I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

'That's good. Damn system, this is the first time I've genuinely wanted to thank you.'

"..."

The system stopped speaking.

Yuu Tenkuji naturally wouldn't tell Asuna about this; he simply watched her expression change before puffing out his cheeks and letting out a sigh.

"That's true... but I'll have my brother check on this possibility of infringing on players' privacy later! If it really happens, I won't tolerate it!"

Speaking in a prosecutor's tone, Asuna got up from the bed, swiped her right hand down, and a menu appeared before her eyes with a crisp ringing sound.

She quickly tapped a few buttons, and in a flash of light that obscured her vision, her pajamas were transformed into a light armor set for combat.

"What was supposed to be a fun way to change clothes is getting more and more creepy after what Yu-kun said..."

"Well, there's no need to worry so much. Even if it's a beta version, no game company would do anything that would cause the game to fail, unless they're stupid enough to do so."

After casually comforting the resentful Asuna, Yuuya Tenkuji changed into all his gear and turned to leave the warm room.

Night fell over Aincrad, the streets were silent, and even the NPCs that were occasionally seen before were nowhere to be seen.

Only a bright moon shone with dazzling silver light, paving a beautiful path for the two of them, leading straight towards the Civil Affairs Bureau.

"It feels so quiet. There are no old ladies or children suddenly rushing out on the street. It's a world of difference from before."

Holding his hand, Asuna looked around, feeling as if she were in another world, and couldn't help but sigh.

Tenkuji Yuu stroked his chin thoughtfully.

This is a hypothetical world. There won't be any strange black cars suddenly rushing out, nor will there be three assassins pulling out guns... Great, the flag has been raised, no problem!

"I guess it was designed this way to make it easier for us to do our missions," Yuu Tenkuji said, instinctively quickening her pace. "Let's hurry up and move on."

Before I had taken more than a few steps, I felt a pulling force on my hand.

"What's wrong?" He turned to look at her.

Asuna frowned slightly, her expression showing a hint of worry and disappointment: "Yu-kun, why do you seem to be in such a hurry? Is there something else you need to do in real life?"

"……No."

"If not, does that mean you don't want to be with me?"

"...No, not either."

"Then, may we take a walk?" she asked tentatively, looking deeply into his eyes, her gaze trembling slightly.

Having composed herself and maintained her acting skills, Tenkuji Yu naturally didn't reveal anything to her.

"Of course you can, but I didn't expect you to be so relaxed." He smiled with narrowed eyes, squeezed the warm little hand, and said in a teasing tone.

Asuna tilted her head in confusion, then leaned against his shoulder: "Can't I relax?"

Yuu Tenkuji explained, "After all, you see, while the mission can still be salvaged, it didn't explain Sister Martha's current situation..."

"Ah ah ah ah ah--"

Before she could finish speaking, she let out a scream, grabbed him anxiously, and ran away.

"Oh no, I forgot that Granny Ma is still waiting for us! Yu-kun, hurry, hurry, there's no time to be leisurely here!"

"You're the one saying all that, and you even doubt that I don't want to be with you..."

Tenkuji Yu rolled her eyes, feeling as if she had no bones, and let herself be dragged along.

Asuna looked at him, both amused and annoyed, and said coquettishly, "I misspoke, I promise I won't doubt you again! Let's not talk about this anymore, let's hurry up and finish the mission as quickly as possible to return the flowers!"

Do you want me to carry you?

"it is good!"

So the Sky Temple Yupai high-speed rickshaw was back in service, carrying a chestnut-haired girl who let out a clear laugh against the wind, rushing towards the Civil Affairs Bureau through the raging storm.

△

"The Flower of Beloved Beauty?" The NPC looked up and sized them up, then pulled a box from under the table and said briefly, "You're qualified. Here you go."

jingle!

[Obtained quest item: Flower of Love. Follow-up quest: Deliver the box to Sister Martha.]

Looking at the notifications from the item and quest logs, Yuu Tenkuji and Asuna Yuuki exchanged bewildered glances.

"...That's it?"

"So what has all our efforts so far been for...?"

Seeing their troubled and conflicted expressions, the NPC explained in a calm tone: "Temporary couples from outside do need to pass a trial to receive the Flower of Love. But if they truly fall in love during the process, then there is no need for the trial... In our country, every couple who truly loves each other can receive the Flower of Love unconditionally."

Asuna Yuuki blinked, then suddenly realized, gave a smug hum, and turned her teasing gaze toward Yuu Tenkuji.

"So? He said we love each other?"

"You're not trying to make me feel embarrassed, are you?" Tenkuji Yu gave her a strange look, then poked her thin, soft cheeks. "Before that... your face was all red."

"Ahem, ahem! This is, well..." Asuna immediately tensed her flushed face, pretending to be serious, and stood up straight with her hands on her hips, saying, "Haven't I confessed to you so many times? But I've never heard a proper confession from you... Honestly, Yu-kun, are you shy!?"

