41, Blades of Banter The 30-Second Showdown

She pulls out her staff and knife, completely ready for battle.

"Oh, it's Lydia… I didn't know she was your favorite. Sorry for all the interruptions."

"Is it fun to stab a beginner with your sword and threaten them!?"

"...So, will you entertain me in a duel? Lydia?"

Natalie readies her own blade, her demeanor shifting from the gentle guidance she offered earlier to something terrifyingly fierce and gleeful. It's a stark contrast to her earlier self; is this how strong Lydia is, or is it just because it's a duel!?

"Wait! Leader, what about Natalie!?"

Phoebe tries to intervene, but she suddenly feels an overwhelming pressure that leaves her speechless and frozen. Could this be Natalie's power!?

"A duel with you should only take 30 seconds, right? No stakes involved."

"...Fine. You two, get to the safe zone within 30 seconds! She becomes a serious problem if she's your enemy."

I wanted to shout "Wait!" but the words wouldn't come out. I wanted to gesture, but the leader isn't looking our way.

"Feel free to watch a thrilling fight between two top-tier opponents, Lady Lena... Don't worry, I won't kill you."

"How can you say that with a blade stuck in you? Let's go!"

"Duel!"

Without a moment's pause, a vast barrier envelops the two, and we find ourselves outside of it. Soon, their figures vanish from sight, but we can still catch glimpses of them when their weapons clash.

"Haha! You can't just rely on instant death magic to win!"

"Ugh! Still as fast as ever! Don't cut my magic!"

"Ah, ah! Good, I can speak! Both of you, please stop fighting!"

Though I manage to call out, my voice doesn't reach them.

"Curse of Death Bullet!"

"Magic Slash!"

My agility is so low that I can't see anything… I can only identify their forms during the moments their weapons collide.

"Wait, does our leader have incredibly high agility too?"

"Our leader is a mage, right? Is she using teleportation? Or is it some kind of magical acceleration? Lena, what should we do?"

The leader told us to flee, but Natalie is not our enemy, so there's no need to run. In fact, we need to clear up this misunderstanding.

"Here we go! You won't die from this, will you? Hell's Blade!"

"Still the same duel maniac! Dismissal Wave!"

Their techniques and spells collide, unleashing a tremendous sound that fills the barrier with blinding light. Is that steam? Dust? I can't tell!

Then, a flash of yellow lightning crackles within the barrier… it's impossible to discern whose attack it is anymore.

All I could do was watch… I prayed that neither of them was dead, and then the barrier disappeared. Had the duel ended?

"Phew, you're really strong. In the midst of everything, you're the only one who can throw an instant-death spell as soon as there's a gap," one of them remarked.

"Ugh... Why didn't you both run away?!"

As the smoke cleared, I saw our leader kneeling and Natalie, slightly injured but looking composed.

"I haven't been your enemy from the start, you know? That's a misunderstanding on your part! The blade strike was just me explaining Natalie's condition!"

"Huh? Is that so?"

"Thanks to your misunderstanding, I got to have a duel with Lydia after a long time. So, thank you, Lady Lena and Lady Phoebe."

Both our leader and a cheerful Natalie seemed surprised by Phoebe's voice. They knew each other, but their relationship didn't seem friendly…

I needed to explain what had happened.

"Sigh… I really didn't expect you to be an ally. I wasn't prepared for that. And Natalie, don't challenge a PVP beginner to a duel! It's worse than facing a raid boss!"

As I recounted how I met Natalie and shared what I had learned, our leader buried his head in his hands.

"Well, if I'm going to duel Lady Lena, I'm taking on a massive handicap! It wouldn't be fun otherwise. Plus, if Lena used the fairy fire gate on her first try, I might have lost right then. I spoke to her on instinct, but in the end, I got to duel Lydia, so I'm quite satisfied."

"Fairy Fire Gate? Oh, that's the weapon skill created by Lena, right? Even with the heavy handicap, it would have been amusing to see you accidentally get killed... I wish I could have seen that. Well, now that I've seen it once, I guess I won't get a second chance..."

The two were chatting casually, as if they hadn't just been fighting seriously just moments ago.

"Sorry, but what's the relationship between you and Natalie?"

"She's like a long-standing connection for me... We used to tackle quests together back in the day."

"We haven't teamed up much lately; now we can usually handle most enemies solo... It's more often that we end up competing and dueling instead."

"I'd rather avoid duels, though! Bringing a heavily armed magician into a one-on-one fight is just asking for trouble!"

As I asked my question, the leader responded, with Natalie providing additional insights. Despite the leader's rough tone, there was no sense of disdain. They seemed to share a good-natured camaraderie.

"Well, since you two seem alright, I'm going to head back... I've used up most of my MP, and if Natalie has handled the PVP team, Lena shouldn't be targeted."

With that, the leader turned to leave. After watching him go, Natalie began navigating her system screen, retrieving something that looked like a talisman.

"...Since it's Lydia's favorite, I'll give this to you. If that PVP team happens to attack, use it. But be careful, it can only be used in areas where PVP is active."

Natalie gifted me a Summoning Token of the Sword God.

"It looks powerful..."

I glanced at the card featuring a beautifully drawn sword. When I tried to examine it closely, my appraisal failed.

"It will serve as a talisman in case of emergency. If I tear it, my illusion will sweep away the enemy in an instant... though with that fiery sword, it might not be necessary."

