Episode Four: The Fourth Swordsman
2/23/2024 - Floor 35
I stood at the entrance to a forest. It was late in the evening, the level having a gold tint. Reflecting the sunlight were wispy intricate patterns that covered the forest. It was almost like the developer composited in fancy inlays, turned down the opacity, and called it a day.
My knees buckled as I fell to the ground, feeling as though my body were hollowed out. My hands trembled, a soft Christmas melody playing in my head.
It seemed so hopeless. It wasn't a logical conclusion. I'd done it. I'd saved Sachi and prevented Keita from committing suicide. I'd become a pillar for Sachi, an ideal to strive for, regardless of how broken. That was two players who were supposed to be dead, saved.
Then why… Why am I…?
Clenching my fists, I got back on my feet, drawing the sword from my back. My jaw tightened so hard, teeth would've cracked had it been reality.
Blood rushed to my head, beating like drums. An orchestra of frustration at my beckoning.
I needed to blow off some steam.
X X X
The silver blade cut through drunken apes like a hot knife through butter. It was immensely satisfying, easily killing the lower leveled mobs. Especially compared to grinding on the higher floors.
A feral grin played on my lips as I took full control, slaughtering the monsters. Each swing was followed by an eruption of blueish green polygons. I swam through the light, targeting everything in sight.
Notifications popped up in the corner of my vision, letting me know about the negligible exp and col received. I ignored them, continuing through the weak monsters.
It wasn't something I was able to reflect on with Illfang, but I was actually fighting with a sword. Granted, a digital sword, but I was experiencing the fantasy dream first hand.
Initiating combos and sword skills with ease, parrying attacks and riposting, moving at dizzying speeds. I was flying through the forest.
Despite everything, I was having fun.
Then, I noticed a group of monsters focused on something else, backs turned to me.
Is that a player?
Urgency swelled within me, not hearing the common sound of sword skills against mobs. Launching forward, I quickly dealt with the drunk apes, just before one could land a devastating blow.
Like the many monsters already slain, they burst into motes of light, briefly obscuring the downed player in front of me.
Much like an illusion, the particles faded from view, revealing a very young girl. Tears welled at the corners of her eyes as she looked over her shoulder in disbelief.
My own eyes widened at the sight.
Right, this is the… Silica episode. I completely forgot about her.
Sheathing my blade with needless flourish, I gave a small wave. "Yo."
In response, the beast tamer slumped forward, tears running down her face. "Pina…"
"Don't leave me all alone!" She hunched down, gently cupping a brilliant blue feather. Bringing it to her face, she, again, called out for the recently deceased beast.
I watched—slightly uncomfortable—as the girl continued to cry, hiccupping the pet's name in senseless intervals.
Damn, uh… let's get this over with.
"I'm guessing that feather was a pet of yours?" I offered, minutely breaking the girl from her sorrows.
Her shoulders shook as she suppressed her sobs. "She's Pina- my best friend."
Stepping beside Silica, I knelt down, keeping a small distance between us. Silently exhaling, I stared at a cluster of glowing rocks common to the forest.
"This… There's a chance that you can revive your pet." I kept the details minimal, having forgotten them a long time ago.
Silica kept the feather close to her chest, staring at the faintly illuminated grass. Her fingers clenched just a bit tighter. "But- Pina is- this is all that's left!"
She finally glanced up, meeting my eyes. Like the show, her hair was pulled up in twin tails, held by red ribbons. Her eyes were the same color as the ribbons, bright red.
Oh, must be one of those cosmetic items. Neat.
"That's precisely the reason it's possible." I pointed at her cupped hands, wearing a confident smile. "An item, right? On one of the higher floors, it's definitely possible to revive a beast with it."
For just a moment, the flicker of hope in Silica's eyes bloomed like a flower, a wide smile overshadowing her sorrow. But alas, she caught on that there was more to it than that. "Higher floors, huh? I'm already struggling here…"
"Now, none of that." Standing to my full height, I offered a hand to the girl. "The two of us should be plenty. I can explain the details on the way back to town. What do you say?"
'On the way back to town'. Read: letting auto!Kirito do the heavy lifting.
