"So...you're trying to tell me that this idiot, the infamous Black Swordman, left your guild because he felt responsible for one of your members' death?" Asuna asked.
Damn it, who's she calling idiot!? I'm sitting right in front of her!
"It's not his fault. Ducker's death happened because he was too careless, even I have to admit that." Keita replied. "Besides, had Kirito not been there with the rest of my friends, they would've gone, too. He saved them."
Asuna sighed. "Damn it, Kirito. You quitted a guild just because a simple mistake like this!?"
"That 'mistake' you said cost the life of one of my friends, Asuna! I lied to them about my level while I'm supposed to be better than all of them! I should've been able to protect him! What point is there to join a guild if you can't even protect your guildmates!?" I snapped.
"Let me tell you something, Kirito. Since I joined the KBO, I've lost far more people that I've stopped caring." Asuna said coldly. "Every week or two, someone dies, either because of monster ambushes or the ridiculously overpowered bosses. Even if they're not my close friends, they're still our members. And technically, I'm one of the highest ranking officers, it should've been my job to protect them! And I failed!"
Her voice started trembling. I can sense the anger build up in her.
"Don't you think you're the only one who has to suffer, Kirito! You have no idea what I've been through!"
And then she angrily left the room, leaving me with Agil and the Black Cats of the Full Moon.
"Um...that went well?" Keita slowly said.
"She surely has a temper..." Agil said.
"Save it, Agil. Let's go find your contact, do your job and get outta here. There's nothing left for me to do here..." I told him.
"Wait!" Keita yelled. "You're not going with us!?"
"There's no need, Keita. Asuna and the KBO knights will be more than enough for you guys to finish the quest." I said.
"But...but we wanted you to come with us!" Sachi cried out.
"For what, Sachi? So I could let you all down again? I've failed you guys once, and I'm not looking forward for the next time."
Everybody stayed silent.
Me and Agil then got up and left the room.
"Hey, Kirito. Don't you think that's a little too harsh on them?" Agil said while we're walking along the hallway.
"It's for the best. I'm a solo player, not team player, I just can't get along with them the way I wanted it." I explained. "Also, I'm a Beater. Who wants a Beater in their guild?"
"You just exaggerating things, man." Agil said. "What's wrong with Beaters? Because they cheated? Because they know stuffs that others don't? Well, if it helps in beating this goddamned game, it's not that bad, really."
"You don't understand, Agil. It's more than that. I'm supposed to be better. I'm supposed to be able to protect all of them, and yet I let my overconfidence got the better of me. I let Ducker died, I could've saved him!"
"Nobody's perfect, Kirito, but at least you saved the rest." Agil continued. "What are you gonna do if you can't save any single one of them? Even that girl, Sachi?"
I didn't answer.
I can't bear the pain of losing her.
Yes, I did consider the possibility, the worst that could've happened. My friends dying left and right, Ducker, Tetsuo, Sasamaru and...Sachi, while I hopelessly trying to cut down infinite amounts of monsters in a vain effort to protect them.
Keita will blame me for their deaths, and will probably go join them, and I can't do anything to stop him. With all your friends dead, what point is there to continue living?
That nightmare still haunted me every time I close my eyes.
It's really a miracle I managed to save most of them. Best of all, I managed to save Sachi.
I just...couldn't live with it if I let her died. I mean, I promised to protect her, for crying out loud! Poor girl's scared sick at the mere mention of the word Death. She really, really doesn't want to die.
If she died...I...
How am I ever gonna live with myself?
"...Kirito? Kirito!? Hey! What's on your mind!?"
Agil shook my body, bringing me back.
"Wha?"
"Just listen!"
He pointed at the door next to him. It's a large, metal door.
I leaned myself against the door, and listened to the voices that came from behind it.
"...unacceptable! You of all people should know this more than anyone, Heathcliff!"
I heard a grumpy voice said, it's undoubtedly Edgar's.
"Save it, Edgar. I already told you that we did not steal your items. All of my subordinates are trained professionals. They wouldn't dare to do such dishonorable things. You should worry about you own soldiers, Edgar. They're not making our lives any easier."
Another calm voice replied. His voice sounded somewhat calm, yet intimidating.
"That's not the point. My soldiers needed items, Heathcliff, and badly. They'll do whatever it takes to get them, and even I can't stop them."
"That's why you should think twice before having such a big guild. You're one of the best players out there, Edgar, but not one of the best leaders."
Edgar didn't answer.
