The exit!
That took years off my life!
It saved time.
Honestly...
Where will the talks be taking place?
Hmm...
Let's see...
To the northwest, inside that mountain.
How much time do we have left?
Twenty minutes.
I hope we make it!
General of the Blazing Flame
ALfheim, Butterfly Valley, Neutral Territory
I don't know if we'll make it there before the Salamanders.
Yeah.
Even if we can warn them, we'll either barely get the leader out,
or all die together in battle.
Player signals.
A group of sixty-eight players is ahead.
That's probably the Salamander attack force.
Fourteen more are up ahead.
Most likely the Sylph and Cait Sith diplomats.
Fifty seconds until they make contact.
We didn't make it in time.
Thank you, Kirito-kun.
This is far enough.
You go to the World Tree.
I'm going to save Sakuya.
It wasn't for long, but it was fun.
I hope we meet again!
Running away isn't really my style.
Why are Salamanders here?
Everyone, put away your swords!
Who's that?
Sakuya!
Leafa...
What are you doing here?
It's not easy to explain.
But the one thing I can say
is that our fates depend on him.
What is going on?
I want to talk to your commander!
What's a Spriggan doing here?
I'm going to kill you, regardless of your answer.
But in honor of your bravery, I will speak to you first.
My name is Kirito.
I'm an ambassador for the Spriggan-Undine alliance.
If you attack this meeting,
I can assume you desire a full-scale war with all four races, correct?
An Undine-Spriggan alliance?
And you, without a single guard, are their ambassador?
Yes, that's right.
I'm merely here to negotiate trade terms with the Sylphs and Cait Sith.
But if the talks are disrupted, it will be much worse.
The four races will ally against the Salamanders.
You're all alone, wearing horrible gear.
You can't expect me to believe you.
If you can withstand my assault for thirty seconds,
I will believe you are an ambassador.
That's generous of you...
This is bad.
The Salamander's two-handed sword...
It's the Demonic Sword Gram.
I've heard you need a two-handed sword skill of 950 to equip it.
O-Of 950?!
Yes.
If he's using it, he must be General Eugene.
Do you know him?
I-I know the name.
The younger brother of the Salamander leader, Mortimer.
I've heard they're brothers in real life.
The elder is a brilliant strategist. The younger, a valiant warrior.
In terms of sheer power, he's said to be the game's strongest player!
The game's strongest player...
Kirito-kun...
What was that?
The Demonic Sword Gram has a bonus skill,
Ethereal Shift, letting it phase
when someone tries to block with a shield or sword.
That's insane!
I'm amazed you're still alive.
What was that attack?
That hurts...
Hey, it's been thirty seconds by now.
Sorry, but I've decided to kill you.
Now you have to survive until I kill you.
Damn it...
I'll show you!
This will be tough.
They're equally skilled,
but Eugene's weapon is far superior.
Even so...
Even so, Kirito-kun will...
What?!
I'm going to borrow this.
K-Kirito-kun?
Was that meant to buy you time?
He's gone?
Did he run away?
Of course not!
While I'm alive, I won't let any party members die.
Kirito-kun would never run.
Kirito-kun!
Die!
Splendid! Simply splendid!
Wow, nice fight!
Hurrah!
That was good.
Seriously.
You are an excellent fighter.
The best I have ever seen.
Thanks.
I had no idea there was someone like you among the Spriggans.
The world is a bigger place than I'd thought.
Will you believe me, then?
Gene-san, a word?
Kagemune?
What is it?
Oh, from yesterday.
I'd prefer not to fight you one-on-one, either.
You know that my party was wiped out yesterday, right?
Yes.
This is the Spriggan who did it.
There was indeed an Undine with him.
Very well.
Then I suppose I must believe it.
It's true that neither I nor our leader
intends to fight the Undines and Spriggans.
We'll withdraw for now.
But someday, I'll fight you again.
Sounds good to me.
I guess some of the Salamanders aren't that bad.
You're insane, you know that?
I get that a lot.
Excuse me,
but could you explain what's happening?
I see.
I did sense some degree of irritation in Sigurd's attitude.
Irritation?
At what?
He probably wasn't able to accept that,
in terms of power, we were falling behind the Salamanders.
Sigurd is a man to whom power is very important.
Not just for his character stats and abilities...
He desired power as a player, as well.
But even so, why would he spy for the Salamanders?
You've heard about the 5.0 patch they'll be releasing soon?
Apparently, they're finally putting in a reincarnation system.
Then...
