AN: I know when Hanna sent Klein a friend request she said a player would probably outright disappear from a person's friend list, and that is how it works in canon. However since I made it so that some of the beta testers' accounts got deleted when they made a new account I made how the system treats a player on a person's friend list dying work a tad differently.
Review responses:
PikaMew1288- I think that there probably would've been people who tried to get the royal family involved, but the pure-blood supremacists wouldn't let go of their power easily. And since most of them are extremely wealthy and influential they undoubtedly have ways of making sure the royal family doesn't become aware of the situation in the magical world. As for your second review, don't get ahead of me.
The first floor boss raid meeting had adjourned a few hours previous. Currently many of those participating in the raid were in the main plaza celebrating that they'd found the boss room and made a rather solid plan to tackle the boss. She can't help but think it's a bit silly to celebrate before they'd even fought the boss, but she isn't about to stop them. It wasn't like they could get hangovers, and low morale could be just as dangerous as shoddy equipment in a fight. If drinking and generally making fools of themselves helped keep everyone's morale up about the outcome of tomorrow's fight, then so be it.
She was currently sitting and watching the plaza waiting for Kirito to return, he'd mumbled something about food before leaving. She was watching Diabel, who was currently talking to Kibaou. She hadn't checked her friends list since the game started, she was admittedly too scared to see if any of her friends were grayed out with a cross next to their name, the manner in which the system marked a player dead, but after the meeting ended she had. Diabel had indeed still been on there and been alive, meaning he had chosen to use his beta account. A quick check of his location confirmed that the Diabel from the meeting was the one she knew, rather than simply someone with a similar name. Narrowing her eyes at Diabel she wonders what he's up to. Normally he wouldn't hang around people like Kibaou, but Diabel would when he wants them for something. Diabel is a rather devious person, and he was almost always planning something. She tilts her head as she thinks about that. Someone was trying to weaken Kirito by buying his sword. Narrowing her eyes again she wonders if Diabel had something to do with it.
She's broken from her thoughts as someone abruptly speaks, "You're thinking rather hard there Hanna. Is something wrong?"
Turning to Kirito she sees him looking at her in concern, so she quickly gives him a reassuring smile before responding, "No, not precisely." Turning her head to look at Diabel again, she briefly contemplated whether she should tell Kirito, since her suspicion was exactly that. A suspicion. She has no proof at all that Diabel was the one trying to sabotage Kirito. She discards the idea within seconds, since proof or not, Kirito has a right to know, "I think it's Diabel." Seeing Kirito tilt his head in confusion she elaborates, "The person who bought your sword, I think it's Diabel. Even if it wasn't him specifically, he probably has something to do with it."
Kirito had begun to pull food from his inventory as she spoke, but furrows his brows and pauses to ask, "Why? Diabel doesn't seem like the kind of person who'd try something like that. Admittedly I haven't spoken to him personally but..." He trails off for a moment before returning his gaze to her, "Did you talk to him while I was gone? Is that why you think it's him?"
She shakes her head, "No. I haven't talked to him since the beta. However I did know an American beta player by the name Diabel, and while you were gone I confirmed that he is in fact the Diabel I knew in the beta. The thing about Diabel is that he's incredibly devious and he's always up to something. This turning into a death game would probably curb those tendencies, but it wouldn't outright stop them. He'd just be more careful so as to not inadvertently kill anyone."
Kirito had handed her the food he got her during her explanation, then as she finished he started eating his food with a thoughtful expression, mulling over what she told him. Finally he swallows the bite he'd been chewing before speaking, "I see. Do you have any idea why? I'm pretty sure I never met him in the beta, so it probably isn't a personal grudge, and I can't think of any other reason Diabel would target me."
She hums in thought, "No idea. I may have known Diabel well enough to tentatively call him a friend, but admittedly I rarely knew what he was planning unless I managed to get him to tell me. And getting him to talk has never been easy, but I'd be even harder since he's seen me with you. Then again, this is all just my own suspicions. I haven't seen him do anything to actually suggest he has anything to do with buying your sword, he might be completely innocent and not even know anyone is trying to weaken you."
