Author's Note: Glad to be back after many months. In my absence, I finalized my college plans and get to try my hand at what I love doing. During that business, a lot of time would pass between writing sessions, and after a certain point, I hesitated to start since that meant reading it again for the 20th time. I'm glad to be back and if you've stayed this long, I hope you're glad for another update!
21 July 2024
Floor 66 Dungeon Entrance, Lanius
2:17
"Stop worrying so much, Kazuto. Like you said, there's almost no chance of them turning you away!" Rika encouraged.
"That's not what I'm worried about... It's the boss. At the meeting, we all figured that this boss'll be especially nasty since it's the two-thirds mark to Floor 100. Though we know the name and appearance, we have little clue as to how deadly the damn thing is," I replied.
After the two of us arose from a semi-sleepless night (no, not that kind of sleepless), we put together a quick, small breakfast, then burned a blue crystal to beat traffic en route to the tower outside of Lanius.
"Wait, doesn't two-thirds round up to sixty-seven percent? You know, out of a hundred floors?"
"Yeah, but Floor 33 was especially nasty, so it wouldn't be far off to assume the worst for 66. We'd rather be ready for hell, that way its brutality doesn't surprise us; if it's not as bad as we thought, then great."
"I see your point. But what if the devs decided to make both floors difficult? You know, because sadism."
Way to help me get my head ready for a boss fight. Oh, leave her alone, Kazuto; she's just helping you be ready for the worst.
"That's also something to consider," I sadly noted.
"Yo, Kirito! I was worried you wouldn't make it!" A familiar voice called.
I turned around to find my favorite samurai and crew walking up to the entrance from some nearby ruins.
Thank God, somebody who'll be on my side!
"Klein! How's everything been?" I asked as I rushed up to high-five him and the guild.
"Going great! We had a hell of a hunt last night and racked up tons of col and XP. So what's this I hear about you dual wielding? I imagine you were hunkered down to avoid the info-hunting players?"
"Don't you know it!"
"Kirito, other guild leaders are showing up," Lisbeth ran up and reported. "Oh, hey there, Klein! Long time no see!"
"Hey, Liz. What brings you here?" He held his fist out for Liz to bump.
"Just waiting to see him," she pointed her thumb at me, "off. We weren't sure how the clearers would take it if he just showed up after the sudden reveal, so he asked that I came along."
"Oh, did he now?" Klein turned to me. "Do you mind if I borrowed him for a minute or two?"
"U-umm.. Sure, I guess.."
Oh crap... Well, I knew I'd have to talk to him about it eventually.
The samurai put his arm around me and walked a few meters away from Liz.
"What's up, Klein? You needed a minute?"
"Hey, why didn't you ever tell me about hitting it off with her? One weapon build and hunting session and suddenly she's at your side before a boss raid? What, was she hunkered down with you the past couple days too?" He asked directly, trying to stifle a laugh.
"Well... yeah. Something like that," I admitted.
"And you kept your virtue, young man? I understand that you may find her attractive and you've been locked in a room with her, but you mustn't lose your ethics!"
Damn it, Klein!
"W-what?! Of course!" I moved from under his arm and cried out. Of course, I had to fight off the redness in my face after he spoke.
Almost instantly, Klein started laughing his head off and wiping tears.
"I'm sorry, Kirito! I'm just giving you a hard time," he said.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. So was that everything?"
"No, not quite. Teasing, yes; questions, no."
"So what do you wanna know?"
"Lemme start with the basics. Are you two a thing?"
Not really.. Maybe if we figured some things out..
"Companions, so to speak, but not a couple.."
"'So to speak?' Do you care to elaborate?"
"We've gone out to complete weapon orders, random quests, and she's my exclusive smith."
"That can't possibly be it. Dates? Long talks? Affection?"
"What? Yeah. Why? W-where are you going with this?" I shook my head and asked nervously.
He rubbed his chin for a moment, appearing to have ignored my question.
"Oh, okay... I think I have everything I need!" Klein declared.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'm not going to go to some tabloid publisher, if that's what you're asking," he reassured. "But it kind of sounds like you want her at least a little, and based on how she was hesitant to let me borrow you - among other things - I think she feels the same!"
Seriously? All that from the few things I told him? What, was he studying criminal justice before the game started?
I laughed and shook my head, then looked back up to him.
"I gotta hand it to you, Klein, you're not wrong. Since you're one of my closer friends, I'll tell you a little more. You see, she likes me a lot, and I like her, but - for many unrelated reasons - I don't know if I like her as much as she does. If I did, we would almost certainly be dating already. Honestly, I'd like to in the future; she's a great person and, well, you can see her. I just don't know how things'll be between us if things go wrong..."
"I'm glad you found somebody who can be there for you like that, man. I really hope things between you two turn out for the best, but let me tell you this much: if you want to be something more with her, don't keep her waiting forever. I don't know how strongly she feels for you, but I wouldn't take for granted that she'll stick around something she wants and can't have. You know what I mean? I did that to a girl in college a few years back, and it didn't work in my favor when I finally came to my senses. Losing her hurt, but seeing her happy with somebody else hurt even more; I don't want that for you."
He made a fist and bumped it on my chest before continuing.
"Listen, I'll be rooting for you two. Another thing: we don't know if our next hunt - or raid in this case - will be our last. Anything can happen in that room and on the field, so you can't let precious time and opportunities slip away if the worst happens to either of you."
I felt a sudden stabbing in my chest when he brought up that possibility.
"Again, I don't know how much she likes you, but it's something to consider. Lastly, being in a relationship isn't just wanting to spend the good days with somebody, it's also being willing to work through the bad. If you two are willing to do that for each other, then I have no idea what's keeping you two from being a thing. You might be content with your current connection, but you could be much, much happier with that next step."
T-that... made a lot of sense...
"Thanks a lot, Klein... I didn't know were a bit of an expert in this field!" I grabbed his right hand and gave him a pound hug.
"I might have poor luck with the ladies, but ol' Klein knows a thing or two!"
"Like what? How to get shot down in flames in the opening line?" Harry One called from a few meters away. The rest of the guild and a few nearby clearers started laughing.
"Among other things!" He called back.
"Well thanks again for the advice. I hadn't considered that side of the situation..."
"No problem. You should probably get back to her, by the way! I think she's been left hanging for long enough." He turned and started heading to his guild.
"Yeah. See you inside, Klein!"
"You too!"
"Don't keep her waiting forever," eh? Maybe I have been making her wait for a little too long... I just hope I could figure things out before she loses interest...
"-about?" Liz asked from in front of me.