"Al- alright!" With a determined look in her eyes, she clasps my hand, allowing me to pull her up. "But… Why are you so willing to help me? Don't you have better things to do, with how strong you are?"
Sliding my hands into my pockets, I glanced at the vulnerable player. Dropping the smile, I considered the last couple hours of my life. The most hectic, frustrating, blood-boiling moments I'd experienced.
But then there was someone like Sachi. While I had technically done a lot for her, the amount of devotion I received in return felt very unfair. Especially when the real me barely counted as an acquaintance to the girl.
Of course, Silica, I was predestined to meet. To help. But I guessed she could tell I wasn't doing this out of pity. Or some sense of responsibility.
"Y'know, there's a saying that I remember. It was by some US president, I think." The chirps and creaks of the forest were loud. False birds called into the night, mimicking a process that didn't truly occur in SAO. "One person can't help everyone. But everybody can help someone."
"Helping you may not be the most beneficial, or logical thing to do. And you're right. With my strength, I could be grinding, getting better and better for the sake of clearing the game. But where's the heart in that? I'd argue that helping players like you is an infinitely greater purpose than mindlessly slaving away, one monster at a time."
Facing away, I tried to hide the heat crawling up my face. With crossed arms, I started backtracking, assuming the town was in that direction.
Okay, that was a bit much. Maybe tone it down? Just a little?
"Anyhow! We should head back. Monster ridden forests aren't the best place to have a discussion, after all."
"Right!" Silica jogged to catch up, following just behind me.
X X X
We walked through the town of Mishe, passing by a multitude of players hanging out in the dead of night. Despite the time, the town was brightly lit, with every candle and window glowing a warm orange.
"Hey, it's Silica!" Off to the left, two players approached the girl with relief on their faces.
The shorter player with light brown hair and segmented green armor put his hands on his knees, crouching ever so slightly to speak with the girl. "It took you a long time to get back; we were getting worried!"
"Uh- uhm." The beast tamer's eyes darted between the two fans, caught off guard by their appearance.
The taller of the two, a boy with plain brown hair and dark pink armor continued after his friend. "Do you want to team up with us? We'll take you wherever you wanna go!"
They both spoke with excitement, overjoyed with the chance to spend time with the mini-idol.
The aforementioned mini-idol took a careful step back, apologetic smile taking form. She tilted her head down, eyeing the two from a lower angle. "That's really nice of you to offer, but…"
Red eyes traveled up my avatar, quickly landing on the crook of my elbow.
She latched onto my arm with both hands, holding it like a lifeline. "I've sort of already agreed to be in a party with him, so…"
The two fans immediately directed their ire towards me, faces scrunched up in envy. I raised an eyebrow at the two, unperturbed by the juvenile hostility.
"Kay, later, bye!" Gently taking the lead, Silica pulled my arm. I offered no resistance, following along without hesitation.
I could almost feel the twos' glares on my back, groans of discontent fading behind us. Silica's brows furrowed with worry, embarrassed smile on her lips.
"Sorry for putting you on the spot like that."
Shrugging, I gave one last look at the two players before responding. "No worries. I assume this is a common occurrence, though?"
"Yeah." Letting out a moan of exasperation, the beast tamer stared into the distance. "They don't really take me seriously. It's like I'm a mascot to them."
"Ah." I nodded in understanding, running a hand through my hair. A thought coming to mind, I put up a humorous grin and looked at the girl. "I'd say I empathize, but I can't exactly relate."
It took a couple seconds for the comment to register in Silica's mind, but when it did, she let out a snort. After which, she immediately covered her mouth, ears turning red.
The beast tamer swiftly sobered up however, letting go of my arm. "But maybe they're right. They called me Dragon Tamer and I let it get to my head." Clasping her hands together, she held back a shudder.
"Hey, chin up." I placed a hand on her shoulder. "Nobody's perfect, and acknowledging your own shortcomings is a sign of great character."
A bit ironic, coming from me.
Unaware of my thoughts, Silica smiled, providing a quiet 'thank you'.
X X X
"Do you live around here, Kirito?" We stood in front of a large building. It had to be at least three stories tall. Maybe four if you counted the attic.
