2024. June 24th - 48th Floor, Lindus
This one's done.
Thank you, Liz.
Anytime!
You aren't on the frontlines with your guild today?
I took a day off.
I promised to meet someone today.
I see, I see...
What do you see?
I gotta hurry!
Asuna, so you've found someone precious.
Huh? Did you say something?
Nope, it's nothing.
Good luck with your date!
It's not like that!
See you later.
I wonder if I'll find someone too...
The Warmth of the Heart
Well, this one's not too shoddy.
Handling customers is also a part of my job.
All right!
Welcome to Lizbeth's Smith Shop!
Um, I'd like to order a custom-made sword.
Does he have the cash for it?
The metal prices have been rising...
Don't worry about the money.
I just want you to forge me the best sword you can right now.
Well, you'll need to first tell me what stats you want your sword to have.
I see.
Then, could you try to make its stats at least as good as this sword?
The Elucidator?
This probably counts as a Demon Sword amongst monster drops.
Can you do it?
Try this.
This is the best one I've ever forged.
It feels a bit too light.
I used a speed attributed metal for it.
Can I test it out?
Test what?
Its endurance.
Wait! If you do that, your sword's gonna break!
Let's worry about afterwards.
It can't be repaired...
Why would you do that?!
Sorry, I didn't think it would break from that!
You mean my sword was weaker than you had imagined?!
Actually, yeah...
Let me put this straight...
If I have the right materials,
I can easily forge something that will shatter your sword.
Oh? I'd definitely want one of those.
One that can shatter my sword.
If you've got such a big mouth, then you'll have to stick around for the whole process!
The whole process?
Yeah! Starting from the gathering of the materials!
I can do that alone.
You might get in my way.
Would you please stop looking down on me?
I might look weak, but I'm a master macer!
Oh? And where do we get the materials?
The west mountain on the 55th floor.
I heard there's a dragon that eats crystals.
Rumors say its body contains rare metals.
The 55th floor, huh? I should really go alo--
You need a master smith to collect the metal.
Do you still want to go alone?
Just behave yourself.
You piss me off!
My name's Kirito.
Let's work together at least until the sword is completed.
I'm looking forward to this, Kirito.
I hope we'll get along well... Oh, whatever.
Lizbeth.
55th Floor - West Mountain
I'm freezing...
Don't you have any extra clothes?
I didn't know the 55th floor is this cold.
Will you be all right?
We're born different.
Every word that comes out of his mouth pisses me off.
It's so warm...
I can't believe I'm out in the boondocks alone with this guy...
This has definitely turned into a weird situation.
What's wrong, Lizbeth? At your limit already?
I'm still fine!
Also, if we're pretending to be buddy-buddy, just call me Liz!
As you wish, Liz.
Don't get cocky!
It's beautiful!
What are you doing?!
Get your teleport crystal ready.
All right!
And I'm taking it alone from here on.
When the dragon shows up, hide in the shadows of those crystals.
You mustn't come out no matter what.
What? I'm not an amateur! Let me help!
No!
Now then, let's go.
Hide in the shadows over there!
It's using its freezing breath! Dodge it!
Wow...
To top it off, he's using such a slender sword...
Just who is this guy?
Come on, let's get it over with!
You idiot! Don't come out yet!
What are you talking about? It's already ove--
Liz!
No! No!
Liz, hold on to me.
We're still alive...
Yeah, we are.
Drink this.
Umm... Thanks for saving me.
It's too early for that.
How are we gonna get out of here?
Can't we just teleport out?
Teleport: Lindus!
But...
If we can't use crystals, there must be another way out.
You can't know that for sure!
What if this trap was designed to kill everyone who fell in?!
Oh yeah, you might be right.
Could you at least sound like you care?!
I've got an idea.
Really?
Yeah.
Running up the wall.
Are you nuts?
Let me try it first.
No way...
If I had more room to propel myself, I could've done it.
It's impossible.
This feels so weird.
It's so unreal.
Sleeping next to someone I just met at a place I've never been to.
