kscans

Chapter 540 - A Beautiful Flower

"—So yeah, that's the deal... I think it'll be a trump card if I can master it."

"I look forward to it. I have high expectations."

After the test run, time flew by as I received a lecture on Star Magic from Mi-na and Ri-na, and soon it was dinnertime.

At the Yotsuya dormitory's private restaurant. While enjoying Chef Chitose's cooking for the first time in a week, I made my report. Arshe just nodded once and that was it.

Her reaction practically screamed, 'I'm not worried at all.' As expected of the princess who I suspect overestimates me more than anyone else in the world; her trust is naturally heavy.

"And one more thing. My exclusive magic artisan sent me a super blunt message saying, 'Come to the workshop,' so I'm gonna go show my face after this."

"New equipment?"

"Probably. I did leave something interesting with her... Oh, what's up?"

I turned my gaze to Nia, who was sitting next to Arshe across from me, making an indescribably peculiar expression. The carnivorous girl chewed on a large piece of cutlet and typed away.

'When Kagura-san sends a blunt message, it's a sign she's in a super good mood. She has to keep her words short 'cause she's so excited she's about to break character.'

"How cute—wait, hold on, that was, uh, an innocent remark that unconsciously slipped out about a friend's character, and I didn't mean anything by it...!"

I was hit by a simultaneous barrage of a sidelong glance and a deadpan stare, and immediately raised the white flag as I piled on excuses. It feels like since the trip, their jealousy and whatnot has become more open, hasn't it?

Which means I can imagine what's coming next—

"I don't think you've ever called me 'cute.'"

'Ahem, ahem. Pretty sure I haven't either.'

"No way, hold on a sec. You want me to say it? Would you really be happy if I said it so randomly and mechanically?"

'The fact that you probably say it to Sora-chan so casually makes it even more annoying.'

"...He has called Nia cute. But only when you weren't around."

'Fwaaahbluhh.'

"I don't get it, I don't get it, your words or your emotions, don't get so close! Arshe-san?! Isn't firing that off without permission a criminal act?!"

"I've only ever been called 'beautiful.' That's not fair."

'What's this, study time?'

'Is this about that thing from study time?!'

'What are you two whispering about when I'm nice enough to leave you alone!!!'

"W-wait, stop...! —We're eating! Behave yourselves during meals!!!"

And so, this little scene, which from the outside looked like a farce.

"Ah, youth."

It goes without saying that the adult watching from the back of the kitchen was laughing with great amusement.

◇◆◇◆◇

"—You look more exhausted every time you come here. Is that, like, part of your shtick now?"

"............I do understand that my situation is incredibly blessed, and I am grateful for it, and lately, I've even started to feel genuinely happy about it."

"Ah... ah, right, right, I get it, I get it. I don't need to hear you gloating. Sit down."

After a lively dinner, I headed to the workshop of my exclusive artisan.

As soon as Kagura-san saw my face, she threw a jab at me, which was pretty much the usual. I, for my part, was completely used to being teased, and I was aware that I tend to let my guard down around her—but she basically never takes me seriously.

Well, that's probably why I do it.

"So, what's up?"

This is also standard; Kagura-san never contacts me for anything other than work. Lately, I've been getting frequent, trivial messages from a lively bunch including Nia, the northern faction's tiger trio, a certain free spirit, and others like Lotta and the Mi-na-Ri-na duo...

But my number two friend on my list, the artisan, remains an artisan through and through. So, I knew what she wanted without even asking.

The reason I asked as a preface was—because she was so obviously waiting for me, unable to hide her grin, as if to say, "Come on, ask me, just ask me."

This woman is the epitome of gap moe. Arshe and Nia might get mad at me again, but regardless of gender, I genuinely think she's a cute person.

"Well, I'm sure you've figured out what this is about, but... first, there's one thing I need to apologize for regarding this 'request.'"

"Oh?"

Her words contained a negative element, but her voice and expression held not a trace of negativity. It seemed a lot had happened.

"To be honest, we failed. We managed to give it a form, but in many ways, it's far from something we can proudly present to a client."

