Chapter 123: Holding the Lamp of Ambition, Part 9

The sword is heavy, the armor is heavy, the body is heavy.

It's all virtual; they don't actually exist as mass.

But they were certainly weighing heavily, heavily on Psyger-0 (Rei Saiga) in this Virtual Reality (Shangri-La Frontier).

The "Armor of Two Faces" she wears is armor that demonstrates its true value when operated simultaneously with the "Divine Demon Greatsword (Antinomy)" in her hand. If the greatsword harbors holy power, the armor takes on demonic power; if the sword reverses to demonic, the armor harbors holy power.

And when the sword is demonic and the armor is holy, defensive corrections are applied to her stats, allowing her to catch even a head-on charge from an average monster without losing even a third of her health.

However, the black wolf rampaging in this place is the extraordinary Lycaon the Night Raider. Even the defense-enhanced Psyger-0 cannot avoid losing all HP in one hit if hit poorly, and this lone strongest species unleashes such sure-kill moves lightly in combos.

Although she avoided a direct hit, Psyger-0, whose HP reached the danger zone just from accumulated scratches, stares at Her while crushing a crystalline recovery item that heals just by crushing it—albeit a bit expensive—since drinking liquid potions is difficult with a full-face helm.

"Amazing..."

In the center of the black storm, the storm of sure-kills unleashed repeatedly involving clones, the player passes through "Unscathed" with versatile responses. Perhaps because he is controlling the mechanical bird blowing away the cumulonimbus clouds in the sky, instead of the bird mask with intense eyes, the half-naked man wearing a mechanical helm modeled after a bird with technology more refined than any armor Psyger-0 has seen so far was earnestly buying time against Lycaon.

Two "Curses" burdened on his body; Psyger-0 knows them. After all, she herself once had it carved on her torso. That is why she fully understands how troublesome the demerit of "Unable to equip corresponding parts" is.

In the first place, in this game, a player's "Defense Power" cannot be concluded by numbers alone. No matter how high the defense, taking an attack on the exposed torso deals massive damage. Armor plays an extremely important role as armor that actually protects the avatar, beyond the role of reinforcing numbers.

No matter if it's a male Figure (Avatar), Psyger-0 couldn't discard her shame enough to be defiant about being half-naked only on the torso, so she had the curse lifted by the Saint of Love Eristella. However, among players, there are those who dare to keep the curse, thinking that maintaining it might raise some kind of flag.

But even so, two places is too unconventional. Sunraku, maneuvering with his bare skin exposed on his torso and legs—which should be called half-naked—could have his HP whittled down completely if a claw even grazes him.

He himself said, "Maybe because of that, my skills are specialized for maneuvering," but even so, there is a limit.

That is why she must stand in front and protect Sunraku from Lycaon. How long ago did she make that determination? Psyger-0's concentration was already a candle in the wind.

He is ashamed of his lack of power, but in reality, the mental burden is slightly higher for Psyger-0, who must land a total of ten large swinging attacks to meet the conditions, compared to Sunraku who in extreme terms doesn't need to land attacks.

In the early stages, the hate catch-ball with Sunraku was going well, but now, if Psyger-0 shows even the slightest sign of attacking, Lycaon narrows his aim to crush it with fierce momentum.

Just a little more, just a little more and the condition will be met. Yet that distance feels strangely far.

Psyger-0, trying to remove only her head equipment temporarily to put portable food in her mouth to resolve the hunger parameter, notices it due to Sunraku's scream-like shout.

"Clone incoming!"

At the approaching black shadow, Psyger-0 realizes her own carelessness.

Repeatedly sealing the starting points of attacks, she had unknowingly misunderstood that "Lycaon directs hate towards her in response to attacks."

The wolf is more cunning; there's no way she would overlook Psyger-0, the main firepower in this place, trying to recover health———!

"Oh n-..."

Too late; evasion and defense won't make it in time. There are means to revive from death, but she cannot use them after she dies.

Although blocked by Lycaon, likely the main body, Sunraku's expression looking this way cannot be divined due to the helm. But realizing he cares for her even though his hands must be full warms her heart, while simultaneously filling her chest with apology.

