Chapter 24

After waiting for a moment, Shuya arrived.

The person he brought with him was a female player who was much taller than he was.

When she appeared with a puzzled expression, her face lit up upon seeing me, and I somehow felt I knew who she was.

"Nana-nee!"

"Wait a minute. What's your player name?"

"Touka!"

"Netiquette... Yeah, I thought it was you, Touka."

The female player, who looked like she was about to pounce, turned out to be Touka as expected.

I thought the same thing this morning, but she is really tall. While the avatar's height can be changed freely, most players use their real height unless they are very accustomed to VR, as it's hard to maintain balance otherwise.

Therefore, someone with a height as far from the average as Touka's becomes a notable feature.

She also seemed to have changed her appearance quite a bit, especially her real-life blonde hair and blue eyes, which had changed to black hair and red eyes.

Her race... was probably a regular human.

‘Who is she?’

‘Cute!’

‘Black long hair!’

‘So tall!’

"This is Touka, who will be playing with me this afternoon. Isn't she cute~?"

"Cute...! Yes, I'm Touka. Nice to meet you."

As a girl with a refined aura appeared, the comment section became lively.

Among the comments, there were some that seemed to know Touka, and I remembered that she also did live streaming.

"Sure enough, you were the person Touka was looking for."

While saying that it was good to be right, Shuya sat down on a chair at the teahouse.

I was surprised that Shuya and Touka knew each other.

"I hired him as a guide and bodyguard. Embarrassingly, I have a poor sense of direction..."

"I see. So this is what they call a fortuitous encounter, huh?"

"Yeah, that's right. Anyway, I'm glad we met."

He said this while yawning, looking completely relaxed, which was hard to believe considering we had just cleared a dungeon.

Compared to Touka, who looked a bit tired, he seemed to have plenty of energy.

"So, what now? I was supposed to go as far as Duras, right?"

"If it's okay with you, Nana-nee, I would like you to come with me..."

Although the height difference made it impossible for her to grab the hem of my clothes like in the old days, Touka modestly made her request.

I had no reason to refuse, so I happily agreed.

"I'm fine with it?"

"Then it's settled. My job ends here."

Despite not having had much rest, Shuya sprang up and stretched.

He walked back into the forest, waving his hand casually behind him, but then stopped as if he had thought of something, turned around, and said one last thing.

"Ah, right, Sukuna-nee. If you feel like it, come to the headquarters of the 'Round Table.' Next time we meet, I'll welcome you properly."

☆

"The clan 'Knights of the Round Table' is a strategy clan that only allows sword-wielding players to join. They hold a monthly elimination match within the clan, and the players with the highest win rates are chosen as the 'Round Table.' There are 11 members, excluding the leader, and Shuya is the third strongest."

On the way back to Duras, I was listening to Touka explain what Shuya had mentioned about the 'Round Table.'

"Hmm... That explains why he seemed so relaxed. But, in the original story, the Knights of the Round Table included other types of characters, right?"

"Ahaha, I can't really say much about that. The important thing is the atmosphere."

"I see, that makes sense."

I asked about something that had caught my attention, but since I'm not very familiar with the original story, I decided not to probe further.

"But, from what I've heard, he seems to be a fairly well-known player."

"No, that's not true. He is indeed strong, but he always wanders around, so his fame is low."

"Come to think of it, I met him in Duras the first time. That's why my listeners didn't know him."

"Yes, that's right. ...Ah, Sukuna-nee, there's a rock in front of us to the right."

"Got it. Here goes...!"

After confirming the rock Touka pointed out, I threw the weight I had become accustomed to high into the sky.

The weight, which flew in a high arc, collided with something hidden behind the rock, and the result of this battle—more like a sniper shot—reached me.

"Nana-nee's throwing skills haven't declined at all, just like in the old days."

"Really?"

"Yes, rather, they've improved. This is truly Nana-nee!"

"Is that so?"

Pressed by Touka's sparkling eyes, I picked up the weight that had crushed something and buried itself in the ground.

While Touka says that, I don't think it's extremely difficult to hit a stationary target.

The goal is there, so as long as you throw it on a trajectory that will hit it, it will hit, whether the trajectory is straight or curved.

The only difference is the time it takes to hit.

"Every time I hear that, I think your thinking is strange."

"You don't have to say it with such a serious face..."

‘No, it’s strange.’

‘Strange.’

‘It’s not wrong, but it’s not practical.’

‘She’s talking about the event of hitting as if it comes first, this girl is a demon.’

Despite starting the topic, Touka received unexpected criticism from all sides.

"Well, it's only for stationary targets, and I do miss sometimes when the target moves..."

"Occasionally."

‘Occasionally.’

‘Occasionally...’

‘Occasionally.’

‘The fact that she uses the word "occasionally" suggests that she almost never misses.’

That's not true! I miss about once in a hundred!

...Yeah, occasionally!

"By the way, I once saw Sukuna-nee, egged on by Rin-nee, make 10 consecutive basketball shots from the opposite goal."

‘Ten in a row.’

‘Common in hyperdimensional basketball.’

‘Joke.’

‘Is she a real demon?’

‘Even in VR, it’s impossible.’

"Ahem."

Trying to defend myself, but my excuse was killed by a traitor.

The comments from my listeners are really cutting.

By the way, what Touka mentioned was from when I was in the first year of junior high school, and I was persuaded by Rin, who had set up a private gym to address my lack of exercise.

Rin gave up on exercise after three days, and I think the gym was eventually opened to the public.

"Okay, let's get back on track."

"Hehe, that's a good idea."

It was an obvious change of topic, but Touka followed without further probing.

We were more than halfway to Duras, and I hadn't really exhausted myself.

The reason we were progressing more steadily than on the way there was due to Touka's skill composition.

"Still, Touka's detection range is really wide, isn't it?"

"Yes, I'm almost entirely specialized in support, so compared to Nana-nee, who is combat-focused, my 'Detection' skill range is wider."

Indeed, Touka's skill composition was quite unique, and she apparently didn't have any attack skills.

I haven't heard the details yet, but she basically has a healer-type skill composition.

In addition, she has detection skills and focuses on support.

Unlike me, who only uses it when necessary, Touka always takes on the role of detection, so there is a significant difference in proficiency.

In this field, where many enemies are in hiding, Touka often spots enemies much faster than I do.

"But, in the end, I can't do anything on my own."

Despite saying this, Touka's eyes were strong and confident, showing no sign of dejection.

Her confidence as a supporter, or perhaps her enjoyment, and her strong will that she has no regrets about her play style, even though her level is still low, were evident.

Seeing this, I, who only knew the weak and clingy Touka from when we were young, felt a little emotional.

While having such a conversation, a message indicating the arrival of an email appeared with a chime.

The sender was 'Koneko-maru.' This meant that it was time.

"Touka."

"Yes, what is it?"

"It seems I have something to do this afternoon before we go exploring. Can you come with me?"

"Of course."

"Thanks. I don't think you'll be bored."

With Touka's permission, I quickly replied to Koneko-maru's email.

I thought it would be after tomorrow, but he works fast.

On the way to Duras.

To calm the excitement in my chest, I killed monsters with 30% more power.