When did she get there?
"I'm sorry, I guess I was zoning out.. What were you asking?"
"What was that all about?"
How am I supposed to explain all that to her? Plus, there are other things I need to start focusing on right now...
"I don't want to lie to you, and I don't know if now's a good time to talk about it, since we're waiting on Heathcliff and the Sky Runners. I promise I'll talk to you about it later."
So much for heeding advice.
"Fair enough, I guess... So what do you know about the boss?"
"Its name is Kersh, the Slayer, said to be the counterpart of the 33rd floor boss. If I remember correctly, he's supposed to be a terrifying humanoid-reptile creature about five meters tall. Basically like Vintrum, but bigger, stronger, and he wears shackles on his wrists with about two meters of chains attached to them."
"Like that Rancor thing from Star Wars?"
Wow, she's into those kinds of movies? What a pleasant surprise.
"Almost, but it's not quite as ugly or rounded. The scouting party found out that Kersh likes to take swipes at attackers and use the chains for extra reach, just in case the target was farther than anticipated. One person from a smaller clearing guild nearly got killed when Kersh went for a pound attack after one of the chains struck him. If not for a teleport crystal on his belt clip, he might not have gotten out to tell the story."
"Sheesh… I knew clearing was a dirty deed, but the devs really make it hell for you guys, don't they?"
"You've got that right. Sometimes, I can't help but think that they watch us so they can beef up future floor bosses. As of lately, enforcement of the 'Ten-Levels-Above-the-Floor' rule has been getting more strict, and less people are complaining about it."
"So the raids are only going to get more dangerous…" She sighed solemnly.
"They might, but don't forget that we're getting stronger and smarter!" I rubbed her back in reassurance.
"I know," she reached back and put her hand on mine, "But that's not going to make it any easier to not worry about you…"
"I'll be okay, Liz… I'm not going to let some program be the end of me!"
"You'd better not!"
"If I get into trouble, I'll telelport out, okay? And if I do, I'll let you know where I end up. I promise." I held my pinky out in front of her.
To my relief, she gave a short laugh and grabbed my pinky with hers.
"Okay. Hey, is it just me or are the other clearers shooting bad looks in our direction?" She slightly leaned forward and glanced over my shoulder.
I took a look at players behind her and quickly understood why she'd ask. To my ten o'clock, a pair from the Divine Dragon Alliance did a poor job of inconspicuously whispering while looking over at us, and to my 3 o'clock, a quintet from the Knights of the Blood Oath kept glancing over one by one.
"I'm noticing too, but it might just be that you're here. I remembered some of them speaking of your shop the other day; they might just wonder why you're with me of all people."
"You think they might wonder why you only have your Elucidator out? Word of your skill would've certainly spread through their ranks quickly."
"If it were out, they may just talk even more. Before a regular raid, half of them look like they'd want to crucify me if I weren't an integral member. I guess try not to pay much attention to them."
Lisbeth sighed. "I didn't realize that's something you constantly had to deal with..."
"Thankfully, I got somewhat used to it after a dozen or so floors. Besides, there are some people who do appreciate me being here. It might be because they'd rather have me give and take damage instead of them, but at least they don't make it tough for me. When I think about it, I may as well have my other blade out. Maybe help address the elephant in the room."
I equipped the Dark Repulsor, then saw a few of the smaller guilds arrive. Among them, the beloved Sky Runners.
Dammit.. I wasn't looking forward to this...
"Don't pay attention to them, Kirito. Try to focus on clearing this boss.." Lisbeth said softly while patting my shoulder. I guess my disdain was easy to spot.
"Thanks..." I tugged her sleeve and moved to sit on an incline. Before long, I found Asuna on the other side of the group waving me over. Lind, Klein, and Heathcliff were all walking from her back to their guilds.
I don't feel so good about this...
I gestured to Lisbeth too, hoping I wouldn't hear whatever news solo. She shook her head and pointed at me again.
"Be right back.. I'm going to see what Asuna needs."
"I'll be here," she said.
Some of the clearers took a step away from me as I headed over to the KoB's vice commander.
Damn it, is there something that everyone but Liz and I know about?
"You called?" I asked when I reached Asuna.
"I did.. Listen, I have some bad news," she answered, avoiding eye contact.
"What is it? Something wrong? Something to do with the other guild leaders conversation just now?"
"It wasn't my choice. Or Heathcliff. Or Lind. I don't want you to hate any of us or anything."
"Would you just tell me what the hell is going on? Everyone's shooting looks at me and Liz and are avoiding me like I'm the plague," I said sternly.
"A lot of my knights came forward to me this morning saying they weren't comfortable raiding with you today. When asked, Lind said a lot of his members felt the same way."
"Okay? That's been the story ever since floor two. They don't like that I was a former beta tester and that I get a good handful of the Last Attack Bonuses. What makes today different?"
She opened her menu, rifled through her inventory, and materialized a newspaper.
"They brought me a paper released this morning that had pretty bad things to say about you. I read through it and had a hard time believing anything, but it made a lot of members unsure of whether they can trust you. I tried talking to them and saying it was slander, but they wouldn't budge. Lind told his guild that he won't tell them what to think outside of combat, and Klein said his guild hadn't heard anything of it."
"What?! Let me see that," I said as she handed me the article.
"Unique Skill, Common Indecency: Dark Side of the Black Swordsman by Derek; Leader of the Sky Runners
Many are now familiar with the Black Swordsman, also known as Kirito, and his notoriety as a Beater from the completion of Floor 1. He found himself in the spotlight again recently after I revealed his unique skill. Kirito released his Beater's Manifesto shortly thereafter, outlining the sum of his knowledge on the skill (an interesting read, I might add). The release may have given the illusion of transparency from the clearer, but I'm afraid to explicate why it is no more than an illusion. His combat prowess and contributions to the Assault Team are unquestionable, but he's not the role model many of his fans see him as. Under his signature black coat resides a short-tempered, ill-mannered, and destructive person.
I happened to run into him at a player-run smith shop (whose name will be omitted) to pick up a weapon I had placed an order on. Not a moment after he turned from the counter was I met with a fusillade of insults and threats. When I inquired about his unique skill (before penning and releasing my last article), he threw me onto the floor and threatened me if I released his information to the public. Having been an avid journalist before SAO, I didn't back down, explaining that if there was a secret to freeing our minds from Kayaba's clutches early, then Aincrad deserved to know. Rather than use reason or logic in his response, he assaulted me in the middle of the shop, not stopping until the owner physically held him back. Being outside of the safe zone around each city, I did take legitimate damage, and his cursor did change color immediately afterwards. My life wasn't in danger, thanks to the swift actions of the noble shopkeeper, but I cannot say for certain how much more damage would have been inflicted had he been unimpeded.