"Thanks! I'll definitely use it to protect Phoebe."

"You're welcome. If you're involved with Lydia, we might meet again. Also, sorry for using it as an excuse for a duel; that guy won't fight unless there's a reason."

With that, Natalie departed. Was she challenging someone under the pretense of a duel? Perhaps this was her way of playing or expressing friendship?

"What an impressive person..."

"With that level of strength, could she take down the monsters from Phoebe's homeland?"

"If she's that strong, she could probably obliterate the monsters. But I believe that's a whole different realm of power... one we might never reach."

Yeah, it's unfair to compare a mid-tier production class to what seems like a game-breaking combat class.

"So, what's the plan now?"

"Our goal is to grow stronger. First, let's head home to recover our MP and then visit the location on the map Natalie gave us. I'm curious about the quest involving resonance."

Checking the map, we noticed a mark at the edge of the city. Since we're in the heart of town, we should be able to reach it safely.

After confirming the map, we returned briefly to Lily's home to replenish our MP and the MP tank for Flame. Dressed in jackets and coats instead of swimsuits, we followed the map Natalie gave us to the city's edge.

"I believe there's a special quest related to resonance here…" I said.

"A special request… Natalie mentioned it when she was giving advice on becoming stronger, so it should be linked to strength… right, Lena?"

As we scanned the surroundings, we noticed an old woman approaching us.

"Well, what do we have here? A human resonating with fairies…"

"Are you knowledgeable about resonance? I was told about it by Natalie…"

"Natalie? I don't know that name. However, I do know a thing or two about resonance. You seem to have quite a bond; if that's the case, you should be able to take the resonance trial. If you're willing, come with me."

The old woman started walking, and we followed her into an unremarkable building. Inside, we entered a room reminiscent of a hospital examination room. There were three beds, two of which resembled machines encased in coffins.

"Now, regarding the trial," the old woman continued, "there's one important warning: the resonance trial won't lead to death, but there are many types. There's a possibility that you could see each other's dark pasts, and there's no guarantee your relationship won't falter as a result… Are you still willing to proceed?"

"If Phoebe doesn't want to, we won't do it. What do you think?"

"I want to! I think I could become stronger!"

Phoebe seems eager... What is my dark past? I can't remember... Well, I spent all my time training as a blacksmith, dreaming of my parents' work...

"Hmm, then lie down separately on the bed with the machinery over there. You will be defenseless while you sleep, but don't worry; you won't be attacked."

"Got it, Phoebe, you go over there."

"Yes."

As I lie on the coffin-like bed, I can't help but laugh a little, recalling that in reality, I'm also lying down with machines attached to me. It feels strangely similar in this fantasy world.

Once I settle in, the transparent lid closes automatically over me. Suddenly, a wave of sleepiness washes over me, and I close my eyes...

**'Sleep mode activated

Sync system connected

Connector A: Phoebe

Connector B: Lena... converting, inputting as Lena

Resonance depth 7.1, hard mode, unlocking voice of the void

Initiating soul dive'**

Words materialize in front of me... What is a soul dive? And why is my real name, Lena, showing up? Also, hard mode...?

"…Hey! …Hey!"

I hear a voice... it's someone I don't recognize, but it's gentle and soothing.

"Hey, wake up, Phoebe!"

My eyes fly open to see Phoebe, now grown up… wait, she's human-sized?!

"Hey, Phoebe!?"

Wow, she's looking even cuter now! Her limbs have grown!

"Come on, sleepyhead, Phoebe… wash your face and get dressed."

"Huh?"

Is that adult Phoebe talking to her? Just as I ponder this, my body inexplicably rises and meanders toward the sink.

"Wait!? Phoebe!? You look a bit younger!?"

The mirror reflects a younger Phoebe in pajamas, her expression sleepy and completely relaxed, so defenseless... My perspective is entirely from the younger Phoebe's viewpoint. Could that adult Phoebe have been her mother!?

Am I seeing Phoebe's past? Is she glimpsing her own history?

What I understand is that I have no control over this body, and my voice can't reach her. I can't hear Phoebe's voice… it's like a missing piece, her voice absent altogether.

"Come on, today is magic class, you know? If you don't hurry, you'll keep the teacher waiting."

Listening to her mother's voice, the younger Phoebe magically produces some water to wash her face. Suddenly, a strong distortion obscures my vision, and the scene shifts; it looks like it's the magic class...

What caught my attention most was the instructor—a towering woman with white hair and pale eyes, resembling a giant… no, a normal-sized adult. And then I was even more surprised…

"Now, let's begin our magic lesson! I'll be your tutor, Otoki Yuki! Please just call me Yuki!"

Otoki Yuki appeared to be a player, dressed in mismatched gear, wearing a poncho while her arms and legs were encased in bulky metal armor. How long ago was this? Judging by Phoebe's youthful appearance, it must have been one or two years ago.

"Yes, you're using Regenerate well!"

In my view, Yuki was teaching Phoebe how to use magic one-on-one. But I could only hear Yuki's voice; Phoebe's voice was still absent. Occasionally, static noise disrupted my sight, causing time to jump and transition the scene, leaving me with mere fragments of information.

"Hmm, Holy Ball isn't quite working… Is Phoebe just not suited for attack magic, or am I just bad at teaching? It's supposed to be about gathering the power of light and then boom!"