After handing over the materials to Lizbet, I followed Lizbet's instructions and went to the workshop of the armor shop.

Lizbet arranged the materials on the iron table in the armor shop workshop, and after arranging the bow, she sucked it into the bow with a light blow with a hammer. Immediately afterward, the bow transformed into a completely different form of bow and arrow, and the light diminished.

And when the light disappeared completely, the bow that looked like it was made of birch had a special pattern of green, black, and red, which looked like it was made of two large tusks. Its name is "Square Arrow". When I open the details window to see the performance, it's worth twice as much as the dagger I used to capture.

The bow, which seemed to be difficult for even the wild boar on the second floor to defeat, did not expect to be able to match the enemy on the fifty-fourth floor. Paddy field. At the same time, I also realized once again that Lizbet's forging skills were genuine, and I also had Asuna's great trust.

After paying for Lizzebet's Rebirth Bow and receiving it, we made our way to the town on the 48th floor, as Asuna had said, and arrived at a café with a slightly luxurious but quiet atmosphere. Tea party for a few.

From the outside, it looked luxurious, and I thought it must be quite luxurious inside, but when I entered, I was a little surprised to find that the inside was quiet and peaceful, as if I was in the middle of a forest.

"The atmosphere was quite calm. I thought it was going to be noisy inside because it was so gorgeous outside. ”

Lizbet smiled bitterly:

"The outside doesn't always match the inside."

Say. Of course, in the real world, there is a criminal with a very handsome face, but an extremely brutal personality, so I think Liz Bett's words make sense.

A short time later, Asuna brought us to the table and sat down in the order of Asuna, Lizbet, and me. Also, Asuna often sat next to me and smiled after one look at me, so I laughed too.

"Well, what should I order? Liz, do you know anything about this store? ”

Lizbet said to Asuna with an annoyed look on her face after showing a surprised expression.

"Hey, did you come here without any prior news? Well, this is my house, and I come there a lot, so I know what kind of store it is. ”

Lizzebet picked up the menu next to it, opened it, and placed it on the table. When I turned my attention to it, I saw that it was black on a white background and green on a white background, and there were some pictures, probably images of the menu. It's a very simple way to write.

Just as I was thinking this, Lizbet pointed to a certain place and shouted at us.

"The shop recommends a latte. Milk and coffee, the sweetness is also exquisite. The rare cheesecake is more recommended. I eat this combo a lot, but what do you guys do? ”

"Liz Bess said it well, but the menu at this restaurant is more extensive than I thought it would be." There are really many types of cakes, including shortbread, tiramisu, chiffon cake, chocolate cake, etc., not only cakes, but also scones and biscuits.

In addition, the coffee menu has not only lattes, but also drip coffee, soy milk lattes, and cocoa. It's like a big coffee shop in the real world. No, this could be a coffee shop designed with that in mind. I don't know what to ask.

"Well, I think I want a caramel macchiato and cheesecake."

Asuna pointed to the menu and said what she wanted, then shouted to me.

"What do you want?"

I was surprised by Asuna's words and hurriedly flipped through the menu. If you ask me... I want a soy milk latte and tiramisu. I've never eaten anything like this since I came into this world, so it's just right.

"I want a soy milk latte and tiramisu, and this combination seems to work best for me."

Lizbet said "I see", and shouted to the male NPC staff next to her, calling out the name of the product that I, Asuna, and Lizbet wanted to order.

The NPC who received the customer's order said "Wait a minute" and walked briskly towards the kitchen, though it looked a little strange as it looked like a real coffee shop clerk.

When you live in this world, sometimes you feel as if you were born into this world from the beginning and have lived in this world for the rest of your life. I really think the world is so well made that to say it's the world in the game feels like a lie. It's like water, it's like a coffee shop clerk, it's like life.

But when I saw Lizzebet's hair, I realized that the world was a game world. People with such hair do not exist in real life.

"Even so, Lizbet's hair color is beautiful."

Lizzebet turned to face me in surprise.

"Beautiful? Do you really think so? ”

"I think so, but"

Immediately after, Asuna said to Lizbet with a proud smile.

"Liz, you see, I didn't choose the wrong hair color."

I tilted my head unconsciously. Don't you know that Lizbet's hair color was chosen by Asuna?

"What do you mean?"

Lizz Bate turned to face me. Somewhere a complicated expression appeared.

