kscans

Chapter 966 - Time Alone (Not Alone)

And so, a dozen or so minutes later.

"Well, then… I’ll see you later."

"Yeah, see you later."

An ultra-long-distance journey of well over a thousand kilometers was just a quick hop with Star Speed. After returning from the `End Circle` region—a place not typically within a day trip's distance—we decided to temporarily go our separate ways.

Seriously, thank goodness for Sapphire.

In any case, I parted ways with Iris, then Nia, and upon returning to our clan home, I waved goodbye to Sora-san, leaving me all alone. I watched my partner disappear into the light of the logout process, similar to a teleportation, leaving the virtual world… Yep. All alone────

Or so I thought.

"…Do you have some kind of sensor that detects my free time?"

"I do."

"Hold it, don’t just say ‘I do’ and try to hug me with a face that says you have every right to."

As I turned, I grabbed the scruff of the neck of the fool who had been waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The little blue pipsqueak—Ri-na—had her charge cut short mid-run.

"…Hee hee."

"Stop being invincible. No matter what I do, I lose. It’s so frustrating."

Left dangling in the air like a kitten being carried by its mother, she looked perfectly content, as if this was just as good. There are far too few people around me that I can win against mentally.

Well, putting that aside────

"Um… sorry, but while you’re right that I’m free, it’s not that I don’t have anything to do. I’m heading out again for a bit────"

"There. You do feel bad about it, I see."

"While you’re right that I’m free, it’s not that I don’t have anything to do, so I’m heading out for a bit. See ya, pipsqueak. Go enjoy your free time and stay healthy."

"I’m going too."

"Huh?"

"I’m going too."

"What?"

"I’m going too."

"………………Seriously…"

────I was planning on putting it… aside, but.

"I’m going too."

"I-I get it, okay. Stop repeating yourself in the exact same tone of voice, it’s creepy."

It seems I wasn’t going to be alone after all.

◇◆◇◆◇

The expedition, which ended up being more of a half-day trip than a full day-trip, was over in a flash. Despite the unexpected event encounter, we successfully achieved our goal and were able to return by evening.

Unlike before, we weren’t aiming for the special reward for defeating every type of boss; this time, we were simply after materials, so taking down a single one was more than enough. As for the other half of our objective, Nia said she would “talk it over with Kagura-san,” so I could probably leave that to her.

We could discuss the details again after everyone had finished dinner and regrouped.

As for my other objective, I was satisfied with the results myself, so────

"…………………………Hmm, well, yeah. As expected, I guess…"

It was now evening in the real world. With the day still far from over, a rare moment of alone time had presented itself, and I immediately put it to use.

Perhaps because I was almost always surrounded by my wonderfully boisterous friends, I found myself muttering aloud more often when I was alone. Was I lonely, or was it just a habit…?

"Even I don’t think this is normal anymore, you know."

I maneuvered my avatar, now as familiar as a second body, with complete freedom. Within the spire reaching for the heavens, I danced among countless crimson projectiles.

It had been a long… well, only about six months, but after such an intimate relationship, it was all committed to memory.

To be honest, I was confident I could dance with my eyes closed for a few seconds, so at this point, even with a slight handicap, the chances of me being blown to smithereens were…

Well, they were practically zero.

"Hh────────"

That’s why I relaxed my guard and focused.

Remaining natural and loose, I carefully deciphered and familiarized myself with the power that dwelled within me.

To confirm the strange feeling I had during its first real combat use today, I used the floor, the walls, the ceiling, and the very air as my stage, stepping on them all without distinction────

And just like that, for a little while, I continued to play with what the system called my “kin.”

………………………………────And then,

"You demon… brother… ugh…………"

"Who was it that I warned a hundred times, but who kept insisting they’d be ‘fine’???"

I had planned to continue my personal training for at least several dozen minutes, an hour if possible, but I cut it short after just a few minutes. Now, at the top of the tower, my self-proclaimed little sister was berating me unreasonably.

What happened was,

"………………Your thought process, reaction speed, body control… and everything else, how does it all work…? Experiencing it from the same perspective, I now understand. You really areおかしい, big brother."

"Honestly, I told you to keep your eyes closed. This is what you get for not listening."

It was just that.

Ri-na, who had gone down for the count after experiencing the [Acrobat]’s rollercoaster ride by sharing my perspective, was now angry, conveniently forgetting it was her own fault for ignoring my warnings.

My transportation skill────or rather, my absolute protection escort skill, `[Dias Lunaria, Star Moon Guardian Hand]`.

It’s a bit of a strange history to have, I admit, but it’s likely because I’ve run across countless battlefields while carrying my partner since the early days. This unique skill, which has evolved to specialize in transporting people rather than objects, has a power that is, to put it simply, ‘the isolation and accompaniment of one target in a separate dimension.’

It has a capacity of one. It activates upon verbal agreement or mutual consent with an eligible target, with physical contact being the final condition to welcome the one to be protected into my domain.

The whole dimension thing feels a lot like the authority of the `White Throne`. When I bring someone in, they vanish in the blink of an eye, but I love the flashy, fantastical effect when they come out… but I digress.

What elevated this skill to the top tier of my personal arsenal, one of my most broken abilities, is one thing and one thing only:

It guarantees the target’s complete safety.

A player invited into the separate dimension of `[Dias Lunaria]` has their physical connection to the outside world completely and utterly severed. In other words, mutual interference becomes impossible, effectively making them invincible.

Since it's mutual, they can't take advantageous actions from their safe zone, but it goes without saying that's not a major issue. Being able to secure instant, absolute safety for even one person opens up a wide range of applications, from escorting non-combatants on the battlefield to many others.

Furthermore, even if I were to fall while carrying a companion, they would remain unharmed within the space. While they would be forced to leave the battlefield, they would avoid ‘death’ by simply accompanying me to my respawn point.

It’s not a metaphor. It’s genuine, bona fide invincibility.

As a bonus, while ‘accompanying’ me, they can share my perspective to grasp the surrounding situation. Of course, those who aren’t used to it or aren't suited for it will experience a hellish rollercoaster ride, but the choice of whether to watch or not is thoughtfully left to the companion.

In short,

"This is not my fault. Definitely not."

"Demon… brother…!"

"Stop that, you’re going to give me a bad reputation!"

At the apex of the tower────the goal point of the `[Spiral Crimson Tower]`, which, as far as I knew, only four people had ever reached. Here, in this brilliant, crimson chamber.

Her lying there, breathless, was one hundred percent her own damn fault.

---

Useless-little-sister Ri-na-chan is adorable.

Q. There were some dangerous moments, so why didn't you put Nia-chan away during the expedition? A. Because it would be absurd to exclude only one person from a friendly picnic.

When it comes down to it, the other two besides Iris are confident in their own abilities. Haru was genuinely panicking because he thought he could handle and protect them no matter what happened.