Okay, part 2 of "The Future of the Assault Team" is here, and guess what? I was right, putting this together with part one would've been too long as far as I'm concerned...
Anyway, now that the last chapter showed how the characters dealt with the recent issues on the macro scale, it's time to see how it affected some of them personally. After all, the Assault Team roughly knows what awaits them, but what about some other players? Well, let's find out!
Disclaimer: I don't own Sword Art Online Re:Hollow Fragment or Sword Art Online in general.
Akinym stood in a room at Agil's inn. Technically speaking, in his room. The room had been courtesy of Asuna, and Akinym wasn't sure if it was even okay for him to stay at this inn anymore, though. He figured that he wouldn't be welcome.
At the very least, he could get the items he had stored inside the storage cabinet of the inn room. He used to carry the necessities of "field missions", but he also had a small stock of basic items such as potions he'd leave at the inn. The same applied to items he wouldn't need.
However, instead of actually taking items out of the storage, he just stared at the list – or rather through it. At the moment, Akinym was occupied with the thought of what to do next. With not even a place to stay at and his task on the upper floors probably being finished in a rather unsatisfactory way, there was a lot to think about.
Agil [casually]: Hey, is something missing? I didn't touch anything! Wouldn't be good for business, you know?
Akinym turned around hastily and was surprised to see Agil standing at the door he had left open.
After a moment of thinking, Akinym figured out what Agil had been talking about. Frankly, he had been so deep in thought that he had completely forgotten about the open storage menu. He closed it for now.
Akinym [slightly tiredly]: Agil-san… No, that's not the issue. I'm sure there's nothing wrong with the storage… I think. It's more that… I don't know yet where to go.
Agil [feignedly hurt]: Hey, hey, what's wrong with this place?! I sure don't like to hear people disliking the place! [proudly] I think it has it's charm.
Akinym [surprised]: Are you seriously saying…? [slightly exasperatedly] You can't be serious! Given my past with the… neighbours, that doesn't sound like a good idea. I don't even understand why you are okay with it!
Agil [casually]: Let me get this straight: I'm running a business here, not the Kirito Support Association, so no matter what kind of argument you two had – or have – it's okay with me as long as you don't start another brawl downstairs. I can't have you disturbing my customers, you know? But as long as you keep that in mind and try to get along with everyone else, I don't think we're gonna have a problem, and I doubt there will be too much trouble with the others, either. [flatly] You probably shouldn't let Asuna pay the bill anymore, though.
Well, that wasn't an issue anyway. Akinym had figured that much already. Besides, with the "Extortion by the Ogre" quest done, he had the money to pay the room for the time being.
Before they had left the cave, Akinym and Kirito had picked up the loot from the treasury as far as the quest allowed them to. For starters, there was a treasure chest which rewarded col, and the players who defeated Kligon the Mountain Ogre could open it once.
The initial reward from the chest had been one million col, and the sum would be cut in half every time someone opened the chest, which had happened three times already. Akinym and Kirito had agreed to split the money evenly.
It hadn't made them rich or anything, but it was at least something. Akinym would be able to pay this room for a while, at least until he found a different place to stay at, which he might still do.
Akinym figured that he could use the time to get used to "regular" work again. He had earnt money with simple questing and farming before, and that way, he'd be able to get by until the game would be cleared.
Depending on the circumstances, there might still be something to do for him every once in a while. There was still the issue with the council of the Assault Team, and Akinym decided to think about ways how he could support the idea further as soon as he'd have time for that.
Akinym [flatly]: Well, thank you, Agil-san. Maybe I'll take you up on the offer.
Agil [slightly cheerfully]: Heh, thank you for the customer loyalty! And don't sweat it! If nothing else, I don't want to cause any of your students trouble by letting them search you at a different location just before they finish training.
Akinym frowned a little when Agil said those last words.
Akinym: Yeah… I doubt it would come to this either way.
Agil [slightly surprised and curiously]: Hm? What's the matter? Got a problem with some of them?
Akinym: Some? I'd be surprised if it won't be all of them! [flatly] There are hardly any students – not just this time – who actually like the training. They take what they need and get it over with. It's okay, though. However, at times like these, when the training is almost finished anyway and the perfect excuse pops up, namely that the "Hollow Instructor" turns out to be a "troublemaker" and "horrible human being", who puts up with it anymore? [slightly sternly] And no, I'm not just talking about the four girls you know! [slightly dejectedly] To be honest, there is another group I have in mind. During the last few days, I came across some people who had talked with them, and these students – former students, that is – were looking for a small guild to join to "get this hassle of a training over with". Well, the other things I've mentioned had also come up in their conversation.
Agil [slightly worriedly]: I see… So I guess that's it with the "Hollow Instructor"?
Akinym [dryly]: I'd say that's it with the "Instructor". The "Hollow" part… Let's just say that I don't see any future in my teaching career.
Sinon [slightly sternly]: Is that so?
Akinym and Agil turned towards the door. What was it with all kinds of people just randomly coming by (and in)? Sinon stood in the doorway, crossing her arms and looking at Akinym with a slightly upset expression. She slowly entered the room and passed by Agil.
