Episode 2 "Sleeping Knights"

“Yeah, is it okay if I stay here?”

"Heh... heh..."

"Ah...I'm sorry."

"... jeee... it's okay... if it's true, I wanted you to stop it all of a sudden..."

"Go, I'm sorry...!"

　

Another small island a little far away from the one where we had a duel... a place overgrown with small trees like mangroves... I was finally able to land there, but Yuuki apologized without thinking about my condition. Flustered, as if he thought he had done it on a whim.

　

“Phew… so?

"Uh-huh... hey, Fon. Can you lend us your strength?"

"... what do you mean?"

　

Unable to understand Yuuki's words, I unintentionally frowned.

I can tell from the expression on her face that it's not just something...

　

"I want you to fight with us! We... with the Sleeping Knights!"

“Sleeping… Knights…?”

"Yeah... I want you to defeat the boss monster with us Sleeping Knights."

"By boss monster, do you mean the floor boss of Aincrad?"

"That's right... I want to defeat it with just us and Fon!"

"... Huh? That's impossible...

Could it be the 1st party capture award engraved on the first layer swordsman's monument ?

"...Yeah...I know it's a pretty reckless challenge.

...but I really want to do it... !

　

Yuuki's words oozed out that thought.

That's why...I just listened to what I thought.

　

"But why go that far? Do you have to do something like this duel and go so far as to search for collaborators?"

"We, Sleeping Knights, are a guild formed by members we met in a certain internet game.

But it won't be long until we can continue with the current members..."

「・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・」

"That's why!... Let's make something memorable before we disband while we can...

That's what I decided...! "

"...I know the reason"

"Tsu! Really? ... Then!!"

"... Ah. But there's someone better suited than me, Yuuki."

"e...?"

“Of course, in the end I want Yuuki to make the decision, and if that person doesn't like it, I will cooperate with him, but I'm sure Yuuki will like it too, don't you think?

She used to be called the 'demon of capture'."

"A strategy...oni...?"

"Yeah. Now they call me 'Berserk Healer'."

　

Yuuki raised his head curiously, and I smiled as I answered.

　

　

　

For the time being, the story of the helper was put on hold until Asuna was introduced.

Yuuki wanted to introduce the guild members no matter what, so I decided to head to the inn on the 27th floor where they were home.

　

"Well then, let me introduce you, Fon. Friends of my guild, Sleeping Nights!"

　

When we arrived at the inn, Yuuki introduced us to the players who had already taken their seats.

Apparently they are members of the Sleeping Knights.

　

“I'm Jun. Nice to meet you, Mr. Hwon!”

"My name is Tarken. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Nori. Mr. Fong, can you show me your skill in defeating Yuuki later?"

"Well... nice to meet you, I'm Siune."

"My name is Tech. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you. You may have heard it briefly from Yuuki, but I'll say it again...Fon.

With Yuuki... There are many things, and it's like an acquaintance. I've been called by various names, but it's okay to call me by whatever you like. nice to meet you"

　

After the members introduced themselves, I briefly introduced myself .

　

“Even so, I didn't expect to defeat Yuuki…”

"Yeah. I was thinking of someone who is equal to or better than Yuuki, who is the strongest among us, but... to think that there is someone who can really defeat Yuuki..."

"Hey, hey! Siune...!"

"... Oh. And that kind of match..."

　

Yuuki brushed at Nori-san and Siune-san's words. Well, I can't say too deeply...

　

As it was, we talked about me and the games they'd played so far, and the place was lively...as expected, I hid the fact that I was an SAO returnee.

　

“Speaking of which, Yuuki.”

"Yeah? What...?"

“Kirito…why didn’t you invite the black-clad player who fought before me?

　

I asked Yuuki something that caught my attention. I thought that if it was the previous condition, Kirito would also apply.

　

“Ah, yeah………that person is no good after all.”

"···eh?"

"That person...because he found out about my secret..."

