Chu Yue is very strong, there is no doubt about it.

But in the hierarchical SAO game, it's the data that decides everything.

Although Chu Yue's account is an administrator account, he has been deprived of all his permissions, and now he is no different from an ordinary player.

Therefore, in the battle with the guild of the smiling coffin, Chu Yue only killed three people.

The president of the smiling coffin, after realizing that the numerical advantage was gone, snapped his fingers and fled with the remaining two members.

Chu Yue didn't catch up, the reason is very simple: the other party is an experienced killing guild, there must be many life-saving skills and special props, if you rush to chase it, maybe the boat will capsize in the gutter.

Being able to kill three important members has already dealt a huge blow to the smiling coffin, and there should be no need to worry about them doing evil again in the short term.

Putting away the sword, Chu Yue slashed open the system menu and found out the prop skill: [Directional Tracking].

Unfortunately, the system prompts that the positioning device used for directional tracking has failed and cannot be tracked.

The positioning device for directional tracking is also a special prop, and when Chu Yue threw it towards Ling Yin to bundle the immortal rope, she piggyback and threw the positioning device over with her, so she was able to follow Ling Yin to find here.

However, this positioning device is time-sensitive, and after fighting for such a long time, the time-baring period has long passed.

If you want to find Lingyin again, I'm afraid it's not that simple.

Back on the forty-ninth floor again, Chu Yue sent an email to Asuna, and then went to the hotel to sleep.

When I woke up the next morning, I was woken up by a knock on the door.

Chu Yue opened the door and saw Asuna, and suddenly had a headache.

"Why are you here so early......" Chu Yue said helplessly.

"I received your email in the morning, so I came to look for you." Asuna said, "You've found the tracker?" ”

"It's a long story." Chu Yue said, "Come in, I'll tell you slowly." ”

Let Asuna walk into the room, Chu Yue stretched again.

"It's better to stay in a hotel...... "Asuna said after sitting down, "Didn't Chu Yue think about buying a house?" ”

"I've thought about it." Chu Yue said, "But now that the raider is so busy, I have been staying at the top floor of the raider, and I don't often go back to other floors, so I may not go back much after buying a house." ”

"That's better than staying in a hotel every day." Asuna said.

"Actually, most of the time I don't stay in a hotel." Chu Yue said, "It's sleeping in the wild. ”

"Ugh......" Asuna sighed, "are all solo travelers like this......"

"In order to ensure your own safety, you can't have an adequate level." Chu Yue sat opposite Asuna and said, "Yesterday, after separating from you, I found the tracker. ”

Tell Asuna about yesterday, and Asuna is surprised.

"You mean, you met the man with the smiling coffin?" Asuna asked.

"Hmm." Chu Yue nodded, "The one who is called the boss is very strong, I'm afraid it will be the president of the smiling coffin." ”

"You...... Chu Yue, you, killed three people? Asuna asked again.

"Yes." Chu Yue nodded, "There are six of them in total, and each of them is a red name, so there is no systematic punishment for killing them." ”

"......" Asuna was silent for a while, and finally asked Chu Yue again: "You...... Don't you have any other thoughts about killing them? ”

Chu Yue was stunned for a moment, looked at Asuna, smiled and said, "Asuna, what world do we live in now?" ”

"Sword Art Online, it's ...... in the game world," Asuna said.

"Yes, we live here, and we will live here for a long time." Chu Yue said, "There is no government, no army, no law here. Even if you kill someone, your name will only turn orange and red, and you can restore your name after staying in the wild for a corresponding period of time. ”

"......" Asuna lowered her head, as if thinking something.

"I don't feel guilty at all about killing someone." Chu Yue said, "On the contrary, I regret a little that I didn't kill them all." They escaped three people last night, and tomorrow they may even kill three more normal players. ”

"You're right." Asuna suddenly raised her head and said to Chu Yue, "We can't let them go on like this anymore." ”

"Huh?" Chu Yue looked at Asuna.

"I want to apply for everyone in the strategy group, and let's go and kill the smiling coffin together!" Asuna said.

"Uh......" Chu Yue hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Are you serious?" Miss Asuna? ”

"Of course!" Asuna said, "Chu Yue, don't you also think that they should be killed? ”

"Even so, the ...... of the people who are mobilizing the teachers" Chu Yue said, "You know, I have always disliked this kind of group activity. ”

"Chu Yue just needs to help find them!" Asuna said, "You don't need to be in the fight. In terms of combat effectiveness, our strategy group is the most lacking. ”

"Tsk...... Even so, I don't have any information about them! Chu Yue said.

