Part 3
A refreshingly sweet scent gradually drifted past my nose; I slowly opened my eyes and saw the entire world enveloped by a white glow. The dawning light, which had already been reflected several times down the icy walls, caused the snow at the bottom of the cave to glitter.
I shifted my eyes and noticed a teapot sitting atop the lantern, with vapor wavering above it. Looks like that's where the smell was coming from. In front of the lantern sat a person in black clothes whose face I could only see from the side. But as soon as I saw that figure, a small flame seemed to ignite within my heart.
Kirito turned his head, revealed a tiny smile, and said:
"Morning."
"...Morning."
I replied. As I prepared to get up, I noticed that my right hand, which should have been hanging outside when I went to sleep, was neatly placed back inside the sleeping bag. I brought the warmth that lingered in that palm to my lips, and then suddenly jumped up.
Kirito brought a steaming mug to me, who had just crawled out onto the snow. After thanking him, I accepted the mug and sat down beside him. In it was a kind of flowery tea with a mint-like aroma which I had never tasted before. As I slowly drank the tea one sip at a time, allowing it to gently sink into my body. My heart pleasantly warmed up.
I shifted my body, leaning it right against Kirito's. As I turned my head, our eyes met for an instant before quickly separating. For a short while, only the sounds of two people drinking tea could be heard.
"Hey..."
Finally, I murmured with a small voice while my eyes continued to stay fixed on my cup.
"Hmmm?"
"...If we really can't get out of here, then what should we do?"
"Spend every day sleeping."
"That sure was a quick reply. Think about it a little more!"
I smiled as I prodded Kirito's arm with my elbow.
"...Although, that wouldn't be bad either..."
After saying this, I began to lean my head towards Kirito's shoulder—
"Ah...!?"
Kirito suddenly cried out and leaned forward. I, losing my support, ended up falling onto the ground with a *plop*.
"Geez, what was that for!"
I complained angrily as I straightened my torso back up, but Kirito stood up without even looking back. Following that, he sprinted towards the middle of that circular pit.
While in doubt, I also got up and followed him.
"Just what is it?"
"Oh, just a little..."
Kirito knelt down onto the floor and began to brush aside the snow, piled up on the ground, with both hands. He quickly dug up a deep hole as a scraping sound reverberated. And then—
"Ah!?"
A beam of silvery light suddenly flashed into my eyes. Something buried deep inside the snow was reflecting the light of the rising sun.
Kirito dug that thing out, seized it with both hands, and then stood back up. Unable to restrain my curiosity, I peered into it from an extremely close distance.
It was a transparent, silvery-white, rectangular object. Just slightly bigger than both of Kirito's hands. It was of a familiar shape, with a familiar size — a metallic material. But I had yet to see one of this color.
I tapped the material lightly with my right hand's fingers. An automatic window immediately popped up. The object was named «Crystalite Ingot».
"This— Isn't this..."
As I looked up towards Kirito's face, he too, nodded with a confused expression.
"Yeah... This is the metal we've been looking for... I wonder why it's here..."
"But, just why was it buried here?"
"Hmm..."
Kirito continued to stare at the ingot grasped in his right hand as he thought about it, before letting out a short, "Ah..."
"...The white dragon eats crystals... which are refined in its stomach to become... Hehe, so that's how it goes!"
He seemed to have figured it out and started showing a smile, then tossed the metal ingot towards me. I hurriedly caught it with both hands and held it close to my chest.
"Hey, what's with that! Don't just stop after figuring it out yourself!"
"This cave isn't a trap. It's the dragon's nest."
"Eh-? Eeh?"
"In other words, that ingot is the dragon's excretion. Its feces."
"Fe..."
While my cheeks were twitching, I dropped my glance at the ingot at my chest.
"Geeee"
Without thinking, I threw it back at Kirito.
"Woah"
That was repelled back by Kirito skillfully with his fingertips. After childishly throwing it at each other repeatedly, it finally came to a closure with Kirito making quick work of expanding the item field to store the ingot.
"Well, anyway, we accomplished our goal. Now, all that's left is..."
"If only we could get out of here..."
Both of us sighed as we exchanged glances.
"For the time being, there's no choice but to try everything we can come up with."
"I guess so. Aah, if only I had wings like the dragon..."
It happened the moment I said that. Realizing something, I left my mouth agape, at a loss for words.
"...What's up, Liz?"
Facing towards Kirito, who was peering at me, with his head tilted to the side.
"Hey. You said this place was the dragon's nest, right?"
