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MT - 31 Clearing the Stage
🕑 Added 2024-12-18 05:59:08 +0000 UTCKirito felt utterly drained. With a sigh, he cast a glance at Roy, whose smug grin stretched from ear to ear. Kirito was seriously starting to suspect that the boy's sole purpose in life was to mess with him.
Nearby, Asuna and Misumi were deep in conversation, catching up on school-related chatter.
Misumi's gaze eventually shifted to Roy. "And who's this? Your boyfriend?"
Asuna's face instantly turned crimson as she clamped a hand over Misumi's mouth. "Don't talk nonsense!"
Misumi chuckled. "So, not yet, huh? Then who is he?"
"Just... my tutor." Asuna replied with a sigh. Compared to the ordinary tutors her friends had, hers was an entirely different breed. The thought filled her with a sense of resignation.
Curious, Misumi tilted her head. "How did you end up in this game, anyway?"
Asuna helplessly pointed toward the golden-haired boy with the annoyingly cheerful grin.
"He gave it to you?" Misumi asked, eyebrows raised in surprise.
Asuna nodded.
"You do realize how rare beta test slots are, right?" Misumi said, her tone serious.
Asuna tilted her head in confusion. "Rare? Really?"
Her brother had casually mentioned that his company had a surplus of these things.
Misumi nodded solemnly, raising five fingers. "Market value: five million yen. This is the world's first fully immersive game, after all. Just getting into the beta is worth that much. I only got in by pure luck. And he... just handed it to you like it was nothing."
Asuna blinked. That amount was staggering, even if her family's wealth made such things relatively inconsequential. Their household's thrifty traditions meant that even her allowance was tightly controlled.
The more she thought about it, the more significant the gesture seemed. Roy had handed her something with such immense value so nonchalantly. Though in her family, this might not count as a big deal, the thoughtfulness of the act still struck her.
She remembered that day vividly. Roy had been guiding her through her homework, as usual.
When she finally completed the last homework, he suddenly said, "Hey, Asuna, let's play a game tomorrow."
And so, Asuna had entered the virtual world.
Hearing Asuna's story, Misumi couldn't help but laugh, reaching out to pinch her friend's cheek. "He's definitely into you. Who else would casually give away something so valuable?"
Asuna felt her cheeks flush. She hesitated for a moment before mumbling, "Misumi, stop it. You're making it sound like something it isn't."
Misumi grinned mischievously. "Whether it is or isn't... only you can say for sure."
Seeing Asuna's bashful expression, Misumi decided not to press further. Instead, she changed the subject. "By the way, he's got this heroic vibe about him. Almost like he stepped out of a storybook."
"Tch, a storybook hero?" Asuna scoffed, her mind flashing back to the times Roy had used her as bait in-game. "More like a wolf in sheep's clothing."
Misumi chuckled. "So, is he just as handsome in real life?"
"Unfortunately, yes." Asuna replied with a hint of annoyance.
"Really?" Misumi's surprise was evident as she gave Roy another once-over.
The golden-haired boy stood out. His tousled blond hair fell casually over his face, his sharp amber eyes exuding confidence. A faint smile lingered at the corner of his lips. His tall, lean frame hinted at regular training, making him striking from every angle.
Misumi leaned in close to whisper, "You'd better make your move. With looks like that, he's bound to have plenty of admirers. If you don't act fast, someone else might snatch him away."
Asuna followed Misumi's gaze, her eyes landing on Roy. At that moment, Roy turned to her and flashed a dazzling smile.
"Hmph." Asuna muttered, her expression shifting to a cold smirk.
That bright, sunny grin? It was nothing but a facade. The more Roy smiled, the more it meant he was plotting something.
The golden boy? He was trouble through and through.
Not just in the game—he'd managed to mess with her in real life plenty of times too. While his antics were never serious, his playful mischief was endlessly frustrating.
"Enough about me." Asuna said, shifting the focus. "How did you meet Kirito?"
Misumi thought for a moment before shrugging. "Nothing too special. We met while grinding mobs. I have to admit, though, he's incredibly skilled."
"Skilled?" Asuna asked, her curiosity piqued.
Misumi nodded. "Absolutely. His swordsmanship is fast, and his reflexes are on another level. Out of everyone I've met, he's easily in the top three."
Asuna's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. It seemed the Kirigaya family had a natural talent for gaming.
Before the conversation could continue, Roy stepped forward, interrupting them with a cheerful tone. "Alright, let's form a party and take down some bosses. One floor at a time!"
Misumi nodded in agreement. "You're right. Gathering intel on the boss should be our top priority right now."
The group was currently on the 15th floor.
The setting resembled a dense forest, somewhat similar to the Misty Woods on the third floor. However, the fog here wasn't as thick and didn't obstruct visibility or disable the mini-map, making navigation considerably easier.
That didn't mean the journey was without challenges.
The floor's mobs were tricky to deal with.
They weren't just standard creatures—both elves and ape-like beasts roamed the area.
The elves moved in well-coordinated groups of four: three archers and one warrior. Every encounter was with a fully organized team, and their tight cooperation slowed progress significantly. These mobs were a nightmare for solo players. Even someone as skilled as Kirito, a top-tier player, had no choice but to retreat if he accidentally ran into two elf squads simultaneously.
The ape-like beasts, by contrast, weren't as challenging in terms of strategy. Their attacks hit hard, and they had a lot of health, but they typically appeared one at a time. Unless someone was unfortunate enough to stumble into a whole nest of them, they could be worn down with hit-and-run tactics.
"It's been a month, and we're still on the 15th floor." Kirito pointed out, his tone analytical. "If we don't pick up the pace, the public beta will launch in three months. When that happens, the gap between us and regular players will shrink fast."
The group nodded, agreeing with his assessment. Operating solo was simply too inefficient. Recruiting other beta testers posed its own risks, from trust issues to poor teamwork.
Roy spoke up, "Head straight south. That's where the boss room is."
The others agreed. As a team of highly skilled players, they carved their way through the mobs with remarkable speed, clearing a path to the boss room in no time.
The room was located at the heart of three massive trees.
The ancient trees intertwined to form a natural barrier around the entrance, where a heavy stone door shimmered faintly with an eerie blue glow. The intricate carvings on its surface radiated a sense of ancient power.
The door stood five meters tall and three meters wide, its sheer size and weight exuding an aura of the formidable boss waiting beyond.
Exchanging glances, the group silently came to a consensus. With a nod from Roy, he stepped forward, pressing his hands against the imposing stone door.
The door groaned under its own weight as it slowly creaked open, revealing the unknown awaiting them beyond.