I shook my head. "No, I'm over on floor 50. It's far, so I'll probably stay at one of the local inns."
So that's where auto!Kirito's staying. Already at floor 50, huh? That's about halfway there. Means that the next ten episodes will be taking place between floor 50 and floor 75.
But that's still over the course of a whole other year… At least the murder mystery arc is coming up. It lasts two episodes, so it should be a bit less disorienting.
"If you stay, I'll take you out to get some cheese cake! It's really good here." Silica suggested with a small skip in her step.
I couldn't help but smile at the innocent request. She was so young and vibrant, like a beacon in this desolate death game. Or, at least, a beacon in my short time in Aincrad.
Suddenly, Silica stopped in place, releasing a shocked gasp. Following her line of sight, I found what warranted such a reaction.
"Well, if it isn't Silica." A woman with crimson hair and an imposing spear stood across from us, three other players behind her.
In my peripheral, I noticed Silica shrinking under her gaze.
"Wow… You made it out of the forest alive." What's-her-name put a hand on her hip, tone full of condescension. "Good for you, girl."
Glancing at the beast tamer, I silently questioned what the situation was. She smiled weakly, words not leaving her mouth.
Hm… why was this character significant again? I'm definitely forgetting something important.
"Hang on, what happened to your little friend, the lizard?" The spearwoman walked up to Silica, towering over the diminutive girl. She leaned down for added effect, wearing a mocking grin. "Did it run away?"
Is she a front liner? No. Someone important in a later episode? Definitely not that either.
Silica avoided the woman's gaze, defending her friend. "Pina died saving me- but, I'm gonna get Pina back!"
"Really?" Straightening her back, the red head put two and two together. "I guess you'll be heading for the Hill of Memories then."
Ah, right. That's what the place was called. 'Hill of Memories'. So that means that red head is going to meet- oh! She's the orange guild person!
"-be able to clear it at your level." Catching the tail end of the conversation, I decided to step in, my mood soaring from actually remembering the plot of the episode.
I had to look up at the woman, since she was slightly taller than me, but I made sure not to tilt my head whatsoever. "You don't have to worry. It'll be easy peasy lemon squeezy."
Behind me, Silica definitely hid a laugh, while confusion flickered in the red head's eyes. Said confusion was replaced with disgust as she sneered at me. "Oh god, this girl seduced another player. With the gear you're touting, I doubt you're much stronger than the ex-beast tamer."
'Seduced?' I mouthed to myself. That comment aside, auto!Kirito must've put on some lower tier gear for this orange guild hunting mission.
X X X
We sat in a restaurant, a single glass lantern between us. The place was fairly populated, likely being a reputable food location.
Staring into the flame, Silica muttered aloud. "Why does she have to be so mean?"
"Well…" Giving it some thought, it wasn't the easiest question to answer. Especially with how complicated the topic could be. "There's no one good answer, but if I had to guess?"
Resting my chin on my knuckles, I exhaled through my nose. "She probably takes some pleasure out of putting others down. Maybe as a response to feeling helpless in the game, she turns to unhealthy outlets. Don't take my word for it though. I'm not a professional in the slightest."
"Really? That's… hard to think about." Frowning, the beast tamer fiddled with the spoon in front of her.
I glanced down at the table and found an empty bowl and cup. Despair overtook my senses.
You've got to be kidding me. This is the closest I've gotten to having a meal since that bread with Asuna, and I miss it?!
As I sulked in silence, a small hand hesitantly rested on my own. "Are you okay, Kirito?"
Blinking away the feeling, I turned my attention back to the girl. She seemed concerned, lips pursed.
Chuckling at her earnest attempt to help me, I nodded my head. "Nothing's wrong. I just realized I'm a bit hungrier than I thought."
Mouth taking the shape of a small 'o', Silica quickly withdrew her hand, face heating up. "Y-yeah, I get that. The cheesecake should be here soon. It has been a little while!"
Getting to her feet, she waved at a nearby waitress, voice cracking. "Excuse m-me! Our desert hasn't shown up yet!"
