kscans

Chapter 838 - ──────────to be continued.

Well, to put it simply, the plan was to blow through all the phases at once, meet the conditions, and score a super-fast raid clear.

My squad had been forced to go all-out from the very beginning and was especially drained, but we weren't the only ones feeling tired. It was one thing for the other key players to have stamina left—that's just what you expect from rankers—but the real problem was everyone else.

Aside from the top two artisans who acted so nonchalantly… and the top three who seemed to be in a league of their own, the rest of the ten artisans were showing various degrees of fatigue.

And more importantly, the general and exceptional players, the raid members, were visibly drained of both spirit and resources after more than two hours of non-stop dungeon crawling.

To be honest, I wouldn't say this raid attempt was a 'smooth run' overall.

Of course, getting this far and advancing the phases on what was supposed to be a long-shot information-gathering attack was an incredible result—but in the end, that was just a stroke of luck.

With the new information we'd gained, we could definitely come up with a more efficient strategy. That's why, having reached the unknown without any prior knowledge, we were in a situation f(・)a(・)r(・) f(・)r(・)o(・)m(・) o(・)p(・)t(・)i(・)m(・)a(・)l(・).

If we were hit by one or two more unexpected developments, the raid would easily collapse. I imagine that's why she proposed such an uncharacteristically risky plan.

…And the fact that she pushed it through is what makes her the one and only [Sword Queen]. In the end, the future unfolded exactly as Ashe had envisioned it.

And so, more than a hundred pairs of eyes stared as the monster, split in two by my master, the [Sword Saint], was blown into the distance by a giant flash of silver moonlight bearing the name of the world itself.

They were utterly dumbfounded. As was to be expected, most of the players had forgotten to breathe, witnessing the 'Supreme' and the 'Strongest' performing in perfect concert, surpassing all expectations and imagination—

The moment the inert black mass tumbled to the ground and a tremor, the likes of which we'd felt many times before, shook the battlefield.

“—Hell yeah, it’s over! I can finally talk! I can finally talk!”

The voice belonged to the exceptional minority. That is, from the circle of artisans, the true stars of this raid who hadn't had a moment to spare watching the rampage of Arcadia's top two individual powerhouses.

“How’d it go!? What’s the verdict!?”

“Aaaah, my shoulders are so stiff…!”

“……………………so, tired.”

“Yeah! How ‘bout that!”

“My heeead huuuurts…! I can’t take it anymore, I don’t wanna…!”

“………………………………………………………………………………”

And then, a chorus of voices erupted all at once, the pent-up emotions of those who had kept their mouths shut and focused single-mindedly on their roles.

Our own aquamarine artisan seemed to have completely burned out and gone silent, but following the lead of the shouting [Colorful Beauty], everyone else let out their own cries.

It was to be expected—…but in stark contrast to them.

“““…………”””

The top three in terms of technical skill remained silent, their eyes narrowed as they assessed the situation.

I’ll have to get the details from them later, but I had no idea what kind of “battle” the artisans had been waging.

However,

Suddenly, a pair of coppery eyes met mine. From the emotion in the gaze of my personal magic crafter, I could faintly discern one thing.

Namely, that something was still—

“—Haru!”

“—Whoa, yeah…!”

My name was called, and I turned my head just enough to look. As my partner ran towards me, I noticed for the first time that the boss had stopped spawning.

“Honestly… I thought I was going to be killed, Natsume.”

“…Excuse me? How rude. I properly calculated the time for you to retreat—”

“Which side did you base that on? The mobility of my transfigured body?”

“Ah… O-of course I did, you know?”

“…Well, I’ll just assume your brain was fried from exhaustion.”

Next, from the other side of the stage, which had been flattened completely, the invincible samurai returned… or rather, the beautiful blonde in prayer robes. My words weren't meant to be malicious, but when I had casually mentioned in the past that 'our transfigured bodies are pretty similar,' senpai's face had twisted into a perfect scowl.

And then, our eyes met for a brief moment.

We looked away without a word, and my vision was once again filled with gold.

“What… what’s going to happen…?”

Just by looking at her face… no, even without looking, I could hear the deep exhaustion in her voice.

It was only natural. No matter how easy the ‘Ice Sword’ was to control, she must have been suffering from phantom sensory fatigue after commanding well over ten thousand blades for more than ten minutes.

And while the ‘Great Blizzard’ was just a matter of spinning it around and around, the scale was just too massive. If she had shown up looking full of energy, I would have had a harder time reacting…—

“…Haru?”

“Senpai, are you okay?”

Whoops, I totally spaced out.

“Ah, sorry, I’m fi—, …………”

Wait, what is this?

“Hh… ………………”

Ah, this is bad.

I can’t… I’m at my limit… so slee—

◇◆◇◆◇

Suu, a quiet breath echoed in the silence that had replaced the earth-shattering tremors.

“Ah…”

And so, the junior, on whose lap the owner of that breath now rested.

“Heh…?”

Followed by the partner, a young girl.

“Ah… well, yeah.”

And standing beside them, another self-proclaimed junior.

“So, this guy’s human after all.”

Then the tiger who considered himself a rival.

“Oh my. What a charming sleeping face.”

And later, the master of the wolf, who returned from the stage at a most leisurely pace.

“…Calm down, he’s a guy. A super popular guy.”

And the man shouldering a sense of sorrow, who quietly averted his gaze.

“Heeheehee, Har-kun never fails to provide good footage, does he?”

The traveler who poked his cheek playfully.

“…………Hmph.”

The friend who snorted curtly, though the harshness was gone from his eyes.

“……………………………………………………Haaah. Well, yeah.”

The kitten, who, after sinking into exhaustion, looked at a kind of ‘face’ she had never seen before and let out a gentle, weary smile.

It was the same as always.

After having more fun than anyone, in the midst of a dream world, he had gallantly departed for yet another. As each of them watched him go with their own expressions.

◇The covenant of [Green Connect, Jehatreglie] has been fulfilled◇

The tolling of a bell echoed, embracing all things in its arms—

◇The world phase will now transition◇

That day, the world began to change, indifferent to it all.

---

And with that, Chapter 5, Section 4, as well as the prerequisite stage and preliminary battle for the 'Green Connect' raid, comes to a close.

I told you, didn't I? It's long and crazy and crazy.