Pick Me Up!

“Nahaha.”

The girl who had just defeated seven opponents with ease wiped her nose.

“Sorry for being late. Got lost on the way.”

She scratched her head and laughed.

“Yurnet said it was to the right, but it turned out to be to the left. Ended up going round and round the same place for an hour…”

Boom!

The airship’s cannon fired.

The girl’s fist blurred, then with a flash of lightning, the cannonball vanished on the spot.

I squinted my eyes.

“Just wait a sec. Let me handle this annoyance first.”

The girl extended her right hand.

“Come forth, Bryunak!”

Crackle!

Golden lightning began to gather in her right hand.

The lightning formed the shape of a winged bow. It was Bryunak, one of the five legendary weapons exclusive to the first party. As Nihaku mimed drawing the bow, a golden arrow materialized.

“Bang!”

Crackle!

A golden flash enveloped everything in sight.

The lightning bolt shot from Bryunak pierced through the airship’s protective barrier as easily as tofu and penetrated the deck. And then…

Boom!

The massive airship exploded instantaneously.

It breached dozens of magical barriers and steel plates in a single strike, a demise so trivial it was almost pathetic for its size.

“Let’s see, about twenty-five. Three of them were magicians. A fair division of labor.”

“…”

“Master, you look a bit odd. Is it my way of speaking that bothers you? Sorry, it didn’t work out the way I wanted.”

The girl scratched her head, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Yurnet’s voice tickled my ears.

The heroes who first encountered her had all reacted in unusual ways.

Well, I was already aware of her unique personality.

“It’s fine. I was expecting this.”

The girl before me was the most lively and active among the five heroes of the first party, and the youngest. She was Nihaku Guestfel, ranked fifth in Niflheim’s hierarchy.

“That is… you are…”

Lydel stuttered, staring at Nihaku.

“From the 13th floor…”

“Nihaku.”

“It’s an honor to meet a hero of your renown!”

“There’s no need for such honorifics.”

Lydel vigorously shook Nihaku’s hand.

“Just as the rumors said, you’re strong! To think you could destroy an airship with a single strike!”

“You’re overreacting. It’s nothing special.”

Nihaku brushed off Lydel’s hand and looked at me.

Then, she bowed politely.

“I am Nihaku Guestfel. It’s an honor to meet you, Master. I heard you visited before, but you were already gone… I was quite saddened. I thought maybe you didn’t like me.”

“There’s nothing to like or dislike. It’s good to see you here.”

“Master, you’re as cool and dashing as I imagined!”

“…Let’s skip the compliments.”

I looked to the side.

Crackle, crackle.

Electric currents swirled around the remnants of the destroyed airship.

It was an astonishing display of power. This airship was far more advanced than any I had faced in Harla. It was protected by a high-intensity magical barrier, but Nihaku destroyed it with a single strike.

‘Seeing it from a hero’s perspective really brings it home.’

As a Master, I had only ever looked down upon these events.

Of course, Nihaku hadn’t shown her full strength.

That had been merely a playful gesture.

Anyway.

The problem was solved.

I returned inside the ship.

We were close to our destination.

I had planned to get some sleep.

“Why are you following me?”

“Can’t I?”

Nihaku clung to my side.

I shook my head and entered my room. Nihaku tried to follow me into the hammock like a pet snuggling up to its owner. I pushed her away.

Nihaku Guestfel.

When she was first summoned, she did nothing.

Just lay in her room as if dead, barely breathing. A total dud.

I nearly replaced her several times but refrained. If I hadn’t accidentally discovered her talent for combat, she would have been fused away. After that, it was a test of endurance. She was so stubborn.

Looking back, it became clear.

These beings were indeed alive within the game.

I had harbored deep-seated prejudices.

‘What good does it do now?’

Later, Lydel’s guidance woke me up.

We had arrived at our destination. After dressing, I looked down to see Nihaku sleeping soundly below. I left her there and went out.

Upon reaching the deck, I was met with an unexpected scene.

Landgrid07 was sliding over the airfield towards the hangar, but there were no guides in sight. This wasn’t a portal to Niflheimr. Seconds later, I realized where we were.

“Brunhild?”

“Yes! Our destination is not Niflheimr.”

Lydel saluted me.

Brunhild01. The flagship of Niflheimr’s fleet.

We were inside the hangar of Brunhild01.

“I’ll leave you here, Master. It was an honor to serve you!”

Clank. Creak.

The airship’s stairs began to unfold.

After thanking Lydel for her service, I descended the stairs.

“Welcome back, Master. Have you been well?”

Yurnet greeted me with a smile below, dressed not in her usual voluminous white robe but in a black uniform decorated with white embroidery.

“I’m so sleepy.”

“Please, come this way. We’ve prepared a place for you.”

An elevator descended from above.

I boarded it, and it began to ascend.

“Did you receive the report?”

“I’ve got a rough estimate. The Bartz Alliance, was it? It’d be helpful to have footage of the attack.”

“Of course, it’s prepared.”

The elevator continued its steep ascent.

The scenery changed. The interior of Brunhild unfolded before us.

“Where are we? This doesn’t seem anywhere near Niflheimr.”

“We’re not far from the assembly point of the Union Guild.”

“A forward base, then.”

Yurnet had adapted to the situation appropriately.

This location was actually more convenient for rapid action.

“But Master. I have a request if you’d permit.”

“What is it?”

“It’s to preserve the master’s dignity.”

Yurnet smiled softly, sending a chill down my spine.

“You won’t refuse, will you?”

“Depends on the need.”

“It’s absolutely necessary.”

The elevator stopped.

The top floor corridor of Brunhild appeared.

“This way.”

Yurnet opened a door on the side of the corridor and led me in.

I followed, though with a puzzled expression.

A circular room lined with mirrors.

A mannequin, modeled after my physique, wore a stunning uniform.

“You can’t mean…”

“I’ve designed this with great care, the uniform of Niflheimr’s commander.”

“You expect me to wear this?”

The uniform’s chest was adorned with elaborate golden embroidery.

The epaulets, the shiny metallic belt, the black leather boots, and the cap…

It was beyond comprehension.

“This is…!”

“There are other crew members in the command bridge. A fitting presence for the Master…”

“No way, I refuse!”

“What… Why? I made this outfit specifically for you.”

Yurnet’s shoulders drooped.

“It’s absurd! Leather armor is enough for me!”

“If the commander appears in shabby attire, it might affect the morale.”

This was madness.

I shook my head.

“I thought you said you’d agree to anything…”

“I never said that.”

“It’s disappointing. To think you don’t appreciate my efforts for you.”

Yurnet wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

“Really… Can’t you reconsider?”

Yurnet looked at me with a pleading expression.

‘This manipulative…’

30 minutes later.

“Bravo…!”

“Quiet!”

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