CHAPTER 15.1 - The New Rovia

"I haven't told you the most important thing"

"You should've done that from the beginning," Asuna said in half annoying

"This is good, here" After equipping something Kirito throw that to Asuna "Nice catch!"

"This is a glove?" Asuna look at the glove and inspected it

"Yup, it's just a normal glove dropped from the monster" Kirito explains and Asuna look at him in 'I know right. What I'm going to do in this glove?' look "Actions speak louder than words, right? Try to put it on and touch the water"

"What can a glove do anyway?" Asuna followed him in she was shocked after dripping the glove "Ah! Amazing, it feels much heavy like it was wet"

"Depending on the material, the water absorption and resistant rate differs" Kirito explain "The dev should have bothered so much with such an item"

"I understand what you're trying to say" Asuna look at her clothes "It's dangerous to swim with the equipment I have on me right now" If she didn't take off her clothes there is a tendency that she will drown

"Yeah that's the way" Kirito removed his clothes and he left his boxer

"Hey! Why did you strip out of the blue!" Asuna shouted when he saw Kirito she blushed looking at him half-naked

"But I already explained it"

"This and that are different!" Asuna throws him the life-preserving ring "So I should remove any heavy equipment?"

"Generally, yeah," Kirito said while scratching his head "Also, it's better if you remove your weapons and boots" Asuna removed her clock, her repair, and her boots "Your vest and skirts are made in leather right?" Asuna nod "Those too then"

"Eh? Hey!" Asuna looks at her clothes after removing those "I'm only left with the tunic then!"

"It can't be helped, right? You're much better off than me having just a pair of boxers only" Kirito handed to her the life-preserving ring "Let's go" Kirito looked at the river "Oh, this place has a calm flow, let's do this" Kirito started to go in the water "The temperature.." He looks at Asuna "Ah, I'm glad it's not that cold. Come, I'll help you" He handed his hand to her

"Don't let go of my hand okay? I mean it!" She knows how to swim but she is scared knowing that there is a possibility that they will drown

"It's fine" After Asuna got wet Kirito suddenly stiff looking at her

"Fu~ I was so nervous," Asuna said and take a deep breath

"In fact, you made me nervous," Kirito said "What? Her clothes become transparent after coming in contact with water" He whisper but Asuna didn't hear him because she was busy enjoying the water

Gulp~~

"Uwa! This feels kinda nostalgic" Asuna said and look at the pale face of Kirito "Kirito-Kun?"

"Ah! Y-yeah y-our right HE-HE" he was busy thinking of that thing, he can saw her undergarments "The city should be up ahead" Kirito pointed the cave that the water flow "Be careful of the stream" They started to swim

"WAAA! What's this?" Asuna was scared the current of the water was too strong

"The water resistance feels different than in real life, right?" Kirito said smiling and enjoying "Over here" Kirito offer his hand to he and she accept it "We're almost at the exit" kirito pointed the direction in front of them "I don't think the landscape has changed ever since the beta Testing"

"Hey, I'm hearing loud sounds, is there something up ahead?" Asuna asks

"Eh? I'm pretty sure there's a huge road" Kirito heard the loud sound "Or? I'm wrong?" They were shocked seeing the end of the stream was waterfalls

"Kyaaaa!!!" Asuna shouted when they were about to fall "Calm down! We'll land on our fit" When they got up from the water they immediately sat down

"I thought I was going to die," Asuna said

"Ah~ It was my fault for not noticing the height differences" Kirito scratched his head

"It felt kinda fun, just like from a park attraction," Asuna said smiling

"Then do you want to go back and challenge it again?" Kirito ask her in excitement, he enjoyed that too

"Definitely not!" After the change, they started to walk "Ah, that was a disaster"

"HAHA But look, we're at the city now," Kirito said

"Ohh really?" Asuna looks at him saying that 'You already say that earlier but you're totally wrong, we got in trouble, remember?'

"As long as Kayaba Akihiko doesn't change it, then yeah" Kirito continue and scratch his head "Once you pass that arch you'll be able to see it"

Asuna runs towards the arch "Let's hurry up and go!" Kirito followed her and after passing the arch that Kirito pointed they saw the main Town

The main town on the 4th floor, named Rovia, is located on the north side of the floor, to the southeast from the stairs that led to the 3rd floor. Although the city had a rather plain and boring design in the Beta Test of Sword Art Online, it became bright with Town in the middle of a square lake. As stone-paved roads were replaced with waterways, gondolas were needed to different areas of the Town.

"Waa! What a beautiful Town" Asuna was amazed looking at the Town

"Now I understand! It looks pretty dull during the Beta Test, but it seems this is its true form" Kirito said

"Look there! There are so many gondolas! It looks like Venice in Italy" Asuna look at the gondolas

"You love Venice?" Kirito ask

"I want to visit there one day" Asuna started to walk

"Grate" Kirito followed her

"Let's ride the gondola," Asuna said in excitement "Waa~ which one should we get on, I can't choose," Asuna said looking at the gondolas

"Oh, how about this?" Kirito pointed at the gondola in front of him

"Hmm, you're right!" Asuna said cheerfully "Let's go with this" She chooses another gondola

"Really huh? You ask me and in the end, you will choose another one" Kirito look at her "I can't really understand girls"

"Welcome to Rovia. It cost 50 coles no matter what the destination" The NPC man said he was the one who will drive the gondola

"Please take us to the squire," Kirito said

"Okay! Leave it to me!" The NPC man said cheerfully

Asuna jump to the gondola "Please be careful not to fall because I don't want to go another swimming"

"We're going!" The NPC man said when they were already on the gondola

"Waaa!" Asuna and Kirito was amused looking at the NPC stores, house, and establishments that their passing by

" This is Rovia's mean street.." Kirito said

"Kirito-Kun is it fun right?" Asuna smiled at him the wind blows, she looks even more beautiful in Kirito's eyes, he blushes

"Hmm? What wrong Kirito-Kun?" Asuna ask when she noticed Kirito's face was red

"N-nothing! Any way" Kirito looked at their back where the NPC man was "Is it possible to take the gondola outside of Town?"

"Sorry but that's impossible! Our workplace is limited to this area" The NPC said

"I see" Kirito nods "How about other ships?"

"I can't answer you"

"Look!" Asuna said "It looks like we've arrived"

"Thanks for the wait! Please call upon our services again!" The NPC man said and smiled at them

"Thank you so much," They said goodbye to the man

"That was fun! Let's ride it again on our way back again, Okay?" Asuna said

"Y-Yeah! There aren't any other means to go around anyway" Kirito said he was still mesmerized with Asuna's beauty