AN: Hermione won! I didn't realize how much I wanted her to win till I put the poll up and some of the other choices stated getting votes. Anyway, Mike's gonna be paired with Hermione. I know when Hanna sent Klein a friend request she said a player would probably outright disappear from a person's friend list, and that is how it works in canon. However since I made it so that some of the beta testers' accounts got deleted when they made a new account I made how the system treats a player on a person's friend list dying work a tad differently.

Review responses:

PikaMew1288- I think that there probably would've been people who tried to get the royal family involved, but the pure-blood supremacists wouldn't let go of their power easily. And since most of them are extremely wealthy and influential they undoubtedly have ways of making sure the royal family doesn't become aware of the situation in the magical world. As for your second review, don't get ahead of me.

The first floor boss raid meeting had adjourned a few hours previous. Currently many of those participating in the raid were in the main plaza celebrating that they'd found the boss room and made a rather solid plan to tackle the boss. Marzanna thought it was a bit silly to celebrate before they'd even fought the boss, but she wasn't about to stop them. It wasn't like they could get hangovers, and low morale could be just as dangerous as shoddy equipment in a fight. If drinking and generally making fools of themselves helped keep everyone's morale up about the outcome of tomorrow's fight, then so be it.

Marzanna was in the plaza waiting for Kirito to return, he'd mumbled something about food before leaving. She was watching Diabel, who was currently talking to Kibaou. She hadn't checked her friends list since the game started, she was admittedly too scared to see if any of her friends were greyed out with a cross next to their name, the manner in which the system marked a player dead, but after the meeting ended she had. Diabel had indeed still been on there and been alive, meaning he had chosen to use his beta account. A quick check of his location had confirmed that the Diabel from the meeting was the one she knew, rather than simply someone with a similar name. Narrowing her eyes at Diabel she wondered what he was up to. Normally he wouldn't hang around people like Kibaou, but Diabel would when he needed them for something. Diabel is a rather devious person, and he was almost always planning something. Marzanna tilted her head as she thought about that. Someone was trying to weaken Kirito by buying his sword. Narrowing her eyes again she wondered if Diabel had something to do with buying Kirito's sword.

She was broken from her thoughts as someone abruptly spoke, "You're thinking rather hard there Hanna. Is something wrong?"

Turning to Kirito she saw he was looking at her in concern, so she quickly gave him a reassuring smile before responding, "No, not precisely." Turning her head to look at Diabel again, she briefly contemplated whether she should tell Kirito, since her suspicion was exactly that. A suspicion, she had no proof at all that Diabel was the one trying to sabotage Kirito. She discarded the idea within seconds, proof or not Kirito had a right to know, "I think it's Diabel." seeing Kirito tilt his head in confusion she elaborated, "The person who bought your sword, I think it's Diabel. Even if it wasn't him specifically, he probably has something to do with it."

Kirito had started pulling food from his inventory, but paused to ask, "Why? Diabel doesn't seem like the kind of person who'd try something like that. Admittedly I haven't spoken to him personally but..." Kirito trailed off for a moment before returning his gaze to her, "Did you talk to him while I was gone? Is that why you think it's him?"

Hanna shook her head before replying, "No. I haven't talked to him since the beta. However I did know an American beta player by the name Diabel, and while you were gone I confirmed that he is in fact the Diabel I knew in the beta. The thing about Diabel is that he's incredibly devious and he's always up to something. This turning into a death game would probably curb those tendencies, but it wouldn't outright stop them. He'd just be more careful so as to not inadvertently kill anyone."

Kirito had handed her the food he got her during her explanation, then as she finished he started eating his food with a thoughtful expression, mulling over what she told him. Finally he swallowed the bite he'd been chewing before speaking, "I see. Do you have any idea why? I'm pretty sure I never met him I'm the beta, so it probably isn't a personal grudge, and I can't think of any other reason Diabel would target me."

Hanna hummed in thought then said, "No idea. I may have known Diabel well enough to tentatively call him a friend, but admittedly I rarely knew what he was planning unless I managed to get him to tell me. And getting him to talk has never been easy, but I'd be even harder since he's seen me with you. Then again, this is all just my own suspicions. I haven't seen him do anything to actually suggest he has anything to do with buying your sword, he might be completely innocent and not even know anyone is trying to weaken you."