Moments later, two places were dispensed in front of us. It was cheesecake. Full stop, modern cheesecake. It wasn't my favorite dessert in the world, but I did enjoy it.
However, in that instance, it was the best thing I'd ever tasted.
Its flavor was mediocre, the crust a bit too chewy and the 'cheese' too runny. It was probably the worst cheesecake I'd ever had.
I ate it with gusto. A smile on my face. Satisfaction beyond simply killing monsters.
It was nice.
X X X
I stood in front of Silica's door. So focused on the ultimate mission, I completely forgot to tell some important information about floor 47. So I decided to check if she was awake. Frankly, it was probably too late for that, but it was best to try and get these things out of the way.
My hand stopped just before I knocked on the door.
Floor 47? How am I supposed to explain a floor I know nothing about?
Stepping back, I shoved my hands in my pockets and leaned against the wall. Following that, I closed my eyes and allowed myself a brief rest.
Auto!Kirito could deal with the details, after all.
X X X
2/24/2024 - Floor 47
The effects of the teleportation faded, giving view to a beautiful floor. In the center of a large circular garden was an elegant water fountain. Water sprouted from the top like a dome. Surrounding that, paths intersected through the radius of the garden.
The garden itself was full of colorful flowers. They were each sectioned off so that they were grouped by color. A third of the flowers were orange, then pink, and then blue.
"Wow…!" Releasing an airy gasp, Silica stood on her toes in an attempt to see the entire garden. "This place is like a dream!"
Once again, a smile was on my face. "It really is, isn't it?"
Silica's head swung back and forth, almost overwhelmed by the situation. Making up her mind, she rushed to a section of blue flowers, kneeling down and smelling the aroma.
Walking up to her side, I noticed that her gaze trailed off, focusing on the surrounding players. She was stuck in place, clearly thinking hard about something.
Tracing the direction she was looking, I came to a swift conclusion.
There are a lot of couples here.
Clearing my throat, I spoke to the girl. "Silica?"
"Wha- nothing!" She leapt to her feet, frantically dusting off her red coat. "Sorry to keep you waiting!"
Oho~ I guessed as much from her earlier actions, but she definitely has a crush on me. That's kind of cute.
"No worries." I laughed, striding forward. "Let's go!"
"Okay!"
X X X
In my hand was a familiar blue crystal. It was oddly shaped. A rectangular box, with an ornate metal cover on two of its faces.
"What's that for?" Silica examined the item, not making heads or tails of it.
"It's a teleport crystal." I explained, holding it out to her. "Should anything serious happen, I want you to use it."
Silica's scrutiny went up ten fold, tentatively eyeing the object. "But…"
"Hey, it's just insurance. There's nothing on this floor I can't handle. That makes you my number one priority. So if I say you need to use it, do so, alright?"
Giving the girl a stern glance, she tilted her head, muttering, "I understand."
Taking the crystal from my hand, Silica silently placed it in her back crystal holster. I assumed it was usually used for stuff like healing crystals and such.
Once the exchange was done, I led Silica down the path, keeping an eye out for any monsters.
I feel like I'm forgetting something important again-
"Wha-!" Silica let out a yelp of surprise as she was pulled from the ground. Before I could even equip my sword, the girl was suspended upside down, awkwardly clutching her skirt while swinging her dagger.
Thrusting my blade forward, it cut through the monster with ease. Silica's eyes were shut tight as she screamed in embarrassment.
"Kirito, save-!" Her pleas were cut short as she found herself free falling. Holding my arms out, I broke the girl's fall. She was remarkably light, all things considered.
"Sorry, giving it some thought, you were definitely strong enough to kill that thing on your own." I smiled apologetically, slowly letting her down.
Silica gaped like a goldfish, eyes widened to a comical degree. Giving her a moment, I sheathed my blade and closed the kill notification.
Recovering, the girl took a step back, pulling on her coat. "You didn't see anything, did you?"
I raised a brow, feigning ignorance. "See what?"
"Nothing!"
X X X
"Kirito, what do you usually do? Outside of getting stronger, I mean." Silica broke the silence, looking away from the rolling hills covered in pretty flowers.