He tilts his head and stares at her for a minute before responding, "Do you think it's him?" She nods, so he continues, "If you think it's him, then that's good enough for me. What do you think we should do?"
She's startled at Kirito's faith in her opinion. Sure, they'd become rather good friends in the month since this stupid death game started, but she wasn't used to anyone outside of her family trusting her. She felt her cheeks begin to flush. Quickly forcing her oncoming blush down, she clears her throat before answering, "For now? Nothing. I'd like to talk to Diabel, but don't mention the sword ok?"
Getting a nod from Kirito, she turns back to the plaza and calls out, "Hey Diabel? Could you come here?"
Diabel looks over at his name then starts making his way over at the request. Once he was only a few feet from her he smiles in a friendly manner before speaking, "You're in the raid tomorrow aren't you? In Group E taking care of the «Ruined Kobold Sentinels»?" She nods, "Glad to have you with us, but, uhh, sorry I don't think I got your name?"
She puts on a look of mock hurt, "Why Diabel I'm wounded. I know we haven't seen each other since the beta, but I didn't think I was that forgettable."
Diabel looks shocked at the fact she knew he was in the beta, then confused before flickering his eyes up towards her green player cursor. Unlike regular MMOs in VRMMOs the system only showed you a player's name under their cursor if they were on your friends list. She figured Diabel had taken her familiarity with him as them knowing each other well enough for her to be on his list. She can't stop herself from laughing when he clearly sees her name pop up after a couple seconds, given his eyes go wide and he returns his gaze to her face gaping like a fish.
A moment later he snaps out of his shock and starts rambling, "Hanna-chan! You're alive! That's great! Well I mean I knew you were alive since I saw you on my friends list, but I didn't expect to see you here. Not that it's shocking that you're participating in the boss raid, you were always really good, but it definitely took me by surprise to see you so suddenly. Not that it's really all that sudden, just. I'm rambling aren't I? Sorry you just surprised me, and I'm still rambling. You know I'm just gonna shut up now before I make an even bigger fool of myself."
She starts laughing not even halfway through his tirade. It was rare for Diabel to lose his composure, but she finds it hilarious every time. In the beta it had gotten to the point that she had actively messed with him, deliberately trying to get him to lose his cool.
Shaking her head she grins at him, "It's nice to see you too, Diabel. Always fun to mess with your head." Looking at Kirito she sees him smiling at them in bemusement, and gestures to him before continuing, "This is Kirito, a friend of mine and my party member."
Diabel's eyes narrow just a fraction at Kirito's name then widen in surprise at the rest of her sentence. His surprise was understandable, she rarely called someone her friend and she never partied with anyone. However, the more important part was that he'd clearly recognized Kirito's name, making it even more likely that it was him trying to buy Kirito's sword. Ignoring it for the moment, she starts discussing the boss raid tomorrow with Kirito and Diabel.
Twenty minutes into the discussion Kirito taps her shoulder, after seeing he has her attention he gestures down a street to her left while saying, "Isn't that Asuna?" Glancing over, she nods in agreement after a moment to find who he was indicating. Speaking in a manner that makes it clear he was talking to himself more than her he continues, "I wonder what she's doing all alone?" He falls silent for a minute before turning back to her, "Hey, I'm gonna go talk to her. I'll meet you back at the inn later."
She nods then watches him walk off. Turning back to Diabel she sees him staring at Kirito with a strange look on his face, and sighs, "Kirito's a good guy you know. I don't know why you wanted to weaken him, or what you're up to Diabel, and frankly I don't care. Just make sure no one gets hurt, and for fucks sake, be careful. We may not be overly close but you're still my friend. I don't want anything to happen to you."
Diabel stares at her silently for a moment then nods, "I know Hanna. Trust me I know. I am being careful, and I'm not gonna endanger anyone. More importantly, 'friend and party member'? I can't think of anyone other than myself you've ever introduced as a friend and you've never partied with anyone, despite my numerous attempts to persuade you to team up with me. He must be something special to have caught your attention."
