kscans

Chapter 949 - The Deadline Expires

Even with time flowing 1.5 times faster than in the real world, a day in the virtual world still passes in the blink of an eye. That much hasn't changed since I was a rookie.

Plotting with Nia… okay, not plotting, but discussing secret plans.

Practicing with the skills that had recently evolved.

And then getting called out by a bored Tiger, getting summoned by my personal Mako when she had a spare moment, and getting beckoned by a free-time kitten. By the time I had made the rounds through the never-ending list of things to do—night had fallen in an instant.

And so,

"First off, congratulations on the clear."

"We made it within the deadline, but we kept you waiting."

The time was 9:00 PM in the real world, and the place was the summit of the Southern Faction's [El Faria, Knight's Royal Castle].

Exactly ten people, including myself, had gathered in response to the summons. Helena-san began with words of praise, and Irori—the leader of C Team, who had conquered the hundredth layer today, coming in 'last'—replied modestly. That made two.

Additionally,

"We deserve to be praised! We worked super hard on a tight schedule!!"

The noisy red one clinging to his side made three. And,

"There, there, good job. You worked so hard, good job, good job, good job."

"Bwah?! Hey, stop it, Papa, you're messing up my hair!!"

Next to them, the leader of A Team, who had finished just before the last, and the de facto top of the East, the [General Commander (Papa)], otherwise known as Goldow. That made four.

Watching the old man gleefully play with the youngster, the remaining two elders stood back quietly, waiting with a relaxed air for the proceedings to begin.

"Lively."

"That it is."

Enra-shi, the current head of the West, [Crimson Arm], and Gin-san, the de facto top of the North, [Wolf Pack]. That made six.

And then me, as the seventh—and next to me.

"…Um."

"Yes?"

"Aren't you a little close, Master?"

"Hehe."

"I mean, 'hehe' isn't really an answer…"

I wonder if I should allow myself to feel proud.

We'd both been so busy with clearing the dungeon that we hadn't had any time for training or relaxing lately. Perhaps because of that, whenever we did meet, she seemed to close the distance more than usual to dote on her disciple. Ui-san, the [Sword Saint], my master. That made eight.

There was no trace of the fatigue from completing the 'round trip' with Goldow and the others last night. Her cheerful, gentle smile was so very like her.

Like her, yes, but she was still too close…

"……………"

See, the ninth person, the other half of the sword duo who had escorted the artisans during that round trip, was now sending a pointed, expressionless stare from atop her throne—

And just then.

"…Helena."

"Yes. Everyone, please look at this."

Called by her master who had risen from the throne, Helena-san nodded and operated a system window. A few seconds later, a large window appeared in the air of the meeting hall.

What was written there was…

──────────────────────────────
Team A / 3: [General Commander] [Heroine] [Long Legs] [Wolf Pack] [Cloud-Hider] [Kanata]

Team B / 3: [Acrobat] [Twin Fists] [Orb Law] [Mirror Law] [Sword Law] [Sora]

Team C / 4: [Peerless] [Left Wing] [Right Wing] [Knight] [Sound Armor] [Ever-Changing]

Team D / 3: [Thread-Weaver] [Heat Gaze] [Undying] [Full Auto] [Adamant] [Traveler]

Team E / 3: [Great Tiger] [Screen] [Heavy Tank] [Castle Lord] [Poet] [Scatter]
──────────────────────────────

...the same team roster we saw at the start of the ranked squad's Key Tree conquest, but with a certain 'number' added.

…I had already been told the topic of discussion. It was none other than…

"The very first time, when Ui and I cleared the hundredth layer, two lights lit up. And this time, when we reached the hundredth layer again with the artisans from Vestol… three lights lit up."

It was about the 'key' inscribed on the floor of the final area on the hundredth layer, the summit of the Key Tree's 'Foundation Tree Road'—specifically, the number of lights indicating the number of recognized challengers.

The numbers were similar, but the data was undeniable. And with even a few data points lined up like this… well, the deduction wasn't that difficult.

I was told to look, so I looked for about ten seconds.

"……………Ah…"

Even I, who wasn't thinking about it all that seriously, figured it out. I'm sure the other rankers, who only feigned cluelessness, all reached the same conclusion with ease.

That is, the rule for how the sigils lit up.

"O-n-e s-l-o-t f-o-r e-a-c-h f-a-c-t-i-o-n, p-l-u-s o-n-e a-d-d-i-t-i-o-n-a-l s-l-o-t f-o-r a p-a-r-t-n-e-r."

The answer in my head was, indeed, correct. The conjecture Ashe voiced was identical to the one I'd come up with.

So of course,

"We can consider it all but confirmed. At least, based on the clues presented so far, no further deduction is possible."

No one raised an objection to either Ashe's declaration or Helena-san's added words.

It seemed the team compositions had been a stroke of luck, allowing us to arrive at the answer without needing further verification. The conclusion must have been unanimous.

Which is precisely why an inevitable question arose.

"Four slots for the four factions. And then one for someone's partner, making five…"

And so, the one to voice the group's thoughts was the [General Commander].

"—Who's the other one? Who's supposed to fill the sixth slot?"

This was the question that had likely occurred to everyone the moment they reached the answer. In response to Goldow's query, however, the 'Princess' and 'Queen' conducting the meeting remained composed.

Everyone here, just as a matter of course, probably trusted them.

That they had already prepared a conjecture that was likely the correct answer.

"…Haru."

"Huh? Oh, yes?"

Though, I certainly didn't expect the conversation to be thrown my way…

"I want to confirm something. You received assistance from an NPC midway through your clear. Is that correct?"

"Huh…? Ah, yeah. That's right."

"From which layer was that?"

"From the seventh layer…"

There's probably a reason for this, I thought. My immense trust in them allowed me to quickly discard my confusion and answer the questions from Ashe and Helena-san.

—And as I answered.

"…I see. So you d-i-d-n't s-t-a-r-t o-v-e-r f-r-o-m s-c-r-a-t-c-h t-o-g-e-t-h-e-r."

"You w-e-l-c-o-m-e-d t-h-e-m f-r-o-m t-h-e s-e-v-e-n-t-h l-a-y-e-r and began your joint conquest."

"……………That's… right…"

With the odd parts emphasized like that, I finally—truly, belatedly—realized the rule that hadn't been working.

In the Key Tree Maze, people with different clear progresses cannot challenge it together.

And yet, in the early stages of my maze conquest, I had hired an NPC and, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, had invited them not to the first layer, but to the seventh, and began our rapid advance.

Of course, it's possible there's a rule that only applies to them, as they aren't players. They're mysterious beings to begin with, so perhaps that's how I should think of it—

But that makes it even more likely.

If the possibility exists that they hold special privileges regarding the 'Key Tree', then considering the current situation… and even the process leading up to this point, my thoughts flow to a single conclusion.

After the 'covenant' of 'Green Connect' was fulfilled… as soon as the 'Key Tree' rose to pierce the world's sky, the virtual world's original inhabitants began to get by, gathering at its foot and building a city.

The door demands one person from each of the four factions: East, West, South, and North.

And then, for reasons unknown, one person bound by the 'partner' system.

That leaves one more, a single remaining slot.

But if you factor in the martial prowess of 'those beings', which is in no way inferior to that of players…

"The sixth slot… isn't for one of us."

Just as our princess said.

"…Yeah, I think… that's probably it."

It was only natural that everyone had arrived at the same conclusion.

---

That aside, I wonder where the tenth person is and what they're doing.