We had been fighting for a decent amount of time, cutting through monsters and dealing with pests. As we progressed, I helped less and less, allowing the girl to vanquish the mobs on her own.
It took me a couple seconds to register the question, catching a glimpse of auto!Kirito's thoughts.
"Not much, really." I sighed, watching the wind blow colorful petals into the air. "Most of my time is spent grinding and fighting."
Looking up at me, concern was written all over the girl. "That's all? You don't try to enjoy the sights, or get together with friends?"
"I'd certainly like to, but I never have the time. Not when it counts, anyway." Left unsaid that I literally couldn't choose where and when I went.
"What about hobbies? Like, outside of SAO." Silica caught her faux pas and attempted to take back her words. "Sorry, it's not polite to ask about IRL stuff, just forget-"
"Don't worry, I don't mind." I quickly cut her off, adopting a thoughtful expression. "Let's see…"
Our footsteps clacked on the red brick path, slowly making our way to the flower. I gazed at the sun as it hung in the false sky.
"I guess I enjoy music. If I had the opportunity, I would've been a bard." Letting out a quiet laugh, I shook my head. "Though, I doubt many would share my taste in music."
Silica perked up, instantly invested in the direction of the conversation. "Really? What kind of music do you listen to?"
"All kinds. I have a couple artists I really enjoy, mostly from the 70s and 80s. Masamichi Sugi, Masayoshi Takanaka, Tatsurou Yamashita, et cetera." I would've given examples of western music, but it seemed a bit more appropriate to give Japanese musicians.
"Woah, that's really cool. I don't think I could name a single song writer that I like."
Definitely better not mention the dozens of western artists then.
"What about you, if you don't mind me asking?" I threw the question back at Silica.
"Oh! Uh-" Clamming up, Silica played with her hair, self-consciously giggling. "Please don't laugh, but… I kind of have an interest in reptiles."
I gave her the blankest of stares, remaining completely silent. Her ears and cheeks slowly changed to a vibrant red. I could almost imagine the steam spouting from her ears.
"Y-yeah, I guess it's a bit obvious, huh?" She fanned her face, eyes darting across the landscape.
I nudged her shoulder with my elbow, presenting an assured grin. "So, did you like reptiles before or after you became a dragon tamer?"
"Maybe a bit of both…?" Silica latched onto the offered topic. "Since my dad's really allergic to cats and dogs, we grew up with lizards and snakes. And for as long as I can remember, we've had this pet bearded dragon."
Swinging her arms back and forth, the beast tamer smiled at the memory. "His name's Suiso, so you could say he's an official part of the family."
"Official?" At my question, Silica froze in place.
Pale faced, the dragon tamer's eyes flickered in my direction. "It's a… tradition thing. Please don't tell anyone."
"I promise I won't tell." I was about to follow that up with 'cross my heart and hope to die', but it was inappropriate, considering the situation.
"But, uh, yeah!" Shoulders sagging in relief, Silica continued her train of thought. "He was cute, but I always wished I could have a cat. Now that I had… will have Pina back, I really learned to appreciate reptiles. Even if she's not a real one."
"That's very-" A bright red light shone beneath my feet. Gulping, I gripped my sword. "Uh oh."
Large, thick, pink tentacles phased through the ground, engulfing my vision.
X X X
Just before reaching the top of a hill, Silica looked side to side. "Is the reviving flower around here?"
"Just over there." Pointing ahead, almost out of view was a small structure. At the very end of the red brick path was a floating metal table. Surrounding it were four arching structures, the same silver gray as the table.
Silica ran forward, eager to acquire the flower. When she reached the table, its top glowed a soft yellow. From the center, a flower grew, blooming in seconds. Its petals flicked open, golden residue splashing like condensation.
Staring at the flower, Silica paused, looking back at me.
"Go ahead." I waved her forward, urging her to grab the item.
Nodding firmly, Silica grasped the stem, gently holding it in her hands. It snapped, the base of the flower dissolving. The rest of the flower remained still as a notification popped up before Silica.
Holding it close, the beast tamer smiled earnestly at me. "This'll bring Pina back to life?"