"Ah. As long as there are feces, that's..."
"That's not important! Dragons are nocturnal, now that it's morning, shouldn't it be returning to its nest..."
"..."
For a short while, my glance met with Kirito's, who became silent, and then both of us looked up into the sky at the entrance of the hole. Exactly at that moment...
Far up, high in the air, within the circular-cut white light, a blurred black shadow was born. That shadow grew ever bigger as we stared at it. It took only an instant before I could soon see a pair of wings, a long tail and four feet armed with claws.
"It's...It's..."
We backed off together. However, of course, there wasn't any place to escape to.
"It's here———"
Both of us shouted while drawing our respective weapons.
The white dragon, that swooped down into the pit, noticed our presence and made a high pitched cry, stopping just before hitting the ground. Its red eyes with vertical pupils were filled with clear hostility towards the intruders of its nest. However, there was nowhere to hide at the bottom of the narrow hole. I prepared my mace while suppressing my nervousness.
Similarly, Kirito readied his one-handed sword and moved in front of me, quickly saying.
"Listen, stay behind me. Drink a potion immediately after losing even a little HP."
"Y-Yeah..."
I simply nodded obediently this time.
The dragon opened its vast mouth and roared once more. Its wings created a gust of wind, which made snow whirl into the air.
*Bitan!* *Bitan!* The dragon's long tail was striking the ground, each hit digging a deep ditch in the snowy surface.
Brandishing the sword in his right hand without pause, as to gain the initiative, Kirito suddenly ceased his movement just as he was about to charge forth.
"...Ah... Maybe..."
He let out in a low voice.
"Wha-What's the matter?"
"No..."
Without answering my question, Kirito kept his sword in its scabbard, abruptly turned around and firmly embraced me with his left arm.
"Ehh!?"
Without understanding anything, I panicked and I was further raised up to Kirito's shoulder.
"H-Hey, what are you— Wahh!!"
A *Zuban!* rang out with the impact, and together with that, the surroundings' scenery went blurry. Kirito dashed towards the wall with violent force. Just before crashing, he did a great jump, and just like yesterday's attempt to escape, he began running on the curved wall surface. However, as if there was no intention to ascend, the orbit stayed level. The dragon's head heartily turned and continued targeting us, however Kirito continued running at a speed exceeding what the dragon could follow.
A few seconds later, when Kirito finally landed on the bottom of the hole, my eyes were completely spinning. Finally opening my eyes after blinking them countless times, before me was the rear of the dragon. It had lost sight of us and was restlessly swinging its head left and right.
Just as I thought that Kirito was planning to attack from behind, he surprisingly quietly approached the dragon— With his right hand stretched out, he forcefully grabbed the tip of the dragon's swaying tail.
At that moment, the dragon let out a high-pitched cry. A shriek of surprise— or maybe that was just my imagination. Being increasingly unable to comprehend Kirito's intentions, I was just about to let out a scream too.
All of a sudden, the white dragon spread out both of its wings and began a sharp ascent at terrific speed.
"Oof!"
The air struck my face. Without even the time to think about that, our bodies flew out in midair with a force like that of being shot out of a bow. While we held onto the dragon's tail, it shook left and right as it ran up the pit. The circular bottom of the pit became distant very quickly.
"Liz! Hold on!!"
In response to Kirito's voice, I clung onto his head in a trance. The sunlight that shone on the surrounding ice ridges grew steadily brighter with the pitch of the sound of the cutting winds changing subtly— At the moment I thought the world exploded in a white radiance, we were flown outside of the hole.
The moment I opened my squinting eyes, a bird's-eye view of the vast 55th floor spread out below me.
Directly below me was a beautiful cone-shaped snowy mountain. Slightly further off, a small village. Beyond the vast snow field and the thick forest, the pointed roofs of every house of the main district were joined together. The scene where all of these were glittering, struck by the radiant sunlight, even made me forget about the terror, and I unintentionally cheered.
"Waa..."
"Yeah—!!"
Kirito too shouted loudly, and let his right hand go from the dragon's tail. He carried me like a child and entrusted himself to the inertia, dancing in the air.
The flight was only for several seconds, yet it felt like ten times that. I believe I was smiling. The overwhelming light and winds were sweeping through my heart. My emotions were being sublimated.
"Kirito— You know, I!!"
I shouted with all my heart.
"What!?"
"I-I like you!!"
"Come again!? I didn't hear that!!"
"It's nothing!!"