(I'm sorry, Hizutome-kun... In the end, I dragged you down...)

That relationship is unilaterally recognized, and apologies for shortcomings can only be said in her heart. The wolf's fangs approach. The oral cavity made of shadow, continuing into darkness darker than night as if to say it devours even light; being bitten by that means the end, following the same fate as Animalia.

It's not that she fears a gruesome death. For Psyger-0, who has experienced all kinds of "death" while playing the game, getting bitten to death isn't pleasant but she's used to it. Though being chewed and swallowed probably isn't a good feeling.

That is why Psyger-0 didn't notice until it was executed. Sunraku's shocked expression looking this way was hidden by the helm, and there was the impact mass called Lycaon right in front of her visually and auditorily. That is why Psyger-0 noticed there was someone behind her only after it was executed and she was involved.

"Blade Concealment Knowledge (Hagakure Kokoroe)... [Cicada Shell (Utsusemi)]!"

"Heh?"

It's understandable that a listless voice came out. After all, the moment she thought someone tapped her shoulder along with a high-pitched girl's voice, as if forcibly returning to coordinates from a few seconds ago to correct lag... Psyger-0's body "Teleported" several meters back from the place she was just a moment ago... where Lycaon's jaws snapped shut gachin. And the pitiful substitute who fell prey to Lycaon's fangs in place of Psyger-0, whose head was being pressed onto the guillotine, was............

"A log?"

"As expected, substitution jutsu has to be a log!"

Feeling suspicious about the texture, the wood fragments crumbling from Lycaon's mouth as he stopped chewing would reveal a roughly cut log if gathered and assembled correctly. And Psyger-0 had one idea about a job that utilizes "Magic" to teleport to previously designated coordinates using a log as a substitute.

It is an advanced job derived from the job "Thief," but different from the original... the advanced job "Assassin" which focuses on skills to reduce one's hate and run through various rough paths lightly. It is a hidden job Magic-focused utilizing mysterious "Magic (Ninpo)" that makes one feel Japanism...

"Ninja?"

"Yes! By the way, excuse me for asking, but you are not Sunraku... san, right?"

"Eh, ah, yes. I am Psyger-0."

"I knew it! I heard he was a Bird Head dressed in a relatively crazy fashion for a human! His head seems physically harder than I heard, but that's the person!"

Turning around, there was a player wearing light equipment exposing upper arms and lower legs, assuming stealth with an overall plain... or rather inconspicuous color scheme, and for some reason wearing a fox mask on her face. Psyger-0 knew that the fox mask was a type of accessory, not head equipment, and players sometimes equipped it for jokes or fashion since equipping it over a helm resulted in a quite ridiculous appearance.

Looking above the head of the girl whose appearance and content matched based on the general outline of the avatar and voice, the characters "Akitsu Akane" were there. While Lycaon was rampaging grandly, Psyger-0 harbored an out-of-place impression that the name was quite old-fashioned, thinking that in ancient Japan, dragonflies were called "Akitsu," and if the color "Akane" (Madder Red) was added, it probably referred to the "Akiakane" (Red Dragonfly).

"I'll go greet him for a bit!"

"Ah, um!"

She knows she shouldn't ask at a time like this. But something burning deep in Psyger-0... Rei Saiga's heart moved her mouth with a strong impulse saying she must ask.

"Um, what is, your relationship, with Sunraku... san..."

"Umm......... A respected Senpai, perhaps! Well then!"

Watching the back of Akitsu Akane running away with truly beautiful form as she said that, Psyger-0 managed to move her trembling lips and unintentionally muttered.

"Sen, pai?"

Something is bad.

What the, Hop! What is, Step! Happened? Juuump!

The moment I witnessed Rei-shi unable to escape the clone, I was convinced "Ah, it's over," but she was rescued by someone running at tremendous speed. And that Person (Player) is running toward me at breakneck speed for some reason. If this were OiKatzo or Pencilgon, I'd still understand... no, I wouldn't understand, but I could accept it.

But if it's a complete stranger I've never met, I neither understand nor accept it. And the "Question" disturbing my thoughts while my body moves dizzyingly transforms into "Astonishment" upon witnessing the name floating above the player's head.