"Undoubtedly."
"I'm so glad." Closing her eyes, tears of joy nearly fell down her face.
Beaming at the girl, I carefully wiped away the tears. "Come on. We can revive her back home. No need to do it here with all the monsters lurking about."
X X X
Walking down the bridge that began the path to the Hill of Memories, I grabbed Silica's shoulder, bringing her to a halt. Through my advanced observation skill, I easily made out several figures hiding behind the trees ahead of us.
"Is something wrong?"
I ignored Silica's question, opting to address the ambush party. "Come out. I can see you from here."
The red haired lady from before appears from behind a tree, weapon still drawn. The beast tamer gasps behind me, addressing the player. "Rosalia?!"
So that's her name. Rosalia, huh?
"If you saw through my hiding skill so easily, your detection skill must be really high, swordsman." Rosalia spoke with a husky cadence—as though she held all the cards in one hand. "Ooo, looks like you were successful in getting your hands on the Pneuma flower."
"Congratulations!" The woman put on a fake smile, tilting her head to the side. The expression quickly turned malicious. "Now, hand it over before you get hurt."
"What are you talking about?!" Quivering, Silica slid just a bit closer to me.
Hooking my thumb on my belt, I looked down on the player. "No, I don't think we will."
"She's really got you all wrapped around her finger, doesn't she?" Rosalia leaned down on her spear, accentuating her cleavage. "Wouldn't you rather have something more… substantial?"
I visibly cringed at the weird attempt at seduction, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Aren't you a bit old for that?" Admittedly, from a mental standpoint, I was probably around her age so I couldn't really talk. But Kirito was like fifteen or something.
"What?!" Rosalia squawked, face turning red in indignation. "I'll have you know I'm- you know what, I don't think you've realized who you're dealing with."
The player snapped her fingers, seven more players emerging from the trees. All of which had orange cursors.
"Orange? Doesn't that mean they're…?" Silica gripped her dagger, uncertainty exuding from her.
"Oh, that's right!" I pretended to recall the group. "Your part of that orange guild. The… something or other. Rosalia's the mascot, right?"
Silica stared at me, aghast. She tried tugging on my coat, holding the teleport crystal in her hand. "Kirito, there's too many of them!"
The red head's spear shook as the player clenched it fiercely. Her fellow guild members eyed her, apprehension filling their movements.
"You little brat! I am the leader of the infamous orange guild, Titan's Hand!" Spitting out her words, Rosalia glared daggers at me. "Usually, when dealing with trash like you, we take all your loot and leave you dry. But I think you're deserving of something more permanent."
I pushed Silica back, a confident smile on my lips. "There's nothing to worry about. I just have to beat these fellows and… right, use another teleport crystal to send 'em to prison. This'll be done in no time at all."
Not that I know how to use the teleport crystal. But I don't think the anime depicted that actually happening, so I should be in the clear.
Giving light protest, Silica held on for a second longer before giving up, pulling her dagger from her sheath. "Then I'll-"
"If I call for you, then jump right in. Otherwise, you'll stay right here. Got it?" My stony tone gave no room for compromise, forcing Silica to follow along.
Equipping the low level sword, I approached the band of killers, black coat billowing behind me. I smirked to myself out of self depreciation.
Is it late to say I just realized I was in the long coat getup? Man, I must look like such an edge lord.
One of the orange ranked players pointed with his sword, sweat dripping down his chin. "Wait a second, this guy looks familiar."
"Yeah…" Another chimed in, scrutinizing my gear. "Dressed in black, one handed, no shield. Holy crap, is this the Fourth Swordsman?!"
'Fourth Swordsman'? Is that some kind of movie reference? Well, at least it's not the 'black swordsman'.
"Rosalia, that's the infamous player that plays solo on the front line! He's said to be one of the best players in the game!" A two handed swordsmen worriedly glanced at the guild leader, speaking his concern.
Rosalia scoffed, dramatically raising her left hand. "Why would someone from the assault team be all the way down here? Go on, end him and take his loot"
Sword skills came to life as a variety of colors bloomed. Each of the members, sans Rosalia, rushed forth with their own battle cries.