Clinging on tightly to his head, I burst out in laughter. Eventually, this moment, which felt almost like a miracle, ended, and we closed in on the ground. Turning about one last round, Kirito greatly widened his legs and took up a landing posture.
The snow went, *Bafun!*, as it flew up into the air. A long glide. Pushing our way through the white crystals like a snow-plow as we were slowing down, we finally stopped near the mountain summit.
"...Fuu."
Kirito took a breath of air and dropped me onto the ground. With reluctance, I turned my head and unwrapped my arms from him.
The both of us looked towards the direction of the big hole together; the dragon which seemed to have lost sight of us slowly flew circles in the skies.
Kirito placed his hand on the sword on his back, drawing the blade slightly, but immediately soon returned it to its scabbard with a *cling* sound. With a light smile on his face, he faced the dragon and said softly.
"...You must have been troubled by all of those turning up to hunt you till now. Once the method of getting the item is spread, the people coming to kill you should be gone too. So from now on, live without worries."
—Facing a monster, which only moved according to the system configured algorithm, and doing such a thing; that was something I would have thought of as stupid up till yesterday. But for some reason, I somehow felt that I could meekly welcome Kirito's words into my heart now. Reaching out with my right hand, I gently grasped Kirito's left hand.
The both of us silently watched over the scene as the white dragon turned its head about, before giving a single clear cry and descended into its nest. Silence arrived.
Before long, Kirito glanced this way, and spoke.
"Well then, let's get back?"
"I guess so."
"Want to go with the crystal?"
"...No, let's walk back."
I answered while smiling and stepped forward holding Kirito's hand. I then realized something and looked at Kirito's face.
"Ah... The lantern and bedroll and such, we left them behind, didn't we."
"Now that you mentioned it... Well, it's okay. Somebody might make use of it."
We exchanged glances and laughed, this time for sure, we began to slowly walk the mountain trail, following the road home. I took a quick look around my nearby surroundings, the skies were clear, without a single cloud in the sky.
"I'm back!"
I vigorously opened the door of my dear home.
"Welcome back."
Despite the store-tending female NPC standing at the counter merely giving a polite reply to my greeting, I waved my hand and turned about, looking around my store. I had only been away for a mere one day, but strangely enough, it seemed fresh.
Kirito, who had bought take-out from the same stall as yesterday, entered the store behind me, with a hot dog held in his mouth.
"It's almost noon after all, so you should have just eaten it in that stall."
As I voiced out my complaints, Kirito grinned as he waved his left hand, bring out a window.
"Before that, let's get to making it already, the sword."
Deftly manipulating the inventory, he materialized the silver ingot. Carefully catching it — ignoring the origin of the item for the moment — I nodded.
"That's right, let's do it. Come over to the workshop."
Opening the door behind the counter, the thudding sound of the waterwheel became conspicuously louder. Pulling down the lever on the wall, the bellows began to move, delivering air in. The furnace immediately began to glow a vivid red.
I gently dropped the ingot into the furnace, and turned back towards Kirito.
"A single-handed straight sword is fine, right?"
"Yep. I'm counting on you."
Kirito nodded as he sat on the circle stool meant for visitors.
"Understood. —Just a word of warning, but the end result has an aspect of randomness to it, so don't expect too much from it, alright?"
"We can just go get it again if it fails. This time with a rope."
"...Yeah, a long one."
Recalling that grand fall, I unwittingly let out a smile. Dropping my sight to the furnace, I noticed that the ingot seemed to have been sufficiently heated. Taking it out with pliers, I placed it onto the anvil.
I picked up my favorite smithing hammer from the wall, did the setup on the menu, and took another glance towards Kirito's face. In reply to his silent nodding, I smiled, and grandly lifted the hammer over my head.
I forged my spirit in as I hit the metal gleaming crimson; along with a clear *Kan!* sound, bright sparks generously scattered about.
Within the section on smithing in the Reference Help, about the manufacturing process, "According to the type of weapon being created, and the rank of metal used, the ingot will need to be hit a certain number of times." was all that was used to describe it.
In other words, during the deed of striking the metal with the hammer, there was no possibility for the player's skill to affect anything; this should be how it should be read, but there were all kinds of rumors and occult-like theories floating about SAO, that the precision of the striking rhythm and the fighting spirit of the blacksmith is able to manipulate the result, such goes the firmly ingrained opinions around.
I think of myself as a rational person, but I only put faith in this theory through my long time of experience. Therefore, I would lose any excess thoughts when producing arms, concentrating my awareness within the right hand throwing down the hammer, striking without stop with my mind blank— that is what I believed.
