Chapter Summary: After the night with Aiko and Rukia, Kirito was glad to leave their home to think about what happened the night before. But as he leaves, he gets a strange Quest Window, a quest to meet someone.

Chapter Eighteen…

Talk with Akihiko Kayaba…

24th of November 2027 - Horunka Village:

It was the morning of the 24th, and Kirito was still in the village of Horunka. He was relieved to be out of Aito's house. Don't get him wrong - he liked the NPC and her daughter, but after the events of the previous night, he found it difficult to look them in the eye for a while. Not after he fucked the young daughter of Aiko's. He still couldn't understand what the person behind that scenario was thinking.

The sick bastard had programmed the eleven-year-old to suck him off, and then after an hour's rest, they had her and her fuck to fuck him for a few hours before all of them fell asleep again. The most distressing aspect was that he genuinely savoured his moments with the two despite recognising the wrongdoing. Even more concerning was his uncertainty about whether the person manipulating the situation was influencing his feelings or if he was uncovering a side of himself he had never acknowledged - finding pleasure in the thought of being close to someone so young. He couldn't fathom being that kind of person, aware of how wrong it was.

As dawn's first light broke, Kirito woke up, quietly watching Rukia and Aiko still asleep. A knot of anxiety tightened in his stomach at the thought of confronting them and dealing with the chaotic aftermath of the previous night. He rose silently, got dressed, and stepped out into the cool morning air, eager to avoid whatever problematic situation lay ahead.

The village was quiet, punctuated only by the chirping of birds as Kirito took a deep breath. The fresh air did little to clear the jumble of thoughts in his mind. Three quests demanded his attention: first, finding Edward's brother, Alphonse; second, tackling the growing threat of thieves targeting the Nightingales; and lastly, facing the terrifying Behemoth that had captured Aiko's husband and grandfather.

Kirito intended to seek Zangetsu's help regarding the thieves, though he was uncertain about when that support might come. Just the thought of the Behemoth sent chills down his spine; he felt he didn't have the strength to confront it yet. After the emotional fallout from the previous night, approaching Aiko again felt like stepping into a minefield. This left him with the frustratingly vague quest of locating Alphonse. While he knew his last known location, the unpredictable nature of the game loomed large. There was a real chance Alphonse had moved, and Kirito prepared himself for a potentially long and fruitless search, suspecting that hints might be hidden around, but his luck typically leaned towards the challenging and drawn-out.

He mulled over another option: focusing on levelling his Alchemist skills. This, too, had its challenges. The major quests he knew were likely taken or possibly not repeatable, and if they were, he might need to find a different NPC to activate them or, worse, encounter variations of the quests this time. Basic, repeatable quests were always on the table, but there was also the risk that they would be on cooldown, trapping him in a waiting game that could last hours, days, or even weeks before he could attempt them again.

Kirito was aware of some initial Alchemist quests, and since he was the first to unlock the class, he could likely seize them before anyone else. However, these quests were quite a distance from Horunka Village, and until he spoke with Zangetsu, the risk of straying too far from the Town of Beginnings was daunting.

As Kirito considered his options, an unexpected Quest Window appeared suddenly in front of him, interrupting his thoughts.

A Shadowy Meeting at the Bottom of a Well

Climb Down the Abandion Well outside the Village!

There's a Mysterious Character wanting to meet you at the bottom of the village's abandoned well.

Go and Meet Them.

Reward(s)

Quest Information on finding Alphonse.

Quest Information on finding members of the Black Widows.

Quest Information on finding members of the Shadow Wolf Fang.

Accept/Decline

A flicker of unease rippled through Kirito. The rewards were undeniable bait, especially considering he was sure the information was connected to his personal quests from Argus for winning their competition to get a place as a Beta Tester for Sword Art Online. The same Argus that he was now hesitant about trusting. This wasn't some random NPC summoning him; someone from Argus was trying to contact him, and the question was, why? Was this a trap?

The rewards, the information on Alphonse, the Black Widows, and the Shadow Wolf Fang, were incredibly valuable. It would streamline his progress immensely. On the other hand, the secrecy and the potential threat loomed large. After the events of the previous night, he knew the people within Argus could not be trusted.