His skills have undoubtedly helped the Assault Team in its crusade through each floor, but I cannot dispel the possibility that his contributions were made out of self interest. Had he truly prioritized the lives of his fellow clearers (I dare say as far back as the first floor), he would have shared any and all new information he encountered without hesitation. In addition, he would not have resorted to violence when met with the possibility of secret information coming to light as it has. Nobody can accurately say the number of lives would have been saved with his transparency, but I venture to say there would have been fewer casualties in costly battles. One can only imagine what other secrets he has that may impact future raids."
"W-wh-what the hell is this?! He's clearly doing what he can to discredit me! You can't possibly expect anyone to believe this bullshit!" I exclaimed as I shook the paper in front of me.
"I need you to calm down, Kirito. People are looking this way," she advised quietly.
"So what if they're looking this way? I'm all everyone's looked at since Liz and I showed up!"
"Listen, I get that you're angry, but having an outburst isn't going to help your case with the crap written here. Head home, blow off some steam, and we can get this situated later."
"Head home? You're hilarious, I've never missed a raid and I'm not about to miss this one," I insisted, shoulders tense from trying to contain myself.
What the fuck does that punk have against me?! Why is he so determined to turn the clearers against me? I've done more for our liberation in the first 3 months than he's done since day one!
"I'm sorry. It's not my idea, it's the other leaders'. If we caught word of this before the meeting, we would have resolved this sooner. We didn't until this morning. We can't just postpone the raid and do this now. It'd delay the fight for at least a week, and the conflict between you two pales in comparison. It's easier logistically and politically if you sit this one out."
"'Easier logistically and politically' if I sit this out?! You can't be serious!"
Asuna looked down and took a deep breath before continuing.
"I told myself I wouldn't be an ass about this, but you're making it difficult to adhere to that. The Assault Team came up with the decision, not me. I couldn't convince them otherwise. I volunteered to break the news to you because I felt that we'd be more patient with each other that way. I'm on your side here, but if you keep lashing at me, that just might change. I'm sorry."
Dammit.. the more anger I show, the more believable his story is. That deceptive little bastard. He fucking planned for me to get news before the raid and gave me my options before I knew I was playing the game. I break in anger, my credibility is gone and he's a hero. I hold everything in for a facade, and he gets to watch me wear away from the inside out. I reeeaaalllly should've gotten those extra strikes in. Calm down, Kirito.. easiest thing you can do for yourself is not give him either. But dammit, if I just roll over and take the news, he'll think I was that easy to beat! You know what? Let the bastard think that. He'll only be more devastated when I get back at him.
"Sorry for being a jerk," I said as calmly as I could muster. "I just really hate the moves that the weasel is taking to make things hard for me. Thanks for your support. Is there time to talk to Klein and his guild before everyone takes off?"
"There is. I understand that you're mad. We'll figure this out later, I promise." She patted my shoulder and headed back to her Knights.
Klein, who was facing away from me while talking to another player, turned to face me when one of his samurai pointed me out to him.
"Hey Kirito.. I'm really sorry about what happened.. I hope you know that-"
"It's fine, I understand. Bullshit politics with bigger guilds. I just wanted to wish you guys luck today. I really wish I could join you guys..."
I opened a trade menu and sent Klein all but one of each of my healing items.
"Take these and use them on anyone who needs them. I don't care about how many I get back after the raid, but please return what's you don't use."
He looked at the list and quantity of items with a look of shock.
"K-Kirito, are you sure about this?"
"Definitely. If I can't be there to help people firsthand, I wanna know that I helped at least a little by extension. You're the one doing me a favor here."
He accepted the items and pulled me in for a hug.
"This whole thing fucking sucks, man... I know we'll need you. I'll help whoever I can, I promise," he said with what sounded like a lump in his throat.
"I know you will. Hey, we'll kick it on the next floor. No question about that," I assured as cheerfully as I could. We let go, gave each other a fist bump, and parted.
Hold it together... hold it together... I can't afford to give him either reaction he wants...
"What was that about?" Liz asked when I made it back to the incline.
"They don't want me here; we're leaving," I mumbled, extending my trembling hand to pull her up.
"What? Why? Who made the call?"
"In a minute," I pleaded, "I'm not sure how much longer I can stand being around everyone here."
Just a little longer...
Lisbeth:
He looks so fragile... you could tell he's trying to look calm, but he's clearly not...
"Where do you want to go?" I asked, taking his hand and leading him away from the other players.
"Shop," he said with an obvious quiver in his voice.
"Okay," I squeezed his hand, "Off to Agil's."
"No.. yours."
I slowed us down and turned back to him, looking quizzically. All he did was nod his head.
"If that's what you want, silly."
At this point, our notoriety hardly matters. Players visiting the shop are going to see the CLOSED sign whether the building is empty or not. It's a good thing Lindas is largely empty of players. I wonder if we left anything important at Agil's... Well, we can just get those later. I'd better tell him we're heading back later for whatever's there.
"Here, let's be quick." Kirito slipped a teleport crystal into the hand holding his after we'd put enough distance between us and them.
Once in Lindas, we went largely unnoticed in the bustling teleport gate plaza. Kirito had the presence of mind to equip a hooded cloak, and insisted I did the same. At our accelerated pace, we made it out of the city walls in a few minutes, and to the shop in just a few more. Outside of the cloak exchange, Kirito was too quiet for comfort.
I unlocked the front door to the shop, locked it behind both of us, then led him to the staircase in the very back of the shop. In almost no time, we were in my living room. Having been untouched for so long, the room almost seemed unfamiliar.
Maybe the unfamiliarity fazed only me, because not five seconds after we walked in, Kirito was plopped face-down on the closed pullout couch.
"Did you want to use my room for now? There's an actual bed in there," I offered.
He turned over, then sat up and patted the cushion next to him.
Maybe later then..
It didn't take long for him to start leaning on my shoulder after I sat down next to him, not that I'm going to complain.
"Rika... what did I do..." He sniffled loudly and wiped a few tears. "In a matter of days, he managed to ruin one of the most important things for me in this world. The people I've fought alongside for months didn't hesitate to cast me aside when some asinine reason came up... After I wrote that essay, Derek countered it with a fake account of what happened and fucked up what little trust the other clearers had in me. Now, they might just turn me away at every fight because of a spiteful bastard's lies."
