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Chapter 388: Chapter 384 ~ Asuna

Yuuji walked through the lantern-lit streets of Tolbana, making his way to the inn. 

As the second largest town after the Town of Beginnings and being closer to more high-level areas within the first floor, many high-leveled players had migrated to the town. 

Larger organizations had opened a branch here, where it was more convenient to operate within high-leveled areas. While others had moved their base to this town for the same reason. Theyʼd be able to spend more time farming in high-leveled areas if they could shorten the travel time between their farming spot and their base of operations. 

Thus, even this late into the night, there were still several players roaming around the town. 

Some had just returned from their farming, just like Yuuji. Some were seen going into weapon shops to fix the durability of their weapons and armor, replace broken equipment, or perhaps buying new weapons to replace the one theyʼve outgrown. 

Some made their way into various shops to replenish their supplies. While some was merely going out for a stroll or for a late night snack. 

As he passed by, Yuuji couldnʼt help but notice their equipment. 

Having learned plenty from Argo about equipment from various quests and his own observation and experience, they were all quite decent. 

On average, the players here should be around level 8. 

ʼThis should be enough…ʼ

He didnʼt expect the players he saw now to be the current top players in Sword Art Online. But, it was still indicative of the estimated average player level currently. 

The higher level players, the uppermost percentile, might be around level 10. 

If that was the case, then they should be able to do it. 

Yuuji opened his friend list panel and called one of the only two friends he had listed there.

[”Hey, Argo. Are you still awake?”]

[”Ah, Yuuji. Whatʼs up? Got any new info?”]

[”No. I just wanted to ask. Have you shared the map data of the Labyrinth I gave you a few days ago?”]

[”The map data of the labyrinth? Yes I did. I put it in the advanced player guide book that typically high level players buy.”]

[”How many have bought them?”]

[”Hmm, several hundred. Why? Are you short on money? I can send you the royalties now if you want.”]

[”No. Iʼm going to give you the updated map data.”]

[”The updated map data? You explored it even deeper?! Alone?!”]

Argo shouted into his mind, and if it werenʼt for his experience with Aika and the others shouting into his mind, he wouldʼve flinched. 

[”I did. Actually, I made it to the boss room right after I shared the last map data. I didnʼt want to share it yet because someone reckless wouldʼve gone and challenged it and get themselves killed.”]

[”... I should really stop expecting anything making sense when it comes to you.”]

Argo sighed deeply. 

[”Alright. Just send me the data. Then Iʼll be selling with some of the informations you gave me before. Is the usual rate okay?”]

[”Great. Then, good night.””

[”Good night! And donʼt die.”]

[”You too.”]

[”Iʼll be fine. Iʼm not reckless like you.”]

Yuuji shook his head with a helpless smile as Argo ended the call, and the sounds of chatter, distant laughter, and footsteps of a town at night returned to him. 

”I should stock up on some food and sell these items before going back…”

Yuuji made his way to a weapon and armorer shop to sell off some of his monster item drops that could be used as materials for forging weapons and armor. 

Then, he made his way back to the main street, where street vendors still had fire in their grills and stoves, open for late-night snackers. 

”Hm… Letʼs go for some skewers.”

The taste of food in this world was acceptable, at best. For Yuujiʼs tastebuds, which had been pampered by his IRL cooking, the food in this world were mostly bland, simply existing to fill up his hunger bar as part of the game mechanics to immerse players into this virtual world. 

Yuuji wondered. If he leveled up his [Cooking] skill to the highest level, would he be able to recreate even a fraction of his IRL dishesʼ quality in this game world?

He already had the [Cooking] skill, but he didnʼt have the skill slot to raise its proficiency.

And depending on how the next few floors would proceed, he was seriously considering equipping his [Cooking] skill to the next available skill slot. 

Yuuji soon arrived at a chicken skewer stall. It was a street side vendor with a small booth, grilling sticks upon sticks of various chicken skewers. There were negitama, tsukune, momo (thigh), tebasaki (wings), kawa (skin), and many more. Some, lathered in thick, sweet, soy sauce. 

ʼLetʼs buy some to eat now and then some more for tomorrow.ʼ

Since he has more than enough Cols now to splurge thanks to all his grinding, it was never a bad idea to stock up on food in case hunger crept up while he was in the labyrinth or a dungeon. 

