I'm a Sword Master in Sword Art Online

"This little girl wanted to try Moonlight Rose Wine," the old sage chuckled, stroking his beard. "So I poured her a small cup of my treasured mead, and unexpectedly..."

He pointed to the empty wine bottle and shook his head helplessly.

Kissmael quickly bowed and said, "I'm sorry to have troubled you, Sage."

The old sage waved his hand, stood up shakily, and picked up the crystal ball and the contract box: "Now that we have passed the first two trials, let's go to the ancient elven tree to complete the final ritual."

He walked toward a hidden door deep inside the bookshelf, the door frame of which was wrapped with glowing vines.

As the old sage approached, the vines parted automatically, revealing stone steps leading outside. Moonlight streamed in from outside, casting shimmering shadows on the ground.

Mochizuki glanced hesitantly at the sleeping Argo, and the old sage said knowingly, "Let her sleep; this wine will help her recover her strength."

After saying that, he stepped out the door first.

The three walked along the moonlit path and soon came to a towering ancient tree. Glowing vines were wrapped around the huge trunk, and silver-blue light flowed among the branches and leaves, like a cascading galaxy.

The old sage placed the contract box on a stone platform at the base of a tree, the moonlight illuminating the words "United Hearts" on the lid. He gestured for the two to stand on either side of the platform: "Place your hands on the box and look into each other's eyes."

Mochizuki Kaede and Kissmel did as instructed.

When their fingers touched the wooden box simultaneously, the box suddenly emitted a soft purple light. The branches and leaves of the ancient tree moved without wind, scattering countless points of light that surrounded the two of them.

“Repeat after me,” the old sage’s voice grew solemn, “with the moonlight as our witness…”

"With the moonlight as our witness..." the two repeated in unison.

"I swear by the ancient tree..."

“I swear by the ancient tree…” Mochizuki Kaede repeated mechanically, noticing that Kissmel’s voice trembled slightly.

When he read the phrase "our souls are bound together in this life," Mochizuki Kaede suddenly stopped, realizing that the wording was far too intimate. He stood frozen, watching as ripples appeared in Kissmael's amethyst eyes, and her cheeks flushed. The elven girl's lips parted slightly, but no sound came out. The usually dashing royal guard now seemed as flustered as a young girl experiencing her first love.

"Sage," Mochizuki Kaede finally realized, "this oath... isn't it a bit..."

Chapter 109: A Story

The old sage feigned surprise and pushed up his glasses: "What? Didn't little Qiz tell you?"

He stroked the crystal ball, the nebula inside spinning rapidly: "This is the most sacred soul contract ritual of the Elven race. Once completed, your souls will resonate forever..."

He paused deliberately, a sly glint in his eyes behind his glasses: "Simply put, it means becoming lifelong partners."

This unexpected word stunned Mochizuki Kaede.

Becoming partners? What kind of development is this?

Could it be some undiscovered hidden quest? Or has a special event been triggered?

If Argo were here, I could ask her.

Mochizuki Kaede subconsciously turned her head to look in the direction of the library, but unfortunately, the information broker was currently completely drunk and unconscious. Just as he fell silent, she suddenly caught a fleeting glimpse of sadness in Kissmel's eyes out of the corner of her eye.

“Sage,” Kismer suddenly spoke, his voice regaining its usual calm, “Please stop toying with Lord Mochizuki Maple. We dark elves never exchange favors for false oaths.”

She turned to Mochizuki Kaede, trying her best to maintain the proper demeanor of a royal guard: "Lord Mochizuki Kaede, I apologize for troubling you. This is not a necessary ceremony; it was just a prank by the Sage."

The old sage looked at the two of them and suddenly sighed softly.

His aged fingers stroked the crystal ball, and the nebula inside slowly shifted: "Next, I'm going to tell you a story, and I hope you'll listen patiently to the end."

His voice suddenly became distant, as if it had traveled through time: "Long, long ago, there was a pair of adventurers, a man and a woman, who embarked on one thrilling journey after another. The boy always silently protected the girl, like a shadow protecting the light. In fact, he had long loved the girl, but every time he tried to confess, it was as if something was blocking his mouth, and he couldn't say it. He had so many opportunities to express his feelings, but he lacked the courage. It wasn't until later, when war consumed the girl's life, that he understood that some words, once missed, can only remain regrets forever."

The night breeze rustled through the branches and leaves of the ancient tree.

The old sage looked up at the starry sky, moonlight streaming down his wrinkled face: "He later became very strong, possessing legendary power... but he could never make up for the regret of that summer."

“Young people, when fate gives you the opportunity to meet…” The old sage’s gaze lingered between the young couple, “Don’t let hesitation become a lingering sigh for the rest of your lives.”

