Chapter 1232 - Sweet Talk, Secrets, and Promises
The breakdown of the simple base built by the multi-talented old man Gossan using his muscles and knowledge consisted of a small campfire serving as a gathering spot, plus four sleeping quarters (tents).
They weren't massive, but they were respectable enough that you couldn't call them small.
A framework of wood and stones bound with ropes woven from grass, with a canopy of widely shaved bark and fur derived from [Stardust Beasts (Lim)]. Made entirely of natural materials, it looked surprisingly stylish.
What do they call this... bushcraft? That thing where you enjoy camping with just your body while procuring and making any tools on-site.
He was usually an endearing old guy who loved to talk even with shallow, newly acquired knowledge, but occasionally, like this time, he showed off serious, dignified skills, so he couldn't be underestimated. It was genuinely cool, so I should ask him to teach me during the vacation... —and,
"Kua..."
Alone, beside the campfire where the embers remained.
Settling into a luxurious chair with a backrest, armrests, and cushions made of sturdy branches and fur, which the old man (Ji-ji) had made for me when I asked for "a chair where I can relax."
While looking up at the starless sky, which was filled only with the distant land, I stifled a yawn.
Some time had already passed since the day changed, but dawn was still far from our current location (now). It would be a while before the 'Sleepiness' debuff appeared on my Status, but even so, a yawn would escape.
We are human, after all. It's not strange at all to get sleepy even if it's not bedtime.
But falling asleep after smugly volunteering for night watch wasn't the kind of stupidity that could be laughed off as just being a fool... —To ward off the sleepiness, I continued my "training" to pass the time.
"...Nnnn—..."
Taking advantage of the fact that the plants, the lake, and my companions were all breathing softly in sleep in their respective places. Without hesitating to expose my voice—which couldn't call the old man "old man Gossan"—to the silence of the deep night.
I made the light of "water" surrounding me dance at my will.
This was 'Extense', a branch of the MID tree, practicing the manipulation of visualized manifested mana.
I had been continuing this since Yura taught me the basics of mana manipulation, and while I felt I had become quite proficient, my aptitude (dot-emphasis: aptitude) also became clearer than ever... literally, so to speak.
It became visible (dot-emphasis: visible) to me.
"..."
A faint blue close to colorless and transparent, gathering to become a deep blue.
Weaving (dot-emphasis: weaving) the mana, which glowed with a different hue for each player, at my hand—at the closest possible position—I made a small, drawn-out stardust dragon (miniature Sapphire) flap its wings energetically.
And when I raised my hand and sent it off—
"...Hmm."
The dragon made of mana that flew toward the sky dissolved and vanished before it even reached ten meters.
Simply put, this was it. It was something that had been occasionally pointed out to me by various people, and something I was dimly aware of myself, but my thought control has an extremely narrow effective range.
The "shadow threads" of the [Ninefold Shadow-Woven Gauntlet (Nine Tail)], which I could be said to have mastered recently, were a different story because they were physically connected, so they felt like an extension of my body.
Whether it was magic... or the magic sword of my partner that I piggybacked on when absorbing it with [Hellgread Ignis (Crimson Red Hellfire Seed)]. The further it got from my body, the cruder my thought control technique became.
No, calling it crude was an understatement. To be clear, it became completely useless.
Once, I was told, "When it comes to thought control that completes within yourself, you're a genius," and it seemed that Junior No. 1 (Tetra)'s words hit the mark in both a positive and negative sense.
With my current magic, like "Current Harken" or "Maelstrom", or even firing off "Laevateinn, Ten Thousand Calamities"—manipulating their form at close range or simply firing them was one thing, but I undoubtedly had zero talent for remote control.
Apparently, Ashe had said during the Trance Duo that I was "essentially a mage type" or something, and that probably wasn't wrong... but mastering the transcendent techniques possessed by Lux, Record-shi, or Yura seemed impossible for me.
But on the other hand, casting magic within a small range (dot-emphasis: small range) could be seen as having great potential.
If I continued training without getting discouraged, I should eventually be able to become a super cool magic brawler like the [Traveler] or the [Screen]... Well, those guys were praised as the "complete form of mages" precisely because they possessed both close-range and long-range techniques. As expected of them.
There was no room for jealousy, only admiration and longing...
Taking advantage of the fact that no one was watching, while I was unhesitatingly pretending to be a good boy.
"—Beautiful color."
Behind me. Someone who had approached without hiding her presence spoke to my back. Thus, without turning around, I continued to make the praised mana dance.
"Isn't it a bit too early to wake up?"
"I'll make up for the lack of sleep by sleeping in tomorrow."
When I replied over my shoulder, a few seconds later, a slight weight pressed onto that shoulder.
A modest weight, just enough to easily drive away my consciousness with the touching body heat and the extremely close breath. That was why, accepting the weight that made me want to hold on without letting go.
"What's up?"
"Nothing in particular. ...Just,"
"Just?"
