Chapter 9: The Rookies and new people, aren't they the same?
Age of Silica and Koyero right now (requested):
Silica: 15 (since it was her birthday recently)
Koyero: 15 (his birthday isn't done yet)
Levels:
Koyero: Level 84 (for now)
Silica: Level 72
Koyero's P.O.V
I cannot believe that I just became in charge of the rookies! This going to be cool! Anyway it was already the next day after that accidental encounter with Klein. I wonder how they would be like… Will they be strong? Will they look at me weirdly? The bad thing is that Silica-chan will be in a different assignment… as the scout… I hope she'll be okay… of course she's going to be okay! Asuna-san will guide her. I gulped as I went to the area I needed to go to. It was filled with players! About a dozen rookies… but three of them already seemed experienced to me… One of them was actually the girl Kirito-san invited, that Deira girl that he talked about yesterday. The other two were familiar faces… Hozume and Yumi… It seems like this is what they were offering… I went to the front.
"Hello Rookies! I'm Koyero and I shall be thy sensei for this day to test you." I announced resulting to bows. "Now let's go with the classical way of introductions." I instructed as that Deira girl went forward. "Ohayo… my name is Deira… level 81… I'm a blacksmith that owns a workshop at Floor 77… outside the dungeon… I hope you could visit me sometime…" She introduced herself in a soft voice. "Do you have Zweihanders for sale?!" I questioned her immediately. "Hai… at a reasonable price… it's not that expensive, don't worry…" She answered while smiling a bit. 'Hell yeah… I can get a new Zweihander!' I thought to myself. "Ok then… next!" I shouted as Deira went to the crowd and the next who went forward was Hozume.
"Ohayo gozaimasu! I go by the name Hozume and I am currently level 93. Let's see… my weapon is a katana and I don't like things going to waste. That guy over there is a friend of mine before but is seems that he forgot all about me… The girl over there on the other hand is my girlfriend. To be exact that girl with raven hair and blue strands of hair." He pointed at me for the friend part then pointed at Yumi for the girlfriend part. 'What happened while I was gone anyway? I have no idea what…' I thought to myself as everyone else was staring at me. "Ahh… Gomenosai minna… I spaced out a bit…" I apologized while giving a soft chuckle. "Anyway who's next?" I smiled. "Me…" Yumi smiled back and went forward.
"My name is Yumi, some call me Yumi-san. I specialize in using a sword and shield… level 90… Like what Hozume said, we are dating." Yumi said while wielding her sword on her right and medium shield on the left. "Ok then." I smirked. After all the other introductions I went forward and looked at them all in a cheerful manner.
"Minna, we shall be going to Floor 77 to gauge your skills so be prepared! To be safe, Klein volunteered to be with us in this training." I raised my hand and whistled making Klein go out of wherever he was hiding in. "This is Klein, as you can see, he is now level 89. On the other hand I'm level 84 but I'm getting close to 85." I introduced Klein. "Why are you in charge of the rookies if you're still that low of a level?" One of the players chuckled. "What is your level then, huh?" I retaliated. "…Level 79…" He felt embarrassed by this sudden question. "Yeah… that's the reaction I'm looking for…" I crossed my arms. "Anyway minna let's go before we all start doing tantrums…" Klein gave an option. "Gomenosai for being childish…" I bowed in apology and we all went to the teleportation area.
After we were teleported to Floor 77, we went out of the dungeon. I led to a cave then a bridge then a forest then we found a dungeon. Kayaba just kept making new extra dungeons. I wonder why? Is he mad or something? We went in it. Before we could all go away the entrance was blocked by some stone thing. It seemed like this was a maze… teleport crystals didn't work. Klein, Hozume and I agreed that we should split up so we did. I was with Deira and 3 other players while Klein was with 4 other players and Hozume was with Yumi and 3 other players. We split up and began navigating through this maze dungeon thing. It seems like Deira's just using a broadsword and she also used the sword sheathe with her other hand… maybe she's one of those speed types… She looked at me with her emotionless face.