"Akitsu Akane... Akitsu Akaneeeee!?"

An image pops up in my mind of a similarly deformed Me with a "Strategic Reason" paper stuck on his forehead uppercutting the deformed Me with "Momentary Pleasure" stuck on his forehead, who had been trampling him until just now.

Akitsu Akane. That name shone brilliantly as the most important concern within me, and I had ordered Emul to stall her, but I never thought I'd meet her "Now" in this place. Seeing Akitsu Akane sprinting full speed toward us with strangely perfect form, even Lycaon seems at a loss for how to respond. Honestly, I understand that feeling very well, but I'll make maximum use of that opening.

Leaving hate on the spot with [Utsurou Mikagami], I escape Lycaon's attack range. I join up with Akitsu Akane running toward me, emitting an aura of joy from her whole body though her face is hidden by the mask.

"Eh, wha, for now, why are you here!?"

"Nice to meet you! Um, asking straight to the point, do you play a game called Berserk Online Passion!?"

"Why 'Benpi' here!?"

What is this? At the word as out of place as dropping soft serve ice cream in the middle of curry rice, I unintentionally raise my voice. Being presented with the name of Benpi, going to the northernmost extreme among Trash Games, the exact opposite of a God Game, disturbed my emotions more than I expected. But that answer seemed sufficient for Akitsu Akane to gain some conviction, and the eyes behind the mask filled with unparalleled joy.

"I knew it! I thought maybe, but you really are 'Sunraku'-san!"

"Eh? Well, I basically unify my name as Sunraku in games but..."

"It's me! It's 'Dragonfly'! You helped me back then!!"

A few seconds of silence. And recalling memories of the past with tremendous momentum, the figure of a player who discovered a new bug technique with an attitude completely opposite to their rugged and unkempt appearance resurfaces in my mind.

"Dragonfly!? From that time!?"

"Yes! To think we could meet again in another game!"

Dragonfly (Tonbo), Akitsu Akane... I see, the type to decide names based on a common theme like Katzo. No, more importantly, the power of the opening punch is too high no matter how you look at it. To think she came to meet me, and that she was someone I knew, albeit through a thin connection.

Akitsu Akane, equipped like a thief wearing a fox mask, is hopping pyon pyon as if genuinely happy about the reunion with no ulterior motive, and the muffler with a strangely familiar pattern wrapped around her shoulder sways in conjunction... sways...

Wait, that's not a muffler, that's a rabbit.

"Kyuu..."

"Emul!?"

"Ah, yes! Since I was coming anyway, I asked her to join me!"

No no, not "Since I was coming anyway." Emul, barely clinging to Akitsu Akane's neck, is in a groggy state as if shaken for hours, and if she hadn't cried out, I would have truly mistaken her for a muffler made of rabbit fur.

"No, wait wait, how on earth did you get here?"

"Yes! I am an immature beginner who just started recently, so I had never visited Eleventar... Yes, I did my best and ran full speed from Thirdrema to here!!"

Now I'm in trouble. Could it be that she is an "Idiot" in a different direction from Katzo or Pencilgon?

Author's Afterword
Here comes the entry of the "Time Attack Type Athletic Club Junior Position Masked Ninja Girl"!
I feel like she has too many attributes, but having many won't hurt... probably.

Job "Ninja"
Prerequisites: Must be Job "Thief," must have mastered a certain amount of magic (type doesn't matter).
If the hidden parameter "Ninja-ness" is satisfied to a certain value while meeting the prerequisites, a special NPC appears in the Thief Guild.
By clearing the "Three-Match Exam" acceptable from that NPC, you gain the Right to job change to the hidden job "Ninja."
Its Japanism-overflowing Ninpo... or rather "Blade Concealment Knowledge" series magic has many enthusiastic fans, but since various preparations are required to exercise them, isn't the normal advanced job "Assassin" easier to use overall...? You fool! It's a Ninja, so who cares about that!
By the way, as a point of note, "Blade Concealment Knowledge" series magic activates by forming "Seals" (Hand Signs) instead of "Chanting." Nin-nin.