CHAPTER 26.1 - Relics

"The same constellations as the real worlds.." They both look at the sky "Asuna?" Kirito suddenly noticed Asuna's sudden silence

"I mustn't think about the real world.." Asuna bowed her head "Right now, I'm a level sixteen fencer. If I don't believe in that, I'll have to fight" She sigh and forced me to smile at Kirito "Sorry, I'm okay now. Let's continue to eat"

"Are you enjoying the food?" The waitress came to their table and put a blueberry tart dessert "Today's limited menu" After that the NPC's waitress left

"It looks just like a normal blueberry tart, is this the?.." Asuna inspecting the food

"That's right, it's the menu that's inclusive of the buff" they started to take a bit on the blueberry tart

"Hmm.. So delicious" Asuna said "The refreshing berry and the thick custard was so perfect its suits the crunchy tart pastry" When she opened her eyes the buff started activating "Oh? I just wonder what's that over.." Asuna saw something shining on the floor; she stood up and checks what it is "A coin? I've never seen such a coin before" Asuna give the coin to Kirito

"That's a Relic also known as Karluin coin" Kirito checks the coin "You can exchange them for col. normally, the items that rare dropped in-game" Asuna saw something shining on the floor and she got another coin

"Ah! I found another one, this copper coin is also shinning.." Asuna was excited showing the coins to him again

"But items dropped in SAO haven't any shine on them" Kirito smiled looking at Asuna who was excited

"This eye icon, don't tell me.." Asuna noticed the eye icon on her status effect on her hit point

"Yes! This is the relic discovery bonus though it only works in this town and underground" Kirito give back the coin to Asuna "It's a Relic buff that makes coins or jewels shin-"

"Jewels?!"

"Ahh yeah, gold coins and jewels" Kirito explains "Plus, if it's a rare item such as a necklace or rings it comes with magic effect too"

"Ring?! Necklaces?!" Asuna's eyes become more shine

"Y-Yes.."

"Is that for real?" Asuna suspiciously look at him and started to act like she was thinking of something

"Buts it's rare to find them"

"Why don't you have any motivation huh?" Asuna raised her eyebrow "Usually you're.."

"Hays.. During Beta Testing, before the town gets crowded, I'll dig everything up" Kirito said

"How rude! Well, you're not wrong"

"I love doing stuff like this too.." He stopped for a moment and remembered something and continue "But I have some tragic memories from the Beta" He started thinking "Then again, as long as we stick to the town, hmm I think it should be fine"

"Oh! Let's begin the Relic hunting festival!" Asuna said and excited

"You don't have to rush; we have an hour till the buff wears off"

"What are you saying? It's only for an hour right!" Asuna look at her status and the eye icon started counting down" Asuna stood up and started walking on the door, while Kirito sigh and followed her

"Do Relics disappear forever once they're taken?" Asuna asks him confusion

"During the Beta Testing, they always return after each maintenance. But after the official maintenance, it never returned.." Kirito was thinking

"What kind of maintenance do they do?"

"Uhmm~~ If I remember correctly.." He started looking back at the past "I'm sure they've also made plans to counter like what Kayaba did in SAO when he programmed it in mind that SAO will become a deadly game. Though I don't know how they do it. I heard there's rolling maintenance where you don't need to turn off the server to do it. As for the net, there might be problems mixing in the old with the new. Checking for any damages to the software or hardware. If there are any problems, they'll fix them. Then there's the updating of programs of course the bug is fixed and restart too.. Guess something like that?" Kirito long explain

"T-Thanks for the explanation Hehe" Asuna scratch her head, she didn't understand what Kirito said "Anyway, there's a chance that the Relics will not respawn once taken?"

"Well, I guess so.."

"This really ain't the time to be idling around" Asuna was excited "The plaza? Shrine? Let's go!"

"Okay.." Kirito sigh "If I remember correctly, we'll take the first turn-" Kirito didn't finish his words, he was looking at Asuna who was now running away "Ah, hey! Please don't run!!" Kirito followed Asuna

***Teleport Gate Plaza***

Kirito and Asuna took some time to find gold coins and jewels and around the Teleport gate plaza using the buff

"So heavy.." Asuna had a hard time lifting the heavy rock to get the shining object under it "I found it!" Asuna smiled when she saw a shiny red stone when she lifts stone. Kirito dash towards her and grab the red stone, stealing it from Asuna

"You should be careful" Kirito smiled and laugh "There are people who'd steal treasures just like this!"

"Hey! Give it back!" she chased after Kirito and tried to get back the red stone "Ahh!" Asuna tried to steal back the stone but Kirito quickly raised his hand so Asuna can't get the red stone

"Now I'm in the lead at this relic collection festival" Kirito waved the red stone to Asuna, teasing her "While we're at it, why don't we have the loser treat the winner to dinner?"

"Just what I wanted!" Asuna was planning that "I lost his provocation but since he took that away from me, he's at an advantage" Asuna murmured, she need to find another jewel to they can tie. Suddenly she saw something shining on the floor at Kirito's back "Ah!" Asuna dash towards that

"The same trick won't work-" Kirito shocked wondered why she didn't snatch the stone from his hand but instead dash towards behind them "Oh! No!" Kirito noticed that Asuna saw something shining on his back

"I got it!" Asuna grabbed it "Fuu~~ I see.." Asuna was looking at the jewel the buff eyes icons were already expired

"This can really become addicting, right?" Kirito said "In the Beta Testing, there were even specialists that deals with relics, they called Korekuta"

"Is that.. An honorable title?" They look at the jewels that they collected "Ah, but is it okay for the both of us to take them?" Asuna said they collected a lot of jewels

"Hmm?.."

"If there's really no maintenance and the Relics don't respawn then? The people who come later, won't be able to get any" Asuna was not a fan of hoarding things, besides she thinks that they got too much from what they really need

"You're very kind, Asuna" Kirito smiled

"Hey! I-I'm not really.. That's not it.."

"You don't have to worry" Kirito scratched his head "Within the city, there's a lot of items. For example, the temple or the plaza such that places. It's not like we know for sure they won't respawn either"

"Thank you, I'm fine. I don't regret it" Asuna feel relieved "It was really fun, I'm quite

"Plus, the ones we got are like the tiny extras," Kirito said

"Umm.. Hmm?" Asuna throws him a questionable look "What do you mean?"

"We didn't see anyone from Aincrad Liberation Squad or Dragon Knight Brigade, right?" Asuna nodded

"Now that you mention it.." Asuna was confused why they didn't see any of those guilds usually they are around