Disclaimer: I do not own Sword Art Online. Sword Art Online is owned by Reki Kawahara and ASCII Media Works.
Giltstein, 4:30 AM, 02-07-2023.
Peaceful Moments from Adam Skorupa played alongside Heathcliff's early awakening. He didn't even have to look anymore to know it was Peaceful Moments. The harmony of the ukelele in combination with the Piano set the medieval RPG tone just right. It was a beautiful calming tone, even if it was only the background music. Calming was all he could ask for, especially since the world of dreams had been anything but calming for him.
Thanks to Argo's assistance, the complaints of the database had died down and the awaiting players started to realize how much the frontline was going through. But that was only a small part of Heathcliff's worries.
The 25th-floor update was still waiting for their approval, and there were so many things behind the scene he had no control over. The dreadful battle on the 8th floor with the murderous red- cursor players was certainly something that still played a significant role in daily worrying. The fact they had heard nothing about them since then only made him more anxious. The fall of the ALS, and the momentary fall of the frontline. No matter how you would call it, the alliance he had created was the only frontline of today. No ALS; no DKB; just three guilds formed under one flag stood between freedom and the seventy-three floors of Aincrad.
For all the stupidity that spiked-haired kid caused, Heathcliff had to admit Kibaou was determined till the end. At this very moment, Heathcliff wished he had that determination, even if it was only fueled by desperation. He was tired, and each day setting out to map unknown territory took more effort than he wanted to admit these days. Even with Argo's surprise party, there was only so much that could be resolved in just one evening of fun. He faced the troubles of a trapped player and the stress of a frontliner while hiding he was Kayaba Ahikiho.
He just wanted to come clean. To tell everyone Kayaba was not the one who locked them inside this world. To tell them he could use their help and to finally release the information about Aincrad he knew. But until now, there hasn't been a single moment he could confess. What would such a moment look like anyway? Kayaba was perhaps a genius of his time, but even he could not tell.
A sudden shock from the side pulled him out of his worrying thoughts. A face he learned to love was covered in anxiety sweatdrops as another nightmare haunted her world of dreams. With a soundless slide and a gentle touch, Heathcliff shook Isabella on her shoulder. His in-game clear-blue eyes shot open in shock, straight into her husband's soft and worried gaze. ''Thank you,'' She whispered as her mind caught up to reality.
''Your welcome,'' Heathcliff whispered before he turned his eyes back to the menu in front of him. Just to pass the time, because he had no clue what else to do in this early morning. Sleeping was out of the question since the good short sleep he had this night was rare. If he would enter the world of dreams again, he was sure he would experience the same anxiety Isabella had felt just seconds ago.
Isabella shoved a little closer to her husband as she lay her head on that foreign chest of his. She had learned to love his chest, but she preferred the real one from Kayaba, not Heathcliff. It was the touch and the smell that felt different. Foreign as it was not his own. Sword Art Online still lacked to replicate that to the fullest effect. At least the heartbeat she could hear coming from his avatar was real. And as expected, it was not as calm as it used to be in the real world. Without thinking about it, she lay her arm to rest on the remaining space of his bare chest. In the silence of the night, his breath and heartbeat mixed perfectly with the background music song Elmshore from Justin Bell.
Although it didn't seem significant at first, the effect of calming music truly assists players in keeping their composure in their moment of need. Music is a way for the brain to momentarily forget what is going on, and calm the chaotic thoughts into a peaceful pattern. Of course, if the music wasn't associated with the action, the action would be less effective. Thus, a decent amount of time of creating Aincrad went into the background music.
For a moment, there was nothing but that background music and the breathing that could be heard. Their thoughts claimed their senses as they were not paying attention to the darkness of the room or the clock in their hud. ''I wish we could tell them,'' Heathcliff eventually said after several minutes of silence.
''I wish we could too,'' Isabella sighed. Her crystal-blue eyes stared tiredly into the darkness of the room, her thoughts as chaotic as her body was tired. Even with the rest and the party of the previous day, it wasn't enough to recover from her strained body and mind. What they needed was to share their secret, which they only could share only with each other thus far. However, they both feared the consequences of that action. It wasn't as if Kirito would say, ''That's totally understandable. Let's continue with exploring.'' or ''Yeesh, couldn't you tell us earlier? It would have made this game a lot easier.''
No, the bet on the reveal of that secret was their lives. Since they only had one, they couldn't afford any chances. Unfortunately, the secret that they were Kayaba Akhikho and Koujiro Rinko, and stood on the player side had to remain hidden until the end of Sword Art Online. Even if that meant that they couldn't do the 25th-floor update for now.
Giltstein, 6:42 AM, 02-07-2023.
Water droplets slowly dripped down from the plants to the soil in Athi's little garden. They were the last traces of the violent storm that had the landscape in its grasp the day before. In this early morning, it was all that was left as the morning sun rose on the horizon.
Two figures stood several feet away from each other in that garden, their eyes locked, filled with anticipation. Two players and an NPC sat at the stone threshold at the rear door of the mansion, their eyes switching between the two players and the countdown between them.
When that timer hit zero, two players jumped forward simultaneously towards each other. *Clang!* The clash of their weapons echoed through the garden, but the duelists paid little attention to it. If they did, the duel between the two would have been quickly over.