An hour later
"Koyero-senpai… we're lost… aren't we?" Deira stared at me while sighing. "Hai…" I gave a weak chuckle. "I hope we're going to be okay…" One of the players began to panic. "We are going to find a way out! Probably…" I began panicking as well due to my mood swings. "I'll lead then… if I'm allowed…" Deira went to me and looked at me with a small smile. "Fine… Just be careful…" I allowed her and she began leading the way.
"So do you know how to navigate in every place?" I poked her as the other players and I were following her. "Not exactly every place… The only place I don't know how to go through right now is that fortress and the future floors…" She said in a cold tone. "Kirito-san did say something about that place…" I mumbled silently. "This way…" Deira pulled my arm towards the right and we found the other two groups in the same place as ours. "Did ya find anything?" I questioned them. "Nothing…" Klein panted like there was an ambush. "Careful… there was a trap in that corridor where you just came from…" Deira warned late. "Yeah… I know… we just got ambushed…" Klein gave a look. "It would be best if we stay put together since Deira's our only navigator." Hozume told us. "Hai…" Yumi agreed as she slammed some kind of giant centipede with her shield making it turn to digital particles.
"I have to agree on that too… my group seems too tired from all those ambushes…" Klein willingly agreed immediately. "That settled quickly… Deira, you're in charge of directions from here on out so don't let us down!" I gave her a smile and she turned away a bit. "Arigato Senpai…" She looked a bit less emo that time… to be exact she blushed! Does she like me?!
"We'll make camp here for now to rest so go get some rest minna!" I announced making them all nod. 'I hope Silica-chan's okay in her job…' I thought to myself. "C'mon kid, don't think those kinds of things out loud!" Klein patted my back. "Hehe… Gomenosai…" I rubbed my shoulder and stretched it a bit. "Who is this Silica to you anyway?" Yumi questioned me with curiosity as well as Hozume. "Well… she just an important person to me I guess… I love her! Woah wait… That was a mood swing… As I was saying we're just close." I answered while sweat-dropping. "Forgive this kid… he has a problem with mood swings." Klein defended me. "Silica?" Deira had a slight darkish aura as she heard my description about her. "That's creepy…" The other players shivered and hid everywhere upon seeing her. "Oho… this should be good…" Hozume and Klein smirked. "Hozume-san…" Yumi face-palmed while looking at him. "Ahh… This should be a very long day…" I whistled happily.
After approximately 30 minutes of rest we continued our search. Deira was in the front but she usually looks at me with a glare now… why so serious? Klein on the other hand began 'plotting' with Hozume or to be exact began to become friends or something while Yumi on the other hand was separating the two and pushed them so they wouldn't be too far away. Every so often we find a treasure chest but Deira makes me lose my urge to open one of them since she thinks all things in this place are traps. Why did Deira suddenly go 'furious' all of a sudden… at me? Is it because of my mood swings? Or is it because of Silica-chan? What is happening?!
"Why did we stop?" I shook Deira when she stopped. "Dodge to the right… now…" We all instantly rushed to the right. "Is that?" Klein looked at the smoke that was covering something. "It's a leech! It's even bigger than last time! You better not eat me… again!" I shouted and unsheathed my Zweihander. "I'll fight with you then…" Deira went to my side. "I guess it can't be helped…" Klein walked towards the leech. "Wait!" Hozume said to Klein making him stop. "Let's see what they can do…" Yumi began observing us as Deira and I began the fight.
Silica's P.O.V
I never knew that scouting was a hard job… even if my partner for this assignment is Asuna… A few hours ago we looked through the entire area in the floor… but right now we are currently at our post, bored with nothing to do but chat. If you're asking where Kirito is then my answer is that he volunteered to just check out Floor 78 to see what could be expected from this floor. The job I'm taking is tiring and boring… but I have to do it too prove myself worthy to be part of this guild… Currently I was riding Pina to get a good view from above and saw nothing but grasslands. After a while we had a temporary break and I went to Asuna to chat.
