kscans

Chapter 626 - Silver Stands Side-by-Side in the Night's Silence

From the clan home to the Safe Area district, and from there, using the 'Ranker's Key' as a pass, I took a series of transfer gates to the Frontier district (provisional).

Since it's scheduled to be opened to the public after the Four Pillar War, it's still sparsely populated, but the artisan players in charge of construction are stationed here, working hard every day, so it's not completely deserted.

Furthermore, as a precaution and as part of their duties, raid-sized personnel, mainly from the Southern Faction, are deployed on a rotating basis—but as it's the dead of night, there are very few people to be seen.

After exchanging subtle greetings from a distance with those I'd become acquainted with through my repeated visits, I leaped onto a rooftop.

When it was first identified as a potential outpost, it was a desolate plateau, but now, while it's still a far cry from being on par with the Safe Area, it has developed to a scale that can be modestly called a 'town.'

Therefore, there was no shortage of buildings to use as footholds.

"............Hah, this is really something."

As I ran, my long white hair trailing behind me, I couldn't help but mutter to myself at the sight below. It couldn't be helped; the chance to witness a fantasy where a town is built in just a few months is something that could never happen in reality.

Let alone being one of the key players in its creation.

'Alv Portal,' which was unlocked by the subjugation of the 'White Throne,' is, as its name suggests, a complete version of the transfer gate with no restrictions on its installation distance.

With a means of long-distance instant travel that broke through the conventional '100-kilometer radius from the Great Bell Tower' restriction, the players' range of activity was supposed to expand explosively.

If it weren't for the restriction that required a cooldown of about four months after each installation.

To be precise, it seems that for some reason, the stock of installable gates increases after each 'Four Pillar War.' Is it like receiving a blessing by entertaining the goddess or something? I have no way of knowing, but if that's the case, then so be it.

There's a world of difference between zero and one. Being able to expand even just three times a year is a blessing in itself. And so, where to place the precious first one became crucial.

Too close, and there's little new benefit. But the farther away you go, the higher the field's danger level jumps, and the difficulty of establishing a base increases proportionally.

The place chosen was the 'Outside,' a chaotic zone where safe havens and deadly areas are jumbled together. In terms of greatly expanding the range of activity, it was more than adequate, and if the optimal location was chosen, ensuring safety should not be impossible... or so it was thought.

We gathered information from those who were regulars in the demonic lands, led by a certain 'Traveler,' and I used my legs to the fullest to conduct a thorough on-site investigation. The place I found was here.

Approximately 10,000 kilometers from the Great Bell Tower, a huge circular plateau surrounded by fields of relatively safe difficulty. A gap in the stark nature, with no prior inhabitants.

Compared to the Safe Area, which is surrounded by a vast forest, this area was rich in mineral resources, even from a cursory survey, making it convenient for improving the balance of supplies. It also met various other criteria I was looking for, so the first candidate site was decided on the same day.

From there, we issued a proclamation to the general players under the names of the four faction representatives, actually opened the portal, recruited construction and guard teams, and started the development plan...

Well, after all sorts of hardships, we've made it this far.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how the Frontier will develop from here.

◇◆◇◆◇

And so, at the edge of the townscape that I had grown fond of, as if it were my own child—though not quite. As I landed near the half-finished building designated as the landmark, I quickly found the conspicuous silver.

"—You waited?"

"Didn't wait. You trying to be funny?"

It was only our third time meeting, but I felt like I was already used to that sullen face.

That said, I figured this was just her default expression, so I had no intention of being bothered or intimidated by it. The fair lady of the 'Screen' seemed to be in a good mood tonight, and that was all that mattered.

"............Nah, that was a bad move after calling you out here. My bad."

"It's fine. I don't care about stuff like that."

And so, her strangely honest and dutiful tsundere Yurayura attribute was also present and accounted for.

I want to introduce Sora to this person... I can just picture a delinquent being easily converted to the light, or something like that—

"...My bad, but if you don't wipe that annoying look off your face, I'm taking back my apology, got it?"

"Feel free to take it back. Let's just be casual with each other. Did you just click your tongue at me?"

"Seriously, what is with this guy, so hard to deal with..."

She ran a hand through her ever-present hair that covered her eyes, giving me a suspicious look. Even if you make that face, I can tell you're just flustered, not actually annoyed.

And if I'm certain she's not annoyed from her reaction, then with this type of person, holding back is just a detour. If I want to become friends, I just have to be straightforward and close the distance.

If I genuinely make her angry, then I'll just sincerely apologize. As long as she understands I'm not just messing around, Yurayura-shi seems like the type of person who would forgive me.

"So, about what you wanted to talk about. You need something from me?"

On a related note, I figured she was the type who genuinely disliked long, pointless small talk. So, after enjoying the opening jabs, it was best to get straight to the point.

"............"

"Stop staring at me. It's embarrassing."

"You're really hard to deal with. You clown."

"Takes one to know one, star of the silver screen."

And then, he or she let out a heavy sigh.

"...—I heard from Lu. You guys met a 'Dragon,' right?"

The question she spun was about the adventure from almost two weeks ago.