Mortimer put him up to it.
Bring us the head of your leader,
and we'll allow you to reincarnate as a Salamander.
So what will you do, Sakuya?
Lu, you've raised your dark magic skill, right?
Yes.
Open a Moonlight Mirror to Sigurd.
Sigurd.
S-Sakuya?
Indeed.
Unfortunately, I'm still alive.
Why?
I mean, what happened at the meeting?
It concluded successfully.
We must still sign the treaty, though.
Oh, right...
We had an unexpected guest.
A g-guest?
General Eugene sends his regards.
Leafa...
So that's it!
Those incompetent lizards.
Well?
What will you do, Sakuya?
Fine me?
Kick me out of the government?
But without me running the military,
how long will your rule last?
No, if you cannot stand being a Sylph,
I thought I would grant your request.
Wh-What?
Are you insane?!
Your leader has stripped you of your rights as a Sylph, and banished you from your territory.
Me? You're banishing me?
That's right.
You can wander the neutral territory as a renegade.
Hopefully, you will find something new there to occupy your time.
Curse you...
Sakuya?
I thank you, Leafa.
I'm very happy you came to save me.
I didn't do anything.
You should thank Kirito-kun.
That's true.
Just who are you?
Hey, what you were saying about being a Spriggan-Undine ambassador...
Is that true?
Oh, that was just a big lie.
A bluff, a con, negotiation.
You're crazy.
I can't believe you came up with that on the spur of the moment.
Whenever I have a bad hand, I always raise the pot.
For a big liar, you're pretty strong.
Maybe you're the Spriggans' secret weapon?
Of course not.
I'm just a wandering mercenary.
If you aren't tied down anywhere,
why not be a mercenary for the Cait Sith?
You'll get three meals a day, plus snacks and a nap.
Kirito-kun, was it?
How about you join me for a drink after this in Sylvein?
I'd like to get to know you a little better.
Wait...
That's not fair, Sakuya-chan!
You shouldn't try to seduce him.
You, too...
You're clinging to him too much.
Stop it.
Kirito-kun is my...
My...
Um, m-my...
I appreciate the offers.
But I'm sorry.
She promised to take me to the World Tree.
Oh, that's a shame.
You're going to Arun, Leafa?
Sightseeing?
Or...
I was planning to leave the Sylphs...
But now I'm going to return to Sylvein,
although I'm not sure when.
Understood. I'm glad to hear it.
Make sure you come back.
Bring him with you.
Stop at my place on the way back.
We'll throw you a party.
Thank you so much for coming today,
Leafa and Kirito-kun.
Had we fallen today,
we'd never have caught up to the Salamanders.
I'd like to thank you somehow.
No, it was nothing.
Hey, Sakuya... Alicia-san.
Wasn't the goal of this alliance to venture up the World Tree?
Cait Sith Territory Capital Fairia Sylph Territory Capital Sylvein
World Tree
Yes, eventually.
I'd like you to let us come with you.
And as soon as possible!
I have no objection.
Actually, we'd be quite grateful.
But why are you in such a hurry?
I came to this world to reach the top of the World Tree,
in order to meet someone who may be there.
The Fairy King Oberon?
No...
I don't think so.
It's someone I can't reach in the real world,
but I have to see, no matter what.
However, it will probably take time to prepare
all the raid members' equipment.
More than just a day or two...
I see...
Yeah, you're right.
For now, I just want to reach the base of the tree,
and we'll work out the rest ourselves.
Oh, right.
Could you use this to increase your war chest?
S-Sakuya-chan! Look!
All these 100,000 Yuld mithril pieces!
Are you certain about this?
With this money, you could build a castle on prime land.
I don't mind.
I don't need it anymore.
This will get us really close to the amount we need.
We'll ready our equipment as quickly as we can.
And when we're set, we'll call you.
Thank you.
Thanks!
See you soon!
It kind of feels like none of that really happened.
Honestly...
I told you no cheating, Daddy.
Wh-What are you talking about?
When those two leaders were clinging to you, your heart was pounding.
W-Well, I'm a guy...
Seriously.
H-Hey, Yui-chan,
am I not a problem?
It looks like you're okay.
Wh-Why?
Because you don't really seem like a girl.
Wait... Hey.
What does that mean?!
I mean you're easy to get along with...
In a good way... Yeah.
Now, let's get going to Arun!
The sun will set!
Hey, wait!
8-11-3-2-3-2-9.
Kirito-kun,
I'll do my best, okay?
Next Time: The Truth of ALfheim