"Let's change the topic, Edgar. You're my friend. I don't want anything bad to happen between us. We both knew better than anyone that we won't have any luck beating this game if we don't work together."
"Like that will fool me." Edgar said angrily. "I'm tired of playing your twisted game, Heathcliff!"
This time, it was Heathcliff who stayed silent.
"Look, I don't care what you're thinking. It was fun at first, but not anymore. Did you see any of those players out there? What they had to go through!?"
Wha? What the hell is he saying!?
"It's time to stop this, Ka-"
Suddenly, before Edgar finished, my worst nightmare arrived.
"WHAT DID I TELL YOU!? YOU IDIOT KIRITO!"
Asuna appeared out of nowhere, before punching me across the hall.
"AHHHHHH!"
Agil wasn't so lucky either, he landed head first not far from me.
Asuna walked up to us, before giving me a furious look.
"You maybe the high almighty Beater out there, Kirito, but here in this HQ, I'm the boss, and everyone must listen to me, well, except my commander. So I meant it when I told you not to do something stupid!"
Damn it...this girl's so damn fast...
She struck me so swiftly. I never even saw her coming.
The metal door slowly opened, and Edgar walked out, along with another middle-aged man in a red cape.
"Oh, it was you, Kirito! What's with all the noise?" Edgar smiled, but his voice sounded somewhat nervous.
The man in the red cape, Heathcliff, isn't it? He stood silently and just staring at me.
Asuna turned toward him.
"I'm sorry for this, commander. They are our visitors and they don't mean any harm, please excuse them." She said.
Heathcliff smiled, something that I didn't expect from a man like him.
"I don't mind such trivial things, Asuna. In fact, I must say I'm happy to finally meet him."
He the approached me, before handed his hand out.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Black Swordsman. Kirito, isn't it? Your reputation preceded you." He greeted.
Wha!?
I shook my hand with him, then stood still, not knowing how to react.
"Ah...I...Er..."
"Calm down, young man. Why don't you come talk with me for a few minutes? I have much to discuss with you." Heathcliff said.
"I...I, er...Thank you for you offer, Mr. Heathcliff, but we're about to leave."
I said each word carefully, trying not to make someone mad or anything, but the sight of Asuna giving me a death glare doesn't help.
"Don't worry, I just wanted to talk a few things with you about your opinion on the situation, that's all."
I glanced at Asuna. She's speaking something, but quietly, behind Heathcliff. I tried to read her lip.
Just go with him, or I'll kill you!
Heh, I've got no choice, am I?
"Right, Agil, Mr. Edgar, you two go on ahead. I'll catch up with you all later." I told them.
"It's your call, Kirito." Edgar said. He looks worried somehow. "I'll wait for you outside."
I nodded, before walking in the room with Heathcliff.
"So, what are your thoughts about our guild, Kirito?"
Heathcliff began. He sat at his desk with a large, wide glass window behind him. The lights reflecting the windows gave me a rather chilling feeling.
"It was...rather impressive, sir. Your guild members are all so disciplined and skilled." I said.
Heathcliff nodded.
"Isn't it? I'm very proud of them myself. Now these are the men and women I could count my life on." He said.
"I've heard from my vice commander that you're an acquaintance of the Black Cats of the Full Moon guild?"
"Er...yes, sir. I was a former member."
"Hm, interesting."
Heathcliff stared at me curiously, somehow it's making me a little nervous.
"Why did you left them?" He asked.
Not this question again...
"I...I'll rather not talk about it, sir." I replied.
"It's alright..." Heathcliff sighed, before continue.
"The BCFM is a good example of an excellent guild, if you ask me. Its small size is not a hindrance at all, but rather make it easier to manage. Its members are all bonded to each other, as they're all close friends. Helping each other to level up, gain new items and share them together... We need more guilds like this." He explained.
"Keita's a great leader for his age, so there's not much to worry about, though he tended to get his guild in way over their heads sometimes, like that Marks of Swordsmen quest."
Yep, that's what I was thinking, but the prizes for completing it is just...
"That's one of their flaws, Kirito. Technically, they're still a low-ranking guild, but they tried to take up some difficult but rewarding quests, without caring for the risks they posed. It might not seem like a big problem, but even a little mistake can cost the entire guild's lives if they're not careful. This isn't a game anymore. Any mistake we make here can and will be our last."
I somewhat agreed. I thought back about Ducker, and how his carelessness got the better of him and cost him his life in that dungeon.
That one stupid item trap box in the middle of a secret room.
