I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Asuna nodded thoughtfully, her gaze lingering on the "Cooking" skill, which had a proficiency level of zero.

"I see, that's why we need to form a team..."

He gave a cheerful smile: "That's right, hurry up and start practicing. From now on, our team's meals will depend on you, Chef Asuna?"

"It sounds like they're treating me like a free chef..."

Asuna glanced at him sideways, then sighed and said in a helpless tone, "I really can't do anything with you. I'll try my best! I hope the cooking process in the game won't be too strange, and that it's just like in real life."

"It will definitely be simplified, otherwise it would be too troublesome."

As he said this, Yuu Tenkuji's eyes became somewhat strange.

"Congratulations, host, you have received a reward of 500 yen."

Tsk tsk, I treated you like a free chef and you still give me a reward?

Asuna, you are so generous!

"Adventurers, may I ask you a question?"

After the two had talked for a while, Sister Mary spoke again in her old and tired voice.

Asuna quickly turned back, her attitude still as sincere as when facing an elder: "Of course, please ask!"

Sister Mary glanced at the two of them with kind eyes, and said with a benevolent smile:

Are you a couple, or a married couple?

"...Huh?!"

Asuna's mouth gaped open, her face filled with astonishment at being caught off guard.

She subconsciously glanced at Tenkuji Yu beside her, but was met with a bewildered look from him.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think you'll start dating me just because I say yes? Take my advice, young people should be careful about online dating."

"..."

Asuna's cheek twitched as if in pain, and she decisively turned her gaze back, saying firmly to Sister Martha:

"Absolutely not!"

"We're just ordinary teammates. Even if I, Asuna, am trampled to death by wild boars or beaten to death by boar-headed men, I would never date a frivolous, outspoken guy who shows absolutely no respect!"

Is the mission finally about to begin in Chapter Twenty-Nine?

Yuu Tenkuji thought that "online boyfriend" was the same as "rented boyfriend," an identity that the system had set for her from the very beginning.

Unexpectedly, things were different from what I had anticipated; it seemed to present some more challenges.

Should I take the initiative to become Asuna Yuuki's online boyfriend and make her accept me from the bottom of her heart?

Seeing Asuna's resolute denial, Yuu Tenkuji stroked his chin, then felt that something seemed off.

If that's the case, why am I already receiving the reward?

"Just teammates? I understand... Sorry, I misunderstood you."

Sister Mary nodded, concealing the hint of disappointment in her eyes, and coughed weakly twice, covering her mouth.

Asuna immediately put aside her unpleasant mood, stood up, gently patted her back, and asked with concern, "Are you alright? It's getting late, why don't you go and rest?"

“Thank you, Miss Asuna.” Sister Martha looked at her in surprise, then narrowed her eyes and revealed a warm smile full of wrinkles. “If I had a granddaughter, she would be just as gentle as you.”

"Not at all, you flatter me." Asuna blushed slightly, her hand resting on the nun's hunched back.

She lowered her eyes, as if remembering something, and a look of reminiscence appeared on her face: "And doing this reminds me of when my grandmother was still alive... She was the family member who loved me the most. She would always sneak me cookies when my mother wasn't looking, and she would always pat my head and praise me when I showed her a perfect test paper. I was so happy back then that I didn't want to grow up."

But now, when I recall those moments from the past, what remains is not only happiness, but also pain and a sorrowful resentment.

She shook her head, not wanting to appear too vulnerable, so she didn't say anything, but simply smiled gently and reminisced about the past.

“I see…” The nun looked at her kindly, slowly raising her old, withered hand. “Then, would you like me to pat your head, Miss Asuna?”

"..."

Asuna stood there, stunned.

After a long pause, she pursed her lips, lowered her head to wipe the corner of her eye, and then smiled brightly, saying, "Okay! Thank you for your help!"

The young girl knelt down on one knee before the elderly nun.

The soft, chestnut-brown hair, gently stroked by dry hands, seemed to radiate a moist, lake-like sheen.

Asuna closed her eyes, pressed her hands to her chest, and let the nun stroke her head again and again.

Her fair face trembled slightly, as if she were holding back something.

"How strange, even though it's a virtual world, why does the temperature of my hand feel so familiar and real..."

Hearing her murmur, Tenkuji Yuu couldn't help but feel puzzled.

Even for a highly intelligent, specialized NPC, this reaction, this expression, and that overflowing sense of compassion...

Is it really just cold, hard data that can be calculated?

△

The heartwarming time they spent together didn't last long, as the two prepared to leave the cathedral to take care of an NPC's health.

