They set off again after a brief rest. Along the way, the group encountered several more monsters, but thanks to the seamless coordination between the three of them, each one was quickly dispatched.
The rewards piled up into a satisfying haul, materials, a few random equipment drops, and a decent amount of gold and EXP that lifted everyone's spirits.
Still, on that gondola, there were four passengers, yet only three fought. Each time combat broke out, Ren's eyes couldn't help but flick toward the one "excess" person, the one who always stepped back instantly, waving her arms and cheering from the sidelines.
"It's done!" Argo suddenly leapt to her feet, making the gondola rock dangerously.
"Hey, hey—sit still, will you? If this thing flips, you'll be the one dragging us all out of the water," Ren scolded lightly, gripping the edge of the boat.
Beaming, Argo held up a system parchment like a prized trophy. "I've finished the map from Rovia to Usco Village!"
Her eyes glittered with a sly sharpness.
Ren narrowed his gaze and sighed. "Don't tell me…" He paused deliberately, studying Argo's face before frowning. "…You're planning to sell these at a ridiculous price to everyone else, aren't you?"
Argo coughed theatrically, looking away as she muttered, "Well, you know… climbing mountains, mapping routes, almost falling to my death… all that hard work's worth something, isn't it?"
Asuna chuckled softly, hiding her smile behind her hand. Kirito only shrugged, as if already far too used to Argo's "merchant schemes."
Ren shook his head in exasperation. "Merchant? You look more like a bandit."
"Excuse me—strategic businesswoman sounds far classier," Argo shot back, hands on hips, chin tilted proudly.
"And I never force anyone to buy. If they don't want to, they can find their own way."
The boat filled with laughter again, making the journey feel lighter.
The day waned. The golden light of sunset stretched across the water like shards of broken amber.
After a long voyage, they finally reached their destination.
Usco Village lay nestled in the southwest of Caldera Lake, hidden behind jagged mountain ridges and veiled in the mist of the surrounding forest.
It was the first village players could reach after defeating the Area Boss, a landmark that signaled change.
Unlike the violent whirlpools of the lake, Usco was enclosed by a simple wooden palisade.
That rustic exterior carried a sense of peace, yet also a lingering solitude, like a forgotten settlement tucked away at the world's edge.
A rough cobblestone path led to the entrance, flanked by wooden posts bearing oil lamps. Their flickering flames cast uneven light onto the damp ground, stretching long shadows of unfamiliar travelers.
They landed at a rocky shore near the fishing docks, following the pebble path into the village.
Inside, the tranquility was striking. The arrival of four strangers did little to disturb the steady rhythm of village life.
Under the crimson glow of twilight, fishing gondolas returned one by one, while white smoke curled gently from rooftops, dissolving into the sky in strokes of simplicity.
A breeze swept past, stirring the lake's surface into ripples that caught the fading light.
"Let's find a place to rest already, I'm exhausted," Argo yawned, stretching, then strode ahead without waiting for agreement, dragging the group along.
They passed rows of plain wooden houses, oil lamps glowing in their windows like fireflies in the mist.
The marketplace still buzzed faintly with vendors' cries, mingled with the metallic ring of a blacksmith's hammer nearby.
Taverns lit their lamps, spilling the smell of roasting meat and sweet wine into the evening air, luring travelers to stop.
At the end of a cobblestone street, they found a small inn. A weathered wooden sign swung lazily above, while a metal wind chime tinkled softly in the breeze.
They rented four rooms, each retreating to their own to rest before dinner. At last, the long, tense day could end.
Ren was utterly drained. The Area Boss fight and the relentless journey afterward had wrung every drop of strength from him.
His body felt like lead, his bones hollow, muscles sore as if stretched to breaking.
Too weary to even remove his gear, he simply collapsed onto the plain wooden bed, the frame creaking softly beneath him.
The mattress was stiff, the blanket rough, yet to him it felt like heaven itself.
He slept deeply until nightfall, and would likely have slept straight through till morning if not for Argo's interruption.
"Hey, hey, hey! What the hell are you doing in there, taking forever?" Her impatient knocks thudded against the wooden door, her voice sharp with irritation.
Ren winced, running a hand through his messy, nest-like hair before dragging himself to open the door. His voice was hoarse, tinged with annoyance at being wrenched from an unfinished dream. "What is it? You guys go ahead and eat… I'm too tired."
"Eat, eat, eat, your stomach can wait!" Argo huffed, squeezing through the narrow doorway before he could protest, tugging him out like a cat dragged from its corner.
