kscans

Chapter 958 - A Ruckus in the Glistening Forest

There is a fact about the virtual world that many people misunderstand.

This goes for the players who set foot in this other world, as well as the spectators watching from the outside.

Because they only see the heroic, superficial surface, it can't be helped that they think that way… So, what is it? It's simple.

For example, the one called by the title of 'The Strongest,' the [Sword Queen], or the one praised with the title of 'The Supreme,' the [Sword Saint]. People may have various theories—

But the strongest thing in Arcadia…

Is, without a doubt, not us players.

"—This is way more than just a worthy opponent!"

"What are you talking about!?"

An explosion roared. I used [Rocket] to dodge the buckshot of countless crystal tree fragments raining down, then dashed full-speed to snatch Nia, who I realized had been caught in the danger zone.

As I passed my partner, who was on guard duty, our eyes met in a flash of understanding.

"—Iris-san!"

"I'll take it, from the side."

A split-second switch. The golden flash that jumped forward in my place was there for only an instant when the command flew from the silver-blue warrior. Sora immediately responded, veering off the frontal path—

Point five seconds later.

"[Arte Noir]!"

"—————————————ッッッ!!!!!"

The black of absolute physical defense. The [Sword Queen], her Sixth-Tier Anima, [Anciel Ilize (Goddess of Dreams)], also known as the garment of seven colors, now dyed the color of night, clashed with the great beast whose body was made of glistening crystal.

Stillness and small versus motion and massive.

The two were already on different scales in terms of size, mass, and strength. With the latter having built up additional energy from its running start, not even Ashe's full-power guard could stop the ten-meter-plus cannonball—

But, just as a car that hits a small pebble on the road will lift off the ground, even if only slightly.

If the princess, who was far more than a mere pebble, put her 'sword' and body on the line, it was only natural for even a beast that towered over her to stumble for a moment and lift its feet.

"—Now…!"

And she delivered on her word.

The moment Ashe, who had taken the brunt of the giant beast—the Dilumen Monstro—on the flat of her silver sword as it tore through the crystal forest, uttered a strained murmur while her boots cracked the earth beneath her.

"[Chain of Six Great Towers]!"

Her command was executed.

Sora, who had run to the side and taken her position, swung her staff, and six great towers materialized in succession. They struck the great beast one after another, which had been unable to completely dodge and had slowed ever so slightly.

—The moment I witnessed all of this from outside its range.

"Sora! Ashe!"

""—!""

My voice, shouted from my gut while still holding Nia, rivaled the earth-shaking roar of the toppled crystal lizard. My eyes met with amber and garnet as they turned to me—

Okay, we're on the same page. In that case…!

"—Let's get out of here!"

"Mm."

"Right…!"

"Stop shouting in my ear—!"

With Nia-chan screaming in my arms, we made a swift escape.

◇◆◇◆◇

"…Alright, re-evaluation. This place is Over-Raid class."

"No objections."

"Th-That was strong…"

And so, we forced a break in the battle, made a full-power dash to lose our pursuer, and successfully shook off the giant lizard. As we caught our breath.

"How could you, Sayaka-san… 'Sora and I would be fine,' she said?"

"I wonder what made her think we'd be fine…?'"

"…She can be like that. She."

We hid in the shade of a crystal tree for the time being.

After an unexpectedly fierce battle that had lasted for about thirty minutes, each of us let out a wry smile as we pictured the ever-smiling Saintess's fluffy smile in our minds.

No, seriously, what was that? It was far beyond 'a few elite types.'

I'm not even joking, that thing was a monster on the same level as Feidran Tyrantinus.

A mass-producer of chip damage no matter what you hit it with—slashes, strikes, or even magic. Its vitals, like its head, neck, and stomach, were rock solid from one end of its body to the other. I honestly couldn't believe my eyes when my [Samidorizuki] bounced off its eyeball.

And it wasn't just its defense; its offense was monstrous too.

That super-vicious seventh arm of its could extend and retract at will with terrifying speed, and the tail it had used to mimic a tree could do the same. The spiky branches on it would explode and rain down on us like giant arrows from a ballista—and if those were its 'normal attacks,' of course it had a 'special move' too.

I had to laugh when it started absorbing the surrounding light and blinking, then linked up with all the crystal trees in the area to unleash a super-wide-range laser barrage.

I was one step away from bursting out laughing. Nia, whom I'd barely managed to protect, was on the verge of tears, though.

And not content with just offense and defense, its mobility was… well, just as you saw.

The way it tore through the forest of crystal trees with the agility of a small, lightweight enemy was certainly like a swift lizard.

Give me a break—and so,

"…Sorry, Nia. That was way beyond what I expected. Must've been scary."

"Eh? W-Well, I mean, I came along knowing it would be dangerous, so…"

After putting her through such an ordeal, I first apologized, bowing my head as I should to a non-combatant. In return, I received a somewhat hesitant reply…

""Haru.""

"Yesh?"

"I think you can put her down now."

"I think you can put her down now, but…"

"…Yesh. Shorry."

"Hey, well, I mean, I'm totally fine staying like this—Tch."

I hadn't even consciously realized it, so I released Nia-chan, asking for forgiveness. But the fingers pinching my cheeks from both sides didn't let go.

It seems I'll have to atone for my sins a little longer. Sorry.

…But still.

"Are you okay, Nia-san?"

"Oh, yeah, totally fine. After everything that's happened, I'm kind of getting used to it."

"It looked like you were crying a moment ago, though."

"How did you manage to see that so clearly in the middle of that crazy-intense battle? N-No, it's not what you think! It can't be helped! When you get really, really surprised in this game, that thing happens, the emotional over-expression makes your eyes well up, so it was that!"

"Cute."

"That 'cute' doesn't make me happy…!"

"…Fufu."

"I heard you were also 'cute' back in the beginning, Sora."

"Huh? …Wh-! E-Uh…! —Haru!?"

And so it goes.

It seemed less like jealousy and more like a scolding for my lack of consideration.

"'m 'eally shorry (I'm really sorry), ish not my fault (it's not my fault), one time (one time) when we were reminiscing (when we were reminiscing), I jusht let it slip (I just let it slip), like this (like this), abought how cute (about how cute) Sora-san wash (Sora-san was) when she was shtill shy (when she was still shy), I just wanted to brag (I just wanted to brag)."

"Speak properly!"

"Sora-chan? Maybe you should let go of his face…"

"…Fufu."

This is how it is, so I'll gratefully accept my punishment.

---

Goodbye, over-statted lizard-chan.