Chapter Five: The Lion and the Bomb
Prism Rider, Ray Starling
“I say we should opt for clothing instead.”
“Isn’t armor the better choice? I mean, who knows what could happen.” Following Nemesis’ suggestion that I get some casual clothes, we’d headed to the bustling fourth district, which was filled with all kinds of stores.
However, we’d run into a problem — should I buy armor or regular clothing?
Unlike in reality, what you wore in Dendro wasn’t just fashion, but defense too, potentially making it a crucial part of your survival. Most armor pieces with actually good bonuses were crafted using drops from monsters and such, and that often came at the cost of making them look awkward. On the other end of the spectrum, you had fashionable clothing that was both stylish and varied, but completely useless as armor.
For battle, you needed to focus on armor, but to look fabulous in the safety of a town, you needed regular clothing.
“...You sure I can’t just walk around like this?” I asked.
“That is completely out of the question,” Nemesis shot back. “Even you noticed how people react to you, did you not?”
She had me there. I’d even been stopped by some guards this morning. Man, what should I do? I wondered.
“Ah, Ray. Good morning!”
“Huh? Rook?” I’d run into a familiar, unexpected face.
Wasn’t he on a date with Kasumi? Or are they going to meet up later?
“Didn’t you say you had plans with Kasumi?”
“It... has been postponed.” He went on to say that Kasumi was sick in real life and couldn’t get out of bed. She’d caught something a few days ago and tried to recover before the date, but it hadn’t worked out. She was getting better, though, and it was likely that she would be well enough to go on the date tomorrow in Dendro time, which was about half a day in real life. If that wasn’t enough, then they would postpone it again.
Well, it happens, I guess, I thought. Unlike Dendro, real life doesn’t have items or spells that instantly cure disea— Huh? Wait. But my sister and someone else once... no, it must’ve been my imagination.
“With my schedule freed up, I thought I’d walk around the stores in the fourth district or pay a visit to the pimp guild. I haven’t been there in a while,” said Rook. “What about you two?”
“Oh, I already talked to Azurite about you-know-what, so we’re just shopping now,” I said.
“We’re looking for clothes for Ray,” Nemesis added.
“Clothes? I see, I see!” Rook said.
...See what? I wondered.
“I mean that I understand. Don’t worry about it, please,” Rook elaborated.
“All right... Anyway, we ran into a bit of a problem,” I said before explaining to him that we couldn’t decide whether to focus on the stats, the design, or just keep things as they were.
Rook tilted his head and said, “Why not just buy normal clothes and use an accessory with the Clothing Switch skill?”
“The what skill?” I’d never heard of that one before.
According to Rook, Clothing Switch allowed you to swap between your current equipment and inventory items of the same type that were linked to them using the skill. It sounded like Instant Equip and Instant Wear, but those allowed you to instantly choose and equip any item from the inventory, while Clothing Switch only allowed switching between two items that have been paired. You could use it to change all of your equipment at once, but it didn’t give you the freedom to pick and choose the right item for the situation.
Unlike Instant Wear, it also had a cooldown of a few seconds. Because of this, Instant Wear was better for swapping between specific equipment depending on the situation, while Clothing Switch was preferred for just switching from standard clothing to battle equipment.
This didn’t mean much to me, but apparently, when you used Clothing Switch on equipment that took all armor slots — like Shu’s costume or B3’s Gunhammer Plate — it was functionally the same as Instant Wear.
“I hear it’s often used for costume changes in plays,” Rook added.
“Really? Well, I can imagine it being useful for hero shows.”
Regardless, Rook’s idea solved our problem. Since I could use Clothing Switch to get into my armor instantly, I would just buy some normal clothes. I did wonder if the switch would be fast enough, but I had Counter Absorption and the Brooch to keep me alive long enough.
We parted ways with Rook again after that. Nemesis and I went to a clothing store, while Rook went to pay a visit to the pimp guild.
The store we went to wasn’t all that different from the kind you’d find in reality. It was lit by magical lamps, and you had a wide selection of clothes hanging on hangers all over.
There’s tons of variety, too, I thought. With so much to choose from, I can see why people enjoy shopping.
“If I may ask...” Nemesis spoke up. “If you think that there’s so much to choose from, why do you exclusively go for black and red clothes?”
“...I’m not doing it on purpose.” I was definitely picking clothes in that color scheme, which made me think that I might have a fondness for it.