She opens her mouth, but before she can reply Kibaou calls out to Diabel. He turns and gives the group the annoying man was standing with the one minute sign, but before he can even fully turn back to her she shakes her head at him, "I don't know why you're hanging out with that guy. He's an arrogant jerk, and he isn't even a tolerable arrogant jerk like you are." Diabel opens his mouth to deny her insult, but she just shakes her head again, "Go on Diabel. Have fun, cause some mischief. Just be careful, I've got a bad feeling that whatever you're up to isn't going to go the way you plan it to."
He grows serious at that. He knew that her bad feelings were usually spot on. He starts walking backwards to Kibaou and his buddies as he finishes their conversation, "I will Hanna. You be careful too. I don't need to tell you this, but this place is dangerous. I don't want to see you hurt."
His peace said, Diabel turns around and rejoins Kibaou. With a smile that, while friendly, she knew to be utterly fake, he starts chatting with Kibaou's group.
The next day- December 3rd, 2022:
Everyone was double checking their equipment one last time before the boss fight began, before Diabel walks up to the boss door, then turns around to them, "Listen up everyone. I only have one thing to say to you all. Let's win! Let's go!"
Turning back to the boss door, Diabel puts his hand on it. Creaking loudly it opens immediately. As soon as the door finishes opening, people start cautiously entering. At the end of the dark room, she can vaguely see the boss lift its head. Its eyes start glowing red and it grabs its weapon as it stands up. Immediately the room lights up brightly, and the boss's name and four health bars appeared proclaiming it to be «Illfang the Kobold Lord». Three Ruined Kobold Sentinels spawn a moment later. With a loud roar from the boss, it and the Sentinels charge.
Undaunted, Diabel lifts his sword above his head and starts shouting, "Commence attack! Tanks forward! Group A get the boss's attention on yourself first, Group B be ready to switch with them at my command. Groups C and D wait til the tanks have its attention then start hitting it with all you've got, if it switches its attention to you fall back and let the tanks get it to refocus on them. Group E take care of the Sentinels! I don't want them bothering groups A through D! Groups F and G you're on standby, but be ready to switch at a moment's notice!
She can't help but be impressed. Diabel had never seemed like a leader to her, but he was actually rather good at it. For the next twenty minutes, Hanna and her party dealt with the constantly respawning Sentinels. She listens intently to Diabel shout orders, and keeps an eye on the battle. Finally, Illfang's fourth HP bar depleted to 1/3 and Illfang jumps away and throws his ax and shield. This was the signal that the boss had lost enough HP and was switching tactics.
However, rather than go by the original plan of surrounding Illfang, Diabel abruptly yells for the other groups to stand back, and rushes in while charging a one hit massive damage sword skill. With a jolt, she realizes what he's doing, 'He's trying to get the last attack bonus. That idiot's going to get himself killed!'
Finishing off the last Sentinel she shouts, "Diabel don't!" Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Kibaou look at her strangely, but ignores it. Diabel had smiled at her, meaning he wasn't going to listen. Already running towards Diabel and Illfang, she shouts over her shoulder, "Kirito, Asuna! Come on!"
Kirito follows her without hesitation, and Asuna catches up a moment later. Abruptly, Kirito inhales sharply. She can see why, rather than the talwar it was supposed to have, Illfang drew a nōdachi. He shouts loudly at Diabel in warning, "Diabel! It's no good! Retreat as fast as you can!"
They were almost to Diabel when Illfang abruptly jumps and starts bouncing around the room, she tilts her head and shouts to Kirito, "Kirito get a foot in front of me now!"
He jolts, then gets into a position. She immediately starts charging a heavy sword skill. As soon as Illfang launches itself at Diabel, she jumps onto Kirito's shoulders, then uses him as a springboard, launching herself to intercept Illfang. Illfang looks at her at the last second, only to receive her sword skill right to his face and get violently thrown back. She isn't a heavy hitter though, so it isn't a surprise that the skill doesn't finish off Illfang. Instead he bounces twice before slamming into one of the room's many pillars, nearly crushing a Sentinel that spawned seconds before.
Using the last couple seconds before her skills cool down kicks in, Hanna twists so she wouldn't land too hard and shouted, "Kirito now! While it's stunned! Asuna the Sentinel!"
