Chapter 47: Asuna Wants to Make "Dreamy-Cute Scarlet" a Thing
"Wait just a moment!"
A voice called out from beyond my field of awareness. It was Scarlet.
"Could you leave this one to me? I promise I will be the one to strike them down."
"Scarlet! You were on the verge of death just a few minutes ago!"
"I know that, Blues. But... right now, I am incredibly irritated."
She spared a glance for Yellow, finally exposing the feelings she had been suppressing. Her words were uncharacteristically harsh.
"I’ve spent so much time wondering what it means to be myself. After all, for a Phantasm Girl, emotional turmoil is directly converted into power. But I couldn't change. I'm not like Blues. I couldn't get stronger because I'm not like Yellow. Even with my ability, my job was always to 'Sync,' never to show my own ego."
Having let that out, she stated her primary point with cold clarity.
"But... none of that matters. Right now, I am simply furious that my cute junior was almost killed."
"Heh. And what do you plan to do about it?"
"It’s already decided. I'm going to kill those bastards."
"Wow, how barbaric."
"To do that, I need you to lend me your strength. As I am now, I have my hands full just trying to take down a single one. Please, teach me what it means to be myself."
Now this is getting interesting. I can feel the thrill.
Esil, let's extend this a bit.
"Fine. But on one condition. Offer your body to me and swear to serve me for the rest of your life."
"No! Scarlet, don't!"
"Understood. I offer my life to you... though I suspect you’ll be forfeiting that right very soon."
"Haha, I like it. Well, for now, just give it a shot."
I felt exactly like a Poké-Trainer.
"Go, Skachu! Use Hyper Beam!"
"I don't have that move."
Instead, she attacked with her prized possession: a super-compressed beam pistol.
".....! It’s not working!!"
"Are you really using that this early in the game?"
"It’s unnecessary for my evolution. Besides, this is the closest thing I have to that 'Hyper Beam' of yours, isn't it?"
Behind her aloof words, I was certain her heart was pounding out of her chest.
"Heh. Scarlet, it’s not that your ability is ill-suited for anti-personnel combat. Every ability has its use. Your job is to figure that out with that rock-hard head of yours."
"And how do I do that?"
"Well... you always perform your connections via a physical cable, don't you? Can't you do it wirelessly?"
"How could I possibly...!"
Scarlet was forced onto the defensive by the frantic gunfire of the two remaining opponents.
"I’d appreciate it if someone could at least handle one of them!"
"Well, look at that. We already have another pair with a score to settle, don't we?"
"Indeed, that would be us!"
"King!!"
"The name of a King would be disgraced if I remained a mere victim! The former Estoc and Commander Amane Kazuto will handle this side!!"
"Asuna! I'm leaving Scarlet to you!"
"Try not to die."
"I feel like I'm about to. What should I do?"
"I told you, think for yourself... Ah, I know."
I shared the idea that had just come to me.
"Why not use radio waves? Amplify the electrical signals and send them out."
"Yes! But I have no idea how to do that!!"
"Was Scarlet always this much of a quirky character...? Remember how it felt when you connected to Yellow. With the right mental image, you can do anything."
"Information is the greatest weapon! We live in a world where a tenth of a second delay in neural transmission means death. The one who masters thought better than anyone else... becomes the strongest on the battlefield!"
".....!!"
A prickling, crackling sensation raced across the nape of my neck.
"It’s a success."
"That feeling just now...!"
"Why not try sending something to them? Like a self-introduction or something."
"That’s so haphazard..."
Despite her protest, Scarlet moved to comply.
Time for a little prank.
I teleported right to her ear and whispered.
"Sending it now."
"Dreamy-cute clothes are just so adorable, aren't they? ☆"
"Wait, what?"
In that instant...!
"Do... do you think they would suit me?"
In my mind, an image surfaced of Scarlet shyly trying on dreamy-cute, frilly "Yumekawa" outfits.
"Wh-what kind of stupid nonsense are you leaking into my head!?"
".....! .....!"
"Nyahahahaha!! Perfect! Alright, moving on to Phase 2!!"
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