kscans

Chapter 849 - The Princess and the Knight

—In cooperative games, not just Arcadia, what one seeks in an ally can be said to vary wildly from person to person.

Some simply want a skilled player equal to or greater than themselves. Others may lack experience or technique but desire a comfortable play session achieved through compatible personalities and atmosphere.

Still others seek the unique thrill that comes from the synergy of different individualities.

Whether Arcadia is currently designed as an “MMO” is debatable, but once you’ve experienced the fun of role-playing… many, like me who got hooked on it in past online games, will likely continue to seek it out.

In games, the strength of ‘specializing a character’s nature’ is self-evident, and the fact that it’s not just a matter of preference but also comes with rationality is a plus.

Now then.

While I acknowledge that I am fundamentally an efficiency-chaser, that trait is limited to what I can pursue on my own. Therefore, I honestly have nothing I seek from an ally.

Someone who can have fun with me, or at least tries to have fun, is a given, so that’s excluded. I have no desire to play with someone who isn’t enjoying the game in the first place.

—Setting aside the emotional aspect, that’s about it.

In reality, as the “Acrobat” who deviates from the average player in various ways, there is one essential requirement when I team up with others for a joint battle.

Not in terms of feelings, but in terms of maneuvering. What is it…? Simple.

Their path of movement must not intersect with mine, which the world calls insane.

◇◆◇◆◇

The seventh layer of the Key Tree Maze.

Within the cramped, still-plainly designed labyrinth, the sound of clashing swords echoed. In this enclosed space where one’s vision was secured in the dim light despite the lack of any visible light source, the crimson sparks born from colliding steel offered a modest illumination.

And then,

“Player-sama!”

A human voice followed the clang of iron.

The enemy was a [Wandering Goblin (Goblin Wraith)]—a ridiculously orthodox ‘enemy’ existence, a representative of demi-human monsters that had been completely absent from Arcadia until now, and a byword for a weakling that typically appears in the earliest stages of most games, with few exceptions.

However, Arcadia was apparently one of those ‘exceptions’.

When I faced these things solo, which started appearing from the fifth layer, I nearly died several times. In other words, they were opponents you absolutely could not underestimate.

I responded instantly to the voice that called my name. My legs, already prepared, kicked off the floor without a tenth of a second’s delay. While it felt lacking compared to the supersonic movements I was now used to… it was still more than enough to crush the distance to my target at a speed far beyond the limits of a realistic human.

And so, the blade of my swinging Stella was aimed at the small, green-skinned body suspended in mid-air.

Its dagger assault was thwarted by brilliant shield work, and even as its whole body was scooped up and launched, it continued to bare its fangs. Beneath its bumpy, potato-like head…

“Hup!”

I aimed for the neck. If I saw it up close, I couldn't possibly say it was a ‘weakling not to be feared’ with its incredibly vicious design, so I skillfully averted my gaze from its face.

In the small hand attached to its short, thin arm. Just like the weapon it gripped, I avoided the crude yet surprisingly solid-looking armor and slashed through the critical point.

And with that—

“Hmph… I knew it. Numbers are everything in a fight…”

The sigh-laden words that escaped my lips weren't directed at us.

That last one made seven in total. It was a word of praise for the splendid and troublesome coordination shown by the goblins, who always appeared in groups of five or more per encounter.

If I were still on a solo journey like before, that mumble would have been nothing more than a sad soliloquy…—but now, I have a companion with me.

Therefore,

“—Magnificent, Player-sama!! Such elegant swordsmanship, befitting your beautiful form!!!”

Thus, for better or worse, what immediately resounded was a cheerful, energetic ruckus.

No, it’s fine. I don’t think it’s bad. It’s reassuring to know I’m not alone, no matter what, and I have no complaints about his skill. And honestly, the overflowing respect and goodwill he directs at me, just like Septra-shi, feels pretty good, not gonna lie.

However, but however… really, however.

“Indeed! To be granted the opportunity to attend to such a person is the height of fortune! I, Kendy, first seat of the Thousand Memories! I swear, with renewed and endless fighting spirit, with deadly resolve and devotion, that I shall not permit a single scratch upon your shining skin!!!”

“.................................Uh, right.”

All I could think was, how did it come to this?

He carried no weapon, but two pieces of armor in his hands. His unorthodox style of combining a large shield on his right and a small shield on his left, specialized to the extreme for defense, was surprisingly excellent. As for our synergy, which I’d observed over the numerous battles so far, it was, as I said before, quite good.

So, on the combat front, I had absolutely no complaints. The free-roaming skirmisher, me, and the pure tank, ‘him,’ were polar opposites of ‘motion’ and ‘stillness,’ so our paths never crossed. To be frank, our compatibility was probably perfect, but…

“Now then! Let us proceed!! …If you would be so kind, your hand—”

“Ah, I’m good. Shall we go?”

“As you wish!!”

Someone do something about this energy level.

—Blonde hair, blue eyes, a tall, handsome man. His features weren’t particularly similar, but the color scheme exquisitely reminded me of someone, which made things incredibly awkward.

And on top of that, his stubborn insistence on treating me like a heroine was also a problem.

Forgetting my avatar, I had requested an ‘opposite (same) sex’ companion with a dead-serious look on my face, saying “a nice guy.” Just like Septra-shi, who had shown a momentary look of bewilderment, I had explained to this double-shield knight, Kendy-dono, right at our first meeting that this form was the ‘other side’ of me, but…

Somehow, it seems that NPCs have a different perception of these things compared to us outsiders.

“…Um, you see, Kendy-dono.”

“I would be honored if you would call me Kendy!”

“Kendy-dono. This will be the sixteenth time, but… I’m a guy. Okay?”

“It is perfectly okay!! For you are so very beautiful!!”

“…………I’ll show you my other form when we reach a good stopping point. You better be ready.”

…or so it seemed. While being lively is perfectly fine, this is a direction of familiarity I’m not looking for at all.

“That, too, shall become part of your charm! I look forward to it!!”

“Are you for real invincible? Give me a break…”

In the end, I, who am fundamentally weak to goodwill and kindness, couldn’t bring myself to push him away completely.

Feeling an endless anxiety on this party-play journey, where the difficulties seemed to have increased along with my combat power, I walked down the dim corridor, followed by my obedient (?) knight.