Asuna immediately runs ahead of Kirito and engages with the Ruined Kobold Sentinel. Kirito doesn't even pause, hitting Illfang with a heavy sword skill of his own, hurling the boss a few feet into the air. Illfang seems to freeze in midair for a couple seconds before shattering into thousands of polygons. A split second later a large 'Congratulations!' appeared where Illfang was, and a loud fanfare cut through the heavy silence. The quiet only lasted five more seconds before the raid group starts cheering wildly.
Her skill cool down ends, unfreezing her. Glancing at Diabel, she sees him looking rather pale, which was understandable since Illfang's sword had been less than five feet from his face when she slammed into him. Speaking loud enough to be heard over the crowd she asked, "Diabel? Are you alright?"
Getting a shaky nod from Diabel she turns back to Kirito, who had his back to them. He seems to be staring at the congratulations window. She quickly makes her way over to him, and gets his attention with a gentle hand on his shoulder. He turns quickly, clearly startled, however before she can say anything Kibaou angrily yells at the crowd, "Stop cheering!"
Dead silence falls, as everyone turns to Kibaou in shock at how he could be angry when they'd just beaten the boss. Kibaou glares at her and Kirito before furiously continuing, "You two! You could've gotten Diabel- No, all of us, killed! You both knew the boss wouldn't behave in the manner the guide book said it would, yet you didn't say anything at the meeting! You-"
Diabel quickly composes himself, and angrily cuts across Kibaou, "Enough! The boss was obviously changed since the beta-"
Kibaou only seems to grow more enraged, "Exactly! Yet they still knew! They still knew even though it was different than the beta! They're even worse than beta testers! They're cheaters! They're beta testers and cheaters! That's the only explanation! And I bet there are more of them here! Come out, you cheaters! Now!"
She stares in horror. Kibaou was causing mistrust to spread through the other players like a plague. If the people who would be making up the boss raid parties don't trust each other, then they'd never get out of here. Something had to be done, and fast, before the mistrust Kibaou was planting became rooted in everyone's minds. But what to do? With the accusations Kibaou just threw at her the others weren't likely to listen to her, if anything they'd probably think her protests proved Kibaou right.
Before she can figure out what to do, she's taken off guard when Kirito abruptly bursts into dark laughter. Walking past her and stopping a few feet in front of her, he levels Kibaou with a condescending smirk and speaks in a dark dangerous tone, "Cheater? Alright, I'll give you that one, but beta tester? Don't make me laugh. Yeah, I was in the beta, but don't associate me with those utter noobs. Those guys were so green, they didn't even know how to level up properly. Even you guys are better than they were."
Kibaou gapes at him. A minute later one of Kibaou's buddies composes himself, "See he admits it! He's a beta tester and a cheater! He's-he's... A beater!"
She narrows her eyes, then glances at Diabel. He was staring at Kirito in shock, disbelief, and... respect? It was strange to see Diabel look at Kirito in respect considering a mere two days ago he was trying to sabotage him. She returns her gaze to Kirito, then, feeling more determination than she had in her entire life, she makes up her mind.
Kirito lets a dark grin slowly spread across his face, and starts manipulating his menu then equipping a black trench coat she'd never seen before. With a condescending smirk he replies, "Beater, huh? I like it. Alright, you can call me that, just don't confuse me with those noobie beta testers."
He turns to her, and she can see the apology hidden in his eyes and immediately understands what he was going to do. He was going to push her away so he wouldn't drag her down with him. Narrowing her eyes in annoyance she cut across him before he had a chance to say anything, "Always gotta waste time playing around with the losers. Honestly, if I've told you once I've told you a hundred times, they aren't worth the effort."
Kirito's eyes widen in shock, but he doesn't contradict her. It was too late now anyway. She'd cemented it into everyone else's minds that she was with Kirito. So instead he plasters on a fake pout then whines, "Must you always ruin my fun? I like fucking with their heads." She glares at him, so he gives a dramatic sigh before continuing, "Fine, fine. Let's go."