Kirito tilted his head and stared at her for a minute before responding, "Do you think it's him?" Hanna nodded, so Kirito continued, "If you think it's him, then that's good enough for me. What do you think we should do?"

Hanna was startled at Kirito's faith in her opinion. Sure they'd become rather good friends in the month since this stupid death game started, but she wasn't used to anyone outside of her family trusting her. She felt her cheeks begin to flush. Quickly forcing her oncoming blush down, she cleared her throat before answering Kirito's question, "For now? Nothing. I'd like to talk to Diabel, but don't mention the sword ok?"

Getting a nod from Kirito, Hanna turned back to the plaza and called out, "Hey Diabel? Could you come here?"

Diabel looked over at his name then started making his way over. Once he was only a few feet from her he smiled in a friendly manner before speaking, "You're in the raid tomorrow aren't you? In Group E taking care of the «Ruined Kobold Sentinels»?" Hanna nodded, "Glad to have you with us, but uhh sorry I didn't get your name."

She put on a look of mock hurt, "Why Diabel I'm wounded. I know we haven't seen each other since the beta, but I didn't think I was that forgettable."

Diabel looked shocked at the fact she knew he was in the beta, then confused before flickering his eyes up towards her green player cursor. Unlike regular MMOs in VRMMOs the system only showed you a player's name under their cursor if they were on your friends list. She figured Diabel had taken her familiarity with him as them knowing each other well enough for her to be on his list. She couldn't stop herself from laughing when he saw her name pop up after a couple seconds. His eyes went wide and he returned his gaze to her face gaping like a fish.

A moment later he snapped out of his shock and started rambling, "Hanna-chan! You're alive! That's great! Well I mean I knew you were alive since I saw you on my friends list, but I didn't expect to see you here. Not that it's shocking that your participating in the boss raid you were always really good, but it definitely took me by surprise to see you so suddenly. Not that it's really all that sudden, just. I'm rambling aren't I? Sorry you just surprised me, and I'm still rambling. You know I'm just gonna shut up now before I make an even bigger fool of myself."

Hanna started laughing halfway through his tirade. It was rare for Diabel to lose his composure, but she found it hilarious every time. In the beta it had gotten to the point that she had actively messed with him, deliberately trying to get him to lose his cool.

Shaking her head she grinned at him, "It's nice to see you to Diabel. Always fun to mess with your head." looking at Kirito she saw him smiling at them in bemusement, she gestured to him before continuing, "This is Kirito, a friend of mine and my party member."

Diabel's eyes narrowed just a fraction at Kirito's name then widened in surprise at the rest of her sentence. His surprise was understandable, she rarely called someone her friend and she never partied with anyone. However the more important part was that he'd clearly recognized Kirito's name, making it even more likely that it was him trying to buy Kirito's sword. Ignoring it for the moment, she started discussing the boss raid tomorrow with Kirito and Diabel.

Twenty minutes into the discussion Kirito tapped her shoulder, after seeing he had her attention he gestured down a street to her left while saying, "Isn't that Asuna?" glancing over Hanna nodded in agreement, speaking in a manner that made it clear he was talking to himself more than her he continued, "I wonder what she's doing all alone?" Kirito fell silent for a minute before turning back to her, "Hey I'm gonna go talk to her. I'll meet you back at the inn later."

Hanna nodded then watched him walk off. Turing back to Diabel she saw him staring at Kirito with a strange look on his face. Hanna sighed, "Kirito's a good guy you know. I don't know why you wanted to weaken him, or what you're up to Diabel, and frankly I don't care. Just make sure no one gets hurt, and for fucks sake, be careful. We may not be overly close but you're still my friend. I don't want anything to happen to you."

Diabel stared at her silently for a moment then nodded, "I know Hanna. Trust me I know. I am being careful, and I'm not gonna endanger anyone. More importantly, 'friend and party member'? I can't think of anyone other than myself you've ever introduced as a friend and you've never partied with anyone, despite my numerous attempts to persuade you to team up with me. He must be something special to have caught your attention."