Sinon: You just want to throw in the towel?! Too bad for you that I'm not a quitter, though! I still remember a certain bet about taking me and my ambitions seriously as well as someone talking about his "responsibility to support that", so you better keep your part up!
Akinym stared at Sinon in bewilderment. Agil did the same, although neither of these two paid attention to him.
Akinym: You seriously want to continue the training?! [slightly sternly] I honestly think you should reconsider that! I'm not sure how your friends will think about the idea. There's not that much I can teach you anymore anyway.
Sinon: That's not the point! I've made up my mind to become a member of the Assault Team, and I have to prepare as much as possible! To become stronger… [slightly worriedly] I'm still not ready, not yet. I've chosen you as my teacher, it's not just that Asuna did that for me, at least not at this point. I… still need your help. [slightly nervously] And there's something important I have to ask you…
Akinym [slightly quizzically]: Well, I mean... fine with me. I guess I can try to figure something out. And what exactly do you want to ask?
Sinon shifted uncomfortably. That… was a different topic. Talking about this topic would require a lot of emotional effort… and the right atmosphere.
Sinon glanced over at Agil. For starters, said atmosphere should include less people.
Sinon: I... can't talk about it. Not now!
Agil [raises an eyebrow, slightly defensively]: You know, I can just leave if you want to talk in private.
Sinon [slightly defensively]: It's not just that. I… can't right now. [sternly, slightly upset] That's the end of the story for now! We'll talk about it… [mutters] eventually.
Akinym wasn't sure what to think about this. To a certain extent, Sinon had been an enigma from day one, and this was just another incident that added to this picture.
That, however, meant that he could just roll with it. Akinym still wanted to support clearing SAO in his own way, and if Sinon wanted him to help her prepare for joining the Assault Team, so be it. At the very least, they could finish her training as she had requested.
There was the question she apparently wanted to ask, though. Akinym wondered what he should make of it. What could that question even be that it was so important to her, yet she couldn't ask it with anyone else around or "not right now"?
Akinym couldn't help but think that this was another example of Sinon showing two contradicting sides: tough and confident on the one hand (when she insisted on continuing the training), timid and doubtful on the other hand (when she wanted to "ask something"). He still didn't know what to think about that.
However, when he thought about that, his mind drifted to the issue he had had with Kirito and Asuna. A few words from Asuna in particular came to his mind: There is more than one side to anyone. This would obviously apply to Sinon, too.
Akinym had considered telling Sinon to "just spill it", he had even considered insisting on it in case Sinon would've refused, but in light of the recent events, he decided against it. Akinym figured that he should at least consider the possibility that there were very important reasons why Sinon couldn't come clean about whatever was bothering her at the moment.
It was probably for the best to wait until Sinon would feel ready, at least for now. Her question, whatever it may have been, was not crucial for the time being. He could just focus on her training right now.
Akinym: Alright, I'll comply. I'll continue your training, and you can ask that question when you feel like it.
Sinon [nods]: Thank you.
Sinon took a deep breath. It was somewhat relieving that Akinym had agreed without asking too many questions.
Something he had said was still on her mind, though. While it was her decision to keep training with him because she had to discuss something absolutely crucial with him, he was right that the others would probably question that decision. She wondered what she would tell them…
As it turned out, she didn't have much time to think about it.
In the evening of that day, she ate dinner with Silica, Lisbeth and Leafa. They talked about the recent events. Of course Akinym came up as a… major part of that topic.
The other girls voiced their concern that he'd still live at the same inn for now. None of them was particularly thrilled about the possibility to run into him again regularly, and they all stated that they'd certainly not continue their training with him.
Lisbeth had already summed it up before. She did it again, and Silica and Leafa overall agreed, albeit less harshly. In the end, they were afraid of him to a certain degree, upset about a lot of things he had done, and they overall just didn't trust him.
With that in mind, they were quite surprised to hear that Sinon had asked for a continuation of her training. So here she was, sitting at a table with the other three girls while they were staring at her as if singing broccoli was growing on her head. Even Pina seemed rather confused.
Silica: Sinon-san, do you really want that? [slightly nervously] I mean, after everything that happened…
Leafa [nervously]: Yeah, I mean, you didn't seem too thrilled most of the time, either. [slightly defensively] For a good reason, of course! [slightly worriedly] He was actually worse than most of my kendo instructors combined. So strict and harsh…
Lisbeth [annoyed]: Yeah, but if you ask me, his attitude doesn't really surprise me anymore! Stupid jerk… [suspiciously] But I really don't get why you still want to be around him, Sinon. [slightly upset] I mean, you've heard what that DDA guy has said! [slightly suspiciously] Besides, you've had your fair share of trouble with that guy, too. It doesn't matter if it has gotten better lately, but you can't tell me that you're really comfortable with the idea!
Well, there had been issues, of course. Sinon had a very specific reason to do what she did, but she honestly couldn't just tell them about it. Wondering what she should answer, Sinon figured that telling them what she had told Akinym at first would be a good idea. After all, it was at least a part of the truth.