 But just as he was about to talk to the vendor, a familiar, peculiar figure also arrived at the same stall. 

””Ah.””

Noticing his peculiar appearance, cloaked in a hood and mask, she couldnʼt help but stare at him as well. 

An awkward silence fell between the two. They didnʼt expect to meet each other again this soon. 

”...Go ahead. You can buy first.”

”...Thank you.”

Asuna lowered her head slightly, and began buying the skewers from the vendor first. Then, after she was done, Yuuji made his purchase. 

”I didnʼt expect to meet you again so soon… Are you okay, now?”

”...Mm. Thanks to you.”

”Thatʼs good.”

”...”

”...”

The awkward silence, solely accompanied by the sizzling of chicken skewers on the grill and distant chatters of conversations that didnʼt exist here, returned. 

Finally, unable to take it anymore, Yuuji spoke once again. 

”My name is Yuuji. Itʼs nice to meet you.”

Having met twice now, he felt an introduction would be inevitable. So he chose to introduce himself to fill this uncomfortable void. 

”Yuuji…”

She muttered softly. Her gaze locked onto the skewers still sizzling on the grill, though her mind wandered elsewhere. 

”...My name is Asuna. Itʼs nice to meet you too.”

There was silence. But this time, the strange, tense atmosphere had dissipated slightly, thanks to their introduction. 

Soon, the skewers they ordered were done. 

Yuuji immediately took out one of the skewers he bought, a negitama. 

”Then, Iʼll be returning to my inn now. See you later.”

”Mm. Me too. See you later.”

He began to eat, biting of a chicken piece and a green onion piece at the same time, letting the flavors of the chicken, green online, and sweet soy sauce to blend in his mouth. 

Asuna did the same. Still hungry even after eating the bread Yuuji gave her, she decided to eat a little late night snake. Something unthinkable while she was in the real world. 

They began walking, each with a skewer in their hand, eating while making their way back to the inn. 

Yuuji was a step ahead, with Asuna following a bit behind him. 

One step. Two steps. Three steps… Soon, they noticed something. 

ʼ...W-Why is she heading in the same direction?ʼ

Asuna was walking behind him, keeping pace. She didnʼt seem like she was following him, but they were definitely going on the same direction!

ʼA-Are we going in the same direction?!ʼ

Asuna noticed the strangeness as well. And an unbelievable sense of shame and awkwardness filled her. 

Theyʼve said their farewells to each other at the stall… But now, theyʼre going in the same direction!

ʼNo, it must be a coincidence! Weʼll split off soon enough! Then, we can just say good by again!ʼ

She reasoned. 

But as they made their way, each to their own quarters for the evening, an awkward realization hit. 

They were going in the exactly same direction. 

And soon… They arrived at the same inn, and their gaze couldnʼt help but gravitate towards each other.

ʼSheʼs staying here too?!ʼ

ʼI wanna dig a hole and stuff my head inside it!ʼ

Asuna screamed in her mind.

”...Ladies first.”

”T-Thanks! G-Good night!”

Asuna pushed open the door and rushed in and immediately run up the stairs. 

Yuuji followed after her at a more relaxed pace. 

And when he looked up, he saw Asuna opening the door to her room before a loud slam echoed throughout the relatively small inn. 

ʼ...Wait, sheʼs actually my neighbor?ʼ

Yuuji couldnʼt help but wonder about the coincidences. 

Who wouldʼve thought that the mysterious girl he saved in the labyrinth would turn out to be his neighbor.

ʼI guess tomorrow will be awkward too…ʼ

He entered his room, laid down, and asked Ai to take over his body while he awakened in the real world to spoil the four little girls and Semiramism as usual.

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

The next morning. 

Yuuji made his way down to the first floor of the inn and sat down on a table. 

Just like a stereotypical medieval inn in a fantasy RPG setting, the inn Yuuji was staying in had two levels. 

The second level was filled with guest rooms. While the first floor was where the receptionist table was, as well as the restaurant which was opened for staying or walk-in guests. 

Given its convenience, and the fact that food wouldnʼt taste any better elsewhere anyway, Yuuji often ate his breakfast on the first floor of the inn before heading out. 