Hanna opened her mouth, but before she could reply Kibaou called out to Diabel. He turned and gave them the one minute sign, but before he could even fully turn back to her she shook her head at him, "I don't know why you're hanging out with that guy. He's an arrogant jerk, and he isn't even a tolerable arrogant jerk like you are." Diabel opened his mouth to deny her insult, but she just shook her head again, "Go on Diabel. Have fun, cause some mischief. Just be careful, I've got a bad feeling that whatever you're up to isn't going to go the way you plan it to."

Diabel grew serious at that. He knew that her bad feelings were usually spot on. He started walking backwards to Kibaou and his buddies, "I will Hanna. You be careful too. I don't need to tell you this, but this place is dangerous. I don't want to see you hurt."

His peace said Diabel turned around and rejoined Kibaou. With a smile that, while friendly, she knew to be utterly fake he started chatting with Kibaou's group.

The next day- December 3rd, 2022:

Everyone else was double checking their equipment one last time before the boss fight began. Diabel walked up to the boss door, then turned around to them, "Listen up everyone. I only have one thing to say to you all. Let's win! Let's go!"

Turning back to the boss door, Diabel put his hand on it. Creaking loudly it opened immediately. As soon as the door finished opening, people started cautiously entering. At the end of the dark room Hanna could vaguely see the boss lift its head. Its eyes started glowing red and it grabbed its weapon as it stood up. Immediately the room lit up brightly, and the boss name and four health bars appeared proclaiming it to be «Illfang the Kobold Lord». Three «Ruined Kobold Sentinels» spawned a moment later. With a loud roar from the boss, it and the Sentinels charged.

Undaunted Diabel lifted his sword above his head and started shouting, "Commence attack! Tanks forward! Group A get the boss's attention on yourself first, Group B be ready to switch with them at my command. Groups C and D wait till the tanks have its attention then start hitting it with all you've got, if it switches its attention to you fall back and let the tanks get it to refocus on them. Group E take care of the Sentinels! I don't want them bothering groups A through D! Groups F and G you're on standby, but be ready to switch at a moments notice!

Hanna was impressed. Diabel had never seemed like a leader to her, but he was actually rather good at it. For the next twenty minutes, Hanna and her party dealt with the constantly respawning Sentinels. Hanna listened intently to Diabel shout orders, and kept an eye on the battle. Finally Illfang's fourth HP bar depleted to 1/3 and Illfang jumped away and threw his ax and shield. This was the signal that the boss had lost enough HP and was switching tactics.

However rather than go by the original plan of surrounding Illfang, Diabel abruptly yelled for the other groups to stand back, and rushed in while charging a one hit massive damage sword skill. With a jolt Hanna realized what he was doing, 'He's trying to get the last attack bonus. That idiot's going to get himself killed!'

Finishing off the last Sentinel Hanna shouted, "Diabel don't!" out of the corner of her eye she saw Kibaou look at her strangely, but ignored it. Diabel had smiled at her, meaning he wasn't going to listen. Already running towards Diabel and Illfang Hanna shouted over her shoulder, "Kirito, Asuna! Come on!"

Kirito followed her without hesitation, and Asuna caught up a moment later. Abruptly Kirito inhaled sharply. She could see why, rather than the talwar it was supposed to have, Illfang drew a nōdachi. Kirito shouted loudly, "Diabel! It's no good! Retreat as fast as you can!"

They were almost to Diabel when Illfang abruptly jumped and started bouncing around the room, Hanna tilted her head and shouted to Kirito, "Kirito get a foot in front of me now!"

He jolted, then got into a position. Hanna immediately started charging a heavy sword. As soon as Illfang launched itself at Diabel. Hanna jumped onto Kirito's back, then using him as a springboard, launched herself to intercept Illfang. Illfang looked at her at the last second, only to receive her sword skill right to his face and get violently thrown back. She wasn't a heavy hitter though, so it wasn't a surprise that the skill didn't finish off Illfang. Instead he bounced twice before slamming into one of the rooms many pillars, nearly crushing a Sentinel that spawned seconds before.

Using the last couple seconds before her skills cool down kicked in, Hanna twisted so she wouldn't land to hard and shouted, "Kirito now, while it's stunned! Asuna the Sentinel!"

