March 6, 2024 Floor 56: 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 3-D objects like trees or rocks.
They're...
Alive? Is that it?
They're only objects.
Even if they're killed, they'll just respawn.
I can't go along with this.
I, Asuna, Vice Commander of the Knights of the Blood Oath,
will oversee this operation.
You will obey my orders.
Hey.
Another fight, huh?
Egil?
Why are you and the second-in-command always that way?
I guess we just don't get along.
You'll be really strong.
So if someone you trust ever invites you to join a guild,
don't turn them down.
That's what I said, but I never expected her
to start clearing floors with a top guild.
A Crime Within the Walls
April 11, 2024 Floor 59: Danac
What are you doing?
What?
It's you.
The other lead group members are all working hard to clear the dungeon.
Why are you out here taking a nap?
Even if you're a solo player, you need to be serious－
It's Aincrad's nicest season,
and today is its nicest weather setting.
Entering the dungeon on a day like this is a waste.
Do you not understand?
Every day we spend here is one we've lost in the real world.
But right now, we're alive here, in Aincrad.
See?
The wind and sunlight feel so good.
Do they?
There's nothing special about this weather.
If you'd lie down for a bit, you'd understand.
Hey, look.
Asleep already?
Some people don't work too hard.
Who are they? Jeez...
I didn't think she'd really fall asleep.
What...
Morning.
Sleep well?
One meal...
One meal!
I'll buy you one meal of any kind.
Then we'll be even, okay?
Floor 57: Martin
That's Asuna from the Knights of the Blood Oath.
That's the Lightning Flash...
Who's the guy in black?
Well, anyway...
Thanks for today.
For watching over me.
Ah, no problem...
The towns are safe areas, so no one can attack
or player-kill you.
But it's different when you're asleep.
Yeah.
Sleep-PKs, dirty tricks that use the duel system.
Normally, duels are just tests of strength.
But during a duel,
HP can go down, even in a safe zone.
So you can challenge a sleeping person,
using their own finger to press the OK button.
Then you just keep attacking.
It's happened before.
So, well...
Thank you.
W-Well...
Y-You're welcome.
Hurry and pull it out!
You stay down here and catch him.
Got it.
Hang on!
Damn it...
A duel is the only way to kill someone inside a safe zone.
That means...
Everyone!
Look for the "Duel Winner" notification!
There's no one inside.
Just what
is this?
The obvious conclusion
is that the challenger impaled the victim with that spear,
put a noose around his neck, and pushed him out this window.
Wouldn't you say?
But no one had the Winner message.
That's impossible.
The only way to hurt someone in a safe area is via duel.
Either way, we can't ignore this.
Yeah.
If someone's found a way to PK within safe areas,
it will be dangerous inside towns as well as outside.
You're right.
We'll have to leave the front lines for now, but we have no choice.
I'll need you to help me until we solve this.
Just so we're completely clear, there won't be any time for napping.
You're the one who was napping.
Excuse me.
Did anyone see the whole thing?
If you did, please speak up.
By the time I got here...
Sorry, I know you've just had a frightening experience.
What's your name?
My name is Yoruko...
Was that first scream yours?
Y-Yes.
I just came here to eat dinner
with the man who was killed.
His name is Kains.
We used to be in the same guild.
But we got separated in the plaza.
I looked around,
and I saw him hanging from the church window...
Did you see anyone else?
It was just for a second,
but I thought I saw someone behind Kains.
Did that person look familiar?
No...
I hate to ask this...
But do you know why anyone would've wanted to kill Kains?
Thank you
for walking me here.
Don't worry about it.
We can talk more tomorrow.
Okay...
So, now what?
Let's review what we know.
If we learn where that spear came from,
it might lead us to the perpetrator.
Then we'll need someone with an appraisal skill.
You don't...
have one, obviously.
Of course not.
Nor do you.
Also,
must you address me so curtly?
U-Um...
Well, maybe...
"Miss," then?
Or, "Vice Commander-sama"?
"Lightning Flash-sama"?
Just call me Asuna.
R-Roger.
Anyway, do you have any friends with an appraisal skill?
A weapons merchant friend has it...
But this is their busiest time,
so it may take a while.
I see.
Then let's ask an item merchant I know.
Floor 50: Arcade
Thank you! Come again.
Seems you're
just as greedy as ever.
Hey, Kirito.
Buy cheap and sell cheap. That's my motto.
I don't know about that second part.