Chest-brown hair danced furiously to the sharp movements of its owner, each forward thrust changing its natural trajectory. A white rapier with black lines clashed with two one-handed swords, those same black lines slightly flashing by each connection. The eyes that lurked for information paid no attention to it, for the several colored lines on the Divine weapon were already confirmed to react on their respective players. Red for Liz. Yellow for Argo. Black for Kirito. The divine rapier Celeste's Light was definitely something else.
In comparison, the two blades Kirito held were normal in every regard, except that they were frontline material. But even with double the weapon, Asuna's agility, strike precision, and expertise made the dual perfectly equal.
It was thanks to the second sword Kirito could block Asuna's quick Linears, but his lack of expertise in wielding two swords did not help in the counter. His skill improved each day, but the additional weight still required his attention. On the other hand, Asuna had no such issue. Her rapier movements were already part of her own, and although Asuna's swordsmanship was far from perfect, she was the most skilled rapier user in Aincrad.
''No good. He is still on the defense,'' Argo commented from the side, her eyes carefully observing the exchange of blows.
''He is getting better though. His movements no longer seem to be that hesitant. Besides, they seem to enjoy their little duel.'' Liz responded with a weak smile. The broad grins of competition did not escape the blacksmith's keen observation, even in the glow of early morning sun. It was a grin from the boy she loved, but it was a side of him she could not reach herself.
There was a trace of concern in that thought. No matter what she did, the side he was currently showing was something she could not pull out. A competitive side, at least in a duel. She knew he was competitive in more ways, but was there a way for her to open that side of his to her? Was there a way to challenge him in our own way?
After the past weeks, that was definitely something she wanted to know. Liz thought the battle for Kirito's love was over, but she realized that their battle was far from over despite their agreement. Asuna had claimed Kirito in the 26th dungeon and during their mapping, and Argo had claimed him during most of the evenings. She was falling behind in the relationship, and that was the last thing she wanted. Perhaps she could ask him tonight. It was her turn to be alone with Kirito tonight. Even Suka, who was watching the duel between Asuna and Kirito with an amazed expression, would not disrupt that moment. ''Papa and mama are so cool!'' The redhead exclaimed. Her demon-red eyes were staring at the two with nothing but admiration.
"They are, aren't they,'' Liz responded a little absent-minded. Argo's ears twitched for a moment, but her eyes did not move. She was too focused on the dual. The timer of four minutes ended without a deceive hit, but there was still a winner. Asuna had claimed victory in this duel, clearly seen by the smile on her face.
''I won!'' Asuna exclaimed happily as she leaped joyfully. Kirito stared at his overjoyed partner, and momentarily, he completely forgot his loss. Or better said, he happily lost the duel if it meant he could that bright smile again. Again, he was surprised that the girl looking so happy was the same girl that he found beyond the point of return in a dungeon on the first floor. Fate could be a strange thing.
Argo's ears twitched again, and casually, she turned to the door. ''Oh, it is you guys. I was wondering who was making all that noise.'' Klein said as he appeared from in the rear exit. From the big Congratulations floating between Kirito and Asuna and his friend's defeated smile, he concluded what was going on. By the two sheathed swords Kirito wore on his back, he also concluded how. ''Still trying to perfect that dual-wielding skill, ha? As much as I love the determination, can you make breakfast first?''
Kirito sighed as he dematerialized his swords, walked to the door, and complained, ''You are too spoiled.''
Klein grinned as he let his leader pass, and responded, ''Well, that is your fault. You can't expect me not to be spoiled with all the cooking you have been doing. You have to take responsibility for that.'' Kirito looked over his shoulder, a deadpanning gaze aimed at the red samurai. ''Fair point,'' He admitted before he countered, ''But you still owe me for being your guinea pig.''
''I am pretty certain I have already returned that favor,'' Kirito responded dryly as he opened the door to the dining room. As soon as he did, a familiar scent struck his sense of smell. A scent he smelled a hundred times, yet slightly different as well. There was a personal touch in the scent, and it smelled surprisingly sweet.
''Good morning,'' Rechka warmly greeted as she placed several plates on the table. ''I hope you don't mind if I started already. You have so many ingrediënts here. I just couldn't help myself.'' She added smilingly. The Warriors of a New Hope icon hovered just above her name, a decision that was made yesterday during the feast.
''Is that the sweet-sour sauce made from dried-out violet berries?'' Asuna asked curiously.
''With a personal touch of Bee Juice and loathy plant.'' The red-head chef confirmed with a smile.
''That explains the additional sweetness,'' Kirito commented as he had just deduced the recipe from the smell alone.
''Precisely. You are both as sharp as ever,'' Rechka grinned. ''I am already looking forward to our collaboration.''
''Me too! This stuff smells incredible,'' Klein commented as he sat down and asked, ''So, can I take a bite? I don't want it to be cold.''
''Sure, go ahead. I made plenty for everyone.'' Rechka answered while Kirito just sighed.
Argo placed a hand on Kirito's shoulder as she joked, ''Let it go, Kii-bou. You did all you could have. He is past saving.''
''Haha, very funny,'' Klein retorted annoyed as he started eating. Kirito and Asuna joined Rechka in the kitchen to further experiment on dishes as Argo and Liz joined Klein at the table.
By the time the next players stepped into the dining room, around fifteen minutes later, the three players were in deep conversation. ''I understand, but we have to cross it eventually. You can't just call a break like this.'' Klein said calmly.