Yet, as Kirito mulled it over, a strange sense of calm settled in. If Kayaba or his group wanted him dead, they wouldn't resort to cryptic meetings. They had the power to unleash monsters or simply send a death code directly into his NerveGear. He was fairly certain he wasn't going to be ambushed, which put the pros and cons of meeting this mystery character in a new perspective.

Another reason to investigate was the chance to glean information about the previous night's incident with Aiko and her daughter. But most tempting of all was the information about his quests. Having the location of the people he needed would prove invaluable. Deciding the potential greatly outweighed the risk, Kirito made his decision. He consulted his hub map and headed towards the abandoned well, a sense of cautious anticipation settling in his chest.

o0OoO0o

Kirito descended into the well, expecting the usual cramped, damp space fit for a handful of people. Instead, he found himself in a vast, echoing cave resembling a spacious living room carved from the earth. The air hung thick and heavy, carrying the earthy scent of wet stone punctuated by the soft, rhythmic drip of water. Dark tunnel entrances yawned before him, their depths obscured by shadows, each a silent invitation into the unknown. Torches flickered on either side of each opening, casting a warm, dancing light that barely reached the rough-hewn walls.

A small river snaked through the heart of the cave, its crystal-clear waters a stark contrast to the gloom of the surroundings. It wound its way through the rocky landscape, a ribbon of silver against the dark, silent stone. The tranquil flow of the water added another layer to the strange, unsettling calm of the cave. It was a scene that was both mesmerising and unnerving, a place that felt both ancient and strangely inviting.

Kirito couldn't help but ponder the purpose of this place and why it had been abandoned, especially when the water source was still active. This was a new discovery for him; he didn't recall encountering this particular well during the Beta Test. It was entirely possible that this was one of the additions Argus had implemented into the main game. However, during the beta phase, his focus had been solely on quests and levelling up, pushing through floors and engaging monsters as quickly as possible. He hadn't had the chance to explore every nook and cranny of each floor back then.

Before Kirito could begin his exploration, a dark form materialised from the shadows of one of the tunnels. Standing there, bathed in the flickering light of the torches, was Akihiko Kayaba. He was dressed as always in his signature outfit - a crisp white shirt, black trousers, a white lab coat, and a black tie. The very image of the man sent a cold shiver down Kirito's spine.

A crimson haze descended over Kirito's vision. All thought evaporated, replaced by a primal rage. This was the architect of their suffering, the puppeteer who had twisted what meant to be a normal adventurous game into a death game. This man was the source of countless deaths, the one who had torn families apart and robbed children of their parents. And, more horrifically, he was the reason for the disturbing events of last night, the unwanted pleasure he had found with an eleven-year-old. This memory alone was enough to make his blood boil, his rage reaching new, dangerous heights. He lunged, sword drawn, intent on retribution.

But the attack was ineffective. Kirito's blade passed right through Kayaba as if he were made of nothing more than air. What stood in front of him was nothing more than a translucent image, a cruel mockery of the real man. Kayaba's lips curled into a slight smile, his calm demeanour a stark contrast to the tempest brewing within Kirito. "Now, now, Kirito, or should I call you Kirigaya Kazuto?" Kayaba spoke, his tone conversational, almost amused. "That's hardly the way to greet someone who's just here to have a little chat with you."

Kirito's voice dripped with a venomous sarcasm that belied the turmoil raging within him. "Why should I listen to anything you have to say?" He gripped his sword hilt, knuckles white, the familiar weight a cold comfort. He had once held Kayaba in high esteem, a brilliant mind who birthed Sword Art Online. Now, all he saw was a monster, the architect of their shared nightmare, responsible for the countless deaths that stained the digital world. "You're the reason we're trapped in this damn game, and so many people are dead. You're more than likely the reason why I fucked an eleven-year-old last night." The raw confession hung heavy in the air, a testament to the depravity of their situation.

Kayaba, standing across from Kirito, let out a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of the digital world itself. He acknowledged the truth in the young man's words: the blood, the despair, and the horrific events of the previous night. He was the architect of this prison, and Kirito's pain was, in a way, his creation.

"Listen, Kirito," Kayaba began, his voice devoid of remorse, "I have no apologies for trapping you and the others in this game or for the deaths that have resulted from it." He paused, letting the cold truth settle. "As I told you all at the beginning, I wanted to observe how people would react in a world filled with sword arts and monsters. But there was more to it; I wanted to study people in a world that I personally designed, a world I created many years ago."

