kscans

Chapter 575 - Partners, Unchanging as Ever (?)

From my exclusive magic crafter's workshop to our meeting spot, the [Azure Sky] clan home. Then, from the clan home, we moved to a place 'up in the sky,' on the back of a dragon.

The Sapphire Express, which has become a familiar ride, is running fast today as well. Having completed the second 'Starry Sky Event' held at the beginning of August and leveled up even further, its wings, which can rival my full sprint in a straight line at top speed, are a reliable asset.

It turns out that under certain conditions, it can use that special ability it showed before I tamed it. If I develop its other aspects besides speed, the day may not be far off when it can play an active role in combat too.

As expected,育成 content is a deep rabbit hole. The growth potential, the future prospects, everything about it is just endlessly fun.

It's no wonder that players are converting from their previous virtual world lifestyles to become serious trainers one after another. Even I am planning to do some serious cooperative training once Sapphire's build is complete…

And, well. When that time comes, I'm thinking I'd like to ask for some guidance from my partner, who has already mastered fighting alongside a [Stardust Beast (Rim)], but—

"—…Uh, Sora?"

"…"

"Sora-san?"

"…"

—the issue is that said important partner is currently in a very bad mood in my arms.

On Sapphire's broad back. The pleasant flapping of her wings is actually just for show; the dragon's flight, which doesn't gain lift from it, is practically a perfect straight line. There's almost no physical strain from shaking or the like.

If you raise the AGI of a tamed beast you're riding on appropriately, an effect that reduces 'all sorts of loads' from high-speed movement kicks in, and things like wind pressure become a mere gentle breeze.

And for someone benefiting from my [Luna Nobody], being held by me should provide a peaceful, relaxing time no different from being on the ground.

In short, even though we're riding bareback without a saddle… there's no need for her to be stuck to me this closely, pressing her body against me with such force.

And when this young lady starts pressing against me silently, lately, it's always been a sign that she's dissatisfied or in a bad mood, a signal to 'spoil me'.

"Sora-san? Sora? Lady Sora? …Oh, come on, don't give me that—that 'I'm so disappointed I couldn't come and cheer on my partner because I had things to do that I'm starting to get angry, but taking it out on him would be unfair, so I'll try to put on a straight face but I can't do it well, so as a cover-up for my embarrassment, I'll just go with 'whatever happens, happens' and switch to a selfish younger-girl move' pouty face."

"—Wha… nyah… d-do you have to say it…!? Do you really have to just lay out a person's entire heart so plainly like that…!?"

"I do. We're one-of-a-kind, mind-reading partners, after all."

"I hate you, Haru…!"

She says that, but I know all she needs is a good head-pat to cheer up. I'm so sorry, please don't pull my side-tail…!

"Besides, why is it always your transformed self when we meet lately!"

"That's because recently, Sora-san has been requesting to go on far-off trips every time… or so it seems, but she's actually just hoping for a leisurely stroll through the sky, just the two of us."

"H-Ah, eh?"

"And if that's the case, my MP for summoning Sapphire is a bit unreliable with my rebuilt regular self."

"…, …!"

"…Uh, so, in other words, this is the result of me understanding my partner's true feelings—"

"I hate you, Haru…!!"

Don't read my mind about everything—is what the girl, seventy percent embarrassed and thirty percent angry, seemed to be saying as she slapped away the hand that was combing through her hair. I tried to object, "Isn't that a bit unfair?" but to no avail.

And yet, the pushing only grew more forceful, so a maiden's heart is a complex and mysterious thing.

"Oh, come on, I'm sorry. It was my fault. I'm definitely not in the wrong, but it was my fault. What do you want me to do? I'll do my best to accommodate you until we reach our destination."

"Uuuu… Then, hold me tighter…"

—And just as she said that.

"Ah, we're here. Destination, Sora-san. Alright, Sapphire, landing time, GOGO!"

"I hate you, Haru!!"

Now, now, don't say that. A good workout will clear your head. Hahaha.

