“Hey, Kizuna, what were you two saying about me?”
“Nothing too important. Right?”
“Uh-huh... I don’t know you.”
Sheryl wasn’t as socially inept as Yamikage, but she was still pretty reserved... It would probably take some time for her to warm up to my sister.
“Pleasure.”
“Yes, a pleasure. I’ll be in charge of the kitchen from now on, so there’ll be more than just fish on the table.”
C’mon, sis. Did you really have to use this chance to show off?
“So, what kind of food do you like, Sheryl?”
Kanade’s question was met with complete silence. A bit of time passed before she prodded me and sent a private chat request.
“Is it something I said?” she asked, so Sheryl wouldn’t hear. “She’s kinda not reacting at all.”
“Conversations with Sheryl follow a...unique rhythm. Don’t worry too much about it. If she’s uncomfortable or upset, it’ll show on her face.”
So she’s thrown off by her too.
“I want to...learn more about Japanese food.”
“Japanese, huh? Got it. I’ll keep that in mind.”
When asked about her favorite food, she replied with something she wanted to know more about rather than what she liked. It was a little off, but not worth any concern.
“All right. Next, let’s pick up some equipment from Romina.”
“Okay.”
Sheryl pumped her fist.
Looks like she’s plenty motivated.
After that, we moved over to Mikakage to fine-tune our Cooperation Skills and formation while waiting for the Dimension Wave event to kick off.
“So this is what the furthest map reached in Mikakage is like. It’s a bit challenging, but unfortunately, we don’t have the time to find an efficient grinding spot.”
“With you on the front line, Kanade, it has become much easier for me to fight. I have a far easier time attacking.”
“Yeah, big sis always brings a sense of stability.”
The addition of Kanade solidified our front line.
“But it looks like the load on Yamikage’s increased a bit,” said Kanade. “We really need a healer.”
Yamikage would occasionally heal my sister when she asked for it, so her attack frequency had dropped.
“This game doesn’t require strict formations, so it’s fine, sis. You should look at it more like that hunting game. It’ll all work out.”
“Tsumugi, I’m telling you to think about reliability. Even if anything can work, there’s always a better option. With the wave coming soon, I know we can’t completely change course, but...maybe I could ask a friend who could fill in.”
“I don’t know...we’ve got a few shy members...”
There was Yamikage, and Sheryl too. Bringing someone new at the last second wasn’t going to cut it. L’Arc and Therese both knew a lot of people, but lately, they seemed to be pretty busy.
“Everyone’s so strong, so we’ll fight way better with a proper healer. Several times better, in fact.”
“Look, I get what you’re saying, sis.”
We were just playing for the fun of it, so we didn’t plan on taking it that seriously.
“Ah... If you hunted with that kid, you’d probably change your mind.”
There’s someone that amazing out there, huh?
“Sounds like they’d be stifling to be around.”
Most of us were just doing our own thing. Tsumugi and Shouko could adapt to most formations, but Yamikage? I wasn’t so sure.
“She’s a good person, so it’ll be fine. Oh, but... I can’t get in touch with her, so forget about it. Anyway, I’ve got a good sense of how everyone fights. What’s your usual approach during the waves?”
My sister addressed the first question to Yamikage.
Well, she was the one with the best track record, after all.
“I aim at wherever there are the most enemies and Drain, I daresay.”
“Everyone attacks however they like, and whenever something unexpected happens, Kizuna somehow makes it work out.”
“We count on bro. Everyone’s looking forward to what he’ll pull off this time.”
“Come to think of it, I heard rumors about Kizuna’s performance in the Demon Lord Invasion event...”
As Kanade muttered that, Yamikage and I looked away.
We’d both been in Kappa Costumes, disabling traps while attacking whenever we got the chance. I had no doubt in my mind that whoever saw our glorious feats stained by joke gear had spread the word to whoever would hear them.
“Shouko and Tsumugi did well too!”
“Yeah, bro, but you guys stole the spotlight. That catfight was all everyone was talking about.”
“It never happened. There were no kappas. I didn’t do anything.”
Sheryl frowned. She was apparently still frustrated about her loss.
That was why she was so fired up for her comeback—her revenge.
Everyone seemed aware of it, and I felt it was time to change the subject.