"Mmm... 'met' is one way to put it, I guess."

"I don't care about the phrasing. You met it, saw it, you were there, right?"

"Well, yeah, that's true. I saw it."

When I nodded in response, Yurayura-shi stared straight into my eyes for a moment, and then.

"Its name?"

"Novem."

"............"

When I spoke the name of the 'Dragon' from my memory... it seemed like she fell silent, but was it my imagination that her lips moved slightly, silently mouthing, "So it's true?"

...Hmm. Hmm?

"You know something?"

"...If you say I know something, I do. If you say I know nothing, then I really know nothing."

And, this probably also implies, "I have no intention of telling you." I was given a cryptic reply... but well, this is probably it.

It's probably best to wait until we're a bit closer before I press any deeper.

"Besides, didn't you hear the name from Lux?"

"Yeah, so this is just confirmation. ...His mouth doesn't lie, but whether you can trust him completely is another story. This time, he sent me a message as if he just remembered it after more than ten days, and then he went silent."

"Ah..."

He's basically a free spirit who acts on a whim... wait, what? Are Yurayura-shi and Lux connected somehow?

Like, fellow solo travelers?

"Well, it's not like you're particularly trustworthy either."

"What was that?"

"Take a look at yourself. Being so friendly from our first meeting."

Ha, sorry, but I have to say it. If I pretended to be genuinely hurt and got depressed right now, I'm confident that the fair lady before me would start flustering in a second.

"Anyway, about the 'Dragon.' You don't have any video recordings left, do you?"

"Hm, I have some, yes."

"Any plans to release them?"

"Undecided."

I've already reported on the cave to Goldow and Ashe.

That naturally included the matter of Novem, the Dragon Who Governs the Earth, and since the information was so significant, sharing it with the public, including the video, is on hold for now...

"Would it be bad if I released it?"

"Nothing like that. But, if you're willing, could I have the recording data?"

"Mmm...?"

"I won't use it for anything weird, I'll just watch it personally. I promise."

I had no idea what was going on, but her voice and gaze were quite serious. The reason was unclear, but it was obvious that the 'Dragon' held some sort of significance for Yurayura-shi.

In that case,

"—Here you go."

I quickly tapped the system window I had opened, objectified a copy of the recording data linked to my avatar, and held it out to her.

Seeing the marble-like object with a rainbow-colored swirl inside, the person who had requested it looked surprised for some reason, her eyes widening as if involuntarily.

"...You're giving it away too easily."

"Not to just anyone."

It wasn't a fragile item. I tossed it lightly, and Yurayura-shi caught it securely, staring at the sphere in her hand for a few seconds—

"I'll give you something in return."

—and after importing it into her own system window, she took out another item... a large, familiar scroll from her inventory and tossed it back to me in return.

I know this, it's map data.

"Your affinity was 'Water,' right?"

"That is correct."

"Then this should be useful. It marks the locations of all individuals of the Great Water Spirit, Rapharn."

"...............Huh?"

For a moment, I didn't understand what she had said and let out a stupid sound. The lord of the 'Screen' had a triumphant look on her face.

As if to say she had finally broken my pace, she smiled with what seemed like good humor, which only emphasized her already frighteningly beautiful features and made her gender even more of a mystery.

But more importantly.

"Weren't there only two 'Water' spirits whose locations were known?"

They were the same kind as the Great Ice Spirit Guardian, Epel, whom I had fought in the past.

The special enemies in Arcadia that bear the title 'Great Spirit' are said to have four individuals for each element, with the same name and appearance, existing in various locations around the world.

And the only one whose four locations were all known was the Great Thunder Spirit, Repica. The grand reward obtained by defeating them, which became widely known through information brought by none other than the [Sword Queen], is famous enough for even me to be aware of it.

By defeating all the Great Spirits corresponding to one's own magic affinity in a non-raid party, one can obtain a special skill that greatly enhances their magic.

Needless to say, it's an element that every player with magic skills would be desperate for. In that case, information about undiscovered Great Spirits would naturally be—

"I knew. That's all."

—something that shouldn't be tossed around so casually.

"It's not like I planned to monopolize it from the start. I just kept quiet because it was a lot of trouble, and I was following the style of a senior traveler—if you're going to make it public, do it under your own name."

"Seriously...?"

"If it's too much trouble for you too, just leave it to the old man or the queen. ...But, don't mention my name then either. That's the balance for my gift."

And just like that, the responsibility for the information was pushed onto me.

No, I mean, if you consider it payment for information that isn't solely mine to hold anymore, it's a massive piece of information that's more than enough change... but.

Seriously... what should I do with this? Publicizing it on someone else's behalf is a huge pain—

"So that's that, see ya."

"What's that?"

"Sorry for calling you out so suddenly. Good night."

"Ah, yes. Huh? Ah, good ni—you're running away...!"

And with a flick of her hand, the lord of the 'Screen' logged out.

In the end, I wasn't clear on what any of that was about, and now I had an unexpected information bomb in my hands. Honestly, what had she done?

"Hey, my good night's sleep...!"

Just when I have more things to think about, my mind becomes sharp and clear.