Episode 4 "Black Cats in the Moonlit Night"

『Kibo entered the guild』

I was surprised by the message from Mr. Argo. On the 6th night after hearing from Kirito that he was leaving the front line, I became concerned about Kirito's condition, so I sent a message to Argo-san and asked him what he was doing.

　

I thought they would charge me for the information, but I was surprised when they told me for free. Apparently, it seems to be a return for the extra skill information from before. It seems that the information on the blacksmithing skill, the skill derived from the item creation skill, and the accessory creation skill was quite useful for Mr. Argo.

　

Since then, Aincrad's capture has been completed up to the 37th floor. The boss of the 25th floor called Quarter Point was quite tough, but thanks to the efforts of me, Kirito, and the Knights of the Blood Oath, we managed to defeat it.

　

I got the LA bonus at that time, and the weapon is still fully usable. Well, at that time I decided to train my blacksmithing skill, so I started learning it. Now, my proficiency level has increased as well.

　

"Hey guild... What kind of guild is Kirito joining as a soloist?"

　

After erasing the message, I muttered while lying down on the cot in my small work hut on the 15th floor. And I was wondering what kind of guild it was.

　

"... will you take a peek tomorrow?"

　

Driven by curiosity, I thought so and closed my eyes on the bed.

　

　

　

the next day

Kirito was at the entrance of the labyrinth on the 27th floor with several other players. The players around him were probably members of the guild "Moonlit Black Cats" that Kirito joined.

　

In order not to be found by Kirito's enemy search skill, I used the Concealment skill and took a further distance to peek. With this, I wouldn't have to worry about being found by Kirito.

　

(... If you look at those members, you'll understand why Kirito joined.)

　

Looking at Kirito's expression and the state of the party members, I felt like I understood the reason why Kirito joined that guild. I felt that the atmosphere of the members of the Black Cat Group was something different from the capture group.

　

(Oops, looks like we're going to the labyrinth)

　

While I was lost in thought, Kirito and the others began to move. I followed Kirito and the others while keeping my distance so as not to be left behind, but...

　

"... sorry, completely lost..."

　

As a result of being too cautious of Kirito's enemy search skills and taking too much distance, I lost track of Kirito and the others... while I was wandering around the labyrinth looking for Kirito and the others.

　

"Wow!"

“!……From the wall!? Is this wall a hidden door!?”

　

When I looked in the direction where I heard the scream, I saw some kind of mark on the wall. Apparently, there is someone inside this wall. I hurried and touched the mark on the wall. Then the wall moved, revealing a hidden room.

　

What I saw there was... the worst.

　

"Ahh, ahhhhh!?"

"This is...?!... Kirito!?"

　

In front of me, a large number of monsters were attacking Kirito and his party members. Right after I opened the door, one of the party was killed by a monster. There was only one party member left. And that player's HP was approaching red.

　

"Sachi!!!"

"... Kuh, let me do it!?"

　

A monster was about to hit a player called Sachi from behind. I immediately pulled out my two-handed sword, blew away the monster in front of me with my two-handed sword, and hit the monster that was aiming at the player.

　

"eh……!?"

"Get down!!!"

　

The puzzled player……I shouted at the girl called Sachi and unleashed a ranged sword skill <Blast>. Some of the bodies disappeared in that blow, and the remaining enemies were also stunned.

　

"phone……!?"

"Let's talk about it later! Leave her to me, now focus on the enemy in front of you!!"

　

I wielded my two-handed sword and shouted at Kirito while repelling the enemies that appeared one after another.

After that, we fought while protecting Sachi from the enemy, and Kirito destroyed the treasure chest, ending the enemy's repop, and we were able to escape from the room.

　

"... what happened?"

"... it was a trap. The crystals were disabled... I couldn't protect...!

“……”

　

Apparently, it was a trap that activated when the treasure chest was opened. When I was conquering this place, no such trap existed. It was probably added after the boss was defeated.

　

"... Anyway, let's go back to town."

““……””

　

Kirito silently nodded, but the female player named Sachi looked down and didn't say anything.

　

　

　

Then the days passed...December 24th

“…………You came after all.”

“…………Fon huh?”

　

When I was waiting in front of the road leading to the Christmas tree, Kirito came.

　

"Looks like Klein couldn't stop you."

"... can you move away?"

"I will cooperate"

“…………No. I will fight the boss alone……Don’t mess with me.”

"... I know how you feel, I won't say such a simple thing...!

But what you're doing now is suicidal! Doing something like that... do you think they'll be happy!? ? ”

"... Noisy! Get out of there, Fon!"

　

Kirito was full of bloodlust, but I had no intention of retreating. It was when Kirito was about to put his hand on the one-handed sword.

　

Gasa!

""Huh...!?""

　

Six players were behind Kirito.

The equipment of those players... it's not the "Blue Dragon Alliance". That is……!

　

"Chii, the army...!"

"... I'm sorry, but our army will receive the resurrection item!"

　

Apparently, not only the Blue Dragon Alliance, but also the army was on the move. At this rate, I'll be stuck...

　

"... Kirito, you go!"

"…………phone……?"

“…………However, never die……if you die, I will revive you and beat you up!”

“……………………”

　

Kirito ran away without saying a word at my words.

　

"Wait!"

"Oops...! I'm sorry, but I'm your opponent."

　

I changed my armament from a rapier to a two-handed sword and stood in the way of the players.

　

　

　

"Haa, haa... As expected, six opponents are tiring..."

　

I repel a player belonging to the military, lie down on the ground, and exhale. Even though the level is low, it took quite a bit of effort to defeat the opponent without killing them. I'm seriously thinking about practicing disarming like Kirito...

　

“Haa!

“I’m sorry.

　

Asked by Klein, who was out of breath, I told him that I had failed as well. Then Kirito came from the opposite direction.

　

"Ki, Kirito, are you okay!?"

“………………Klein……”

　

However, there was something strange about Kirito's appearance... Kirito was holding something in his hand.

　

“…Did you get the resurrection item?”

“…………just in case……but……”

　

Kirito said so and threw the item in his hand to the ground. I picked it up and saw the effect of the item with Klein. Certainly this looks like a resurrection item...but...

　

"Ten seconds after HP reaches zero..."

"……got it……"

　

Seeing the effect, Klein and I agreed with Kirito's appearance. Just like that, Kirito started walking unsteadily.

　

"Kirito... Hey Kirito... You're not going to die!!!"

　

Klein cried out in tears, but Kirito didn't answer.

　

"…………phone……"

"We can't do anything about the current Kirito."

All I could do was reply to Klein, who was drooping.

　

(...If I knew everything about SAO, would that incident have been prevented...?)

In the work shed, while I was doing maintenance on the weapon, I regretted it.

In the original world, "Sword Art Online" was released as a series with more than 10 books. If I had read all the books, would I have been able to prevent that tragedy...?

Even now, I can't forget Kirito's expression at that time.

　

"If you, the Beater, hadn't approached us, this wouldn't have happened! 』

　

Kirito did not object to the words of Keita, the leader of the Black Cats.

However, his expression showed despair and regret. If Sachi hadn't stopped Keita, what would have happened... I didn't even want to imagine.

　

"The message...hasn't it been returned..."

　

Since then, he has never formed a party with Kirito. Sachi asked me several times how Kirito was doing, but all I could say was that I didn't know either.

(... Kirito... You were fighting with this burden on your back.)

When I learned about Kirito's chain, which I didn't know until now, I felt like I knew about him, but I regretted not knowing anything about him.