Sinon [slightly upset]: I'm just seeing this whole training through. I'm taking this seriously, and I want to learn everything from him that I can! We all know that the stuff he's told us could be a huge help. That's why we did this training in the first place, [sternly] especially if you actually didn't like it. Anyway, I'm no quitter, and I'll finish this training! That's final!
The other girls looked at Sinon in awe.
Leafa [taken aback]: Woah, Sinon-san… You're pretty hardcore about this!
Lisbeth: Yeah, no kidding!
Now it was Sinon's turn to be taken aback. She hadn't aimed for that reaction, yet it wasn't so bad. At least they seemed to accept her decision.
Silica [worriedly, slightly nervously]: Still… With everything he did, you should be careful around him, Sinon-san! [nervously] I mean… He even killed someone.
The atmosphere became somewhat uncomfortable at this point, although the most unpleasant part of it was a bit different for Sinon.
Leafa: Yeah, I get what you mean. He… [dejectedly] He doesn't even feel bad about it! What kind of person would be so cold about it! At first, he tells us to be wary of orange players, but then, he turns out to be a killer himself!
Sinon [sternly]: Leafa! Keep your voice down, not everyone needs to know that!
Leafa [apologetically]: Ah, sorry! I… It was a slip of the tongue. [slightly nervously] I guess what I wanted to say was that it's kinda scary to think that there was this guy who had killed someone among us all the time, and we didn't even notice.
Sinon flinched when Leafa said that. Lisbeth picked up on it and pointed at Sinon determinedly while putting on a stern expression.
Lisbeth: AHA! There! It does bother you, don't deny it!
Well, it bothered her, but "it" was what Leafa had said, not what she had been talking about. Sinon desperately tried to hide that, though.
Lisbeth [slightly taken aback]: Hey, no need for that pained expression! We all get where you're coming from! [leans her head on her left hand, annoyed] I still think Kirito and Asuna were way too soft on him. What's with this guy thinking he's in the right for killing someone, orange player or not?! Find some other way, dammit!
Silica [slightly determinedly]: Now that you mention it, there's something his story reminded me of. It was when I met Kirito-san, and we were ambushed by this group of orange players, Titan's Hand. [slightly excitedly] Back then, Kirito-san got them to surrender without even hurting a single one of them. He was really amazing!
Lisbeth: See?! That's what I mean! Of course Kirito can do it better!
Lisbeth averted her eyes for a moment. While thinking about what she had just said, she became a bit flustered.
Lisbeth [mutters]: Not that I'm surprised, though. I guess he is… like that. Always trying to keep everyone safe...
Sinon [slightly annoyed]: That's nice and all, but can we stop talking about this?! I'm really starting to feel like I'm being judged for my decision!
Silica [apologetically, slightly nervously]: Ah, I'm sorry, Sinon-san! I didn't mean to!
Lisbeth [slightly apologetically and exasperatedly]: Yeah, sorry, sorry! That was just me not liking that guy all that much.
Leafa [slightly apologetically and awkwardly]: Yeah, don't take it personal, Sinon-san! I guess I'm just a little bit worried. With all the messed up stuff he did, who knows what else he might have in store, you know? I mean, you normally wouldn't just trust a killer.
Sinon flinched again. She averted her gaze while putting on an uneasy expression. Seeing that this was the same expression as last time this had been brought up, Leafa panicked a bit and waved her hands around frantically.
Leafa: WUAHA, sorry, I'm so sorry! I did it again, didn't I? I didn't mean to worry you or anything! I'm probably just overthinking things!
Lisbeth [slightly teasingly]: Are you, though? With his record, who knows what else he might have in store…
Leafa [slightly shocked]: Uh, I mean, maybe… [worriedly] So, I guess you should keep you guard up, Sinon-san! [determinedly] If anything happens, let us know and we'll do what we can to help!
Lisbeth: Huh?! So you're saying Sinon could be in danger around him? Weren't you sorry for worrying her just a moment ago? Yet here you go again!
Leafa [surprised]: Huh? [panicking] WAAAH! I did! I really don't mean to imply that I don't trust your judgment! I mean, I don't trust him after everything he did, but if you're halfway okay with that for whatever reason, it's totally okay, and… [turns towards Lisbeth, upset] Wait a moment! You're just messing with me, aren't you?!
Lisbeth [cheerfully]: Oh, yeah! I totally am!
Lisbeth chuckled to herself. She had hoped to continue this two or three more times, but this was already worth the disapproving glares from Silica and Leafa.
Meanwhile, Sinon just had been feeling more and more uncomfortable with everything Leafa had said.
Sinon [nervously]: R-really, Leafa, it's okay! I… I understand, so you don't have to apologise or anything!
Leafa [awkwardly]: Thank you, but I'm really sorry for stumbling over my own words like that! What I wanted to say is that you can decide to continue to train with him all you like, and we'll understand that. No matter what he did, that doesn't change anything about you no matter what terms you are on with him! I mean, it's not like you killed someone or anything, right?