''We can't solo the frontline like how we are now. It has been five days since coming to this floor, and you haven't even reached the next town yet.'' Argo commented.
''And judging from the damage on your weapons each day, that is for a good reason,'' Liz complimented.
Klein sighed as he answered, ''I know, but still. We have a responsibility as frontliner players...''
''Perhaps we do, but we can't tackle the entire frontline on our own,'' Heathcliff commented as he stepped towards the table alongside his wife. ''Mind if we join in on the conversation?''
''Of course not. Take one of these new dishes while you're at it.'' Klein greeted happily before returning to the topic at hand. ''We were just discussing if we should take a break from the frontline or not. Since we can't push up much, Argo has been thinking to wait until the other guilds can catch up to the frontline.''
Heathcliff looked slightly content as he answered, ''As much as I like to disagree, it would be the wisest decision. We are worn out from the responsibility and with the Dragon Knights Brigade and the Aincrad Liberation Squad not participating on the front-line, we have to shoulder that responsibility alone. I rather pause early and reorganize than risk another death.''
''We are taking that damm break? Finally.'' Mitchos said relieved as he followed in behind Dale, Helios, Alice, and Ren. ''Don't get me wrong. I love kicking ass and taking names, but even I need time to recharge these guns!''
''In your dreams, pipsqueak. Wanna know how real guns look like? Check this!'' Helios grinned as showed off his arm muscle.
''Please tell me you have invented coffee this morning. It is too early for this.'' Dale commented tiredly.
''Sorry, Dale-san. No luck thus far,'' Asuna answered as she stepped out of the kitchen door with several plates.
''I hope some breakfast is good enough for now,'' Kirito responded as he placed some plates on the table and baskets as well.
''I can't say no to that,'' Alice responded with a smile as she sat down at a table. She was surprised when Rechka came with another set of plates. ''Any reason for this celebrational feast?''
''You are making important decisions here. You can't do that on an empty stomach.'' Rechka answered with a grin before she returned to the kitchen.
Ren looked momentarily confused before he shook his head and said, ''Anyway, you guys were talking about taking a break from the frontline. Any particular reason for it, or just because we are completely worn out?'' he asked for confirmation.
''So you noticed it too, Re-bou? You guys need a break and I need some helping hands.'' Argo said as she had just finished a bowl of rice. Looking at some of the doubting faces, she added, ''If you worry about those players waiting on floor one, then we explain it in Aincrad Today. They will understand it.''
''They will have to,'' Mortimer said as he walked to one of the tables. ''Morning,'' he added, slightly agitated for no particular reason.
''Still not the morning type? Here, have one of these donuts. They are delicious.'' Liz offered as she picked a donut and gave it to Mortimer.
While the vice-leader of the KoB was eating his morning mood away through the sweet taste of Aincrad's donut, the conversation continued. ''How are the other guilds doing so far?'' Isabella asked, a hint of wishful hope hearable in her voice.
Argo shook her head as she answered, ''They are doing pretty decent, but they are clearly not on our level yet. They lack experience and they will lose against the monsters on this floor.'' Reading the next question coming, she answered, ''Lind is discussing an alliance possibility with the Divine Dragons, but he is having trouble in the guild. After the 25th floor, many of them got scared.''
''Who can blame them? It is tough to say, but I am surprised Kibaou hasn't jumped from Aincrad's border yet out of guilt.'' Darius said as he stepped through the door as well with Tobe.
''Darius! You can't say that.'' Tobe grumbled.
''Oh please. Everyone was thinking about it. I just say it out loud.'' The dagger user responded grinningly.
''Still, try to keep those thoughts for yourself. As much as I hate the guy, I rather see him live than commit suicide.'' Klein commented.
''Anyway,'' Argo interrupted again. ''We stand alone on the frontline, and I don't like it. If we get another big event like on the 19th floor, we are not prepared. We need someone to have our backs as well.''
There was a silence in the air. Her comrades knew she was right, but still...To make the decision to halt their advance on the frontline. What were they supposed to do in the meantime? Eventually, Heathcliff asked, ''What do you suggest, Argo?''
''I have a few plans, but it is better for everyone to be here before we start that discussion,'' Argo responded before she picked a fish dish and continued her breakfast.
~15 minutes later.~
The alliance mansion was made for approximately 135 players. The building's ground floor consisted of a hallway, an office room, a kitchen, a dining room, a living room, and a staircase towards the higher floors and the basement of the mansion. There were three floors, consisting of approximately forty-five rooms, and a bathroom on each floor. Considering there were 113 players and eight NPC's in the alliance, it meant the alliance was running low on space for newcomers.
113 players and eight NPCs. So many people together would only mean chaos and it was just that as the dining room was filled with every last member of the alliance. Voices in the many could be heard as numerous topics were on the order of the day. For any normal player standing on the outside, those topics would have been lost in the voices of many. But for Argo, those conversations were completely followable.
The eavesdrop skill looked like a simple and weak skill at first. However, it was just like the Searching skill perfectly sufficient to find nearby monsters. More importantly though, if the proficiency of the skill was high enough, it was possible to guide the different conversations through multiple channels. There, they would be turned into written information displayed in their respective window and saved for thirty seconds before they would delete. Eavesdropping branch skill Short Interpation and Filtering.
