Sword Art Online Crossover: They're all close friends, how did I become a player?

"Lord..."

Jiang Xue's voice came from behind, sounding somewhat buzzing due to the heat from the hot spring.

"what happened?"

“My lord, I don’t like war… so…” Jiang Xue Zuowen murmured, somewhat unsure of why he was saying this.

His younger brother told him to get closer to the lord, but when he actually stood before the lord, he didn't know what to say.

"Ah~"

Yu Bai gently grasped Jiang Xue Zuowenzi's hand, which was rubbing his shoulder with a towel, and slowly turned around to look at him: "I know what you're thinking, Jiang Xue. Since you don't want to participate in war and killing, then we won't go. In my Honmaru, Jiang Xue can do whatever he wants. There are more than enough resources to support a lord like you."

"And Jiang Xue is really amazing!"

Yu Bai continued, "I've always seen that you take very good care of the horses, and the quality of the crops we've harvested recently is even better than before. So Jiang Xue, you've been taking very good care of the Honmaru."

Upon hearing Yu Bai's words, Jiang Xue Zuowenzi was startled. He hadn't realized that his lord had been paying attention to him all along.

Slowly lowering his hand from Jiang Xue's left hand, Yu Bai paused before continuing, "But there's only one thing: although I know you don't like going into battle, you need to make sure your level keeps improving, okay? Because only by ensuring your own strength can you have more confidence and security, right?"

Jiang Xue Zuowenzi gazed into his lord's golden eyes, feeling as if he were about to drown in this gentle golden ocean.

His lord's understanding and consideration warmed his heart, and at this moment he sincerely felt that it was wonderful to be his lord's sword.

"...My lord, I will raise my level," Jiang Xue Zuowenzi assured him.

His lord was so considerate of him that he didn't know how to repay him. All he could do was improve his rank and work harder and more diligently in his duties.

After a relaxing soak in the hot spring, everyone packed up and prepared to return to the main compound.

The lord just mentioned that the citadel has prepared delicious food and drinks for everyone. They're all looking forward to going to the cherry blossom tree to admire the flowers later.

The last time such a flower viewing event was held was after the lord's first time-travel back.

Now the number of swords in the citadel is increasing, and the members of each sword faction are becoming more and more complete. Under the leadership of their lord, the swords feel very happy every day.

Each of them shared the same sentiment as Kousetsu Samonji: It was wonderful to be able to come to our lord's citadel and become his sword.

……

Beneath the cherry blossoms, laughter and chatter created a lively and festive scene.

As night fell, a dazzling display of fireworks suddenly burst forth in the sky above the citadel, their colorful light illuminating everyone's faces. As they looked up at the sky, their eyes were filled with awe and longing for this beautiful moment, silently wishing that this wonderful time could stand still.

"Abundant Month".

Bu Yue turned her head to look at the boy standing beside her. His fair face appeared even more outstanding at this moment. His golden eyes seemed to flow with a dazzling galaxy, reflecting this unparalleled moment of beauty.

Suddenly, a line of Chinese poetry that Bu Yue had heard Feng Yue read a few days ago echoed in her mind: "You are looking at the scenery on the bridge, while someone else is looking at you from the building. The bright moon adorns your window, and you adorn someone else's dream."

At that moment, he felt as if he had come to understand the beauty unique to the poems of the Chinese people.

"Buyue, we'll watch fireworks together afterwards." Hearing Buyue's voice, Yu Bai turned around, his smile as bright as the sun, warm but not dazzling.

Bu Yue's brows softened, the corners of her mouth slightly curved up, and she softly agreed, "Okay."

Meanwhile, the drinks at the party acted as a catalyst for the joyful atmosphere. Several heavy drinkers in the citadel were currently enjoying themselves, with Jirotachi, who had only recently joined, being particularly enthusiastic.

He abandoned his drinking buddies, stood up, hooked his right arm around his elder brother Taro Tachi's neck, and held the wine glass to Taro Tachi's lips, looking like the two brothers were on good terms.

"You should drink less." Taro Tachi frowned, looking at Jiro Tachi, who was somewhat drunk, with disapproval.

"Big brother, you're too serious! You should relax in a situation like this!" Jirotachi laughed heartily, seemingly having found new amusement. He turned to the police academy's five-man group and warmly greeted them, "Hey guys, want a drink?"

"Thank you, but we can't drink any more."

Looking at the stunningly beautiful woman before him, who was much taller than himself, Morofushi Kagemitsu was completely unmoved. There were just too many cross-dressing men in Yohaku Honmaru; it was impossible to guard against them all.

However, after learning that the sword spirits are all men, the five members of the police academy were able to remain unfazed whether facing the petite and cute Ran Toushirou or the drunken and radiant Jirotachi, who resembled a courtesan.

But when no one knew, they had already silently repeated to themselves many times: He is a man, a man, a man!

"Excuse me, Jiro was rude." Taro Tachi abruptly pulled his younger brother, who had danced in front of his lord's friends, back and apologized to the five of them with a look of remorse. His figure was tall and imposing, like an unshakeable mountain.

"No, it's nothing." Morofushi Kagemitsu looked up at the two-meter-tall Taro Tachi, then his gaze shifted to the large dachi hanging at his waist.

After Taro-tachi left with Jiro-tachi, Morofushi Kagemitsu exclaimed to the other four people who were leisurely sitting on the picnic mat, enjoying snacks and observing the tsukumogami around them, "Wow! He's really tall! Judging from the sword on his waist just now, it must be an Ōdachi, right?"

"Judging from the appearance and shape of that sword, if I'm not mistaken, it should be the Tarodachi enshrined at Atsuta Shrine, right?"

Matsuda Jinpei squinted as he recalled the appearance of the greatsword he had just glanced at, his tone tinged with uncertainty.

"That should be it. Didn't that person just call the tsukumogami who invited us for drinks 'Jiro'? If it's called by that name and has the same greatsword, then that person must be Jiro-dachi," Kenji Hagiwara pondered.

"These sword spirits are really amazing, and I never expected that there would be monsters and gods around us."

"This might be because humans are unable to recognize knowledge beyond their own capabilities," Rei Furuya remarked with a touch of melancholy.

If Yu Bai hadn't shown them this today, and if they hadn't encountered that one in a thousand stroke of luck, they probably would never have known about this other side of the world until their deaths.

……

Bijin Jiro: Drink up, everyone! Cheers!