When I glanced back with just my eyes, there was a beauty that burned the eyes even in the dark of night. Resting her brilliantly shining face on my shoulder, the late-night Princess harbored mischief in her garnet eyes—
"I came to flirt."
"........................Well,"
Because she said it without a shred of embarrassment.
"Somehow, I thought... you'd come in some way."
"Fufu, telepathy."
From my side, I conveyed a truthful "as expected."
...No,
To confess the truth, it wasn't "as expected" but "as hoped" (dot-emphasis: as hoped)...
"...I was looking forward to the pool (dot-emphasis: pool), though."
Thus, needless to say, Ashe probably saw right through me to the very bottom.
With both hands wrapped around from behind the chair gently caressing my shoulders and neck, making my virtual heart leap in secret. Hearing her complain in a voice with zero resentment, I understood and gave a bitter smile.
What was she talking about—none other than that promise we made for March.
Having been somewhat mentally drained during the conquest of the [Deep Realm of Blue Source], that plan was meant to paint over the negative feeling of almost hating "water"—just like my trauma—with positive memories. In short, I had planned a water-play date, but...
To put it simply, it was canceled (dot-emphasis: it was canceled).
By whom? Needless to say.
By Sora-san and Nia-chan, who had somehow detected the "pool date for just the two of us" and decided, "We cannot overlook the premonition of an incident."
Thus, what on earth did Ashe and I say in response—
Naturally, both of us just said, "Figures," and the case was closed.
As for me, after calmly looking at the probability of an "incident" occurring, I had firmly sworn in my heart, "If it happens, it happens, and I'll run for my life when it does." Ashe, too, even if she pressed, probably intended to honestly calm down if I said "Calm down
In other words, both of us were pretending not to see that some kind of "incident" was an unavoidable schedule (dot-emphasis: schedule)—yes, indeed, it boiled down to "figures."
To reiterate, I had absolutely no intention of making a move, nor of having a move made on me... specifically, for the two years and five months I declared, with two years remaining, neither of us would.
Therefore, even if an incident were to happen, it wouldn't. That was a constraint I set in my heart when deciding to carry out this reckless plan, an unshakeable certainty.
And, of course, I was sorry, but.
Even if I recognized that pressing in whenever there was an opening was her natural right as my de facto fiancée, Ashe respected my feelings above all else... and so on.
We made a promise, got caught fairly early on, immediately had to cancel, and both Ashe and I accepted it—but even if acceptance was logical, that was that.
"Where are Sora and Nia?"
"Fast asleep."
Over the chair, what transmitted from the arms wrapped around my neck was the warmth of bare skin. It felt artificial, yet if asked "where," it was a realistic warmth for which I couldn't give a clear answer.
While letting that blend into my skin, Ashe lightly bumped her head against mine.
—That aside, there was also a feeling of disappointment and dissatisfaction.
That was why we had come all the way to the 'lake' for a vacation.
We weren't alone, but that couldn't be helped. Rather, writing it off as something we could enjoy with peace of mind, we planned to fully indulge in "water play" tomorrow.
Of course, since entering the lake would mean death for me, I would build a separate play area. With the power of a ranker, creating a giant 'pool' next to the lake would be child's play.
And of course, when it came to water play, the attire—well, let me be honest.
I was looking forward to it, but it wasn't like I didn't have some slight reservations.
It wasn't just about Irori or Gossan or the guys. I couldn't help but think about how, in the original plan, it was supposed to be just the two of us... meaning I should have had it (dot-emphasis: it) all to myself.
I did feel it was a waste.
That was why I had been slightly hoping.
"Everyone is fast asleep. ...Right now, it's just you and me."
"..."
What transmitted to my skin was the warmth of bare skin (dot-emphasis: warmth of bare skin).
Reflected at the edge of my vision was a dazzling, pure white shoulder in the dark of night.
In addition, since we chose it together, it was only natural. Once I saw the shoulder strap of that familiar attire modestly... yet brilliantly coloring and accentuating her skin.
"—...Do you want to see?"
"I want to see."
A secret in the middle of the night, with no one watching.
My very own, all to myself.
Thus, to me, who had answered without shame and almost instantly.
Ashe, looking slightly amused, yet without hiding her joy, smiled.
"Nn... go ahead?"
Since she granted me permission, I turned around while pretending to be calm, though it was far too late...
That is all (dot-emphasis: all).
The subsequent sight, or rather, the memory image engraved in my mind, was so crazy in terms of brightness and dazzling intensity that it would easily destroy my emotions—
For now, I think I will keep this secret carefully tucked away in the depths of my memories.
Did you think I forgot? No way I'd forget, so, yes.
The protagonist has safely died.
Just what kind of swimsuit was the Princess wearing, and what kind of swimsuit did the two of them choose? Only the protagonist (this guy) gets to know that, so there's that.
If you want to throw stones, please throw them at [Crown]-sama. Without exception, they will all be dodged.