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17.69% Miracle Summoner / Chapter 358: -353- Being alive is a form of enjoyment

Bab 358: -353- Being alive is a form of enjoyment

"Which side is more real?"

This question truly left Asuna feeling lost.

In the past, if faced with this question, she would have answered without hesitation.

"The real world is true; everything in this world is fake."

That was a belief she had held onto for a while.

After all, in this world, everything visible was composed of data, her controlled body was virtual, and even the food eaten, things touched, and experiences felt were all pre-set and transmitted directly to the brain through the NerveGear. The real-world body lying in bed right now had not touched anything.

So, in this world, everything was fake, and only death was real.

In the past, Asuna had always thought this way.

However, in this moment, prompted by Rozen's question, the first thing that came to Asuna's mind was the battle she had witnessed during the boss clearing on the 1st floor.

The battle in which Rozen and Kirito fought together against Illfang the Kobold Lord, showing boundless passion and conviction.

Since that battle, Asuna realized that in this world, there were things other than death that were real.

Even though the body was a construct, the spirit, soul, and will were still her own.

And that's why Asuna yearned for that kind of battle.

Yes.

Asuna yearned deeply.

Because that was the only thing she had seen in this world, other than death, that felt truly real.

That's why Asuna wanted to fight, why she abandoned her past thoughts of self-destruction and embraced a new sense of purpose. She made clearing the game her everything, despite the obstacles along the way and the opinions of others, pushing forward relentlessly.

That was Asuna's battle.

At least, she believed she had finally gained something truly real in this world.

That something was conviction.

The conviction to completely clear the game, return to the real world, and utilize anything available to achieve that goal, even if it meant disregarding the permissible limits. This was something this man in front of her had taught her.

However...

"The so-called 'usable things' don't refer to 'anything that can be used to achieve the goal,' but rather 'things that can be used within the allowed boundaries,' you know?"

This was something Rozen had said to Asuna a year ago, after their duel with Heathcliff.

Honestly, Asuna still wasn't clear about the meaning of that sentence.

But one thing she was sure of was that the belief she clung to in order to keep surviving in this world was not acknowledged by this man.

This realization left Asuna with a mix of emotions as she remained silent.

"Since you don't acknowledge it, then I'll show you."

With this thought in mind, Asuna threw herself into clearing and frequently clashed with Rozen during strategy meetings.

Rozen always rejected her opinions, using "too extreme" as his reason.

For instance, when dealing with the heavily armored and high-defense guardian boss, Asuna suggested that all players equip high-attack, high-burst weapons. Naturally, this required players to free up a skill slot, which meant some players had to abandon a skill they had trained in for a long time. But the skill compositions of top players had become an essential part of their strength, and giving up those skills would undoubtedly affect their future capabilities.

Similarly, during the strategy for clearing a Labyrinth area, Asuna recommended a rapid advancement while the difficulty was under control and players were accustomed. This would speed up progress, even if it meant slightly increased consumption and fatigue. However, this approach ignored the possibility of unexpected events. Tirelessly pushing forward would only increase the risk of unexpected occurrences.

Several such instances occurred, and every time Asuna proposed similar ideas, Rozen would readily oppose them. Unfortunately, Rozen was the leader of the clearing group, a player with an unblemished record up until now. Players naturally followed his lead. Even if Asuna had significant influence, it was useless if he opposed her.

In other words, Asuna had never gained Rozen's approval.

Now, a year had passed.

Though Asuna hadn't given up on expressing her thoughts, she couldn't help but think this way:

"Have I ever had such a strong desire to assert myself and engage in heated arguments with others in the real world?"

The answer was, of course, no.

In the real world, Asuna had merely followed her parents' arrangements, mechanically enhancing her knowledge and leading a mechanical life. Even her life had been predetermined, and she mechanically accepted it, becoming the person others expected her to be.

In all of this, there was no room for Asuna's own will to intervene.

On the contrary, in this world, Asuna had picked up a weapon of her own accord, developed a sense of purpose, and fought in her own way. Regardless of whether it was right or wrong, she had undeniably gained things and experiences that the real world lacked.

Given this, which side was more real?

The mundane reality?

Or the fulfilling and passionate virtual world?

Thinking this, Asuna couldn't help but look at Rozen.

She saw Rozen still gazing at the distant sky and rainbow, devoid of the deep abhorrence for this world that had imprisoned him. All she saw was pure appreciation and acceptance.

Seeing this, Asuna finally understood.

For Rozen, both worlds were equally real.

After all...

"Just being alive is a form of enjoyment; don't be too picky."

Rozen lazily voiced these words, leading Asuna to involuntary thoughts.

(What kind of experiences has this person been through to have such a perspective?)

Surely it must be something unimaginable that made him content with merely "being alive"?

"Alright." Rozen stood up, dusted himself off, and said, "I'm going now; I still haven't resolved the matter of the weapon."

"Weapon?" Asuna was momentarily puzzled before recalling that Rozen had been holding onto a weapon.

Seeing the weapon, Asuna immediately understood.

(So, he wants to upgrade his main weapon?)

Asuna was no longer the newbie she used to be. A quick glance was enough to tell her that the weapon Rozen held wasn't a player-made item. It had already been enhanced to its limits, facing the crisis of being surpassed.

(So, he's been thinking about this here the whole time?)

Asuna had thought Rozen was just being lazy.

This sparked a slight sense of guilt within Asuna.

So...

"You want a high-performance weapon, right?"

Asuna blurted out those words.

"If you're not familiar with a blacksmith, I can introduce you to one."


Bab 359: -354- Lisbeth's Smith Shop

Floor 48, Lindarth.

This is a town with a network of intersecting waterways and water wheels installed everywhere.