Though, it probably wasn’t a good idea to buy clothes of those colors — I’d probably end up looking basically like I did with my armor on.
“What about your bracers, by the way?” Nemesis asked. “You need a piece of equipment to pair them with.”
“I guess I can link them with some basic gloves. Like these ones here.”
“...You realize that those are fingerless, don’t you?”
“...I’m not doing this on purpose.”
In the end, we postponed the matter of the gloves, and I let Nemesis choose my clothing. The end result had flair, but wasn’t too eccentric, and it seemed like something I wouldn’t have any problems wearing in casual situations. The store also had Clothing Switch accessories, so we bought one along with the clothes. I paired my new outfit up with my armor, so I was still ready for battle at any time.
And with that, my appearance change was complete.
“You look proper,” said Nemesis. “Yes. Proper indeed. So proper...”
“Nemesis, why are you repeating the word ‘proper’ over and over while looking like you’re about to cry?”
“You will never understand how I feel... Nor understand what it’s like for me to stand next to you when you’re clad in the armor you ended up with!”
Hey, my current set is just a bit dark, a little scary, and pretty cool. There’s nothing weird about it, I thought.
“...Ray, imagine yourself crossdressing, wearing animal ears, and glasses at the same time.”
“Why would you combine my three most hated clothing styles? The very thought makes me shudder.”
“Albeit in a different way, that is how I feel about your armor.”
“Is it really that bad?!”
Why would it be so mentally taxing for y— Hm?
“That’s...” While we talked, I noticed something familiar.
Someone was leaving a nearby accessory shop, wearing a lion costume that I’d once seen in the central arena’s waiting room.
It was undoubtedly Figaro, who was apparently doing some shopping.
“Online already?” I wondered. “But... an accessory shop?”
There was a sign in front of the store saying “Lifesaving Brooches for 800,000 lir each! Limit of 10!”
Oh, so he’s stocking up on items, I thought.
“Oh? Ray,” Figaro said as he noticed me staring. “Hello. It’s been a while. So you’re back in Gideon. I see you’re going incognito. Well, I guess you are famous now.”
“Ahahah. Well... I suppose you could say that.” I did notice fewer people staring at me after I changed clothes, but I didn’t know how to feel about a guy who was incognito in a lion costume asking me if I was incognito just because I was wearing normal clothes. “Umm... What are you doing here?” I asked him.
“I’m just preparing for something.”
“Shu told me that you weren’t able to get online until tomorrow.” Speaking of Shu, he was probably preparing for Miss Hannya’s arrival and thinking of how to reduce the potential damage.
“Yes. My check-up ended earlier than expected, so I thought I should prepare for tomorrow. I could’ve done this in the morning, but it’s better to prepare ahead of time rather than waiting until the last minute. Oh, wait... did Shu tell you about Hannya?”
“Yes. Umm... that’s a woman who’s coming here, and you’re meeting her tomorrow, right?”
“Right. That’s what I’m preparing for.”
He was preparing for their meeting by buying Brooches? An item that negated fatal damage? It took a moment, but it soon came to me.
According to Shu, Figaro was looking forward to dueling Miss Hannya. However, he’d also said that her Superior Embryo was enormous, reaching as high as one kilometel. It was basically impossible to duel something like that within the confines of the arena.
How would they go about it, then? Well, what came to mind was that they could have a Tenchi-like overworld match outside of the city and fight until one person’s Brooch broke.
...Figaro was clearly preparing for a duel with a lady who was expecting a marriage... and that definitely couldn’t end well.
Oh boy... we have no choice but to hope that Shu will have a solution to this by tomorr—
“...Hm?” Figaro suddenly looked up at the sky.
“Figaro? What’s wrong?” Silence. Without saying a word, he fixed his eyes above. Even though he was still wearing his lion costume, I could still tell.
I followed his gaze and tried to see what he was looking at.
“...Figaro?” At that moment, I heard a voice behind me.
As it reached my ears, it somehow made a chill run down my spine.
I turned around to see... an ordinary woman.
She had dark brown hair that was slightly curly, Japanese facial features, and was dressed in simple, ready-made clothing.
Nothing about her stood out all that much. In fact, by Master standards, she was really plain. The blond, angelic boy next to her stood out quite a bit more.