"You didn't do anything wrong, I know it! Do you really think everyone there took the article as the truth? There must be people on your side in the clearing team."
"There are... but they aren't nearly as plentiful as those who are against me. Now they're out there fighting a beast that I could certainly help against... we haven't lost anyone since at least the mid-50s... what if something happens there that-"
"Don't be worrying about those things, Kazuto," I interrupted, "I can't imagine what it's like to be in your shoes, but I can say that it's best if we only worry about things we can control. If you keep thinking those kinds of thoughts, it'll only overwhelm you and tear you down. There has to be something we can do
"It's 2:38 now, which means the team is roughly a fourth of the way to the boss room."
"Right, since they need to work their way through the full labyrinth?" I asked.
He nodded solemnly.
"They should reach the room around 3:15 if they're quick, but that's almost never the case. Bastard Sky Runners are probably gonna lobby for a Cheetos and Mountain Dew break or something.."
"Hold on, don't think about them right now. How long did the team expect the raid itself to take?"
"The boss loves to be aggressive, so it might be a real defensive struggle for a while. We figured it'd take a good few hours if they exercise caution. They might finish faster if they cut corners, but breaking the no-casualty streak could really hurt morale."
"No kidding... well if somebody teleports out do you think they'll give any kind of update?"
"Not to me. I'm vilified, remember?"
"Calm down, silly..." I reached up and teased his hair. "It's not as bad as you think. If you're that pessimistic about it, just ask Argo to send you any info she gets from people who bailed. You'd always mentioned opportunistic players who'd do that for a quick payday."
"You're right... I guess I'm just having a hard time focusing with everything going on."
"Listen, you're not yourself when you're flustered like that. You need to keep this," I poked the top of his head, "level and clear. I know that's gotten to be pretty hard as of late, but you also have at least one person who'll help you in a heartbeat."
"Thanks a lot, Rika." He sat up and tightly wrapped his arm around me.
"No problem, Kazuto." I smiled and rested my head on his shoulder.
"Not just for reminding me about Argo, but being there when the staging took a nasty turn... There's no way I could've handled the strain of everything myself. In a healthy way, at least."
"So how are you feeling now?"
"I think I got the angry tears out, but I have a massive headache." He moved his arm and ran his hands through his hair. "Is the offer for your room still on the table?"
"Of course." I stood up and started leading him to the hallway. "Wanna lie down for a while?"
"Yeah," he grunted as he arose and followed me.
"Okay. It's the second door on the right," I directed.
"That's right, from that first night I spent here," he snickered.
"You remember that? Gosh, it feels like so long ago."
"Only four days. Amazing how much can happen in that time."
"You've got that right.. Hey, did you want some tea to help relax?" I offered.
Kirito:
"That'd be nice, thank you." I turned and gave her a hug before walking into the second door to the right. I left the door slightly open behind me as I collapsed onto the bed.
Agh, that was a bad idea.. the splitting headache only got worse. I should probably reach out to Argo for updates when she gets them like Liz suggested.
Rolling over, I dug through my menu, found my trusty broker, and typed a message.
Recipient: Argo
Subject: Raid Updates
"Argo, as you might've heard by now, I got strong-armed out of today's boss raid. I don't want to delve into the details, but I'd like you to send every reliable newspaper that talks about the raid to Lisbeth's Smith Shop in Lindas. Let me know how much I'll owe you. Thanks a lot."
I hit send and rolled back onto my side.
*sigh* Why did it have to happen like this? Did the clearers really forget what I've contributed over time? Maybe a bunch of them saw an opening to increase their chances at the Last Attack Bonus. Now that I think about it, a lot of my gear did come from either LABs or money earned selling those items. Is that really worth exiling somebody who could potentially save somebody though? As much as they pissed me off, I could've tolerated the Sky Runners if they did their part of the fighting, but now it seems they're going out of their way to be assholes. Well, the leader at least. God, I hope the rest are nothing like him...
"How are you feeling?" Liz asked as she opened the door and entered. In her hands was a small plate and steaming mug.
"A little better," I answered, sitting up as she came to the bedside. I grabbed the mug and took a sip.
"Good. I know you'd rather be out there and all, but I hope this isn't too bad." She set the plate on her nightstand and sat next to me.
"It tastes like chamomile, are you trying to put me to sleep?" I teased. "It's manageable, all thanks to you."
"Yes it's chamomile, but I'm not trying to put you to sleep, silly. And I'm glad I'm able to help make things easier for you. Let me know if you need anything else, okay?"
"I'll make sure to, Rika. Thank you." I rested my head on her shoulder and yawned. "Hey, can I lie down?"
She shifted to the other side of the mattress and rested her head on the pillow there.
"Lying down too?"
"Yup!" She cheerfully answered. "Is there a problem?"
"Not remotely, it is your bed after all." I smiled and laid back down.
"Good. Hey, so have you gotten your update network all set up yet?"
"Yeah." I stretched, grunting a little louder than I expected to. "Hopefully we'll be able to form some sort of gameplan with what Argo gathers."
"That shouldn't be a problem. Maybe we'll even find a way to sway the clearers to let you back in."
"I like your optimism, but let's take this one step at a time," I suggested.
"All right, all right. As long as you don't let yourself be a pessimist," she countered as she nudged my shoulder.
"Would I be getting your help with that?"
"Until you don't need anymore."
I smiled. "That's reassuring. Hey, any chance we could turn the lights off? I think I'll take a nap after all this... It'll probably make time move faster."
"Of course," she got up and darkened the room. "While you're doing that, I'll see what I can work on in the forge. Sleep tight, silly."
"Hey Lisbeth," I called out to her as she was exiting the door.
"Yes?"
"You're the best.. I'm really happy that you're around for me."
She smiled and pulled the door behind her. "I'm more than happy to be, Kazuto."
After what felt like an eternity of tossing and turning, I managed to fall into a nap.
22 July 2024
Floor 48, Lindas
Lisbeth's Smith Shop, Living Quarters
07:26
Lisbeth:
"How are you feeling? You were out for a while there," I called from the kitchen as he shuffled out of the hallway.
"Not terribly... I guess the stress from the last few days finally caught up to me.. How long was I out?"
"Since about 6 yesterday. Klein came back when you were out with a handful of healing items, but didn't talk when I asked him how it went, and Argo wanted me to give you this." I materialized the potions, crystals, and a box from my inventory.
"That must be the info from yesterday."
"Why not PM you directly?"
"She's an info broker, so she'd have every right to charge a lot for that. It was cheaper to have her buy a copy newspapers and bring them over."