However.
While hitting the ingot, producing refreshing clanking sounds, various thoughts whirled about in my mind now, unable to leave.
If the sword was made successfully, and the request finished— Kirito would naturally return to the clearing at the frontlines, and there should not be many chances to meet up. Even if he comes for maintenance on the sword, that would be once every ten days at best.
Something like that— I don't want something like that. I felt a voice shouting so within myself.
While hungering for the warmth of another— No, that was why, that was the reason why I hesitated shortening the distance with any particular male player up until now. I was afraid of the lonely winter within me completely changing with love. That was not true love, just a delusion created by an illusionary world; that was what I thought.
But last night, while feeling the warmth from Kirito's hands, I realized, that those feelings of hesitation were the illusionary thorns that bound me. I am myself— The blacksmith, Lisbeth, and at the same time, Shinozaki Rika. Kirito was the same. Not a character from a game, but an actual living human being. Hence, my love for him; these feelings are real too.
If I manage to hit up a satisfying sword, I'll confess my feelings to him. That I want him to be by my side, that I want him to come back to this home from the labyrinth, everyday, that's what I'll tell him.
By the time the ingot was forged, its radiance shining ever brighter, the feelings within myself too, seemed to have been firmed up as well. I felt my feelings flowing out from my right hand, streaming into the weapon born from the hammer.
—And so, the moment had finally arrived.
I did not know how many times it had occurred thus far — probably somewhere between two hundred to two hundred and fifty times — immediately following the sound of the hammer, the ingot let loose a noticeably dazzling white gleam.
The rectangular object changed its shape bit by bit as it shone. It began growing palely from its front and rear, and next, a bulge that resembled a hilt swelled outwards.
"Ohh..."
Letting out murmurs of wonder in a low tone, Kirito got up from the chair, and approached. As we watched over side by side, the object generation was completed in several seconds, finally revealing its shape as a single long sword.
Beautiful; it was a truly beautiful sword. As a one-handed longsword, it was rather gorgeous. The blade was pale, and though not to the extent of a rapier, it was slender. As if it had inherited the property of the ingot, it could be seen as extremely slightly transparent. The blade was colored a blinding white. The grip was silver, with a slight tinge of blue.
«A World Where The Sword Symbolizes The Player»; as if to support that promised phrase, the variety of weapons set up in SAO were outrageously numerous. If one were to list down the names peculiar to the weapons included in each category from the start, it was said that it would likely be thousands of lines long.
Unlike a normal RPG, the diversity of those distinguishing names spread out further as the rank of the weapons increased. Lower ranked weapons, for example, within the one-handed longswords, «Bronze Sword», «Steel Sword»; for the swords with such dull names, countless numbers of them existed in this world; but as for weapons of the highest rank such as the one present here right now, taking something like Asuna's «Lambent Light» for example, there is likely only one in the world, literally a one-of-a-kind object.
Of course, rapiers with the same level of ability, regardless of whether they are player-made or dropped from monsters, probably do exist. But each of them has a different name, possessing different appearances. And with that, high level weapons have a certain charm to them, becoming something like a partner with whom you share your spirit with.
Since the weapon's name and appearance are decided by the system, even we, the manufacturers, do not completely understand it. I lifted up the sword glittering atop the anvil— or at least, I tried to; I was surprised by the weight, unsuitable for its elegant outward appearance. It had a physical strength requirement that was not inferior to the black sword Kirito holds, «Elucidator». Straining my back, I brought it up before my chest with a cry.
Reaching out with a finger on my right hand supporting the base of the sword blade, I gave it a single click. I looked into the popup window that rose to its surface.
"Well, its name seems to be «Dark Repulser». It's the first time I've heard that, so I don't believe it's mentioned on the information store's list at the moment. —Here, try it out."
"Okay."
Kirito nodded and, reaching out with his right hand, he gripped the sword's handle. He lifted it up with actions that seemed unaffected by its weight. Waving his left hand to draw out the main menu, he manipulated the equipment figure, targeting the white sword. With this, the sword would be equipped to Kirito in the system, allowing for its numerical potential to be confirmed.
But Kirito immediately closed the menu, and having taken several steps back, he switched it to his left hand, swinging a few times with swishing sounds.
"—How is it?"
I asked without delay. Kirito gazed at the blade for a short moment in silence, but— soon, he smiled with a broad grin.
"It sure is heavy. ...It's a good sword."
"Really!? ...Alright!!"
I assumed a triumphant pose with my right hand without thinking. With that hand reached out, I bumped it against Kirito's right fist.
