March 6th, 2024 56th Floor • Pani
We'll lure the field boss into the village.
W-Wait a second.
If you do that, the villagers—
That's the idea.
While the boss is killing NPCs, we'll attack and destroy it.
NPCs aren't just mere objects like trees or rocks.
They're—
Alive? Is that it?
They're just objects.
They'll simply respawn if they're killed.
I can't go along with this.
I, Vice-Commander Asuna of the Knights of Blood, am overseeing this operation.
You will obey my orders.
Hey.
Another spat, huh?
Agil.
Why are you and the vice-commander always like that?
I guess we don't see eye to eye.
You'll become really powerful.
So if someone you trust ever invites you to join a guild, don't turn them down.
I did tell her that,
but I never thought she'd become a ruthless front-liner in one of the top guilds.
Inner Area Incident
April 11th, 2024 59th Floor • Danac
What are you doing?
Oh, it's just you.
The other front-liners are all working hard to clear the labyrinth.
Why are you lying around here, dozing off?
Even as a solo player, you need to take things more—
This is Aincrad's nicest weather during its nicest season.
Huh?
Crawling around in the labyrinth would be such a waste.
You don't get it, do you?
Every day that we waste in here is a day lost in the real world.
But Aincrad is where we live right now.
See?
The wind and sunlight feel so good.
Do they?
Don't we always get the same weather?
If you'd lie down for a bit, you'd understand.
Hey, lookie here.
Sleeping at this time of day?
Some people just take it real easy.
Who are those two? Geez...
I didn't think she'd actually fall asleep.
Wha... I...
Morning.
Did you sleep well?
A meal...
A meal!
I'll treat you to a meal, no matter how pricey.
Then we'll be even. Okay?
57th Floor • Marten
Isn't that Asuna from the Knights of Blood?
You mean, "The Flash"?
And who's the guy in black?
Well, uh...
Thanks for today.
For watching over me.
Oh, no problem.
The towns are part of the safe inner areas, so you can't be attacked or player-killed.
But it's different when you're asleep.
Yeah.
Sleep-PKs that abuse the duel system.
Normally, duels are supposed to be tests of strength.
But during a duel, you can take damage and lose HP even at an inner area.
You can challenge a sleeping person and then use their finger to press the "OK" button.
Then you attack them as they sleep.
It's happened before.
So, um...
Thank you.
W-Well...
Y-You're welcome.
Pull it out, now!
You stay down here and catch him.
Got it.
Hang on!
Damn it...
A duel is the only way to kill someone at an inner area.
That means...
Everyone!
Look around for the "Duel Winner" notification!
There's nobody inside.
What just happened?
It appears the victim's duel opponent impaled him with a spear,
put a noose around his neck, and pushed him out of the window.
Does that sound right to you?
But the winner notification didn't appear anywhere.
That's impossible.
Dueling is the only way you can damage someone at an inner area.
Either way, we can't ignore this.
Yeah.
If someone's discovered a way to PK within inner areas,
it'll be just as dangerous inside towns as outside them.
Indeed.
We'll be away from the front lines, but this needs to be addressed.
You'll be helping me until this is taken care of, then.
Just so we're clear, there won't be any time to nap.
You're the one who was napping.
Excuse me.
Did anyone see the whole thing?
Please tell us if you did.
By the time I got here...
Sorry, I know it was quite frightening to see.
What's your name?
Um, my name is Yoruko.
Was that first scream yours?
Y-Yes.
I came here to have dinner with the man who was just killed.
His name is Kains.
We used to be in the same guild.
The two of us got separated in the plaza.
I looked around, and there he was, hanging from the church window...
Did you see anyone else?
It was just for a second, but I think I saw someone standing behind Kains.
Did that person look familiar?
No...
I hate to ask this, but do you have any idea why anyone would've wanted to kill Kains-san?
Thank you for walking me here.
Don't worry about it.
We can talk more tomorrow.
Okay.
So, now what?
Let's look at the info we have.
If we learn where that spear came from, it might lead us to the perpetrator.
We'll need someone with the Appraise skill, then.
Would you happen to...
Nah, you wouldn't.
Of course not.
Neither would you.
Also, could you stop addressing me so rudely?
O-Oh...
Well, maybe...
"Miss," then?
Or, "Vice-Commander-sama"?
"Flash-sama"?
Just call me Asuna.
S-Sure thing.
Anyway, do you have any friends with the Appraise skill?
A blacksmith friend of mine does.
But this is her busiest time of day, so it might take a while.
I see.
Let's ask this item merchant I know, then.
50th Floor • Algade
Thank you! Please come again.
Looks like you're still running a cutthroat business.
Oh, it's you, Kirito.
My motto is "buy cheap, sell cheap."
I dunno about that last part.
Don't go around slandering my good name.