"How do you feel about it, sir?" It's my turn to ask.
"I beg your pardon?"
"About being trapped inside this game, sir. It's been two years since Kayaba Akihiko showed up at the official launch and trapping us all in here. How do you feel after all these time?"
Heathcliff didn't answer immediately. He stood up from his desk before looking outside the window, overlooking the lush green field outside.
"I don't really know, young man. All of these are supposed to be a video game. A video game where we could all played and relaxed after a long, tiring day. Instead, it became a death trap where we all must fight to survive. It's...shocked, you know?"
Heathcliff turned to face me, his face looking grim.
"Say, if somehow I am Kayaba Akihiko, what do you think I'm feeling at this moment?"
Wha? What the hell is he saying!?
He's not actually telling me that he's Kayaba? That Kayaba!?
That son of a bitch Kayaba Akihiko, the one who started all of this!?
Heck, screw his feelings! What rights does he have to play with our lives like this!?
"Well, sir, if you're really Kayaba Akihiko, then I don't care how you feel. I'd just wanted you to let us go, by force if I have to." I said angrily.
Heathcliff smiled.
"Do you really think you have what it takes to fight me, Kirito? If I really am Kayaba, then it means I'm the Game Master, the most powerful player in Aincrad. Do you really think you could beat a Game Master?"
I really hoped he's just joking with me. If he really is Kayaba, then I'll have to fight him eventually.
He's right in a way, though. What was I thinking? We're talking about the man who created this entire world. He's literally god! What chances do I have against him?
Even the best player in the game could only do as much as the game allowed. Kayaba, on the other hand, can change anything in the game to his will. Heck, he could make us all game over by only snapping his fingers if he wanted!
If he's the final boss, then we're already lost. It's a game over before it even begin.
"Do you know something about Kayaba Akihiko?" I asked.
Heathcliff stared outside again.
"All I know is that he's a somewhat depressing man. He devoted his life into creating Aincrad, this world, this...fantasy of his...a world with life and death balanced..."
So, he did know something about Kayaba, if he's not the man himself.
"Do you think Kayaba Akihiko is an evil man, Kirito?" He asked me.
Whoa.
"I...don't know, sir. It was just...I always admired him before I got into this game. All his achievements, his works, his determination, they're just...inspiring."
"And what do you think about him now, with everything he's done?"
"He's...if he did all of this, then yes, he's an evil man, sir. He's trapping thousands of people against their wills, and some of them died in this twisted game of his, sir! No matter how noble his reasons are, it still can't justify the fact that he's a murderous psychopath!"
"Couldn't say it any better myself, Kirito."
Silence.
"If there's something good I could say about Kayaba Akihiko after all this, is that he's brave enough to face the consequences." I continued. "With everything's he done, the whole world's gonna be on his tail. He's got nowhere to hide, nowhere to escape."
"Maybe he doesn't need escaping."
What did he just say?
"Think about it, Kirito. He's as much as a prisoner like the rest of us, in a game he himself created, no less! He trapped us all in this world, right? What happens if all of us are dead? With no players left, no one to win the game? What's he going to do now? He can't go back to the real world, because he'll get arrested, or be a man on the run for the rest of his life."
Heathcliff stared into the distance.
"Whatever he's feeling right now, I'm sure it's not a happy feeling..."
I stayed quiet, not because I don't know how to respond, but it's because there's no use saying them.
What Heathcliff said does make sense, Kayaba is trapped here, like me and everybody else. He got nowhere else to go except in here. He's trapped because of his own wrongdoing.
Why would a genius like Kayaba Akihiko do something like this? It makes no sense at all!
I can't imagine him being a killer, let alone a psychopath. That man in a white lab uniform, looking all smart and cool, I just can't picture him being a man like that! He's just a programmer, a real good programmer, who's probably just depressed from his works and tried to play god in something he created.
Nevertheless, I don't give a rat's ass about his feelings. He's still a mass murderer, nothing can change that fact.
And one way or another, I'm stopping him and winning this godforsaken game of life and death.
"Do you have anything else to discuss?" Heathcliff asked again.
"Um, sir, about that quest the Black Cats of the Full Moon is doing right now, the Marks of Swordsmen, they told me that you'll be providing them with another Mark, in exchange for some weapons received from the quest, correct?"
Heathcliff nodded.
"Aside from the Mark, what else could you assist them in their journey?"
"I'll send one of my vice commanders, Asuna, to assist them. You probably knew her well, Kirito. She occasionally told me stories about you."