You even tried to run up the wall...
You're a real weirdo.
I'm so sorry.
Kirito, may I ask you something?
What? Just go ahead and ask.
Why did you save me?
Rather than letting someone die alone, it's better to die with them together.
Especially if that someone is a girl like you.
There's something wrong with you.
No one else would think like this.
Hey...
Hold my hand...
It's so warm...
You and I are both data in this imaginary world, yet...
Liz?
Huh?
What are you doing?
Look at this.
Crystallite Ingot
Could this be...
It's the material we came here for.
The dragon eats the crystals and digests them.
No one would find it.
We did it!
But why is it here?
This hole isn't a trap. It's the dragon's nest.
Which means that ingot is the dragon's excrement... or poop.
Either way, we got what we came here for.
Now we need to figure out...
Wait, you said this was the dragon's nest, right?
Yeah.
But dragons are nocturnal, so it should be...
It's coming!
Wait, wha--
Hold on tight, Liz!
We're outside!
Wow...!
Kirito!
You know, I...
What?
I think I love you!
What? I can't hear you!
Never mind!
2024. June 25th - 48th floor, Lindus
A one-handed longsword, right?
Yes, please.
The warmth of Kirito's hand...
My feelings...
They're all real.
If I can make a sword he likes, I'll confess my feelings to him.
Whoa...
The Dark Repulser.
It's the first time I've heard that name, so it's not in the info brokers' codex.
Give it a try.
Okay.
How is it?
It's heavy. It's a good sword.
Really?!
I can feel your heart inside of it.
My request is complete now.
How much will it be?
Uh, well...
You don't have to pay me.
In exchange, I'd like to become your private blacksmith.
What does that mean?
Liz?
When you're back from the fields, come here and let me do the maintenance on your equipment.
Every day! Starting from now on!
Liz...
Kirito, I... I...
Liz, I was worried sick!
Asuna?
Liz! I couldn't message or track you...
Where have you been last night?
Sorry, I got held up in a dungeon...
In a dungeon? Alone?
No, with him.
K-Kirito?!
Hey, Asuna...
It's been a while.
Or not... It's been about two days?
I was so surprised!
I see, you've come here right away!
If you told me about, I'd have tagged along.
Do you know each other?
Yeah, we're both on the frontlines.
He wanted a strong sword, so I told him about your shop.
I see...
I hope you didn't do anything weird to my best friend.
I-I didn't!
You sound so guilty.
Would it hurt to trust me? I almost died!
This is why I told you not to go alone!
I see... I get it now.
Was he rude to you?
Liz?
Rude? Oh, please! He just broke my best sword!
I'm sorry...
It's not something you need to apologize for.
He's a bit of a weirdo, but he's a good person.
I'll be rooting for you. Good luck, Asuna!
I'm telling you it's not like that!
Liz?
Sorry, I forgot I had an appointment to pick up some materials.
I'll be right back!
What about your shop?
Thanks in advance for watching over my store!
Huh? Hey, Liz!
Lizbeth...
Right now is a bad time.
Give me a few moments and I'll be back to my old cheerful self.
Liz...
How did you know I was here?
I searched the entire town from up there.
You're always doing such crazy things.
Sorry, I'll be fine.
My heart was just surprised because it's not used to adventures like this.
So please forget everything I said.
I want to thank you.
All this time, I seriously thought that it's better to die than to live your life alone.
Kirito...
But after falling into the hole, I was happy we're alive together.
I realized that everyone in this game, including me, are alive for the sake of living.
So thank you, Liz.
Me too...
You know, I've been searching all this time...
For something real in this world.
For me, the warmth of your hand was that.
Tell Asuna too what you just said.
Liz...
I'm fine.
There's just a bit of the heat left.
So... please...
Make this world end.
Until then, I'll hold out.
I promise you. I'm going to beat this game.
If your weapons or armor needs fixing, feel free drop by anytime.
Sure.
Make sure to return to Lizbeth's Smith Shop!
Next episode: Black and White Sword Dance.