Chapter 30: A Pleasant Walk for Two
"Shared storage space?"
Hachiman leaned back on a vine-woven bench, watching the chestnut-haired girl in front of him organizing an inventory list.
"Yeah, since we basically move around together all the time," Asuna said without looking up, swiping on a translucent panel.
The mint-colored hem of her skirt rippled with the movement of her swinging legs.
"And usually it's you, Hachiman-kun, who takes more damage, so you use more potions. So I thought it'd be more convenient to have a shared storage space for consumables."
"Ah, that makes sense. But just to say beforehand, if I find any weird little bear-shaped cookies mixed into the warehouse…"
"Who would put snacks in the battle supplies!"
The girl, speaking first, lightly tapped Hachiman's forehead with a rolled-up parchment. "Besides that, let's go check out the west coast of the coral reef. I heard the newly opened observation deck lets you see glowing jellyfish."
Hachiman sighed as he looked at the little antenna hair on her head swaying gently behind her.
Just half an hour ago, she was complaining about Argo's fishing guide being misleading, and now she was enthusiastically planning sightseeing routes.
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The 22nd floor is a forest and water-themed floor rich in natural scenery.
The main district is called Coral Village. Though not large, because wild monsters don't respawn here, it acts like an oasis despite being the frontline.
Though only recently unlocked, many residents such as gathering-type players and sightseeing players seeking healing have gathered here.
Passing by an open-air café, Hachiman even saw three life-skill players competing in "cooking" by carving a watermelon — one of the pumpkin-headed players was trying to replicate the map of Aincrad.
"This floor feels completely different from the ones before. How should I put it… it's especially peaceful."
"Ah, it's a good place for a nap."
"Hachiman-kun, you're the same as always."
"Oh."
"But it feels more natural than before, and that's nice."
Hachiman, who planned to take the day off from the usual strategizing, received a message from Asuna asking to go for a walk.
He expected her to back out like usual, but considering how relaxing just walking on this floor is, the two ended up going out together.
"By the way, I haven't seen Kirito-kun recently. Did something happen?"
"Ah, I heard that guy has been hanging around with some medium-sized guild on the mid floors causing trouble. There's even rumors he joined that guild."
"Eh~ Could it be he found a good match?"
"Who knows. It's hard to imagine Kirito joining a guild."
"Heh, that's true."
Warm sunlight poured down, the weather was pleasant, and everything was lush and green. Hachiman felt the rare sense of enjoying a peaceful holiday.
This break was truly a refreshing change for him.
Following a path paved with glowing moss, they walked until a treehouse wrapped in stardust vines came into view.
"A secret base!" Asuna suddenly got excited, her eyes shining as if she had found a rare ingredient. "It has its own sky garden and panoramic skylight, and even the entrance has an automatic shoe-dryer cabinet…"
"That price could buy twenty mid-floor apartments," Hachiman said, glancing at the housing interface and silently calculating his recent profits from reselling rare ores. "Plus, you have to pay maintenance fees to the system's greedy merchants every month."
"But lying in a vine hammock, drinking lemon tea and watching the sunset — isn't that amazing!" She turned and her hair brushed past Hachiman's nose, carrying the sweet scent of lily of the valley. "Hachiman-kun, you're definitely tempted, right? You stared at the fireplace for ten seconds just now."
The dusk in Coral Village really did have a strangely alluring gentleness.
When the two finished their walk around the lake, Hachiman's housing list already included seven properties — of course, this had nothing to do with Asuna's starry-eyed influence.
They then wandered around and were surprised to see fishing players and many gathering players everywhere.
Although they occasionally encountered other players, since Asuna didn't wear a hood, every passerby would look at her with admiration or affection, then glance at Hachiman beside her with jealousy or "Why is he with her?" questioning looks.
'If I saw someone like me walking with a celebrity like Asuna, I'd probably think the same — they're clearly a mismatched pair.'
Though Hachiman thought this, he remained calm and indifferent to those gazes.
In fact, whenever they got such looks, Asuna would quietly pinch Hachiman's clothes, but of course, he was completely unaware. This had become an unconscious habit for her.
"Are you planning to set up a base on this floor, Asuna?"
"Yeah, that's the plan for now."
"With more options, there's no need to move every floor."
"What about you, Hachiman-kun?"
"Forget player housing for now, I think it's about time to buy a personal room."
"If there's a good room, I want to buy one too."
"Decorating it yourself should be fun."
"Somewhere with fewer people would be best."
"There aren't many inns in the main district anyway. Maybe we can find a good room out in the suburbs."
"That's true. I was lucky to book a room with a bath — I owe that to Miss Argo for the info."
"But Argo always disappears after updating the floors, and yet the next day before investigation, I already had the info on rooms with baths."
'Damn…'
"If we talk about fewer people, the 19th floor should have the least."
"You're so mean, Hachiman-kun!"
'That was close. Managed to change the subject.'
As dusk fell, the two returned to the town and parted ways after failing to find a suitable room.
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'Today was really fun.'
While soaking in the bath, Asuna recalled the day's moments. Recently, most members of the group had been extremely busy.
Since they pushed through to the 22nd floor, the oasis floor, everyone decided to strengthen their weapons and level up there.
Thus, during the clearer group's rest, the craftsmen were unusually busy.
With materials in short supply, the mid-floor hunting guilds became active, and the 22nd floor turned into a refuge for many.
'It seems Kirito-kun joined a guild. Maybe I should consider it too, but I don't want to join the two big guilds. I have no clue about the other legitimate guilds.
If only Hachiman-kun could start a guild, but he probably hates that kind of thing.'
In truth, Hachiman had no intention of founding a guild, but if Asuna suggested it, he might not refuse — he had secretly completed the guild founding quest, but in the end, it didn't happen.
'If I join a guild alone, we won't be able to be together as often. Forget it, I won't think about it. Time to sleep.'
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'A base, huh? It's time to seriously think about buying a room.'
Inspired by today's conversation, Hachiman began seriously considering purchasing a home.
His chuunibyou side thought, "A secret base is so cool," and compared to the temporary feeling of an inn, having his own room would give a stronger sense of belonging.
'It's time to officially find a place to call mine.'
The next day, his house-hunting journey around the 22nd floor yielded nothing, but by the lakeside he found a battle-damaged three-story tower that was within Coral Village's bounds yet deserted.
"What's this? A decoration without even an entrance? It'd be amazing if there was a house at the top of this tower."
Just as he said this, the housing interface suddenly popped up.
"Whoa, it really is a house."
As a hidden base, the price was unusually affordable, and the layout and facilities were satisfying. Hachiman immediately bought it. No one without a key could even see the entrance — a fortress with walls like bronze and iron.
Equipped with a great view, kitchen, and bathroom, it was a four-room house with a separate small cabin, exceeding expectations.
Though a bit large, it perfectly captured the secret base feeling, and the excited Hachiman immediately started gathering furniture to decorate it.