◇◆◇◆◇

◇ You have conquered [Light-Caressing Crucible] ◇

◇ You have obtained a title ◇
- 'Conqueror of the Light-Caressing Crucible'
- 'Escort'

"—Hahaha…"

And so, several tens of minutes later, I found myself letting out a dry laugh in the scorched earth of our 'destination'.

The place we had traveled so far to reach was a high-difficulty dungeon called the [Light-Caressing Crucible], located about three hundred kilometers north of the city.

It seems they weren't exactly light spirits, but they were mysterious humanoid (?) luminescent life forms that looked like nothing else. The area was a temple-type instance dominated by them and their boss, the [Light-Caressing Scorching Giant Soldier], a great mass of condensed light and heat.

I had undertaken this expedition solely with the aim of promoting Sora-san's build growth.

True to their appearance, they were magic-based enemies, so I expected experience to accumulate for her [Cradle of Sword-Craft], and I also hoped for an effect on her [Light Magic Aptitude] against opponents of the same attribute… or so I thought.

I was letting out a dry laugh in the scorched earth of our destination.

"Sora-san, it seems even a standard high-difficulty dungeon is no longer a match for you…"

"…D-Don't look at me like that."

Well, it's not a matter of 'it seems'; she's been like this for a while now.

It wasn't that the devastation was the result of her rampaging with the accumulated shame and anger from being teased before our arrival—Sora-san had, with extreme calm and her usual demonic sword prowess, meticulously burned this dungeon to the ground.

…That's strange. The opponents were also enemies that governed 'heat,' thematically speaking, so why is she burning them head-on?

The mobs along the way, the boss at the end, they literally 'couldn't do a thing.'

As if being attended by a storm of sand-dust swords wasn't enough, her flame sword projection and explosion combo, which seemed to steal the spotlight from my [Ruby Rabbit Bullet], was simply wicked. The way she casually walked through, scattering the riffraff, was less like a young lady and more like a queen.

She's secretly being called 'The Maiden of the Scales,' 'The Priestess of a Thousand Blades,' or 'The Golden Angel' by the public, but in many ways, she could give the [Sword Queen] a run for her money—

"Haru?"

"Nope, I'm not thinking anything stupid."

The one who's hyped up is the public, and my recent random thought is probably, just barely, innocent… but let's set that aside.

"How was the haul?"

"Um… a few titles. No skill growth."

"Yeah, figured as much."

As the 'Escort' who basically just followed her, it's natural that I got nothing. But if Sora's conquest was this effortless, the 'experience' gained must have been trivial.

Acquiring a new skill. Evolving an existing skill. Both of these generally happen when a player accumulates a significant or new experience and feels a sense of growth.

She's no longer the blank slate of a brand-new avatar. While not to the extent of me, who has had almost no skill growth in the past two months, Sora has probably completely left her growth spurt phase behind.

In other words, it's all about what comes next.

The things you build up 'after' the rapid growth unique to a newbie stops is what cultivates the flavor and depth of a seasoned veteran… or so a guildmate who was a net game addict once told me.

"Haru?"

"Sorry, I was just thinking something weird—anyway, it wasn't a waste. Today's march… I mean, rampage… I mean, conquest, should be properly accumulated as experience in your avatar. It'll bear fruit someday."

"I can't tell if you're being serious or teasing me…"

"Half and half, maybe."

"I'm going to get angry, you know…!"

Since she's giving a warning before getting angry, this light tapping must be within the realm of playfulness. I accepted her cute protest while glancing at the system clock.

"We finished a lot earlier than planned. What do you want to do now?"

"Ah… um. Well… Dinner preparations… it's still too early for that."

The Four Pillar War selection match, which is divided into two days to account for player fatigue and other factors, is scheduled to conclude before evening on both days.

So, even after finishing the first half, immediately going to the workshop, running to our meeting spot, and heading out for our date… I mean, outing, about an hour has passed, but in real time, it's still a little before 5 PM. There's a little over an hour of free time before the Yotsuya family kitchen gets busy.

The reason I know this is because a certain maid keeps mysteriously leaking the young lady's daily life details, or rather, her routine.