It was a high branch skill that couldn't be unlocked unless you had an 800/1000 proficiency in Eavesdropping but it was well worth it. One of the best things about this branch skill, in particular, is that it could be activated and deactivated easily and that it was a passive skill. In other words, there was no straining from using it for too long. The effectiveness of the skill showed in the chaos of her 121 allies who all had something to share this morning, at the same time.
*Clink, Clink* Echoed through the dining room as Asuna tapped a glass with her spoon. Some players noticed it and went quiet, while others continued to talk. It took several seconds before Liz had enough of it. ''Shut up, you idiots!'' She shouted. The room turned silently instantly.
''Thank you, Liz.'' Kirito thanked before he turned to the awaiting players and started. ''Everyone. Because of the recent activities on the frontline, and the tragic boss battle of the 25th floor, a new proposal came to the front. Before we make a decision whatever to go for it or not, we want to discuss it with you.''
''The current situation on the frontline is as following: We are the only alliance is that strong enough to map the current floors. As you all have noticed in the past days, those battles have been anything but easy. Those two combined with the previous losses leave tremendous pressure and responsibility onto us. I think I can speak for all of us when I say we are nearing the maximum weight that can we shoulder.'' Heathcliff continued.
''Thus, we have two choices for our current situation: We continue the way we are now and hope nothing dreadful happens, or we momentarily leave the frontline for what it is and strengthen both our spirit and foundation once again,'' Ren suggested.
There was a silence in the air. No one wanted to respond to the suggestions since they all knew the consequences. Either having no backup and make a higher chance to make mistakes while feeling down, or get blamed for not doing anything by the rest of Aincrad. After several seconds, a single hand was raised.
''Ojima,'' Heathcliff said to address the raised hand, shifting the attention of the room to the officer.
''Well, since no one is going to say, I think I will. One way or another, the second choice is always the right one,'' Ojima started. ''I know the only reason we are not choosing it is that we don't want people to judge us and we are afraid they are going to blame us or think we have abandoned them.''
Several players nodded. There was an undeniable truth in Ojima's words. ''However, we are forgetting one important issue. We do not fight for them to leave this game. We fight to get ourselves out of this game. We fight so we can continue to return to life before this. To see our parents, our siblings, and friends. So if you allow refraining those choices then we have the following two: We either choose to live, or we choose a higher risk of death by not wanting to prejudiced by unknown people.'' Argo grinned from the shadows at those words. She knew someone would understand her way of thinking, and she was glad someone made it so obvious. ''Anyone who doesn't agree with me, is free to speak up. We don't bite. We don't judge.'' He added.
No one raised their hands. It wasn't out of freight or anything similar either. No, they all agreed with him. Ojima turned to the three leaders and said, ''I think we made our choice. What's our next step?''
You are way too good at this, Oji-bou. Argo thought impressed as she stepped up and answered, ''We are going to take a break from the frontline. But we can't sit still either. So the first thing we need to do is reinforce our foundations. There are five things we can do about that.'' She raised one figure as she started, ''Firstly, we need to expand the bases' reach. It can help us collect more items and help us in mapping this floor. Secondly, we need to acquire a new training ground. This mansion is almost full, and there are still plenty of recruits yet to come.''
''She means the reincarnated bosses,'' Kirito explained as he noticed some questionable gazes.
''Precisely! I could use some help with finding, recruiting, and training them. I am not sure what their purpose is, but I doubt the game just adds reincarnated bosses as a trophy,'' Argo continued. A couple of months prior, she wouldn't have spoken those words so casually. Kizmel was among the group of listeners. However, judging from Kizmel's calm expression, saying these words formed no problem for the dark elf anymore.
''Fourthly, we need an answer to the unresolved issues. The 19th-floor event, the 25th-floor quest, and those foreign languages and symbols. They could be a key in future battles, events or quests.'' Argo continued. ''Lastly, we need to restock our resources and supply. You guys eat like horses, so you better get the supplies for it.''
''Liz is the worst one,'' Mitchos joked, only to get smacked on the head by the blacksmith.
''Shut up!'' Liz growled as the purple color slowly vanished from Mitchos' head. It immediately broke the tension as several players let out a chuckle or a smile.
''You were way too fast with that!'' Mitchos complained as he glared at her.
''You are too predictable,'' Liz countered as she countered his glare with one of her own.
''Shut up, or you both are getting a spanking!'' Argo commanded.
''Can I have some of that spanking too?'' Darius jokingly asked while more players started to laugh.
''Sure thing. Kii-bou, take it away.'' Argo joked as Kirito stepped forward.
''Oh, hell no!'' Darius responded as already ran away. Unbeknownst to anyone else, Liz was blushing just a bit.
''Anyway,'' Argo continued when the laughter died down again. ''We need supplies and materials. Agil and Daizen are in charge of what comes in, and what can be sold. Supplies also mean potions and gear, so I am counting for our specialist for those.''
''Since when did Argo become our leader?'' Kunimitzz jokingly asked.
''Always has been,'' Dynamm answered with a grin.
''We'll have everyone assigned to their respective task,'' Kirito continued. ''If you like to have a certain task, you are free to choose it. There is no time limit to these tasks, but the sooner we have an answer on them, the more we can enjoy our rest.''
Twenty minutes later, five groups were formed and ready to tackle their new task. Strangely enough, Kirito could swear he already noticed a difference in their facial expressions.
''Thank you for helping me,'' Argo said as she walked alongside Kirito through the city of Rovia. It had been an hour after the groups had been formed and left to do their respective tasks. Argo had chosen to recruit the reincarnated bosses before they would rampage once again. Kirito had not chosen a group, but instead, choose to be a freelancer and for his task, it was helping Argo.