She's suddenly saying something incredible, but then why is her face a full-on, triumphant smirk—and wait. We?

"On top of that, I have a bold favor to ask."

Putting my question aside for now, I focused on Kagura-san's words, which she spoke with a serious expression. Well, she was still smirking and her smug face was cute, but... her eyes, you know.

Just like when she slammed down [An=Ri Galta (Prologue: The Wedge-Fragment that Sings of Eternity)] and the [Parabellum, the Rabbit Short Sword], they were gleaming fiercely.

And then, with a soft clink, 'it' was placed on the table.

"As the Istian rank holder, the Acrobat, I'm making a 'request' to you from me, the 'Fire-Player,' and the 'Crimson Arm'—I want you to use this thing to achieve a great victory."

"............May I?"

"Yeah, go ahead. It's a 'sword' that only you can handle."

I didn't really get it, but I understood that this was turning into something big. However, I couldn't start worrying or getting nervous until I'd examined the object.

With that in mind, I picked up the object from the table, the thing she called a 'sword'—a pendant with a fine chain, featuring a slightly large, oval-shaped top.

It had changed, but I remembered it. The demure cherry blossom, sealed within a transparent stone that had lost its honey color and now shone like a crystal.

Its name, transformed by the hands of a master artisan, was—

[αtiomart -Sakura=Memento-] Production Weapon: Type-Zero Magic Evocation Manifestation Armament. A distant past, the age of gods. The memory of a sacred cherry blossom that bloomed silently at the end of the world. Even as a remnant, even as a fragment, the splendor of the cherry blossoms witnessed by the moon is still here. Be proud. Be purified. Be enchanted. Be intoxicated. To the wielder, my host, I ask. Is it the bloom or the scattering that you deem beautiful?

"————————————————…"

Right.

Let's just, take another look, shall we?

[αtiomart -Sakura=Memento-] Production Weapon: Type-Zero Magic Evocation Manifes—

"The name, or rather, the name including the category, is way too long!! Let's start with that!"

And the detailed specs that flowed into me the moment I picked it up!!!!!

"Hey, sorry, but I'm just gonna blurt out my honest first impression—hey, don't cover your ears! Acting cute won't get you off the hook, what is this thing, I don't want to use it!!!"

Seriously, honestly, simply put, this is the kind of stupidly high-recoil weapon I want to avoid using if at all possible. It's practically a cursed item!

"Excuse me, Kagura-san? Isn't the 'Crimson Arm' the current top-ranked member of the Western Faction?"

"Well, yeah. And he's my clan master."

"Could you please not have the former and current top rankers team up to create a hellish cursed object?!"

"...Calling it a cursed object is pretty harsh. It's not like it has some kind of irreversible cost, it's not something to make such a fuss about."

"Time is the kind of thing you can't get back, though...?!!"

Yeah, sure, it seems to have an absurdly powerful performance to match the stupid recoil and ridiculously heavy cost, but still...!

"Oh, be quiet, be quiet. I apologized beforehand, didn't I? I feel bad for making it difficult to use, too—but on the other hand, I'm confident that I perfectly fulfilled your order for 'something interesting.'"

"Ugh... So that's the basis for your defiance...!"

It's frustrating, but I have to agree that it looks damn interesting. And if I can nod to that, then the order I entrusted to her as a request has indeed been fulfilled.

But still... man... I really don't want to use this myself...

"Well, look. Even I wouldn't, and couldn't, force you to use it. So just keep it as a good luck charm, a 'trump card' for when you really need it."

In that case, its chance to shine would naturally be in a situation where a 'great victory' could be expected. She laughed casually, and having finished her work, she relaxed her body with satisfaction.

Meanwhile, across from her. Staring at the major problem child I had dubbed a cursed object with a half-lidded gaze, I let out a long, long, faint sigh, and,

"Ugh, fine............"

Remembering the decided fact that this opportunity would arrive this very weekend, I couldn't help but let an indescribable emotion escape from the corner of my mouth.