One day, Asuna suddenly said that she wanted to change her hair color. This is the most shocking thing I've been doing since I was stuck in this game. ”

"Because Liz always chooses plain colors like black and brown. Because I was going to be a blacksmith, I chose bright colors because I thought it would be easier to serve customers. ”

Lizzebet propped her elbows on the table.

"yes, but not pink. That's why every time I look in the mirror, I wonder if it's really me. ”

Asuna laughed again.

"But Liz, you haven't changed your hair color since I gave you a hair color. Does that mean you like it? ”

Lizbet smiled wryly.

"Well, that's it. I think it's a striking color, but I don't hate it. I'm kind of grateful to you. ”

"A little?"

"Slightly"

"Hmm." Asuna said. I feel like I've heard this conversation in the real world, but it doesn't feel as bad as it was and I feel comfortable.

"Hey, Shino, don't you want to change your hair color too?"

Just as I was about to hear more, Asuna called out to me, and I snapped back to my senses. I quickly thought about the color of my hair.

"Well, the color of your hair I don't think you want to play around with it.

Lizbet shouted, "Huh!? ”

"Shino, do you live with someone else?"

"Yes. With a man. ”

"yes, does that mean you like that guy?"

"I'm as shocked as Asuna." Or rather, if a girl lives with a man, it seems normal to see him as a couple or something.

However, I can't say that I'm in love with Kirito yet.

"It's not like that. I got help from that person. The man gave me a place to live, so I was content to live there. I don't have any feelings of love or anything like that. ”

Lizbet said "um" and said something with a slight bow. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to hear clearly, so I asked Lizzebert again.

"What's wrong, Lizz Bet?"

"Oh no, nothing. But if you're living with a man, that means you're in some kind of trouble, right? If that happens, talk to us. Consult us. I'll give you a ride. ”

Lizbet's words widened her eyes, and Asuna next to her laughed.

"I feel the same way. I think there might be something after that, so if it happens, why don't you talk to me? Yes. ”

As I alternated between Asuna and Lizzebet's smiles, I felt a sudden warmth in my heart. Until now, um, from the very beginning, I lived a life without making friends. Whether it's elementary or junior high school.

No, I said I met some people in junior high and high school, but they weren't good friends, so they weren't my friends. Now I really wonder why those people with such strange and ominous eyes are my friends.

The only people who really listened to me were my mother, grandfather and grandmother, and the psychiatrist who took care of me.

- These people weren't counselors or anything, but they wanted to get to know me, and before I knew it, Asuna next to me was already a friend, and even Lizzebet was talking about me. It creates the feeling and atmosphere that they will listen into.

"No matter which eye you look at, there is no such ominous black light." Instead, there was a very warm and comfortable glow floating.

"It's the first time I've met someone like this"

"Hey, Shino, what's wrong?"

I heard Lizzebet's voice and turned to her. I could see Lizz Bett's surprised expression, but there were some areas that were a little blurry. It didn't take long for me to realize that the cause was my crying.

I rubbed my eyes with my sleeve, tears welling up in my eyes, but I immediately felt a hand on my back.

"Shiina, what's wrong? Did we do something bad to make Shino cry? Is that much of a hate to messing with your hair color? “

I unconsciously shook my head and looked up. I tried to speak, but hiccups mixed in.

"No, no. It's not like that. I haven't met anyone like Asuna and Lizzebet until now, so I don't have any decent friends, so I'm really happy to hear you say that""

"Even if I try to stop the tears, they don't stop at all." I thought I wouldn't cry in public, but my body couldn't stop crying. Completely ignoring my wishes.

Hearing the sound of "ah" from the two of them, my body felt like it was wrapped in something big. Looking around, Asuna was holding me.

"yes. Sorry Shino, I didn't notice you. “

Lizbet's face showed a sad expression. It's vague, but that's all I know.

"You're not doing well, are you?"

I instinctively nodded at Asuna's chest. Lizzebet said to me with a smile.

"I may not be what you call a decent person, but I want to help in any way I can. Sea bream"

Asuna's hug is getting stronger and stronger.

"I'll help you if I can, Shino. I've been treated like this too, so people might think I'm not a decent person, but I'm Shino and I want to. "Be friends with you. That's why I want you to rely on us, I want you to talk about things correctly that you think you can talk about. ”

"Until now, I always thought everyone else was ice." The voice he spit out, the words he spit out, all made people feel cold. But these two are not ice. Everyone's voice and words are warm.

