kscans

Chapter 784 - The Indigo Girl's Struggle

The body-integrated Anima dwelling within Vestol's current sixth-ranked member, Milmarinus, possesses numerous rare qualities. It is a Third Tier Anima known as [Celestial Aquamarine, Shimmering Blue Jade Twin Stars].

First, it belongs to the already rare body-integrated category—in other words, despite the tagline of being an 'Anima,' it's a case where it has ultimately become one with its user.

Second is the 'Remote Constant Independent Standby' ability, which Nia utilizes as an artisan within a very narrow scope. The term alone is meaningless, but it refers to the power that permanently resides in my [Aquamarine Rabbit Heart], the cornerstone of my build.

It's that tricky ability where she can supposedly 'imbue a suitable gem with one magic per eye,' but apparently, that's not exactly what's happening. It isn't imbuing magic in the strictest sense.

It holds the magic, which has been placed in a standby state, anchored to the designated gemstone as a focal point.

By maintaining this state indefinitely, the aquamarine miracle allows a glimmer of power to be born anytime, anywhere, at the will of its blessed recipient—yes, it's every bit as absurd as it sounds.

We're not talking on a paltry scale of minutes, tens of minutes, or even hours. It's perfectly normal for it to last for days. Heck, even if it goes unused for months or years, Nia's eyes will eternally and forever continue to watch over the one she has blessed.

In other words, her power isn't temporarily lost due to this miracle. Rather, it's because she is constantly watching that she becomes unable to exercise her other powers.

According to Nia, there is probably no limit to the duration of this power. Furthermore, the power she granted me has never once been severed, even when I'm flying off to some remote corner of the world on her self-proclaimed magnificent legs. So for now, it's highly likely there's no distance limit, either.

Its lack of restrictions is simply staggering, but as someone who has spent some time with her… well, as someone who has gotten to know her, I can only say that it suits her perfectly.

Devoted and earnest. The fact that I feel a certain weight from it all might even be part of her charm.

But let's set those two points aside for now. The third, the clairvoyance ability activated by fully opening both her eyes—Truthnight Aquamarine, Night Queen Seeing Through the Moon—is the true key to this raid.

During our trip, when a mobilization order was issued for all current rank holders in the Western Faction, Nia was summoned.

It was then that she was forced to confess the details of her Anima, which she had kept hidden from the world. Apparently, the venue erupted for all sorts of reasons. For the great Ashe to show a genuinely troubled face in public, and for the esteemed Lady Helena to look up at the heavens… it must have been quite the scene.

Of course it was. The joker for the assault on 'Green Connect'—a raid whose future was uncertain in so many ways—had been trembling in their arms all along without them even knowing.

This ability to see through things was the fundamental power [Celestial Aquamarine] possessed from its initial First Tier, and it remains its one and only ability even now, after two evolutions.

It's a power not limited to mere physical clairvoyance; it can see even the conceptual source hidden within an object. While her gaze is blocked by 'beings that contain strong magic,' like players and enemies, it works on most inorganic matter, with the exception of works created by a magic artisan.

And so, while I was soaking in a hot spring, Nia was escorted—or rather, carried—with VIP treatment by none other than the Sword Queen herself. And as a result of her confirming it with her own eyes...

It was determined that her power is indeed effective in the abnormal space on the "back" of Green Connect, Jehatreglie—the field we will be challenging in two days.

Along with that, another fact was confirmed, one that would make anyone say, "Huh???"... but since it's unclear if that's relevant to the raid, we'll put a pin in it for now.

So, in other words, basically, to sum it all up...—

"..............................I can't... I'm gonna die..."

"Hey, mister."

"I am being considerate! Super considerate! Here, Nia, are you okay? Don't push yourself, alright?"

She herself says it's 'not meant for long-term use,' but expecting us not to have high hopes is asking the impossible. Neither I nor anyone else wants to push her too hard, but because she's a trump card that's perfect for this raid, she must be feeling the pressure herself.

That goes for the brilliant and talented Natsume-senpai, who ended up adapting to Sapphire at lightning speed, and for me, as I continue to watch over her while firmly securing her delicate avatar.

Together, the two of us have repeatedly told her, 'Don't overdo it,' but Nia is the type to push past her limits, wring out every last bit of grit, and then collapse just like this.

I move beyond simply supporting her swaying body to catch her in my arms, but since everyone here is dead serious right now, there's no room for embarrassment. As for Nia, who's entrusting her entire self to me without hesitation... well, judging from her zero-composure expression, it's probably the same for her.

When it comes to "work," she flips a switch. I already know she's a cool person.

"Uuueeegh...................... How long... was that...?"

"About a minute, wasn't it?"

"Yeah. That's two whole seconds longer than last time—whoa, hey, stop! I'm not teasing you!"

And so, several hours have passed since we began this special training. The 'five minutes' I casually threw out at the beginning was apparently a wildly impossible, reckless, and foolish pipe dream, and now I can only regret it.

I suppose I have no choice but to accept my punishment of repeated headbutts. As for our current progress, she can maintain activation for just under a minute, followed by an interval of about ten minutes to recover.

I keep telling her not to push herself, and I mean it from the bottom of my heart. However, I'm not approaching this with a casual attitude either, even if it is ultimately a game. So, I won't mince words when stating the facts.

Considering all the various factors involved in the 'Green Connect' raid, the duration is far too unreliable and the rest time is too long. To be blunt, she's unusable in her current state.

However, she improved by two seconds since the last attempt. ...And she improved by one second between the attempt before that and the last one, and by a whole three seconds between the two before that.

This is despite the immense strain it must be putting on her eyes and mind, this combo with high-speed flight, and despite her being unfamiliar with using her power this way. The necessary interval, too, has been steadily and surely decreasing, finally settling down to about ten minutes.

She's trying her best.

She's trying super hard.

She's trying ridiculously, absurdly hard.

"...Nia?"

"Y...es..."

There's no doubt about it.

"You've got guts, you know that? I like girls like you."

"...Yaay... Th-thank... you..."

That tsundere kitten is steadily starting to show her softer side.

And as for me... well, that's been the case for so long now that there's nothing new to say about it.

"Uwaah..."

"Come on, mister. Take proper care of her."

"Is that really a job you should be giving to a guy?"

"Then, Haru. Give her a proper 'there, there.'"

"Can't really run away when you call me out by name..."

Unlike Natsume-senpai, I can't say such things so easily. Even if I'm not being glib, it's hard for me to say them in front of others.

So unfortunately, I have no intention of offering any words right now—

"...Gufuheheh..."

"That laugh. Are you sure about that, young lady?"

While holding her limp body, I use my senior's command as my excuse.

As I gently and carefully stroke her swaying indigo hair, a rather strange reaction escapes from my arms. I let out a wry smile but don't stop my hand.

Well, whatever. When the opportunity arises, I'll do it later.

Just telling her that I honestly like that part of her...

I want to believe that something like that wouldn't be a crime.

---

It's a sin. But I'll allow it. Go on.