kscans

Chapter 25 - Trust

On the field, the battle between Ash's unit and Leon's unit began.

Even without the attacks from Meteor Swarm, the clan led by Leon was strong. It wasn't so easy as to become A-rank with just that one tactic. But even to Hayato, who was an amateur when it came to combat, Leon and his team were clearly moving poorly.

Hayato glanced at Esha, who was drinking melon juice beside him.

(From their perspective, they don't know when an attack from Esha might come flying. And it must have had quite an impact. They can't stay calm, so aren't they unable to even bring out half their usual strength? Just like Meteor Swarm, flashy effects make people freeze up. Once you've seen that, you'd be so worried about us that you wouldn't be able to fight.)

Its appearance was inferior to Ash's Dragon Breath, but its power and sound were almost on par. It had a look that made you think you'd be done for if it hit, and its power was exactly that. It would be impossible to tell someone not to worry about it.

Normally, the best course of action would be to escape outside its range, but perhaps they weren't even thinking of that, as Leon and his team were still fighting within Hayato's camp.

There was no way they could win against Ash and his team in that state.

"Ash-sama and the others are very strong. Six against eight, and they cannot defeat one of the opponents, who also has a defense-ignoring sword, yet they seem to be pushing them back considerably."

As Relic said that admiringly, Ren's face became just a little bit proud. Seeing that, Hayato felt a bit of warmth.

Hayato sent his gaze toward Ash. It seemed he was in a one-on-one duel with Leon.

"Ash is wearing armor with a physical immunity effect. It's a temporary effect that he can activate at will, so he can block Leon's attacks with that. After the effect wears off, there's a cooldown before he can use it again, so it'll be tough, though."

The Excalibur Replica ignored the opponent's defense, but its attack attribute was a simple physical attack. Even if the defense was ignored, there would be no damage due to the physical immunity effect. It could only be used for a short time of one minute, but it would still be effective.

"There is the physical immunity, but he also has such a large quantity of highest-quality potions. If he fights while drinking them, there is no way he will lose. I was quite surprised that you had prepared such an amount, Hayato-sama."

"I like that sort of thing."

Hayato liked to fight with an overwhelming difference in supplies. Or rather, if you tried to fight with a production job's skill composition, that was the only way. Using good items without hesitation could be said to be Hayato's play style. Items were meant to be used.

And the highest-quality potions he had prepared in large quantities this time, continuing from the last, could also be called a countermeasure to the Excalibur Replica he himself had created.

Due to the defense-ignoring effect and the weapon's attack power, a player would be defeated after taking about ten or so hits. Even if their attack power was raised by food, it would be about the same.

In human form, Ash had only as much HP as a normal player, so the number of hits he could take was the same. Even if he tried to recover HP with potions, normally, you couldn't use them consecutively, so he would lose eventually.

However, highest-quality potions had no cool down time. That meant he could keep drinking them. A potion's recovery amount was about thirty percent of HP, but he could drink one in the time it took to be attacked three times. Also, this time Ash had eaten sweets-type food, so his HP was gradually recovering. As long as he didn't run out of potions, he would not lose.

"Well then, shall I provide some covering fire?—Master, why are you looking at me with such eyes? It gives me a little bit of a thrill."

"Are you hiding some weird skill? I have a feeling you're trying to surprise me again."

"A weird skill, how rude. Please rest assured. The only skills I can use are Critical Shot and Destroy. And I have no intention of surprising you anymore. I was able to see your wonderful expression earlier. Let me just say that it ranks high among my best memories."

(She's strong, but I want to fire her. Maybe I'll file a complaint with the Maid Guild next time.)

While Hayato was thinking such things, Esha began to provide support with ranged attacks.

Ash and his team were outnumbered, but due to the opponent's confusion and Esha's covering fire, they were able to fight in a very advantageous state.

A few minutes later, one after another, the opposing players disappeared into particles of light.

"Well, it is about my turn. If I head out now, the timing should be just right. Ren-sama, are you ready?"

"I'm okay! I'll curse them perfectly! Uhihihi…"

"How reassuring. Well then, I shall be on my way, Hayato-sama."

"I'm going! If it goes well, please give me a bucket pudding!"

"Yeah, I'll have it ready. Well then, be careful."

The two of them left the fortress, seen off by Hayato. And on the fortress roof, only Hayato and Esha remained.

"Ah, the players other than Leon are gone. All that's left is Ren-chan and Relic-san's job. Well, it should be fine—Esha, you don't have to drink any more melon juice. There's no need to attack."

"No, this is for just in case. I must protect you, Master, if something happens. Until the battle is over, I am always at full power."

"That sounds fake."

While they were having such a conversation, Ren and Relic approached Leon, who was fighting with Ash. Perhaps thinking it was no use to run, Leon was fighting on the field instead of heading toward the fortress.

And when Ren moved to within ten meters of Leon, something like a black haze clung to Leon. This was a sign that Ren's Dragon Curse was taking effect.

However, Hayato began to think something was wrong. Leon was still fighting without letting go of his weapon.

"Hayato-sama, a problem has occurred."

A chat voice shared among the clan members from Relic came through.

"I can see from here, so I kind of get it. The weapon isn't returning to his item bag, it seems?"

"Yes, it seems we were able to forcibly remove his armor, but the weapon remains. What shall we do?"

