Chapter 1164 - A Long Day, on That Night
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"What's wrong, Hero? You've got a great look on your face."
"Shut up."
────Night. I was munching on some mental stabilizers (sweets) in front of the campfire, returning a threat with my eyes and voice toward the heartless, silver-haired brute who was teasing and smirking at me.
My current location was far, far away from the 【Safe Area】, somewhere in the Outside, the ultimate magical territory of the virtual world... somewhere, what should I call it?
How should I describe it, a plaza on top of a tree? Or a small piece of land like a balloon floating in the air, connected by vines? Anyway, on top of such a semi-floating island.
It was about an hour ago in real-world time that we set up camp at a safe point, which Yura and Sayaka-san called a safe zone, which could be said to be the height of being used to traveling in Arcadia, and which was extremely rare in the 'Outside' as a place where you could let your guard down.
Thus, the current time was past 8:00 PM.
It was decided that we would take a dinner break in the order of me, Yura, and Sayaka-san, and the guys (me) and the guys (?) finished quickly in thirty minutes each... leading to the present. In other words,
"Ha, isn't that wholesome. Do you get jealous too?"
"I don't."
Until the Saintess, whom I had sent off with a "take your time," returned, I was alone with this ill-natured, twisted, contrarian, or rather, the 【Screen】 who looked like she had found a perfect toy.
"I thought you were a Hero whose emotions were completely broken, eh, Mr. Protagonist (Hero)?"
"What the hell do you think I am, you bastard...?"
I already knew that she had a nature to observe people's states more accurately than others. Therefore, she quickly saw through my slight mental disturbance, and to make matters worse, I had let something slip from my mouth a few minutes ago. If I could wind back time, I would go and slap my past self personally.
...Because, you see.
"Even if you ask me what... ────The protagonist of a happy rom-com?"
"The fact that I can't deny it is too much of a joke, and it's making me the most pissed off right now."
At just the right time, at the dinner table where we crossed paths. After being told all about the "date" by Ashe and Nia and having them brag about it... well, what?
I'm not, well, I mean, of course, I'm far from a saintly gentleman, so?
...────Must be nice, or rather?
It looks like you're having fun, good for you, or rather?
Still, don't you think you're having a bit too much fun, or rather?
Even with just the three of you without me, you seem to be having quite a lot of fun, or something like that?
"Aaaah..."
Ah, yes.
Somehow, I'm normally jealous. I'm throwing a tantrum over each of the three. And that fact endlessly connects to 'Aren't I gross?' and is extremely painful.
What is this??? Is this what they call possessiveness? Even though I'm trying to monopolize three people from the world myself? Isn't that too terrible, talk about the height of selfishness────
And well, in that state.
"Haru."
"Yes."
"You've got a great look on your face."
"You evil fiend who laughs at human ugliness, go get exorcised."
Inadvertently, and of all people, to a partner who seemed the least appropriate, I let slip "Well, you see...", and my mental state had taken a mysterious, sudden, massive hit.
I want to die a little.
Probably, both Nia and Ashe had immediately seen through it during the short meal, and realizing that was also extremely painful. The one I want exorcised is myself...
"Ha... well, putting such trivial matters aside."
"For an eighteen-year-old youth, it's a major issue concerning his very self-affirmation, though..."
"If you want to be laughed at, I can sneer at you from the bottom of my heart, you know?"
"I feel like my frustration would only get worse in various ways, so I'll pass."
...But, turning it around, maybe she was the right person.
Whether she was kind and sympathetic or harshly disparaging, it would probably be a massive follow-up hit to the current me. If so, being treated casually and with a lack of interest was just about right.
If so────Ah, thank goodness she's a silver-haired person who has no interest in humans, I thought, tightening my mouth which had become loose from being shaken by emotions, shaking my head, and kicking away my annoying, depressed thoughts.
I'll just digest it by myself later.
"So, what is it?"
Thus, while popping a mental stabilizer (sweet) into my mouth. Since she was changing the subject, she must have a destination in mind, so I prompted Yura while casting a side-glance.
And even if prompted, whether an immediate reply would come or not was a fifty-fifty chance with this contrarian. This time she seemed to be in the mood for the latter, and after keeping silent for a full ten seconds...
"【Crown】"
"Ah?"
What rolled out was a single, muttered word.
Was that meant to be calling my name? As I tilted my head to ask,
"Hypothetically, if I were to request your accompaniment in conquering the 【Deep Realm of Blue Source】, what are the chances you'd accept? I heard about your trauma and all, but if I were to ask despite that."
"................Whoa, wait...?"
The virtual campfire made realistic sounds and reactions.
While looking at that light and being illuminated by the silver, Yura asked me back with an exquisite, relaxed expression that showed she was serious... not quite, but it wasn't a joke.
────Ah, how should I put it, I know.
Probably, but my 'evaluation' inside this person is quite high, which is a happy fact.
And that, in short, meant.
"...Is it really that bad? Well, I kind of guessed, but."
I didn't know where I ranked from the top, of course. But without a doubt, in terms of combat evaluation... like, what? To directly ask 【me (Crown)】, who was marked quite high up, and moreover, to make a request despite my trauma.
For that 【Screen】 to go that far without hesitation, it meant that the 【Deep Realm of Blue Source】 we toured today was assumed to have an extremely crazy difficulty level... ──
"...Well, yeah."
If so, Yura nodded vaguely,
"If my reading is correct, that is."
"If it's correct?"
After pausing slightly for words,
"Its final 'tier' might reach an Overlaid (limitless large-scale battle)."
"...Are you serious, good grief. Damn Arcadia."
She honestly revealed her current speculation, painting a bitter smile all over my face.
Rather than being jealous, isn't that simply in the category of being lonely, young man?
An eighteen-year-old boy bewildered by his own emotions is quite amusing.