When Ryuto arrived at the front of the Silverlight Pavilion, he found that Asuna and the other members of his guild were already waiting.
Without a word, he gestured for them to follow and strode directly toward the labyrinth's boss chamber.
The familiar bronze double doors stood before them. Ryuto turned to face the group, his expression calm yet resolute.
"So far, our guild has suffered the fewest casualties among the raiding groups. Remember this: as long as I am here, death itself will not touch you. Now—let's go."
He pushed the doors open and charged inside, leading the way.
The towering boss let out a furious roar, brandishing its weapon as it advanced.
Ryuto and Asuna exchanged a brief glance and rushed forward. Their movements were precise and fluid, complementing one another perfectly as they pulled the boss's aggro and held its attention.
Minute after minute ticked by until, at last, the monster bellowed in defeat. Its body dissolved into countless streams of light and scattered into the air.
Cheers erupted. The raiding party embraced one another, voices ringing with relief and joy. They were one step closer to clearing the game. The members of Ryuto's guild called out his name, their trust in his leadership reaffirmed.
Ryuto raised his hand, silencing them, and addressed his guild directly.
"Congratulations. But remember—we are still one step away from death. Every floor in this hundred-level game is a trial by fire. Today we conquered the twenty-first floor; tomorrow, new challenges await. You are all the pride of this guild, but pride can lead to carelessness. You only have one life. Never forget what I've told you."
"Yes, President!"
Their voices answered in unison. With that, Ryuto turned and led the way upward, onto the twenty-second floor.
The new floor opened into a breathtaking landscape. Rolling meadows and serene lakes stretched under a bright sky. Ryuto had already chosen this place in his heart—here, he and Asuna would make their home.
"Asuna," he said lightly, almost playfully, "remember what I promised? I'll give you a home. Look around—the scenery here is perfect for us."
Asuna's face lit up. She nodded firmly, her eyes shining.
"Mm."
Together, they spent the afternoon searching, until at last they found a quiet log cabin tucked within the woods. It was small and unassuming, but Ryuto purchased it without hesitation, spending all of his private col.
That evening, the two of them stood on the balcony. A gentle breeze stirred Asuna's hair as she gazed out across the lake, her expression soft, serene.
Ryuto stepped forward, embracing her gently from behind.
"This will be our home from now on. We're no longer wanderers. We have each other… and a place to return to."
Looking at Asuna, Ryuto felt as if he were dreaming. He had won the love of the girl who seemed like a goddess, yet the knowledge of this fragile world filled him with unease. His voice dropped, his eyes uncertain.
"Asuna… do you think our relationship will only exist here, in this game?"
Asuna quickly pressed her hand over his mouth, frowning.
"Ryuto, don't ever say that. My name is Asuna, and I will always love you. What we have isn't bound by a virtual world. I don't even want to imagine life without you—but I know one thing for certain: I won't let you disappear."
Her conviction washed over him, and all his doubts melted away. Ryuto said nothing more. Instead, he drew her into a kiss. They embraced on the balcony, lips meeting again and again as if the world around them no longer existed.
Heat flared between them. Ryuto lifted her in his arms, carrying her into their new home.
Above, the pale moon slipped behind drifting clouds, as though shyly averting its gaze. Tonight was destined to be theirs.
The next morning, sunlight streamed across the balcony. Asuna had been awake for some time, watching Ryuto's sleeping face with quiet happiness. The memory of the night before made her blush faintly as she pulled him closer.
Ryuto stirred, slowly opening his eyes. He found Asuna's bright gaze fixed upon him, her smile radiant.
"Asuna… you're already awake."
She only snuggled closer, murmuring softly.
"I'm so happy. I really like you, Ryuto-kun."
Still half-dazed, Ryuto instinctively held her tight, breathing in the faint fragrance of her hair.
"I feel the same. This death game is the worst misfortune of my life… but meeting you within it is the greatest blessing." He chuckled lightly. "Maybe I should even thank Kayaba Akihiko for that."
They laughed quietly together, clinging to the warmth of each other's presence. But soon, Ryuto's stomach gave a loud growl, breaking the spell.
Asuna giggled and slipped from his arms.
"Alright, Ryuto-kun, I'll make us breakfast."
Ryuto remained sprawled on the bed, the quilt weighing him down like a seal. As he lazily watched Asuna bustling about, a small envelope suddenly appeared in his field of vision. Curious, he reached for it and opened it.
"Master Ryuto, I know you and Lady Asuna just bought a new house, but you can't lose yourselves in peace and comfort. The guild needs you. Get up quickly!"
Ryuto had no choice but to get up. By then, Asuna had already finished preparing breakfast. After they ate, he dressed, pulled on a plain traveling cloak, and the two made their way to the Silverlight Pavilion—his guild's temporary headquarters on the twenty-second floor.
Once inside, Ryuto tugged off the cloak and let out an exaggerated sigh.
"It's so troublesome sometimes… this damn charm of mine."
Asuna gave him a light slap on the arm, rolling her eyes.
"Narcissist!"
Ryuto just chuckled and didn't bother arguing, leading her straight toward his office.
Along the way, guild members greeted him with smiles.
"Congratulations, President."
He nodded and returned their greetings warmly, until he reached his office door—where Yulier was already waiting.
"Lord Ryuto," Yulier said seriously, "you must remain focused. You cannot let personal feelings distract you from your greater ideals."
As she spoke, she cast a meaningful glance at Asuna. Ryuto couldn't tell if he was imagining things, but a faint tension filled the air, almost like jealousy.
Asuna, unwilling to back down, replied firmly, "I always remind Ryuto-kun of that. Every single day."
Yulier's expression stiffened for a moment, then she smiled again, her tone shifting to businesslike formality.
"Of course, Asuna-sama. Today you're leading the leveling party, aren't you? Don't keep the members waiting. I'll take care of things here with Ryuto-sama—as his personal secretary."
"…?"
Ryuto froze, staring between the two of them. In an instant, the atmosphere had turned into a quiet standoff, and his head throbbed at the unexpected clash. Without a word, he walked into the office and shut the door firmly behind him.
Both women blinked, startled into silence. Realizing they had pushed him too far, they turned away from each other, each letting out a huff at the same time.
Afterward, Asuna dutifully led the leveling team, while Yulier calmly reported on the guild's status to Ryuto. Order was restored, and Ryuto finally allowed himself to relax.
"Good thing I didn't try to placate either of them," he muttered to himself. "Silence and a bit of anger covered it up nicely. As expected, I'm always quick-witted."
...
TN:
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