kscans

Chapter 818 - Meanwhile (In the Past)

[Iris]: Haru

[Iris]: Where are you now?

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[Haru] Reached the tower that was insanely far away. [Haru] Going in now. Leaving the other two to you.

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[DooBru]: Reporting in, have merged with Great Tiger's squad. [DooBru]: `Dragon`-type unique individual [Administrator:01] has been defeated. [DooBru]: Currently analyzing the console. According to Ganju-dono, progress is "decent."

[DooBru]: Further report. Two additional squads have joined us. [DooBru]: Analysis will continue with four artisans. Will report again when there's progress.

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[Sora]: We have defeated [Administrator:04]. [Sora]: Its motif is unknown. The details are difficult to explain, so I will share them in another venue. [Sora]: Currently, [Pyromancer]-san and [Hit Maker]-san are analyzing it.

[Sora]: End of report. I will contact you again if there is any progress here.

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[Gin]: Merged with Sora-chan's group. [Gin]: Picked up the Sword Saint-sama on the way, so we've got a whole lot of firepower concentrated in one spot. [Gin]: We've got time, so should we run through some nearby dungeons while they're analyzing?

[Iris]: Gin, you're on standby. You're the most suitable for communications. [Iris]: Ask the two from the East. They should each be more than enough on their own. [Gin]: Roger. What about Sora-chan? [Iris]: Standby. I'm leaving the artisans' protection to her. [Iris]: Sora alone is more than sufficient. If additional reinforcements arrive, assign them to buy time as well. [Iris]: However, they must stay near the tower. Limit their range to an area they can return from within a hundred seconds on foot.

[Gin]: Understood. Later.

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[Haru]: Defeated [Administrator:03]. Turtle-type. [Haru]: Nia is analyzing the console.

[Haru]: Ahh… [Haru]: Iris, you seeing this right now?

[Haru]: Okay. End of comms.

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[Rickey]: Joined up with Tiger-san's team. [Rickey]: Progress is still just "decent," apparently.

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"…"

"Jeez, what a damn面倒な spec this is."

Was it because she couldn't answer her beloved's call at the worst possible moment, or was it something else? Kokoro muttered as she glanced at the dissatisfied, blank expression—one she could faintly read despite not being particularly close to her. The invincible princess, however, composed herself in an instant.

"Right. No matter how we try to work around it, we can't hope for perfect coordination. When I think about what would have happened if Natsume hadn't risen through the ranks… it might have been as hopeless to clear as last time, you know?"

Watching Iris put on a calm, prim-and-proper face, Kokoro let out a small smile.

Again, they weren't particularly close. Which meant that Iris had become expressive enough for even someone like her to read.

"Look at the count. It's already looking pretty hopeless this time, too, you know?"

"…"

See? Just a casual, mean-spirited comment, and this is the result.

It was still incredibly difficult to read her, as always, but there was a world of difference between subtle and nothing. The pout that must have seeped out from her unparalleled competitive spirit was quite adorable, wasn't it?

"…It's just that I haven't heard anything else from Haru."

And the expression that followed was the same.

Only three ticks remained on the count—in other words, the success of the raid would be decided in a little over thirty seconds. To be able to make a face like that in this situation was nothing short of admirable.

What in the world is she thinking to be able to smile right now?

"When I don't know where he is or what he's doing… including those around him—"

"Yes?"

As the literal, undisputed top fighting force, she was likely expected to buy time with maximum efficiency.

The `thread` wrapped around her hand never pulled her toward the tower. The [Sword Queen], who continued to lay waste to the dungeon without slowing her pace since the battle began, smiled without stopping.

She smiled, then fell silent for a moment, as if to tease…

As if she had believed in—as if she had known—what was about to happen.

Counting it out, it was exactly thirty seconds.

"—See? Told you."

An affectionate whisper, and a massive tremor that was just as, if not more, intense than the last one. To these two things that arrived simultaneously, the renowned [Scorching Arm] could only offer… a single, exasperated smile.

"What kind of trust do you two have? Are you married?"

"Yes. Eventually."

"Oh, man, I'm definitely using this in the archive. I can't wait to see the looks on the Acrobat's face and all your fans' faces around the world."

"Hehe."

"Don't you laugh all high and mighty. As always, there's no fun in teasing you—"

And so, the two, who were birds of a feather in a sense.

Never once letting a hint of tension enter their conversation even as they were hounded by the pressing situation, they dashed across the field at incredible speed, one carrying the other.

An unknown, second transformation. The time limit had vanished from the status bar.

They had no way of knowing what had happened. The only thing they understood was that this raid was far from over—and if that was the case…

As the two changed course and headed straight for the nearest tower, at the edge of their vision, the end of the raid chat, which was inevitably buzzing due to the sudden, immense change, was updated…

[Hayagake]: Arrived.

Another one who was just like a certain someone.

Or perhaps even more concise and to the point than that someone… though in reality, he was just shy. The voice of the one who had been operating solo since the raid began was jotted down, a single, lonely word.

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Putting aside Mr. Hayagake, who should really write where he arrived, Sora-san trying her best to write a proper, formal message is so cute, isn't it?