Chapter 409: Seeking a Haven for Zero Distance

Author's Preface
As usual, I was thinking up settings for a trash game, but the new game setting I came up with was a bit too information-dense to be brushed off as just a single element in this clumsy work. Plus, I couldn't suppress the aching of the beast I keep inside me, so I'm thinking I'd like to post it as a new short story. I'm planning to make it separate from the ShanFro worldview, but maybe I could use something like a Star System for it.

Well, the numerous settings I gave up on halfway through like that are what eventually became the settings for the other games mentioned in ShanFro, though!!!

For example, yes, a highly sharpened concentration can sometimes affect your performance. But conversely, concentrating also means completely discarding all other thoughts.
With the Keep Out band wrapped around my waist, dangling from the outer edge of the Crystal Crown, I let out a massive breath and completely went limp. If I didn't do at least that much, the tension was so stretched to the limit that my own stiffness could have destroyed me.

『Marvel: The internal magical combustion phenomenon the Contractor (Master) just executed temporarily overwrote the Contractor's physical parameters to abnormal values, but... to think you actually mastered its use.』

"Ah... ad-libbing, guts, and... experience, I guess..."

That was dang... dangerous... Seriously, it feels like I just sprinted across a tightrope relying purely on split-second decisions. Actually, it's not a feeling; that's literally what I did.
Directly above where I was dangling, still gripping the fully swung 【Konsho】 and the fully swung 【Meiki】, the body of the Alexand Scorpion, its HP depleted, burst and dissipated like a mist. The sound of a massive amount of items hitting the ground—which had been trampled by the scorpion countless times—echoed out.

A massive amount of EXP flowed in, and while listening to a sound effect I felt like I hadn't heard in a truly long time, I grabbed onto the edge of the Crystal Crown and pulled myself back up.

"Can I... even reproduce this with practice, I wonder..."

It was entirely a product of the adrenaline rush. It's the kind of motion that would probably get me killed for sure if I tried to execute it through logic.
That being said, aside from my first subjugation of an Alexand Scorpion, there's other good news... Fufufu, I finally leveled up.
When I didn't level up even after defeating a considerable number of Crystal Scorpions, I thought to myself, 'Just how high is the required EXP?', but it finally happened.

As for the contents... Oh! The Seiten Style skills have all evolved to their next stages! Plus, new ones have been unlocked.
First, 【Whirlwind】 has branched into its next stage. It went from 【Hayakaze】 to 【Whirlwind】, and the next one is... 【Roaring Wind】?
Unlike Hayakaze, Whirlwind was an Iai skill where the power increased the wider you swung through the follow-through, but I wonder what kind of Iai technique the next one is.
Even so, I wonder how many stages are left until what is presumably the final form, 【Tachikaze】...

Seiten Style 【Thunderclap】 evolved into 【Approaching Thunder】. I wonder how a skill that functions basically like Fa Jin, applying a concussion state to the opponent you touch, evolves from here. Or rather, what exactly do you have to do to make Fa Jin turn into a lightning strike attack... Is it some kind of Senjutsu or something?

Seiten Style 【Raging Wave】 evolved into 【Breaking Wave】... wait, reading this description, it sounds like a counter-throw? Once again, I'm at a loss as to where to use it.

And the newly unlocked one is Seiten Style 【Twilight Roar】. Did he have a move like this...? I pondered for a few seconds, then remembered that among the AoE attacks the Saint canceled with her holy water (meaningful phrasing), there was one that looked somewhat like this.

"Oops, can't stick around. Let's collect the loot and scram!"

『Acknowledged: The resources This Machine (I) collected will be registered and dispatched to the Contractor's Inventoria.』

"I couldn't ask for better service...!!"

Retreat, retreat! Ah, no wait, actually, here I should...

"Alright Saina, leave this place to me and go on ahead."

『Question: The intent behind remaining in this location is uncle... Correction: I have inferred your intent.』

You're pretty sharp, aren't you? Let's aim for maximum efficiency.
I watched Saina descend like a rescue worker using Keep Out—which apparently sells itself more on its function for wire action than as a simple rope tool—while shouldering my pickaxe and looking around the Crystal Crown.

"Places with no residents will be confiscated, is it?"

I see, I see, this is indeed your territory.

"But right now, it's my territory."

You just have to take it back... if you can, that is!!

I hereby declare the opening of the Super Kan-Kan Festival in the Crystal Crown!!!

"Uoooooooh! I'm gonna extract every last drop of resources down to the last pebbleeeee!!"