''It is the least I can do. We are looking for the reincarnation of that Biceps Archelon, right?'' Kirito asked as his black eyes turned green.
''Correct, although I am not sure what we are precisely looking for. I have no data whatsoever on this reincarnation,'' Argo answered as she looked around.
''Which means we have to do the hard way.'' Kirito said as he stared at the houses and added, ''Although it might be difficult to find a vantage point and keep the high ground with so much space in between them.''
''I like the way you are thinking, but we are going to do this a bit differently, Kii-bou.'' Argo grinned. Before Kirito could wonder what, Argo hugged his arm tightly and said, ''I couldn't really enjoy this city when we got here for the first time, so let's enjoy it now. Besides, since the boss is attracted to anyone who defeated it in its previous life, it will come to us anyway.''
Kirito looked slightly flustered as he looked away with a healthy blush and whispered, ''I guess that's true. Then it is decided. Where do you want to go first?''
''Letting me lead? I thought you were my leader?'' Argo joked with her familiar grin. She hugged a bit tighter to his arm as she whispered, ''I don't mind to lead you, but girls want to be led once in a while as well.''
''I didn't know. You don't seem the type for it,'' Kirito commented as they walked through the city. They caught the attention of several players but Argo cared little about it. Kirito was a bit more self-conscious about his situation but he didn't stop Argo either.
''You don't seem to be the type to lead that well, but here we are. Sometimes, you can't judge a person from the outside. You have to get to know them up close and personal.'' Argo whispered as she leaned in closer seductively.
''Not here, Argo,'' Kirito whispered as he looked away, his face about to explode from embarrassment.
Argo couldn't help but enjoy that embarrassment. ''What's the matter, Kii-bou? Is my hero afraid for a little open intimacy? Even when you explored my body through and through last...?!''
The last of those words were abruptly stopped by a deep unexpected kiss. While several players stared at them, Kirito lifted his face. ''You want to put a little show here, or do you want to continue this under more private settings later?'' Argo was momentarily speechless until she stared into Kirito's eyes. There, her flabbergasted mind suddenly awoke due to a small change. Small, but terrifying.
''I am sorry,'' She apologized as she pulled away. ''Did I push it too far?'' She asked.
''How could you tell,'' Kirito said rhetorically as the gray color in his eyes vanished and slowly returned to his usual onyx.
''Do you remember Eugene and Ojima's' accidents'? I have not seen them myself personally, but I remember what has been told about them. The first change was gray eyes, the same color your eyes just now had,'' Argo whispered worriedly.
''So I have it too...'' Kirito sighed as his facial expression slowly mellowed out. ''Sorry. I guess I have been dealing with more than I could handle lately.''
Argo returned to hold on to his arm as she responded, ''I know. We all have been dealing with more than we could handle lately. If we would have continued mapping the 27th floor, I am certain we would have lost someone. Let's finish this quest quickly. Then, we can continue under more private settings,'' Argo teased. Although all the 18+ stuff that Kirito was personally unknown to wasn't possible within Aincrad - or at least, not yet, according to the Rat -, the teasing and exploring of ones' bodies was.
Only Argo had come so far to see everything except what was hidden by his underwear, but he expected that Liz and Asuna would not fall behind if they learned that information. Argo had taken the lead in that playful night, but he doubted the same would happen with Liz and Asuna. Perhaps that's why she said that, Kirito thought while walking alongside Argo through the white city of Rovia.
Rovia was as expected filled with tourists and sightseers. There were couples present but due to the ratio of male and female, there were only a few. Argo noticed Litten and Shivata somewhere in the crowd of many but decided not to disturb them. ''You know that I love you, but I kinda hate you as well.'' Argo suddenly commented as they walked over the plaza.
''How so?'' Kirito asked confused while his nose caught the smell from a seafood stall a bit further up ahead.
Argo smiled as she answered, ''There was a time I was curious as to what the taste was behind that scent. To be surprised or shocked about how food made by NPC would taste like. Now, I no longer am, because you keep spoiling me with these dishes that no one else can make.''
''Sorry, I guess. I can stop cooking if that makes you happier,'' Kirito suggested jokingly, only to receive an elbow in the side.
''Don't you dare,'' Argo instantly returned. That seriousness lasted only a second, for they both chuckled when they stared at each other. ''I think that is my first chuckle in a couple of days. Aside from kicking Marcel's butt that is.''
''Poor guy. He was so terrified when we met him that day.''
''That was his own fault. He shouldn't have talked so toughly if he couldn't handle the fangs,'' Argo commented. ''Besides, I don't want to hear that from the one who caused the first player-on-player incident in a safe zone.''
''He asked for it,'' Kirito complained as he thought back to that first encounter with the spiked-haired leader. ''Maybe I should have hitten him some more on the higher floors. Maybe I could have saved some lives by knocking some sense into him.''
''That's impossible, Kii-bou. He was too dense to understand it.'' Argo commented. She let out a sigh as he continued, ''I know we shouldn't talk about this kind of stuff during our date, but I need this stuff off my chest.''
''I know. I am mentally exhausted. Asuna already commented on how I would have lost my fingers during cooking if it wasn't for the purple protection message the past couple of days.'' Kirito sighed.