Leafa chuckled awkwardly. Her "declaration" earnt her bewildered looks from Silica and Lisbeth. This, however, was nothing compared to Sinon's reaction.
She really had enough, and she wanted this conversation to be over no matter what, so she chose the best option that came to her mind, got up and walked away.
Sinon: It's okay, it's okay! I… I need to go outside for a moment! I'll be right back.
With that, she hastily left towards the exit of the building. The other girls looked after her for a moment.
Lisbeth [exasperatedly, slightly teasingly]: Now you've done it, Leafa! Seriously, scaring her away like that…
Leafa [upset, slightly awkwardly]: Give me a break! [hangs her head, dejectedly] I know I'm bad at this…
Silica [slightly upset]: I think you should learn a thing about tact yourself, Liz-san! [worriedly] I mean, this is no joking matter… Do you think Sinon-san will really be alright?
Lisbeth: Okay, sorry, sorry. [slightly teasingly] Leafa is just too teasable sometimes, hehe! [slightly exasperatedly] And honestly, I don't know what in the world brings Sinon to still put up with this guy! She actually seemed to be just as intimidated by him as any of us. Well, then again, she kinda seemed to be better at actually dealing with him. Did any of you actually talk back to him quite as much as she did?
While the three girls were talking about this, Sinon hurried outside. She really needed fresh air, even if it was just virtual. The atmosphere inside had become suffocating for her.
Fortunately, not many people were around the area right now, and the few passersby didn't pay much attention to her, although she was in a rather bad shape right now. Sinon was happy about the lack of attention, though.
For the time being, Sinon just stood next to the entrance and tried not to attract any attention while she was regaining her composure. She slowly started to feel better again, but the thoughts of the previous conversation wouldn't go away.
Sinon [worriedly, slightly dejectedly]: I guess they wouldn't understand it after all…
Two weeks passed, and the situation on the upper floors really was back to normal again. More than that, actually. As if to make up for the lost time, the Assault Team had cleared the 84th floor in about a week. They were also making good progress on the 85th floor.
In the end, the general consensus was to accept the council, which had been dubbed "Assault Team Council" by a few people, and the rest had followed suit. Asuna had decided to represent the KoB herself, although Max and several other leading figures of the guild had offered to take that responsibility. The DDA had chosen Shivata, one of their leaders, to represent them. The other guilds had yet to announce their decision, although they had someone in mind.
Meanwhile, Akinym had spent most of his time teaming up with a diverse mix of parties to go leveling. The reason why this had worked so well lay in a single item.
Before leaving Kligon's cave on the 79th floor, Akinym and Kirito had got a second reward in addition to the money that was mentioned before. Each of them had also been allowed to take one item from the treasury. Frankly, pretty much all the good items had already been taken by the groups who had finished the quest before them, so there hadn't been much of interest. Kirito had settled for a Corridor Crystal.
Akinym had taken a closer look around, and something had caught his eye – not because it had obviously been valuable, but because it had been the exact opposite of that. There had been an old, completely worn-out slouch hat. Frankly, it had looked horrible.
This, however, had raised the question why it had been there in the first place. According to the lore of the quest, Kligon had gathered "valuable treasures" at his cave, not useless rubbish. Thinking that there certainly had been a secret behind that, and given that nothing else had piqued his interest, Akinym had chosen the slouch hat.
The other people in the cave had thought that he was crazy, but they had fallen silent immediately when Akinym had checked the hat's attributes… and his premonition had been proven right.
The hat was called "Slouch Hat of the Sage", and it had halfway decent attributes. It's true value, however, lay in a significant EXP bonus it provided. The bonus would be even higher for those who fought against monsters at a notably higher level, so it was perfect for catching up with the help of friends at a higher level.
The EXP bonus was also shared with each member of the party as if they wore the hat themselves, and a lot of parties were eager to benefit from it once they had heard of it. With the help of several Assault Team parties, Akinym had reached level 85 by now, and he figured that he wouldn't have much trouble catching up to the level of the Assault Team members at this rate.
Akinym used this opportunity for other things, too. For starters, he took Sinon with him as often as possible. She'd also need to do a lot of leveling before she could join the Assault Team, especially since she was still at a relatively low level – the lowest level among all the current aspiring Assault Team members, to be honest. Given that she wanted to continue the training, Akinym figured that he should at least help her to level up as much as possible.
Even more importantly, though, Akinym went with all kinds of parties, and with members of all guilds among the Assault Team. For starters, he didn't want to play favourites. An item such as the Slouch Hat of the Sage would normally cause a lot of envy, and it could easily spark conflict if it only benefitted a certain group.
However, Akinym also pursued another goal. He never went with "regular" teams that consisted of the members of a single guild. He mixed them up, and his "compositions" seemed random, but there was a secret to it.
One of the reasons for the lack of faith in the proposed council had been the fact that most leaders of the smaller guilds felt left alone with their problems, and as a consequence, they actually believed that they'd have to assert their interests against a majority if the council would work as expected. In their distrust, they didn't believe that they'd have many allies.
