With an aura of freshness and decisiveness distinct from the real world, Asuna tidied the sleeping bag she'd used, then stepped out of the tent alongside the man beside her.
Facing the silence and tranquility of the night outside, she raised her fist enthusiastically, exclaiming with a touch of cuteness:
"Okay—today we have to find the entrance to the Land of Love! Grandma Martha's still waiting for us at the church!"
"Don't get excited yet." After packing up the tent, Yuu doused her enthusiasm with cold water. "Finding the entrance doesn't mean we can get in. Missions like this always have challenges at every stage—for example, after finding the entrance, we might need to pass a test to enter, and once inside, we'll likely have to complete a complex mission to get the Flower of Love."
"Just to get a flower in a special map, we're given a full fourteen days. That indirectly shows how tough this mission is… So, brace yourself for a long war."
However, Asuna wasn't discouraged at all. Instead, she turned, flashing him a bright, cheerful smile. "I know! So today's goal is just to find the entrance and level up along the way, right?"
"Uh, yeah, that's right…"
"Alright, then let's enjoy the game to the fullest~"
Stretching her body and cheering, Asuna immediately began warming up, heedless of Yuu standing beside her.
Her slender, lithe figure wasn't fully covered by her leather armor. Her firm, fair thighs, her slim waist that could be grasped with one hand, and her prominent chest all radiated youthful vitality with her movements.
Yuu openly stared, then asked in a strange tone, "Asuna, why do I feel like you're extra happy today?"
"Am I?" Asuna paused her movements, her bright eyes flicking upward. Her beautiful face, lit by the moonlight as if adorned with natural makeup, was stunning.
"Maybe because I'm liking this game more and more? I mean, look…"
The next second, the grass rustled loudly!
Asuna suddenly drew her rapier, its blade glowing with a deep red light, her foot stomping firmly.
The straight sword skill Meteor, its brilliant arc showing no hesitation, sharply sliced through the long night.
Her body shot past Yuu, and she gazed at the wolf knocked into the air, the damage effect visible on its body.
"…If I attacked an animal like this in the real world, I'd get arrested, right?"
Saying that, she swiftly thrust a few more strikes, turning the airborne wolf into polygon shards.
Standing with her back to Yuu, Asuna scanned her surroundings.
More glowing green eyes appeared among the trees, the silvery moonlight filtering through, faintly illuminating the wolves' dark fur.
Asuna slowly gripped her sword hilt, lowering her stance cautiously, yet a faint smile curved her lips.
"That's it, Tenkuji-kun… Being able to enjoy freedom and comfort outside reality without burdens—don't you think that's really fun?"
"Huh?"
Seeing her joyful expression and sense of belonging, as if she'd found her place, Yuu watched her silently for a moment, finally sighing in resignation and quickly drawing his one-handed sword.
"It is fun. The game's sensations feel so real, it's easy to get excited…" His expression grew slightly complex, unnoticed by him. "But now's not the time to think about that. Hurry up and deal with these wolf pups so we can find the entrance."
"Roger, Captain~"
The two, standing back-to-back, simultaneously flashed bloodthirsty glints in their eyes.
Without needing a signal, the moment they sensed each other's muscles tense, they shot forward like lightning, charging into the pack of aggressive wolf monsters and starting a slaughter.
Thus, strange sounds began echoing through the small forest, warming the otherwise cold night.
About five minutes later, they were done.
As Asuna sorted her loot in her inventory, she suddenly glanced at the team's health bars and looked at him in shock.
"Yuu-kun, did you use a potion? In that chaotic fight, you didn't lose a single drop of health…"
"Because I'm using a locked HP cheat," Yuu replied casually. Seeing Asuna's confusion at the idiom, he explained, "There was once a swordsman who joyfully darted among enemies, coming and going without a trace, not touching a single leaf. I'm just mimicking a bit, no big deal."
"I see…" Asuna nodded.
In the battles that followed on their way to the coordinates, she began consciously dodging attacks. Though it prolonged the fights, she tried her hardest not to let enemies touch her.
Her transitions between sword skills and movement grew more fluid. Each time she emerged from a battle unscathed, she'd look at him with a smile that, for some reason, brimmed with triumph, like a little girl seeking praise from her parents.
Yuu grew more puzzled… What was up with Asuna today? Why was she suddenly so friendly and enthusiastic?
(Maybe her mom finally let her play games?)
Not asking the question, Yuu suppressed his unnecessary curiosity. Following the ring's guidance, he arrived at an abandoned mine filled with rocks.
This was the coordinate for the Land of Love's entrance, as indicated by the Beloved Ring.
And as Yuu expected, in the flat, wide mine, there was nothing resembling an entrance.
Piles of rocks formed small hills, shrouded in the darkness of night like tombstones. The night breeze blew, carrying a mournful wail.
It wasn't going to be that easy.
"What now? The coordinates are correct, but all I see are rocks… Do we have to dig?"
Asuna tugged his sleeve, pretending not to be spooked by the eerie scene, speaking in a forcibly calm tone.
Yuu shook his head, pulling a tent from behind his back. "You need to log off too. We'll talk about the rest tomorrow."
"Oh, right…"
Caught up in the game, Asuna had forgotten she needed to wake up early for school and couldn't stay up too late.
She felt a bit reluctant, but watching him deftly set up the tent and light the oil lamp, a warm feeling inexplicably bloomed in her heart, flowing through her body, slowly dispelling the night's chill.
Like a father working hard to build a home for his child with his own hands, Yuu's back looked serious and sturdy, exuding a sense of security…
"Why are you just standing there? Hurry in."
Yuu, half inside the tent, turned and looked at her in confusion.
Snapping out of it, Asuna shook her head, dismissing the strange thought, then smiled and approached.
"Coming~"
Inside the tent, the two sleeping bags were still there, just a bit closer today than yesterday.
Neither noticed this small change. After slipping into their sleeping bags, they didn't rush to log off, instead gazing at each other through the oil lamp's light.
"Asuna, there's something I want to ask you," Yuu said suddenly.
His serious expression made Asuna set aside her playful demeanor, answering in confusion:
"What is it?"
His lips pursed slightly, Yuu stared intently at the girl before him.
The warm lamplight illuminated her face, eyes, and the corners of her lips. Perhaps due to the light, everything seemed several times softer than usual.
Yuu asked, "Do you have a wish or a goal you want to achieve?"