kscans

Chapter 932 - Concealment, Secrecy, to the Next Page

The constant praise from those around me, and the entire path my own mind remembers leading to this moment. All of it led me to accept her words, but to be frank, it was a rather strange situation.

On a personal level, a confession like, 'I'm not looking at you for who you are,' would normally be considered a rude thing to reveal.

And as someone passionate about their hobbies, if that hobby involved a real person, aggressively pushing your feelings onto them like, 'I see you as an idol,' isn't exactly commendable behavior.

That's why I could sense it.

The girl who had called me out for an important discussion most certainly hadn't introduced herself just to satisfy her own desires.

Because she, too, was an Arcadian—a person whose character was guaranteed.

"—Haru-sama."

Perhaps relieved to see me accept and understand, Sayaka-san looked up after letting out a small, rare sigh of her own. …And yet, she quickly returned to her usual gentle self.

Her twin emerald eyes regained their typical composure and looked at me.

"This may be forward of me, but I must ask you to keep what I am about to disclose a secret."

She looked at me and gave her next preamble. I sensed she was about to reveal something else astounding, but feeling the hint of seriousness in her voice, I straightened my posture.

"As long as it's not a matter that would make me act dishonestly toward someone…"

"You need not worry. It is not."

"Then, it's okay."

I promised her that much was true. I'm sure my gaze and voice conveyed that nuance, but she simply smiled and nodded as if to say, 'That is enough.'

And then, taking another small breath—

"Now then…—there are currently six confirmed Terror Armaments. You are aware of this, yes?"

"…Huh? Ah, y-yeah. I am."

I braced myself, unable to predict where the conversation was going, and just as I expected, Sayaka-san brought up a topic that was completely outside my predictions.

"I believe you can guess what that fact implies, Haru-sama."

This person might actually be quite prone to leaving things unsaid. She's an exceptional reader, but I wonder if embedding 'reading between the lines' into her conversations is an unconscious habit.

But well, I've also gotten better at reading what people are trying to convey lately.

"…Yeah, I suppose so."

And so, I had a general idea of where this was going.

"You mean that the ones that have been 'confirmed' aren't necessarily all of them, right?"

And with that, the answer to my question was a single smile.

"This is my personal opinion, but I believe there is no doubt. …As someone who has fortuitously obtained extraordinary power, Haru-sama, you must understand this correctly. The existence known as a Terror Armament in this world is something that stands out as 'special' among all others."

"Haha… Oh yes, deeply, deeply so."

It was an existence on par with, or perhaps even greater than, the `Anima` that were extensions of one's soul. It was a thing that embodied a story, evolving as it journeyed through the world with a person.

"If that is the case, then surely there must be those that possess unique 'shackles' compared to others."

That made sense. Even my [An=Re Galta (True Theory: The Armor that Sings of the King's Key)] didn't let me put on yesterday's rampaging spectacle without a cost. The price is still being paid even now.

…At this point, the flow of the conversation became much clearer.

As a picture of what was to come formed in my mind, I couldn't help but feel the skin of my virtual body prickle with goosebumps. As for the source of those goosebumps—

"For example, something that…—requires its very existence to be concealed."

—It was none other than the fact that I could clearly envision the future that was now, where it would appear in the Saintess's hands as she held them up in offering.

"…The seventh one."

If I were to describe it, it would be a 'book'—with a cover, a spine, and pages contained within. Yet, it seemed impossible to open, and the reason for that was its material.

I could tell intuitively, without needing my magus-craftsman's eyes.

It was something carved from someone's 'bone,' in the shape of a book.

"[Will-No-Erma (Prologue: Heroism Recorded in Dragon's Solace)]—This is the story I encountered, the story I now carry."

Following the one wielded by the Sword Saint that was revealed the other day, [Rear Truffles (True Name: The Secret Key of the Divine Hall that Loves the Outer Heavens)], this was another unconfirmed Terror Armament.

"My encounter with it was over three years ago. Not long after I received my rank, during an expedition far to the east. The source was a 'dragon's carcass' that my two younger brothers and I found. …To be precise, it had decayed to the point where it was barely recognizable as a dragon, but based on its name, 'Dragon's Solace,' and the general feel of it, I have assumed it was a dragon."

And then, she spoke.

"Shoh and Ren know that I obtained the material for a Terror Armament, but they do not know what kind I possess. The moment it was completed, the 'Weaver of Legends' who crafted it contacted me and said, 'Do not tell a soul.'"

She explained the reason for its concealment.

"I met with them alone to receive it, and I understood. This was the kind of thing that housed and stored power by keeping the 'three parties' hidden from the world…—a secret book."

"…Three parties?"

"The 'Author,' the 'Bookbinder'… and the 'Character.'"

Her eyes looked at me.

"In other words, a single 'protagonist.'"

"I see… I think I've got the general idea. Well, just vaguely."

It was likely the kind of item with a restriction where 'being known to exist leads to a loss of power.' Of course she would keep it a secret. It was also natural that she, having obtained and understood such a thing, would be certain of the existence of others like it.

Yeah, there are probably quite a few unconfirmed Terror Armament wielders out there.

But, setting that aside for now.

"So, you mean those 'three parties' have some kind of condition where they have to know about it… Ah, no, that's not it. I get it now."

Solving these kinds of mysteries on your own is the most fun part.

Sayaka-san, being a lover of books, probably understood that. She watched me with a smile as I worked through it in my head.

"If the condition for gaining power is 'concealment of its existence' from others, then conversely, among the inner circle of three, the condition for activating its power is 'sharing the secret'… something like that?"

"Fufu, as expected of you."

The answer was, once again, correct. She received my deduction, which I'd voiced based on the flow of the conversation, with a happy expression and gently grasped the 'book' that had been floating above her hands.

"If I were to add anything, it would be that for the other two parties, sharing the secret of [Will-No-Erma]'s existence is sufficient. However, for myself, I must pay one additional price… a secret, as the cost for its power."

"And that was your coming-out earlier?"

I hadn't meant to tease her, but when I said that, she—

"…Of course. If it were not necessary, I would never have made such an embarrassing confession."

It was an expression I had truly never seen before.

Her cheeks flushed faintly, and she looked bashful, like any ordinary girl.

"…………"

It's fine. Thanks to my master's whole deal, I've built up quite a tolerance to this kind of thing from older-sister types. The pathetically weak-willed youth who would be shaken by something like this graduated long ago.

I am definitely not thinking, The Saintess has a surprisingly cute side to her.

"…Ahem—so, given the circumstances, Haru-sama."

"Ah, yes."

"I, too, have swallowed my shame… and the boorishness of baring my heart to the 'protagonist' I should be watching over, to reveal this secret to you today."

"Yes. …And?"

"Therefore—…um, which is to say…"

Again, I am definitely not thinking, The Saintess has a surprisingly cute side to her.

"…If you do not keep this a secret, I may very well die of embarrassment."

Blushing, face hidden, upward glance. A bit different from her usual, but still guilty of being enchanting.

—Who could possibly blame me for thinking, As expected of the Saintess (this person is so cute).