"Yuuji-san… You're amazing. I can't believe you're not a beta tester. Or rather, are you actually a swordmaster in real life?"
"Ahahaha… Nothing like that. I've learned swordsmanship a bit, but nothing like a sword master."
After a late night grinding, Yuuji made his way back to the village from the dense forest.
Walking alongside him was Kirito. He was a head shorter than him, so conversations were done with Kirito looking up or Yuuji looking down.
At that angle, Kirito would be able to see from under the hood that covered most of Yuuji's visage. But most of his appearance was still covered by the cloth mask.
Kirito could only see his eyes and his raven hair, but it was enough for him to infer the extremely handsome visage Yuuji might have under his guise.
'Though, why would he hide his appearance if he's so handsome…?'
After all, wouldn't it be nice to be handsome? It'd make everything much easier.
People would tend to be more biased towards those with a pleasant appearance.
He had seen it numerous times. The handsome guys in his school would be popular with the girls and teachers. And naturally, their mistakes would be diminished or even be thought of as cute. They could even do things that other guys, who had less pleasant appearance, would be rebuked for or punished.
While beautiful girls would enjoy the attention of guys around her, be treated as a princess, and receive various benefits from them without even being asked.
As someone who had only been the spectator of such things, Kirito couldn't help but wonder why he would hide it?
Wouldn't he be able to enjoy the same benefits in this death game?
Especially if he was this strong? He wouldn't be lacking in the number of people wanting to follow him.
"How about you? I noticed you're also quite used to the sword. I know you're a beta tester, but… do you perhaps learn swordsmanship in real life? Maybe… Kendo?"
"Yeah, I do. I've learned Kendo for two years. Though I haven't touched it in quite a while."
Kirito looked up to him with amazement.
"It's amazing that you can tell."
"I can see it in your footwork. Most people who didn't have any real training with the sword would have messy footwork. But I can still see traces of Kendo footwork in your steps when you fight."
'Unlike Coper, who's clearly a novice with no real training.'
He added in his mind, his senses keeping track of the young man who was now walking several steps behind them.
Yuuji seemed to have instilled fear into him after his display of strength during their grind. Which was what he intended.
Fear was the only effective repellant for these kinds of people. Coper now knew that he won't be able to win against him one on one. And even if he were to lure monsters to attack Yuuji, he knew that Yuuji could simply kill them all before killing him.
So now, all Coper could do was try and stay away from him, fearing that Yuuji would attack him if he were to ever notice his hidden intentions.
Soon, the three arrived back at the village and they went to the Inn together, intending to stay there for the night.
"Well then, I'll be retiring for the night."
"Y-Yeah. I'll be going to the shop for a bit… Thanks for today."
Coper lowered his head to Yuuji before immediately scuttling away.
"Hm?"
A look of confusion flashed across Kirito's expression. But his attention quickly returned to Yuuji as he began making his way to the only local inn within the village.
"Y-Yuuji-san!"
Yuuji stopped and turned his head towards Kirito.
"Uhm… This might sound weird but…"
Kirito clenched his fist, fighting his habit to simply stay silent, internalize everything, and look from afar. Detached.
But this… This was a chance he couldn't afford to let go.
Kirito had only e to admire a very few people in his life. One was the genius who made this virtual world and turned it into a prison for ten thousand people.
Yuuji was the second.
That swordsmanship he saw in the depths of that forest… It lit up a fire of passion within his heart for swordsmanship he didn't even know he had.
And his desire to see it once more, and perhaps learn even a fragment of his sword, pushed the words out of his mouth before his mind could stop himself.
"If possible… Can you teach me your swordsmanship?"
There was a pause.
A heavy silence, followed by a soft howl of a cold night's breeze.
With his [Teaching Proficiency] and [Swordsmanship Proficiency], teaching Kirito swordsmanship would not only be possible. He could even train Kirito to the point that he'd be able to contend against Kiba Yuuto, even as a normal human, in a few months.
But teaching Kirito would require him to spend his time, and time was something he couldn't afford now.
Although he was a master with the sword, after a full day's of grinding and hunting for monsters in this death game, he was well aware of the limits of his skills in this game world.
In the end, even if he was confident in his ability to survive against higher-leveled monsters, his skills alone wouldn't be able to generate the "damage" needed to defeat them.
He would need to level up, upgrade his equipment, level up and gain more "skills", and unlock new Sword Skills to truly advance.
Moreover, his goal in this world wasn't only to survive.
To plete his missions, he would need to reach level 100, deal the final hit to at least 10 floor bosses, kill the final boss, and eliminate at least 10 Red-Players from the red guild [Laughing Coffin].
He couldn't spend the time he could be using to strengthen himself to teach someone else.
Yuuji now turned himself fully towards Kirito.
And before the young man nervously waited for his response, he lowered his head slightly.
"I'm sorry. I need to bee stronger as quickly as possible. I can't spare the time to teach you."
A quiet exhale escaped Kirito's lips.
The bitter taste of disappointment. But, it was a response he expected.
After all, even he knew he was asking for a huge favor, something no one in their right mind would accept, especially in this situation.
"I see… Then, at the very least, can I add you as a friend? That way, we can message each other and perhaps go on a quest together in the future!"
Yuuji could see the determination in his eyes.
The determination to bee stronger, to catch up to him, and to survive in this cruel world they found themselves in.
Though, there was still naivety in those young eyes. A recklessness driven by confidence in his own knowledge as a beta tester, fear, and a lack of something—someone–-to protect.
'Hm? I'm starting to sound like an old man… I'm still in my first year of high school though.'
Well, considering he had lived through… several "first-years" of his high school in various worlds because of the missions, he was still technically a first year high school student.
"Alright."
Yuuji nodded, and relief spread across Kirito's expression.