Without even giving the other players another glance, they head to the end of the boss room and start going up the stairs to the next floor. The stairs go up in a spiral, and Hanna barely waits til they were far enough up to be out of sight before grabbing Kirito's arm and yanking him around to face her, "Let me make one thing perfectly clear. The only reason I'm not punching you in the face for your stupidity is because you're incapable of feeling it, making it rather pointless." Kirito opens his mouth to protest, but she shuts him up with a glare, then continues, "No. That was pure stupidity. You just made yourself public enemy number one, and you were gonna run off on your own leaving me behind?"
Kirito's jaw tightens and when he speaks his voice is tense, "Yes. They were already going to make me one of the most hated people in Aincrad. At the very least I could manipulate the situation so beta testers stop being discriminated against, but I sure as hell wasn't dragging you down with me, so don't you make it sound like I was abandoning you. I was trying to protect you."
She loses her temper at that, "I don't need protection! I've been hated and discriminated against my entire life, it doesn't matter to me one bit what any of them think! What matters is that one of the few people I actually care about just threw themselves to the proverbial wolves, and even worse tried to do it alone!"
She's panting, more out of habit than necessity, by the end of her tirade, and glaring daggers at him. Kirito stares wide eyed at her in return, when he finally composes himself he lowers his head before speaking quietly, "I understand why you're upset, I do, but I'm not going to apologize. I know we've only known each other for a month, but even if you don't need me to protect you, I care about you. I want to protect you. So, I'm not gonna say sorry, because I wouldn't mean it, and I don't like saying things I don't mean." Lifting his head he gives her an exasperated grin before continuing, "Besides, it's a moot point now. After what you pulled back there, there's no going back."
She huffs before sharply snapping back, "Good! Someone obviously needs to keep you from getting in over your head!" finally losing the last of her righteous fury she softens, then jokingly says, "Sorry to burst your bubble, but you're not getting rid of me that easily."
Kirito grins lightly then tilts his head with a simple, "Oh? That so?"
Hanna gives a firm nod before grinning at him and proclaiming, "Yup! I'm like a vampire, once you invite me in there are no take backs. You're stuck with me."
Kirito's laughter proved to be infectious, as it wasn't long before Hanna had joined him.
The boss fight had been going well, up until Diabel decided to abandon the plan and rush Illfang alone anyway. The second Hanna takes off he follows. He didn't even need her shout to tell him to join her, he'd already been right behind her.
As Illfang draws his secondary weapon, Kirito feels like his blood has turned to ice. That wasn't a talwar. That wasn't a talwar. Before he even realized he was opening his mouth, he hears his own voice desperately yell, "Diabel! It's no good! Retreat as fast as you can!"
For a minute he lets hope get the better of him, lets himself give into the wild belief that they'd make it. That hope is crushed when Illfang starts jumping around, bouncing off of the walls and pillars wildly. He's yanked from his despair when Hanna shouts at him, "Kirito get a foot in front of me now!"
He jolts in confusion. He doesn't understand why, not when they won't make it. Nonetheless, he does as she asks. Not even a second later he hears the hum of a sword skill charging up. A couple seconds more and Illfang moves to attack Diabel. Immediately he feels something land on him, he almost stumbles when the same thing disappears with a heavy push.
Looking up he sees Hanna had launched herself to intercept Illfang. In a rather detached manner it occurs to him that she'd used him like he was some sort of trampoline. Before that thought could go any further, Hanna rams her sword skill right into Illfang's face, sending him skidding into a pillar, narrowly missing a Sentinel. Not even a second later Hanna shouted at them, "Kirito now! While it's stunned! Asuna the Sentinel!"
Neither of them need to be told twice. Asuna rushes past him and takes care of the Sentinel. He all but ignores her though, as he hits Illfang with a one hit sword skill, cleaving from Illfang's left hip to right shoulder. Illfang is lifted a few feet off the ground, then seems to freeze in midair for a moment before shattering as all mobs do. He's so shocked at how quickly it seemed to end that he barely notices the congratulating banner, the fanfare, or the cheering. He whirls around when he feels a hand touch his shoulder, though he immediately relaxes when he sees it's a smiling Hanna.