''I know I said I wanted to eat you, but that was not what I had in mind,'' Argo joked with a grin. That grin only grew bigger when she saw Kirito blush again. ''Sorry, sorry, I will stop now. Let's focus on our quest. We still have to find the boss.''
Kirito looked dumbfounded as he responded, ''You must be really tired. He has been walking behind us for quite some time.''
Argo looked behind immediately to see young emotionless eyes staring at her and Kirito. The young NPC had white eyes, very short green hair, and he was lightly gray-skinned. ''Why didn't you tell me sooner!'' Argo complained as she punched Kirito's arm in annoyance and turned around completely.
''I was enjoying our date,'' Kirito answered with a smile. ''Why end it so quickly?''
Argo looked slightly agitated, but her annoyance quickly subsided when she saw that smile. ''Not fair. I can't be mad at you. Let's just take him back and enjoy the rest of our free time.''
''Well, that was anticlimatic,'' Mortimer said as he looked at the newly-created floor of the alliance mansion. ''Perhaps it was just me, but I was expecting it would take longer than one hour for this process to be completed.''
''It is a very limited skill, but when I can use it, it does not disappoint,'' Isabella responded proudly as she closed the [Construction completed] message in her Architect skill and stepped on the wooden floor of the fourth floor.
''It is remarkable how swiftly this floor is created. Human magic does never fail to impress me.'' Kizmel commented as she followed Isabella and Mortimer onto the 4th floor. ''I wish we could teach my people the secrets of this magic, but I doubt that wish is even possible or realistic.''
''It probably isn't. To be honest, the fact that you can reproduce our magic is a miracle in itself,'' Tobe said.
''Yes, I am aware. Even if little words were used, the shocked expressions of my dear guild members gave valuable information to how fortunate I have been,'' Kizmel responded with a sincere smile.
Ever since Ojima's teachings and Kirito's apology on the 21st floor, her guild members had been slowly opened up towards her. It felt as if they finally learned to accept her, even if she came from a different world that she still could not fully comprehend. No wonder she could smile like this; even if her mind and body felt like being hit by a dozen bosses, she finally felt like she had a family.
She let out a chuckle at the thought of it. It wasn't like she was hit by a dozen bosses. At this point, she was already hit by more than a dozen named monsters. Sometimes, she could still feel the pain before it quickly vanished away by the red liquid of a health potion. However, even if those potions could take the pain away, the tiredness, anxiety, and stress could not be restored to their former glory.
''Everything seems to be alright,'' Isabella concluded after the quick check-up through the 40 rooms and bathroom.
''Was there any doubt it?'' Mortimer asked confused.
''I was pretty certain but I rather am absolutely certain. Aincrad isn't unknown to bugs or mistakes,'' Isabella answered light-hearted. ''I once read the research team had to fix fifty bugs at the same time. I can not even imagine how many problems that caused within the team.''
Isabella chuckled as she turned around, only to remember Kizmel was with them. Before she could be worried by her nonchalant use of developer terms, Kizmel reassured, ''Do not worry, Isabella-san. I am well aware of what you players call a bug in this world. Argo made certain to add the term in the manual in case it ever came up.'' She snickered as she added, ''I am certain she left something out about the true definition of the word, but I do no longer require to know it.'' Kizmel's eyes were confident but at the same time very calm as she gave Isabella a comforting smile.
To think this is Ojima's doing. To give someone such a confidence boost in such a difficult topic. What a frightful talent. Isabella thought as her worry for their NPC companion was further smashed into pieces. Maybe we should confess it to him. Out of all the people, he should be able to handle it the best... I hope.
As they walked down to ground level, Isabella tried to come up with a way to bring that news. However, even when a few hours passed by, and Argo and Kirito had returned from their boss reincarnation hunt with a new addition, she still had found no way to bring up the subject.
''Isabella-san, are you coming as well? I know it is not as thrilling as training on the higher floors, but we can definitely use someone to help us keep an eye on these little ones.'' Tobe asked as Kirito led the reincarnated bosses out of the door. ''Besides, it helps to calm the mind a bit.''
Isabella stood up as she answered Tobe, ''Sure. I have nothing else to do for today and it does sound promising.''
Suka was smiling happily as she cheered, ''Come on, you chops! We are goin' to kick some boar butt!''
''Did she ever say that before?'' Kirito asked Argo as he waited for Leonardo a.k.a. the new reincarnation to follow him.
''Not that I am aware up. She did level up recently, so perhaps her AI improved again,'' Argo tried to explain. ''Does it matter much?''
Kirito shook his head. ''I don't think so. I was just curious,'' he lied.
Suka had been with him since the 20th floor. In those three months, the little NPC had been by his side every day, aside from a few days. At first, she wore only a questionable gaze as even the idea of smiling was something foreign. Quickly, she began to speak words and even called him Papa. He was there when she was training or when she was joining his and Asuna's fine dinings. Whatever he returned safely from a day of mapping or from another boss fight, she was there to greet him as her 'papa'. He had become emotionally attached to her.
Argo did not buy Kirito's lie. It was an hour later, in the fields of the second floor Argo sought out the truth. ''You have become attached to her, haven't you?''
Kirito looked defeated as he confirmed, ''Gues I did. It is hard not to become attached when she keeps calling me papa, after all.'' He sighed as he added, ''I am not sure what Kayaba was thinking with this, but I feel like it is just a sick joke.''