During his conversations with them, Akinym had discovered that this actually wasn't true, and these temporary alliances for using the Slouch Hat of the Sage were the perfect opportunity to bring that across.
Thus, he put members of different guilds with similar interests together and went leveling with them. While they were hunting monsters, he would bring up various points that had been bothering his current teammates, and they'd notice that they seemed to have a few things in common.
That way, several coalitions had been formed among the smaller guilds, which had found a certain confidence that way. Frankly, there still would be heated discussions between them, and the fact that certain groups would team up in these discussions might actually make them even more fierce. Regardless, Akinym had figured that such coalitions would come to be sooner or later anyway if the Assault Team Council would be accepted, so he might as well assist in their foundation if it would convince people of the very idea of the council in the first place.
Akinym also spoke about ways how the council might cause certain changes that the rest of his respective party was interested in. Usually, he pointed out how the KoB or DDA might be convinced to agree to certain concessions in the smaller guilds' favour.
There was one more reason for the mixed parties, which – ironically – stemmed from Akinym's own distrust. He didn't really feel safe with a party of organised strangers, especially since he had an extremely rare, useful item with him. His experience with bandits as well as everything he had heard had taught him that certain safety precautions simply should be made.
Akinym's distrust of the DDA was particularly severe. The DDA was infamous for being after rare items for their own benefit, and they really hadn't been on good terms with Akinym ever since he had approached them with a plan to give them control over the Assault Team only to turn on them later, at least as far as they could see. In a situation like this, Akinym wouldn't even put it past them to try an MPK.
The different guilds still wanted to benefit from the Slouch Hat of the Sage, so they agreed to Akinym's terms, even if that meant being put together in continuously changing, seemingly random groups.
Akinym just returned from one of these hunting missions. It had been a successful trip to the 83rd floor, and on top of that, he could finish a quest or two now.
When they returned to Arc Sophia via the teleport gate, Akinym turned towards his companions for the day. They happened to be Klein and a few other members of Fuurinkazan. Not the whole guild, though.
Fuurinkazan was one of the few guilds that had gained Akinym's trust to the extent that he was willing to go with a party of members of that single guild. He still wouldn't accompany them to overly dangerous places, and he made sure not to follow them into anti-crystal areas or anything like that, though.
Klein [determinedly, slightly excitedly]: Alright, everyone, that makes another successful day in the field! Great job!
Klein's exclamation earnt him an approving cheer from his comrades and a less excited, but equally approving nod from Akinym. One of the other Fuurinkazan members mocked Klein for not getting a more energetic response from Akinym, and another one cracked a joke about the rest of the guild missing out on all the fun and EXP. Observing the scene, Akinym was reminded that this guild was second to no group he had seen when it came to close bonds… and to giving the dangerous work of Assault Team members a feeling of lighthearted adventure.
They were headed in the same direction for the moment, so they ended up leaving the teleport gate plaza together. While they were walking, Akinym glanced over at the Fuurinkazan members every once in a while, especially at Klein. There was something… specific on his mind.
Akinym [slightly curiously]: Klein-san, if you don't mind me asking, you seem… strangely fine with teaming up with me. Why is that?
Klein [surprised, slightly dumbfounded]: Hm? Why you're asking?
Akinym: Aren't you also one of Kirito-san's friends? A pretty close friend, judging from everything I've heard. The majority of his circle of friends… [slightly frustrated] Well, let's say they're not particularly happy to still have me around. [slightly suspiciously] I don't get these vibes from you at all, and it kinda starts to get weird…
Klein: Oh, so this is about Kirinoji! [slightly upset] Although I could do without the implication that I'm a weirdo, you know? [calmly] You see, Kirinoji and the kids just have their own way of thinking. You know, about the stuff that should and shouldn't be done, and they're quite passionate about it, [seriously] especially Kirito after all the stuff he's been through. Nothing wrong with that! [slightly cheerfully] It's good to be young and idealistic, [proudly] but once you've matured a bit more – like me – you start to see things from a bigger perspective and learn to tolerate some contradictions to some extent. [calmly] It's because life doesn't let you get whatever you want, you know?
Fuurinkazan Member [teasingly]: And when exactly did all the "maturing" happen, Leader? It has to be at some point after hitting on that NPC last week!
The other Fuurinkazan members laughed. Well, except for Klein.
Klein [upset]: Shut up! A true man is there for any lady who needs him, whether they're part of the system or not! Love knows no boundaries and no source code!
Klein briefly huffed in annoyance before getting back on track.
Klein: Anyway, that's how I see it. You and Kirito and his friends just aren't on the same page about a lot of stuff, but that's fine! [sternly] Don't get me wrong, though! I'm absolutely not okay with the trouble you've caused Kirito and Asuna! [slightly reassuring] But I wouldn't get along with any of those idiots in the Assault Team if I'd lash out on anyone who'd talk smack to Kirinoji. I don't really know much about your reasons for doing what you did, but I know that things aren't always black and white, especially here in SAO. All I know is that you've gotta give people a chance to do things right, even when they've messed up, and right now, you're helping Asuna to get the Assault Team in order again. As long as you keep that up, there's no problem!