"Do you know that professional tracker named Lingyin?" Asuna said, "Besides, you've had direct contact with both Lingyin and the smiling coffin, so it's only fitting that you're up to you!" ”

"Hmm......" Chu Yue thought about it, and couldn't find a reason to refuse, but still said, "Can I refuse?" ”

"You're a ......," Asuna said impatiently, "and you don't have to do it, it's just to find someone, and it's also to contribute to the player, why are you so grinding?" ”

"Alas......" Chu Yue sighed, it seemed that this trouble couldn't be pushed off, so she had to nod: "Okay, okay, I know." I'll go find it. ”

"Hey, hey!" Asuna finally smiled, "Come on! ”

That being said......

However, the coffin of the smile never reappeared.

Not only the smiling coffin, Chu Yue searched for several days in a row and inquired about many players, but no one knew the news of Ling Yin.

Although Asuna did gather a crusade force of more than fifty people composed of the Holy Dragon United Cadre Leader, the Blood Alliance Knights, and other powerful players in the guild and members of the strategy group, she couldn't find anyone with a smiling coffin, and everything was nonsense.

In the end, the matter could only be put on hold for the time being. Everyone agreed that when they found the smiling coffin again in the future, they would gather again to exterminate them.

The night of December 24, 2023.

This is the second Christmas Eve in SAO.

The strategy group has reached the 50th floor, but the 50th floor has just been completed a few days ago, and all of them are NPC shops, so this Christmas Eve is more lively on the 49th floor, with more NPC shops and player stores.

Moreover, the system also started the Christmas campaign. There is light snow in the sky, the city is decorated with Christmas costumes, and there are a lot of convenient items in the system shop that don't usually appear.

Just like the last Christmas, there will also be special bosses for Christmas events in several years.

Forty-ninth floor, Mukeen, Central Plaza.

"Isn't it twelve o'clock in the evening when we agreed?" Chu Yue said, walking in front of Kirita and Yuki, "Good evening, Kirito, Yuki, Merry Christmas." ”

"Good evening." Kirito's eyes were a little fluttering, and he didn't look at Chu Yue squarely.

"Good evening, Mr. Chu Yue, Merry Christmas." Xingya said to Chu Yue with a smile.

"Speaking of which, when we meet again later, it's always at the meeting of the strategy group." Chu Yue said to Kirito, "I haven't met alone like this since then." ”

"Well, that's right." Kirito smiled a little awkwardly.

I'm sure I'm not going to meet you! I'm afraid you'll take out women's clothes again......

"That's right! Recently, my sewing level has been improved again, and I can also add some single attributes to the tryout! Chu Yue said, scratched open the system menu, and was about to take out the trial from the inventory when he was stopped by Kirito.

"Chu Yue......" Kirito looked reluctant and smiled at Chu Yue: "This matter, let's talk about it slowly in the future, is it okay......"

"Of course! I know! Chu Yue said very happily, "It's the New Year after Christmas, and you won't go out to practice again if you don't know how to level up, let's go out these days, hehe, there is time." ”

Hearing Chu Yue's last "hehe" laugh, Kirito suddenly shuddered.

And in the eyes of Xing, who didn't know what the situation was, he only saw Chu Yue and Kirito having a good relationship with each other smiling and chatting.

"By the way, what the hell are you looking for me?" Chu Yue said, "Asuna should still be busy over there, right?" After all, there is a guild, and it is estimated that she will have to go to the guild's Christmas party first, and then she can come to our small party again. ”

"Hmm." Kirito nodded, "Regarding that, I remember Chu Yue you said that the 'Resurrection Cornerstone' used for Yuki was obtained at the Christmas event, right?" ”

"Hmm." Chu Yue nodded, "You're right. ”

"Can you tell me, what is the activity?" Kirito asked.

Chu Yue looked at Xing and asked Kirito, "Do you still need the 'Resurrection Cornerstone'?" ”

"No, I didn't mean to use it." Kirito said, "It's just that I want to give you back the cornerstone of resurrection." ”

"Give it back to me?" Chu Yue was even more strange, "I don't need it." ”

"Ah, this, I discussed it with Yuki." Kirito explained, "Of course, Chu Yue, our agreement has always been in effect, it's just ...... All along, I haven't thanked you well for saving Xing. After discussing it with Yuki, I felt that there seemed to be nothing else suitable as a thank you gift other than giving you back a resurrection cornerstone. ”

"What, it's such a trivial matter!" Chu Yue suddenly felt a little bored, "No need, give me a Christmas gift that I don't need, you guys are too boring." ”

"Please!" Kirito said suddenly.