''It all does,'' Argo complemented as she kept her eyes on the party of reincarnations and allies alike a bit further away. ''I am still not sure what his motive is behind this all, and it doesn't make sense. We get updates to make things easier, and at the same time, the game just slams us back to earth again.'' Argo held her hands behind her hood as she added, ''I think Heathcliff's guess could be right.''
Kirito's gaze did not change as he said, ''So you also think someone is helping us from the inside. Why are they not coming out to the public then?''
Argo raised her hand to her chin, frowned for a moment, and answered, ''I assume they are afraid of being hunted down. They would be the scapegoat of Aincrad, and if it wasn't for Aincrad Today, everyone would have targeted each other already out of frustration.''
''Wish we could know for certain. It is not like we can post a letter on the first floor that says, ''Looking for game developers of Sword Art Online for assistance. You will not be prosecuted if you cooperate.''
''Could you picture Kayaba knocking on the door and saying, ''I heard you were looking for me. I am here to help.'' Kirito commented.
They stared momentarily into each other's eyes and simultaneously broke into a burst of laughter hard enough for the other players to notice. ''Yeah, as if that was ever about to happen! That would be hilarious though!'' Just as Argo spoke those words, her Searching skill picked up on a new mob appearing from a bush to left. ''Ah crap, pulled some mobs out into the open. Sorry about that.''
''Don't be. It is just the mob we needed.'' Kirito said as he grabbed a rock from the ground, lined up, and struck the beast's with a sword skill boosted pebble throw. ''If this doesn't work, remind me to slap Klein for me.'' He added as the oxes charged at him.
''Will do,'' Argo commented grinningly as she just stood there, waiting for the ox to hit her boyfriend. As expected, the clash between horns and metal or flesh never came.
What lay before Argo's eyes was a rare sight. A full-sized ox, standing motionless on his feet, his horns trapped by Kirito's trustworthy hands. There were lines in the grass of Kirito being pushed back, but he did manage what seemed to be a stupid idea for first: stop an ox with bare hands.
''I am not sure how long I can manage this!'' Kirito shouted as ox tried to get out of the deathtrap he currently resided in.
''Suka-chan, lead the charge! Hit that ox with everything you got!'' Tobe commanded.
''Yes, Tobe-san! Let's do this, chumps! Hit it till it dies!'' For fuck sake, Klein! I knew it had to be you who had influenced her! Kirito internally complained as he tried to keep the ox under control.
Just as the ox was stabbed, sliced, smashed and whatever you think of that revolves around damage and weapons, a new warning shout came. ''Three more oxes approaching, Kii-bou!''
''We'll get them!'' Isabella responded as she charged forward alongside Tobe and Kizmel. Before Kirito had responded, both tanks had already blocked the beasts' advance and were pinning them down to the ground.
While holding the ox down himself, Kirito saw the healthbar of the beast quickly deplete. The sight of several reincarnated bosses striking away at the wild farm animal wasn't that bad either, aside from the fact they had no battle plan and were just chipping away by brute force alone.
Despite their low levels, and the lack of strategy from the reincarnated bosses, the battle was as quickly done as when it started. ''Are you goin' to cook that tonight, Papa?'' Suka asked cheerfully.
''I will, Suka. However, this will not enough to feed us. Remember that mama Liz is a big fan of papa's food,'' Kirito answered with a fatherly voice. ''We have to make certain we have enough for everyone.''
''Of course. Leave it to us!'' Suka said proudly as she led the other reincarnations forward further into the wilderness.
Kizmel smiled as she stepped alongside him and Argo and said, ''It feels as your talents do not know any boundaries, my friend. You are not only born leader and experienced warrior but a talented father as well.'' Argo chuckled while Kirito annoyingly materialized a book out of his inventory, and gave it to Kizmel. ''Fathership for dummies.'' Kizmel read out loud in surprise while Argo tried to hold her laugh in. ''Written by Tobe and Ojima. Did you use this to become a better parent?''
''A bit. There are some useful tips noted in there, but most of the information is either a guess or speculation. We got no fathers in our guild, apparently.'' Kirito answered. Judging from Kirito's tired gaze, and Argo's bad attempt to hold back a burst of laughter, Kizmel could conclude the manual was not all that serious in the aspects of fatherhood.
The training on the second floor did not last long. It was mainly used to get some idea of how strong Leonardo was and how well he used the shield and sword. Pleasantly surprised about the results, the babysitting group returned home with multiple buckets of tender cow meat. It was only a D ingrediënt but with a 700/1000 ish cooking skill, that problem was solved a long-time ago.
''I am just saying: if you do it, do it spectacular!'' Helios loudly said as he stepped inside the mansion, followed by the squad which was responsible for the 26th elven base.
''For that last time, you can't just craft stuff together and make it work. That's not how crafting works!'' Talken responded heatedly as the rest of the former Sleeping Knights followed them inside.
''Hammer goes whoosh!'' Helios joked laughingly before he fell down to the couch. Although the green-haired crafter was looking annoyed, that was all Helios needed. Especially since the Sleeping Knights looked quite afraid when stepping forward through the wilderness of the 25th floor again. The escort mission with the elves from the 25th to the 26th was through that devilish dungeon, and if it wasn't for Helios messing with both Talken and Jun, the small children would have another anxiety attack while walking through the 25th boss room. Instead, they tried to calm Talken down while they were still smiling for a bit.