Kirito's response was immediate, a guttural outburst of pure rage. "You sick bastard!" He spat, his grip on his sword tightening further, the desire to attack almost overpowering him. "You allowed so many people to die just so you could see how they would react in a world of your making. There have been countless deaths because of you." The accusation, fueled by pain and anger, fell like a hammer blow.

Kayaba remained unmoved. "While it's true that they died because they are trapped here, it doesn't mean I allowed them to die." His tone was measured, almost clinical. "I provided you all with the chance to fight. I gave you weapons, mentors to teach you how to fight, and the ability to level up and become stronger. It's not my fault that they didn't take these opportunities to get stronger before facing the monsters." He spoke of resources and opportunities but failed to acknowledge the human cost of his experiment.

"They shouldn't have needed to!" Kirito snapped, his frustration reaching a fever pitch. If he could have further tightened his hold on his weapon, he would have. He desired to lash out, to strike, but the futility of attacking a hologram was a bitter reality. "They just wanted to play a normal game, not risk their lives." He took several deep breaths, trying to quell the burning anger, forcing himself to regain some semblance of control. He wouldn't waste his time on useless anger. He needed answers. "So tell me, why do you want to see me? I highly doubt it's to talk about why you trapped us in this damn game."

"That's true," Kayaba admitted, his gaze unwavering. "The reason I'm here is to apologise for what happened to you last night. That should not have happened." The words hung in the air, absurd and jarring in their sudden shift in tone.

"What!?" Kirito asked in a shocked whisper, disbelief warring with confusion. He couldn't comprehend the man's priorities; he would apologise for that but not for the devastation he had wrought. "Why would you apologise for that?" The question was a desperate cry for logic in a world where logic had long since abandoned them. 'He cares about this and not the death of all these players?' Kirito thought in disbelief.

"I might be many things and allow many things to pass, to let this game be the way it is, but what happened last night, that's something I could never condone." Kayaba informed the teen with a deep sigh. He made it clear that he really condemned Kirito being forced to be intimate with such an underage person as Rukia, even if she was an NPC. To him, there were just some lines that should never be crossed, and having underage sex with those under the age of thirteen was one of them. It didn't matter if it was an NPC or a normal person; forcing someone to have sex with an underage person was just wrong and wasn't what Kayaba could rightly condone.

"You're kidding me, right? You're fine with players dying, but you're against people having sex with someone young?" Kirito said in disbelief. How could a person like Kayaba be fine with one thing but not the other? It was a twisted morality that defied all reason.

"Because what happened to you was against your free will and involved a young child, even if that child was merely a non-playable character." Kayaba said, his expression serious as he sought to clarify his intentions to Kirito. He observed the teenager's incredulous gaze and sensed the weight of suspicion hanging in the air. The Game Master of Sword Art Online pressed on, his tone earnest yet detached, "Yes, I coerced you and the others into participating in this game without your consent, but I assure you, I am not compelling any of you to engage in battles, especially when it involves children."

His words hung heavy with the complexity of his morality. He'd created a death game where he trapped tens of thousands of people, yet he drew a line at the sexual exploitation of a virtual child. It was a twisted sense of justice that was deeply unsettling, a strange mixture of cruelty and perceived ethics that evoked a mixture of anger and confusion in Kirito. He stared at the man, trying to find some sort of logic in what was obviously an illogical man. The more Kayaba spoke, the more Kirito felt like he was slipping into an alternate reality where the rules of morality were bent and shattered.

Kirito's hands clenched into fists, the anger a live thing thrumming beneath his skin. He fixed his gaze on the impassive hologram, the artificial construct of the man who had orchestrated his living nightmare. "Tell me," he demanded, his voice tight with barely suppressed rage, "how were you able to do it? To make me have sex with someone as young as Rukia?" He fought to maintain control, knowing a physical outburst would be a futile waste against the digital representation of his tormentor's machinations. Be a waste of his of his time and strength. "Was it some sort of mind control or something? Because I don't see myself doing such a thing. Why was this done to me?"