The echoes of the story faded away, and the air beneath the ancient tree seemed to freeze.

As the old sage uttered his last word, Kismer suddenly understood the wise old man's good intentions.

The old sage had long been aware of the feelings that were quietly growing in her heart for Mochizuki Kaede, and did not want her to repeat the mistakes of the story, making this feeling a lifelong regret. That's why he deliberately created this opportunity.

Kissmael looked up at Mochizuki Kaede and found the silver-haired boy also gazing at him. Moonlight shimmered in his gray pupils, like the thin mist at dawn.

As a royal guard of the dark elves, Kismer never lacked courage.

She knew that if she didn't express her feelings today, she might never have the chance again.

At that moment, her heart was pounding violently beneath her armor, yet she still kept her back straight.

"Lord Wangyuefeng."

Her voice was clear and bright, like the ringing of a sword, exceptionally clear in the silent night: "Perhaps what I'm about to say is a bit abrupt and presumptuous, but I don't want to leave myself with any regrets..."

She took a deep breath, her voice softer than usual, yet carrying an undeniable firmness: "I swear by the sword in my hand and by the honor of my life—"

The night breeze brushed against the stray hairs on her forehead, revealing her eyes, clear as amethyst.

“I, Kismer, am deeply in love with you. This feeling is not the gratitude of a royal guard to his benefactor, but the purest and most sincere confession from the depths of an elven woman’s heart. I do not ask for a response, but only wish that this feeling can be conveyed to you truthfully.”

Mochizuki Kaede's pupils dilated slightly.

The old sage quietly stepped back a few paces, leaving space for the young couple.

Kissmael didn't look away; her amethyst eyes reflected the boy's astonished face. She remembered the boy cutting through thorns in the misty forest, her dance with him at the ball, and the comforting warmth of his embrace tonight.

“I know this might bother you,” she continued, “but as the Sage said, I don’t want to leave any regrets that I couldn’t express.”

A silvery-white leaf drifted down from the ancient tree, gently brushing across the gap between the two. The moonlight shone exceptionally bright at that moment, freezing the instant forever in its place—

The elven knight's upright confession, the silver-haired boy's astonished expression, and the old sage's gratified smile.

The most shocked person that night was Mochizuki Kaede.

When Kissmael clearly expressed her feelings, he suddenly realized what the long-sparkling light in the female knight's eyes meant.

But what occupied his mind at this moment was not the question of "why NPCs can develop emotions." Long ago, on that night when he witnessed Kissmael grieving for her sister's death, in his heart, this female knight had already become a real, flesh-and-blood being.

What truly shook Mochizuki Kaede was the unprecedented surge of emotion he felt when the elven girl before him confessed her feelings to him. In the real world, he had received confessions before, but he had always politely declined, citing his studies. Yet now, in this supposedly virtual game world, facing a feeling that shouldn't exist, he suddenly felt a surge of emotion—a feeling that was both real and intense.

Mochizuki Kaede gazed silently at Kismer under the moonlight.

She possessed the most perfect elven appearance in all fantasy stories.

Her slender ears peeked through her short, purple hair, her eyes were as clear as amethyst, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of laurel leaves. But now, those usually resolute and sharp eyes held a cautious anticipation and trepidation. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her tightly pursed lips betrayed her inner unease.

Mochizuki Kaede's hand slowly covered the ancient contract box. He looked up at Kissmel, a gentle smile curving his lips: "Miss Kissmel, shall we continue the ritual?"

The elven girl's pupils widened suddenly, her eyes reflecting the boy's earnest face. She carefully placed her fingertips back on the contract box, her hand separated from Mochizuki Kaede's only by a thin layer of moonlight.

“Sage…” Her voice trembled slightly, but could not hide her joy, “Please continue the ceremony.”

The old sage stroked his beard and smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothing out:

Our souls are bound together in this life.

Mochizuki Kaede gazed into Kismer's eyes and repeated, word by word, "Our souls are bound together in this life."

Tears welled up in Kismael's eyes: "Our souls are bound together for life."

"Though time may pass," the old sage's voice echoed in the moonlight.

"Even as time goes by," their voices intertwined.

"Our destinies are intertwined and inseparable..."

"May this covenant transcend the boundaries between reality and illusion..."

"Until the starlight falls, and the world ends..."

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Thank you to 【I just want to be myself】 for the monthly pass!

Chapter 110: Drunk

As the final vow was uttered, the contract box emitted a dazzling light. Countless tiny specks of light rose from the box, swirling around the two like fireflies on a summer night. Mochizuki Kaede felt a warm current flow from her fingertips, as if some invisible bond was being forged between them.

