[Sword Art Online] Qing Tong

When the morning light reappeared, Kirito finally returned to the forge with the exhausted Lisbeth.

Accompanied by a clear sound, the white sword body appeared under the hammer.

"The name is 'Darkness Chaser', I've never heard of it, which means it's not recorded in the intelligence agency's information." Lisbeth wrinkled her nose, and then carefully handed the sword to Kirito, "Try it!"

Kirito took it and waved it a few times.

"How?" Lisbeth asked carefully.

Kirito felt it for a while, and a relaxed expression appeared on his face, "It's heavy...it's a good sword!"

Lisbeth also burst into a bright smile immediately, looking at Kirito who sincerely admired the sword in front of her, a trace of shy joy slowly bloomed in her eyes.

"This way the transaction is considered complete... Then, how much will I pay you?"

"Eh..." Lisbeth was stunned for a moment, and then as if realizing something, the smile on her face slowly disappeared, and then she thought about it with some melancholy, then raised her head, "I don't want money!"

"Eh?!"

"But, please let me...be...Kirito's exclusive blacksmith! From now on...Kirito's weapons will be left to me to maintain! Come every day, forever!"

Kirito looked at the slightly flushed girl in front of him with some incomprehension, and didn't realize something until he heard "forever".

"Liz..."

"Kirito...I...I actually..."

Suddenly, there was another sound from the ornaments when the door was pushed open.

"Eh..." Lisbeth was startled by the sudden interruption, and before she could react, a human figure threw herself on her.

"Liz, where have you been? I sent you a message yesterday and you didn't reply to me, and I can't follow you. Where did you go last night!"

The familiar voice whimpered in his ear with deep worry, and Liz, who was somewhat inexplicable at first, slowly relaxed, stretched out her arms to hug her, and comforted her gently.

"Sorry, Asuna, I just got stuck in the labyrinth while accompanying... a customer looking for metal."

"...a guest?" Asuna raised her head in confusion, followed Liz's finger and looked behind her, "Kiri...Kirito-kun?! Sure enough, you came here immediately?!"

"Ah... because I just have nothing to do..." Kirito scratched his hair awkwardly.

"Hey..." Liz, who was still uneasy because she was trying to confess her thoughts just now, and someone suddenly came in, looked at the two people who seemed to be very familiar in front of her, and the woman's sixth sense seemed to have a bad premonition, "You... Are you...very familiar?"

Asuna, who was pleasantly surprised after seeing Kirito, looked at Liz thoughtfully. After seeing the shyness in those big eyes that hadn't faded away, as well as the constant interlacing of surprise and loss, she immediately understood.

Asuna, who has already understood what she wants, understands what those brilliance and shock represent, but even Liz...

Sorry, Liz.

Asuna showed a familiar smile, and teased slightly with the casualness of acquaintance.

"Ah... Kirito-kun and I are both members of the strategy team, so we will have more frequent contact, because Kirito-kun said that he wants a powerful sword, so I recommended Liz's weapon shop to him. ~ By the way, you didn't take the opportunity to do something rude to my friend, did you, Tong, Ren, Jun!"

Liz's purple eyes flashed a kind of disillusionment after the truth became clear.

"When... of course not!"

"Speaking so hesitantly, it's obviously like hiding something!"

"Hey—I'm about to lose my life, so can't you spare me a few words!"

"That's why I often remind you not to always act alone!"

…………

Accompanied by the quarrel between the two, Lisbeth, who was stunned by the side,'s eyes darkened little by little.

"It turns out... that's the case... let's just say..."

"By the way, this guy didn't really do something rude... Liz?"

Liz, who lowered her head, quickly cleared up her expression, suppressed the distress and sourness in her chest, and then showed a big smile.

"Speaking of which, this guy is really scary. First he came in with an orange name, and then he broke the best sword in my shop without saying a word. I thought it was some kind of robber!"

"Ah... I'm so sorry, Liz, I apologize on behalf of Kirito and you..." Asuna opened her mouth in surprise and looked at Kirito who looked innocent, and then immediately turned to Liz apologetically. .

"It's okay, it's not Asuna's fault..." Liz suddenly showed a bad face and clung to Asuna's ear, "Although she is a bit messy, she is still very nice~ Asuna, I support you Come on!"

"Hey... Liz..." Asuna blushed, and she wanted to grab Liz who jumped to the side with some embarrassment.

"Well, but if you have to apologize... I have a little business right now, I need to go out, can you please help me look at the store~ Well, that's it, just wait for me~~~~"

"Eh, eh? Eh! Liz—"

The bouncing figure left no room for reaction, so he opened the door and rushed out.After the door rang, the room returned to silence, leaving only Asuna with a surprised face.

"Really... ran away suddenly..." Apology and relief flashed across her face, Asuna turned around and looked at Kirito beside her.

"Ah." Kirito reversed the familiarity of talking and laughing just now, nodded flatly, looked at the sword in his hand again, and checked the performance indicators on it.

Asuna was slightly stunned, and then continued to have a gentle smile on her face, "It seems to be a very good sword, it seems that it is indeed made of the metal that Kirito-kun [almost died] brought back~"

"Basically." Kirito slowly put the shiny white sword back into the scabbard, then opened the operating panel, and put the weapon into the bag.

