kscans

Chapter 847 - Hi Again

“—So it’s just like I heard. What is this, some kind of ultra-convenient system?”

I was in a corner of the city where, while not as packed as the plaza right before the Key Tree, a considerable tide of people had formed everywhere you looked. Slipping through their gazes and posing as a regular person, I rode the wave and touched my objective. Gazing at the back of my left hand where the result was now etched, I let out a voice of admiration.

A large object shaped like a “gate.” The moment I touched it, the number ‘661’ was inscribed on my avatar. To put it simply, it was my ticket number.

At the same time, it was also a countdown. As I watched, the number ticked down to ‘660’. The idea was that when it reached ‘0’, I’d receive a system message—an invitation to teleport.

Of course, I was free to do as I pleased within the city in the meantime. It was an ultra-user-friendly feature that I desperately wish they’d implement in the real world, defying all impossibility.

At any rate, with this, my visit reservation was successfully acquired and complete. While I was still managing to perform my covert operation without drawing too much attention, I ducked into a side street to avoid the crowd and…

“...Heh. Is this so out of place it’s actually got character…?”

I glanced back for no particular reason. Hanging in the middle of the object, which stood just under five meters tall, was a large, handmade-looking plank of wood.

—‘Civilian Guild Hall - Key Tree City Branch’.

In a world of fantasy, the skillful Japanese script radiated both an out-of-place and familiar charm.

◇◆◇◆◇

And so, thirty seconds later…

“—It is a pleasure to see you again, Haru-sama, the Player.”

“...................................... Y-Yeah… thanks for yesterday…”

Impressed, I’d been planning to kill time by excitedly watching the queue number tick down. My perfectly simple, small-citizen pleasure was kicked to the curb by the arrival of a special invitation that completely ignored that wonderful system.

What was going on…? Well, I don’t quite grasp the exact situation myself yet. But being summoned ahead of a line over six hundred people long, only to find a far-too-familiar “person” standing before me, made the deduction simple.

In short…

“Um, I mean, I’m grateful and happy about this, but… i-is this really okay…? I feel kind of bad, like I’m the only one getting special treatment…”

It was, just like last night, a case of special treatment.

The scene that greeted me wasn’t a bustling entrance hall filled with lively noise, but a quiet, calm, and cozy space that resembled a tasteful reception room.

And the one sitting across from me, smiling at my words, was…

“By treating you with courtesy, we can avoid a great deal of unnecessary confusion. If there is a means to carry out our duties smoothly without propagating any undue commotion… I humbly believe that is, in itself, the highest form of service to the other Players as well.”

He was, as always, ridiculously polite. It was none other than Septra-shi, who, for reasons I couldn’t fathom, was giving me the full one-hundred-percent-goodwill treatment from the very beginning.

It's not just him. Everyone I met while wandering around yesterday was kind and friendly. Is that it? Was my only NPC friend being a single, ridiculously ripped old man giving me a skewed perspective, and this is just how things normally are?

—As I pondered this, trying to soothe the slight agitation from the sudden invitation while gazing at his face just enough not to be rude, he offered another smile.

With a snap of his fingers that looked far too elegant, a teacup steaming with vapor suddenly appeared on the table before me. This is fantasy.

Even I, at this point, knew that it wasn’t some kind of magic, or rather, a skill.

“I imagine your position and abilities keep you quite busy. If you would be so kind, I would like to inquire as to your business in visiting our hall… How does that sound?”

Was he a man who preferred to get straight to the point, just like yesterday, or was he simply reading my own preference for directness? Cutting to the chase with remarkable speed, Septra-shi gestured for me to take the tea (?) and prompted me to state my purpose in a gentle voice.

In that case, I had only to oblige with my hands and my words. Lifting the cup, which exuded a fragrance I’d never smelled but found strangely alluring…

“Right, then to be brief—I’m looking for a bit of backup.”

“Oh, backup,” he said, his eyes narrowing.

It was the first time I’d seen him make no effort to hide his amusement.

“The whole world’s been buzzing with it so much you’d hear about it even with your ears plugged. I heard that even here in the Garden of Divine Creation, we finally became able to borrow the power of… of you all.”

“Indeed. The time has come, and we NPCs have been granted permission to ‘navigate the world’.”

“…”

“...Heh heh, please do not concern yourself. Were you not aware?”

“Well, yeah, it’s just… out of courtesy?”

Whether he was being mischievous or not, he picked up on my slip of the tongue. I broke out in a cold sweat, thinking I messed up, but he just laughed, seemingly unbothered.

I knew about this too, but… how to put it… it was a topic that left players more bewildered about how to react than anything.

The fact that they, the NPCs—recognized and accepted that they, along with this entire world of Arcadia, were ‘created beings (game characters)’.

…Well, setting that aside for a moment.

“It is not as if there is any other name for us. We, too, have taken the liberty of calling you ‘Players.’ It is the same thing. I must insist you pay it no mind.”

“Uh, roger that…”

“In that case, shall we proceed?”

Truly, his balance of politeness and frankness was exquisite. I think I might really like this guy.

“Backup… In other words, Haru-sama, you are seeking a ‘Companion’ from among our number. Is my understanding of the matter correct?”

“Yes, that’s right. Since the opportunity is here, I was hoping to make use of it—or rather, I was hoping you could lend me your strength. I’m sure it would be a valuable experience, too.”

I often hear from others that I, more than anyone, perceive this world as a ‘game.’ Perhaps that’s why. The preconception attached to the name ‘NPC’ gets mixed in, and rude words slip out.

Or maybe I’m just being overly considerate and cautious with beings who are, needless to say, unique. …It’s unlikely he read my mind, but Septra-shi let my words slide with a calm smile, as if to say, “Precisely.”

“I have understood your request. —However, if I may be so bold as to ask, do you truly require our assistance? I am aware that the ‘power’ of Players is sealed within the Key Tree, but…”

And then, with a tone so polite and courteous it was starting to become almost embarrassing, he strung his words together smoothly… and simply observed me, sitting across from him.

His light blue eyes watched me, and then, a few seconds later.

“If my eyes do not deceive me, you are one who sits at the very pinnacle of all Players.”

With a straight face, he delivered a compliment so potent it could have killed me from sheer embarrassment.

He fired it off, and as I choked in surprise, he continued in his calm tone.

“As you know, you ‘Players’ are superior beings, different from us. Therefore, it is impossible to compare you to one who stands at the apex among them.”

“W-Wait, hold on a sec—”

“I say this with all due respect, but I fear we would be more of a hindrance than a help. Even if your ‘power’ is suppressed, I am certain your ‘skill’ would easily place you above us… With such conviction, I cannot lightly ask you to bear such a burden.”

“Um, Septra-shi?”

“It is not my intention to be in a position where we might hold back a Player of your renown. It would be a matter of shame before the goddess who watches from the moon.”

“Septra-shi???”

“Therefore—”

And so, I was subjected to his speech, which continued to inexplicably praise me, for a little over five minutes.

Then, I spent just under five minutes painstakingly explaining the fact that I am neither the ‘strongest’ nor the ‘supreme’ player—and after a total of ten-odd minutes of back-and-forth…

“...My deepest apologies. Then let us, once more, proceed with our discussion.”

“Y-Yeah, let’s…”

I had no idea what made him judge ‘me’ as the “pinnacle,” but Septra-shi seemed to have accepted my explanation for now, and we exchanged wry smiles… Well, whatever.

I’ll just consider this a peculiar way of building rapport and get down to business talk.

Oh wait, this place is non-profit. Not business.