Only a second passed and the players were upon me. They attacked one at a time, skillfully coordinated, landing a hit one after another.
I flinched, discomforted by the sensation. The weapons passed through my body. Through one side and out the other. It was cold, like water sloshing in my stomach.
But even so, there was no pain or urgency. In only ten seconds, my health bar filled back up, reducing all their effort to zero.
Silica also caught sight of this, thankfully holding back her attack.
Soon enough, the orange guild was completely exhausted, barely standing with labored breaths.
"What the hell you idiots?!" Rosalia yelled in disbelief. "Kill him already!"
"Anyhow, as you can see, none of you can do enough damage to even inconvenience me." I glanced at each and every member, staring them in the eyes. "Such are the benefits of being level 78, I guess."
"That's not possible!" A brown haired swordsman with ripped sleeves shouted.
I jerked my head in his direction, shaking my fist. "Search your feelings, you know it to be true!"
All I got were confused stares. Clearly, I was surrounded by the uncultured.
"Sorry." I cleared my throat, composing myself. "But this is an RPG, not Dark Souls. With a great enough distance in levels, doing damage becomes impossible. That's just how the cookie crumbles."
Opening my inventory, I quickly found an ornate teleport crystal, twice as large as the average city teleport. Equipping it, I held it aloft. "I won't be killing you, but this crystal is a one way ticket to a cell with your names on it. So let's not drag this on any further."
"Well, I'm green and if you go orange-!"
"Who asked?" Shutting her mouth, Rosalia faltered, pointing her spear in my direction. "Does it look like I care about being orange for a little while? Actually…"
I stepped forward, the orange players shuffling aside in fear. Rosalia was frozen in place even as I walked past her spear.
Holding up my sword, I kept it an inch from her neck. "The monsters on this floor haven't really been satisfying to kill. You're just as weak, but maybe it'll have a bit more kick to it." I whispered, forcing her to strain her hearing.
The guild leader instantly paled, dropping her weapon hastily.
It hurt a little, knowing how easily she believed my bluff.
X X X
"Sorry about putting you through that, Silica." I looked down in shame, even as I sat next to the girl. "My main purpose down here was to capture that guild, but I didn't want to scare you by telling you ahead of time."
The girl shook her head, twin tails fluttering along. "I could never be scared of you. You're a good person, Kirito."
I only smiled at that, unsure how to respond. Especially since it was auto!Kirito who put the words in my mouth. I genuinely forgot about the orange guild situation until way later.
"Uhm- do you really have to go?"
"Yeah." I leaned back, pressing my palms into the sheets. "Gotta keep up the grind, find bosses, eventually clear the game. All that fun stuff."
Stretching her hands, Silica did her best to hide the nervous fidgeting. "I think it's cool that you're with the assault team. I could try for a hundred years and never make it."
"Some people just aren't cut out for the front lines." I sighed. But then I turned and grinned at the girl. "But that's a good thing. If everybody were a front line fighter, we'd have never gotten as far as we have. Everyone has their own purpose in life. And I think you do a great job fulfilling yours."
"W-wha…" Silica blushed hard, covering her face with her hands.
Again, bring it back. You're laying it a bit too thick.
"Okay, you ready to revive Pina?" I stood from the bed and Silica followed shortly after.
"I am!" Opening her inventory, Silica selected Pina's heart, the blue feather materializing in her hands.
Setting the feather on the table, the beast tamer equipped the Pneuma flower. Grasping the flower, she twinkled, giving me one last look. After one last nod from me, she let a single drop from the flower's petal fall onto the feather.
A brilliant golden glow enveloped the room. It was extraordinarily bright. Completely stunning.
Interlude - Argo 2
4/1/2024
Argo groaned as she gazed out into the field of flowers. Don't get her wrong, it was very pretty. But whenever she saw it, she was only reminded of the time she had to escort a group of noobies to repay a favor.
It was worth it, but never before had she dealt with such… frustrating individuals. It was a miracle none of them died on the way there.
Now, what was the info broker extraordinaire doing on such a traumatic floor? Gathering information, obviously!