"You could've asked me, it wouldn't have been a problem."
"I know... but I feel like I've asked a lot from you as of lately."
He came up and gave me a hug.
"Thanks again... I couldn't have held it together for so long if it weren't for you. It really means a lot that you're willing to put up with that side of me..."
"Listen, dummy," I started squeezing him tighter, "I know you go through a lot. If somebody kicked me out of my shop and started ruining the thing I've worked so hard for, I would've taken it a lot harder than you did. Remember, I'm your partner; we support each other when things get hard."
For the first time since yesterday afternoon, he smiled. Though I couldn't see it myself, the feeling of his cheeks against my hair was unmistakable.
"I'm glad you're my partner, Liz... you're the best."
You are too. I love you, dummy.. I'm always going to be there when you need me, because I know you'll do the same thing for me. Even if you don't realize it yet.
"I know!" I pulled away from the hug and teased his hair.
He peered down and looked at me quizzically.
"You told me before you fell asleep!"
"Hmm.. I guess I did," he chuckled, then started opening the package. "All right, let's see how the raid went."
He took a minute to dig through the first paper, looking increasingly upset as he read. Suddenly, he threw the paper on the coffee table and skimmed through the next one. And the next one. And the next one.
"Hey, are you okay?" I asked. "What happened?"
"Agh, dammit!" he exclaimed as he threw the last one on the pile, then sat on the sofa with his hands in his face.
It had to be something in the papers...
I reached for one of the discarded papers and started skimming through the paragraphs.
"Assault team survives raid...
five players fallen...
new frontline guild...
next floor unlocked..."
"K...Kirito..."
"I could've helped them... we went so far without losses..." he said quietly.
I... what do I say.? Agreeing with him might make him feel worse about this, but saying he couldn't have saved them could make him feel useless to the Assault Team.. I have an idea..
"We need to talk to Heathcliff. He'll know either what to do, or someone who does," I suggested.
Guys like solutions to their problems when they talk about them, right? At least that's what the internet would say..
He looked up with his face still mostly covered.
"That... sounds like something we could do... I'll send a PM when my head clears up a bit.. Getting angry at every little thing doesn't help after a certain point..."
I went to sit down next to him and put my arm around him and head on his shoulder.
"We'll figure this out... When the clearers see that things go wrong in your absence, they'll see that there's no reason for you to be sidelined."
"Hey, Liz?" He dropped his hands and rested his head on mine.
"Yeah?"
"It's going to get better, right? There won't be the endless bombarding of crap from others, bad news, and other kinds of stress, right..?"
Aww... He looks so worn out...
I sat up, reached for one of his hands with my right, and started rubbing his back with my left.
"The stress won't be completely gone, but I could promise to always be around to help you with it," I reassured.
He glanced up and smiled, "Thank you. Maybe someday I could return the kindness."
"Just be you, dummy.. come on, let's get that letter ready!"
Floor 55, Grandzam
Knights of the Blood Headquarters
13:26
Kirito reached out to Heathcliff after taking a short while to process the news and thinking of a plan of action. As far as I know, Kirito didn't send many details so that Heathcliff wouldn't outright reject the idea of meeting, but he agreed nonetheless. Maybe he was as eager to talk to him about the whole mess, but didn't know how to bring it up. None of those reasons matter, though, since they bought us an invitation to the KoB headquarters.
We entered the War Room of the Knights of the Blood Oath HQ where we saw Heathcliff sitting behind a semi-circular desk with the guild's commanders sitting in their respective positions.
"I'm glad to see you could make it, Kirito. And who is this fine young lady accompanying you?"
"Her name is Lisbeth. She's one of the top smiths in Aincrad, and my personal smith," I called back.
"It sounds like you two are rather close, given that you've acted as her voice and turn to her exclusively for your repairs."
"I guess you could say that," Lisbeth responded.
Heathcliff smiled and muttered something to himself, then turned to one of his subordinates.
"Godfree," He called, "Please bring these two a seat. And the rest of you, please give us a moment of privacy; I imagine these two would feel more at ease without the extra eyes cast upon them."
Godfree nodded, stood up, then headed to a nearby storage room to retrieve the chairs. The rest of the commanders looked around quizzically at each other and slowly got up.
"Go on, go on. I assure you all that it won't be very long."
"Yes, sir," a few commanders said out of unison.
As the others left the room, Godfree came back and placed the seats in front of Heathcliff's desk, then made his exit.
Well damn, this actually makes things a little more unnerving. It's a little late to go back on it, though.
"Please, take a seat. Now what can I do for you?" He asked.
I took the seat on the right and glanced over to Liz, then back to Heathcliff.
"You're a very direct person, Heathcliff, so I'm not going to beat around the bush here. I'd like your help in my efforts to get back into the Assault Team. It was unreasonable to leave me out of the last raid from one person's request, especially when that request was made by a new member of the team. I've been a part of every boss raid up until Floor 66, and played a crucial role in each and every one. I've helped save others countless times, and could have easily helped save at least one of the players we lost on Sunday!"
Heathcliff mused over my words for a few moments, then began.
"We don't know if your presence would have made a difference in those players' fates. There's not a doubt that you've been an important member of the Assault Team, but that crucial role you say you had wasn't enough to persuade the team to keep you for the raid. Let's also remember that it's a clearing team, not group. The clearers were split in the decision to have you, but many more didn't think they could trust you enough to support them in the moment of truth. How much worse could those losses have been if we all went in as a team divided?
It was a terrible tragedy that we lost those five players. It's very difficult on me as well, knowing that three of them were fellow Knights. However, I strongly believe that if you had been there, the tensions between those for and against you would have been enough of a distraction that would have led to even more casualties."
He says it bothers him that some of his Knights were killed, yet his face shows little anguish. How could he possibly be over the losses so quickly after the battle?
"Well why are we letting a new member divide the team? Derek was in my shop when Kaz- Kirito beat on him, but before Kirito did anything, Derek was instigating despite my commands to leave. Kirito didn't touch him until he threatened us with something that he knew would ruin Kirito's reputation with other players, and my ability to conduct business!" Lisbeth interjected.
Heathcliff turned to me.
"Is this true, Kirito?"
"It is. He painted me to be a self-serving player who beats on those who stand in the way of my self service," I answered.
He turned back to Liz.
"Could you prove this?"
"Well, no." Liz bit her lip and lowered her head.
Heathcliff sighed, then stood up from his desk.
"Then I'm afraid there's nothing I could do. For what it's worth, I believe you. I never quite trusted Derek nor his guild after the stunt they pulled at the meeting, but they were of great help in the last raid, and the other guilds know it.
