Chapter 1234 - Interlude
Thus, though embarrassing to have played a part in the vortex. The three-day public performance that replaced the traditional tournament closed its curtains with great popularity in both the virtual and real worlds.
The venue was, as always, the instance field inside Istia's war base, but because neither the performers (dot-emphasis: performers) nor the lottery-selected attendees were limited to the Eastern faction, the scale was quite grand.
Perhaps because the serious brawl (play-fight) resembling a one-on-one Trance Duo was well-received, a large volume of voices requesting it to become a regular event from next time onward had already been received... While it was pleasing to have entertained them, in a situation where we didn't even know what would happen next time (dot-emphasis: next time)...
Well, it was hard to say.
"Oh, so finally?"
"Yes, it's decided. Down to every detail (dot-emphasis: every detail), at last."
Anyway, we had to get through this time safely—that was where we stood now.
A few days after providing entertainment to the public as a bridge to the new Four Pillar War, during lunch in the real world. Since the Southern faction representative (Ashe), who had been too busy lately to show her face at the private restaurant, had some free time, we were able to share a table for the first time in a while.
"Whether this is the right answer... we won't know until the actual event starts, but."
"Well, we'll manage. Let's make it work."
Roughly a little under three weeks.
Going here and there, this way and that, managing, gathering, and supervising the information, communications, and circumstances flying back and forth, it was truly, literally, at long last.
I received the news that the selected members for the new Four Pillar War, '1000 + 10 people', had been decided.
"In the end, what percentage did you allocate to the crafter slots?"
"Twenty percent <200>."
"Oh, you allocated quite a chunk."
"Because we don't know the scale of the battlefield... the 'fortress', we absolutely can't calculate the 'minimum necessary' line. So, we drew the line such that if we still don't have enough hands with this, we can just give up."
"I see?"
Note that only the sharing side and the receiving side—namely, Ashe and me—were present.
Our Yotsuya restaurant chef, Chitose Kazuharu, also known as Kazu-san, just prepared our lunch and gallantly retreated to his room, saying, "I have errands," while Nia was on a date with her best friend.
Regarding the latter, I was given an intense smug face by the culprit, Saegusa-san, as she kidnapped her.
It was fine for them to be infinitely close, but being on the receiving end was annoying, so I planned to send her a two-shot with swimsuit Nia (blushing face) taken during the recent starry sky event later.
—Anyway,
"With it likely being 'versus enemy' and a 'defense battle' of a 'fortress'... there will undoubtedly be a turn for 'combat engineers', but I can't imagine needing more than thirty percent of the participation slots..."
"Since you can't imagine it, if it turns out to be so (dot-emphasis: so) and we fail, will you blame the designer (system)?"
"I will. The one at fault is the mean God who won't disclose all the information we want."
"How refreshing."
As usual, this was what that [Sword Queen]-sama was saying.
And behind those words lay the deep, deeeeep... thoughts of our [Monarch] and [Lady-in-Waiting]-sama, among other staff officers, encompassing various things that my head couldn't even begin to reach, shaping the process and basis of the conclusion.
Even as a ranker (me), I was just one of many who entrusted strategic judgments to such a brain trust. Thus, as always, my reaction to the report could only be acceptance.
Therefore, without any particular doubts or retorts, I accepted the report and set down my chopsticks.
"Just in case, any changes to the special forces lineup (dot-emphasis: special forces lineup)?"
When asked, Ashe, who had finished eating quickly and left me behind, smiled faintly.
"None. —I'll have you share the hardships with me."
"Ha, Roger. I'll charge up my spirit starting now."
Across the table. Leaning forward and stretching over the table, she gently poked my cheek.