This was an atypical mission, seeing as it was both personal and for someone's own good. Ever since he started ghosting her for trying to figure out his mystery fulldive nonconformity, she'd taken to spending a little free time on this project.
Was it pushy to ask about it on five different occasions? Maybe. But it was Kirito's fault for not being forthcoming.
Sitting on the ledge of a large water fountain was her quarry. Young player, medium length brown hair tied in pigtails, and a unique dragon pet. Silica the Dragon Tamer was hard to miss.
Gliding over, Argo leisurely sat beside the girl, briefly avoiding the girl's attention. Her 'cover' was broken when Silica finally glanced to her left to find the hooded merchant.
"Wahh!" The Dragon Tamer hopped backwards, almost falling into the fountain. Argo grabbed the girl, easily hefting her away from the water.
"Careful. Although the water could use some tweaking, it isn't any less uncomfortable to be drenched." Mirthfully chuckling, Argo let go of the flustered player's wrist, allowing her to retake her seat.
"Thanks…" Silica brushed off her skirt, watching the broker carefully. "Do you need help with something?"
"You could say that." It was early in the morning. Early enough that very few players were on the 47th floor. Taking a calculated risk, Argo lowered her hood. "Sorry about that. I have a habit of being sneaky."
The Dragon Tamer was still skeptical, peaking at Argo's green cursor. But revealing the rest of her face was the right call, as some tension left Silica's shoulders.
She felt a little bad having to do this, but with her face on display, Argo couldn't let the opportunity slide.
Sighing, Argo let a small amount of sorrow color her expression. "There's a friend of mine. He has a problem, and he won't let anyone help him. I don't like going behind his back like this, but he's too stubborn for his own good."
Confusion morphed into worry as Silica listened to Argo's woes. Without warning, Silica grabbed the merchant's hands. "That's so sad! How can I help?"
'That was… way too easy.' Argo wasn't really lying with what she said and felt, but Silica's earnest nature made the merchant feel more guilty than usual.
"Last I heard, he was spending some time on the mid floors. He's really hard to track when he's not fighting on the front lines." Leading the conversation, the broker could see the gears turning in Silica's head as she considered Argo's words. "His name's Kirito. About yea high, black coat, wields a one handed sword, dictionary definition of edgy. Ever heard of him?"
"Maybe I have… You said you're a friend of his?" Argo had to blink at the response. Apparently, Silica was smarter than she gave her credit for. Then again, Kirito was the subject of the conversation.
"Of course!" Opening her menu, Argo navigated to the friend list. Through some form of divine intervention, she was able to get Kirito to accept her friend request. It helped that they were both solo players, but even so. "We've known each other for a while, but he's not the sociable type."
Silica squinted, making sure that it was in fact Kirito's name. Once she was satisfied, the girl let out a silent breath. "I met Kirito a couple months ago. He helped me get the revival item when Pina died."
'So that's why he was with the girl. Using her as bait for the orange guild. You really know how to treat the ladies.' Argo stifled a chuckle, linking her fingers together.
"Would you mind telling me about this? Anything I can learn to help Kirito would be great."
X X X
The info broker was concerned.
Silica recalled the events from start to finish, going as far as to describe the death of her companion. Kirito's actions were in line with what she knew about him. His attitude on the other hand?
It was like she was hearing about a complete stranger. Quoting a US president, throwing around suave one-liners like no tomorrow, making a Star Wars reference in the middle of combat.
'Okay, that last one doesn't seem that strange. I just didn't think Kirito had the confidence to do that.'
Overall, this 'Kirito' sounded like the kind of person Kirito wished he could be. Argo was beginning to question whether or not Silica was entirely lucid in this story.
While the information was dubious at best, it aligned with the idea that Kirito's dealing with a new form of fulldive nonconformity. How that affects his personality, Argo really couldn't say.
And seeing as she couldn't ask the boy himself, there was only one last avenue to follow.
A/N:
JJafan: Think the movie "Click" with Adam Sandler meets SAO. That's where I got the autopilot idea from. The SI is only aware of what goes on during the runtime of the Anime. In between, an autopilot tries to keep to the original plot while dealing with the minor changes the SI made.