I may have influence over my guild, but unfortunately, it doesn't override the influence Lind and other leaders have for their respective guilds. If I were to try, it could potentially lead to further divisions in the Assault Team. Unless you could convince the other guilds to trust you enough to fight with us again, there's little to be done."
You have to be kidding me?! How the hell am I supposed to convince Lind and other guild leaders to trust me again? They all read Derek's side of the story and took his side. Hell, they were never with me to begin with!
"Do you mean to say that you're not even going to try to help Kirito rejoin the Clearers?! You're not just a guild leader, you're the strongest in the game! On top of that, you have a unique ability! Why did nobody hate on you for being the only one with a skill nobody else has? Why does everyone still trust you blindly?" Liz started going off.
Oh shit, this isn't going to end well.
"Liz," I said softly as I grabbed her hand, "Don't worry about it; we'll figure something out."
She stood up and ripped her hand away from mine, then turned to me.
"No! This isn't right! He's in the best position to help get anything done, yet he refuses to try anything! People died because they didn't have the help they needed, even with five extra people in the raid! If you're act half as protective towards others during raids as you are when we're hunting, I know there wouldn't have been fewer deaths yesterday!"
"Listen, I don't like it either, but you also heard him say that it could create a schism in the team. If that happened, the major guilds wouldn't work together, and it would take a lot longer to clear floors," I pointed out. "It would probably be smarter if we just got everyone on our side."
"But why do we have to clean up the mess some mid-level jerk made? Especially when the most powerful person in Aincrad believes he's wrong?"
"He'll get his, Lisbeth. Whether we give it to him or something else does the job, it's going to him."
"But what until then? You're meant to be on the front lines fighting with everyone! You can't just let some idiot take that away from you! And again, those players would still be alive if you were there to help them!"
"I understand your frustration with everything that's going on, but I don't appreciate you trying to use my fallen comrades a pawns to convince me to risk the unity of the clearing team," Heathcliff asserted. "If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. Though the situation is difficult, it is what it is. I'm afraid this is the part where I ask you to go."
Lisbeth looked back at Heathcliff, sighed, then began heading for the door.
Don't feel bad, Liz... Thank you for standing up for me.. Each day I learn how far your care goes for me.
"Thanks for your time regardless. I'm going to go plan for my next move, then," I said to him before turning to catch up with Liz.
Shit... what are we supposed to do now?
"Kirito, may I have one last word with you?" Heathcliff called before I grabbed the door handle.
Liz looked at me with a puzzled, frustrated look.
"If he's still calling for you after what I said to him, it must be important. I'll be right outside," she said solemnly.
"I'll be right back, okay Rika?" I promised as I squeezed her hand and headed back to the desk.
I stood across from the sitting commander and rested my palms near the surface's closer edge.
"It appears that the connection between you two goes much deeper than business partners. Do you care about her as more than a partner?" he asked.
"I do, but I don't see how that's relevant to why we're here."
"You're right. However, it also appeared that you're fighting so hard for a solution not just for yourself, but for her well being as well."
"That's what partners do; they look out for and protect each other. But I think that's enough about Lisbeth and myself."
"Forgive me for prying; I didn't mean to call you back here to probe through your personal matters."
"Then what is it?" I asked sternly.
"Perhaps there... may be something I could do to help without dividing the team further, but I have a few relevant questions for you before I do anything."
I'm not sure where he's going with this, but at least it could be of some help.
"All right, shoot."
"Was it the truth when Lisbeth said that he provoked you into attacking him?"
"Of course."
"What did he do, exactly?"
"He insulted the way Lisbeth carried out her business, told us about how he spied on us while we were on a quest, taunted us with damning photos, and blatantly - and deliberately - disrespected her in her own shop."
"I see. So how do you feel about Derek after all he's done?"
I can't say that I want to beat on him again, since that won't help my case at all.
"I hate his underhanded tactics, snarky attitude, and the lengths he would go to make life difficult for me. Saying that I dislike him is a great understatement," I answered as calmly as I could.
"And how would you feel about him if he left you alone after the last boss meeting?"
"I would be irritated by him, but it wouldn't go farther than that. I would save him as I have with other clearers who've had problems with me."
"And you're telling me the truth?"
Mostly.
"I am."
"Thank you, that's all. If things go well, I'll be asking you to return later this evening. Perhaps after five o'clock. Will you be free around then?"
"I could make the time," I replied.
It's not like I'll have much else to do.
"Excellent. I'll notify you of the time - if you're to return - by five this evening. You could bring your companion if you like."
What does he have planned... Well, I suppose it wouldn't kill me if I end up back here. I can't help but wonder if Liz had anything to do with his mind changing. That girl, I swear...
"All right. Don't keep me waiting too long," I said as I stood up and headed for the door.
"I wouldn't. I imagine a man of your caliber doesn't take kindly to wasted time."
I guess you could say that, especially if every day in the field could be my last. I just hope I don't wait for nothing.
When I finally closed the door behind me, I found Lisbeth sitting on a nearby bench rhythmically leaning from left to right, as if she were playing a song in her head. Whatever it takes to stay sane, right?
"Hey! Are you feeling okay?" I asked as I walked up to the bench.
"I'm feeling better, but I'm still really frustrated about what he said," she said. "Did he say something about me when you stayed?"
"No. Actually, he said he had something helpful planned and would let me know if I needed to come back here later this evening. And that you could come if you like."
"Do you have any idea what he's planned?"
"Not a clue. But if it's going to make this easier, I think it's worth trying. Let's get out of here, the gray color scheme is making me feel too contained."
Lisbeth stood up and adjusted her cardigan.
"I know what you mean... How do you think I feel knowing my hair's pink?"
"Not that great, if I have to guess."
"Not that great indeed," she chuckled and smiled.
We made our way back to the staircase, down to the first floor, and into the lobby.
"You two! Wait!" An approaching voice called from behind us.
We turned around to see one of the Knights, probably a newer recruit, running in our direction with a couple of blue crystals in his hand.
"I'm glad I caught you before you left. Commander Heathcliff wanted me to give you two these. He said it was so that you needn't worry about walking back to the teleport gate in the center of town. I'm Eijun, by the way."
Eijun stood at about my height, and looked like he had more muscle on him than me. If I had to guess, he was a sword-and-shield user, and was in charge of DPS. His dark brown hair and brown eyes contrasted heavily with the red-and-white guild uniform.
"Thanks, Eijun. Give Heathcliff my regards. Since we haven't met, my name is Kirito." I grabbed the crystals and gave a short bow.
