kscans

Chapter 385 - Battle in the Wetlands

Noat was held by Cecil as they leaped from the airship.

It wasn't so much an enthusiastic leap as it was simply being dropped. This was a virtual reality, but it was a world with gravity. If the visuals were indistinguishable from reality, she would never want to fall, even if she wouldn't die.

Yet Cecil was shouting "Yahoo!" and seemed to be enjoying it as if it were a bungee jump or skydiving.

Watching him, Noat sighed, despite the fact that she was falling.

"If you're going to fall, you should have just fallen by yourself."

"Well, I can't use wind magic."

Just before hitting the ground, if you shoot wind magic at it, the air pressure will nullify the fall damage. Because Esha had said that unnecessary piece of information, Noat had been dragged into this.

Still, to defeat their former comrades, Grinee and Orland, they had to fight together. Even if they were just AI on the inside, their equipment and skills were quite strong. And if they were strong enough to shoot down the airship, they would be shot down if they did nothing.

If they couldn't be defeated by attacks from the airship, then it was undoubtedly right to go down to the ground and defeat them. Even so, she couldn't accept it.

Tonight, she would have all you can eat donuts, and after the event was over, she swore to herself that she would make him treat her to perfect donuts made with Earth's flour in the real world.

As she thought about that, a question occurred to Noat.

What would happen if Cecil, the one carrying her, regained his memories?

Noat's guess was that nothing would change.

Even before he lost his real world memories, Cecil had the mindset that as long as it was fun, it was fine. He wasn't pessimistic about life. She had heard that he had remained here because he could do anything he wanted in the virtual world.

The thought crossed Noat's mind that he might continue to live in this virtual reality even if he could return to the real world.

But that didn't mean anything. There wasn't much difference between living in reality and living in virtual reality. The important thing, Noat thought, was how you lived.

Noat had agreed to be a test player for the virtual reality for the sake of songs and music. She had been told that all sorts of song and music data would be preserved on the spaceship, and that her own songs would be included among them.

If humanity perished, so would music. That was why she had wanted to preserve music in a virtual reality.

She had left Earth on the spaceship because, even if resources were found on other planets, Earth was still in a delicate state, and she thought the chances of it not perishing were about fifty fifty.

In the end, she had returned to Earth after a hundred years, but from her conversations with Parsha, who knew she was human, and Alvie, who didn't, reality seemed to have recovered to a certain extent.

However, music was in a state of decline. It seemed there was more of it than in her time, but there was an overwhelming lack of entertainment and art.

In that case, she would be the catalyst. That was Noat's recent dream.

(I could probably do that in virtual reality, but Esha-chan and Hayato-san are living in reality. I have to see that through...!)

There was a bit of a rubbernecker in her, but since she had never had anything like that happen in her personal life, Noat was keeping an eye on their progress, thinking it would be a new stimulus for her songs. But that wouldn't work if she was only in virtual reality.

For that reason, she intended to return to reality, but she wondered for a moment what Cecil would do.

It was fine if he wasn't in reality, but it would be more stimulating if he was. He was usually loud and had no delicacy. It was better to not have someone like that around, but she also thought it would be boring if he wasn't there.

Noat wondered for a moment if he would return to reality if she invited him. If so, how should she invite him? That was a difficult question.

"You look like you're having fun."

At some point, Cecil was peering into Noat's face.

"Did I look like I was having fun?"

"I just got that feeling!"

"Well, maybe so. Not knowing what will happen is stimulating and good."

"Hey, hey, you need to use wind magic before we hit the ground. It's not a matter of what will happen, we'll die from the fall damage."

"That's not what I meant. Besides, Cecil-chan, you have the Phoenix Feather... wait a minute? Cecil-chan, you can't use an Item Bag, right?"

In exchange for being able to use any weapon and armor without restriction, Cecil had the limitation of not being able to use an Item Bag. That meant he didn't have a Phoenix Feather. Which meant he couldn't be resurrected.

When she reached that conclusion, Noat's face turned pale, but Cecil just smiled brightly.

"That's right, I can't!"

"...What happened to the Phoenix Feather? You got it from Ivan, right?"

"That was a lie... Whoa, don't struggle! It's okay. You can handle something like this easily, Noat!"

Cecil said this, then gave a thumbs up with his free left hand.

"I believe in you!"

"I will never believe in you again, Cecil-chan."

He was telling her to succeed on her first try at something she had never done before, preventing fall damage by hitting the ground with wind magic.

Thinking, give me a break, Noat concentrated and looked at the ground.

About two hundred meters left.

To time it right, Noat constructed a metronome in her mind that moved without the slightest deviation. Then, she calculated the time to the ground from their falling speed.