It had been a while since I felt this way.
Long ago— During the time I did sales from a street stall on the main streets of the tenth floor, I felt this way when my recklessly made arms were praised by customers. I'm glad I became a blacksmith, that was what I would honestly feel, from the bottom of my heart for that instant. When I went on to master my skills and move on to do business with only the high leveled players, I had forgotten about this feeling before I realized it.
"...It's a problem with my heart, huh... all of it..."
Towards the words I casually leaked out, Kirito inclined his head with a curious look.
"N-No, it's nothing. —Putting that aside, let's have a drink somewhere. I'm hungry."
Raising my voice to hide my embarrassment, I pushed Kirito's shoulders from behind. I thought to get out of the workshop in that posture, but— a question suddenly came to me.
"...Hey."
"Hm?"
Kirito looked back over his shoulder. That hung on his back; the black one-handed sword.
"Speaking of which— In the beginning, you did say, a sword equal to this one, didn't you. That white one certainly is a good sword, but I don't think there's much difference with that monster dropped one. Why would you need two swords resembling each other?"
"Aah..."
Kirito turned about, staring at me with an expression that showed that he was hesitating over something.
"Well, I can't explain everything. If you won't ask any further than that, I can tell you."
"What's with that? Acting all cool."
"Step back a little."
After I stepped back alongside the workshop's walls, with the white sword still hung down, Kirito drew the black sword, from his back with a high-pitched sound, with his right hand.
"...?"
I couldn't comprehend his intentions. After having manipulated the equipment figure earlier, with the current system, his equipped status should be only the sword in his left hand; holding onto another weapon with his right hand should not be of any use whatsoever. On the contrary, with something that's considered an irregular equipped status like that, it would not be possible to activate sword skills.
Glancing towards my confused face for a mere instant, Kirito calmly assumed a stance with the left and right swords. The right sword in front, the left sword behind. Dropping his hips slightly, and with that, in the very next instant.


A scarlet flash effect burst out, dyeing the workshop in its color.
The swords in Kirito's hands alternated, attacking his front with a speed that could not be followed by sight. *Kyubabababa!*, these sounds exerted pressure on the very air, and despite not actually aimed at anything, the objects within the room rattled.
It was obviously a sword technique arranged by the system. But— I have never heard of anything like a skill that uses two swords!
In front of me, standing stock still as I caught my breath, Kirito silently raised his body, having finished the consecutive attack technique that probably reached ten chained hits.
Clearing away both swords— returning only the sword in his right hand to his back, he looked at my face and spoke.
"And well, that's how it is. —I'll need a scabbard for this sword. Can I choose one?"
"Ah... Y-Yeah."
Just how many times had I already been dumbfounded by Kirito. Although I should have been used to it by now, for the time being, I decided to hold back my questions, reaching my hand towards the wall, displaying the home menu.
Scrolling through the storage screen, I gazed through the summary for the stock of scabbards I collected from craftsmen I was close to. Picking out one rather similar to the one equipped on Kirito's back, made from black leather, I materialized it. After I set in a small logo of my shop, I handed it over to Kirito. Kirito, having stored the white sword into the scabbard with a brief sound, opened a window and stashed it away. I thought he would equip both of them on his back, but it didn't seem that way.
"...So it's a secret? That earlier."
"Nn, well, yeah. Don't tell anyone about it, alright?"
"Got it."
Skill information is one's greatest lifeline, so if he tells me not to ask, I won't pursue the matter. That aside, I was glad that he even allowed me even a peek at his secret, and nodded with a small smile.
"...Well then."
Kirito placed his hands on his hips and his expression changed.
"This would be the end of my request. I'll be paying for the sword. How much?"
"Aah, that's..."
I bit my lips for a moment— I verbalized the reply that had always been seething within me.
"I won't need, any payment."
"...Eeh?"
"In return for that, I want Kirito to make me your exclusive smith."
Kirito's eyes showed slight signs of surprise.
"...Just what, do you mean by that...?"
"Whenever you complete your clearing, come over here, and let me do maintenance on your equipment... —Everyday, from now on, without fail."
My heartbeat heightened without bounds. Whether this was a feeling from my virtual body, or perhaps my actual heart, too, was throbbing in the same way as well— I wondered about that in a corner of my mind. My cheeks were on fire. Every single part of my face must have turned completely red right now.
Even Kirito, who had always maintained his poker face, seemed to have realized the meaning behind my words, and hung his red face down from shyness. I had always thought of him as older, but after seeing him in that state, it appeared like he was of the same generation, or perhaps even younger than me.