"I know who you are, Black Swordsman! I loved The Beater's Manifesto, by the way! It was put together really well!"
He then turned to Liz and gave her a bow.
"Oh, what might your name be?" He asked in a rather friendly tone.
"This is Lisbeth, my exclusive smith and travel companion," I answered sternly.
I gave Lisbeth her crystal, grabbed her hand, and headed for the door. Outside, we were greeted by the guards on duty and a blinding mid-afternoon light.
Oh, who does he think he is to talk to her in that tone?
We burned the crystals and spawned at Lindas's teleport gate, then quickly tried to head back to the shop. The news of the raid and casualties involved must've worked, because only a few people cared to notice Lisbeth and I walking through the busiest part of town. When we finally arrived, Liz opened the door again and let us in.
I locked the door behind us and followed her up to the upstairs room. Once there, I took off my jacket and hung it on a nearby rack, then collapsed on one of the sofas. Lisbeth put her cardigan on the adjacent spot on the rack and sat down on the table.
"Hey, I'm not complaining or anything, but what was that all about earlier?" Lisbeth turned and asked me with a smile.
"Huh?" I sat up and tried to stretch. "What was what about?"
Looks like she caught on that time the Knight gave us those crystals. Crap.
"You know, how you were around Eijun at the HQ."
"Oh, that thing," I tried to act casually. "I was just eager to get out of there. You know, since the place felt constricting and all."
"Are you sure? It looked like you were getting a little protective of me!" Liz teased.
Before I realized it, my face had turned to a dark shade of pink.
T-that wasn't being protective! It's... it's... who am I kidding? So what if I don't want others trying to flirt with her?
"I-I'm sorry.. could you blame me? I mean, what has he done to be able to talk that way to you? He could be a jerk for all we know..."
"Don't worry about it, Kirito! I think it's kind of cute! Plus, it's... nice to get reminders every now and then," she said happily.
"Reminders of?"
Lisbeth:
"Reminders that you really care about me, dummy! Despite your cautious approach to us, I know you really do care for me as more than a companion. So I enjoy little things here and there that slip between the cracks of your facade that show me how much you like me!"
No... I can't say that... It might be going on too strong for right now.
"Of how you feel towards me, I suppose!" I teased further.
It's so cute to see him get flustered over his feelings. I wasn't remotely interested in that other Knight anyway, so don't worry, Kazuto!
"If you say so, Lizzzzzzzzzzzzzbeth!" He shot back.
Ah, I should have known better than to think that he wouldn't tease me back!
"Hey, so what should we do until he calls for our return?"
And then change the subject. It looks like he's losing the density that frustrated me for the longest time. I guess I'll go along with it. Well played, swordsman... well played.
"How about a game? There are a few board games I haven't touched in forever!" I said as I walked to one of the many shelves in the room.
"Like?"
"Let's see." I started rifling through the boxes stuffed away at the top. "Chess, checkers, Duopoly, a few other strategy games, then there's a deck of cards."
"Are there any you wanna play?" He walked up to the shelf next to me and started browsing through the games we found.
"Well, I'm no good at card games, I'm not in the mood for checkers, and it may not be a good idea to conquer railroads and street signs. I guess that leaves chess."
"Do you know how to play? Because I sure don't," he asked.
"Are you serious? You could handle all the complexities of exploiting weaknesses, timing attacks, creating defenses, and careful role assigning in Sword Art Online, but you can't play the board game that centers around all that?"
"I'm serious... I never took the time to learn since I was always doing other things."
"You know what? You're going to learn! Because I'll teach you!" I exclaimed.
"You sure about that?"
"Yeah! My dad taught me how to play when I was little, and we'd play each other all the time when I was growing up, so I'll have no problem showing you how to play!"
"Chess it is, then." He took the board and headed to the table to put the game together. I followed him and helped get the pieces out of the box while he unfolded the board. "Just you watch, I'm going to take in everything you show me and I'll beat you one day!"
We'll see about that, Kazuto.
"All right, first and foremost: setting up the board!"
"This is going to take a while, isn't it?"
"It might, but we've got plenty of time," I said as I shot him a devious smile.
Kirito:
So we spent the next hour or two going over the different pieces, their placement, and movement across the board. If I'd known that there was so much to the game, I would've suggested that we start in the morning. But Lisbeth looks like she's having a good time, I'm having a good time, and I'm learning something that could be of great help in the future.
"Are you paying attention?" Liz asked as she started showing me what she called a 'Scholar's Mate'.
"Of course I am! What else would I focus on while you're here?"
That, Rika, is for the teasing earlier today. I'm not as dense as you think I am! Not as of lately, at least.
"Oh, really?"
She continued, apparently hoping that I didn't notice her obvious blushing.
"What's this piece and how does it move?" Lisbeth asked as she picked up a black horse-shaped character.
"That's a knight, and it moves in an L-shape," I answered.
Because I don't want her going off on me again like the time I called it a horse.
"Good! How do you remember the color a queen starts on?"
"The queen," I started as I picked up the white, crown-wearing character, "gets her own color, since that's what she wants, and the King has to deal with it and take the opposite."
"That's right, the queen always gets what she wants," she said.
I wonder if that was some kind of hint...
Suddenly, I heard a faint ringing as a notification appeared in my HUD.
Message Received at 16:58
Sender: Heathcliff
Subject: Evening Meeting
"Hold on, I got a message from Heathcliff. I think it's him calling us back to the HQ."
"Well, there's only one way to find out. What's it say?"
I tapped on the message tab and read the text out loud.
"'Good evening, Kirito. I hope you've enjoyed your day so far. If you're free, I would like for you to make your way back to my guild's headquarters as soon as possible. I strongly believe you will like what I have arranged, but I would like to have your personal input before any actions. Please notify me if you choose to come.'"
"All right! We can continue this later. Let's go," Lisbeth suggested as she walked to the coat rack to retrieve her cardigan.
"I just sent the confirmation message. Thanks for showing me the basics; I look forward to more lessons from General Shinozaki!"
"You'll get them, I promise," she responded with a smile. "Now let's hurry!"
"I'm going! I'm going!"
Floor 55, KoB HQ
17:13
"State your business," the door guard asked Lisbeth and I as we walked up.
"We're back to meet with your commander again. Here's his invitation," I answered as I showed him the message thread.
"Very well, carry on." He opened the door and let us inside.
"Hello again! Heading back to Commander Heathcliff?" A familiar voice asked.
"Oh, hi, Eijun!" Lisbeth greeted brightly.
