I, Asuna, don't want to travel around the world

In previous copies, people would often be teleported in an instant.

Yesterday and today, when Maple and Asuna used coin items to enter the dungeon, the speed of the dungeon was extremely slow.

Moreover, there is thick white fog.

"Yeah, even in NWO, our speed in entering the dungeon wouldn't be so slow~" Maple shook her head, put her finger on her chin, and said:

"Besides, those monsters in yesterday's dungeon were really... a little scary!"

She stuck out her tongue and continued, "I didn't dare to eat them because they were too scary."

Thinking of those giant cat monsters that looked like zombies yesterday, Maple patted the flat plate armor on her chest with lingering fear.

Asuna rubbed Maple's little head, pushed down the ahoge on her head, and said:

“Well, judging from the monster we encountered yesterday.

Although they can devour their companions to achieve the effect of "upgrading", if they do not completely devour their companions, then even if they kill each other, their degree of enhancement will be limited. "

Leafa silently held Kirito's hand, and the two looked at each other silently, reflecting each other's shadows, and both revealed a faint and imperceptible smile.

Asuna and Maple in front of them didn't pay attention to what was happening behind them.

Naturally, they would not notice that the brother and sister only saw each other's eyes~

"If the monsters in today's copy are the same as yesterday's, then it's good news for us." Leafa added calmly.

"Indeed." The young man who was interlocking his fingers with him nodded and agreed, "Even if it's a second-level copy, if the abilities are the same, as long as the attributes are not greatly enhanced, then it won't be difficult for us to defeat them one by one."

He looked down at Maple in front of him and said, "Maple, you can use your super high defense to attack~"

"Eh?"

Maple turned back curiously, and a picture flashed through her mind.

That was the scene where my best friend grabbed me and threw me at the monster like a cannonball...

For the sake of caution, the four of them were pressed tightly together. Kirito and Leafa were more like siblings in the eyes of others, so their shoulders were pressed tightly together and they shook hands without being noticed by Maple.

Because, with her height, she had to look up at Kirito, so she naturally wouldn't pay attention to her waist.

Looking at Maple's curious yet slightly suspicious look, Kirito said with a smile:

"It seems like you've already guessed what I want to do, Maple~ Hahahaha"

“No… that’s not the case…” Maple’s mouth twitched.

"Brother, what are you going to do to Maple-chan?!"

Leafa increased the strength of her hands, causing Kirito to twitch his mouth in pain.

"No...nothing!"

However, no matter how much pain it was, he could not cry out. He could only endure the pain in his hand, pretending to be calm and begging for mercy.

"..."

Could it be that... Kirito-kun really didn't bully Leafa at home?

Asuna glanced back at the siblings behind her and couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

Why does it feel like... it's Leafa who's keeping a strict eye on Kirito-kun now?

"Don't worry, General Maple. I will protect you!"

Leafa reached out her other hand and touched Maple's little head with a bright smile on her face.

At the same time, the hand that was intertwined with Kirito's fingers gently clenched, as if to express his apology? It was completely different from the previous huge force.

"Yeah, thank you, Sister Leafa~!"

Maple nodded obediently, "However, I'll still go explore other things in the dungeon while you guys are defeating monsters. Maybe I can find some special quest items like Sister Asuna did yesterday!"

"...Well, that's not impossible." Asuna nodded after hearing that. "But, be careful, Maple. You might be attacked by the monsters guarding the quest items when you find them. Be sure to call us loudly when that happens."

"Yes, I understand, Sister Asuna!"

The fog around seemed to be dissipating.

Because, in Asuna and the others' vision, the world before them was no longer white.

Some moss grew on the bluestone steps, and a slight moisture blew towards you with the wind, giving you a very cool feeling.

It seemed to be on the mountainside, and the slope of the steps looked a little steep.

Rows of bright red torii gates stand beside the stone steps. The emerald green branches and leaves of the shrubs are mixed among the red torii gates, growing tenaciously in the moist mist.

There was no sun in the sky, and the only source of light came from the lanterns hanging on the torii gate, which were the same bright red color as the torii gate.

There was a gentle breeze, and the red lanterns swayed in the wind. The dark red light flickered on this long mountain road, looking extremely strange.

"—!"

Suddenly, a strange gust of cold wind blew, causing Asuna's body to stiffen and her face to turn slightly pale.

"Sister Asuna..."

Maple gently held Asuna's slightly trembling hand.

"Isn't there a fox on the coin? There must be no ghost~!"

She comforted softly.

Asuna twitched her lips and said, "No, that's right... How could there be a ghost... It was clearly a fox..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Whoa-!"

Leafa and Kirito shrugged helplessly, then they both put their hands on Asuna's shoulders, which scared her so much that she shivered.

This time, even Maple almost couldn't hold back her laughter.

"Leave the battle to me and Leafa."