The hologram sighed as the man rubbed the back of his neck, a gesture of reluctant admission. "It was a type of mind control, yes." he conceded. He seemed unwilling to say it but knew Kirito deserved the truth, a small attempt to absolve the young man of blame for the previous night's events. It wasn't as if he could stop the architect of this depravity from using the system again. "The reason why what happened to you last night is down to the person who created the mind control system. He wanted... amusement. He decided to use you for his fun. He used Rukia, as he… has a thing for underage girls and wanted to make you like him."

Kirito's eyes widened, his shock palpable. "What!?" he exclaimed, the idea unfathomable. A sick, perverted man had attempted to twist him into his image? A predator who preyed on young girls? "Why me? Why did you hire such a person?"

Kayaba raised an eyebrow, the gesture cool despite the gravity of the situation. "Do you think it's easy to run and maintain a game like Sword Art Online all by myself?" he countered. "That's why I had to bring in people with... questionable backgrounds, or those who didn't object to my plans. I wasn't aware of the extent of his depravity, but at the time, it was a compromise I was willing to make. And as for why you were targeted..." Kayaba paused, knowing the revelation would only further complicate matters. "Well, it's because of me."

"How so?" Kirito's voice was low, edged with a dark intensity, and his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"When you won the Beta Test Competition, you sparked my interest." Kayaba explained, his gaze unwavering, holding a fraction of the reason Kirito was entangled in this mess. He deliberately omitted the details of his extensive investigation of Kirito's life, how much the young man reminded him of his own youthful self. Sharing that would only muddy the situation further. "I wanted to witness your capabilities in this virtual world. To observe if you could use the quests presented to you to truly grow stronger, to gauge if you could conquer this game and liberate everyone trapped within it. My genuine curiosity is what drew you to the person behind this scheme. He aims to manipulate and reshape you, particularly because he harbours a dislike for me despite the fact that I brought him on to assist me and give him some leeway."

Kirito was adrift in a sea of conflicting emotions. His anger burned, but it was fractured, unsure of where to land. Should he rage at the pervert who had forced his actions? Or at Kayaba for placing him in the predator's path because of some twisted curiosity? Why hire such a man, knowing his animosity?

But as the questions swirled, a cold realization dawned. He thought back to his encounter with Aiko, the encounter that had marked a turning point in his life, and he couldn't shake off the doubt that crept into his mind. He was fourteen, yes, and the concept of sex hadn't been alien to him. But his focus had been laser-sharp on gaining power, on climbing the floors of Aincrad. Why would he have let his goals slip for a fleeting sexual encounter?

'The bastard.' Kirito thought darkly, the understanding like a punch to the gut. 'He didn't use that mind control system on me before, did he?' The idea settled with chilling certainty. It was an explanation, the only one that made sense. He wouldn't have done it otherwise, right?

"Did you use this mind control system on me before?" Kirito asked, his voice trembling slightly, a mixture of fear and anger lacing each word, the question an accusation as much as a query. He dreaded the answer but had to know. If it was yes, how many times had it happened? So far, aside from having sex with Aiko and Rukia, he had only been fighting, learning skills, and levelling up to become stronger. But for all he knew, they might have a way to alter his memories so that he wouldn't remember any of his actions, all of his decisions controlled by someone else, his life a puppet show orchestrated by a twisted puppeteer.

Kayaba sighed at this. He had hoped to keep this information to himself, a dark secret buried beneath layers of other secrets. But the truth about mind control was already out, and Kirito had begun to piece together what had happened to him. After last night, the teen had a right to know the truth so he wouldn't have to worry about it in the future. Another layer was stripped away, the truth leaving him vulnerable.

"Yes, I did use the system on you-" Kayaba began, but the moment he said this, Kirito, with a primal roar, launched himself at the shimmering hologram of Kayaba. Steel flashed as his sword, a weapon born of countless battles, ripped through the digital projection, the blade passing through without resistance like cutting water. The attack was brutal, a physical manifestation of the profound betrayal he felt, the desperate urge to strike back at the source of his manipulated existence.

The problem was that with each hit, the hologram would only flicker a bit. It was like striking at a ghost, his sword doing no damage, but he didn't stop. Kirito's face twisted with rage and frustration; it was as if the hologram was mocking him, a constant reminder of his powerlessness and the depths of his manipulation The attacks were futile, doing no damage at all, but Kirito kept attacking it out of rage at being used like that; he didn't think, just attacked. Kayaba just stood there smiling sadly at the teen, feeling sorry for him.

After what felt like an eternity of futile attacks, Kirito dropped to his hands and knees, his chest heaving with ragged breaths. The rage hadn't subsided, but sheer exhaustion was beginning to take its toll. He wished, with every fibre of his being, that Kayaba was here in person, solid, tangible, so he could deliver the crushing blow the man deserved. "You... you bastard," he gasped, voice thick with venom, "you controlled me. How many times did you do this to me?"

Kayaba sighed, a sound laced with weariness. He understood the young man's assumption, the belief that he'd been repeatedly subjected to the mind control system. But the truth, as was so often the case, was far more complex. Aside from the previous night, the system had only been used once on Kirito, on the night he orchestrated the events between Kirito and Aiko. However, even that situation was different to what Kirito was thinking.

"Kirito," Kayaba began, his voice resonating with unexpected candour, "this may be difficult for you to accept, but aside from last night, there was only one other time we employed the mind control system on you." He was acutely aware that his words might fall on deaf ears, his past actions casting a shadow of doubt over everything he might say. He had no ulterior motive of winning Kirito's trust, but he knew that the young man deserved to hear the truth. "However, how we utilised the mind control system might not align with your expectations."

"What do you mean by that?" Kirito's voice was like ice, each word dripping with venom. He glared up at Kayaba from his kneeling position, his eyes searing with barely contained fury.

Kayaba took a steadying breath, his composure unshaken by the intensity of Kirito's gaze. "While the events that brought you and Aiko together were indeed orchestrated by me, the aspect of mind control wasn't as intricate or invasive as you might imagine." He leaned forward slightly, his expression sombre. "We only employed the system to implant a subliminal suggestion, encouraging you to engage in that sexual encounter. The choice was always yours, Kirito. You could have chosen to stop at any time. You only continued because you enjoyed it, unlike last night, where you were forced to partake in sexual acts and forced to enjoy it. What I truly want is for you and the others in this game to play as you like so that every action you and the other players take is entirely your own action. I want you all to feel free to do whatever you like, with minimal outside interference from us - aside from one slight subliminal suggestion, of course."

As much as he hated to admit it, Kirito found Kayaba's words resonating with a reluctant sense of truth. He remembered that night with Aiko. He remembered wanting to leave, but other than Aiko wanting to give him a hug, he felt something else - an almost magnetic sense of obligation to stay. He remembered the initial kiss from Aiko, and he remembered the sudden urge to kiss her back. From that point onward, the memory became a blurred mess of confusion. It was the first night of the Death Game, he was disoriented, deeply scared, and seething with betrayal. Aiko offered a path away from all of that. He realised that if he wished to, he could have stopped at any point, but instead, he let himself fall into the oblivion she offered, using the physical intimacy with her to numb the pain of that day's events.

Even if Kayaba was telling the truth about his motivations, it didn't erase the fact that he had manipulated Kirito, planting a suggestion that stole a piece of his free will. The anger simmered, a bitter taste in his mouth. That day, he hadn't been in his right mind, not capable of making clear, considered decisions. Given a strong enough push, a suggestion to end his life, he might have succumbed. The thought sent a shiver down his spine.

As he clenched his fists together, he got up. Looking right into Kayaba's eyes, Kirito asked the man, "Why did you set up the encounter between me and Aiko?"

Kayaba's visage remained calm, his tone measured. "You may not believe me, but I acted not from malice but in an attempt to assist you." Kirito's lips curled in disbelief, but Kayaba pressed on, "As I told you, you captured my interest. When I reviewed footage from the first day, I observed a lack of confidence in your interactions with others. Something that could be dangerous, as in this world, being alone all the time, without allies, could lead to your death. You need to rely on others, particularly when facing Floor Bosses. Confidence is key when interacting with people, and I was trying to foster that in you. And the encounter with Aiko was intended to help you build that confidence."

"Help me? You wanted to help me?" Kirito's voice cracked with disbelief, the word a mockery on his lips. His hands began to tremble, a violent counterpoint to Kayaba's placidity. His eyes darted to the sword lying on the floor, the primal urge to grab it and strike the man burning within him. But he restrained himself, a cold wave of rationality washing over him. He was dealing with nothing more than a holographic projection. Violence would be pointless, a waste of his energy and strength, changing nothing.