''Everything went well, I assume?'' Kirito asked as Klein threw himself on one of the chairs where most of the training squad had already settled themselves.
''We got there in one piece if that is what you are asking,'' Klein complained as Alice Rue fell down on the chair next to him. ''But if it wasn't for that scouting map, we would have been toast. We are two floors higher and that dungeon is still a nightmare.''
''Luckily, we won't have to be there anymore. Also,'' Kirito added as he raised his fist. *Bonk!*
''Auw! What was that for?!'' Klein asked as he automatically covered his head to where Kirito had bonked him.
''That was for being a bad influence for Suka. Hit it till it dies. Seriously? Kick their butts, chumps. I know it was you,'' Kirito answered awfully calmly as he cracked his fingers.
''Wai...Wait! It was just a joke! We can talk about this!'' While Kirito thought Klein how to behave through the will of the fist, the others took a spot in the large living room and took a deep breath as the exhaustion hit.
''So...Anyone up for a card game?'' Tobe asked as the weather outside grew unsettling once again.
Rain was pouring down from the virtual heavens of Aincrad. The lakes and the rivers were programmed to turn wild, while the roaring wind played a dreadful tune. It was the loading sequence for another incarnation, or so Yui concluded from Cardinal's activeness. But although the event was spectacular and almost frightful in the eyes of the players, Yui had more important things to observe.
Her eyes scanned through multiple panels, each window giving her vital information about the players' mental and physical well-being. As usual, most of those panels showed an unhealthy dose of stress, anxiety, and anger in them which she was hopeless against. The only thing she could do was to reinforce the hopeful and happy emotions by the slim positive thoughts that they had in Aincrad.
Only a handful of players had a different sensation other than those negative emotions. As expected, that group belonging to what the players referred to as the frontline were that handful.
There was a contradiction to that statement that Yui found quite interesting. The stress and anxiety she witnessed in other players were caused by the monsters and the outside of the protective zones. Yet, the players who faced the monsters and ventured out the most were the people who were the happiest. Yui also concluded this was only the case with the only alliance that was still going strong to the challenge of Aincrad.
The Dragon Knights Brigade was falling further and further into the abyss and the ALS had struck rock-bottom to the point Kibaou just stayed in his room and never came out. If it wasn't for Yui's constant try to keep good memories flowing, the chance that the ALS leader would have jumped from Aincrad's border would have been significantly higher.
A shift to a rare emotion occurred again, and Yui immediately switched to the screen. ''Player name: Ren. Emotion: love, happiness, relief.'' Yui reported as she stared at the window where the leader of the Wyvern Inferno was holding his vice-leader Alice in a hug in a shared bed. Yui knew physical contact could be a way to help with stress and anxiety, but the simple gesture of a hug seemed even extremely efficient in that regard. Although that conclusion had been made before, it was a good confirmation for Yui.
Other examples came shortly after, such as the leader of the WNH silently crying to release on the pent-up stress while laying on the pink blacksmith's legs, or the red-haired player Klein blessing his luck as he spooned Alice Rue in their shared room.
Physical contact was absolutely an important feature for humans, Yui noticed. Almost all players craved for it, even if they didn't know it. Such was the case with the only real player in the hollow area.
It had been a constant battle for survival for Sinon. Although her skill with her spear grew astronomical, she still was frightened to face the murderous hollow POH on several occasions. She had learned how to temporarily stop him by trapping him in an inescapable trap, but the hollow would just suicide with a theatrical evil laugh before he would track her again three days later. The fact she could call herself alive was thanks to the hollow version of the WNH leader, and Yui noticed a significant difference in her opinion about him compared to their first meeting. It was an interesting case as well.
Those were not the only cases that were interesting though. Over the course of days and weeks, while the individual Argo collected each of reincarnated bosses, more relieved emotions could be noticed. The divine dragon alliance slowly became a thing, although some rules still had to be implemented. The stress was slowly leaving the players' minds and bodies, and people were just much more relaxed. By far not in the same way as in the beta, but little progress was still progress in Yui's eyes. Everything seemed to slow down a bit as if the players were reloading themselves both mentally and physically before they would continue their persuasion for freedom. Everything seemed to go according to plan.
However, there were still things those players did not account for. In the shadows of Aincrad, in an instant area to be precise, a group of players were almost prepared for the show to start. Another condition had been cleared without the players' knowledge, and another event would shake them in their boots.
Lastly, four weeks after the start of the alliance's vacation, on the second of August at 1:00 AM, a blue shone brightly in the empty streets of the Town of beginnings before it was replaced by a figure. Without wasting even a second, the figure in starting gear moved forward, her long blond hair waving behind her.
Author notes:
Finally, I can say, here is chapter 58. That took a bit longer than expected.
Irl has been a pain in the butt, and it struck me down more than I used to. But we are climbing up again, and I still have hope everything goes right. As always, I am asking for reviews, since they help tremendously mentally. Just tell me if you liked the chapter, what you liked, or what you want to see.
We have a discord as well for the SAO fanfiction fandom as well. Many writers are here to discuss stories, ideas, or just memes, but we also have readers and beta readers. Feel free to join.
h. t. t. p. s : / / discord . g g /nqbPrceNFy without spaces and the points at the front. if this doesn't work, sent a pm and I might be able to handle something.
That was it for chapter 58 of Sword Art Online Aincrad but Different and I hope to see you in the next one. Beyor out!