Don't go slandering my good name.
Wh-What's happened, Kirito?
You're a solo player, so what're you doing here with Asuna?
Didn't you two not get along?
Someone's HP dropped to zero within a safe area?
And it wasn't a duel?
No one saw a Winner message.
If he was walking with Yoruko-san right before,
then it's not a sleep-PK.
The method is too involved for some random duel.
We can assume it was a premeditated PK.
And so, we come to this.
It's a player-made weapon.
Really?
Who made it?
Grimrock.
Never heard of them...
Not any top-ranked bladesmith, I can tell you that.
And there's nothing particularly unusual about the weapon.
But it should still be a clue.
Tell us its item name, too.
Let's see...
Guilty Thorn is its listed name.
Guilty Thorn...
Okay...
Wait!
Why?
Why do you think?
Are you stupid?!
That weapon's already killed someone!
But we won't be sure unless we try.
That's crazy! Don't do it!
Egil-san can hold onto it!
Huh? Sure...
The Next Day
Hey, Yoruko-san,
have you ever heard the name "Grimrock"?
Yes.
He was a member of the guild that
Kains and I were once in.
When we had the spear stuck in Kains-san's chest appraised,
we found out that it was made by Grimrock-san.
Can you think of any reason why that would be?
Yes, I can.
I'm sorry I wasn't able to tell you yesterday.
I wanted to forget.
It's something I don't really want to remember.
However, I'll tell you.
What destroyed our guild...
Our guild's name was Golden Apple.
Six months ago,
a rare monster we defeated
dropped a powerful ring that raised agility by 20.
We were divided on whether to use it for the guild,
or sell it and split the earnings.
But in the end, we put it by vote.
The vote went 5-3 in favor of selling it.
Our leader, Griselda-san, was going to stay overnight
at a large town on the front lines, to give it to a broker.
However, she never came back.
Later,
we learned that she'd died.
I still don't know why.
No one would leave a safe zone with that kind of rare item.
Which means a sleep-PK?
Six months ago would have been just before the method really spread.
But it's hard to think it's a coincidence.
Whoever attacked her must have been a player who knew about the ring.
In other words...
One of the other seven members of Golden Apple...
The most suspicious ones would be those who opposed selling it.
You mean they attacked Griselda-san
to get the ring before it was sold?
Probably.
Who's Grimrock-san?
He was Griselda-san's husband.
Just within the game, naturally.
Griselda-san was a powerful swordsman.
Pretty.
And smart.
Grimrock-san was a kind man who was always smiling.
They made a great couple, and they got along well.
If he was the one responsible for 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've heard he's on the front lines now, with the Holy Dragon Alliance.
Schmidt?
I've heard that name...
He leads the Holy Dragon Alliance's defense forces.
He's a big lance-user.
Oh, him.
You know Schmidt?
I've only seen him a few times while clearing bosses.
Could you let me talk to him?
He probably hasn't heard about what occurred.
And what happened to Kains could happen to him...
Let's call Schmidt-san.
I know someone at the Holy Dragon Alliance.
If we go to their HQ, perhaps we can talk to him.
Then first, we should get Yoruko-san to an inn.
Yoruko-san,
don't leave the inn until we return.
All right.
How do you think the murder was carried out?
I see basically three possibilities...
The first is a fair duel.
The second is through an exploit that combines known methods.
Yeah, I can see that.
And the third?
Some skill we don't know about, which bypasses safe areas.
Or possibly an item.
No, the third is impossible.
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 in safe areas.
Is it true that Kains was killed with Grimrock's weapon?
It is.
Why would Kains be killed after all this time?!
He...
Did he steal the ring?
Was he the one who killed Griselda?
Does Grimrock plan to kill the three of us
who opposed selling the ring?
Is he after you and me, too?!
It could be another member,
and Grimrock-san just made them the spear.
Or perhaps
it may be Griselda-san's revenge...
Only a ghost could kill someone
inside a safe zone.
I stayed awake
all last night, thinking...
In the end, all of us were the ones who killed her!
When that ring dropped, we shouldn't have ever voted...
We should've just done what she wanted!
Grimrock-san was the only one
who said we should simply let Griselda-san decide.
So he has the right to take revenge
for Griselda-san on the rest of us.
You're kidding me.
You're kidding me...
After all this time,
six whole months...
Why now?
You're okay with this, Yoruko?
You're okay with being killed like this?
Yoruko-san!
Next Time: Illusionary Avenger