I mustered up my courage and took a step forward, taking a hold on his arm.
"Kirito... I..."
I cried those words out so loudly the time we escaped from the dragon's nest, but when speaking of it now, my tongue refuses to move. I kept staring into Kirito's black pupils, willing that single word to come out one way or another— It was then.
The workshop's door was forcefully opened. I released Kirito's hand by reflex, and jumped.
"Liz, I was so worried!!"
The person, who rushed in right after that instant, hugged me with the same force as a body slam while shouting out in a large voice. That chestnut-colored long hair softly danced in the air.
"Ah, Asuna..."
Asuna continued speaking without pause, staring closely at my face, locked in a dumbfounded expression, the entire time.
"Messages couldn't reach you; your map position couldn't even be traced; not to mention your regular customers didn't know anything about it, so just where did you go last night!? I even went all the way to the Black Iron Castle to check, you know!"
"So-Sorry. I just got stuck in a labyrinth for a bit..."
"A dungeon!? Liz, you went alone!?"
"Nah, with that person..."
I pointed in the direction diagonally behind Asuna with my glance. Asuna spun around, and after noticing that swordsman dressed in black standing there, looking bored, she froze with her eyes and mouth left open blankly. Following that, in a voice an octave higher—
"Ki-Kirito-kun!?"
"Eeh!?"
This time, it was my turn to be amazed. I looked over at Kirito, who was standing up straight, just like Asuna.
He gave a small cough, and spoke as he raised his right hand.
"Well, Asuna, it's been a while... or not, I suppose. A couple of days."
"Y-Yeah. ...That was surprising. I see, so you came here right away. If you had told me, I could have come along."
Asuna hid her palms behind her, and laughed shyly, tapping the floor repeatedly with the heels of her boots. I saw those cheeks slightly tinged with the shade of cherry blossom pink.
And I understood the entire situation.
It was not mere coincidence that brought Kirito to this shop. Keeping that promise with me, Asuna recommended this place... to the person in her heart.
—Just what should I do...? Just what should I do?
All that swirled around in circles within my mind, were those words. I felt like the heat from my entire body was slowly flowing out from the tips of my feet. I can't feel any strength. I can't breathe. Emotions came forth, without any way to release them...
Turning around to face the rigid me, Asuna casually spoke.
"This guy, did he say anything rude to Liz? He probably requested for one absurd thing or another, right?"
And with that, she slightly inclined her head to the side.
"Eh... But, that would mean, that you were with Kirito-kun last night?"
"W...Well..."
I took a step forward in that instant, grasped Asuna's right hand, and pushed open the door of the workshop. I looked towards Kirito for a bit, and rapidly spoke as I tried to not look at his face.
"Please wait for a short while. We'll be right back, so..."
I pulled Asuna's hand in that manner, exiting through the counter. Shutting the door, we went outside the shop through the gap between the display windows.
"Wait, wait, Liz, what's the matter?"
Despite hearing Asuna's questioning voice, I silently headed towards the main street, continuing to walk at a quick pace. I just couldn't bear to stay in front of Kirito any further. If I didn't escape, it seemed like I would have run into the realization that I had lost my way.
As though she had noticed my abnormal state, Asuna silently followed without saying another word. I gently released the girl's hand.
We entered the side street facing east, walked for a short while, and found a small sidewalk cafe that seemed like it was being hidden by the high stone wall. There wasn't a single customer. I chose a table at the edge, and sat down on a white chair.
Asuna peered into my face as she sat on the opposite side, not giving any impression of her thoughts.
"...What's the matter, Liz...?"
I strained to gather the slightest bit of vigor I could, putting a large smile on my face. The same smile as always, the one from times we cheerfully exchanged gossip.
"...Well, it's that person, isn't it...?"
Crossing my arms, I leaned in to look into Asuna's face.
"E-Eeh?"
"The one Asuna likes!"
"Ah..."
Asuna casted her eyes down, her shoulders appearing to narrow. She gave a nod with her cheeks blushed.
"...Yeah."
*Throb*; as I ignored the sharp pain that jabbed itself into my chest, I showed a broad grin yet again.
"Well, he certainly is a strange person; a really strange one."
"...Did Kirito-kun do something...?"
I gathered all my might and replied with a nod, to the worry-looking Asuna.
"He just went and broke the best sword in my store all of a sudden."
"Wah... So-Sorry..."
"It's not really something Asuna has to apologize for."