The smile on Asuna's face gradually faded, and she could only look at Kirito in front of her with some embarrassment.

"Kirito-kun is going to..."

"I still have some things to do, let's go first." Kirito nodded lightly, then went to the door and pulled the latch.

Some strong light from outside just broke in, and suddenly woke up Asuna who didn't understand what was going on.

"Wait a moment!"

The steps that crossed the threshold stopped.

Suddenly, thinking of the conversation with her senior the day before, Asuna seemed to have a little devil snickering in her heart, as if she had already achieved some victory. Compared with the sudden indifference of the other party just now, her chest clamored to question the other party.

Asuna opened her mouth, but the moment she saw the other's calm eyes, the words on her lips changed.

"I... Kirito-kun ordered this weapon...to be used by others..."

Fool.

Asuna was silently annoyed, obviously this is not what she wanted to ask the most...Although I have thought about this question, but what I want to know the most is...but...let's not talk about this...Since I asked, then... How will Kirito-kun answer...

"No." Kirito replied neatly, and for a moment Asuna's somewhat tangled heart cleared up like a bright sun.

It's not for... that person...

Sure enough, what the senior said is true~

Moreover, Kirito-kun and himself——

Unanimously understood what the other party was referring to, and then gave the other party the reply and promise they wanted...

This realization even made Asuna want to jump up, a look of joy flashed across her face.

"Then, Kirito-kun—"

"However, I decided to build it for a talent."

There was a brief silence, and the smile on Asuna's face froze.

Alone...alone? !who is it? !

Asuna's eyes wavered, looking at the figure in front of her...Of course I hope that the person Kirito-kun refers to is me, no matter how much I try to persuade myself, I don't have the courage to think that the "one person" refers to me... …

But maybe it is... After all, the senior said early in the morning——

[We have no relationship. 】

The clear voice sounded in her ears, Asuna understood the weight of the words spoken by her senior better than anyone else, it was not just acquiescence, but also a promise.

With some anticipation, Asuna raised her eyes.

"………What does that mean……"

After a few soft footsteps, the only response to her was the soft closing of the door.

————&—————

Under the arch bridge beside the creek.

"Lisbeth."

"Hey..." Hastily wiped away his tears, then stood up, forced a smile on his face, and looked at the young man behind him, "It can't be done... You come now... It's just a little bit... a little..."

Crystal tears fell one by one, shining in the sun.

"Liz." Kirito's expression slowly slowed down, looking at the girl in front of him who was crying while forcing a smile.

"How did Kirito find me..."

Kirito turned sideways and pointed to the bell tower not far away, which was the tallest place in the town.

"I watched the town and found you there."

"Hehe." Liz couldn't help laughing, "You're still acting like that..."

"I, thank you Liz very much." Kirito suddenly interrupted Liz's barely spoken words, and looked at the girl in front of him seriously.

"Hey..." Liz looked at Kirito in surprise.

"Actually, I didn't intend to build this sword...but, after going through some things, I realized that just relying on myself now is not enough."

"I need this sword and the power it can give me, because I need to be able to do my best to protect a person." Kirito's face gradually glowed with gentleness, making Liz in front of him a little dazed. , "So, this sword must be the best one, the one that can best carry my will."

"However, I couldn't find anything better than this Dark Chaser. Liz, thank you, thank you for the strength you gave me."

The breeze drifted past gently, blowing some bangs on the young man's forehead, and the sunlight and the shadows of the branches sprinkled mottledly on the two of them under the cover of the setting sun.

"That person, isn't Asuna..." Lisbeth asked suddenly.

"Ah..." Kirito was startled, subconsciously touching the side of his face with his fingers.

"That's fine." Seeing Kirito's apologetic expression, Liz laughed loudly.

"Forehead?"

"When Kirito first entered the store, his face was full of seriousness and melancholy, but now, I can see that Kirito-kun is really relaxed, it seems that this sword can really give Kirito-kun It’s been a great help, it’s really great~”

"Hey... so obvious..."

"What do you think~ he looks like a little old man~"

After a brief conversation, the two of them fell silent again, letting time pass by slowly.

"As for me, I am actually very grateful to Kirito-kun." Liz whispered, and then showed a bitter and relieved expression, "Well, to put it simply, I want to thank Kirito for saving me~"

"It's not that exaggerated... I am in charge of the battle..."

"Hey, Kirito." Liz raised her head suddenly, looked at the boy in front of her seriously and sincerely, and said, "From now on, please come to me to repair and maintain your weapons."

"it is good."

"That's so simple... Then, if you have time, you can bring [that person] with you~ I welcome you!" Liz showed a playful smile, "The girl Kirito likes must be a very special girl. Where's the girl~"

"Ah..." Kirito nodded with a wry smile, and the two looked at each other and smiled.

The late-returning clouds lightly passed over the sky, and went to the unknown homeward journey. The dusk was hidden, and the world bloomed with the most beautiful shyness under the setting sun.

"Let's go back."

"Ah."

Liz glanced at the clock tower in the distance for the last time, and hooked the corners of her mouth.

You are the love that does not belong to me, thank you for everything you have done for me, the initial throbbing and liking, and the desperate staying together...

Keep it in mind, that's fine.