Kirito patted Asuna's shoulder, with a hint of helplessness in his tone.

"Asuna, take Maple with you to check other places. This dungeon is very different from the ones we have encountered before. There may be some other information hidden in it."

"Uh-huh!"

Asuna hesitated for a moment, and then another gust of cold wind blew over her, scaring her so much that she shivered all over, and she quickly nodded in agreement.

"Li, Lifa, you guys must... be careful... I, I always feel... that there is something bad... watching us..."

Asuna looked around, but except for the stone steps in front of her and the bright red torii gate, the rest of the place was shrouded in white mist.

In a trance, Asuna seemed to see the shadow of a girl wearing a white wedding gown with her back to her.

Chapter 23 Maple: I didn't mean to hurt you

"The fog is coming!"

"Eh, eh?!"

"Really."

"Are you forcing us to take the mountain path?"

After hearing Kirito's words, Asuna looked up and realized that the mist that was originally hovering around them was slowly moving towards them.

The only place that was not shrouded or hidden by fog was the place guarded by the torii.

However, looking at the dark red light swaying on the bluestone steps, Asuna seemed to be unable to move forward.

"It seems like something interesting is going to happen!" Leafa seemed very interested in the upcoming battle.

“Yes… yes…”

Asuna's mouth twitched as she answered reluctantly.

"Let's go. If we don't go up now, the bosses guarding the gate might come down to greet us."

Kirito smiled, his hand already on the one-handed sword at his waist, and he pulled Leafa forward to lead the way.

"Maple-chan, Asuna is now in your hands~!"

"Oh~! Sister Asuna's safety will be protected by me!"

The younger sister of the brother and sister duo who stepped onto the stairs first suddenly turned around and said to Maple with a beautiful smile.

At the same time, he looked at her with a meaningful look that made Asuna very uncomfortable.

Asuna couldn't help but feel ashamed.

Being afraid of ghosts would be fine, but he was so afraid that he needed to be carried by a child! And he even exposed his shameful side in front of his best friend.

"Wu...! Let's go, Maple!"

Asuna stamped her feet, quickly took Maple's hand, and followed.

In the thick fog behind him, a flash of ice-blue fire flashed by.

……

……

In the misty air, the red pillars beside the stone steps seemed a little unreal.

Like a mirage.

Wisps of mist passed through the gaps between the red pillars and came to the road paved with bluestone slabs, making the world in front of the eyes seem even more hazy.

The Torii gates are connected one after another, and seem to connect to the end of the road. The road behind is vaguely visible. No matter how far you look, you can only see the thick fog, so you can only grit your teeth and move forward.

It is said that the Torii is a barrier used to distinguish the divine realm from the human world where humans live, and the thick fog behind Asuna and the others seems to have become the dividing line between the human world and the divine realm.

It seemed that by passing through the layer of mist behind me, I could return to the "human world".

But, what kind of human world is there in the game!!!

Isn't it just about gritting your teeth and moving forward? !

Maple looked around curiously at first, and even picked branches and leaves of roadside plants from time to time and played with them in her hands.

However, these stone steps seemed to have no end and continued to extend upwards. They should have been walking on these stone steps for nearly ten minutes and should have climbed very high, but they still could not see the end of the stone steps.

Looking back, the road that was originally clear was now obscured by thick fog, and I couldn't see the way home at all.

"Everyone stop for a moment, I'll go up and explore the way by myself!"

Kirito stopped and looked at the thick fog behind him, a look of curiosity flashing in his eyes.

Why hasn't the boss appeared yet? Do we have to go into the fog to clear the level, instead of going up this path and entering the shrine?

"Well, be careful, brother."

Leafa loosened her tightly clasped hands with Kirito and gave a concerned reminder.

"Don't worry, I'm the black swordsman!"

Kirito smiled and rubbed his sister's head.

"You guys need to pay more attention to your safety then. Maybe the boss we've been looking for is not at the end of the stone steps or at a certain section of the road, but right behind us, following us closely."

"Then if you hear a fight, come back and help."

"Yeah, of course." Kirito looked very relaxed, and then waved to Asuna and the others. He stomped his feet on the stone steps, turned into a black stream of light, and quickly rushed up along the stone steps.

The sound of whistling wind could be heard in his ears, and the mist under his feet slowly dissipated as Kirito moved quickly.

Suddenly, Kirito turned his head and looked back, trying to find his companions. However, the world behind him was filled with a thick layer of white fog, and even the bluestone steps under his feet disappeared.

“——It’s gone.”

Kirito did not stop, but continued to rush up the seemingly endless stone steps.

Is the monster at the end of the stone steps, or in the thick fog behind it?

Or maybe it's both?

If it was in thick fog, with Asuna and Leafa's strength, as long as the monster was not particularly abnormal, they could generally defeat it.