As planned, Asuna and Lizbeth explored Urbus, while Hachiman intended to laze around. But…
"No entertainment here… wish I had a book," he muttered.
Boredom hit hard. A message from Asuna about tomorrow's plans changed his mind. He decided to join them.
"Find anything cool?" Hachiman asked.
"Nothing too new," Asuna replied.
"Yeah," Lizbeth agreed. "Oh, what's that?" Asuna darted to a stall.
Hachiman and Lizbeth followed. Seizing the moment, he asked Lizbeth about yesterday.
"She was shaken by the death. Kept it light, no details," Lizbeth said.
"Thanks."
"She mentioned your trio's efforts, that's all."
"Pretty much."
"Asuna said you avoided names during the post-battle talk. Since frontlines are unpredictable, she's avoiding them too."
(Frontlines are messy. Asuna's sharp, though. Could mention Kirito, but maybe later.)
"Hachiman-kun, Liz, over here!" Asuna waved eagerly.
They jogged over.
"New floor, any plans?" Hachiman asked.
"Same old for me—blacksmithing's limited. Hunt materials, level up," Lizbeth said.
"Upgrade my weapon, level up," Asuna added.
"Leveling focus, then," Hachiman concluded.
"Raid pace should pick up," Asuna noted.
"Let's hunt and gather materials tomorrow," Hachiman suggested.
"Fine by me," Lizbeth said.
"No problem," Asuna agreed.
Next day, they fought relentlessly, leveling up and collecting materials. Asuna gathered for her weapon's next upgrade, entrusting Lizbeth. Rumors spread of a skilled player-blacksmith at a stall, rapidly gaining expertise. Lizbeth, uninterested in public work, stayed their personal smith.
(She'll take other jobs eventually, but failing with strangers would suck. Better to practice with us, Hachiman thought.)
On the way back, Hachiman announced, "I'll be gone a few days. Got stuff to do."
"Can I come?" Asuna asked instantly.
Hachiman was touched but firm. "Not that kind of errand, but I'm going solo. Hunt or gather info as you like."
Asuna felt a pang of loneliness—her first long separation from him. His vague purpose seemed suspicious. (He's usually clear about goals. What's up?)
"Okay, we'll keep busy," she said.
"Careful, Hachiman," Lizbeth added.
"Thanks. Contact me if anything urgent comes up," he replied.
That night, Hachiman met Argo, buying info on the martial arts skill quest location. He'd assumed Argo knew the spot, but she noted his knowledge was spotty.
Next day, Hachiman reached a rocky mountain east of Urbus. Scaling cliffs, navigating caves, and sliding through waterways, he used his stealth and savvy to dodge enemies, arriving at a lone hut in minutes. Accepting the quest, he steeled himself to break a giant boulder barehanded.
(Did this once. There's a trick.)
He pounded the rock steadily, making good progress. By the next day, with cracks halfway through, he sensed eyes on him and leaped back.
(Safe zone, no monsters. Someone's here? Multiple?)
Creeping to the hut, he peeked. (Liz? No way she'd come alone… Wait.)
A thud sounded above. Someone landed behind him, grabbing his shoulders.
"Liz, got him!" Asuna called.
"Coming!" Lizbeth replied.
Hachiman, crouching in despair, muttered, "A-Asuna-san, why are you here?"
"You were acting shady, so I tried buying your location from Argo. She refused without your okay, so I bought the same map or info you did."
(Argo, you…!)
"The spot was close, so we dropped by while gathering info," Asuna said.
"So proactive…" Hachiman groaned.
"Just curious. Didn't want to intrude, but Argo smirked, saying 'thanks for the business!'"
(Argo!)
Asuna, worried by Hachiman's slumped form, asked, "Was I… a bother?"
"N-No, not at all, Asuna-san," he stammered.
"What's wrong, Hachiman?" Lizbeth asked.
"H-Hi, Lizbeth-san, long time," he fumbled.
"Definitely suspicious," Asuna said.
"Suspicious face?" Lizbeth echoed.
"Face?" Hachiman blurted, digging his grave deeper.
The girls nodded, flipping him over. On his face… a glorious mustache. In bold terms:
"Hachie-mon!?" they gasped.
They collapsed in laughter.
"I didn't want to say…" Hachiman said, teary-eyed.
"Sorry, didn't expect this," Asuna giggled.
"Sorry," Lizbeth added.
"Looks like Argo," Asuna noted.
"Yeah, probably failed this quest, and it became her trademark," Hachiman guessed.
"Martial arts? What's it like?" Lizbeth asked.
"Accept the quest, get this face. Doesn't go away till you finish. You gotta—" He tapped the cracked boulder. "Break this barehanded."
He punched it.
"Looks tough…" Lizbeth said.
"No pain, but takes grit," Asuna observed.
"Might take till tomorrow night. Don't worry about me, do your thing," Hachiman said.
"Should we try it?" Asuna asked.
"Do it later when you're higher level. Liz, unless you're frontline-focused, you can skip it," Hachiman advised.
"Later, then," Asuna said.
"Let's head back, Asuna," Lizbeth suggested.
"Good luck, Hachiman-kun," Asuna cheered.
"I'll message when I'm done," he replied.
(Another dark history…) Embarrassed, he hammered the rock, finishing early by evening.
As he prepared to leave, he sensed someone. (Why so many visitors? …Kirito?)
Hiding, he watched. His stealth outmatched Kirito's, who didn't notice. Kirito, oblivious to the quest's details, accepted it, got the mustache, and slumped, dismayed, before punching the rock.
(He took it blind? Argo didn't warn him.)
Hachiman jumped out. "Yo, Kirie-mon! Long road ahead, keep smashing, Kirie-mon!"
Grinning with a thumbs-up, he fled as Kirito let out a silent scream.