Naturally, I leaked that leak to my partner, but that maid, also naturally, hasn't learned her lesson even after being severely scolded. The information bombs are still coming—

"…Um, Haru?"

"Yeah?"

And the young lady who, according to the maid, recently 'brought down the thunder,' called my name.

Her hesitant, timid voice and gestures are a habit Sora has when she's trying her best to say something she's not sure about herself.

Cute.

"Today is, um… Saturday, and…"

"Yep."

"Um, I know you must be tired, but… if you'd like, today too—"

"Yep, okay."

"I haven't finished saying it yet…!"

Her face, as if to say, "I worked up all that courage—" is just adorable.

Tired, you say? I am tired, but it's just mental fatigue, so I have plenty of energy left. If it's time with my trusted partner, you could even say I have an excess of it.

Therefore… if I can accept the invitation that has become a regular weekend thing since the month before last, I will gladly come running. In fact, it'll just get me more fired up for tomorrow.

"If that's the case, we can't be lazing around like this… —Alright, let's head back. At top speed."

"Huh, ah… At top speed, you say. Does that mean, um, Sapphire-chan—"

Ha, what are you talking about, Sora-san?

It's true that Sapphire's current top speed rivals my full sprint, but that's still just 'rivals my base full sprint,' a work in progress.

In other words,

"Shall we do it for the first time in a while? The human rocket game."

"…It's not really a 'game,' Haru, yours is the real—"

And so, a few minutes later. Come to think of it, it had been a while, but it goes without saying that I ended up hearing my partner's rather serious scream.


—
And after that, it also goes without saying that I received a not-so-infrequent scolding.

Their way of flirting has changed, hasn't it?

— ◇Status◇
Name: Sora
Lv: 100
STR: 100 ⇒ 50
AGI: 200 ⇒ 150
DEX: 50
VIT: 100
MID: 600 ⇒ 700 (+200)
LUC: 100

◇Skill◇
- Maiden of the Demon Sword (Leaveslasher) Up! (Magic Sword Aptitude + Minstrel of the Demon Sword + Lord of the Demon Sword)
- [Optimize Alert]
- [Load Bullet]
- [Territory Construction]
- [Attribute Conversion]

- Light Magic Aptitude
- [Embrace] Up! (Qualia Veil)
- [Fast Light]
- [Circlet]
- [Geo Stake] New!
- [Light Enchant]

- Active
- [Song of the Scales (Scareless)]
- [Glad Bounce]
- [Tremple Slide]
- [Upturned Amber Eyes]

- Passive
- [Twin Magic Cladding] Up! (Magic Power Cladding + Magic Control Sky Dash)
- [Sharis Heart] New!
- [Fairy Dance] Up! (Featherfoot)
- [Swallow Flight] New!
- [True Eye]
- [Healing Hand of the Warpath] Up! (Devotion of the Healing Hand)
- [Resolde Esta] New!
- [Root of Magic] Up! (Master of Magic)

- [Four-Sided Blessing]
—

Clutter-Free Ver.
— ◇Status◇
Name: Sora
Lv: 100
STR: 50
AGI: 150
DEX: 50
VIT: 100
MID: 700 (+200)
LUC: 100

◇Skill◇
- Maiden of the Demon Sword (Leaveslasher)
- [Optimize Alert]
- [Load Bullet]
- [Territory Construction]
- [Attribute Conversion]

- Light Magic Aptitude
- [Embrace]
- [Fast Light]
- [Circlet]
- [Geo Stake]
- [Light Enchant]

- Active
- [Song of the Scales (Scareless)]
- [Glad Bounce]
- [Tremple Slide]
- [Upturned Amber Eyes]

- Passive
- [Twin Magic Cladding]
- [Sharis Heart]
- [Fairy Dance]
- [Swallow Flight]
- [True Eye]
- [Healing Hand of the Warpath]
- [Resolde Esta]
- [Root of Magic]

- [Four-Sided Blessing]
—

I'll do a skill guide for Sora's current skills in the interlude after the third section.