Oh crap...
"Well, she seems to get along fine with them, I'd say, but still having some problems adjusting into the guild. Seems like she's not quite used to being in a small, simpler guild. Her personality's just not made that way."
"She's always like that, Mr. Heathcliff." I said.
"And that's why I asked you here, Kirito. I wanted you to assist her on this quest."
"WHAT!?"
Okay, this is not funny at all!
"N-no way! That girl hated me to guts now, and you want me to go with her!?"
"You know her the longest, Kirito, and she seems rather fine with you. Please, do it as a favor to me, and to your friends in the BCFM. If you finish this quest along with Asuna, I promised I won't take half of their weapons received from the quest."
"And if I can't?"
"Well, your other choice is that you must join our guild."
WHAT THE HELL!?
He's insane!
"Does this mean I have no choice!?"
"There's always choices, Kirito. It's up to whether or not we will take our chances."
Heathcliff smirked.
Damn this son of a...
"...right, I give up, fine! I'll go with her on the quest!"
And with that statement, Heathcliff clapped his hand, and two of the KBO knights came into the room
"It is done, then! I thank you for your cooperation with the KBO, Kirito. I enjoyed our little talk together. I hope we will have a chance to meet again. Now, guards, escort this man to the guest room."
"It's great to finally have you back with us, Kirito!" Keita said.
I can't believe this is happening to me.
"This is AWESOME!" Sasamaru yelled up excitingly, before jumping up and down.
Sachi and the other girls in the guild laughed at Sasamaru's childish behavior.
And then, our eyes meet again.
"Um...looks like I'm back here." I said.
"Y-yeah!" Sachi gave a short reply, before turning away from me. I could see that she's blushing red.
Whoa...
I looked at my right, Asuna is walking next to me, and she's clearly upset.
"Why the hell did the commander asked you to come with me!?" She complained.
"Hey, it's not like I wanted to be here myself!"
"Just shut up!"
Heh, what have I got myself into...?
Agil was waiting for us in the main hall, and he's not looking very happy at all.
"Damn that bastard! What a waste of time!" He grunted.
"What's wrong, Agil?" Keita asked.
"My customer! He's nowhere to be found! Now who am I gonna deliver the spear to!?"
"Wait, who's your customer?" I asked him.
"A KBO knight going by the name of Balthazar, but when I asked the other knights about him, they said that there's no such person with that name in here!"
"What?!"
Okay, what the hell's going on?
We walked outside, and found Edgar waiting for us.
"Took you guys long enough, eh?"
"Yeah...but we're finish now, let's just..."
Suddenly, I heard noises in the distance.
I turned to look, and saw no fewer than a couple dozen paladins approaching us.
Holy Dragon Alliance Paladins...
"Oh hell, this isn't gonna end well." Tetsuo remarked.
"Stay calm, I'll take care of this." Edgar said, before walking to the paladins.
The leader of the paladins is the same man I've battled this morning. Feron, isn't it?
"What's the meaning of this, Feron!? I ordered you and your friends to regroup at our HQ!" Edgar yelled.
Feron just ignored him, he ordered two of his subordinates to come forward, before raising up their swords.
Oh crap!
"Don't play dumb with me, old man! You knew about this all along, aren't you!?" Feron shouted.
"What the hell are you talking about!?"
Feron pointed his finger toward us, no, toward Agil.
"That man's the thief, Edgar! He's the one who stole our spear a week ago! And he's delivering it to those KBO bastards!"
WHAT THE FUCK!?
I stared at Agil, he's also as confused as I am.
"Wha!? But I...I didn't steal that thing! I just got it from a merchant on the twenty-fourth floor!"
"LIAR!" Feron screamed. "My informant confirmed that it was you who stole our spear! And probably other items, too! You KBO thieves!"
"Listen, Feron, let's just stop this before someone gets hurt. Let's talk things over, first." Edgar slowly said, but Feron ignored him.
"ATTACK! GET THAT SPEAR BACK! CUT DOWN ANYONE THAT STAND IN OUR WAY!" He ordered.
And then the paladins charged at us.
Editor's note: First of all, sorry for the very, very late update. My new university year just started, and I'm really, really busy. It's a miracle I managed to finish this chapter tonight after all.
Well, not much to say about this chapter. I've wrote it in a hurry, so it might contain some mistakes. Feel free to point them out! I'll correct them if I find some time. From now on, it's gonna be a while until the next chapter. :(
See you guys soon!