"Please!" And Xing also bent down towards Chu Yue.

"......" looked at the two of them, and Chu Yue said helplessly, "You two guys ......"

"We can't do anything more for the dead, but ......," Kirito said.

"For the living, at least we can do something for the living......" Yuki replied.

"......" was silent for a while, and Chu Yue said, "I understand, so I'll tell you a little clue." ”

Kiriwa and Yuki immediately looked up happily.

"However, whether you can find the boss or not depends on your own creation." Chu Yue said again.

This sentence is, of course, superfluous. For Kirito, as long as there is one clue, how can he not find the location of the event boss?

Ayn Grant, Thirty-Fifth Floor, Lost in the Forest.

"That's it...... this is it," Xing said as he rubbed his hands a little cold.

"Hmm." Kirito nodded, "Chu Yue won't lie to us, keep looking." ”

"Hmm." Yuki nodded.

Suddenly, a white light flashed on the other side, and several people were teleported.

"Yo." The person who came was the guild "Wind Forest Volcano", and the president was Klein.

"Kirito ......" luckily retreated to Kirito's side.

"It's fine." After Kirito finished speaking to Yuki, he looked at Klein and the others: "You guys...... Track me? ”

"Sort of." Clay also said, "You're here for the resurrection prop, too." ”

"Hmm." Kirito nodded.

"Don't fight for that kind of prop whose authenticity is unknown!" Klein said.

"No, it's not that it's true or not......," Kirito said, "The resurrection item is real, but ...... To use it, there is a limit of 10 seconds to death. ”

Klein and the others were stunned for a moment.

"How do you know how clearly?" Klein asked.

Kirito didn't speak, but pulled out the sword on his back.

The rest of the Wind Forest Volcano was immediately ready for battle.

Fortunately, Klein knew that Kirito was not this kind of person, so he calmed down his subordinates and said, "I said you, do you want to die in this kind of place with your wife?" ”

However, at this time, a white light also flashed behind Klein, and dozens of people appeared at once.

"You're being followed, Klein, too." Kirito said.

Everyone in the Wind Forest Volcano suddenly retreated in front of Kirita and Yuki, protecting Kirita and Yuki behind them.

"Abominable ......"

"What should I do?"

"I'm ......" Kirito stared at the guild that suddenly appeared, preparing for battle.

"Damn bastard! Kirito! You go! Suddenly, Klein suddenly said loudly.

"Klein......" Kirito was stunned for a moment.

"Let's go! Here's it to us! Klein said.

"Kirito ......," Yuki said to Kirito.

Kirito didn't hesitate anymore, and together with Yuki, he turned around and ran deeper into the forest.

The Christmas Eve bell rang. Just like last year, the special boss of the Christmas event fell from the sky and landed in front of Kirito and Yuki.

Wind Forest Volcano is a small guild of a strategy group under the leadership of Klein, although it is small, but its strength is not weak.

Even in the face of a large guild of dozens of people, Klein and the others still won. Of course, this is mainly because neither the Wind Forest Volcano nor this newly arrived guild dares to make a lethal PK to the player.

After all, if you die in this game, you really die.

The Great Guild that defeated dozens of people, and the people of the Wind Forest Volcano also sat on the snow, panting and resting.

After a while, Kiriwa and Yuki walked out of the event dungeon.

"Kirito ......" Klein said when he saw Kirito.

"Thank you, Klein." Yuki said to Klein, "But, I'm sorry, we're going to use this item to give it back." ”

"Give it back to someone else?" Klein said a little strangely, "What the hell is going on?" ”

"In ......the future," Kirito said, "I'll tell you about it when we've cleared the game and returned to real life......

"Hmm......"

Kirito and Yuki were about to leave, but just after a few steps, Kirito paused.

"Even if it's to know what's going on, Klein...... You have to live, too...... Kirito said.

"......" Yuki didn't speak, turned around and bowed to the people of the Wind Forest Volcano, and then followed Kirito and left with Kirito.

Kirito and Yuki returned to the forty-ninth floor of Mu Keen together, and happened to meet Chu Yue who was wandering around the town again.

"Ah, Chu Yue." Kiriwa and Yuki ran to Chu Yue's side.

"You're back, how's it going? Is it still going well? Chu Yue asked.

"It's okay...... Kirito said, "I met Klein, and he helped me out of a big problem." ”

"Klein......" Chu Yue said, "he can even find the right place?" ”

Kirito was a little embarrassed and said, "He followed me in the past." ”

Chu Yue smiled helplessly and didn't say anything.

At this time, Kirito opened the system menu and sent a transaction request to Chu Yue.

After Chu Yue agreed, Kirito put the resurrection cornerstone in the transaction column, and the transaction was completed.

Chu Yue also opened the item bar, looked at this thing that he didn't seem to need, and said with a smile: "In this way, you are also satisfied." ”

Kirito and Yuki smiled at Chu Yue, but did not answer.

"By the way, I just went to find Asuna, but it seems like she'll have to wait a little longer for the guild party. It seems that the guilds of the other raider groups have also come over, so a group of people should celebrate together. ”

"Yes......" Kirito said, "Looks like Asuna is also very powerful......"

"Where are we going next?" Chu Yue asked Kirito and Yuki.

"Well, why don't you go to our house?" Xing said suddenly.

"Huh?" Chu Yue said, "You bought a house? ”

"Hmm." Kirito nodded, "Right here, Yuki said that the house in the town is very secure, so I bought it." ”

"Didn't you tell me sooner!" Chu Yue immediately said, "Let's go, hurry up and take me to see your new house!" ”

Hearing Chu Yue say "new house", Kiriwa and Yuki immediately blushed.

Kirito and Yuki's house is not very large, but the decoration is very warm.

Especially since it's Christmas, the exterior of the house is automatically decorated with a Christmas look.

"Looks good!" Chu Yue walked around the house, returned to the living room and said.

"Thank you." Yuki walked over and brought tea to Chu Yue and Kirito who were sitting on the sofa, and then sat down himself.

"By the way, you two, are you married?" Chu Yue suddenly asked.

As soon as this question was asked, Kirito and Yuki were stunned for a moment, and then they both glanced at each other, but found that the other party also glanced at themselves, and suddenly they both looked at the other side at the same time......

"You two, it's really a tacit understanding...... Chu Yue said with a smile, "Seeing that you are blushing, you should have done everything you should have done, right?" Why aren't you married? ”

In Sword Art Online, both NPCs and players can do things between men and women, which was originally a selling point of the original game.

Of course, female gamers also have an anti-harassment system, so there is no need to worry about discord in this regard.

Kirito and Yuki have been in the same bed for a long time, but nothing really happened until the black cats on a moonlit night were wiped out. Now that a long time has passed, if the two of them still sleep in the same bed all the time, Chu Yue can't believe that nothing has happened.

Looking at the reactions of these two people now, something must have happened.

It's a pity that SAO is a video game world, and female gamers will not conceive children. When it was first designed, the fertility system was also planned to be updated in the future, and it was not available during the public beta.

Just when the atmosphere was suddenly awkward, the voice of "drip-drip-" suddenly sounded in front of Kirito.

"Huh?!" Kirito was taken aback all of a sudden, looked at the system prompt, and then looked at Yuki in surprise.

"Huh? What's what? Chu Yue immediately became interested again, "Is it a gift?" A Christmas gift between lovers? ”

And Yuki's expression was also full of curiosity, as if he didn't know.

However, this expression only lasted for two seconds, and Yuki remembered something, and his whole face turned red, and he said loudly, "No! Don't open! ”

"Oh?" Chu Yue smiled, and the smile was a little lewd, "Could it be, between lovers, that kind of thing?" ”

Xing's face suddenly turned even redder, and he defended loudly: "Cai, it's not!" Yes, it was a gift from a long time ago! Ben, the ...... who shouldn't have stayed"

"It's not something to be shy about, so I can watch it, right?" Chu Yue asked.

It's hard to change Kirito now.

Kirito was very curious about what the Christmas gift from this Yuki was, but if Yuki really didn't want Chu Yue to see it, Kiritto couldn't open it at this time.

The atmosphere was awkward again, and only Kirito still kept ringing "drip-drip-" in front of him.

"Alas......" Finally, Yuki sighed and said, "Okay...... Chu Yue, you, saved my life, for us, you are not an outsider, Kirito, you can open it. ”

Kirito nodded, and opened the gift, and the sound of "drip-drip-" finally disappeared.

"But, but!" Xing still blushed a little and said, "You guys, after listening to it, don't laugh!" ”

Chu Yue and Kirito looked at each other, and then nodded together.