"Umm… hello?" I was feeling slightly nervous. "Ohayo." Asuna greeted back as she began eating something. "What are you eating?" I tilted my head. "Just some bread… I'm not really that hungry." She answered. "Oh… How are you and Kirito then?" I smiled a bit to try and lighten the mood. "We're doing great! Last night we… I mean…" Asuna instantly got lightened up but she became flustered upon almost saying whatever she was saying. "O…k?" I said. "How are you and Koyero?" She decided to counter. "That's… well… he recently made me this house…" I gulped as I answered. "That's sweet I have to admit." She smiled. "Hai, it is." I smiled as well. 'Now how to keep this conversation going?' I thought to myself thinking of what to say next.
"Are you and Koyero planning to get…?" I interrupted her. "O-Of course not! Why does everyone ask this question now…? We just started…" I had a flustered expression written all over. "Our break's over." Asuna noticed the time and she stood up. "Is Kirito done with his assignment?" I asked her as we were walking towards the teleportation area. "I hope so… he said that there were numerous monsters outside the town there." She answered as we were teleported to our next post. "Is it true that Koyero met the leader of Scarlet Temptation?" Asuna suddenly asked. "Why do you ask?" I questioned her back. "I just need to clarify if it is true or not…" She waited for my answer. "Yes, he said that he was Level 92 and knows how to use Blademake but he helped him battle the dual boss..." I told her. "It seems like they were gauging his skill…" Asuna muttered. "What did I miss?" A voice called from afar.
"Not really that much, Kirito-kun." Asuna hugged Kirito making him do it back. "What was in Floor 78?" I asked him. "Let's see so far I saw… numerous kinds of monsters outside, a small town, players bedridden in an inn and that's pretty much it that I saw." He answered with a sigh. "Players?" Asuna shook Kirito a bit. "Yeah, the players were from the guild, Scarlet Temptation but it seems that they couldn't handle the floor…" Kirito was pitied by what happened, I wonder what… "What was their Level?" Asuna tensed up. "…Level, 89, Level 83, Level 90 and Level 80…" Kirito said. "This could mean trouble for us…" I mumbled to myself. "We have to be cautious in going there." Kirito shuddered a bit. "A change of plans?" Asuna shrugged. "Hai…" Kirito answered and they both left, leaving me alone. Does this mean I'm free already? "Wait… Silica, you may do what you please now… this assignment is done now…" She then rushed away with Kirito.
After she said that I went to The Town of Beginnings and I went outside to go to the house Koyero made. Inside there was finally some furniture since yesterday he just bought them… His money is all out I bet… but he said that doing his current assignment will give him enough money to buy a new weapon… but from whom? I went to the bed and there I heard a beeping sound… it seems he scheduled a message for this day… What could it be? I opened it and began reading.
"Hello, Silica-chan! This is my second message! Anyway I wanted to say that you should go to the basement… wait… did I build a basement? Anyway just look for something that looks unnatural, go there… there's something in it. Oh and sorry if I made the cooking bad… Pina didn't look like it just thought it was delicious… Was the roasted boar really that bad? Sob, Sob… To be exact just look for it… while I find more cooking ingredients and I hope that Pina will not show hostility at me after eating my cooking for once… One more thing, play me a song from a musical instrument for once… I heard that you're great in it! Looking forward to it. Love Koyero or was it Koyero out?" The message stated. 'Something unnatural?' I looked around hoping to find the thing he was talking about.