Yuu Tenkuji waved his hand: "No, not at all."

"Unexpected calmness?!" She took a step back, looking quite shocked.

"Speaking of which, I clearly told you I like you, and you haven't confessed that many times, have you?" Yuu sighed and said helplessly, "And we've kissed so many times, and now you want me to give you a proper confession... I feel like the atmosphere is a bit off."

"I never said now... Never mind!" Her face puffed up with anger, Asuna suddenly tossed her long hair and strode towards the exit of the Civil Affairs Bureau. "Yu-kun is such a blockhead! Just you wait and see when we meet in real life tomorrow!"

"You want me to wait and see? What do you want to do..."

Tenkuji Yu followed behind her, outwardly indifferent, but inwardly feeling somewhat amused and exasperated.

It's no wonder she got angry with such an overly straightforward answer—perhaps she even realized that he was pretending to be clueless?

It wasn't that he didn't want to confess; it would have been easy to say some nice things to make her happy... but Tenkuji Yu thought that these words should be saved for last.

When he can no longer lie or pretend, he will tell her everything he wants to say and give this relationship a proper ending.

A final confession always needs a bit of ceremony!

Although it may seem selfish, this is exactly what Yuu Tenkuji wants to do.

"By the way, how do we leave this country? Wasn't the portal outside the city closed?"

"Check your backpack. He also gave us a return crystal. We can use it to get to the starting town."

"Is the return journey to the same place?"

"I remember there's a portal-like building near Central Avenue; we should be able to come out from there."

"Then let's use three, two, one together. Three, two, one!"

<Transfer> — <The Town of Beginnings>

A flash of white light appeared before his eyes, and in the instant he felt weightless, Tenkuji quickly regained his balance and landed steadily on the ground.

Asuna panicked a bit, and coincidentally, the spot in front of her where she came out of the portal was right in front of Tenkuji Yu.

"Wow! Watch out!"

After shouting that, in order to avoid hitting him, Asuna simply spread her arms wide and fell over as if she were about to pounce.

Turning halfway around, Tenkuji easily embraced her, his warm jade filling his arms, taking in the girl's softness and slenderness.

"It's rare to see you in such a disheveled state."

"Hmm, if we weren't so close, I could have reacted by now." Asuna left his embrace, straightened her messy hair and clothes, and muttered with a slightly flushed face.

Then, she looked at the medieval town before her, her expression brightening again. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with one hand and smiled wryly, saying, "It feels like it's been so long since I've been here..."

"The place where it all began, I really miss it."

Unlike her, who was so sentimental, Tenkuji Yu took the lead and strode towards the cathedral.

"Let's go. I'm now looking forward to seeing what reward Sister Martha will give us after we complete this task."

"Wait for me—and your idea is way too realistic!" Asuna's chestnut hair fluttered behind her as she strode after him.

“We took this mission to save Grandma, and she already gave us cooking skills and recipes, didn’t she?”

That's not how it works...

"So I think this time they'll probably give us equipment or combat skills. Maybe something related to the church? Like a cross sword or something."

"...Asuna, you've become a serious gamer."

"Are you praising me?!"

Accompanied by aimless chatter, the two finally arrived at the central cathedral.

As if she couldn't wait, Asuna strode forward and pushed open the dark brown door, calling out loudly, "Grandma Ma, we're back with our beloved flower! How are you?"

The echoes lingered in the towering arcades, and the sacred and solemn atmosphere remained completely undisturbed.

Not long after, under Asuna's anxious gaze, the white-haired old nun finally emerged slowly from the rest room behind the chapel, her face pale and weary.

"Cough, cough... Of course, I won't fall down so easily before I receive your good news."

As she said this, she strolled to the ancient and grand altar, forced a kind smile, and waved to them.

"Come here, children, let me hear your stories."

"The gains from this trip must be more than just that flower."

Chapter 113 I like her, without realizing it.

Inside the solemn and spacious church, even the tone of a normal voice will echo.

The three sat on the bench in the front row, and Asuna slowly recounted their experiences in the "Land of Love"—of course, she couldn't say the more intimate parts, so she simply described the scenery there and the trials they had overcome.

Sister Mary nodded after listening, glanced at the two of them separately, and said with a smile:

"As far as I know, after passing the ten tests, the 'Land of Love' will conduct an 'intimacy' test on you. Only if the intimacy level reaches the required level will they give you the 'Flower of Beloved'."

"Intimacy level?" the two asked, looking surprised. "Where is this value displayed?"

“There’s no indication anywhere, so the authentication method is quite simple.” Sister Martha’s complexion seemed much rosier as she smiled and looked at the two of their palms. “You haven’t checked the condition of the rings yet, have you? Something amazing has already happened.”

Upon hearing this, Yuu Tenkuji suddenly remembered that the mission rings that forced the two into marriage did indeed have a passage written at the end: