November 22, 2023

Asuna set her daily wake-up routine at 7:50.

If you want to set this kind of time for not going up or down, it is because Zhang Yu's wake-up time is eight o'clock. Asuna likes to wake up ten minutes early and stay in bed and watch him sleep next to him.

This morning, Asuna also woke up to the soft sound of the woodwinds, and then gently turned around and lay down, holding her cheeks with her hands, looking at Zhang Yu's sleeping face.

From teaming up to become a strategy partner to get along day and night, to the two confiding their true feelings to each other. Got married, in this forest cabin on the twenty-second floor, just six days ago.

Asuna felt that although Zhang Yu was her most beloved person. But to be honest, he still has too much to be clear about. Whether it's the occasional disappearance at night, or his life experience in reality.

There is also looking at his peaceful sleeping face, and sometimes even showing an innocent smile. Let Asuna think Zhang Yu is cute, and think that he looks like a teenager much younger than herself.

But because of Zhang Yu's mature and steady attitude, Asuna felt that he was slightly older than herself.

Although I think it should be okay to just ask about age. Even if it is taboo to touch on topics in the real world, the two are already husband and wife, not to mention age, and in order to see each other again after returning to reality, their real names, addresses, and phone numbers are all information that must be exchanged first.

But Asuna couldn't get her words out of her mouth. Although she knew that as long as she opened her mouth, Zhang Yu would definitely tell her. But for Zhang Yu, who has always been shrouded in a layer of mysterious light, Asuna is sometimes afraid of the consequences of learning the truth.

She was afraid of mentioning real-world events or learning unforeseen truths. Married life here seems to become imaginary and empty.

For Asuna, today is the most important and only reality. It is in this forest that the home lives a stable life. Even if the physical body of reality dies without being able to detach from this world, as long as she can live here until the last moment, she will not have any regrets.

So, wake up from the dream after a while—Asuna, who thought so, quietly reached out and stroked Zhang Yu's cheek.

It's really innocent.

There is no need to doubt Zhang Yu's strength at all. The numerical level obtained from starting a team and progressing through the strategy, as well as the combat skills taught. No matter how severe the battlefield is, as long as he is around, it will not be unsettling.

But looking at Zhang Yu lying beside him, he could remember the hollowness he felt in his heart before. Let Asuna secretly make up her mind that she must protect him well.

Breathing lightly, Asuna leaned out and hugged Zhang Yu, and said very quietly:

"Jade ...... I like you the most, we're going to be together forever. ”

At this moment, Zhang Yu moved slightly and slowly opened his eyes. The eyes of the two intersect at a very close distance. In fact, with Zhang Yu's perception, he had long known that Asuna was awake and watching him. I was just afraid that I would scare Asuna when I suddenly opened my eyes, so I pretended to be asleep.

"Wow!"

Asuna flew back in a panic, sat up on the bed, and said with a red face:

"Early, early, Jade ...... Do you hear ...... Did you just say ......?"

"Morning, Asuna. Just now...... Which one do you mean?"

Zhang Yu sat up, yawned and smiled back at Asuna, she waved her hands vigorously.

"No, ahem, I didn't say anything! Let's get up quickly. ”

Asuna finally couldn't help it, blushing and clutching the quilt with both hands to cover her face.

After eating a breakfast of poached eggs, brown bread, salad, and coffee, and taking another two seconds to clean up the table, Asuna snapped her hands.

"So, where are you going to play today?"

"Go wherever you want......"

Zhang Yu smiled gently.

"Sure enough, with Yu, I live happily every day."

Asuna looked at Zhang Yu and smiled and told the truth from her heart.

From the moment she became a captive of SAO to the moment she met Zhang Yu, Asuna always had a layer of hard ice in her heart. Then after teaming up with Zhang Yu, he was carefully taken care of by him. Little by little, Asuna's frozen heart began to melt.

Looking back like this, Asuna was glad to have met Zhang Yu so quickly. Since the day I met him, every day has been filled with more colors and surprises than in the real world. With him, even the time here has become a rare experience.

Asuna clasped her hands on her chest, tapped her fingers on her lips and said:

"So where the hell are we going to play?"

Zhang Yu chuckled and waved his left hand to call out the map, switching to visible mode for Asuna to see. The window shows the forest and lake connected to this layer.

"These places are pretty good."

He was referring to a corner of the forest a little further from their home.

The 22nd floor is the lower floor, so the area is quite large. In terms of diameter, it should be more than eight kilometers.

There is a huge lake in the center, the main street district [Gaoral] village on the south bank, and the labyrinth area on the north bank. Other than that, the place is full of beautiful coniferous forests. Asuna and Zhangyu's cottage is located at about the southern end of the floor, near the periphery. Zhang Yu is now referring to the northeast, about two kilometers from his home.

"It's just a rumor I heard in the village yesterday...... It is said to be deep in the forest here...... Oh, that's going to happen. ”

"Huh?"

Asuna was stunned and asked the thoughtful Zhang Yu:

"What?"

"I heard it's a ghost."

Zhang Yu naturally understood that it was not a ghost, but Yui. Maybe it's another side quest, even if it's not. It feels good to have such a lovely adopted daughter.

Code name (SAO): YUI-MHCP001

ID: Yui (ユイ)

The real identity is SAO's "Mental State Management Support Program, Prototype No. 1", which is an AI (Artificial Intelligence) program that is responsible for managing and caring for the mental state of SAO players.

It has a human-like emotional system and a strong learning ability.,As you come into contact with the player, you'll learn its state.,For example, "frowning" and so on. It has GM privileges in SAO and cannot be destroyed by any attack.

Originally, it was a program that was responsible for managing and caring for the mental state of SAO players. However, on the day of the start of the game, it was forcibly blocked by the system for no reason. Therefore, the player's emotional and health values can only be monitored. However, due to the extremely bad player stats, Yui's mental system is out of order.

Later, Zhang Yu and Asuna, who found that their mental states were completely different, floated in the forest on the 22nd floor of Ayn Grant to look for Zhang Yu and Asuna.

Asuna, who had been speechless for a while, trembled and confirmed:

“…… That's, a ghostly monster? Like a ghost or a goblin? ”

"No, it's true. Gamer...... The ghost of a human being, and a girl. ”

Under Zhang Yu's ill intentions, he smiled evilly and intimidated.

"Woo......"

Asuna's expression instantly stiffened. She tugged at the corners of her mouth stiffly and smiled, retorting a little seriously.

"I, I said, this is a game world made up of digital archives, how could there be such a thing as a ghost."

"Haha, Asuna, you're so cute right now. Okay, sorry, that was just a joke. I've heard it's a white ghost, but I don't think it's a real ghost. Wouldn't it be nice to go out anyway and go to a more mysterious place?"

Zhang Yu covered his mouth and laughed quietly, waving his hand to apologize.

Asuna pursed her lips and looked out the window.