kscans

Chapter 845 - Supporters Here and There

Once Sunday passes, Monday rears its head. Such is the transient nature of the world, and as the weekdays begin, it is a student's duty to apply themselves to their studies.

And so, the day after I laddered my way from one fantasy (the real world) to another (the virtual one) and finally began my conquest of the massive new content, I attended my university lectures with the heart of a child who had just started a brand-new game. In the end—

""""—He's... got his feet on the ground...""""

"Is it even possible to harmonize on such a rare line so perfectly???"

After conquering a full course of studies that lasted until the afternoon, I soothed my impatient heart that screamed 'let me go home already' and, shaking off the temptation to go straight back, I found myself visiting a friend's house.

Specifically, the mansion where my best friend, follower, supporter, and manager, the esteemed lady Shijo, resides. In her 'workroom,' I had been, through a natural course of events, pushed into a chair, surrounded by my friends, and put in a situation where a swift departure would be impossible.

Kaede, along with Shoko, Toshiki, and Mizuki—the four of them—were all looking at a single PC display. And what was being shown... was none other than me.

It wasn't like there were any storage limits or resource requirements, so I had just mindlessly recorded my Key Tree conquest from last night.

I couldn't be bothered to edit it, so it was just a raw data file (over five hours long) that captured everything from the journey to the boss fight in one continuous shot.

In other words, that magnificent unison from a moment ago...

"Whoa, Haru-chan is fighting normally..."

"This is actually super rare footage..."

"But even so, the fact that he doesn't look like a Lv.1 when you watch him calmly is so like the Acrobat."

"The clothes... are cute..."

...was their reaction to seeing me (Lv.1) in a battle scene that might even be considered boring compared to my usual antics—and yeah. I guess so.

It was very true that I had my feet on the ground, in a double sense.

"So, Haru, how many floors did you clear in a little over five hours?"

"The sixth floor. I thought I could go further, but I guess I was getting ahead of myself."

"...Kasuga-kun. As far as I know, clearing the first floor usually takes half a day for a normal person."

"Oh, huh... So I guess it was fine for me to get ahead of myself. Alright, score one for me."

"By the way, Mizuki, are you talking about a solo run?"

"Of course, I'm talking about a party run."

"Dude, you've got to be kidding me."

"Ah, haha..."

Well, my progress in the Key Tree Maze is ninety-five percent due to my 'Memory' gift, which is just too useful for clearing labyrinths, rather than my fighting skills.

Combined with the stamina I've cultivated through the Sword Saint's spartan training, it's only natural that I'm progressing at an exceptional player's pace since I don't get lost or tired.

—Well, anyway.

"In any case, I'll keep bringing rough recordings like this. I'm counting on you."

"Roger roger!"

"You got it!"

With the data entrusted to them, I was ready to head home and continue my conquest to catch up with my partner. And no one, including the casually responding childhood friend pair, tried to stop me.

"...A digest for the regular floors, no cuts for the boss fights. If we're going to upload a boss guide for each floor, the editing for each one should be... light? So it's not overwhelming."

"I'll leave it to you, editing director."

I gave a nod of unwavering trust to the ever-reliable Mizuki-san,

"Do your best...!"

"You got it. I'll give it my all!"

...and with a wave to Kaede, who gave me her usual heartfelt cheer,

I, for my part, headed for my own stage.

◇◆◇◆◇

—And so, I didn't immediately resume my conquest.

"Yo! How's it going, shut-in!"

"You're so loud...! I've always been a shut-in, you know!"

After returning home, I drove on. Then, from Key Tree City where I had logged out last night, I made the ridiculously long five-hundred-kilometer round trip. The place I showed up at was none other than...

"Honestly, you... that's not a distance you should be casually traveling back and forth."

"Well, it doesn't even take thirty minutes one way."

"Ah, yes, yes, of course..."

...the workshop of the shut-in, my personal artisan. As usual, I knocked on the door without any prior notice, and Nia, seated in her usual chair at the table, greeted me. Her expression was...

"You went to the Key Tree last night, right? How was it?"

"There's a lot, but to sum it up, Arcadia really is crazy."

"Ahaha. You're right, especially since it tolerates people like you."

...now calm.

Even now, the topic of her is still exploding with endless attention in the sea of the internet, but it feels like she's finally starting to regain her peace of mind over the last few days.

In other words—as the one who, although it was necessary, dragged her into the public eye... I, too, have only been able to feel relieved in these past few days.

Of course, wanting to face it in perfect condition was the main reason, but this was another reason I had been laying low for the past half-month.

...You know, that thing.

During the conquest, I told Natsume-senpai I would 'do my best.' So, using my free time as an excuse, I had been making time to hang out with her every single day, both in reality and in the virtual world.

And this is the result.

"You wanna go over there too, Nia? It's an unbelievably huge festival, worth seeing."

"I'll pass. Hearing about it from Sora-chan and the Princess is enough for me."

"Heh, is that so."

To think she's recovered enough to trade jokes like this, it seems the effort I put into spoiling her rotten since the 'Green Connect' battle half a month ago has paid off—

"...Hmph."

...The effort I put into spoiling her with care and gratitude... has paid off...

"Hmph."

...Right.

Well, it seems my spoiling might have gone a little too far.

"Hmph...!!"

"No, not 'Hmph...!' Friendship building month is long over! Stop it! Don't just open your arms and demand it like it's a given!"

I'm not joking or acting about this. To encourage Nia, who had suffered a near-fatal wound from the massive spotlight of public attention, I had allowed all sorts of things.

When she limply leaned against me, I accepted it without avoiding her.

When she started nuzzling her head against me, I hesitated but patted her.

When she clung to my body and let out a sorrowful whimper, plagued by guilt and conflict, with a touch that was barely there... I might have, or might not have... hugged her back—

In any case, the ultimate monster that was created as a result is this.

"Hnnnngggghhh...!!"

"Are you a three-year-old!?"

Finally, she doesn't even come to me anymore; she just calls for me.

The indigo-haired girl, who had taken a liking to the limited-time menu of voluntary pampering, has kicked aside her 'older sister' attribute and is currently degenerating into a 'super spoiled brat' who surpasses even Sora.

And as for the big problem that has arisen from this—

"..........................................F-five seconds... got it...?"

—is this.

Somehow, I've gotten used to it too, and even after the physical contact enhancement month is over, I can't bring myself to reject Nia's selfish demands. It's a hellish situation.

Furthermore, the fact that Sora and Ashe are perfectly aware of this has created a chain of hell, and I have a feeling that divine punishment will befall me any day now.

"—Mmmphhh..."

"Okay. Okay, five seconds are up. It's over, we're done, let... let go, you...!!"

I regret not hardening my heart and just sending a message... but in the end, I know I'll probably come back tomorrow and the day after, so I resignedly...

"[Flash—(Okay, that's) —Traveler(it)]!!!"

"Ngh!? Hey, wait...!!"

With her voice full of dissatisfaction at my back, I made a swift escape from the atelier.