Akinym thought about it. Klein turned out to be a quite levelheaded person – in a strangely laid-back way, but still. It reminded him once more that he knew hardly anything about the people on the upper floors, at least it started to seem that way to him.
Klein's words also reminded Akinym of his conversation with Agil back at his inn room when Agil had offered him to stay. Akinym had the feeling that Agil had tried to convey the same message as Klein, although he had used less words. Agil might've masked it with "business talk", but given his reputation as a scamming merchant on the one hand and his acts of generosity towards mid-level players on the other hand, that could just be the way he rolled.
On a related note, a thought occurred to Akinym. Klein had to know about things like the story of how he had killed someone, too, didn't he? For a moment, Akinym was a bit surprised that Klein didn't seem to be bothered by that. He would be the first person to react that way. Akinym figured that this might fall under his "not everything is black and white in SAO".
Klein: Besides, I've heard that you didn't just cause Kirito and Asuna pointless trouble. Judging from everything I've heard, you also talked some people out of their stupid trash-talking or at least got them thinking it over. [reassuringly] Everyone who's willing to do something about that kind of attitude can't be all that bad in my books!
Akinym [slightly exasperatedly]: I think you're giving me too much credit here, Klein-san. I'm just against unconstructive rambling, that's all. [slightly annoyed] If they have a problem, they should do something about it – just anything! [annoyed] Blaming it on others with nonsensical reasoning just to temporarily feel better is something I absolutely disapprove of! [slightly annoyed] It's bad enough that there are people thinking that Kirito-san and Heathcliff-san have conspired to trick all other players, but if some people seriously believe that it's a conspiracy to make every female SAO player fall for Kirito-san… [exasperatedly] That's just dumb!
Klein seemed to share Akinym's frustration… although it really just seemed that way. While he shared the symptoms, he didn't share the cause.
Klein: Yeah… [dejectedly] Dammit, Kirinoji! Why does he have to hog all of them to himself?
Akinym [dryly]: Wait… Seriously, Klein-san?
Klein: What?! It's true! Kirito already has Asuna, so he could act like a bro and leave some chicks for the others! He's like one of these insufferable people at a buffet who take the best pieces right away, but they're not even satisfied with that and take half of the other stuff, too, and in the end, they don't even eat most of it!
Klein's guildmates looked at him with pity in their eyes, although a closer inspection revealed that it was actually fake and more a form of mockery than anything else. Akinym, on the other hand, didn't even show fake pity.
Akinym [annoyed]: For the love of… Would you stop whining?! You're sounding ridiculous! [mutters] And what's up with that comparison?
Klein: Not you, too! I mean, [slightly upset and dejectedly] come on, you have to admit it! Kirito already got lucky and got himself an absolute catch. I mean, you have to admit that Asuna is a really beauty, right?
Akinym sighed in exasperation. Just when he was starting to respect Klein…
Well, he figured that there was no easy way to direct this conversation onto territory that would make sense – rather than him sad – so he might as well humour Klein and be done with it. He averted his gaze for a moment in order to think.
Akinym [flatly]: Well, I suppose the overall colour scheme of her appearance is simple and goes together very well, including overall light colours. The colour of her hair and of her eyes are particularly matching, although a slightly lighter shade would compliment her skin a bit better, even though it's not much of a problem. The red parts of her usual KoB uniform tend to stick out a bit too much, but they're not too far from the rest, so I guess it's okay. Not to mention that her looks are overall quite natural, without an overly flamboyant hairstyle or anything else that would ruin that picture. That and the overall proportions of her body make for a very well-rounded appearance, so… Yeah, I guess.
There was no reply whatsoever, and Akinym became a bit annoyed after a few seconds. He turned towards Klein and the other Fuurinkazan members again, and he was a bit surprised to see them staring at him in utter disbelief.
Akinym: Seriously, what is it?!
Klein: Dude, how can you say that as if you don't even care! Like, you sound as if you're talking about a painting or something! I mean, this is about a lovely young girl who's head-over-heels for someone else! Not that there's something wrong with it, but… Come on, Kirito got that girl you've just described fawning over him and half a dozen others, too. You're a guy, doesn't that make you feel… I don't know… anything?!
Akinym [sighs]: I know I'm repeating myself here, but seriously: Stop whining already! I'm not gonna talk about something like subconscious desires with you, because that wouldn't lead anywhere, but I'm telling you what I decide consciously! I won't complain about a bunch of girls I'm not even romantically interested in showering some more or less random guy with attention… [dryly] and pain and embarrassment, judging from everything I've heard. [slightly sternly] I'm merely acknowledging beauty, which lies in simplicity and harmony.
Besides, Akinym wasn't actually very impressed by the "half a dozen other girls" Klein had mentioned, at least not for the most part. Where should he even start…
Silica, for instance, kept red as the main colour of her appearance, which was overall well-rounded… as the appearance of a kid who still had to hit puberty, which seemed to annoy Silica more than anything else, and that only made this weird and awkward. On top of that, Akinym really wasn't a fan of the twintails. That hairstyle was way too flamboyant and unnatural in his opinion.