However, I could feel it... This woman’s presence exerted the kind of pressure that Xunyu had emitted at the arena, and made me shiver like Kashimiya had yesterday. She hadn’t even introduced herself, but I was already more or less certain that this woman here was none other than Miss Hannya — the one Shu had been so wary of.
Thinking about it, it wasn’t that strange for her to be here. Figaro had come on early, so it wasn’t impossible that she’d done the same.
Yeah, okay, fine... but why did they have to actually run into each other, damn it?!
“Isn’t this... quite the predicament?” Nemesis asked telepathically. Indeed it was. I couldn’t do anything, though. My body was completely frozen in place.
“Hey, Hannya. Welcome to Gideon. We’ve finally met,” Figaro said, switching into his usual equipment.
He took off his incognito gear so easily...
Speaking of which, how had Miss Hannya figured out that it was Figaro while he was wearing the costume?
Wait... Was it actually his voice? From what Shu had told me, they’d only communicated through text and had only actually spoken with each other on the one time they’d met, a whole year ago... which was actually three years ago here in Dendro. She remembered his voice even after all that time?
“Figaro! I was dying to see you!” Miss Hannya said as she clung to Figaro.
It was a very direct expression of affection, yet he hugged her back as if it was nothing.
“Hello... I’m Ray Starling,” I said, realizing that I missed my chance to run away.
...Although I couldn’t really run even if I wanted to. If a battle broke out here, I would have to take action to prevent casualties. Azurite and Count Gideon would die inside if there was another incident.
“I am Nemesis. I must say, the male version of Maiden is quite a curious sight.”
“Yes,” Sandalphon replied. “I also believe the female version of Apostle isn’t exactly common.”
The two then glared at each other in silence.
Nemesis, dearest, why are you being antagonistic towards him? I asked in thought.
“Figaro, do you have some time today?” Miss Hannya asked.
With the introductions done, she invited Figaro to some quality time.
In response to that, he... shook his head.
“Sorry... not today,” he said. “There’s somewhere I have to be.”
I prepared for Miss Hannya to snap...
“I see. I was hoping we could have dinner together, but okay.”
...But she backed down without issue. She didn’t seem the slightest bit angry, which made me think that she might be more calm than I’d been led to believe.
“But if you have time tomorrow, I’d really like to enjoy the festival with you. We need to take a look at some venues for the ceremony.”
...At some venues for what?
“Yeah,” Figaro said, as if he didn’t hear or just didn’t care about that last part. “Let’s meet up before noon tomorrow and take a walk around Gideon. I wanted to show you around, anyway.”
“Thank you! I can’t wait.” There actually didn’t seem to be much tension in the air after all. Figaro was avoiding her advances, but Miss Hannya didn’t seem hurt by it.
I really hope this ends without anything bad happening, I thought.
“I’m glad that makes you happy,” said Figaro. “Oh, by the way... Hannya?”
Yep, I sure do hope this doesn’t escalate...
“Yes?”
“Would you duel me tomorrow?” He finally dropped the bombshell in that cheerful voice of his.
“...HUH?!” I exclaimed, shaken by his devastating words.
He’d refused to have dinner with her, ignored her mentioning ceremony venues, and just asked her to duel him. Even a normal girl would be mad at that, and from what I’d been told, Miss Hannya was no normal girl — this was bound to make her snap.
I expected to suddenly be standing in the center of extreme destruction and mayhem...
“Yes. I’d love to.”
...But Miss Hannya accepted his request with a smile on her face.
“Thanks! I can’t wait for tomorrow!” said Figaro, full of joy.
“Heheheh. You’re like a giddy child,” Miss Hannya said, looking at him like he was something precious.
...This isn’t at all like what I was told.
“Umm, are you sure you want to duel him?” I couldn’t help but ask. The situation was just so unexpected.
“I am,” she replied, looking not the least bit offended. “I know from his writings that he loves duels. If it makes him happy, then I’m happy, too.”
Miss Hann... I mean, Hannya then looked at Figaro with affectionate eyes.
...My impression of her was totally different from what I expected based on what Shu and the others had told me. She seemed more like a good wife who appreciated her hubby’s hobbies.
“You two duel as well, right?” Hannya asked. “Thank you so much for playing with him.”
“Oh, those duels are more like lessons for me, really... He’s always a huge help,” I replied.
“Heheheh. That made it sound like I’m his guardian!”
“...She has such a gentle demeanor,” Nemesis commented telepathically.