“We reject rigid thinking around here... Umm... Yeah, we leverage innovation to create new ideas, adapt within reasonable limits, strive for the best, and create results full of creativity. Any insane hurdles, and the real powerhouses can handle it!”
“What kind of stuck-up company speech was that, I daresay?!”
“We’re a laid-back company... A cozy party! We do company BBQs on holidays!”
Around halfway through that spiel, I was just waiting for someone to call me out. That’s what I loved about Yamikage. She was the sort who could turn all those awkward “what is this guy even saying” faces into smiles. She was the one I needed to complete the joke.
“Hey, bro, do you even know what you’re saying?”
“Nah? Not at all? I just strung together some words that sounded good.”
“You’re the same as ever, Kizuna... Anyway, I’ve got a good grasp now, and I should be strong enough with my new gear.”
And so, after we’d finished practicing our coordination, we rushed back to the castle where Romina had finished crafting the Brave Pekkle costume we’d requested.
To think my sister’s trusty shield would be used to make a mascot suit modeled after Brave Pekkle...
After receiving a new shield from Romina, Kanade didn’t hesitate to don the Brave Pekkle Costume...standing proudly—chest puffed out—next to the real Brave Pekkle.
“How about that, people?”
“Honestly, sis... You look like you’re getting desperate.”
Our Brave Pekkle had multiplied...rather, it looked like we had a Brave Pekkle parent and child.
“Say what you want, but the defense on this thing is insane. It’s way better than overenhanced crab gear, you hear—more than double it!”
Just how much defense did they cram into that stupid... I began to think. But considering Brave Pekkle’s stats, it did make sense.
“Is this the strongest form of Pekkle Costume armor?”
“I get the feeling it can still evolve. There might even be a Wrath Pengu one that boosts attack.”
Oh, right...Wrath Pengu’s a thing. I can see that being the next step up.
“Combine this with the buff from Kizuna’s Santa hat, and I’m invincible. Water-attribute attacks won’t even register to me.”
“Maybe we should head out to sea and take on some sea monsters that we haven’t fought yet.”
“Fine by me. I’ll draw all the aggro while you guys attack.”
You’re that confident?
“Heal.”
Kanade tested out the heal skill built into the costume to get a feel for it.
“Okay, you shouldn’t count on me for healing, but it’s not awful... Using Brave Pekkle as reference, do I have a slot to equip any accessories on my back?” she asked Romina.
“You really don’t need to take it that seriously...” Shouko muttered, giving a resigned sigh at my sister’s thoroughness. I had to agree with her on that one.
“Milord... I daresay, I respect how committed she is to it.”
“Yamikage, this is the same sister who dedicated herself to a lifetime of absolute penny-pinching to save up for a sword.”
She’d commit to a ridiculous costume without batting an eye. This was the same person who hadn’t hesitated to take up the hobo life.
“How she takes it to such extremes... I can feel her connection to you, Kizuna.”
“Ha ha ha, there’s an accessory with a set bonus,” Romina declared. “It was in the recipes Kizuna brought in.”
The recipes were ones that we got as a reward for defeating the Dark Lord Lizardman. Sure enough, that Lizardman seemed to have some connection to Brave Pekkle.
“It’s called Lizardman Doll. It’s got a hidden effect that boosts costume performance and reduces flinch.”
“Oh my! That’s great for defense!”
“Come to think of it,” Shouko interjected, “when we completed that hidden quest, Kizuna and I both received a Dark Lord Lizardman Soul that can be used in our Intermediary Stones.”
“Right, that. That’s one of those things where you need to set it to get an effect.”
Dark Lord Lizardman’s Soul (Epic)
Axe Mastery 4, Dark Resistance Boost 5, Water Resistance Boost 4
Lizardman Warrior, Shield Support, Energy Accumulation Boost
???...
It turned out to be a really strong combat soul, an Epic Rare one at that. My Intermediary Stone was too weak to draw out its full potential, which meant some of the effects were grayed out while others refused to even show up.
Apparently, Shield Support raised the defense of any party member holding a shield. That meant that my sister’s defense would go up just by having Shouko and me in the party.
Naturally, Brave Pekkle would also get boosted.
“And that means I’m invincible! I could call myself the number one tank on the server.”
Wow... How reassuring.
“Break a leg, sis.”
“Leave it to me!”
And like that, we finished our preparations for the incoming wave.