"I don't have any special meaning, it's just a handy one."

As he said this, the boy got up from the ground and patted the dust on his body.

The following words dispelled the remaining doubts in Asuna's heart.

"But during this period, I've also leveled up in this maze. Someone who dies in front of me will leave a psychological shadow. By the way, I'll also go back to the town, so I've brought you out."

"...... even so, thank you."

After a moment of silence, he thanked him, but he still couldn't understand Bai Ye's way of thinking. Asuna stood up on the grass with her hands, although her legs were swaying.

After looking at the time shown in the window, Asuna calculated that she had slept for at least seven hours from the moment she fell down, but the loss had not yet recovered. However, there were three fine swords prepared, and the durability of the last one was only half the rest, so she would never leave the tower.

"You will thank you too?"

Bai Ye opened his eyes wide in surprise.

This somewhat belittled statement made Asuna glar at him unhappily.

"Ah no, I don't mean that-" Bai Ye smiled slightly, his eyes flashed with an inexplicable divine light, which made Yanas suddenly feel uncomfortable and really unpleasant.

"But, don't you want to die?"

He asked so.

Asuna's expression stagnated, and her face turned cold. It was more of a calmness like losing hope than a coldness towards others.

"...Isn't it right? Sooner or later, everyone will die. Is there any problem with trying my best to survive?"

Looking at the chestnut-colored eyes, Bai Ye chuckled and asked leisurely with one hand holding the sword with one hand:

"So, do you think so now?"

“…”

Asuna did not answer immediately, but Bai Ye could guess her next answer, so he took the lead and said: "Efficiency is what it takes to do, and I think it's good to fight for the last bit of strength to survive, but it's just a desperate effort to die. Such a move has no meaning at all. It's better to commit suicide than to die. It's too far-fetched to create a heroic ending of death in battle."

"This is my own business."

You don't need to point fingers. It seems to touch the desperate feeling hidden in Asuna's heart. She bit her lips and said coldly, ready to turn around and leave.

"Wait, Fencer【Fencer: Swordsman’s meaning】Miss."

“…”

Although she ignored the other party and continued to take several steps forward, Bai Ye's words later made her stop.

"I think even if you survive, you still want to survive, not to die in the maze. If that's the case, why not attend the 'conference'?"

"....Meeting?"

He murmured in a low voice to the man, and then the one-handed swordsman's voice that changed his tone came to Asuna's ears again in the breeze in the forest.

"This evening, in the 'Torbana' block closest to the maze area, it seems that the first 'first floor boss strategy meeting' will be held."

She is very familiar with this tone and can often feel it from her mother.

For example, what emergency meeting was held by someone today, but in the end she solved the problem alone.

Whether it is said that the meeting is not taken seriously or that the people attending the meeting are not expected, the ultimate reason can only be attributed to self-confidence and pride.

Where does this person get confidence and pride?

☆

Since the floating city of Aingrand is more thinner than the upper part, it is of course the first floor at the bottom is the vastest. The almost circular floor has a diameter of nearly ten kilometers and an area of ​​eighty square kilometers. If you want to add a reference, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, which has lived in more than 300,000 people, has an area of ​​110 square kilometers.

Because the area is very vast, the types of terrain on the first floor are also very diverse.

At the southernmost point is a semicircular "initial street" surrounded by city walls with a diameter of one kilometer. The street is surrounded by animal types of wild boars or wolves, as well as insect-type monsters such as worms, beetles, and wasps.

Moving northwest, walking through the grasslands into the deep forest, continuing to move northeastward and back into the lake and swamp zone. Through the lake and swamp, there are valleys and ruins in front of them. Different areas live in corresponding groups of monsters waiting for the arrival of players. Finally, at the northernmost end of this layer, a giant tower with a diameter of 300 meters and a height of 100 meters stands - the maze area on the first layer.

Each area of ​​the floor has small and medium-sized blocks and villages scattered except the Original Street. The largest block - although so, the distance between the two sides is only 200 meters - is the block "Torbana", located in the valley closest to the Maze District.

The earliest player arrived at this quiet neighborhood with huge windmills side by side, which was also after the third week of SAO's official service.

At that time, the total number of dead had reached 1,800.

Bai Ye had no feelings about this number. Although he had the strength to penetrate the first level of the boss, even if he broke through the game, it would not be over. What awaited all players was a more dangerous maze. Rarely strategizing the second level would only increase the number of victims.

Now this number is much lower than expected, which is probably thanks to the intelligence sale of an intelligence provider, which greatly reduces the risk of wild upgrades.

"What you said makes sense."

Bai Ye suddenly said as he walked through the forest and approached the north gate of Torbana.

Asuna, who had maintained a subtle distance behind him, had a stagnant body, and then a question came from under her cloak.

"What makes sense?"

"The so-called theory of meaning in life. If all players are like you, perhaps they have reached a higher level now, in the end it is still a lack of awareness."

Bai Ye didn't seem to expect Asuna to take the lead and said after thinking about it.

"...what are you?"

Asuna asked casually.

"I?"

"Although I have never seen your battle, I can't feel a heavy breath like despair."

"Maybe I'm used to it."

"What?"

"Okay, it's finally here."

Hearing the sound, Asuna realized that they had entered the block marking the safe range and could see many players and vendors around.

“The meeting is at the central square of the street and starts at 4 p.m..”

"......I see."

The face hidden under the knitted hat moved slightly up and down. Without stopping, her slender body walked past Bai Ye.

The breeze blowing across the streets in the valley made the cloak sway. Bai Ye stared at her back for a while, and finally shook her head, giving up the idea of ​​inviting to form a team. He had no reason to take care of this person, it was just a chance meeting. I hope he could take advantage of this meeting to become less so lonely and negative.

As for him, forever lone player, it is also very uncomfortable to suddenly have a teammate.
Chapter completed!