Chapter 1160 - Travel Companions in the (Virtual) World are Full of Kindness
────And, about an hour later.
The noisy journey safely came to an end, and they arrived at the far, far outskirts of the 【Key Tree City】... which was both their destination and their return point. After reaching a spot where the bustle of the city could be seen in the distance.
"Then, um, once again...!"
"Don't worry about it. ────Good luck with your research. I look forward to its further development."
"Hieee... I-I-I'll do my best... ugh...!!"
Remaining apologetic until the very end... or rather, with Nene at the head, who seemed to have been endlessly dragged along by the emotion of those dramatic events, it was time to say goodbye to the entire party, their faces showing an exquisite mix of clean parting and lingering regret.
Pulled by a large lizard galloping along, the follower carriage was swiftly carried away by its lightly spinning wheels.
From its cargo bed, the men waved their hands with enough force to tear them off. The leader (Anemone), throwing a casual greeting from the driver's seat while exuding the aura of a hard worker. And,
Nene, who had probably wondered whether she should wave her hands grandly or small, and after acting suspiciously for a moment, began to bow her head up and down infinitely as she was seen off...
"Hmm... but even that kind of thing is a 'common story' among the general population of Arcadia."
"There are parts of how you met that I want to heavily nitpick, but I guess so?"
"Ah, yes... as I thought, that was your intention, wasn't it?"
Iris looked on with a flat expression────though she had likely enjoyed the proverb of old (travel companions, kindness) in her own way, looking rather in a good mood.
Nia, although she didn't show the kind of friendliness she reserved for those close to her, showed a normal smile and demonstrated the communication skills she had been taught by her best friend.
And Sora, looking at those two... mainly the former. Having confirmed the intentions of her older senior player, which she had faintly sensed, she had an indescribable face, looking a bit troubled and embarrassed.
As the three of them watched and waved in their own ways, at the end of their gaze, the rushing follower carriage reached the edge of the city, and those who might be a once-in-a-lifetime encounter melted into the bustle.
...If so,
"Fufu... ────What are your thoughts?"
"Um, well... that is, well, yes."
Normally, or rather usually, the standard for Iris would be the 'passing hero', an option she discarded this time. The trouble of being considerate herself, the burden of disturbing the other party. The basic style of the 【Sword Queen】, who extends an unfriendly hand of salvation for many reasons, is a well-known fact.
Those who know 【Iris】 also know that she prefers to be treated properly as a single player, despite being a player of the highest rank in the virtual world.
Due to the atmosphere she emits, which is on a different dimension from ordinary people, her proud specs, and the numerous achievements, deeds, anecdotes, and legends that are never lacking to be told, those who can truly execute this properly are an extremely small minority, but...
She is recognized. Therefore, to this day, there is no one who blames the 'surface' of Iris, who pretends to be quiet────and yet, the reason she chose to "interact" like this this time was,
"...I was a little excited."
"That's wonderful."
For her junior, who had reached far heights without having had a proper opportunity for adventure from the time she started the game until today, the provision of experience was none other than the reason.
Of course, the fact that she was troubled with handling the 【Dragon-Eating Worm of the Vortex】 materials that overflowed from her inventory was also a reason, but in the end, she sold them all to Nene's party at a dirt-cheap price, so that was only a tiny fraction. She could have just done the transaction and said goodbye.
────There can be as many paths as there are players, and that is fine.
Iris, who can now say 'that' without falsehood, is not mistaken in her awareness that her current heart is something that could only be reached because of the "now".
Yes, and that is precisely why,
"Chatting. It was worth the effort."
"No, Princess, your expressionless face was completely maxed out, and you were five times colder than usual, though."
She understands better than anyone that the kind of story that never came to her is something precious and valuable to anyone. ────Therefore, if she encountered the opportunity.
"On purpose. That was that kind of fan service."
"Ehh, no way. I took a screenshot of your stiff, unfamiliar smile, want to see?"
"I won't look. ...I knew you took one, delete it."
"Ehh, what a waste... ──Look, so cute!!!"
"I said I won't look...!"
Because she also possesses enough leeway to try acting like a senior like this.
"Ah, haha... fufu."
The precious person of her precious person... even without using such a roundabout name, she was already precious to herself────though it is difficult to describe in words what kind of preciousness it was.
Anyway,
"...Fine. I'm leaving bad girls behind."
"Heheh, then I'll have Sora-chan carry m────"
"I'll carry Sora. Take care."
"Okay, deleting, lie, lie, just a joke! Nia-chan's maximum running distance is only one or two kilometers at best, so leaving me behind is absolutely forbidden. I'll cry even though I'm twenty!"
As for her usual habits, unfamiliarity, and troublesome things, she could discard them as things that were fine to throw away.
To the extent of not hesitating to make uncharacteristic, irrational decisions out of favoritism, the 【Sword Queen】, who had cleared up after three years that felt like eternity and a fleeting single year... has reached the present.
"Well, shall we go, Sora?"
"Eh, um, eh?"
"Wait a minute. You've got the wrong person to carry, Princess. Hey, Princess, look over here, Princess."
"Nia."
"Yes."
"Walking once in a while is good for your health."
"I'll work hard on that in reality, so...!!"
While regaining her original personality day by day.
While becoming a true 'Princess', she is enjoying the virtual world today as well.
By the way, she didn't delete the photo and showed it to the protagonist later, and while Nia-chan was being subjected to a foot reflexology massage (by the Princess) in the real world, Ashe, who was wooed by the invincible love-struck fool saying "Even that stiff smile is rare and infinitely cute to me now," forgave her in a second and patted her head.
Nia-chan, who was probably throwing a huge tantrum while half-crying, is so cute.