He ordered his usual breakfast. A plate of toasted rye bread, eggs, and soup of the day, which was tomato soup. 

Soon, other players who stayed in the inn and others who sought breakfast began to fill the few tables on the first floor. No doubt, for the same reason as Yuuji. 

And then, Yuuji noticed a familiar figure in dark red cloak, her face obscured by the hood, walking down the stairs, only to stare at the full tables, unmoving. 

ʼShe mustʼve overslept because she was too exhausted yesterday.ʼ

Yuuji couldnʼt help but pity her and waved his hand up. 

Asuna noticed his wave, and made his way towards him. 

”Are you going to have your breakfast?”

”...Yes. But the tables are full. I guess Iʼll just get some outside.”

”How about joining me? Thereʼs still room for one.”

Asuna looked at him for a moment, and looked around at the filled table. Then, she sat down in front of him. 

”Thank you.”

Yuuji nodded, and called upon a waiter NPC for Asuna to make her order. 

They waited for their food in silence. A silence more comfortable than the one they shared the night before. 

Yuujiʼs order came first, but only after Asunaʼs order also came did he begin eating together with her. 

He took off the cloth mask and began eating. 

And while he did, he didnʼt notice Asunaʼs frozen gaze at him. 

He had eaten in front of her before. It was last night, while he was eating his skewers. But at that time, she couldnʼt even look at him because of how awkward the situation was. And he was also walking in front of her.

That was why, it was only now did she see the lower half of his face, and froze in place. 

From the lower half of his features alone, Asuna could tell… He was even more handsome than any one of the idols and actors her female friends often gossiped about. 

At the very least, his looks matched her preference too perfectly. 

ʼNo! W-What am I thinking?!ʼ

She shook her head, and began blurting out anything to try and distract herself from his appearance involuntarily. 

”Hey. Are… Are you planning to go back to the labyrinth today?”

Yuuji halted half way through biting his toasted rye bread and looked up towards Asuna. 

”Yes.”

He nodded. 

”I plan to grind monsters there. Although itʼs dangerous, the labyrinth is actually a good place to farm. The monsters there are at a good level to give decent experience points, their item drops sell for quite a bit, and the distance between spawn points are nearer to each other than farming areas outside, so itʼs pretty efficient to farm there.”

”I see…”

That was it… It was a question Asuna simply blurted out. And his answer was something she expected. 

She herself knew the benefits of farming inside the labyrinth. That was why she decided to go there, despite the risks. 

”Are you planning on going there as well?”

”Of course. Just as you said, itʼs a good farming area. Iʼve made sure to pack up on enough supplies and food, so I wonʼt repeat the same mistakes I did yesterday.”

”I see.”

Yuuji considered for a moment.

Should he invite her to a party and farm together?

He had to admit, he was worried for her. Although she seemed to be quite a skilled player, she seemed to be inexperienced with games with a tendency to push herself a bit too far. The combination of which would make it highly dangerous for her be pushing herself to the limits in this world. 

And at this point, the only downside to partying with other players for him would be to make sure theyʼre safe and that he might not be able to farm in his usual farming spots, with high level monsters. 

At his level now, the experience points and item drops heʼd be sharing were now insignificant to him. 

Heʼd rather help her grow to become a valuable asset to clear this death game as soon as possible, rather than farming alone with minimal gain. 

”Say. What is your level now?”

”Hm? Iʼm level 10 now.”

Yuuji nodded. 

”Good. Do you want to party with me?”

”Eh?”

Asuna stopped her soup spoon midway and looked up to him. 

”I plan on diving deeper, so it would be reassuring to have another player with me. Also, youʼll be able to farm higher-leveled monsters and level up faster.”

Her first thoughts were apprehension. But such suspicion and thoughts dissipated just as quickly as it formed in her mind. 

Perhaps it was due to his demeanor and his tact that Asuna didnʼt feel the same apprehension she would towards other players. 

Moreover, if wanted to harm her, he wouldʼve done so in the labyrinth last night, when she was at her weakest. 

So instead, she began to think pragmatically. 

Yuuji seemed strong. Stronger than her. And with his help, she would definitely be able to challenge higher leveled monsters and gain more experience quickly that way. 

The choice seemed obvious. 

”...Sure.”

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