Seriously. Did Shu and the others just overthink things in the worst possible way, or did she mellow out while in the gaol? I wondered. Whatever the case, I was glad that the worst case scenario didn’t happen. If an offer to duel didn’t make her blow a fuse, then it was safe to assume that nothing would.
“...Oh dear. I just got a message on my phone in real life,” Hannya said before opening up a window. “I hate to have to do this, but I’m logging out. I can’t wait for tomorrow, Figaro. It’ll be an important day for us and our future.”
“Yeah. I can’t wait, either,” Figaro replied.
They went on to say their goodbyes peacefully and hugged again before Hannya logged out.
“...She seemed nice,” I said.
“She’s very nice. Hannya’s supported me over texts for quite a while now,” Figaro replied with a very bright smile on his face.
Apparently, Figaro didn’t see her as just a duel partner, but also as a good friend. Wouldn’t it be best for them if they just got together? I wondered.
“That would actually be quite difficult,” Nemesis replied telepathically.
“...That’s true,” I whispered. Over here, Figaro was the Over Gladiator and the strongest fighter in the kingdom, but in reality, he lived with the risk of deadly heart spasms. He was only a picture of health in Dendro. Hannya, on the other hand, seemed to want a relationship with him in reality as well as in this world.
I didn’t know what effects this barrier between them would have, but I sincerely hoped that things would work out for them.
Gideon the City of Duels, Fourth District
There was a man sitting at a table deep in a two-storied café.
He wore a coat that looked like the night sky, but by Master standards, his appearance wasn’t too unusual.
What was curious was what he was doing — both his eyes were closed, but his right hand was writing something on the notepad on the table. His vision and the work of his hands were completely disconnected, just like they would be when touch typing.
He’d been doing this for about two hours now. A waitress looking at him wondered if he was deep in thought — as strange as he was acting, he must’ve been very focused on something extremely important to him.
However, the man wasn’t lost in thought or doing any sort of soul-searching. He wasn’t seeing the darkness of his closed eyelids, but the surrounding townscape.
Though his eyes were shut, he was looking down at the city of Gideon. It was like a bird’s eye view or the stream of a flying drone’s camera.
Not saying a word, he was using this vision of his to observe.
A festival was an exhilarating environment, and it made the people attending it truly worthy of observation.
The city was full of people doing all kinds of things. Considering the festival’s theme, there were many couples, tian and Master alike, but there were also a lot of tian families enjoying it, as well.
Such wholesome sights particularly stood out, but if you observed carefully, you could see many pickpockets taking advantage of the joyful populace, as well as guards and ninjas capturing the criminals.
The man observed all these events, occasionally giving things a push in a certain direction.
Here, he led a guard patrol into a back-alley where a burglar was hiding.
There, he saw a man who seemed to be secretly dating several women at once, so he led his other girlfriends to the site of his current rendezvous, resulting in a major catfight.
He looked down at the scenery below, watching the events unfolding, or even outright causing them.
Eventually, his vision focused on someone familiar.
It was the famous Master he’d ran into the previous day — Ray Starling the Unbreakable. He was accompanied by someone in a lion costume... and the man knew who it was just by the way he moved.
The two were soon joined by a third person, who was none other than the Superior that had just left the gaol and arrived at Gideon... King of Berserk, Hannya.
“...Already?” he muttered as he stopped writing. He was entirely focused on watching the two Superiors’ every movement, hoping to observe something that had never been seen before.
However, he was quite disappointed.
The two had a peaceful exchange, made some plans, and simply parted ways for the day.
That unexpected sequence of events didn’t make him click his tongue, but it did make him sigh in disappointment.
That wasn’t it, he thought. What he wanted out of them wasn’t just the exact same things that most of the city was doing, nor a mere mock battle. He wanted to see some bloodshed filled with the kind of powerful emotions that only these two Superiors could feel.
I didn’t intend to get involved here, but if holding back means that I won’t get to see what I want...
It was as if there was a fuse before him, leading to the most exquisite of fireworks. He had intended to wait until it was lit, but if no one came with a match, he would simply do it himself.
The man stopped merely observing and chose to act.
“Apologies for staying so long,” the man said, standing up and handing over a silver coin to the waitress.
“No worries! Please enjoy the festival!”
“Yes. I’m sure I will.”
With a smile on his face, the man left the café... and stepped onto the stage he just observed.
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