Wh-What's this, Kirito?
What's a solo player like you doing here with Asuna?!
I thought you two didn't see eye to eye!
Say something!
Someone's HP dropped to zero at an inner area?
And it wasn't a duel?
No one saw a winner notification.
It can't be a sleep-PK if he was walking with Yoruko-san right before it happened.
The method was too involved for it to be some random duel.
We can assume it was a premeditated PK.
And we have this.
It's player-made.
Really?
Who made it?
Grimlock.
Never heard of him...
He's not a top-ranked swordsmith, that's for sure.
And there's nothing particularly unusual about this weapon.
It should still be a clue we can use.
Tell us the weapon's name too.
Let's see...
That would be "Guilty Thorn."
Thistles of sin, in other words.
Guilty Thorn...
Okay...
Wait!
Why?
What do you mean, why?!
Are you stupid?!
That weapon's already killed someone!
Yeah, but we can't be sure unless we test it.
That's crazy! Don't do it!
Here.
Agil-san, you hold onto it.
Huh? Right...
The Next Day
Hey, Yoruko-san.
Do you know anybody who goes by the name of Grimlock?
Yes.
He was a member of the guild Kains and I used to be in.
We had the dark spear that pierced Kains-san's chest appraised,
and we discovered that it was made by Grimlock-san.
Is there anything that comes to mind?
Yes, there is.
I'm sorry I wasn't able to tell you yesterday.
I wanted to forget.
It's not something I really want to remember.
But I'll tell you.
It's something that destroyed our guild.
Our guild's name was Golden Apple.
Six months ago, a rare monster we defeated dropped a powerful ring that raises your agility by 20 points.
We were divided on whether to use it for the guild, or to sell it and split the earnings.
But in the end, we put it to a vote.
The vote was 5-3 in favor of selling it.
Our leader, Griselda-san, planned to stay overnight in a large town at the front lines, so she could sell it to a broker.
However, she never came back.
Later on we learned that she had died.
I still don't know how.
No one would venture into the outer field with a rare item like that.
Could it be a sleep-PK?
Six months ago would've been just before the method became popular.
But it's hard to believe it was a coincidence.
Griselda-san must've been attacked by a player who knew about the ring.
In other words...
One of the other seven members of Golden Apple...
Those opposed to selling it would be the most suspicious.
You mean they attacked Griselda-san to get the ring before it was sold?
Probably.
Who's Grimlock-san?
He was Griselda-san's husband.
Just within the game, though.
Griselda-san was a powerful swordswoman.
She was beautiful and smart.
Grimlock-san was a kind man who was always smiling.
They made a great couple, and they loved each other.
If Grimlock-san is the perpetrator of yesterday's murder, he must be after the three who opposed selling the ring.
Two of the three were myself and Kains.
Then who's the other?
A tank named Schmidt.
I hear he's now with the front-line guild, Divine Dragons Alliance.
Schmidt?
I've heard of that name...
He leads the Divine Dragons Alliance's defense forces.
He's a big lance-wielder.
Oh, him.
You know Schmidt?
I've only seen him a few times when clearing bosses.
Could you arrange for me to meet with him?
He probably hasn't heard about what happened.
And what happened to Kains could happen to him...
Let's get a hold of Schmidt-san.
I know someone at the Divine Dragons Alliance.
If we go to their headquarters, maybe we can talk to him.
We should get Yoruko-san to an inn first.
Yoruko-san.
Don't leave the inn until we return, no matter what.
All right.
How do you think the inner area murder was carried out?
I basically see three possibilities.
The first is through a legitimate duel.
The second is through a system exploit that combines various known methods.
Yeah, that sounds about right.
And the third?
Some unknown skill or item that bypasses the safety of inner areas.
No, the third possibility can't be it.
Why?
It's unfair.
I kind of hate to admit it, but SAO's rules are essentially fair.
I can't imagine this game allowing murders at inner areas.
Oh?
Is it true that Kains was killed with Grimlock's weapon?
It is.
Why would Kains be killed now?!
Did he...
Did he steal the ring?
Was he the one who killed Griselda?
Does Grimlock plan to kill all three of us who opposed selling the ring?
Is he after you and me too?!
It could be another member using a spear Grimlock-san made for him.
Or it could be Griselda-san's revenge...
Only a ghost could possibly kill someone at an inner area.
I was up all night, thinking.
In the end, all of the members were responsible for her death!
When that ring was dropped, we never should've voted!
We should've just let Griselda-san decide!
Grimlock-san was the only one who suggested that we let Griselda-san decide.
He has the right to take revenge on the rest of us...
To avenge Griselda-san...
You're kidding me...
You gotta be kidding me.
Why now?
Why now, six months later?!
Are you fine with this, Yoruko?
Are you fine with being killed mysteriously like this?!
Yoruko-san!