Asuna immediately ran ahead of Kirito and dealt with the «Ruined Kobold Sentinel». Kirito didn't even pause, hitting Illfang with a heavy sword skill of his own, hurling the boss a few feet into the air. Illfang seemed to freeze in midair for a couple seconds before shattering into thousands of polygons. A split second later a large 'Congratulations!' appeared were Illfang was, and a loud fanfare cut through the heavy silence. The quite only lasted five more seconds before the raid group started cheering wildly.

Hanna's skill cool down ended, unfreezing her. Glancing at Diabel she saw him looking rather pale, which was understandable since Illfang's sword had been less than five feet from his face when she slammed into him. Speaking loud enough to be heard over the crowd she asked, "Diabel? Are you alright?"

Getting a shaky nod from Diabel she turned back to Kirito, who had his back to them. He seemed to be staring at the congratulations window. She quickly made her way over to him, and got his attention with a gentle hand on his shoulder. He turned quickly, clearly startled, however before she could say anything Kibaou angrily yelled at the crowd, "Stop cheering!"

Dead silence fell, as everyone turned to Kibaou in shock at how he could be angry when they'd just beat the boss. Kibaou glared at her and Kirito before furiously continuing, "You two! You could've gotten Diabel- No all of us killed! You both knew the boss wouldn't behave in the manner the guide book said it would, yet you didn't say anything at the meeting! You-"

Diabel quickly composed himself, and angrily cut across Kibaou, "Enough! The boss was obviously changed since the beta-"

Kibaou only seemed to grow more enraged, "Exactly! Yet they still knew! They still knew even though it was different than the beta! They're even worse than beta testers! They're cheaters! They're beta testers and cheaters! That's the only explanation! And I bet there are more of them here! Come out, you cheaters! Now!"

Hanna stared horrified. Kibaou was causing mistrust to spread through the other players like a plague. If the people who would be making up the boss raid parties didn't trust each other, then they'd never get out of here. Something had to be done, and fast before the mistrust Kibaou was planting became rooted in everyone's minds. But what to do? With the accusations Kibaou just threw at her the others weren't likely to listen to her, if anything they'd probably think her protests proved Kibaou right.

Before she could figure out what to do, she was taken off guard when Kirito abruptly burst into dark laughter. Walking past her and stopping a few feet in front of her, Kirito leveled Kibaou with a condescending smirk and spoke in a dark dangerous tone, "Cheater? Alright, I'll give you that one, but beta tester? Don't make me laugh. Ya I was in the beta, but don't associate me with those utter noobs. Those guys were so green, they didn't even know how to level up properly. Even you guys are better than they were."

Kibaou gaped at Kirito. A minute later one of Kibaou's buddies composed himself, "See he admits it! He's a beta tester and a cheater! He's-he's... A beater!"

Hanna narrowed her eyes, then glanced at Diabel. He was staring at Kirito in shock, disbelief, and... respect? It was strange to see Diabel look at Kirito in respect considering a mere two days ago he was trying to sabotage him. Hanna glanced at Kirito, then feeling more determination than she had in her entire life, she made up her mind.

Kirito let a slow dark grin spread across his face, and started manipulating his menu then equipped a black trench coat she'd never seen before. With a condescending smirk he replied, "Beater, huh? I like it. Alright you can call me that just don't confuse me with those noobie beta testers."

Kirito turned to her, Hanna could see the apology hidden in his eyes and immediately understood what he was going to do. He was going to push her away so he wouldn't drag her down with him. Narrowing her eyes in annoyance she cut across him before he had a chance to say anything, "Always gotta waste time playing around with the losers. Honestly, if I've told you once I've told you a hundred times, they aren't worth the effort."

Kirito's eyes widened in shock, but he didn't contradict her. It was too late now. She'd cemented it into everyone else's minds that she was with Kirito. So instead he plastered on a fake pout then whined, "Must you always ruin my fun? I like fucking with their heads." She glared at him, so he gave a dramatic sigh before continuing, "Fine, fine. Let's go."