"Wait a minute, I'll think about it."

Hayato began to think about what he should do.

(Since his armor is off, there's no doubt his STR has dropped. But it wasn't enough to remove the weapon. That's a sword I made. There's no way I'd mistake the equipment requirements. It's absolutely STR 60 or higher. Does that mean that even with his STR halved, Leon still has STR 60 or higher? In other words, over STR 120? It's true that equipment effects can boost STR. But that armor came off. What could give him STR 120 or more without any equipment besides the sword?)

There was still quite a bit of time until the end of the Clan War. But even if they had time, it was meaningless if they couldn't forcibly remove the sword. Hayato panicked.

(Should I talk to Leon on voice chat? If I talk to him, I might find out the reason.)

Just as Hayato was about to unmute the chat with Leon, Esha approached.

"Master, may I eat a different dish to cleanse my palate? I have eaten too many sweets, so I would like to eat a meat dish."

"...Um, Esha, could you try to read the room a little better?"

"I do not possess such a high-level skill."

"It's a high-level skill? Ah, fine, eat whatever you want. If it's a meat dish, in the clan storage—"

"Then I shall go to the storage at once."

Esha walked away briskly and left the fortress roof.

(If she's going to give advice, she could just say it normally. Is this her way of being shy? Oh well, I'll contact Relic-san.)

"Relic-san, I believe the Hand-to-Hand Combat skill had a technique that could temporarily nullify food effects, right?"

"Stomach Break, yes. That is true, but—ah, I see. His STR is raised by a food effect, is it not?"

"Probably. I think it's worth a try. Could I ask you to do it?"

"Of course."

The Dragon Steak favored by high-ranking clans had no effect of raising STR. But other meat dishes, like Manga Meat, did raise STR. Hayato judged that Leon was eating one of those.

Hayato immediately looked from the roof to where Relic was.

As Relic delivered a punch with his left hand to Leon's abdomen, the weapon disappeared from Leon's hand in the next moment. Immediately, Relic thrust his right hand, in a knife-hand strike, into Leon's chest area.

And after pulling his hand back, Relic smiled gently.

"Mission complete. I have taken back the sword."

"Alright!"

Hayato clenched his right fist tightly and made a victory pose. He was happy that he had obtained victory in the situation he had envisioned.

"Thank you, Relic-san. Well then, Ash, could you deliver the finishing blow to Leon? We have no more use for him."

"Please wait, Hayato-sama."

"Relic-san? Is something wrong?"

"The armor Leon-sama was wearing appears to be made of Adamantite and I see it as being of considerable value. What shall we do?"

Hayato couldn't understand the meaning of Relic's words. But gradually, he understood what he was saying.

(Is he saying he can steal Leon's armor too?)

Just like the sword, the armor was in his item bag. In that state, Relic was saying he could steal it. Adamantite armor was the strongest in terms of defense alone. It was traded at very high prices in auctions and the like. He didn't know the quality, but even if it was one star, it would be worth a million G.

Esha's words, "naive little boy," flashed through Hayato's mind. He thought that letting this go would be the act of a naive boy that Esha spoke of.

A few seconds later, Hayato made his decision.

"Just getting the ranking is enough. Besides, I can make something several times better than that armor, so I don't need it. So, just finish Leon off quickly."

"Fufu, is that so. Then I shall do as you wish, Hayato-sama. Well then, Ash-sama, if you please."

"Understood."

When Ash swung his sword, Leon, who was hit by it, disappeared into particles of light.

In the next moment, a fanfare sounded, and confetti fluttered down. And fireworks went up.

(Alright, we became A-rank by the giant-killing rule. We got the sword back too, so it's a perfect situation.)

As Hayato was thinking that, Esha came to the roof holding skewers in both hands.

"As expected of you, Master. To have achieved victory before I knew it. By the way, were you able to retrieve the sword?"

"We got it back thanks to your advice, Esha. Thank you."

"Pardon? I do not believe I gave any such advice."

"That's playing a bit too dumb, isn't it? Just like with Relic-san's time, you advised me in a way that I could find the answer this time too, didn't you?"

"I do not know what you are talking about. Well, more importantly than that."

Esha's face became serious, and she stared at Hayato.

"It seems your naivete could not be cured, did it? Even though it was a chance to become a ruthless and wicked Master."

"Are you talking about not stealing the armor? I don't need a chance like that. Well, I think I am a naive boy, but being a bit soft isn't so bad. I don't want to be hated for doing something excessively wicked either."

Esha stared blankly at Hayato's words, but a few seconds later, she let out a rather long sigh.

"If you keep on like that, you will have a terrible time one day, you know? If you think of Clan Wars as a fair and square battle based on sportsmanship, you will never be able to aim for the top of the rankings."

"Oh, what's this. Were you worried about me, Esha? You were a loyal maid, after all."

"...Destroy's cool down time is about to end, but may I fire one last shot? Please rest assured, my MP is full."

"I was aiming for a perfect victory, so could you please stop?"

Cutting off the conversation with Esha, who still looked like she wanted to complain, Hayato looked up at the sky.

(I have a feeling that even if I'm a naive boy, Esha and the others will manage somehow. Well, this thought is probably naive too, but strangely, I find myself trusting everyone. Even though they're NPCs, high-performance AIs.)

Hayato thought such things as he watched the confetti and fireworks dancing in the sky.