This guy again...
"Hi, Lisbeth! Would you two want and escort to the War Room?" He offered.
"No, we can make it there," I answered.
Protective acts aside, I just want to get there quickly.
"All right! If you need anything, there's bound to be a Knight walking around somewhere. Don't get lost!" He waved and started walking to wherever his duties needed him.
Once again, Liz and I headed up the flights of stairs, through the maze of hallways, and down the path that led to the rendezvous point.
"Did you want me to go in with you?" she asked as I was about to open the doors.
"I do. I don't know who's waiting on the other side, so I'd like to have someone I trust right by me."
"All right, I'll be right next to you!"
Thanks, Rika..
I opened the door to find four seats already set up in front of Heathcliff's desk and the commander himself sitting in his spot. Like the last time, he was the only KoB commander in the room.
Who else would he have invited?
"There are our guests of honor! Welcome, Kirito and Lisbeth! Please, have a seat. The two on your right are vacant," he called from his desk.
I guess I'll find out who the others are soon enough. If only the light coming in from the windows didn't obscure their silhouettes so much.
Liz opted for the chair on our far right, leaving me closer to whoever else Heathcliff called for the meeting. I took my seat, then looked over at the other guests.
Oh, you have to be fucking kidding me!
"Good evening, Kirito," Lind of the Divine Dragon Alliance greeted from the seat to my immediate left.
"Hey there, Beater! Sitting out on the sidelines sucks, doesn't it?" Derek called from the far left.
Heathcliff, this had better not be some sick joke. If that bastard doesn't keep his mouth on a leash, he's going to lose control of it for a few hours.
I turned back to Lisbeth, who looked about as frustrated as me.
If she's staying silent, I'd better do the same. At least until I have an idea of the fragility of the meeting.
"Good! Everyone's here. Since I called for this meeting, I guess that means I should be the one to start. First and foremost, I brought us here to discuss possible ways to allow Kirito back on the Assault Team without causing any further divisions in the clearing group."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Heathcliff, but I thought the Assault Team already decided that they didn't want the Beater on raids?"
"His name is Kirito, not 'the Beater', Derek. It doesn't matter what you call him outside of this headquarters, but while you're here, I must ask that you treat everyone in here with respect," Heathcliff said.
Thanks for that, Commander. Lisbeth over here looked like she was about to jump out of her seat.
"All right. I thought the team decided that Kirito couldn't be trusted to go on raids anymore? What with his violent behavior and unpredictable nature."
"I thought so, too," Lind spoke up. "Personally, I wouldn't mind having Kirito raid with us, but I have to listen to my men when they say they'd feel more comfortable raiding with people they trust."
That fucking paper Derek released after my manifesto...
"I understand that, Lind. I wouldn't make my Knights do something they're not comfortable with before a raid either. I wouldn't want them distracted when they need to focus on the enemy at hand," Heathcliff conceded, "But your men would have plenty of time to come to terms with the idea of raiding with the Black Swordsman before the next boss fight. Which brings me to the next point: my proposal.
Derek, you have a problem with Kirito, correct?"
"You bet I do!" He answered quickly.
"And Kirito, you have a problem with Derek, correct?"
"That's correct," I said calmly.
"So then here's my proposal: how about the mutual problem you have with each other is settled through a duel? If Derek wins, Kirito will be kept off of the Assault Team until Derek decides that he may rejoin. However, if Kirito wins, he'll be immediately included in our next raid. Any thoughts?"
So all I'd have to do is beat that bastard in a duel and I'm back in the raiding party? It sounds like a good deal for both sides. Though it seems the odds are more in my favor.
"A duel with the B- I mean, with Kirito? And a chance to keep him from the AT for good? Count me in!" Derek exclaimed from his chair. "I'll show everyone that he's not the big shot he thinks he is!"
"And a chance to get even with the person who made life difficult for Liz and I? How could I turn down that offer?" I answered, doing my best to hide my excitement.
"I'm sorry, what am I getting from this?" Lind asked coolly from his position.
"If I'm honest, I wanted an outside, unbiased witness to confirm the solution agreed upon today. But if you like, I can see that your guild gets a respectable portion of the proceeds," Heathcliff offered.
"Proceeds?" the four of us asked out of unison.
"Why, yes. Since we managed to get the Dual Wielder to agree to a duel, it would be a waste to have him display the deadly capabilities of tandem blades behind closed doors. I'm in the process of arranging the location of the duel, and I intend to have the event for the public to see. Is that okay?"
"I would seriously get a bunch of Col for my guild just by being here? Okay, I'm in," Lind agreed.
"Of course! It'd be even better if people actually see the Dual Wielder fall than if they were to simply hear of it," said the Sky Runner.
"That's perfectly fine. It wouldn't be any different from a tournament that takes place in those arenas," I added.
"Then it's settled. I'll message each of you when the fine details are determined. Lind, you said that you didn't mind if Kirito were on the Assault Team, so would you be able to convince your men to tolerate him in the event of Kirito winning?"
"That won't be a problem. As long as they hear it in their shiny, new gear from our cut of the profits."
"Good. So everyone is on board! Thank you for coming out this evening," Heathcliff exclaimed as he stood up at his desk.
"Thank you for putting this all together," I said.
"It's my pleasure, Kirito. This way, everyone benefits from this situation. Lind and myself get to raise funds for our guilds, you and Derek can earn extra money for whatever you wish, and you two can also work out your disagreement."
I have to say, you did a good job of thinking this out, Heathcliff. I'm glad you decided to help out after all.
"Regardless, thank you," I said again before grabbing Lisbeth's hand and leaving the room.
"Are you okay with all this?" she asked as we neared the door.
"I am; I couldn't ask for a better way to earn my place back on the team."
"Well I'll be right there no matter what, dummy. For the better or worse result."
Thanks a lot, Rika... It really does mean a lot that you'd be there so faithfully and readily. I can never thank you enough for staying around...
"I'll see you in the arena, Beater! You'd better be ready!" Derek called as the door closed behind us.
Oh, trust me, I will. I can't wait to set you straight for all the trouble you caused me and Liz. Nobody can just come along to hurt her business and my training and get away with it. You'd better study that manifesto hard, because I'm going at you with everything in there and more.
Author's Note: Chapters will probably be far shorter from this point forward (3-4k words?), but that means the story will definitely continue; I dislike waiting nearly a year to update just as much as fans hate waiting that long. My profile gets updated every so often, so check that out if you'd like a heads up on the next chapter's progress. This goes for every chapter from now til I finish. I hope you enjoyed; have a great one!