Nearly two years have passed since this death game began.
I'm still going it alone on the front lines.
Kayaba Akihiko is out there somewhere, watching this world.
What is he feeling right now?
Guess I'll go home now.
October 17, 2024 Floor 74: Dungeon
The Sword Dance of White and Black
Is that...
Floor 50: Algade
Seriously?
Skull Powder Ragout Rabbit Meat Lizardman Skin Lizardman Scales
This is an S-class rare item.
I've never seen one before.
Hey, Kirito.
Don't you already have all the money you need?
Wouldn't you rather eat this yourself than sell it?
I'd love to eat it.
I'll probably never get one again.
Then...
But who has a high enough cooking skill
to prepare this?
If we tried, we'd just burn it...
Kirito-kun...
I've found my chef.
Wh-What?
It's rare to see you in a dive like this, Asuna.
It's almost time for the next boss.
I just came to see if you were alive.
I'm on your friend list. You can tell from that.
If you're still alive, that's good enough.
Anyway, so what was that about a chef?
Oh, yeah.
What's your current cooking skill?
I maxed it last week.
What?!
Amazing, right?
If you're that good, I have something to ask you.
Th-This is a ragout rabbit!
We'll trade.
If you cook it for me, I'll let you have a bite.
Half.
O-Okay...
All right!
Sorry...
I won't be selling it, after all.
We're buddies, right?
Just give me a taste...
I'll write you a two-page report on its taste.
Oh, come on!
Then where would you like me to cook it?
Well...
You probably don't have any cookware at your place.
Just this once,
and only because the ingredient is so good, we can use my place.
That will be all for today.
Goodbye.
Asuna-sama, you can't let such a suspicious person into your home.
He may be suspicious, but he's also quite skilled.
He's probably ten levels above you, Kuradeel.
You're suggesting he's superior to me?
I see...
He's one of those beaters.
Yes, that's right.
Asuna-sama, all they care about is themselves!
Nothing good will come of being around him.
What's going on?
That's Lightning Flash Asuna!
You're right! She's really cute!
Just go home for today.
That's an order from your vice commander.
Hey, are you sure about this?
I'm sure!
Floor 61: Selmburg
It's huge, and it's mostly empty.
It's really liberating.
Then you should move here.
I don't have nearly enough money.
Anyway,
are you really sure about that guy back there?
I told them I don't require an escort,
but they said it's the policy for leaders.
The commander used to personally invite everyone.
We were just a small guild.
But we began getting more and more people.
After people started saying we were the strongest guild,
everything got weird.
Well, it's not a big deal, so don't worry about it!
We should hurry, or it'll get dark.
R-Right...
E-Excuse me...
How much did all this cost?
The room and furniture were probably around 4,000,000 Cor...
I'll go change, so have a seat.
O-Okay...
4,000,000 Cor.
4 mega-Cor.
I'm sure I've saved up that much, but...
How long do you plan to stay dressed like that?
O-Oh, right...
So, this is a legendary S-class ingredient?
How do you want it cooked?
Chef's choice.
Let's see...
Then let's make a stew.
It's a ragout rabbit.
And a ragout is a type of stew.
Normally, you'd need to do a lot more.
Cooking in SAO is oversimplified. It's boring.
That takes care of the stew!
I'll make some side dishes.
I've been here two years,
and this is the first S-class ingredient I've had.
I'm glad I've survived this long.
Yeah...
It's strange...
It kind of feels
like I was born and raised here for my entire life.
It's just a feeling.
Lately, there are days I can't even remember the other world.
And it isn't just me.
Recently, fewer and fewer people
have been giving their all to clear the game.
Fewer than five hundred players
are fighting on the front lines.
Everyone has grown accustomed to this world.
But I want to go back.
There are lots of things I never had the chance to do there.
Yeah.
Unless we do our best, it isn't fair to the merchants and others
who are supporting us.
Stop it.
What?
Lots of people with that same expression have proposed to me.
From the look of things, you aren't close to any other girls.