They went to the end of the boss room and started going up the stairs to the next floor. The stairs went up in a spiral, and Hanna barely waited till they were far enough up to be out of sight before grabbing Kirito's arm and yanking him around to face her, "Let me make one thing perfectly clear. The only reason I'm not punching you in the face for your stupidity is because you're incapable of feeling it, making it rather pointless." Kirito opened his mouth to protest, but she shut him up with a glare, then continued, "No. That was pure stupidity. You just made yourself public enemy number one, and you were gonna run off on you own leaving me behind?"

Kirito's jaw tightened and when he spoke his voice was tense, "Yes. They were already going to make me one of the most hated people in Aincrad. At the very least I could manipulate the situation so beta testers stop being discriminated against, but I sure as hell wasn't dragging you down with me, so don't you make it sound like I was abandoning you. I was trying to protect you."

Hanna lost her temper at that, "I don't need protection! I've been hated and discriminated against my entire life, it doesn't matter to me one bit what any of them think! What matters is that one of the few people I actually care about just threw themselves to the proverbial wolves, and even worse tried to do it alone!"

She was panting, more out of habit than necessity, at the end of her tirade, and glaring daggers at him. Kirito stared wide eyed at her in return, when he finally composed himself he lowered his head before speaking quietly, "I understand why you're upset, I do, but I'm not going to apologize. I know we've only known each other for a month, but even if you don't need me to protect you I care about you. I want to protect you. So, I'm not gonna say sorry, because I wouldn't mean it, and I don't like saying things I don't mean." lifting his head he gave her an exasperated grin before continuing, "Besides it's a moot point now. After what you pulled back there, there's no going back."

Hanna huffed before sharply snapping back, "Good! Someone obviously needs to keep you from getting in over your head!" finally losing the last of her righteous fury she softened, then jokingly said, "Sorry to burst your bubble, but you're not getting rid of me that easily."

Kirito grinned lightly then tilted his head with a simple, "Oh? That so?"

Hanna gave a firm nod before grinning at him and proclaiming, "Yup! I'm like a vampire, once you invite me in there are no take backs. You're stuck with me."

Kirito's laughter proved to be infectious, as it wasn't long before Hanna had joined him.

Kirito pov:

The boss fight had been going well up until Diabel decided to abandoned the plan and rushed Illfang alone. The second Hanna took off he followed. He didn't even need her shout to tell him to join her, he'd already been right behind her.

As Illfang drew his secondary weapon, Kirito felt like his blood had turned to ice. That wasn't a talwar. That wasn't a talwar. Before he even realized it he heard his own voice desperately yell, "Diabel! It's no good! Retreat as fast as you can!"

For a minute he let hope get the better of him, let himself give into the wild belief that they'd make it. That hope was crushed when Illfang started jumping around. He was yanked from his despair when Hanna shouted at him, "Kirito get a foot in front of me now!"

He jolted in confusion. He didn't understand why, they wouldn't make it. Nonetheless, he did as she asked. Not even a second later he heard the hum of a sword skill charging up. A couple seconds later Illfang moved to attack Diabel. Immediately he felt something land on him, he almost stumbled when the same thing disappeared with a heavy push.

Looking up he saw Hanna had launched herself to intercept Illfang. In a rather detached manner it occurred to him that she'd used him like he was some sort of trampoline. Before that thought could go any further, Hanna rammed her sword skill right into Illfang's face sending him skidding into a pillar, narrowly missing a Sentinel. Not even a second later Hanna shouted at them, "Kirito now, while it's stunned! Asuna the Sentinel!"

Neither of them needed to be told twice. Asuna rushed past him and took care of the Sentinel. He all but ignored her though, as he hit Illfang with a one hit sword skill, he cleaved from Illfang's left hip to right shoulder. Illfang was lifted a few feet of the ground, then seemed to freeze in midair before shattering as all mobs do. Kirito was so shocked at how quickly it seemed to end that he barely noticed the congratulating banner, the fanfare, or the cheering. He whirled around when he felt a hand touch his shoulder, though he immediately relaxed when he saw it was a smiling Hanna.

Hanna opened her mouth to say something, but before she could Kibaou started shouting his head off. As Kibaou and Diabel briefly argued, Kirito grew furious. Kibaou could say whatever he wanted about him, fine whatever, but saying those things about Hanna? Kirito had never been a violent person. Sure when he'd started playing VRMMOs he'd noticed he was a bit of a berserker, but that was different. He wasn't actually hurting anyone. Now though, now he wanted to beat Kibaou's face in. Not his avatar, but his real face.

