Crossover PS 201 (Patreon)

"A newbie?"

A male player passing by glanced at Asuna and said with a smile to his companion, "Someone who looks like a rich young lady at a glance probably hasn't even fought a monster, right? She seems to be quite good-looking, though."

Asuna lowered her head, her nails digging into her palms. She wanted to retort, but she was indeed a novice.

She hadn't even finished reading the tutorial. If this were a death game, Asuna thought she might have hidden in an inn in the Town of Beginnings and never come out.

Her gaze turned toward the tower entrance once more. She had been watching the three people standing there for a long time.

The black-haired man in the lead wore ordinary novice gear, with an unremarkable-looking sword hanging at his waist. But he was simply hard to look away from.

Two girls followed behind him.

One was red-haired, clutching the corner of his clothes and hiding behind him, showing only half her face with a timid look in her eyes.

One was blonde, with her arms crossed, her aura incredibly noble, her golden eyes scanning the surroundings indifferently, like a queen inspecting her territory.

Just three people like that, and they were going into the Labyrinth Tower?

The surrounding players were also watching them, whispering in discussion.

"Just three people? They're looking for death."

"Those two girls don't look like they can fight either."

"Forget it, it's none of our business."

"Maybe we can pick up the equipment they drop, that sword looks decent."

"True."

The man led the two girls toward the tower gate.

Asuna watched that back. The man's steps didn't hold the slightest hesitation.

With so many people around discussing, shaking their heads, and waiting to see a joke, he acted as if he hadn't heard a thing. He only occasionally turned his head to glance at the red-haired girl's hand clutching his clothes. He was checking on the girl's state and taking care of her.

Asuna suddenly remembered her own hand, which she had subconsciously clenched when she was mocked just now.

No one looked back at her.

No one would look back at her.

It had been like this since she was a child. She had to handle everything herself. She had to be excellent and never let anyone down.

She couldn't cry out in exhaustion, couldn't say she was afraid, and couldn't let others see that she actually couldn't hold on anymore.

But that red-haired girl could hide behind the man. She could clutch the corner of his clothes and show a fearful expression.

As for her, would anyone catch her?

Asuna didn't know but she knew that if she missed this chance, she might never find the courage again in her life.

Her foot had already stepped forward.

"He-hello, you three!"

The man turned his head.

Asuna ran over, her heart pounding. She ran in front of the three and took a deep breath.

The words she had prepared, those like "I won't hold you back," "I'll follow orders," and "Please take me with you," suddenly got stuck in her throat.

"Are you... going into the Labyrinth Tower? Can you take me with you?"

After speaking, Asuna lowered her eyes, not daring to look at him.

Then she heard a voice.

"Sure."

Asuna snapped her head up amd saw the man look at her with a faint smile on his lips.

"Y-yes!"

She nodded, her eyes feeling a bit hot, but she held it back.

"Thank you!"

After she finished speaking, she noticed the red-haired girl behind Minoru. The girl peeked out half her face from behind the man, looking at her timidly.

She subconsciously softened her expression and lowered her voice. "Hello there, my name is Asuna."

"Hello."

Asuna smiled.

For some reason, in this unfamiliar team, looking at this girl who spoke so cautiously, she suddenly felt like she wasn't that afraid anymore.

Kiss-shot crossed her arms and glanced at her, then squinted at Minoru and whispered something in his ear.

A helpless expression appeared on Minoru's face.

Asuna couldn't hear clearly what they were saying, only a few words drifted over vaguely.

"...flirting with girls... playboy..."

She didn't understand but seeing Minoru's look of being rendered speechless by the retort, she suddenly felt like laughing.

Asuna's body, which had been tense all day, slowly relaxed.

Minoru looked at the girl with long, brownish-chestnut hair in front of him.

Yuuki Asuna.

To be honest, even he was a bit surprised.

Had his luck already reached this level?

In the original story, Asuna had hidden in an inn for a month before gathering the courage to walk out of the Town of Beginnings.

Now, on the first day of the server opening, she had proactively run over to ask to join his party?

'This saves some trouble.'

Minoru had originally been wondering how to intercept Asuna. After all, in the original story, her encounter with Kirito wouldn't happen for about another month.

The group of four stepped into the Labyrinth Tower.

Sparse torches were embedded in the stone walls, their flickering flames casting long shadows.

Erii subconsciously leaned closer to Minoru, her grip on the corner of his clothes tightening a bit more.

Kiss-shot, on the other hand, scanned the area indifferently, her golden pupils even carrying a hint of "is that all" disdain.

Asuna walked at the back, clutching her rapier, her palms already sweating.

Although Minoru had agreed to take her along, she knew she was a complete novice.

"First time in a labyrinth?" Minoru's voice came from ahead, sounding very casual.

Asuna blanked for a moment, then nodded.

"Yes."

"First time playing a game?"

Asuna blanked again. "Is it that obvious?"

Minoru smiled. "I can tell."

Asuna lowered her head, feeling a bit embarrassed. She really was a gaming idiot.

"Then you're quite brave." Minoru said without looking back.

"First time playing a game and you dare follow a stranger into the Labyrinth Tower. Aren't you afraid I'll sell you off?"

Asuna opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed it back down. She didn't know how to put it.

Should she say she had just been mocked?

Say she really didn't want to be alone?

Say that when she saw him, she suddenly felt like she could trust someone for once?

"I..."

She opened her mouth. "I just didn't want to..."

She stopped halfway through.

Minoru didn't press her, just walking forward.

After a while, he suddenly spoke up, "Your parents must be very busy, right?"

Asuna was stunned. "How did you know?"

Minoru glanced back at her. "Guessed."

Guessed? How could he guess so accurately?

Asuna stared at his back, a strange feeling rising in her heart.

This man seemed to know everything, yet he asked nothing. He just led the way, occasionally saying a word or two in an understated manner.

"My father is the CEO of a large company and my mother is a professor."

"Mm."

Minoru responded, his tone showing no surprise, nor the kind of change in attitude one might expect upon hearing 'CEO'.

Asuna couldn't help but steal a few more glances at him.

Who exactly was this man?

"They arranged for me to transfer schools, join cram schools, and..." Asuna paused.

"An engagement."

She didn't know why she was saying all this.

Maybe it had been bottled up for too long.

Maybe this person looked like someone who could understand.

Or maybe it was because the person before her looked quite handsome.

Minoru asked, "What do you think about it yourself?"

Asuna was stunned.

What did she think herself?

No one had ever asked her that question before. She only had to walk the path her parents laid out. The option of 'what she thought' didn't exist.

"I... I don't know."

Minoru nodded and didn't ask further.

After a few seconds of silence, he spoke again, "Did you learn the Cooking Skill?"

Asuna blinked. "How did you know?"

"Guessed."

Guessed again?

Asuna was a bit dazed.

"Do you like cooking?"

"I do."

Minoru smiled. "That's good. You can do it more in the future."

Asuna looked at him, suddenly feeling a bit dazed. The rhythm of this man's conversation was just too strange.

From parents to engagements, from engagements to cooking. But strangely, she didn't feel offended, instead feeling quite relaxed.