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While Frey’s group took down the Tokai Corporation, something was happening over in the southern district’s park. There was a water fountain in the center of the park, which also turned into a pool during summer time. Usually there would be the calming sound of water flowing in the park, making it a favorite place to rest at, but now it looked completely different, thanks to Crim.

“…Shadow Heavy-Weapon… Twin Axes.”

A set of two shadow axes appeared in her hands, and after looking at them for a bit, Crim nodded satisfied and threw them violently into the grass covering the ground nearby.

Those axes did not vanish after leaving her hands, instead remaining stuck on the ground. There were other shadow weapons strewn about like that, scythes, katanas, axes, and even daggers stuck on nearby trees. There were a total of eight weapons like that.

Four more should do the trick.

She checked how many weapons she had made, and how many were left before she reached her goal.

“I see you’ve been busy creating some avant-garde art pieces.”
“I appreciate the compliment.”

A relaxed voice reached her ears, so she stopped making weapons and turned to look in the direction of the voice. There stood the person she had been waiting for, that silver haired young man wearing black chainmail and with two swords hanging on his back.

“It was about time, laggard… Leader of Nord Glacier, Sorleon.”

“Oh…I’m sorry, I really wanted to get straight here as soon as I was done with some minor business, but umm…” He began to awkwardly scratch his cheek as he lowered his voice. “I got a bit lost.”

“…Huh?”

“I mean… I almost never come back to this city, and when I do I usually just visit some shops in the northern district. I’ve never really been in these places on my own.” He seemed desperate to come up with a believable excuse as to why he had gotten lost. And that was the person who everyone considered the strongest player.

“What’s that supposed to mean… It seems thou aren’t as reliable as one would think.”
“Hahah, Reinhard…err, my childhood friend always says that too.”

They were talking quite amiably, but that wouldn’t last very long. A moment later an eerie sensation filled the area, making one’s hairs stand on end. It felt like murderous intent. That was probably the first time in Crim’s life that she was experiencing it so strongly.

But she could still move freely. There was a condition in the game when one was struck by a murderous intent debuff, but that was not what Sorleon used, which Crim was relieved by.

“But you see, I’m really annoyed and frustrated because of that. I know you can let me offload all of that on you though, right?”
“Hmph, impudent rascal. I’ll just pay it back with interest.”

Crim did not lose her cool even when faced with such murderous intent, which brought a smile to Sorleon’s face.

“I’m Sorleon, leader of Nord Glacier. My species is Drake.”
“It’d only be fair if I introduce myself as well. I am Crim, of the Noble Red species.”
“…Noble Red?”

Hearing Crim mention her species made Sorleon frown slightly. But it was only for a short time, as he narrowed his eyes, which had long vertical pupils like a reptile’s, and focused on Crim while readying his swords.

Meanwhile Crim also picked up the scythe that was stuck on the ground nearby.

“Alright…let’s do this then!”
“..?!”

The words had barely left Sorleon’s lips when he seemed to vanish and reappear just in front of Crim.

He’s fast!

Crim instinctively ducked down, and as her long white hair trailed behind, Sorleon’s sword passed right where her head had been.

Having avoided the first attack, Crim twisted her body to redirect the momentum from the dodge to swing her scythe up in a scooping motion, keeping her opponent at bay, and then leaping back with the same impulse.

There’s this bad feeling that’s almost painful in the back of my head.

Sorleon’s left hand had already started the next attack, utilizing his second sword to strike Crim, who quickly blocked with the grip of her scythe. The impact sent her flying back, until she landed on top of the park’s fountain.

It was only then that all the grass and flowers picked up by Sorleon’s dash flew into the air and twirled around.

“…Unforgivable…”

The fountain sprayed water up completely drenching Crim, who had drops streaming down her bangs while a sharp pain assaulted the back of her neck. There was a skin-thin slice there, which glowed with the particular effect of cut damage.

Crim had already anticipated it, but Sorleon’s swords really were far sharper than those wielded by anyone she fought before. Not to mention that he had two of them, making him even more dangerous.

On the other hand, Sorleon had not anticipated that the attack would be dodged, so he had not planned any follow-up attacks and just stared in shock, though still alert to his surroundings.

“Huh… I guess I missed. I was sure I’d get you with that one though.”

Despite what he said, he sounded delighted, focusing his attention on Crim to continue the fight, his eyes the same as a ferocious carnivore stalking its prey. At least for a moment…

Crim jumped to the highest point on the fountain, holding her scythe ready to lunge forward, but then Sorleon’s face suddenly turned red and awkwardly looked away from Crim, and even thrust one of his swords into the ground to hold it up, using the freed hand to cover his face.

“Hm…what’s wrong?”
“Umm…it’s just…umm, could you please get down from there? I’m uh…I just don’t know where to…look.”
“Huh..? What are you on ab…out?!”

As Crim slowly understood her situation her voice began to fall apart, ending with a hysterical shriek.

Her current attire… The fountain spurting water straight up… And Crim’s soaked body…

All of those points converged with the spot where Sorleon kept glancing at momentarily between the gaps on his fingers, making Crim desperately jump down from the fountain and hold her skirt down.

Oh yeah, I ended up trying out one of those slightly extreme white ones with lace that Freya forced me to buy the other day. I won’t say what though.

Remembering what she chose to wear, Crim was inundated with shame, while also feeling her manly pride be bruised at the realization that someone had seen her wearing something so girly. Her face felt like it was on fire, and if there was a hole nearby she would certainly try to hide in it.

But she chose to channel all of those emotions into rage towards the man who had pushed her into that situation by sending her flying at the fountain.

“…Uncouth lecher!!”
“Don’t blame me! It’s not my fault you decided to wear such a short skirt, you’re the one who should be more careful with what you wear!!”
“Unbelievable! Thou must be wrong in the head to truly believe I’m wearing this attire out of my own volition!!”
“Are you calling me stupid?! I’ve watched you fight in the past, and you’re the one who always lacks any sort of lady-like sensibilities!!”

In an unusual turn of events, Sorleon’s usual cool demeanor vanished as his face turned red and he argued back. Though maybe that was his true nature, and he could not afford the brain power to keep his act up. Crim’s face was just as red though, and she yelled back with teary eyes.

At the time both of them were still unaware that the Magius Orb of the event’s official livestream was already capturing their interaction.

And they were also oblivious to the fact that this specific moment where they stopped fighting to argue and insult each other would be shown in its entirety during the match’s highlight reel a few days later.

Afterword:

As this is a game rated for all-ages, wet clothing stops getting translucent at a certain point.