Kayaba's voice was calm, almost soothing, yet it did little to ease the tension radiating from Kirito. "I understand that you're having a hard time believing me, especially after last night's events, but I truly want to help you," Kayaba admitted. "It might sound strange, and the way I approached it may not be the usual method, but my intentions were good. The quests that you won can be greatly beneficial, depending on your ability to complete them and how you choose to utilise the rewards. I wanted to observe how a player would make use of them. However, those rewards mean nothing if a person lacks the confidence to engage with them fully. That's why I aimed to build up that confidence - not just to be among others, but to enable you to use the quest rewards to their fullest potential."

Kirito remained conflicted. He could grasp the logic; Kayaba didn't want his carefully crafted quests to be squandered. However, the man's actions had shattered any semblance of trust. He was trapped in a deadly game, and this same man had manipulated his emotions and desires, forcing him into an intimate encounter with Aiko through subliminal suggestions. He could have resisted, yes, but his mind had been clouded, leaving him vulnerable. This realization only deepened his aversion to trusting others and chipped away at his already fragile self-assurance.

After a moment of internal struggle, two questions surfaced. He began with the first, the one that burned with righteous fury: "What happened to the person who did this to me?"

Kayaba's answer was a single, chilling word: "Nothing..."

The response ignited a firestorm of anger within Kirito. He lunged for his sword, his fingers closing around the hilt, the metal cool against his palm. He knew it was a futile gesture against a hologram, but in that moment, he needed to do something. He needed to regain some semblance of control, a sense of autonomy that had been stripped away so carelessly. He raised the sword, the tip aimed at the impassive image before him. "You're fucking kidding me, right? Nothing?" His voice was tight with rage. He narrowed his eyes, fixated on the hologram. "Why would you do nothing about him?"

Kayaba remained calm, his tone measured. "I don't like it, but until the major update in the new year, I need him." He explained, his words careful. He had to be honest yet choose them carefully. He needed Sugou to address any unforeseen problems with the Physic System before the update. He needed to be sure the subliminal suggestions were functioning as intended, ensuring they didn't completely abolish free will or plant inappropriate urges. "Right now, he has been put under twenty-four-hour surveillance and logged out of the system fully to prevent this happening again. When he is in the system, he'll be monitored and restricted in his actions."

"Whatever you say," Kirito replied sceptically. Given Kayaba's past actions, or lack thereof, and how readily he allowed players to die, Kirito found it difficult to believe in the man's assurances. It was no surprise that he was wary, yet he knew he had no other option but to trust him. The alternative was for him and the other players to be at risk of being controlled by whoever had orchestrated the previous night's events. Suppressing his anger, he moved on to his second question. "What's this suggestion that you're giving the other players?" He dreaded the answer, fearing the ramifications, but he had to know, if only to warn those close to him.

"Just a simple suggestion, to have them leave the Town of Beginning and set out for their own adventure, to become stronger, and clear the game," Kayaba told Kirito. His tone remained calm and neutral, just as it had been from the start. This meeting had gone exactly as he'd anticipated. Kirito's mistrust, his anger, and even his brief attempt to attack him were all entirely predictable. "It would be boring if everyone remained in the safety of the Town of Beginning and its surrounding area. So the suggestion is to try and send more players who are fourteen or over out in the world every so often, for them to try and clear this game."

While the suggestions weren't as bad as Kirito feared, forcing players to fight when they didn't want to didn't feel right. Yet, as he pondered the situation more deeply, he couldn't shake the feeling that, despite his reservations, this might ultimately lead to a good outcome for everyone involved. Like it or not, they needed players out on the floors as they opened up, either as blacksmiths, traders and, more importantly, fighters to clear each floor. But if most of them were stuck on the first floor and around the area of the Town of Beginnings, then as those die, there would be no one to clear the floors and there would be no way to escape this damn game. They would stay here until their real bodies died in the real world. This was something Kirito feared.

So, as much as he hated to admit it, if these subliminal suggestions could make players fight, it could be a means to a terrible end. A way to escape this place. It wasn't like they had to follow the suggestions, if they really didn't want to, it was just a suggestion. They could stay on the first floor if they really wanted to.

'This is the only way, right?' Kirito asked himself as he frowned. He hated the idea, but there was nothing he could do about it, even if he wanted to. Did he really want to stop it if it meant having more players fighting and clearing the floors? He was in two minds about this.