"It's no exaggeration to say that the encounter between people is a miracle, so we should cherish each other."

At the door, Sister Mary patted Asuna's hand and offered a heartfelt word of advice.

Asuna didn't look at Tenkuji Yu, but instead addressed Sister Mada sweetly, as if she were speaking to an elder, "Grandma Mada, you should also get some rest! I'll chat with you again when I have time."

"Hehe, of course...cough!" Sister Martha coughed heavily again, but before Asuna could even ask, she waved her hand and said with a smile, "I'm fine, you guys go ahead, to the date spot I recommended for you tonight!"

"Honestly, I told you we're not in that kind of relationship..." Asuna sighed helplessly, letting go of Sister Martha's hand and turning to look at Yuu Tenkuji, who was leaning against the door looking at the scenery.

With one hand on her hip, she looked like she was scolding her ungrateful boyfriend:

"Let's go, what are you looking at?"

"nothing."

I don't know when, but she has become so rude to herself.

The virtual world is truly an amazing thing...

With these thoughts in mind, Yuuki Tenkuji left the door panel he was leaning against and walked to her side.

Then, raising an eyebrow in surprise, she said, "Oh, you're blushing?"

"Huh? How could that be!" Asuna hurriedly touched her cheek, inexplicably avoiding his gaze.

Unfortunately, she didn't have any props like a mirror on her, and she was too embarrassed to ask Sister Martha, so she could only say, "You must have seen wrong, there's nothing to be ashamed of," and then she ran away as if she were running away.

Having lied without being exposed, Tenkuji Yuu looked at Sister Ma and nodded politely: "Then we'll be leaving now."

The question mark above my head is still gray, it hasn't turned into a golden color that I can accept.

"Take care on the road, adventurers."

She uttered lines that sounded like something an NPC would say, but her tone was sickly, as if she were about to be swallowed up by the night.

After saying goodbye, Tenkuji Yu turned around without looking back and quickly caught up with Asuna.

Before the two could discuss where to go next or whether to log off, they heard a heavy thud behind them.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Asuna stopped abruptly and turned to look in disbelief.

"Grandma Ma!?"

A slight pain, as if her heart were being squeezed, was about to rush over when she discovered that Tenkuji Yu had already returned to the cathedral's entrance with ghostly speed and helped Granny Ma up from the ground.

He frowned, his expression serious as he asked something, but Granny Ma shook her head and told him to put the recovery potion back into his waist.

Asuna paused, staring in astonishment at the scene before her, a strange mix of emotions washing over her.

Is this still the same carefree Yu-kun...?

Despite treating Granny Ma as a mere game character, he noticed her strange behavior even faster than he did.

"...This is no time to think about such things! Granny Ma, are you alright?"

Coming back to her senses from her complicated thoughts, Asuna quickly came over to help Sister Martha up, her brows furrowed in anxiety and distress.

Sister Mary lay in their arms, her face upturned, letting out a few weak, dry laughs.

"No, it's nothing... cough, haha, I can't tell such an obvious lie anymore. I'm so sorry for making you worry."

Asuna shook her head vigorously, her chestnut hair flying onto Tenkuji Yu's face, but she seemed oblivious.

"Don't say that, you're the one who gave us the skills and recipes! So, is it a relapse of your old illness? I remember the medicine shop sells them..."

As if she had returned to that night before her grandmother's death, when she could only weep helplessly by her bedside, Asuna's lips trembled involuntarily as she spoke, her eyes reddened, and her emotions became involuntarily agitated.

"Asuna, calm down," Yuu Tenkuji interrupted her helplessly.

Even if this isn't a game, they've only known Sister Martha for less than an hour. Why would she have such strong feelings for a complete stranger she's only known for a short time?

Are all girls this sentimental? Then Yukinoshita Haruno probably can't be considered a girl.

“Sister Mary just said that the healing potion is useless for her. She has a special disease that can only be treated with special methods.”

Startled for a moment, Asuna looked up at him.

His voice and expression gradually stabilized the swaying world before him, and the unease in his chest slowly subsided.

"Special...disease?"

He repeated it softly, then Asuna's eyes widened suddenly, and she pressed him urgently, "So there's a way to cure it? What way!"

"Don't panic, just listen to Sister Martha. This isn't the real world."

He patted her slender, slightly trembling shoulder with his palm, and Tenkuji Yu smiled gently, saying softly to her:

"Our mission is about to begin."

"Congratulations, host, you have received the reward: Vocal Performance (Proficient Level)."

"Task?"