The gift is a regular octahedron.,The name is [Message Crystal],This is a prop specially used to leave a message.,After activation, it will release the voice recorded by the original user.,Now it's a relatively common prop.。

Kirito opened the message crystal, and the message crystal glowed, and it floated in the air, and the sound of luck came from the water spirit.

"Kirito, Merry Christmas.

By the time you hear that, I think I'm dead. Because if I were alive, I intend to take out this crystal the day before Christmas and say these words to you myself.

That one...... Let me first explain to you why this message was recorded.

I, I should, not live long. Of course, I never felt that the Black Cat Troupe, including Kirito, was not strong enough. Because Kirito is strong, the other members are getting stronger and stronger.

How do you explain that...... At this time, in another guild, a friend who had always been very good to me died. She was a coward like me, so she only stayed in a safe place to hunt, but due to bad luck, she was attacked by a monster and died when she was alone. Since then, I've thought about a lot of things and finally figured it out. In order to live in this world forever, no matter how strong the companions around you are, if you don't have the will to live and the mood to live absolutely, you can't do it.

I, to be honest, have been scared since the first time I walked to the practice area. In fact, I don't want to get out of the starting town at all. Although everyone in the Black Cat Group is very good in reality, and everyone is happy together, I just hate going out to fight. If you keep fighting with this mood, you will die one day. It's not anyone's fault, it's my own.

From that night on, Kirito told me every night that it was absolutely fine, that he would never die. So if I die, Kirito will blame himself very much and refuse to forgive himself. That's why I wanted to record this message. Because I want to tell Kirito that it's not your fault. It's me who has the problem. The time will be set for next Christmas because I want to at least try to live until then. I want to walk with you on the snowy streets.

In fact...... I know how strong Kirito is. Because when I woke up in Kirito's bed, I looked at the window you opened from behind.

Even though I've thought about it, I still don't know why Kirito is hiding his true rank and fighting with us. But, thinking that you might tell us yourself one day, I didn't mention it to anyone else...... I was very happy to know that you were amazing. Knowing this, as long as I am by your side, I can sleep peacefully. Also, it's important for you to be with me, which makes me happy. If so, it makes sense for a coward like me to climb to the top.

That one...... Actually, what I'm trying to say is that even if I die, Kirito will try to live. Live and look at the world until the end, please help me find out what it means to create this world, what it means for a coward like me to come into this world, and what it means for me to meet you. That's what I want.

Belch...... Looks like there's still a lot of time left. There's a lot of stuff you can record. Well, then, since it's a rare Christmas, I'm going to sing a song. Actually, I'm quite confident in my singing voice. Let's just sing "Red-nosed Elk". Actually, I wanted to sing some cool songs like "Winter Wonderland" and "WhiteChristmas", but unfortunately I only remember the lyrics of this song.

Why only remember the "red-nosed elk"? The night before, Kirito had told me that whoever it is, he will definitely be able to do something for others. Even someone like me would have a sense of staying in such a place. When I heard these words, I was so happy that I remembered this song. For some reason, there is a feeling that I am an elk and you are Santa Claus...... If I had to say anything, I felt like a father. My dad ran away from home when I was a kid, so when I slept next to you every night, I wondered if that was how my dad felt. Uh, then, I'm going to sing.

/ Mr. Elk with a big red nose

Always teased by everyone/teased

But / Christmas of that year

Santa Claus / So said

On the dark night road / your shiny / nose / is very useful

Always crying / Mr. Elk / smiled on this night

……

To me, you're like the star that has been shining on me on the other side of the dark road. Kirito, goodbye. It's great to meet you and be by your side.

Thank you.

Good bye. ”

Fortunately, although she was shy at first, she couldn't help crying when she heard it halfway through.

And when Yuki started humming the song "Red-Nosed Elk" in the recording, Kirito's tears also flowed.

Although Chu Yue found the tears of the two, she pretended not to find it.

Why are you crying?

I guess I was impressed...... Whether it's Kirito or Yuki......

After the recording was played, the message crystal lost its light and fell from the air into Kirito's hands.

"Sa, Sachi (the romanized word for 'yuki' in Japanese) ......," Kirito said suddenly.

"Uh-huh?" Fortunately, I finally noticed that Kirito was actually crying too.

Kirito swooped down on Yuki and hugged Yuki on the sofa.

"We, we, let's get married...... Kirito said.

In an instant, tears welled up.

"Hmm!" Yukiya hugged Kirito and said crying.