There was so much to think about, and he was just not sure what to do about it. Even if he did tell someone, what could they do against subliminal suggestions? He was just not sure how the suggestions worked or if tapping into a particular feeling, like desires or fears, made them more or less effective.

"Now, I think our time is up, I've done what I came here to do, so unless you have any more questions, I'll be going," Kayaba informed the teen, showing no sign of emotion about what had been said. Throughout the meeting, he was calm and collected, his posture perfectly straight, as if he were nothing more than a robot who didn't have feelings, except for a slight tightening of his jaw when speaking about the children, which Kirito only caught because he was looking for it. That worried Kirito, as with that type of person, you couldn't tell what they might do.

As for if he had any questions, he did think of one, so he asked, "Why did you come and talk to me? After everything that you have done, I find it hard to think that you would come here all because someone who works for you did something to rob my free will and used a child NPC in his actions." He hated the thought of her, Rukia, being used like that. The thought sent a chill down his spine. That wasn't right, no matter what anyone said. It really did bother Kirito about this. It made no sense that he was happy to see people die but wasn't happy to see people being used as toys. That was what Kayaba was using them as: toys in his world, who died trying to clear the game.

Kirito studied Kayaba's face, his eyes searching for a reaction, something, anything. But nothing was there, only the usual calm and controlled facade. It was chilling.

"It might surprise you, but that's just why I came here." Kayaba sighed. He understood why Kirito would think otherwise, but still, after talking with him, he hoped the teen would see that he wasn't a total monster. "As I said before, I might be many things and allow many things to pass, but there are some lines that you should never cross. And using unwilling children, be it real or NPCs, is one line I would never cross. I do hold onto some principles and ethics, no matter how twisted that may seem to you. I am not without my convictions. Everything I do, I do for a reason, no matter how twisted they seem. I came here to apologise and to let you know you're not to blame for what happened."

Kirito, however, remained unconvinced. 'Could it really be that simple?' he thought, his mind grappling with Kayaba's words. This man, who had orchestrated a death game for his own amusement, was now claiming a moral high ground? It seemed ludicrous. To think that a twisted sense of ethics was the reason for this seemingly heartfelt apology was hard to accept. The death of countless players—the trauma he, himself, had endured—all for some sick experiment about how his world would function. Yet here he stood, claiming empathy and remorse.

Then, Kayaba's words about everything having a reason resonated with Kirito. 'Was there more to the game than anyone knew?' he wondered. Was Kayaba's twisted logic simply a way to justify his actions, or was there a deeper game at play, something that even Kirito hadn't yet grasped?

Before Kirito could voice his questions, Kayaba turned towards the tunnel from which he had appeared. "Before I leave," he said, as he reached the entrance, his voice echoing slightly, "just some advice." He turned back to face Kirito, a faint smile playing on his lips. "First, you should explore this well when you have some time. There are some decent items here if you can find them before anyone else."

This unexpected piece of advice threw Kirito off balance. Why would Kayaba help him? Was it a twisted form of compensation, a way to assuage his guilt, or was it something more?

"Next," Kayaba continued, "you might have already figured this out, but quests are different than in the beta. Whilst some are repeatable, there are some cases, like with your blade, where you need to find a different NPC to get another of its kind. In some cases, going to a library and reading books can help you find quests."

Kirito already suspected this, but the library information was new. He would definitely investigate further, as it could provide an advantage.

"Another thing," Kayaba said, his tone becoming more serious, "unlike in the beta, where there were a set of quests that were programmed into the game, the player's actions can also create new quests." He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Depending on what they do in a village or town or how they complete certain quests, their actions could create new quests. In this new world, most actions have consequences, like killing an NPC. Doing so can rob you and others from doing a quest or alter the questline somehow, maybe make it harder or easier. You can never tell."

This was the confirmation Kirito had feared. He had wondered what would happen if a quest NPC died. Would they just respawn like most NPCs, or would they be gone forever? Kayaba suggested that they would regret it and so Kirito at least, went with the worst case scenario. Now he knew for sure what would happen if they killed an NPC. The actions of the players would directly affect the game world and available quests, making it more critical than ever to be careful and thoughtful.

"Last two things," Kayaba continued, "other than Quest Chests, which would remain empty, after a Blood Moon, a lot of the chests are randomly refilled so you can reopen them and get more items."

