T R A P P E D

Chapter Ten - Ukiyo

I really should have beaten up those idiots for insulting Akiko and our party. Also, for thinking I was a guy.

Luckily though, Akiko was quick to pull me away. Four or five opponents would probably have been destroyed by us, but ten was... nah.

Anyway, we both needed better weapons, if the death penalty really was true.

Akiko and I waved goodbye to the guys and went shopping for new weapons.

We got new custom made swords. Mine felt perfect in my hand, and Akiko could wield hers with no difficulty at all. Some monster appeared, and Akiko and I were quick to take it down in two easy slashes.

Akiko had upgraded her cooking ability again, so she decided to make us all dinner. She had packed the food for the boys, so now it was just us in our house.

"Do... Do we really have to die?" Akiko broke the silence, a sad look on her face. "Reaching the 100 floor is impossible. I'll just have to enjoy what time I have left here with y-"

"AKIKO-CHAN! Don't say that!" I shouted suddenly, my hood falling off once again. "I will protect you. We will beat this game, no matter how long it takes."

"We are not Kirito and Asuna. Although it might be possible, the chances of that would be nearly zero." This was really unlike Akiko, the forever optimist.

I hurriedly changed the subject, saying, "Well, the first step to survive is to make ourselves stronger. A head start will greatly increase our chances of surviving in this world. Hey- weren't you saying that you wanted a Cloak of Midnight? Well, if we beat the Koblold Lord, you can get it!"

Akiko slowly returned to her normal self. "Well, if we're stuck in this world, we might as well make the most of our time spent here!"