It's fine. I'm a solo player.
You don't want to join a guild, Kirito-kun?
I know the beta players don't fit in with groups.
But...
Ever since we hit floor 70,
the monster algorithms seem to be more and more irregular.
There are things a solo player can't handle.
And you can't always warp out.
I keep a solid safety margin.
And most party members
are more likely to hinder me, rather than to be any help.
Oh?
I get it.
You're the exception.
Right.
Then, party up with me. It's been forever.
Also, black is my lucky color this week.
What?
But what about your guild?!
We don't have any leveling quotas.
Th-Then what about your escort?
I'll ditch him.
Asuna invites you to join her party.
The front lines are dangerous.
F-Fine.
I suppose I should thank you for today.
Thanks for the meal!
You, too.
I'll ask you for help again.
Or I would,
but I doubt I'll ever find an ingredient like that again.
If you're skilled, you can make good stuff with normal ingredients.
The way the world is now...
Is this really what Kayaba Akihiko wanted to make?
October 18, 2024 Floor 74: Kamdet
She's not coming.
Watch out!
Ow...
What...
is this?
Ouch.
U-Um, good morning, Asuna.
What?
Asuna-sama, you shouldn't act like this.
Let's go to guild headquarters.
No!
And what were you doing
outside my house so early in the morning, anyway?
I thought this might happen,
so for the past month,
part of my mission has been to observe you in Selmburg.
Th-That wasn't in the guild leader's orders, was it?
My mission is to guard you.
That includes at your home.
No, it doesn't, idiot!
You should stop acting like such a brat.
Now, let's return to headquarters.
Sorry.
I'll be borrowing your vice commander today.
I'll take responsibility for her security.
We aren't facing a boss today.
You can go to headquarters alone.
Hell, no!
A low-level player like you couldn't possibly protect her!
I am a member of the glorious Knights of the Blood Oath...
I can do a better job than you.
If you're that certain,
you're prepared to prove it, right?
Will you accept duel request? Opponent: Kuradeel Type: 1 vs. 1
Are you sure?
It's fine.
I'll speak with the guild leader.
Normal Mode Time-Limit Mode One-Strike Mode
Watch carefully, Asuna-sama.
I'll prove that only I can protect you.
Kirito, the solo player, and a member of the Knights of the Blood Oath are dueling.
This'll be fun to watch.
I-Impossible...
W-Wow.
He destroyed the weapon.
Was that deliberate?
If you want to try with another weapon, I'm okay with it.
But that's enough, isn't it?
A-Asuna-sama...
He cheated!
He used some trick to destroy my sword!
Otherwise, I couldn't have lost to some dirty beater.
Kuradeel,
this is an order from the vice commander of the Knights of the Blood Oath.
As of today, you are relieved of your escort mission.
Stand by at guild HQ until you receive further orders.
That is all.
Wh-What?
You...
Teleport: Grandzam.
Sorry for involving you in that.
No, it's fine.
But are you okay?
Yes.
I think my problems with the guild are
because I was too focused on clearing the game.
And I was too strict with the other members.
That...
Well, I don't know.
If you hadn't been, we'd never have come nearly as far as we have.
I just mess around as a solo player, so I have no right to judge.
Still,
even if you decide to take a day off to party with a slacker like me,
I don't think that gives anyone the right to complain.
Well, I guess I'll say thanks.
So I'll accept your offer, and take it easy today.
You can play at forward.
W-Wait a second!
We take turns as forward!
I'll do it tomorrow!
Floor 74: Dungeon
Having someone good along makes this a lot easier.
Kirito-kun, switch!
Right!
Kirito-kun, look.
Isn't that...
I bet it is.
The boss room.
What do we do?
Just take a look?
Boss monsters never leave the rooms they guard.
If we just open the door, we'll be okay.
R-Right.
Have a teleport crystal ready, just in case.
Yeah.
Ready?
I'm going to open it.
Yeah.
Next Time: The Blue-Eyed Demon