Too fast or too slow, and the fall damage wouldn't be prevented. But she had seen Ivan succeed yesterday. If she released the magic at the same timing as him, it should work.

Noat matched the timing of her internal metronome and released the magic that created a gust of wind, "Magic Blast", towards the ground.

The released gust of wind cancelled out their falling speed, and the wind enveloped Noat and Cecil like a cushion.

For a moment, it felt like gravity had disappeared. After that, gravity returned, and they landed on the ground.

Immediately after, Cecil's sword moved from bottom to top in front of Noat's eyes, and a high pitched sound rang out.

Cecil had deflected an arrow aimed at Noat with his sword.

Noat had known and left it as it was, but that plan had failed.

"We landed safely on the ground, so it's okay for me to collapse now, right?"

"There's no way I can beat those two by myself. Support me like you always do."

"Such a pain, honestly."

"But I don't dislike the Noat who says that while still doing it!"

"I'm not a fan of people who disturb my sleep. To put it simply, the person right in front of me."

"Then that's Grinee and Orland. If we beat them quickly, you can sleep!"

"There's some truth to that. Fine, I'll support you, so beat them quickly."

"Yeah! Still, to aim right after we landed, Grinee's the same as ever, even when she's brainwashed!"

Cecil said this, then drew the swords at his waist, the Excalibur Replica and the Arondight Replica, and happily took a dual wielding stance.

The opponent was an AI, but Cecil and the others, who had forgotten reality, didn't know that, so they were treated as being in a "brainwashed" state. The information that they would return to normal if defeated had also been spread, and Randa had also explained that they should be defeated immediately upon sight.

The one who was most happy was Cecil. When he heard it was okay to defeat them for real, he said, "I'll take them all down!"

Cecil had always been like that, so Noat was exasperated, but his previous words made her think for a moment.

(Could it be that the AI is learning based on the person's own actions? That's even more of a hassle...)

Noat thought this, but still moved her body to warm up. After that, she activated support from magic, songs, and dances for herself and Cecil.

"Eagle Eye. Float Move. Fairy of 2 AM. Predator's Hunting Ground."

Noat vocalized the names of the support magic, songs, and dances she used, and also relayed them through voice chat.

It wasn't necessary for activating the magic or skills, but it was to let Cecil know what kind of support she had provided.

Whether the AI would change its actions upon hearing it was unknown, but if it was a report via voice chat, it wouldn't reach distant enemies. This was a common practice in Clan Wars before they lost their memories.

"Alright! Let's do this!"

(I'm anxious... but it's Cecil-chan, so I guess it's okay?)

She got an enthusiastic reply from Cecil, but Noat was a little worried.

She had provided support, but she hadn't explained the detailed intent. Cecil was the type to fight on instinct anyway. Even if she explained, he wouldn't understand it with his head. So she thought it was better not to say anything unnecessary and just let his body move as it pleased.

(I think Cecil-chan's body will understand immediately... but aside from that, it looks like I'll have to fight directly too. Even with support, a two on one fight is impossible, right?)

Fighting in the mud and water of the sprawling wetlands would severely reduce mobility. What's more, the opponent excelled at long range attacks with a bow, so enhancing mobility was essential to win in close combat.

Cecil also had hand to hand combat skills, so he could use Shukuchi, but since he didn't have an Item Bag, he would have to drop his weapons on the spot to use it.

He could probably defeat the low defense Grinee with just hand to hand combat skills, but it was iffy against the heavily armored Orland, so Shukuchi was not an option. Even if the opponent was an AI, she didn't think it would give him an opening to pick up his dropped weapons.

For that reason, Noat had used three of the four supports for mobility enhancement.

Eagle Eye was a magic that displayed a top down camera in front of her. By operating the three dimensional display, it was possible to zoom in and out, and it could be said to be essential against an opponent who used long range attacks from hiding.

For now, they only had to deal with Grinee and Orland, but there was a possibility that someone else would come, or that monsters would come. While the main purpose was to deal with Grinee's long range weapon skills, it was also a measure to prevent surprise attacks.

Float Move was a magic that allowed one to float slightly above the ground. It was originally for avoiding floor traps in dungeons, but it could also be used to walk on water or silence footsteps. The short duration was a drawback, but the time could be overwritten by recasting the magic.

Fairy of 2 AM was a song that increased movement speed. It was said that 2 AM was the time when the human world and the fairy world overlapped, and the fairies at that time were at their most active, which was why it had the effect of increasing movement speed.

Predator's Hunting Ground was a dance that placed a marker on a designated opponent within range and increased movement speed towards that opponent. On the other hand, it had the demerit of making one weaker to attacks from anyone other than the designated opponent.

