about the part where 'only the [Milmarinus] can imbue accessories with magic,' which is likely a technique anyone could master with enough research. She, with her eyes, simply perceived through the technological barrier ahead of time and reached for a future technique a step early.

The incantation she chanted to repair the [Agaphanthus Amulet] after the Four Pillar War was not a power of her Anima, but the non-elemental unique magic [Seal]. The loss of power in one eye after imbuing magic is, to be precise, because she is continuously looking at the imbued jewelry to maintain the magic in its standby state. In other words, it's not that 'power is lost and cannot be used,' but rather 'she is continuously using power, so she cannot use any new power.'

Incidentally, the reason her tension was particularly off the charts during her first encounter with the protagonist was because she couldn't wait for Kagura-san to bring the rumored newcomer and went to see him by looking through the wall, fell in love at first sight, and was internally freaking out. That night in the real world, she apparently writhed in agony recalling her own words and actions.

There's a reason she tends to resort to physical language when flustered, and it's something that can be deduced at this point. Nia is cute.

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◇Status◇
Name：Nia
Lv：100
STR(Strength)：15
AGI(Agility)：15
DEX(Dexterity)：300
VIT(Vitality)：20
MID(Spirit)：600(+350)
LUC(Luck)：100
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Nia's stats, for reference. Her title slot is currently gone since she's not an active ranker.