The town's scenery is remarkably beautiful. While it doesn't exude the same feeling of a developed steel city like Floor 55's Granzam, it carries a rustic charm that gives off a sense of being far away from the hustle and bustle of the world.

Due to the prevalence of water wheels and related structures, this place is actually quite popular among players specializing in production-oriented professions.

Because player homes equipped with water wheels can utilize the water wheels to power their workstations.

For instance, blacksmiths, who require a furnace for smelting, highly value the power provided by water wheels. Otherwise, players would have to manually stoke the fire, which would not only be bothersome but also inefficient.

The same holds true for other production-oriented professions; many require the use of tools and items to complete their tasks.

As a result, during the daytime in Lindarth, the sound of hammers from blacksmiths' workshops can frequently be heard on the streets, making it one of the town's unique features and selling points.

Led by Asuna, Rozen arrived here.

"Your friend is here?" Rozen looked at Asuna with some surprise.

To this, Asuna simply nodded.

"Her name is Lisbeth. She runs a weapon shop here and have a great reputation. The shop even employs NPC workers. She's quite well-known in this field." Asuna looked at Rozen and said, "Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing." Rozen shook his head and said, "It's just that I'm finally starting to feel at ease."

Even though it was introduced by the vice commander of the Knights of the Blood Oath, Rozen had never met her, so he had some doubts about her skills.

After all, the familiarity of a blacksmith's skills greatly influences the performance of the weapons they forge.

Since Rozen wanted a weapon, he naturally desired the best. Even if it couldn't surpass Kirito's "Elucidator," it should at least not be weaker than it.

Given that, Rozen naturally needed to thoroughly evaluate the blacksmith's abilities.

Now, seeing Asuna bring him here, Rozen felt about half of his worries dissipating.

"If you can afford to own a player home here, then the blacksmith should be quite well-off."

Player homes equipped with water wheels might seem convenient, but they had their downsides, namely the exorbitant cost required to purchase them.

According to Rozen's estimation, buying a player home with an attached water wheel here would probably cost around 3000K, at the least.

Here, "K" refers to the in-game currency unit, where typically 1K = 1000 Col.

In other words, to buy a player home with a water wheel attachment, one would need to spend at least 3,000,000 Col.

A blacksmith with this level of wealth was either a nouveau riche or genuinely skilled to have accumulated that much money.

In other words, opening a weapon shop here was a symbol of status and position. That's why Rozen could finally say he was starting to feel at ease.

"Lisbeth, huh?" Rozen muttered the name in his mind and then said to Asuna, "Lead the way then."

"Sure." Asuna nodded again and walked ahead, guiding Rozen to their destination.

As previously mentioned, it was a house with an attached water wheel.

In front of the house hung a signboard.

On the sign was written: "Lisbeth's Smith Shop."

Asuna went ahead and pushed the door open.

The next moment...

"Welcome!"

A lively voice echoed from inside the shop.

Rozen, walking behind Asuna, immediately saw the source of the voice.

It was a cheerful and energetic girl whose demeanor matched her lively voice.

The girl had pink hair and deep blue eyes. She looked around fifteen or sixteen years old, seemingly the same age as Rozen. She wore a dark crimson puff-sleeved top and a matching umbrella skirt. Over it all, she had on a pure white apron with a red bow tied at the chest. Rather than looking like the shop owner, she gave off the vibe of a waitress.

At this moment, she seemed to be inspecting the weapons displayed on the counter with a very professional smile on her face.

This made Rozen briefly believe that she was one of the hired NPC servers.

However, using the ability of "Mind's Eye" to perceive her heartbeat, movements, and even cellular activities, Rozen confirmed that she wasn't a programmed NPC but a player.

At the sight of this player, Asuna, who had always been reserved, finally showed a smile on her face.

It was a smile of unguarded trust, a smile that wouldn't be possible without regarding the other as a close friend.

Rozen hadn't anticipated that Asuna would ever wear such a smile.

Even more surprising, Asuna took the initiative to speak.

"Hello, Lis. It's been a while."

Asuna showed an unusually friendly attitude.

And Lizbeth was just as warm.

"Oh, it's you, Asuna."

The professional smile on the girl referred to as Liz vanished without a trace, replaced by a natural and carefree expression.

The two of them approached each other and extended their hands, shaking them firmly in a familiar way.

Needless to say, Asuna and Lizbeth's relationship was deeper than mere acquaintanceship; there was a profound bond between them.

"How did you find time to come over?" Lizbeth asked Asuna with a hint of confusion. "Wasn't there a briefing for the Floor 60 Boss strategy meeting today? With your personality, I'd expect you to be unavailable the whole day, right?"

"I brought a guest with me this time." Asuna replied helplessly. "He's someone who knows me and wants a high-performance weapon, so I introduced him to you."

"Well, thanks for that." Lizbeth said with a playful smile. Then, she continued, "So, where is this esteemed guest of yours?"

Saying this, Lizbeth leaned forward and looked behind Asuna, spotting Rozen.

"Hello."

Rozen nodded as a sign of acknowledgement, indicating that the introduction had been made.

However, as Lizbeth saw Rozen, her cheerful expression froze for a moment. Her eyes widened in apparent surprise.

What's going on?

Does this blacksmith know me?

Rozen was instantly puzzled.

While Rozen was still bewildered, Lizbeth grabbed Asuna's arm, and the two of them turned around, huddling their heads together.

"Li... Lis?"

Asuna was taken aback.

Clearly, even Asuna hadn't anticipated Lisbeth's sudden action.

But Lisbeth's expression was surprisingly serious.

"What... what's going on, Asuna?"

Lisbeth urgently asked.

"Why... why did you bring a man with you?"

This single sentence revealed just how surprised Lisbeth truly was.


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