Whether Cecil understood Noat's intentions or not, he started running towards Grinee, who had been marked by Predator's Hunting Ground.

Watching Cecil run, bypassing a large pond in front of him, Noat sighed a little.

(Float Move lets you move on water too... but I guess I didn't tell him. Or did he think it was dangerous to cross the pond?)

Either way, there was no time to explain, so Noat hummed a tune while continuing to step with her feet. She then checked the situation on the Eagle Eye window.

She immediately relayed the details of the attack she saw to Cecil.

"Delay. Two o'clock, three, six, nine."

Even Noat couldn't speak words while humming, but both songs and dances would continue their support effects even if stopped for about ten seconds. This was combat support using words, taking advantage of that system.

As if reacting to those words, Cecil slightly changed his direction of movement.

Immediately after, multiple arrows pierced the spot where Cecil had been.

The bow weapon skill "Delay Shot" that Grinee used was an attack that fired arrows with a time lag. Since it allowed one to "place" arrows in any space and fire them at will, many archers would set this up.

Noat had confirmed the arrows with Eagle Eye and told Cecil which direction they were coming from using clock positions. Cecil then moved in a direction where the arrows wouldn't come from.

Seeing that, Noat was somewhat amazed.

(I think it's difficult to instantly move in a direction where arrows won't come... They say some athletes' bodies move before they can think, but I guess Cecil-chan is exactly that.)

Whether it was motor skills, reflexes, or something else was unclear, but Cecil was quick to react after receiving information from Noat.

He had often been the first to charge in during Clan Wars, but it wasn't that he would charge in alone. He would always be the fastest to charge out after Ivan gave the order.

Noat remembered that, but for now, she shook off the memory and checked the situation.

Grinee and the others were hiding in tall water plants, but with Eagle Eye, they were in plain sight, and with the marker on them, there was no problem pinpointing their location.

However, they were firing arrows while moving, so although he was getting closer, Cecil was being kept at a distance at crucial points.

"Homing. Three up, two in the pond."

Grinee had fired "Homing Arrow".

Homing Arrow was a low damage arrow that would track a designated opponent until it hit. However, it wasn't a guaranteed hit. It was a technique where the arrow flew towards the target, and it could be dodged with quick movements.

Archers who used this as a hit rate correction attack were said to be amateurs. The main use was to get an effect similar to Delay Shot by firing it in an unexpected direction. This would achieve a concentrated attack.

Grinee fired three of them into the sky, and another two into a nearby pond.

When Noat relayed that, Cecil stopped for a moment. Then he looked up.

Cecil waited for the arrows to come, then immediately jumped to the side. He rolled on the ground, dodging two arrows. Then, as he got up, he knocked down one arrow that came at him with his sword.

The two dodged arrows rose into the sky again and began to trace a large circle to return to a trajectory towards Cecil. But it would still take some time for them to return.

Cecil let out a big breath, then this time, he let his arms hang limp and turned his body towards the pond.

He stayed like that for a few seconds, but this time he arched his back greatly.

In that instant, two arrows shot out from the pond into the space where Cecil's upper body had been. From a nearly supine position, he knocked down both of them by sandwiching them between the swords in his hands.

After that, he was lying on his back on the ground, but he immediately sprang up, returned to his stance, and knocked down the two arrows that came from the sky with the swords in both hands.

"C'mon! Shoot at least ten more!"

Cecil started running with a smile on his face that belied the fact that he was in a fight.

(I can see the visible arrows, but how can he dodge the arrows in the pond with such perfect timing?)

Even Noat thought Cecil was strange, in a good way.

Of course, she had similar feelings for Ivan and Esha as well. Then she suddenly remembered Hayato, the epitome of mediocrity.

(No matter how many times I think about it, it's strange. That Esha-chan would take a liking to him... I was most surprised when I got my memories back. And they both deny it, so it's a little innocent. I heard they're living together, so I have to see that through in reality...!)

That was why Noat had been working hard without losing her spirits recently. For that, she had to win the event quickly and log out.

With that in mind, Noat relayed all sorts of information to Cecil. The techniques the opponent used, their skills, and the most efficient route. All of it cornered Grinee.

Thanks to that, Cecil finally got close enough for his sword to reach Grinee.

But of course, the tank Orland got in the way. And with Orland as a wall, Grinee fired an arrow at Cecil.

Cecil knocked down the arrow that should have been coming from an unseen position with his sword. Furthermore, he took Orland's attack, and dodged it.

Cecil was having fun, but it would be difficult to win like that. That was Noat's judgment.

(I guess I have to get Or-chan away.)

Noat stopped dancing and headed towards where Cecil and the others were fighting.