She opens her mouth to say something, but before she can Kibaou starts shouting his head off. As Kibaou and Diabel briefly argue, Kirito grows furious. Kibaou can say whatever he wants about him, fine whatever, but saying those things about Hanna? Kirito has never been a violent person. Sure, when he'd started playing VRMMOs he'd noticed he was a bit of a berserker, but that was different. He wasn't actually hurting anyone. Now though. Now he wants to beat Kibaou's face in. Not his avatar, but his real face.
He forces himself to take a calming breath. It was clear he wasn't going to talk his way out of this, so he might as well make the best of a bad situation. He refuses to drag the other beta testers or Hanna down with him. Especially Hanna. Kirito has always been strangely good at acting, considering how little he interacts with people due to his anti-social tendencies. He does his best 'bad guy' laugh. Not one of those overly dramatic ridiculous ones, but one that could easily come from a cruel and sadistic person in real life. While laughing he walks past Hanna and stands in front of her, so as to draw negative attention away from her. He gives a big 'hate me I'm the bad guy' speech, and equips the «Coat of Midnight» he got as the last attack bonus at just the right moment for dramatic effect.
Then he turns to Hanna, apology in his eyes, but cruel smirk blaring, determined to make sure her name doesn't get dragged through the mud with his own. He's startled when she damn near glares at him, but before he can say anything, she beats him to it, "Always gotta waste time playing around with the losers. Honestly, if I've told you once I've told you a hundred times, they aren't worth the effort."
He's shocked. Why? He knew she could tell what he was going to do. She had an out from all the hatred that was sure to be directed at them after today. So why? Why'd she throw it away? It was too late to go back now, what's done is done. So after putting the finishing touches on their little act, he starts for the stairs, Hanna following closely.
As soon as they were hidden from the other players' views, Hanna roughly yanks him towards her and all but snarls in a low dangerous tone, "Let me make one thing perfectly clear. The only reason I'm not punching you in the face for your stupidity is because you're incapable of feeling it, making it rather pointless." He tries to protest, but she glares harshly before continuing, "No. That was pure stupidity. You just made yourself public enemy number one, and you were gonna run off on your own leaving me behind?"
He clenches his jaw in anger. Couldn't she see he was trying to protect her? Why was she angry about that? Tense with confusion and anger he replies in rather clipped tones, "Yes. They were already going to make me one of the most hated people in Aincrad. At the very least I could manipulate the situation so beta testers stop being discriminated against, but I sure as hell wasn't dragging you down with me, so don't you make it sound like I was abandoning you. I was trying to protect you."
She immediately snaps back in righteous fury, "I don't need protection! I've been hated and discriminated against my entire life, it doesn't matter to me one bit what any of them think! What matters is that one of the few people I actually care about just threw themselves to the proverbial wolves, and even worse tried to do it alone!"
That shuts him up quickly. He'd only known her for a month, but Hanna was precious to him already, and it meant a lot to him that she cared so much about him. What really got him though, was the second sentence. How could anyone hate Hanna? How dare anyone discriminate against her?
He wants to ask about it, as far as he's concerned it's far more important than what they'd been arguing about. He knows that this meant something to her though. So lowering his head and reigning in his fury, he quietly explains, "I understand why you're upset, I do, but I'm not going to apologize. I know we've only known each other for a month, but even if you don't need me to protect you, I care about you. I want to protect you. So, I'm not gonna say sorry, because I wouldn't mean it, and I don't like saying things I don't mean." Lifting his head up and looking her in the eye he can't stop the exasperated grin that made its way across his lips, before he continues, "Besides, it's a moot point now. After what you pulled back there, there's no going back."
Apparently determined to get the last word Hanna snaps back, "Good! Someone obviously needs to keep you from getting in over your head!" Her anger finally seems to deflate, and she softens, then jokingly says, "Sorry to burst your bubble, but you're not getting rid of me that easily."
He couldn't stop the grin that tugged at his lips even if he wanted to, "Oh? That so?"
She nods before grinning and proclaiming, "Yup! I'm like a vampire, once you invite me in there are no take backs. You're stuck with me."
It's so ridiculous it startles a laugh out of him. Not that he's complaining when it gets Hanna to start laughing too. Just the sound of her laughter causes any lingering tension from the boss fight and subsequent argument to all but melt away. Kirito doesn't usually get attached to people, much less in just a month, but there was something special about Hanna.