"That's what friends are all about."

"We really are friends."

"Thank you, thank you, you two"

Asuna stroked my head as I wiped away my tears with my clothes.

"I've gained a lot since I came into this world." Kirito, my lover who was with me, and my true friends Asuna and Lizz Bet. This world is an abomination, it's just a game thing, but if I hadn't come to this world, I wouldn't have known and wouldn't have had this.

"It's a little discreet, but it's probably a good thing you're here." That's when I thought about it.

"But Asuna."

"What?"

"What is Shina?"

Asuna let go of my hand, but her face went blank. I was surprised that someone would ask me such a question.

"Uh, that's a nickname you came up with on the spur of the moment, isn't it, Shino?"

"I've never been nicknamed before." That's right, I don't have any good friends. But now, I've made good friends like Asuna and Lizzebet, and even got a nickname. I can't help but be happy about that. Shino-non sounds really great.

"It's not bad. Instead, I want you to call me that. ”

Asuna looked slightly relieved. Maybe he's nervous because he thinks I'm going to reject him. Lizzebet looked at us with a complicated expression, as if she was a little surprised and a little relieved.

"You gave Shino the nickname you just met, you must be too aggressive. How about not falling in love with her? “

Hearing this, Asuna suddenly turned her face to Lizbet. As soon as I saw it, my face turned red.

"Hey, dear!? No, no, I don't have a partner like that! ”

"Goodbye. Asuna can find you, the best opponent. “

"No, no, no, no, no, no"

"I think I can do it. If it was Asuna, I'd be sure. “

After interrupting, Asuna looked at me.

"It's already Shino—"

"Because Asuna is a good person.

Asuna said, "I think so. Then look ahead.

I wanted to look ahead at Liz Bet, but I couldn't help but stare. Because Lizzebet suddenly lowered her head. In front of him was the menu on the table, but in Lizbet's eyes, neither the menu nor the table could be seen, as if he saw a void. No, it should be said that what Lizbet is seeing now is the void itself.

"Lie, Lizzebet. What's wrong? “

Lizbet didn't react at all. Not only that, but he seemed to be muttering things like "so nice", which made me feel suspicious.

"Wait, Lizzebell."

When I raised my voice slightly to call out again, Lizz Bate turned her face towards me, as if she had finally returned here.

"What is poetry?"

"I feel like I'm just at a loss"

Lizbet looked surprised again, then shook her head repeatedly.

"No, nothing, I'm just thinking about it, don't worry."

"I tilted my head unconsciously." Now Lizz Bate seems to have a heart in addition to this. It was the same face that Asuna had when she couldn't believe the world.

Just as I wondered what was going on, Lizzebell opened the window as if she realized something. His face suddenly became surprised.

"Oops, I forgot to lock the door! A customer is coming! ”

Lizbet stood up suddenly, called out the coin in a panic, and slammed it on the table. I thought this number was the same as the price of drinks and sweets written on the menu, but I soon realized that this number was enough for two people.

"Shina, this is for me, and for you!

"Uh, wait a minute, Liz-"

"What did you suddenly say—"

Lisbeth ran out of the coffee shop before she could hear us. I think I used those feet to get back to my store. People often think that if you walk into a store without locking the door, and know that there are customers, your items will be stolen.

"Or can customers understand Lizzebert when they come to the store?"

"I don't know if the alarm will go off in the store when a customer comes."

"Perhaps. I can't speak for anyone else, but Liz seems to have been working on forging for a long time, so I want her to be as interested in things other than forging as much as possible. That's Kirito-kun. , Lilan, Shino taught me what the world should be like, and warmth. ”

It seems that Lizzebell doesn't understand this either. Perhaps this was the reason for Lizzebet's expression at the time.

Like Asuna before her, Lizbet doesn't know much about the world, or she doesn't know much about it from the real world. The beauty and warmth of this world, life should be like this, everything.

"I have to teach Lizz Bate this. I think the world should be a better place.

"No, the girl didn't just think about the store but her interests were narrow.

As soon as the words ended, two NPCs came over with cakes and coffee, a set of soy milk latte and tiramisu in front of me, caramel macchiato and cheesecake in front of Asuna, and Liz Bet, I left the latte and rare cheesecake inside. Asuna and I winked at the empty latte and rare cheesecake in front of Lizbet's seat, but Asuna immediately opened her mouth.

"I'm sorry for Liz, but can we eat?"

I nodded.