After confirming with Eagle Eye that there were no players or monsters around, she used Float Move and ran towards the pond.

If she crossed the large pond, she could get there by the shortest route without taking a detour.

Float Move could be intentionally stopped, but it was basically movement in a state of no frictional resistance. Noat skated on the pond as if on ice.

On the way, Noat used "Sharp Senses" to heighten any of her five senses. After that, she advanced while dropping the potions she had received from Hayato into the pond.

(...I wonder if the deepest spot is over there...)

Noat concentrated on the sound and distinguished the sound of the potion falling to the bottom of the pond. A little to the west of the center of the pond was the deepest.

"I'll take Or-chan, so blow him over here."

"You got it!"

Not asking unnecessary questions was one of Cecil's few good points, Noat thought. Whether he thought it was okay to fail, or whether he trusted her, she didn't know, but it was probably the latter.

Noat smiled a little, then used Float Move on herself and Orland. She used it on herself to match the effect duration with Orland's.

Immediately after, Cecil released the dual wielding weapon skill that caused knockback, "Sword Dance Cross". It was a technique where he cut them up as if dancing, then finally blew them away with his crossed swords.

When that hit Orland's shield, it caused knockback.

Orland, who took it with his shield, took no damage, but the knockback effect blew him close to Noat.

"Smoke Bomb."

Noat deployed a smoke screen around Cecil and the others.

(Even if it's learned, an AI should have lost sight of Cecil-chan and the others with this. And since they're in Float Move, I think they'll chase me even if I'm on the pond...)

Noat moved to the front so that Orland, who was standing on the pond, could easily find her.

As if recognizing Noat, Orland attacked with his sword.

Both Cecil and Grinee were in the smoke screen. But Orland, who was merely an AI, had lost sight of both friend and foe, and was now only looking at Noat.

(They haven't learned that much, right? Now I just need to lead them there.)

Noat released attack magic while retreating on the pond.

Orland chased after the retreating Noat. Normally, monsters wouldn't enter an area with movement restrictions. But Orland, who had received the support of Float Move, had chased Noat onto the pond.

When they reached the deepest part of the pond, Noat began to dodge Orland's attacks as if dancing on the spot.

(Ten, nine, eight until Float Move runs out...)

Just before it reached zero, Noat used "Mermaid Breath" on herself.

Immediately after, the effect of Float Move wore off, and the two of them fell into the pond.

Mermaid Breath was a magic that allowed one to breathe even in water while its effect was active, meaning HP wouldn't decrease. It was an unpleasant feeling to enter the water with clothes on, but she had decided that this was the only way to defeat Orland.

As long as one didn't have the Diving Skill, HP would gradually decrease in the water. Since this was a virtual reality, there was no thrashing around, but Orland's HP began to decrease.

He was trying to get to the surface somehow, but he wasn't buoyant because he was wearing armor. He could have dealt with it by removing his equipment, but the AI hadn't anticipated this and hadn't learned it.

And in the end, his HP bar disappeared.

(I fell in with him just in case something happened, but I guess it wasn't necessary. Now, next is Gri-chan... but I'll leave that to Cecil-chan.)

The effect of Mermaid Breath was still active. Noat slowly swam back.

"To do in two of them, you're quite something."

A blonde woman in black armor, Amanda, was standing in front of Cecil.

Almost at the same time as Orland was defeated, Cecil had defeated Grinee. Just as he was about to take a breather, Amanda appeared.

Cecil scanned his surroundings, but there was no one else besides Amanda.

"Alone?"

"Yes, I'm alone. I know you've just had a series of battles, but would you mind keeping me company for a bit? Anyone would have done, but it seems you're alone now, and I'd like to run an experiment."

"An experiment? Well, I don't mind. But I feel bad for Ivan. He said he wanted to fight you too."

"Oh, I'm done with Ivan. I can't test this on him."

"Huh?"

"It won't work on someone who has their memories back."

"What are you talking about?"

Amanda didn't answer that. She swung her Durandal, and Cecil received it with his crossed swords.

It became a situation like a sword lock, and with their swords between them, their faces drew close.

Immediately after, Amanda's eyes glowed red.

"What the? ...Guh!"

Cecil pushed Amanda back and jumped back. But he couldn't stay on his feet and fell to one knee. He held his temple with the hand holding his sword, closed one eye, and endured the pain.

"Y, you...!"

"How is it? Are your memories back? From the looks of you, you seem to be in pain, so I think it's okay, but just in case, would you answer me?"

Cecil couldn't answer that and collapsed face down.

"Oh? Well, if it hurts enough to make you faint, then your memories are back. With this, I might be able to manage without relying on Hypnos."

Amanda said this, then disappeared as if she had vanished on the spot.