kscans

Chapter 901 - side: Team.C

—A dance of two swords flashed, and a tremor in the earth signaled the finale.

Scattered throughout the great hall was the green light of the floor master's dissipating remains. After the fifty-first time, the unique defeat effect of the Key Tree had become a familiar sight.

"Well, with this lineup, it's a piece of cake, obviously."

"Whoa... This is overkill..."

"You're no slouch yourself, Rinne. Don't go stealing my job as a guardian knight."

Lively chatter filled the air—two, three delicate voices that belied the combat prowess they held.

"...Five of us would probably be enough."

And then a fourth, an additional one.

Unlike the first three, who were carefree, lighthearted, and completely relaxed, this one girl seemed slightly unenthusiastic... but she was still doing her job properly.

"If you leave, a useless person will automatically be generated and it'll become four people... I'm sure his team is full with six people and has no openings, so just put up with it."

"Mmph..."

It was the samurai, the temporary party leader, who tried to placate her.

"Oi, you! Who are you calling useless? You think I can't hear you?"

"I wasn't trying to whisper, and I only speak the truth."

"Alright, that's it, we're fighting! Today's the day I teach you how to treat a lady—Nyaaaaahhh! That's a cheap shot! Seriously, get down from there, you bastard!"

Irori, who had effortlessly gained complete immunity to the tiny girl by creating a high platform of ice, looked down on her with a cool expression as Mi-na leaped up and down in a futile, furious display.

"Haha..."

And so, Maru II, who was watching this lively party with the most normal sensibilities, was both amused and troubled... While the party was perfectly balanced for combat, as a bystander within it, he foresaw one problem.

He might have to endure some mental fatigue from the romantic comedy sketch of those two.

"Fufu... but still, it seems we won't have any trouble unless it's one of the floor masters that appear every ten floors. At this rate, we might be able to climb the whole thing in a week, never mind two, don't you think?"

"That's if something super-crazy doesn't show up on those ten-floor intervals, right?"

"We can handle 'super-crazy.' Let's just blow them away and climb quickly."

"Wow, Ri-na-chan-senpai, you're so cool. Man, Team C is just so stable, isn't it?"

While the ever-worried [Ever-Changing] was secretly bracing himself, the other women were sitting down and chatting happily, watching the playful banter between the samurai and the mage with amusement.

Resting your body, and by extension your mind, whenever you can at key moments is an ironclad rule of the virtual world. Therefore, even the rankers wouldn't neglect this theory in order to maintain good condition.

Naturally, their chatting would go on, unchecked and lively.

Maru II wouldn't chide his partner for happily chatting away with their seniors at a time like this. And so, led by the [Sound Armor], whose personality and powers were both equally boisterous, the social gathering during the raid cooldown proceeded amicably...

"—Hey. If we were to compete based purely on total clear time, which team do you think would come in first?"

It was then that Aika, the [Knight], who, contrary to her imposing 'faceless, full-body armor' appearance, was friendly and talkative—a gap that, along with her beautiful, clear voice, never failed to charm her fans—brought up the topic.

"Oh, that's definitely Haru-san's team, Team B."

"I think my brother's team would win by a landslide."

"That's gotta be HaruSora's team...!"

"Huh? O-Oh, really..."

It was no wonder that Aika sounded surprised enough to be noticeable even through her armor. Everyone had responded with such certainty, practically cutting her off as if by reflex. Even Mi-na, who was some distance away, joined in.

Maru II, who was watching from the side, had a faint smile on his face, but it wasn't out of sympathy for the overwhelmed Aika or amusement at his partner and the twin wings' instant reply.

It was because he found it funny that he, too, was certain he would have joined in if he had been part of the conversation.

"Right, right. Aika-senpai, you haven't really had a chance to see Haru-san and Sora-chan's tag-team in a real battle since the White Throne raid a long time ago, have you?"

"That's... right. I enjoy watching the [Acrobat]... Haru-kun's archive videos in my spare time, but I can't recall any scenes where he and his partner were fighting together spectacularly."

"Exactly. Videos featuring Sora-chan are super rare to begin with."

In that case, the last time the world saw 'HaruSora' display their true teamwork was indeed during the raid against Tsarkalv of the White Throne.

During the recent Green Connect raid, one of them was already badly injured when they finally met up, so—the world doesn't know what the two of them are capable of when they join forces at full strength now.

The only ones who know are, for example... the trio of Rinne, Maru II, and the [Great Tiger], who were fortunate enough to form a connection and sometimes 'play' together as good friends.

And, for example, the rankers of the Eastern Faction, who often 'spar' with them for training or fun. That was probably about it.

"Well then, you'll just have to look forward to it. I think Haru-san said he was going to record the entire Key Tree raid and upload it to his clan's channel, so you'll get to see the current HaruSora."

And so, not just her, but Rinne, a devoted fan of the pair, showed a wicked grin—or rather, the kind of unladylike smile unique to an otaku talking about their favorite thing.

Faced with such a look, Aika seemed to be slightly taken aback, but her curiosity won out.

"...Are they that insane?"

"Insane. It's beyond 'super-crazy.'"

She directed the question to Ri-na, who had been nodding in agreement with Rinne's words, and the girl's reply was an immediate affirmation. And the words that followed...

"—Right now, not even the current [Sword Saint] could beat the two of them."

"————————...That... is certainly..."

Even the [Knight], who wouldn't flinch even from the charge of a giant beast.

"...ultra insane, huh?"

Her vocabulary faltered slightly as she shivered with complete and utter sincerity.

---

And so, tomorrow. HaruSora, at full power except for their levels, in a two-part release.