Shana reached Mount Kurama ahead of Kirito and Sinon, rushing inside without a moment's hesitation.
To her relief, the only one there was Ikoma. She let out a long, pent-up breath, her shoulders finally relaxing.
"Oh, Shana-san? What's with the rush?" Ikoma asked, looking up in surprise.
"Ikoma, it's Kirito," Shana said, her voice urgent.
"Eh?"
"He's heading to the weapons shop just below here. He'll be here any minute."
"Really?! Wow, I'd love to see him."
Shana felt a pang of guilt at Ikoma's genuine excitement, but she had to lay out the reality of the situation.
"Sorry, but he's here on a government assignment this time. We can't blow our covers—not mine, and not yours. We'll have to wait until things settle down before we tell him the truth."
"Ah, I see. Well, in that case, I'll look forward to that day!" Ikoma replied with a resilient smile.
"I know you want to see him. I'm really sorry."
"Don't be. The anticipation is part of the fun."
"Right. Now, I have a favor to ask..."
Shana reached into her coat, pulling out an item for Ikoma to work on. After a moment, he handed her a set of high-spec heavy armor tailored for the Juro.
"Thanks, Ikoma. Sinon might bring Kirito through here, so try to stay out of sight or play it off if they see you. But... if you come to the shop with me, you might get to see something interesting."
"Is that so? Alright, count me in."
The two of them hurried into the weapons shop together. Shana approached the shop NPC and listed a specific item for consignment sale. She was certain that, at this exact timing, Kirito and Sinon would be the first ones to lay eyes on it.
"We're here," Sinon said.
"This is a pretty impressive building," Kirito remarked, looking up at the structure.
"It's a facility only a handful of wealthy players can afford to use. Come on, this way."
(A handful of wealthy players...) Kirito thought as he followed her. (Is she actually a veteran player, despite how she looks?)
As he stepped into the shop, Kirito couldn't help but let out a soft whistle of admiration.
"Whoa."
"What do you think? It's more understated than the last place, but the guns here are far more powerful."
"Yeah, I can feel the difference."
"Well, let's take a look around."
Unbeknownst to them, Shana was still in the shop, watching from the shadows with keen interest. She wanted to see how this would play out.
Suddenly, Kirito stopped dead in his tracks in front of a particular display window.
"Hey... what's this?"
"Huh? Which one?"
Sinon leaned in to look, and the words died in her throat.
(Wait, you've got to be kidding... There's no mistake. This is...)
Displayed in the window was the Kagemitsu G4—the very sword Shana was supposed to have in her possession. Shana had listed it thinking it would make a perfect "sub-weapon" for Kirito. She never dreamed, in that moment, that he would intend to use it as his primary means of combat.
"Um... it's listed as a 'Photonic Sword.' Is that what you're interested in?" Sinon asked, her voice slightly strained.
"Yeah."
"I see... why don't you try giving it a swing?"
"Okay."
Kirito seemed possessed, his eyes locked onto the blade as if it were the only thing in the room. He took the Kagemitsu G4 in his hand, his movements tense with anticipation, and thumbed the switch.
With a low, hummed vrumm, a blade of pure, pitch-black light ignited from the hilt.
(Wait, what?)
Sinon gasped. In her memory, the Kagemitsu G4's blade was a pale, translucent purple. But this... this black was identical to the hue of Shana's Acht X.
"That color... it's just like Shana's..." she whispered.
"Hmm? Did you say something about the color?"
"Oh, no! It's nothing."
"Wait..."
Kirito's voice rose in surprise as he stared at the sword's data window.
"What is it?"
"The name... look at the name."
"Eh?"
Sinon peered at the item details. The name displayed there wasn't Kagemitsu G4. It read: Elucidator.
"Elucidator?"
"Ah, yeah... it's the name of a sword I used in another game. I... I can't believe the coincidence. It actually makes me a little emotional."
"Really?"
(Wait... does that mean this person is from Valhalla too?) Sinon wondered. (There are still plenty of people I haven't met yet, and I haven't been back there in a while.)
Suddenly, Sinon felt a gaze on her and whipped around. She caught a glimpse of Shana and Ikoma peeking from around a corner. Shana was shaking her head frantically, while Ikoma held a finger to his lips in a universal sign for silence.
(So, keep my mouth shut and don't say anything unnecessary...)
Though confused, Sinon decided to follow their lead for now.
"Alright, I'm going to give it a few practice swings."
"Oh, right. Go ahead."
As Kirito took his stance, Sinon found herself genuinely impressed.
(He's good... he looks like he was born to hold a blade.)
Kirito traced the forms of several Sword Skills with fluid precision. At the end of the sequence, he instinctively reached to sheath the sword over his back—an old habit—before realizing his mistake and awkwardly holstering it at his waist with an embarrassed look.
(What was that move just now?)
Sinon was curious, but remembering Shana's silent command, she bit back the question. Instead, she asked, "Well? Do you like it?"
"Yeah. A lot."
"I thought so. You know, that's a weapon only five people in all of GGO possess."
(Though mine is a bit of a special case, so I don't count towards that total,) she added mentally.
"Whoa, really...?"
"So? Are you buying it?"
"Yes!"
"Let's see how much it is... Oh, it's actually quite affordable."
"Seriously? Yes!"
Kirito beamed, immediately finalizing the purchase and sliding the sword into his belt with a look of pure joy. Watching Shana and Ikoma nodding approvingly from the shadows, Sinon felt a wave of exasperation.
(What is this, some kind of farce?) she thought. (Fine. I'll use this as an excuse to get Shana alone later and demand an explanation.)
A small, cunning smile played on Sinon's lips. She wasn't about to let this opportunity slip by.
When it came to his firearm, Kirito chose a Walther P38. His reasoning was simple.
"I recognize the name of this one."
That was it. At that moment, Kirito had effectively decided that the Elucidator would be his main weapon, though no one else realized the gravity of that choice yet.
And so, in the world of GGO, the first and last "Swordsman" was born.
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