No, there wasn't any basement. I checked around the house but I saw nothing… it looked like a normal average house to me… If I were Koyero where would I put something? After thinking for a while I checked his wardrobe. It was filled with… powdery black ashes… Is this what he meant? I went in the wardrobe and tried checking if there were any secret entrances. I was so focused in finding one that I didn't notice that there was actually a button beside his bed… I pressed it and I fell in some kind of pitfall. Pina heard the fall and flew in the hole where I dropped in. This is definitely the place… Before I could go deeper into this unknown place I dropped into I heard an explosion from outside making me order Pina to fly me out immediately. I went outside and I couldn't believe my eyes. There was a person in a black hood… Level 93 going towards me. I backed away but he just came closer while wielding a katana. He was the red guild leader of Scarlet Temptation…
"W-Who are you?!" I demanded for an answer as Pina roared at this figure. "Isn't it obvious? I am the leader." He smirked and went closer. "Do not even dare come any closer to me!" I grabbed my dagger. "Too bad that you're just Level 72, dear. If you were a little higher you may even have a chance against me but no matter…" He smirked. I felt a scorching pain in my stomach. "Nani?" I coughed out digital blood as I noticed that he just stabbed me. "Grr…" Pina charged at this person. "Gomenosai…" He muttered as Pina was thrown back at a wall knocked out but not dead. "You're coming with me now… as a hostage…" He carried me after he tied me up.
"What am I going to do now?" I mumbled in defeat. "You'll be coming with me at our new hideout at Floor 79." He chuckled as he continued walking. "They defeated Floor 78 already?!" I said out loud. "Yeah… we did it after that Kirito finished that thing he was doing there." He answered. "So those injured members of yours were decoys?" I gulped. "You learn fast… indeed they were… now no more questions!" He used a crystal on me. "That girl is the crystal of silence." He smirked and went to the teleportation area. 'Somebody… help…' I thought to myself with despair.
Koyero's P.O.V
I felt something in my chest hurt at the same moment I dodged this giant leech's attack… this leech looked stronger than it looked and its skin of some sort was hard to penetrate. I wasn't even in Chaotic mode yet so I guess that was my only ace left unless you count my unused Blademake that I don't know how to use even if Kirito trained me late at night after I accidentally went in a bar where Klein was accidentally. Back to the main topic… why did I feel a sudden pain in my chest? Did something happen? I looked at Deira who was currently keeping the leech at bay. I checked the location of Silica-chan but all I saw was unknown… where did she go? If someone caused this I would happily rip his/her head off… or maybe I should cry… Nah! Crying isn't for men! I charged once more at the leech but my attack failed making the leech shoot something at me. It slowed me down… Eww… slime… Deira was fast though… none of the slimes hit her…
"She quite fast for a Level 81…" I heard Yumi compliment her from afar. "That's it leech! You asked for this…" I shouted as I turned into Chaotic mode with an almost more emo look than Deira. "Wow…" Deira looked at me in awe. "Nice move, partner…" Hozume laughed a bit. "…What do you mean?" I asked as I began hack-and-slashing the leech finally giving it some damage. "Koyero-senpai… what's your age?" Deira asked me. "15… turning 16… This February 28…" I muttered as I continued. "I'm turning 16 too… this March 16…" Deira gave a small… very small smile. "Coincidental…" I sighed as I finally killed the leech… Sweet revenge… then turned back to normal and also levelled up by one so I'm now Level 85.
"Anyway I found the key while we were talking…" Deira became back to her emo self. "Where did you find it?" Klein didn't even notice her leave the battle even though we both said 'switch' numerous times. "She found it inside that jar." Yumi answered playfully. "Hai… didn't any of you notice?" Hozume tilted his head. "Anyway let's get out of here! You did good… except for you others… that didn't even help… you shall have a second day of proving yourselves and luckily I won't be in charge! Deira, Hozume and Yumi, you three are in. "Aww…" The other players sighed. "Ariagto… come to my workshop some time…" Deira requested me as she led the way out and opened the thing blocking the door.
Who knew that the giant stone was actually a giant door?