Looking at Asuna who was crossing her hands as if she had done the deed herself, something deep within my chest throbbed further.
Just a bit more... It's just a bit more, keep going, Lisbeth.
Whispering to myself in my heart, I somehow managed to maintain my smile.
"Well, anyway, to create the type of sword requested by that person, it turned out that a rare metal was necessary, so we went to the upper floors to get it. And during that, we got caught in some minor trap, you see; we had trouble escaping from it, that's why I wasn't back."
"So that was it... You could have just called for me, ah, messages couldn't be sent either, huh...?"
"I should have invited Asuna along too, sorry about that."
"No, the guild had clearing activities yesterday, so.... So, did you make the sword?"
"Ah, yeah. Geez, I wouldn't want to do this kind of troublesome work again."
"You should definitely charge him a real high price for that."
We started laughing at the same time.
I kept a small smile on my face, and mentioned one final comment.
"Well, he's weird, but certainly not a bad person. I'll be rooting for you, so do your best, Asuna."
That was the limit. The end of my words trembled.
"Y-Yeah, thanks..."
As Asuna nodded, she inclined her head to the side and looked into my face. Before she could see what were hidden under my eyelids, I sharply stood up, and spoke.
"Ah, oh no! I-I had an appointment arranged to buy some stock. I'll be going down for a bit!"
"Eh, in the store... What about Kirito-kun?"
"Go keep him company, Asuna! I'll be counting on you!"
I turned about, and broke into a run. I looked at Asuna, behind my back, and hurriedly waved my hand at her. There was no way I could turn back.
After I ran towards the gate plaza, all the way to a place where I could not see that open cafe from, I took the first turn, bending towards the south. I kept to the edge of the town, aiming at the areas without players, single-mindedly running without pause.
When my view distorted, I wiped my eyes with my right hand. Wiping them over and over again as I ran.
When I noticed, I had reached all way just before the castle walls that surrounded the town. Before the gently curving walls stretching out, large trees were planted in regular spaces from each other. I entered the shade under one of them, standing still with my hand on its trunk.
"Uguu... Uu..."
My voice leaked out from my throat, without the slightest attempt to muffle it. The tears I had desperately forced back streamed out one after one, vanishing as they poured down my cheeks.
It was the second time I had cried since I came to this world. From the time I panicked and cried on the day I first logged in, I convinced myself that I would cry again no more. I thought that I did not need these tears, forcibly flowing down due to the emotion expression system. But I have never felt tears more feverish, more painful than the ones running down my cheeks right now, not even those that flowed in the real world.
When I was talking with Asuna, there was one thing that never managed to get out. "I like that person too," these words almost came out countless times. However, there was no way I could say them.
At the workshop, the instant I saw Kirito and Asuna turn to talk to each other, I understood that there was no place for me beside Kirito. That is because— On that snowy mountain, I had exposed Kirito's life to danger. No one can stand beside that person, aside from one who possesses that same stout heart. That's right... Like for example, someone like Asuna...
The two were connected by a powerful pulling force, much like the pairing between a meticulously made sword and sheath. That was what I felt strongly. And beyond all else, Asuna had been constantly thinking about Kirito for countless months, and with the hard work she put in to narrow the gap between them bit by bit, day after day, there was no way I could just do something like thrust myself into that relationship all of a sudden.
That's right... I had known Kirito for no more than a single full day. Going on an adventure I was unused to with an unfamiliar person, my heart must have been just surprised by that. It wasn't the truth. These weren't my true feelings. If I were to fall in love, I wouldn't hurry; slowly thinking about it— I should have always, always thought of it as that.
But still, just why were these tears still flowing out?
Kirito's voice, his actions, all of those expressions he had shown in those twenty-four hours floated by before my shut eyelids one after another. The sensations of him brushing my hair, taking hold of my arm, his hand grasping mine. His warmth, the heat from that beating heart— As these seething recollections passed through me, a sharp pain resounded deep within my chest.
Forget it. It's all a dream. Wash it all away with these tears.
Holding tightly on the trunk of a tree by the side of the road, I cried. Looking downwards while stifling my voice, I continued crying. These tears would have dried up sooner or later in the real world, but it seems that these scalding liquids overflowing from my eyes had no intention to ever stop flowing.
And— from behind me, that voice came.
"Lisbeth."
My entire body trembled with a start as my name was called out. That tender, gentle voice, still left with echoes of its original boyish tone.
It must be a dream. There was no way he could be here. Thinking that, I turned my face upwards, without even bothering to wipe my tears away.