This was also new information. He knew that the Blood Moon respawned monsters, but the fact that it now also refilled chests could be a great benefit to lower-level players needing loot.

"And finally," Kayaba said, turning his gaze towards the tunnel, "once you get the reward to show you where Alphonse is, he'll be in that area for twenty-four hours unless a player's actions force him to move beforehand. Then he'll be moving on from that area."

With this final piece of information, Kayaba turned and began to walk towards the tunnel.

"Why are you helping me so much?" Kirito called out, his voice echoing in the confined space. Just as Kayaba entered the tunnel, his form fragmented into pixels and vanished completely.

Kirito was left alone, his mind reeling. 'What the hell was all that about?' He found it hard to believe that Kayaba, a man who had previously shown no remorse for their suffering, would be concerned about what had happened to him and Rukia. It didn't make sense. Was it all an elaborate game to test his reactions, or was there something more to it? Was the comment about his actions having reasons the true key to everything?

Before he could delve deeper, his Quest Window popped open.

A Shadowy Meeting at the Bottom of a Well (Completed)

Climb Down the Abandion Well outside the Village!

There's a Mysterious Character wanting to meet you at the bottom of the village's abandoned well.

Go and Meet Them.

Reward(s)

Quest Information on finding Alphonse.

Quest Information on finding members of the Black Widows.

Quest Information on finding members of the Shadow Wolf Fang.

With a frustrated sigh, Kirito decided to put those questions aside for now. He knew that he wouldn't get answers by just thinking about it. Besides, those who were trying to beat the game were likely not going to be swayed by possible subliminal suggestions, as they were either helping to train others or were doing their best to clear the floors. Still, he would warn them, just in case.

For now, Kirito decided, he would focus on what he could control: quests, levelling, and becoming as strong as possible. He checked his hub map, his eyes scanning for Alphonse and the elusive thieves. Aiko and Rukia had mentioned the presence of Shadow Wolf Fang members within the village. The map confirmed it. Further, a group of thieves were positioned just outside the village, hidden in a cave in the neighbouring forest. The remaining members of the Shadow Wolf Fang and the Black Widows were scattered across the wider map. Kirito realized this was too much for him to handle alone, and attempting to tackle it all by himself would waste valuable time that could be used to clear more floors. He would need to find allies, and soon.

Then, his gaze landed on Alphonse's marker. The coordinates placed him back in the Town of Beginnings. Kirito was baffled by this. He didn't know why he was there, but at this point, it didn't really matter. Whether this was part of Kayaba's twisted apology, or something else entirely, Kirito felt a rush of relief. The Town of Beginnings was relatively close. Not only would he find Edward's brother, but he could then seek Zangetsu's help with the thief quest. A perfect plan.

Now that he knew Alphonse's location, Kirito began to organize the rest of his day. He decided to leave the village immediately. He was more than happy to avoid another awkward encounter with Aiko and Rukia. When he returned, it would be to confront the Shadow Wolf Fang, and if he was forced to stay the night, he would rent a room. He wouldn't risk a repeat of the previous night's events. With a renewed sense of purpose, Kirito left the village walls and headed towards his first objective.

To Be Continued!

Author's Note: Here ends another chapter of Sword Art Online - Alchemy Edition. I hope that you enjoyed this chapter. I hope that you'll be able to spare a few moments to leave me some feedback on the story. I would like to hear your thoughts and any ideas you would like to see happen in the story. I hope that you like how I dealt with the aftermath of the last chapter.

You might wonder why I included a chapter featuring Kayaba. There are two main reasons for this choice. First, I wanted to give Kayaba more airtime in the story to illustrate his character better. While he is indeed a twisted individual, he operates under a specific set of morals, and his actions have justifications behind them. The second reason was to provide Kirito with a way to locate the thieves and Alphonse. Without this development, it would have been challenging to explain how he found them. Although this method may seem cheap and easy, it was the best solution to address the situation.

If you have any suggestions for quests from other games that you'd like to see incorporated or events that weren't in the light novels but you wish had been, please let me know. I'll consider adding them to the chapter.

I would like to ask though, if you do have an idea for a quest, if possible, could you please let me know if there's a video of the quest. I want to see it played out so I know how it was originally done before I make my chances. Meaning how it was started to the very end where they complete the quest.