kscans

Chapter 883 - Meanwhile: Side of the Two Sword Crowns

"Today's the day—I'm absolutely not forgiving you anymore."

In total, they had been active in the event for a little over seven days. Yet, in all three events, she had only been able to gaze upon the sky—or rather, the abnormal sight of the earth above—a single time.

Somewhere within the 'Mirrored Sky World (Alvnikuro)'.

Trapped once again in a seemingly endless underground labyrinth, the [Princess] was…

"I hate you, Ui. No dinner for you. You can just go become moss in some dungeon by yourself."

…as angry as ever.

It goes without saying that truly angering Iris, also known as Alicia White—a person known for her deep consideration and superhuman emotional control—was no simple feat.

In her presence, everyone unconsciously corrected their behavior, so she was rarely subjected to the kind of rudeness that would provoke anger in the first place. Furthermore, her acquaintances and friends were all people who possessed a certain level of good sense and thoughtfulness rivaling her own.

That is why, and this was no metaphor…

To make the renowned [Sword Queen] Iris so thoroughly angry, like a child… according to a certain [Acrobat] who knew how those two were…

…there was no one else but the unprecedentedly dense, peerless [Sword Saint] who stood beside her, ruling the world.

"C-Come now…! I have already apologized for my lack of foresight…!"

Tap, tap, tap.

Her partner was striding forward, clearly in a foul mood and pointedly ignoring her. Reading the future where she would be mercilessly left behind if she stopped, the gray-haired figure hurried her footsteps to catch up.

Thinking back on it now, they were alone together in a sealed space with no lights, yet their vision remained clear—an atmosphere similar to a place she had recently seen. It had been over two hundred and fifty-two hours since they had last seen the sky, all due to one of their party's shortcomings, which even she wouldn't deny at this point.

How many times had they argued while wandering endlessly?

"Your 'I'm sorry' is cheap."

"Th-That is not…!"

"At least, it is to me now. Enough is enough. It's pathetic, coming from someone older."

"Wha…?! I-Isn't that a bit harsh, A-chan…? To be told something like that to my face is a first in my entire life—"

"I'm just mirroring your attitude toward me. If you have a complaint, say it to yourself."

"M-My attitude? In what way…?"

"You're completely underestimating me."

"That is absolutely not true!"

Though no one was counting, it had certainly happened more than once or twice.

Two people who stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the pinnacle of the virtual world. If anyone were to witness the bickering of these two, who embodied 'The Strongest' and 'The Supreme', they would immediately recognize it as a familiar scene.

Tap, tap, tap.

Pitter, patter, pitter, patter.

The sound of sandals chasing after the sound of boots—and then, quieter than the whistling wind, more subtle, a flash painted the scene: the chime of a 'sword' scattering starlight.

"Why do you listen to what Haru says, but you can't listen to me?"

"Wh-What are you talking about? Why would you bring up Haru-kun?"

"I heard that whenever you get carried away and cause trouble for the party, Haru lectures you and sets you straight. But he says you understand after he tells you just once."

"C-Cause… t-trouble… It is true, but…! I feel that your tone just now was overly influenced by your mood, A-chan! Haru-kun would not say it like that!"

"Could you please lend an ear to your friend's words, even just a tenth as much as you do for your disciple complex?"

"Disciple com… I do not know what that is, but I understood that I was just told something unpleasant. And you, A-chan, are you not being a bit harsh with me!"

"Ui."

"Yes."

"Your daily conduct is important, isn't it?"

"This is the first time in my life I have ever been treated this way…!"

Clink, clatter. The remnants of starlight, appearing and scattering, piled up along their path, and as the faint starlight created a river in the dim space—the sound of a wooden mallet echoed.

Their spoils of battle were far too numerous for just two people to collect and carry. Thus, the [Stardust Relics] were shaped and forced into the form of a makeshift 'katana', then stored away in… the treasury of the divine hall held by the [Sword Saint].

The path tread by the two sword crowns was filled with a perfection that would astound any ordinary person.

Which was all the more reason for the contrast.

"A-chan! Are you listening to me…?! Honestly! You say no dinner, but I'm the one who makes it! I'll be the one to leave you without dinner!"

"See? You're underestimating me. I can cook, too."

"That's a lie! You said you couldn't, which is why I took over—"

"People grow and change every day. Unlike you, whose sense of direction never improves."

"!!!!!!!!!!!"

Footsteps, sword clashes, battle. Within the tranquil silence that filled the air, the 'amusing' exchange stood out all the more, a playful scene enlivening the journey of just two people.

"That's it, that's it, that's it… I'm angry now! That's right, I get angry too…! I'm done with you, A-chan!"

"Do as you please. I can finally retire from my role as your guardian. Goodbye."

"Guard… W-Wait! I will not forgive this outrageous behavior, A-chan!"

"I don't care. Don't follow me."

And so, tap tap, pitter patter.

This little scene—one that would later be released to the world without permission by one party, half out of mischief and half out of spite, throwing fans of both sides into a state of pandemonium for various reasons—

…was being woven somewhere in the world, same as any other day.

---

For the sake of the Sword Saint's honor, the reason for Ashe's fury was not recorded in the main story. It went like this:

Still seeing no end to the great labyrinth ⇒ Wouldn't it be better to just destroy it and escape? (!?) ⇒ "One grand swing!" (!?) ⇒ Succeeds in destroying the terrain (!?) but the labyrinth collapses ⇒ They fall a long, long way even deeper ⇒ Ashe is furious.

Well, of course she would be. By the way, they were both unharmed.