Sword Art Online - Volume 22 - Chapter 3.5

5 

As we gradually descended toward Yggdrasil City, I glanced up one last time at the white clouds atop the World Tree. 

We didn’t find the continuation of the quest I wanted or the rainbow bridge Suguha was seeking. But perhaps those two goals were actually the same thing. 

Based on the conversation between Kraken and Leviathan, the quest was just the start of a grand narrative encompassing the unseen Aesir. In that case, the day would eventually come when we crossed a multicolored bridge and visited Asgard beyond the sky—far in the future, of course. 

There was a vision in my head that put a small but undeniable flame in my heart: of beating the hundredth floor of New Aincrad and seeing Bifrost touch down upon the ground there. 

There’s no end to the adventure. There’s always something else that comes next. Even if I grow into an adult and leave ALO behind, I’ll always be able to find that rainbow bridge if I just look up into the sky. 

“Hey, Kirito!” said Asuna excitedly as she paced alongside me. “Remember that dungeon we couldn’t beat because my healing abilities couldn’t keep up with the damage? Let’s all go try it again tonight! With this staff, I think we can finish it this time!” 

But then Lisbeth turned back and called out, “We have to eat pancakes in Ygg City first! I wanna see you reach a hundred, Kirito!” 

“Uh…c-can we drop that down to fifty…?” I replied. The girls laughed. 

Leafa turned and flew nimbly in reverse. There was a mischievous smile on her lips. “That can be arranged. But in return, you have to admit what you were doing in Swilvane last night!” 

“Oof…” 

Should I attempt a hundred pancakes, knowing I’d have no appetite for dinner? Or should I give up and admit my sins in infiltrating the sylph manor? 

Either choice made for a pathetic finish to our two-day adventure. I couldn’t make up my mind, so Yui spoke from my shoulder with a brilliant way out. 

“Don’t worry, Papa! If you cook up a hundred pancakes’ worth of batter at once, then you only have to eat one big one!” 

“…Ah, I see. That’s a good idea.” 

I gave a gentle fingertip rub to the head of my daughter, who was clearly going through a fascination-with-big-things phase. One day I’d have to show her a real whale. 

Up ahead, the city built around the giant tree was coming into view. I put all my strength into my back, vibrating my wings as hard as they could go. 

(The End)