Speaking of hair, one thing that Akinym could never understand was what person in their right mind would dye their hair pink. Yet there was Lisbeth… While the hair colour fit her overall colour scheme very well, it was just too unnatural. Akinym also wasn't a big fan of details such as the seemingly random hairpin or the freckles (although they didn't stand out all that much). Her overall appearance was just too obtrusive to be to Akinym's liking, although he had to admit that it fit her in a certain way since she seemed to be a rather… free-spirited person. It was a form of harmony in his opinion – not so much harmony of appearance, but harmony of the overall person.
Akinym absolutely refused to judge Yui's appearance. Even thinking about "rating" a computer programme with the appearance of a demon of irrationality was too weird. Furthermore, Akinym was sure that Yui was not supposed to be included in the "half a dozen girls" Klein had mentioned. Given that Yui considered Kirito her father (and Kirito reciprocated that feeling), this would've been even weirder…
Speaking of girls who shouldn't be on that "list", there was also Leafa. Well, now that he was at it, Akinym decided to mentally sum up his thoughts anyway. Given that her avatar was supposed to be a fairy from Western mythology, Akinym thought that it fit that theme very well with the blond hair and the overall colour scheme. Especially the green colour (of her eyes, for example) gave the avatar some forest-related vibes in Akinym's opinion, and it really gave him the feeling that she would resemble some sort of forest elf. The only real problem were the proportions of her body… Was that avatar designed specifically to give rise to jokes about her chest size?! That… part of her body was honestly too big to fit the rest in Akinym's opinion, and it ruined the overall harmony.
Next up, there was Sinon… who wasn't actually "fawning" over Kirito or anything like that as far as Akinym could tell, but whatever. Sinon was overall fine in Akinym's opinion. Her appearance was rather simple, well-rounded and natural. Only the two bangs she had tied up with small, white ribbons messed with that picture a bit, and it bothered Akinym a little, but that hairstyle was still the most natural one among that group (or at least a promising contender for that "title"). Speaking of hair, the black colour seemed the most natural, too, and it fit her eye colour. There was a clear contrast with her quite pale skin, but Akinym actually thought that this contrast was easy on the eyes, and it also fulfilled the "harmony of the person" criteria that was mentioned before. It gave him some sort of "yin and yang" vibes, which fit the fact that Sinon seemed to have contradicting sides to herself. The colour scheme of her usual equipment was a bit… wild. The black parts matched other parts of her body and were okay, and the green parts kind of reminded Akinym of camouflage clothing of hunters, and with her archery, Sinon seemed like a huntress to Akinym, so that was actually fitting. Only the red parts were really bothering him, especially that… thing she wore around the neck. What was that even called?! Red honestly wasn't Sinon's colour as far as Akinym was concerned.
Hm… There was also Philia, although Akinym wasn't sure if Klein had meant to include her in the "half a dozen girls" list. Frankly, Akinym had only seen her once, and he couldn't really say much about her. The only thing that had struck his eye was the fact that her colour scheme was all over the place. Akinym still wasn't sure if her hair was light brown or actually orange, her equipment involved parts in various shades of blue as well as silverish metal elements, her skin was relatively pale, and her eyes were green… It honestly didn't go together in Akinym's opinion.
Well, was there anyone left? Oh, yeah… There was Strea. Akinym had seen her a few times. Frankly, everything about this girl seemed to be too much…
Meanwhile, Klein tried to deal with this situation with as much dignity as possible after his previous "rant".
Klein [slightly dejectedly]: Man, what a downer… And here I thought I might meet a comrade who'd share in my misery… I guess I have to wait until I meet another young fellow with a friend who hogs all the girls around him. Maybe a decent young guy with… I don't know, a metal suit or something. [slightly determinedly] Anyway, let's change the topic! [slightly at a loss] Like… Um…
It took Klein a moment to think of something. In fact, he needed so much time that his guildmates started joking about it. Klein told them off, complaining that they could help him out instead of mocking him.
The vague "supporting vs. fighting" motive reminded Klein of something, though.
Klein [casually]: Oh, yeah, there's something I should tell you. I mean, someone has to, and I guess I'm the right guy for the task. You remember that assembly when Asuna told us about the whole council thing?
Akinym nodded. That assembly was something nobody would forget anytime soon.
Klein: You know, the other guild leaders and I have talked a lot about the stuff you've said there – a lot of food for thought. Not that I mind what Asuna said, she's normally really good at captivating people with her spirit and all, and if I'd have to pick someone for holding a motivational speech, I'd choose her every time. [slightly contemplatively] It's just not what we needed back then. We needed someone to get the facts straight while giving the feeling that he's just honest.
Akinym [flatly]: I think you're giving me too much credit again, Klein-san. I merely treated that meeting like a negotiation, and when negotiating with a party with equal bargaining power, you have to offer them something they want if you want something in return. It's just a negotiation strategy to convince them that what you offer is what they should want rather than just giving them what they demand. [slightly exasperatedly and dejectedly] And I had to be completely honest with them because it was the only way for me to bring the point across. As you said, I don't have the charisma to convince people. I'm relying on reasoning, and for that to work, the other party mustn't doubt my motives, so I had to come clean about everything simply because I couldn't do much else.