「・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・」

　

I was at a loss for words when I heard Yuuki's unexpected words with a sad look on his face.

What's the secret anyway ?

　

"... That's right! Come to think of it, it's the skill Fon was using earlier, right?"

　

Yuuki forcibly changed the subject, so I didn't want to hear any more, and just answered Yuuki's story.

　

　

　

"Then I'll bring that person next time."

"Yeah! Until then, I'll try to find out if there are other good people."

　

After making a promise to bring Asuna, I parted ways with Yuuki and the others.

When I checked the message while moving to the square, it was coming like a demon from Kirito and others.

　

With a wry smile, I replied that there was no problem with each of them, and only Kirito

"I'll explain the situation next time."

I just replied. As it was, I headed to the inn that was currently being used as a temporary home and logged out.

　

　

　

"... Hmm!"

　

After returning to the real world, I got up from the bed and stretched out. I was about to head to the refrigerator to drink some water before going to bed. My smartphone was glowing.

　

After checking the contents...

There was a call history from my father. There was also an answering machine left, and I played it.

　

"Oh, lotus? I was close by on business, so I thought I'd stop by you...

If there's nothing...get in touch.'

　

In a panic, I looked at the history again, and apparently it was called an hour ago. I hurried and called my dad back. Within a few calls, my father answered the phone.

　

"hello"

"Hello. Father, it's lotus, but..."

"···Oh. Did you hear my message?”

"Uh, yeah. I'm sorry, I'm late... are you still nearby?"

"Oh. I was just on my way to the station."

"Well, I see...if you don't mind, would you like to come to my house?"

"... that's right. Then go right away

"yes"

　

I replied to my father's words.It takes about five minutes from the station to here.I panicked and started preparing to meet my father.And it was about 2-3 minutes later.

　

Ping Ping

　

"...welcome"

"Oh... sorry, suddenly..."

"Uh-huh... get up for now."

"Oh"

　

Anyway, I urged my father to go up to the house.

Tea was served, and me and my father sat across the table, but...

　

「「………………」」

　

My father and I were silent without saying anything.

It's not like I'm not on good terms with my father, or that I'm quarreling with him...

It's true that my father isn't the type to talk that much even at home, but that's not the reason...

I'm the cause...

　

「・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・」

　

...It's exactly the same as the original world, with the same personality and work... Even so, when I came to this world, I always felt that my father and mother were strangers.

　

I know it in my head, but I don't really know what to talk about.

　

"...lotus"

"What...?"

"How's school going?"

"It's fun. I already knew someone."

“…is VRMMO still doing well?”

"No..."

“Don't overdo it and it will hinder your studies.”

"Yeah... Dad seems to be doing well, too."

"Oh... well, you can't be too busy."

"...I see"

「「・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・」」

　

And the reason why it was hard for me to talk to my father was that I didn't really understand what he was thinking.

Silence reigned again. I asked about my father's expression, but his expression remained unchanged.

　

"...I'll be going home soon. I just came to see if you're doing well."

"Ah, then, to the station..."

"It's okay...it's already late. Keep the door locked."

"Ah..."

　

Rejecting my proposal, my father left immediately.

　

「・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・」

　

Being left behind, I didn't stand still on the spot without saying anything.

　

　

　

Next time: SAO ~Phantom War Demon~

　

"You're comfortable sleeping."

　

“Asuna, just a little bit more! Good luck!”

"Asuna, let's go!" "I'll decide!"

　

"It's a certain player's nickname. An absolutely invincible sword."

　

"Kirito said to me, Absolute Sword is a child of the VR world..."

"I have no choice but to ask Zetsuken-san directly... I'm also curious about that person, Zetsuken..."

　

"The 22nd Floor Battle of Memories"

...if you don't fight, you can't survive!

　

　

---

The distance between Hwon and his parents, which was also mentioned in the ALO edition...

In this volume, we will touch on this story as well.
Well, for the time being, it's based on the original, but... ( laugh)