"Dinner's been over for ages! Keep sleeping and you'll miss this."
"…This?" Ren tilted his head, eyes still half-shut. "Isn't every night the same? We just… need sleep…"
Argo shot him a glare, then suddenly jumped up to rap him smartly on the head with her knuckles. "Ow!" Ren hissed as she declared triumphantly: "It's Christmas tonight, you blockhead!"
Ren froze, blinking as if she'd just told him a fairy tale. The mountain air outside seeped cold through the window, and in that instant he realized, it had truly been a long, long time since he'd thought about this day.
"…Really?" he muttered, rubbing his eyes, still sluggish. He turned back toward the bed. "Then the best gift for me… is to keep sleeping. Thanks."
"Hey, hey, don't turn your back like that!" Argo panicked, grabbing his sleeve and yanking him back, as if afraid he might vanish before her eyes.
She leaned in, tugging and grumbling. "Listen, I don't want to spend tonight alone, okay? Kirito and Asuna already ran off to Yofel Castle. That leaves just you and me!"
Ren paused, half-awake, staring at her through bleary eyes. With a long sigh, his voice still lazy, he murmured:
"…Feels like I just walked into a trap."
Argo cleared her throat, trying to hide a flicker of embarrassment, then nudged Ren's side with her elbow. "Well… let's just say I'm giving you the honor of being my Christmas Eve companion. How about it? Not too bad, right?"
Ren let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head helplessly, but in the end, he allowed her to drag him along.
They left the inn and wandered the village streets, illuminated by glowing magic stones. Houses were decorated with touches of festivity, filling the air with holiday cheer.
"Bet they're throwing a big party in Rovia right about now," Ren muttered.
Eventually, after meandering through the lantern-lit village, they stumbled across a small teahouse tucked into the slope of a hill.
From here, the view opened wide to the still waters of the lake, where moonlight shimmered like silver leaf scattered across the waves.
The shop was modest, with only a few rough wooden tables set outside. The scent of hot tea and light wine lingered in the crisp night air.
Ren dropped into a chair, leaning back, then without a word flipped open the menu. Suddenly his drowsy eyes lit up. "I'll take this… and this… oh, and add this one too."
The elderly shopkeeper raised a brow, while Argo gawked at the absurdly long list Ren rattled off. "Hey, are you planning to eat the entire place out of stock?"
Blinking innocently, Ren answered with calm finality, "This is my Christmas gift to myself. One full meal, then if I die tomorrow, I won't have regrets."
Argo was speechless for a moment, then burst into laughter. Propping her chin in her hand, her gaze softened.
"…You really are something else."
Before long, their table was piled with steaming dishes, crispy black bread, fragrant vegetable soup, hearty braised game meat, and spiced lake fish fresh off the grill.
The rising warmth drove away the night's chill.
Fork in hand, Ren's eyes sparkled with childlike delight. "Let's eat. The rest can wait till tomorrow."
Argo rested her cheek in her palm, watching him devour the food with unguarded joy. Overhead, snow began to fall in faint, scattered flakes, melting into tiny specks of light beneath the moon.
She glanced at him, then at the glassy lake reflecting the silver glow.
An idea flickered. Her lips curled into a grin as she pulled from her inventory a worn little notebook and a feather pen.
"Mind if I ask you a few questions?"
"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Nom nom nom." Ren nodded vigorously mid-bite, cheeks puffed like a squirrel, his muffled voice barely coherent.
Argo chuckled at the sight, then cleared her throat as if she were a serious journalist."Alright, first question… what's your name?"
Ren paused chewing, staring at her with a look that was half confusion, half resignation.
"Fine, next question: gender?" Argo scribbled quickly into her notebook, then looked up at him with a comically serious face.
"…." Ren only tilted his head, as though silently wondering if she'd come down with a fever tonight.
"I'm just kidding." Argo stuck out her tongue playfully, twirling the pen between her fingers. "But seriously, lately, a lot of people have been asking me about you."
"Mm." Ren gave a short nod without looking up, still focused on tearing into a roasted drumstick.
"What, you're not curious at all?" Argo narrowed her eyes, leaning slightly across the table as if trying to force him to care.
Ren shrugged, voice as detached as ever. "Would being curious make the food taste better?"
Argo froze for a second, then burst out laughing, smacking the table so hard the cups rattled. "Gods, you really are… unlike anyone else!"