Kirito forced himself to take a calming breath. It was clear he wasn't going to talk his way out of this, so he might as well make the best of a bad situation. He wouldn't drag the other beta testers or Hanna down with him. Especially Hanna. Kirito had always been strangely good at acting, considering how little he interacted with people due to his anti-social tendencies. Kirito did his best 'bad guy' laugh. Not one of those overly dramatic ridiculous ones, but one that could easily come from a cruel and sadistic person in real life. While laughing he walked past Hanna and stood in front of her, so as to draw negative attention away from her. He gave a big 'hate me I'm the bad guy' speech, and equipped the «Coat of Midnight» he got as the last attack bonus at just the right moment for dramatic affect.

Then he turned to Hanna apology in his eyes, but cruel smirk blaring, determined to make sure her name didn't get dragged through the mud with his own. He was startled when she damn near glared at him, but before he could say anything, she beat him to it, "Always gotta waste time playing around with the losers. Honestly, if I've told you once I've told you a hundred times, they aren't worth the effort."

He was shocked. Why? He knew she could tell what he was going to do. She had an out from all the hatred that was sure to be directed at them after today. So why? Why'd she throw it away? It was too late to go back now, what's done is done. So after putting the finishing touches on their little act, he started for the stairs, Hanna following closely.

As soon as they were hidden from the other players' views, Hanna roughly yanked him towards her and all but snarled in a low dangerous tone, "Let me make one thing perfectly clear. The only reason I'm not punching you in the face for your stupidity is because you're incapable of feeling it, making it rather pointless." Kirito tried to protest, but she glared harshly before continuing, "No. That was pure stupidity. You just made yourself public enemy number one, and you were gonna run off on your own leaving me behind?"

Kirito clenched his jaw in anger. Couldn't she see he was trying to protect her? Why was she angry about that? Tense with confusion and anger he replied in rather clipped tones, "Yes. They were already going to make me one of the most hated people in Aincrad. At the very least I could manipulate the situation so beta testers stop being discriminated against, but I sure as hell wasn't dragging you down with me, so don't you make it sound like I was abandoning you. I was trying to protect you."

Hanna immediately snapped back in righteous fury, "I don't need protection! I've been hated and discriminated against my entire life, it doesn't matter to me one bit what any of them think! What matters is that one of the few people I actually care about just threw themselves to the proverbial wolves, and even worse tried to do it alone!"

That shut Kirito up quickly. He'd only known her for a month, but Hanna was precious to him already, and it meant a lot to him that she cared so much about him. What really got him though, was the second sentence. How could anyone hate Hanna? How dare anyone discriminate against her?

He wanted to ask about it, as far as he was concerned it was far more important than what they'd been arguing about. He knew that this meant something to Hanna though. So lowering his head and reigning in his fury, he quietly explained, "I understand why you're upset, I do, but I'm not going to apologize. I know we've only known each other for a month, but even if you don't need me to protect you I care about you. I want to protect you. So, I'm not gonna say sorry, because I wouldn't mean it, and I don't like saying things I don't mean." lifting his head up and looking her in the eye he couldn't stop the exasperated grin that made its way across his lips, before he continued, "Besides it's a moot point now. After what you pulled back there, there's no going back."

Apparently determined to get the last word Hanna snapped back, "Good! Someone obviously needs to keep you from getting in over your head!" her anger finally seemed to deflate, and she softened then jokingly said, "Sorry to burst your bubble, but you're not getting rid of me that easily."

Kirito couldn't stop the grin that tugged at his lips even if he wanted to, "Oh? That so?"

Hanna nodded before grinning and proclaiming, "Yup! I'm like a vampire, once you invite me in there are no take backs. You're stuck with me."

It was so ridiculous it startled a laugh out of him. Not that he was complaining when Hanna started laughing too. Just the sound of her laughter caused any lingering tension from the boss fight and subsequent argument to all but melt away. Kirito didn't usually get attached to people, much less in just a month, but there was something special about Hanna.