Akinym thought of that meeting. In hindsight, being the son of people who made a living with business negotiations and the… consequences for his upbringing had certainly paid off at that moment.
Klein [chuckles]: Well, whatever you say. It's funny that you mention it, though. You remember how you said we should just give it a shot and we'd just need someone to represent us who can deal with Asuna and the DDA guy for us? You know, I'd say the others finally agree on that. [slightly contemplatively and teasingly] Now we just need that representative, you know? Someone who'd listen to all of us, maybe even helps us to reach an agreement and discusses the stuff with the other two parties…
While saying all that, Klein was looking at Akinym, and his expression slowly turned into a silly grin.
Akinym caught on to the message, but he wasn't sure what to think about it. Keeping aside that he wasn't the biggest fan of the clichéd delivery, the idea seemed odd to him given everything that had happened lately.
Akinym [exasperatedly, slightly doubtfully]: You can't be serious… Didn't we just come to the conclusion that I barely managed to convince them to agree to the council idea? That I had to be brutally honest for them to believe that I'm honest at all? Why would anyone trust me to do that task?!
Klein [contemplatively]: Well, I'd say it's not so much that anyone trusts you. I'm not sure if I do. [slightly exasperatedly] It's just that we need someone neutral. That is, someone who's not affiliated with the KoB or the DDA, but not with any of us small clearing guilds, either. [flatly] So it's more that we all distrust you equally. [casually] And I mean, in politics, isn't that what truly matters?
The other members of Fuurinkazan chuckled. Akinym, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow, feeling a bit bewildered by the phrasing.
Regardless, he understood Klein's reasoning. If the representative of the smaller guilds had close ties to the KoB or DDA, this would obviously be a problem. If they were connected to a specific group among the small clearing guilds, on the other hand, they might treat that group preferentially, and aside from the fact that this wasn't supposed to happen, it could easily open up the rift between them again.
With that in mind, the circle of candidates was fairly small. The only real option were players who weren't part of the Assault Team in the first place, and most of them on the upper floors were merchants or craftsmen who actually had ties to specific groups. At the very least, they might very well just try to pursue their own goals, too.
Klein [seriously]: Jokes aside, we need someone who's neutral, good at negotiating and able to talk back to the big shots. I mean, not everyone has it in themselves to face Kirito, Asuna or anyone like them the way you did. [slightly cheerfully] And anyone who's willing to screw with the DDA as you did is alright in my books!
Klein literally gave Akinym the thumbs up for that.
Klein [seriously]: That person also needs to have the right kind of attitude and motivation. I mean, you've said yourself that all that really matters to you is to beat this game and to save as many people as you can, right?
Akinym didn't really like that phrasing. It made him sound like a plain vanilla hero…
Akinym: Well… Essentially. [mutters] I'd have a few things to add, though.
Klein [cheerfully]: Details, details! The thing is, I think we can at least entrust you with the job for now, and the other guild leaders basically think the same. [slightly exasperatedly] Not that many of them were too thrilled, but they can keep their suspicions in check for now. [slightly determinedly and cheerfully] So, what do you say?
Akinym gave it some thought. He could see himself filling that role. Klein had brought up good reasons, and there was nothing he didn't agree with.
On top of that, Akinym had already decided to support the Assault Team Council. What better way to do that was there than to take on such a crucial task when nobody else seemed to be suited for it?
Long story short, he nodded in agreement.
Klein [excitedly]: Great! Here's to successful work and cooperation, Representative!
...and that ends this chapter. Most of the more important themes for the rest of this story are in motion now.
I finally got to introduce Akinym's special sense of aesthetics. Frankly, I've been looking forward to that for a while. Given how often the SAO girls end up dressing up in the games, this is certainly not the last time it will appear.
Since I mentioned Shivata and I'm not sure if someone is reading this with expectations from Integral Factor, I should mention that I'm applying main canon standards, and the DDA is portrayed in a much more questionable light than their IF counterpart DKB, so you better don't expect Shivata to act like a nice guy who has the hots for a girl in full armour, at least not in this story.
In case anyone is wondering, Klein's remark about "a decent young guy with a metal suit" is a reference to the game Accel Word vs Sword Art Online. I got the idea when I stumbled across a playthrough recently.
There were two more things that I actually wanted to include in this chapter... but I didn't after noticing that it's already more than 8,000 words in length. One of these things will come up in the next chapter (more on that later), while the other one will become the introductory part of another side story, which I'll write next. That side story will also go a bit deeper into Sinon's question. To be honest, anyone who knows her character and has paid attention to what has happened in the last few chapters can probably figure out what it's going to be about.
Little Preview: Everything is going smoothly for once. That is, until Kirito returns from the Hollow Area with bad news one day. He'll have to do something about that, but there's also the question what the others will do in the meantime.