I strike my own chest as if to inspire myself, clad in black lightning. The blessing of the skill mixes into my flowing blood, and power surges through my entire body.
With pickaxe at the ready, right into the lethal range of a beam that is about to be fired, right now───!!

"Good morning, Contractor (Master). May I read you the results?"

"Twenty-three Tsar-Beryl Emperor Treasure Crystals, six Alexand Scorpion Noble Treasure Shells, two Luminescent Pincers, and one Supreme Crystal Stinger."

"I see, that is an A- grade."

Eh, you're demanding even more? Seriously, I gotta aim for the high score.

"But with this, the conditions are met. We can escape... escape............"

"Question: What is wrong, Death Volunteer."

I realized it. I just realized an incredibly dangerous fact.
No, wait. I don't think it has generated as much direct aggro as a dragon. Ah, it's no good. Through our short time together, I've come to understand that he (she?) is a walking bundle of conscience, but even considering that... ugh, shit... Human, human malice... won't overlook Sammy-chan...! Because, because Sammy-chan... is obviously a rare enemy, no matter how you look at it...! I know I shouldn't say this, but with EX Scenarios and whatnot progressing one after another, players are starving for 'Only-One' things...!

"I'll ask just in case, but... Wimp, do you have... anywhere to go?"

"I don't."

I KNEW ITTTTT!!
I put my hand over my eyes and look up at the sky. Unfortunately, I can't see the sky because this is a cave Sammy-chan diligently melted out using poison breath, but I can't handle this without at least doing this.

"Oh, God...!"

I don't care about the Tri-Divinity or whatever, but in this moment, I want to pray. Dammit! If you look at the trigger conditions for the Unique Scenario EX, it's obvious: I have to take care of this wimpy snake and Sammy-chan. Most likely, keeping Reptica alive and fighting that Goldunine is the general flow of the EX Scenario.
I could probably just disband the party, but... even considering that, the absolute minimum requirement demanded of me is a base for Wimp (Reptica) and Sammy-chan.

"Do I use Brunbas...? No, it's too far... If they are spotted even once, it'll be a hassle. Moving from near the center of the continent to the outer rim is practically impossible... Go without anyone noticing? If it's Sammy-chan... no, there's no way the invisibility is permanent. Shit..."

"W-What is it all of a sudden?"

I'm thinking about your new home! I was about to say that, but... I suddenly realized something.

"Say, Wimp. What would you do if I told you there was a place that guarantees a certain degree of safety, where you won't be targeted by those foreign enemies?"

"R-Really!? Where is it!!"

It's the egg of Columbus; I just need to change my perspective. Specifically, eighty percent of the hours I just spent will become a wasted effort, but there is only one place where I can fulfill the conditions as swiftly as possible.
In silence, yet floating a wry smile, I pointed my index finger straight down at the ground. Wimp, whose eyes had been sparkling with anticipation, froze for a few seconds, but then, perhaps understanding what I was implying, began to tremble kata-kata.

"S-See... there are safety devices too, right?"

WIMP Reboot.

"Yaaー!! Nooooooo waaaaay!!"

"Eei! Don't complain! The ultimate security system is protecting the surrounding area and the sky above, you know!!"

"Conversely, that just means we're completely surrounded, doesn't itー!!"

There are just some guard dogs stationed around that don't listen to a word anyone says!
To somehow persuade Wimp, who was thrashing around and expressing 'No!!!' with her entire body, I began weaving my words.

"Wait wait wait! I'm not telling you to rot away here! Listen, okay? Thanks to Sammy-chan, this cave is quite spacious. You get that, right?"

"Affirmation: Thanks to the contributions of the entity known as Sammy-chan, the 【Assalterus Snake】 (Transparent-Eating Giant Serpent), this cave serves as a rare safe zone within the Sigmonia Frontline Valley."

"Oh, absolutely, well said, Saina. You are very Intelligence right now."

I casually flattered the junk—who somehow managed to deploy the armor of 【Rising Waterfall】 only on her arms and legs to strike a smug pose—while abandoning the Wimp Escort Plan and urgently initiating a new operation.

That's right, I'm going to become a master of remodeling. I'm going to turn this dim cave... into the highest-class suite room...!!

Author's Afterword
Alexand Scorpion, the regrettable Usurper treatment.........! Sorry 'bout this, the Maneuver for Sunraku that I came up with while writing this is something I want to show off in the Siegwurm fight...! Sorry 'bout this, Alexand Scorpion...!!