He was a promising ally, someone who would be capable of pioneering the players in their quest to conquer the final floor of this floating castle and escape the death game. At least, Yuuji thought so, if Kirito didn't let his recklessness drive him into danger he wouldn't be able to escape.
But that too, he would need to learn himself to be able to grow.
Moreover, from what he had seen, Kirito seemed to have a decent character. And to hold on to such character in this situation was enough proof for Yuuji to, at the very least, associate himself with him.
Yuuji accepted the friend request he sent.
"Then, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yes! See you tomorrow."
--------------------------------X--------------------------------
"Hm… This should be the place, right?"
A short feminine figure looked around the village of Horunka she had just arrived in.
The hooded cloak she adorned hid the short, curly golden-brown hair and brown eyes from the bright, illuminating morning sun that shined upon her as she stood near the well at the center of the village.
She observed her surroundings, analyzing every detail she could find.
A skill, or rather, a habit she had developed due to her curious nature.
If her memory served her right, this should be the Horunka Village she knew from the beta version of Sword Art Online.
It was a small village with only a few buildings, all visible from where she was standing, and otherwise barren.
Just then, a figure appeared, ing out of the only inn within this small village.
'Ah! A player!'
Her eyes brightened.
He must be a very experienced player! A beta tester! After all, most rookie players were still in the Town of Beginnings, learning the games mechanics, and only ventured a few distance away from the outskirts of the town.
Even she, herself, had just gained enough experience points and confidence to go this far after a full day's worth of grinding around the outskirts of the Town of Beginnings.
Moreover, judging by the fact that he just came out of the inn, it could mean that he had stayed here for the night! That means, he had arrived, at the latest, the night before!
And there was only one reason why any beta testers would e to this village.
The [Secret Medicine of the Forest] quest!
"Hey! Onii-san!"
Yuuji stopped and turned towards the cloaked girl running towards him with a waved hand.
"Hello! It's nice to meet you! The name's Argo! Sorry for bothering!"
"My name is Yuuji. It's nice to meet you. Is there something I can help with?"
Argo nodded excitedly.
Inwardly, she felt relieved. Although he was hiding his appearance not only with a hood, but also a cloth mask, Yuuji seemed to be quite friendly.
"Yes! I want to buy something from you!"
"Buy?"
Yuuji tilted his head slightly. He first thought of the Anneal Blade in his hand, but that wasn't something he's willing to sell right now.
"If you're talking about this sword, I have no intention of selling it."
"Ah, as expected! So you have pleted the [Secret Medicine of The Forest] quest! That makes things easier!"
Argo pointed at the sword on the side of his waist and continued.
"I don't want to buy the sword itself, but the information of the quest!"
"The information?"
Argo nodded.
"Yes! Since the quest details could have changed since the beta version, information on the official quest could still be valuable and potentially save lives! I plan to create a series of paid guide books, and one free edition, to circulate the information needed for players to survive in the game!"
Upon hearing her reason to buy information of the quest, Yuuji had a newfound respect for the energetic girl before him.
In a time when players, specifically beta testers, scrambled to level up quickly, garner strength, and survive in this death game by using their knowledge of the beta version of the game to their advantage, she chose to disseminate information through guide books.
All so that as many players would be able to gain basic information about the world and begin garnering their strength.
"Alright. How much do you wish to pay for it?"
Argo was surprised to receive his agreement so easily. But she quickly gave him a number, lesser at first so if he were to negotiate for a higher price, she'd be able to still make a small profit.
"How about this much?"
She sent him a trade request with the amount of Cols she would be paying.
"Sure."
"Eh?"
This was unexpected… She expected him to negotiate for a higher price. After all, it's the most rewarding quest you can get as a newbie.
"You seemed surprised."
Although his face was covered by a cloth mask, Argo could imagine him smiling from the amused tone in his voice.
"W-Well…"
"I like the way you do things. You don't collect information solely for profit, but also try to help out new players by doing this. I'll support your effort."
He accepted the trade, and he was now a few hundred Cols richer.
"Thank you… That helps a lot."
Argo lowered her head, her gratitude going beyond getting such information for a cheaper price, but for his support and praise.
"Then, here's the details of the quest."
Yuuji explained all the details of the [Secret Medicine of The Forest] quest, how to start the quest, the item-drop needed to plete it, the location of the monster he had to kill to drop it, and other monsters players may encounter while doing the quest.
And as she listened, Argo couldn't help but be amazed by how detailed and thorough of the information he was giving.
"...This is great! As expected, there are a few difference to the quest detail than in the beta. It'll be a great warning to those who'd try to plete it!"
"I'm glad it helps."
Argo smiled brightly and extended a hand for a handshake.
"Thank you, Yuuji! You're a great help!"
"You're wele."
He took her hand and shook it.
Now that her main intention was acplished, Argo couldn't hold back her curiosity once again. This time, towards Yuuji himself.
"Hey hey, by the way. Why are you hiding your appearance?"
Yuuji smiled behind his cloth mask.
"My appearance will cost you a lot more."
"Ahaha! What are you, a celebrity? Your face shouldn't cost that much!"
Argo teased, her lips curled into a smirk.
"But fine, I'm an information broker, but I'm not the kind to pry into other's personal information."
Argo then sent him a friend request.
"Let's be friends. If you have information in the future, call me up! I'll pay you a fair price from the get go next time!"
"Sure."
Yuuji accepted her friend request, and she became his second friend in this world.
"Hehe! Great! Then, please take care of me, mister mysterious!"
"Likewise, miss information broker."
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AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please ment your thoughts~! I would love to hear what you think about it~!!!!
Also, if you'd like to read additional chapters ahead and get a pdf version (Light & Dark), please feel free to check out my at ~!
Thank you~!
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