The elven girl's tears finally fell, like falling stars in the moonlight. But she was smiling, a smile more radiant and captivating than ever before.

The old sage looked at the two people smiling at each other in the halo of light and nodded with satisfaction.

As the last glimmer of light dissipated into the night sky, the old sage stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "According to ancient elven customs, the two who have completed their pact must share a cup of Moonlight Rose Wine."

He produced a crystal-clear wine bottle from somewhere and gently placed it on the stone platform under the ancient tree. Kismer skillfully took the bottle, poured a glass of pale purple wine for Mochizuki Kaede, and then poured one for himself.

"Ding--"

The crisp sound of crystal glasses clinking together was especially pleasant in the quiet night.

Wang Yuefeng took a small sip, and the sweet fruity aroma with a subtle spiciness was indeed better than she had imagined.

However, just as he finished drinking the wine in his glass, a wave of dizziness suddenly struck him.

—Am I...drunk?

He looked at Kismael in confusion, only to find that the elven girl was perfectly at ease, elegantly sipping her wine, clearly having a much higher alcohol tolerance than him.

"Lord Mochizuki Maple?" Kissmel noticed his swaying figure, and worry appeared in her purple eyes. "What's wrong?"

"I might... be a little drunk..." Mochizuki Kaede's voice began to waver, and his vision blurred. In the last moment before his consciousness faded into darkness, he felt himself fall forward—

Then I fell into a soft, warm embrace.

Mochizuki felt his body being gently lifted, the back of his head sinking into an incredibly soft place. The familiar scent of bay leaves lingered at the tip of his nose, mixed with the sweet aroma of wine, making him feel at ease even in his hazy drunkenness. In a daze, he seemed to feel cool fingers gently brushing his forehead, brushing aside the stray strands of silver hair.

“Sage!” Kissmel’s voice carried a hint of reproach, “Do you know that humans get drunk the first time they drink Moonlight Rose Wine?”

"Haha, I just wanted to see how well this lad behaves when he's drunk," the old sage chuckled. "Don't worry, this wine will only give him a good dream."

Mochizuki Kaede floated in the warm darkness, vaguely sensing someone carefully adjusting his position, as if afraid the hard armor would hurt him. In his last sliver of consciousness, he seemed to hear Kissmel's soft sigh: "What a worrying person..."

These words, along with the effects of the alcohol, sent him into a deeper sleep.

……

The next morning, sunlight gently streamed through the gaps in the curtains, falling on Mochizuki Kaede's face. He slowly opened his eyes, only to be greeted by an unfamiliar ceiling.

It was already bright outside the window, and the clear chirping of birds could be faintly heard.

Mochizuki Kaede tried to move his body, but his right hand unexpectedly touched something warm and soft. He was startled and quickly turned his head to look. He saw a beautiful elven girl sleeping peacefully beside him. Her delicate face and pointed ears could only be those of Kismer.

Mochizuki Kaede instantly regained consciousness.

—What's going on here?

He tried to piece together the fragments of last night's memory.

The contract ceremony under the moonlight, that glass of moonlight rose wine, followed by a dizzying intoxication... The last impression was falling into a warm embrace with the scent of laurel leaves.

Mochizuki Kaede turned to look at Kissmel's peaceful sleeping face.

Just then, Kissmael's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she slowly opened her still sleepy purple eyes.

The moment their eyes met, they both froze.

"Good morning, Lord Mochizuki Kaede." Kissmel hurriedly sat up, her voice still soft and nasal from just waking up. When she noticed Mochizuki Kaede's gaze, her fair cheeks instantly flushed a rosy blush, even her neck turning a faint pink. But she quickly straightened her back, regaining the dignified posture befitting a royal guard. "After you passed out last night, the Sage asked me to bring you to the guest room to rest..."

She paused, her ear tips turning slightly red: "Because I was worried you might feel unwell in the middle of the night, I stayed by your side to take care of you, and then I accidentally fell asleep too..."

Mochizuki Kaede coughed lightly: "Thank you so much, Miss Kissmel."

"No need to worry about it, Lord Mochizuki Maple." She shook her head.

The air between them fell silent again, tinged with a subtle awkwardness.

Mochizuki Kaede suddenly spoke up: "Um... Miss Kissmel, you can just call me Mochizuki Kaede, there's no need to always add 'Your Excellency'."

Kissmael nodded slightly, her voice as gentle as a morning breeze brushing against flower petals: "Hmm... then you can just call me Kissmael."

“Hmm, Qi, Qizi…” Mochizuki Kaede tried to call out, her voice a little hoarse.

“Hmm… Wang… Wangyue Feng…” Qizimeier responded cautiously as well.

The two looked at each other and suddenly chuckled softly in unison.