"Yumi and I will be going to our house now and you may visit us if you want. We live in one of the houses in Floor 15. Here's the address and picture." Hozume smiled and gave me the items. "Arigato!" I smiled and both of them left. "I'll be taking my leave as well since I need to train a bit." Klein patted my back. "Ok then. There's still afternoon so there's still time before I hit the hay." I smirked. "I'll be going as well…" Deira was about to leave but was stopped by Klein… This should be good… "Can I ask something?" Klein gulped a bit while scratching his head nervously. "What is it? Make it quick…" Deira faced him. "Are you…" Klein was interrupted by Deira. "Am I what?" She looked bored. "Are you single?" Klein held her hand. 'Lol…' I thought to myself. "Baka…" She hit Klein with her sword sheathe very hard that you could hear the impact then she stormed off uninterested by Klein.
"Don't worry buddy, it could be worse." I tried comforting him. "Like what?" He sulked. "A meteor could crash you!" I pointed it out. "That's not helping actually…" Klein just looked sadder. "Gomen Klein but I have to go… I have a bad omen about something happening to Silica-chan…" I excused myself. "Then get going! Hunches are usually right!" He was alarmed. "Hai!" I ran away going to the teleportation area and teleported to Floor 1 then went to our house.
When I went there all I saw was a knocked out Pina and digital blood on the ground… I was right… Something happened to her but who could've done this? Silica-chan I swear that I will find you… I went in the house and I heard someone knock. I checked the door and it was a player not Silica-chan though… I made him state his business here and he told me that he was a messenger… why could've the person who sent me this letter that the messenger gave me just message me via digital? I closed the door, opened the letter and read it… Oh no… Kuso… Silica-chan is captured… I went to a wall and punched it hard. Why didn't I help her?! Why didn't I save her?! I punched the wall every time I gave a question to myself. Why am I so USELESS?! I broke the wall with Embracer and sat on a chair.
Gomen Silica-chan… Gomen… I lost myself since I kept blaming myself until Kirito came in and so did Deira. Why did they come here? I bet they heard all my blames on myself… Kirito looked at me in the eye looking like he pitied me. Deira on the other hand sat on the chair emotionless.
"I've heard all your complaints from outside so I came in and called Deira for you." Kirito tried to comfort me which he failed in. "Why Deira?" I had a tearful face. "SLAP!" This sound was heard from the slap that she just did to me. "Are you really just going to stay there and blame yourself? Or are you going to do something?" She had a serious face on. "I… I'll do something!" I gained my confidence back. "I can't believe that plan worked…" Kirito was amazed. "Good… then take this…" She traded me something.
It was a player-made Zweihander made by her. It seems to have the extra effects of Bravery for the wielder and it gives more luck. My old one only had the luck part but this one makes my old Zweihander put to shame… In comparison to my old one It had +57 attack, +10 stamina, +2 Defense and +12 Speed. Why did she give me this? I looked at her and she gave a look that says, 'Do not worry it's free…'
"A-Ariagato…" I bowed. "Since it's your first time, it's free. Please take it as a gift from me as thanks for accepting me… in your guild…" She blushed just a little bit. "Yeah… Asuna agreed on the recruitments so don't worry." Kirito said to me. "Are we going to save Silica-chan?" I questioned Kirito. "Your choice. Not mine." He smiled. "This Silica… she better look out when she's rescued…" Deira had a devilish aura. "Umm… ok then…" I was embarrassed. Silica-chan… just wait for me…
"We'll start tomorrow so please settle down and calm down for now." He requested and I nodded. "Hai… I shall be going back for real now to my workshop…" Deira left. "I'll be telling this to Asuna." Kirito departed. "All I need now is some new armor… then I can save her and help more…" I mumbled and went to sleep still thinking about Silica-chan.
End of Chapter 9
Next Chapter: The New Armor and Attempt.
Next Extra Scene: Koyero takes up Smithing!