Part 21 (2/2)
”Then let's have a go at it.”
As I answered, a smile spread across Nis.h.i.+da's face.
”That's the spirit, wa-ha-ha.”
That night.
After exclaiming, ”Coldcold,” Asuna crawled into the bed, then pushed her body against mine and made a sound of satisfaction. She blinked sleepily and then smiled as if she had just thought of something.
”...there're so many different people here.”
”He was interesting, wasn't he?”
”Yeah.”
Asuna then suddenly removed her smile and muttered: ”Up until now, I had only fought on the upper floors. I had completely forgotten that there were people who lived normal lives...”
”I don't mean that we're special; but since we're on a high enough level to fight on the front lines, I suppose it also means that we have an obligation to them.”
”...I had never thought about it like that... I always felt that becoming stronger was just a way to survive.”
”I think that a lot of people are going to be counting on you from now on. Of course, that includes me.”
”...except with my personality, hearing these kind of expectations only makes me want to run away.”
”Oh you.”
As Asuna pouted in dissatisfaction, I stroked her hair and hoped for this life to continue for a while longer. For Nis.h.i.+da and the other players, we have to return to the front lines at some point. But at least for now- Based on the messages that Agil and Klein had sent me, I knew that they were having a hard time trying to clear the seventy-fifth floor. However, I believed from the bottom of my heart, that the most important thing to me right now was this life with Asuna.
Chapter 19.
Three days later, Nis.h.i.+da informed us in the morning that he was going to fish for the local G.o.d. Around thirty people would be there to watch, as it seemed that he had told his fishermen friends about this.
”This is troublesome. Asuna...what should we do?”
”Hm~mmm...”
To tell the truth, we weren't all that happy about this. We had come here to hide from the gossipers and Asuna's fans, so we were a little hesitant about appearing before so many people.
”How about this?!”
Asuna gathered her hair and pushed it up. Then she covered her face up to her eyes with a huge scarf. She didn't stop there and pressed some b.u.t.tons on her menu window to put on a plain overcoat.
”Y-Yeah. Pretty good. You look like a proper farmer's wife.”
”...is that, a compliment?”
”Of course. In my case, they're not going to recognize me as long as I don't equip battle gear.”
Before the sun even rose, I walked out of the house with Asuna, who was carrying our picnic basket. She could have just called it out when we got there, but she insisted that it was part of the disguise.
Today was warm for an early winter day. After walking through the forest of huge pine trees for a while, we could finally see the sparkling water between the trunks. A lot of people had already gathered there. As I approached nervously, a familiar stout figure waved to us as he laughed.
”Wa-ha-ha, it's a relief that we have such great weather today!”
”h.e.l.lo, Nis.h.i.+da oji-san.”
Asuna and I nodded our heads. He told us that the a.s.sembly of people here from various age groups were all members of a fis.h.i.+ng guild that Nis.h.i.+da ran. We greeted everyone nervously, but it seemed n.o.body recognized Asuna.
Putting that aside, Nis.h.i.+da oji-san was far more active than I imagined. He must have been a good team leader within his company. The atmosphere was already spirited, as the group had been holding a fis.h.i.+ng compet.i.tion before our arrival.
”Eh~ so, today's main event will finally be starting!”
Nis.h.i.+da loudly announced this as he walked towards us with a long fis.h.i.+ng rod in his hand, and the spectators cheered in excitement. I looked at the fis.h.i.+ng rod he was carrying, my eyes tracing down the pole without much thought before the item at its end surprised me.
It was a lizard, an abnormally large one at that. It was as long as an adult's forearm. Its poisonous-looking red and black skin shone as if to emphasize its freshness.
”Hiiiii-”
Asuna noticed it even later than I did, and her expression froze as she took several steps back from it. If this was the bait, then what we were trying to catch must be unbelievable.
But before I had any time to ask, Nis.h.i.+da turned towards the lake and raised his fis.h.i.+ng rod. With a short shout, he swung it in an impressive form, and the huge lizard drew an arc in midair before falling into the water with a large splash.
Fis.h.i.+ng required almost no waiting time within SAO. Once you put the bait in the water, either a fish took the bite within a few dozen seconds, or you lost the bait. We swallowed involuntarily as we watched as the line sank into the water.
After just a few moments, the fis.h.i.+ng rod twitched several times. But Nis.h.i.+da didn't even move an inch.
”It's, it's here Nis.h.i.+da-san!”
”It's still too early!”
Behind Nis.h.i.+da's gla.s.ses, the two eyes that usually belonged to a good-natured grandfather were s.h.i.+ning with light. Nis.h.i.+da continued to watch the end of the rod without moving as it twitched.
Then the rod jerked harder.
”Now!”
Nis.h.i.+da strained his small body backwards and pulled the rod using his whole body. I could tell the rope was really tight just by looking at it, which also gave off a tw.a.n.ging sound effect.
”It took the bait!! I'll entrust the rest to you!!”
I cautiously pulled the rod that Nis.h.i.+da had handed over, but it didn't even budge one bit. It felt as if the fish hook had caught onto something embedded into the ground. I looked back at Nis.h.i.+da, worried if the fish had really bitten, and then within the blink of an eye- The rope started pulling into the water with a burst of power.
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