Kirito stood there. The eyes within those black forelocks, showing an ache from a grief unique to him, looked at me. I briefly glanced back at those eyes, and soon murmured with a quaver in my voice.
"...That's no good, coming here right now. I would have returned to the usual energetic Lisbeth in just a little more too."
"..."
Kirito silently took a step forward; he tried to reach out with his right hand. I shook my head lightly, stopping him.
"...How did you find this place?"
Upon hearing that, Kirito pondered, and pointed towards the middle of the town.
"From over there..."
At the point of that finger, far off from here, the spire of the church, built opposing the gate plaza, jutted up above the ripples of buildings.
"I gazed throughout the town, and found you."
"He, he."
My tears silently continued streaming down as before, but after listening to Kirito's answer, a smile floated to my mouth.
"You're as ridiculous as always, huh?"
Even that part of him... I liked that. To a hopeless extent.
I felt yet another surge of sobbing welling up within myself. I frantically held it down.
"Sorry, I'm... fine, you see. Hurry up and get back to Asuna already."
The moment I managed to say and was about to turn around, Kirito continued his words.
"I—I wanted to give thanks to Liz."
"Eh...?"
Befuddled by the unexpected remark, I stared at his face.
"...I, in the past, there was a time when my guild members were annihilated... With that, I decided never again, to ever get close to others."
Kirito gave a fleeting frown, chewing on his lips.
"That's why, usually, I avoid forming a party with anyone at all. However, yesterday, the moment Liz invited me to do that quest, it went fine for some reason. I kept thinking it was strange throughout the day. Just why was I walking alongside this person..."
I forgot the pain in my chest for an instant, taking a look at Kirito.
That means— That means, I was...
"Until now, no matter who asked, I rejected all of them. When those I knew... No, even for those whose names I didn't even know, just by watching others battle, I just froze in fear. I couldn't help but want to just run away. That's pretty much why I had always secluded myself at the foremost of the foremost of the frontlines, where people rarely came. —When we fell in that hole, I even thought that it would be better to die together than be the one left behind; that is definitely not a lie."
He showed a faint smile. It felt like a boundless amount of self-condemnation laid deep within that, taking my breath away.
"But you lived. It was unexpected, but the fact that I was able to live on with Liz made me really glad. And, that night... When you gave me your hand, everything was laid bare. Liz's hand was warm... This person is still alive, that was what I thought. I, and everyone one else as well, we definitely don't exist just for the sake of welcoming death someday; I believe we live for the sake of living on. So... Thanks, Liz."
"..."
This time, a true smile rose up from deep within my heart. Driven by a mysterious strong emotion, I opened my mouth.
"I was the same... I was the same; I have always been searching for that. For a special something true, in this world. To me, that was the warmth from your hand."
All of a sudden, that thorn of ice pierced deep within my heart gently melted away, that was similar to what it felt like. My tears had also ceased some time ago. For a short period of time, we stared at each other in silence. That sensation that appeared during the time we flied made its entrance once again, brushing against my heart for a mere instant, and vanished.
I was rewarded. That was what I believed.
The words from Kirito just then engulfed the broken fragments of my love that had cracked apart, and I felt them sinking down somewhere deep inside.
I swiftly blinked my eyes once, shaking off small drops, and opened my mouth to speak with a smile.
"Those words earlier, be sure to let Asuna hear them too. That girl is suffering too. She wants Kirito's warmth, after all."
"Liz..."
"I'm fine."
I nodded softly, holding onto my chest with my hands.
"This fever will remain for just a little longer. So... Please, Kirito, end this world. I'll be sure to work hard until then. But, when we return to the real world..."
I grinned with an impish smile.
"We'll go right into round two with that."
"..."
Kirito smiled as well, giving a deep nod. Next, he swung his left hand, opening a window. Just as I wondered what he was up to, the «Elucidator» was removed from his back, stored into the inventory. Following that, he manipulated his equipment figure, materializing a new sword in its place. «Dark Repulser», the white sword filled with my emotions.
"From today onwards, this sword will be my partner. The bill will... be settled for in the other world."
"Oh, now you've gone and said it. It'll come at quite a cost."
As we shared laughter, we bumped our right fists against each other.
"Well, let's get back to the store. Asuna must be tired of waiting... And I'm getting hungry too, anyway."
I said that, and began to walk after getting up in front of Kirito. For one final time, I firmly wiped my eyes, scattering the last of the tears still in the corners of my eyes, and they vanished into beads of light.