Chapter 398: -393- Someone important?
Although many confusing situations had arisen, as a result, Asuna did indeed request a leave of absence from the guild and decided to live here, just as she had mentioned.
"Why did it turn out like this?" Rozen pondered this question but couldn't find an answer.
Despite the situation, Rozen couldn't bring himself to send her away; that might invite disaster.
"Well, having a beautiful girl hanging around every day is quite nice," he thought to himself.
Not to mention that this lovely girl cooked for him daily, providing him with delicious meals that others would have to spend a fortune to enjoy. Rozen was more than welcoming of Asuna's presence; he had no reason to refuse.
However, if this situation were to leak out, it would undoubtedly cause a massive stir. "Magus" and "Flash" living together in a remote corner of a floor was bound to make headlines, sparking months of gossip, harassment, and investigation for Rozen and Asuna.
Therefore, this situation must remain a secret.
"....Why does it feel like we're having an affair?"
Rozen muttered as he came out of the bathroom, still warm from the shower. This remark caused Asuna to blush and shoot him an angry glare, but she didn't offer any retort.
Clearly, Asuna was also feeling a bit uneasy. However, despite these feelings, it seemed that Asuna had no intention of leaving; she was determined to stay here.
Thus, Asuna officially became Rozen's tenant, occupying one of the rooms in the cabin.
In the following days, the two of them lived a very ordinary life.
In this life, there were no daily routines of leveling up.
In this life, there were no guild activities that needed constant attention.
Rozen and Asuna seemed to have completely set aside all their concerns. They no longer involved themselves in guild matters, nor did they venture to the frontlines every day to level up. They simply ate together, chatted, took walks in the forest, visited the lakeside for sightseeing, and occasionally went to the edge of the floors to gaze at the blue sky and white clouds outside Aincrad. They enjoyed a life that felt like a peaceful retreat.
Honestly, this was the first time Rozen had ever lived so leisurely. Previously, he always put on an appearance of carelessness in front of others, but that was mostly a facade. In reality, Rozen had always been diligent and worked hard, as evidenced by years of relentless training.
Whether it was during his time in Chaldea, in the Akabane clan, or even in this new world, entering this game, Rozen never once skipped a day of honing his skills.
So, this period of relaxation was genuinely surprising to Rozen. He noticed that his "Mind's Eye" had suddenly broken through some kind of boundary, becoming purer and more refined.
"Could this be the reason why legendary figures like saints, high monks, or martial arts masters awaken the power of 'Mind's Eye'?" Rozen wondered. It was doubtful that these figures had trained their "Mind's Eye," but they still possessed this ability, and as their knowledge and state of mind grew, so did their power.
Rozen felt as though this leisurely period had elevated his state of mind, making his "Mind's Eye" even more pure and polished.
"It's quite a pleasant surprise," he thought.
It was worth mentioning that Asuna seemed to be thoroughly enjoying this life as well, even to the point of becoming obsessed with it.
Upon closer consideration, this was entirely normal.
In the real world, Asuna had always followed the path laid out by her parents, never truly experiencing her own life. She had mechanically followed others' expectations, doing what others hoped to see.
After coming to this world, Asuna had been tirelessly striving to return to that sorrowful life, putting all her effort into clearing the game, which left her exhausted. However, she gradually began to change.
Now, for the first time, Asuna started to enjoy life, feeling happy and content.
She would almost drag Rozen around every day, hum songs while cooking at home, and watch with a gentle smile as Rozen and his familiars ate heartily. Even when doing other household chores, she appeared genuinely joyful. In these past few days, her delicate face never lost its smile.
Rozen had never seen Asuna so genuinely happy, and he found it both refreshing and captivating.
However, one couldn't help but wonder, did they realize what was happening? Living together as a solitary man and woman, their situation was far from being merely ambiguous. It wouldn't be wrong to say they were practically like a married couple.
Rozen and Asuna, however, seemed to deliberately ignore this aspect of their relationship, leading an everyday life together as if nothing was amiss.
Time passed without them realizing it, and one day, as usual, Asuna dragged Rozen out of bed.
"Really, why do you sleep in so late when you don't need to sneak into the training area or labyrinth at night?" Asuna complained for what seemed like the umpteenth time, pulling Rozen out of his room.
"I've never been good at waking up early..." Rozen replied, still half-asleep and rubbing his eyes.
"Gu..."
"Gu..."
Both Saichou and Hanachou appeared as if they had just woken up, rubbing their cute little eyes.
"Look at you, even your familiars have been corrupted by you," Asuna scolded Rozen, rolling her eyes.
Asuna sighed in exasperation. "Alright, go wash up and get ready for breakfast."
Saying this, Asuna seemed to be looking forward to something. "Where are we going today?"
This was the first question Asuna asked every morning. It was easy to see just how much she was enjoying their current life.
"Today?" Rozen, still feeling a bit drowsy, responded. "Let's decide after breakfast and then go for a walk."
Upon hearing this, Asuna smiled and nodded.
Together, they freshened up in their small wooden house and enjoyed a hearty breakfast. Then, they headed out for their customary post-meal walk.
However, Rozen and Asuna remained unaware that today, they would encounter someone important to both of them.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone