Since the early days of Massively Multiplayer Online games (MMOs), a feature known as the "Last Attack Bonus" has always existed.
As the name suggests, the player who delivers the final, decisive blow to a powerful monster receives rare and potent loot. Most of these items are unique to the entire server; whoever claims them can expect a massive surge in their stats and abilities.
Diabel, the raid leader who had just shattered into fragments before our eyes, was also after that bonus. His motive was simple: as a former beta tester, he knew it existed—just as Kirito and I did.
He was one of those whom Kibaou had spent the entire strategy meeting condemning. Yet, Diabel surpassed us in one fundamental way.
Despite possessing the inherent advantages of a beta tester, he didn't choose to fight alone. Instead, he chose group conquest. He led these forty-three gathered beginners with true courage and merit. He didn't abandon anyone, not even those who, like him, had survived the beta.
Even though he fell before fulfilling his ambition, Diabel achieved what Kirito and I had failed to do.
── Damn it!
I had to stop overthinking; now was not the time to mourn.
Regaining my composure, I turned my gaze toward the player single-handedly parrying the Kobold Lord's attacks, seemingly unfazed by the leader's death. That figure, skillfully using a large scythe to deflect blows—could it be the same player I encountered in the forest earlier?
Though she held her ground for now, her HP was steadily dropping. To make matters worse, an increasing number of Sentinels were closing in on her. If no one stopped the Kobold Lord, the entire raid faced total annihilation.
But with Diabel gone, no one was giving orders. If everyone began to retreat at once, the boss's katana skills would only cut them down faster.
No monsters on the first floor use katana skills, nor is it a skill players can learn at this stage. Only former testers—who in this room were just Kirito, myself, and perhaps that girl with the scythe—were capable of handling these movements.
"( Should we retreat... or... no! )"
I let out a sharp exhale and stood up slowly. I had made my decision. Beside me, Kirito, who had been standing in a daze, seemed to have reached the same conclusion. We locked eyes and nodded.
"Let's go. After all, I am Kirito's partner."
"Absolutely."
Behind us, Asuna and Alice had also resolved themselves. They gripped their weapons tightly and stepped forward with confidence to stand beside us.
"Are you both sure? This might end in our deaths."
"We're all in the same boat. Besides, the four of us represent the peak striking power of this raid. Since victory is the only option, there's no room for hesitation or holding back."
"...Heh, I see."
I smiled at the answer I had expected. Honestly, though, the situation was deteriorating.
From Agil's defense squad to the rest of the vanguard, everyone's HP had fallen below half. Some had even begun running aimlessly in pure terror. We had to calm this panic first and move those unfit for combat to the rear.
However, weak commands would be lost in the din. We needed a rallying cry to seize everyone's attention—but neither Kirito nor I possessed group leadership skills.
As I bit my lip in frustration, Alice stepped past me. She pulled back the hood that had been concealing her face and raised her «Anneal Blade» high.
"SILENCE!!"
That scream, filled with sheer resolve and fighting spirit, instantly quelled the noise in the boss room. I couldn't hide my amazement at the sight.
"Everyone with low HP, focus on healing! Anyone unable to fight, fall back immediately!!"
Following Alice's command, nearly all the players began retreating behind us.
"...As you can see, the Sentinel count is rising! Those with HP to spare, deal with the guards!"
I added my own shout to the passing players. Suddenly, Asuna surged forward as if she had noticed something. She dashed at full speed toward the scythe-user—Mito—who was fending off the boss alone. More accurately, Asuna was heading for a Sentinel attempting to ambush Mito from behind.
Recognizing the situation, we all charged at once.
"I'll handle the boss! Mitsuki—!"
"Right! Alice, we'll clear the Sentinels surrounding the boss first!"
"Understood!"
During this brief exchange, Asuna overtook us, using her «Linear» skill to knock one of the guards back. Before Mito could even thank her, Asuna's rapier had already pierced through another Sentinel.
As Mito watched in surprise, the Kobold Lord raised his Nodachi to strike her, but Kirito intervened with his own «Anneal Blade» to block the blow.
"Get back!"
Once Kirito took over the task of parrying the boss, Mito called out to Asuna, who was about to join him:
"Wait! That movement... are you... Asuna?"
Asuna turned. When Mito saw her face, her eyes welled with tears despite being in the middle of a battlefield.
"I can't believe it, you're alive... I, at that time... I—"
Asuna approached the girl who couldn't find the words.
"We're going to beat this game, aren't we? The boss hasn't fallen yet, so we have one mission—"
She said this while lightly tapping her rapier against Mito's scythe as a sign of alliance.
"Let's fight—Mito!"
"── Yeah!"
As Asuna ran toward Kirito, her cloak fluttering, Mito pulled an item from her inventory and threw it.
"── Asuna, use this!"
It was the weapon that had caused their separation that day—the rare rapier Mito had obtained for Asuna, which in many ways had started everything. Its name was the «Wind Fleuret».
Asuna caught her friend's gift, equipped it instantly from her menu, and declared:
"Thank you... Mito—!"
With those words of gratitude, she unsheathed the new blade and lunged into the fray.
── "Alice, switch places! Kirito and I will take the boss's attacks; you focus on the offensive!"
"Got it!"
After clearing the surrounding Sentinels, Alice and I joined Kirito and the others in facing the Kobold Lord. Could we defeat the boss on our own? Honestly, it was a high-stakes gamble.
But just as others were fighting the guards in the back, the fighting spirit of the remaining players hadn't fully extinguished. We had to whittle down the boss's HP and weaken him as much as possible until the rest could return to the line.
I never expected that the Katana move-sets I had memorized to face monsters on the tenth floor (the highest we reached in the beta) would come in handy here on the first.
The Kobold Lord settled into a low stance, preparing to draw his sword. That stance was...
── "I'm going in!"
I gripped my spear with my right hand and rested my left on the shaft like a billiards player. A green light enveloped the spearhead, and my body lunged forward as if guided by the system.
My «Sonic Charge» collided with the boss's «Tsujigaze» (Crosswind) skill. With a speed the eye could barely track, the lunging sword struck my spear, scattering light particles from the impact.
"Switch!"
Asuna and Alice pounced with Sword Skills on the Kobold Lord's midsection as he recoiled and lost his balance. Their «Linear» and «Slant» skills tore into the boss. Though the damage was minor, they were steadily draining his life.
"His attack speed is higher than it was in the beta...!"
"Yeah. But since his weapon is light, we can avoid damage if we keep parrying!"
This also meant that any delay in reaction would lead to a fatal blow. Kirito and I had to focus every sense on deflecting the boss's skills until the battle lines stabilized. Furthermore, parrying required us to manually increase the power of our skills—a high-wire act of extreme danger.
── "Next attack coming!"
The boss's weapon glowed again. This time, Kirito activated «Horizontal» to counter the boss's horizontal strike, «Zekku» (Severing Void). Once again, the two swordswomen launched their assault.
It continued like this: Kirito and I took turns parrying, while Asuna and Alice landed powerful strikes. While the boss's HP dropped slowly, our stamina consumption was doubling. Yet, we had to persevere. We couldn't allow any more deaths.
I don't know how many times the boss attacked, but when I saw the next telegraph, I let out a loud grunt.
"«Hi-sen» (Red Fan) is coming! Kirito—!"
"Right—!"
Those three consecutive strikes that had killed Diabel—we decided to block them together. If we succeeded, we could halt the skill on the first blow.
"I'll time it!"
"Counting on you!"
The blood-red blade flashed, and the two rapid strikes launched. I didn't miss the moment. Truly, Katana skills have terrifying speed. And yet... compared to Asuna's sword earlier, my eyes could still track them!
── "Now!"
At my signal, Kirito activated «Vertical», while I used «Shaft» along the same path. The three Sword Skills collided, leaving a trail of light and massive sparks before rebounding.
We succeeded—but as the thought crossed my mind, the Kobold Lord broke into a wicked grin and brought down the sword he had raised high. The curved blade was heading straight for Alice and Asuna, who had rushed in to attack.
"Oh... Alice!"
"Asuna!"
I don't know if they heard us, but their reactions were lightning-fast. They ducked to dodge the Nodachi strike and countered with Sword Skills immediately—!
"Se... YAH!!"
The Kobold Lord took two decisive Critical hits from their perfectly synchronized «Linear» and «Horizontal» skills, forcing him back. Their performance was stunning, but that wasn't what drew the room's gaze.
As they dodged the attack, the red and blue cloaks covering them were torn away.
Alice's long golden hair, previously hidden, seemed to radiate beauty in this sunless room. As for Asuna, her beauty was no less than Alice's. Her chestnut hair, whipping through the air from the shockwave of the Sword Skills, mingled with the fragments of her torn cloak as they dissolved into digital pixels, capturing everyone's attention.
The sight of them standing side by side was like two flowers blooming on a battlefield.
"Next attack!"
I continued parrying the successive Katana skills, and in every opening, Alice—and sometimes Asuna—landed a heavy blow. Our mental energy was being drained with every parry, while the Kobold Lord's HP bar still held nearly half its length. It was a battle of wills to see who would break first, until the tide suddenly turned.
A movement from the boss that looked like an overhead strike suddenly shifted into a low attack—a feint. It was the Katana skill «Gengetsu» (Phantom Moon), which starts with the same motion but takes a random path.
"Damn it...!"
Kirito, who had anticipated the attack and started «Vertical», tried to correct himself, but canceling a skill mid-activation resulted in Post-Motion Stiff.
"Agggh...!"
Consequently, Kirito took a powerful upward strike that sent him flying, crashing into Asuna and Alice who were waiting for a Switch behind him.
"Shit... this is bad...!"
«Gengetsu» is a treacherous move based on deception, and the monster's recovery time afterward is incredibly short. Indeed, a crimson light already began to surround the raised Nodachi.
"Damn it! I have to make it in time...!"
I ran toward Kirito and the others at full speed. Frankly, trying to parry those rapid attacks with my spear alone was a massive risk, but I had to move my avatar before I could think!
A few meters from the boss, I activated «Helical Scythe». Because of the skill's trajectory, a thrusting move might have hit Alice and the others, leaving me stiff and open to massive damage. Though this skill was weaker than my thrusts, I had no other choice!
"HAAAAAAAAA!!"
I screamed at the top of my lungs, swinging my spear which trailed a wake of blue light. The moment I felt the weapons collide, my confidence in fully parrying the skill dropped to zero. The sword began to overpower the spear in the struggle for dominance. At this rate, even if I survived the first hit, I wouldn't be able to stop the full «Hi-sen» chain. Once the sword pushed a few centimeters further, my spear skill would fail, and the remaining strikes would pierce us all.
But that future never came. In my peripheral vision, as I struggled to hold on, two lights of different colors appeared.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"
"NUOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
Two powerful roars accompanied the two-handed axe skill «Whirlwind» and the scythe skill «Cliff Fang», driving the Nodachi pressing against my spear high into the air.
An impact shook the room, sending the Kobold Lord recoiling violently, while the two attackers stepped back a meter before planting their feet.
The ones who intervened were Agil, the dark-skinned defense leader, and Mito. It seemed they had healed and returned to the fight.
"You're being way too reckless."
"We'll protect you until the rest finish healing. If the attackers keep playing defender, there's nothing left for us to do."
Following them, the rest of the squad members who had finished healing began returning to the front lines.
"Mitsuki... I'm counting on you until I get back. I'll take over the instructions."
"Right... leave it to us!"
As I ran with Agil and Mito, Kirito began directing the players at the front.
"Don't surround him from behind or he'll trigger a wide-range attack! I'll call out the movement paths—those in front, take the hits! You don't have to parry with skills; solid guarding with heavy weapons and shields will prevent major damage!"
Based on the time we spent parrying, everyone should have finished healing. Yet, the number of active participants was barely half... it seemed the rest were no longer capable of fighting this battle.
With no further reinforcements expected, victory depended on Agil and the others holding out. To ensure that, Kirito had to provide them with precise information on the boss's movements.
As Kirito shouted "Right horizontal!" (Kirito) or "Left upward!" (Kirito) Mito and I looked for openings to land thrusts and vertical slashes between the defenders' gaps.
The battle teetered on the edge for about five minutes—where any delay from Kirito or Agil meant death—until the boss's HP finally entered the final red zone.
"( Go down already...! )"
As I circled the boss, praying for it to end, I saw one defender stumble after a parry, finding himself directly behind the boss.
"Shit... move, quick! Or else...!"
The defender jumped away immediately, but he was a fraction of a second too late. The boss, realizing he was flanked, leaped into the air. It was the telegraph for the ultimate area-of-effect attack: «Tsumuji-guruma»!
I grit my teeth; I had no way to stop that skill. My options were «Vital Thrust» or «Sonic Charge», but the first lacked range, and the second lacked the distance to change its trajectory upward.
Meanwhile, the Kobold Lord was already twisting his massive body in the air. Only seconds remained before the impact.
I was about to order everyone into full defense, but before I could, a shadow blurred past me like the wind.
"SYAHHHHHHHHHH!!"
Kirito, his sword glowing with a yellowish-green light, kicked off the ground and jumped. The jump-augmented dash skill «Sonic Leap» pierced the side of the Kobold Lord just as he was about to swing.
The blow canceled the boss's skill, sending him crashing to the floor in a Tumble state. This was our chance!
We surrounded the thrashing Kobold Lord and unleashed every Sword Skill at once. When his HP was nearly gone, the boss regained his balance and began swinging his sword frantically, forcing us back. Continuing a long battle with a boss in a Frenzy state was dangerous. We had to end it now!
"Asuna! Mitsuki, Alice! The final attack—let's do it together!"
"Roger!"
"Let's go!"
"Yeah!"
The Kobold Lord raised his Nodachi against us as we charged. Kirito parried the first strike, and in a heartbeat, the three of us—Asuna, Alice, and I—attacked. On the boss's second strike, Asuna and I dodged while Alice parried. Again, colored blades carved into the monster's massive body.
The Kobold Lord recoiled and took the «Zekku» stance to wipe us all out in one hit. Seeing this, Kirito and I rushed forward, leaving Asuna and Alice behind.
To counter the horizontal strike, Kirito activated the corresponding «Horizontal» skill. As for me, I leaned my body as low as possible, sliding under the boss's sword. Despite the shiver of fear as I watched the blade pass centimeters from my face, I regained my balance once I reached the boss's rear and raised my spear vertically. A purple light enveloped the partisan's blade.
Standing on opposite sides of the boss, Kirito and I delivered the final blow!
"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUAA!!"
With everything we had, the two-hit Sword Skill «Vertical Arc» and the slashing spear skill «Edge Fall» launched together, leaving three deep gashes on the Kobold Lord's body.
Immediately after, the Kobold Lord threw his wolf-like face toward the ceiling and let out a thunderous roar that shook our ears. Although Alice and the others were in their ready stances a short distance away, the boss showed no sign of attacking again.
The Nodachi slipped from his hand as cracks began to spread across his body. Suddenly, the First Floor Boss—Ilfang the Kobold Lord—who had put us through hell, shattered into countless glass-like shards and vanished without a trace.
Silence filled the room. No one dared believe in the victory yet. Since the boss's information had changed from the beta, a new, stronger boss could appear at any moment.
But those fears were dispelled as a bold "Congratulations!!" appeared in the center of the room. Only then was the heavy silence replaced by thunderous cheers of joy.
As everyone hugged and celebrated, I gasped for breath, watching my experience and gold surge. I leveled up once, reaching Level 14.
"Well done, Mitsuki."
"Yeah... you too, Alice."
A sudden wave of exhaustion hit me, and I sank to the floor. Honestly, I wanted to lie down and sleep, but I knew I'd fall into a deep slumber instantly, so I held myself together.
Behind Alice, Asuna was thanking Kirito. Then, Agil approached us.
"You fought brilliantly. Congratulations—this victory belongs to you."
Agil spoke the word in fluent English and smiled, extending his hand. Players behind him began offering praise and appreciation. I exchanged looks with Kirito. After a short hesitation, we were about to take Agil's hand when...
── "WHY DID YOU DO IT!"
That painful scream shattered the celebratory atmosphere. It was the scimitar-user from Diabel's squad.
"Why... why did you just stand by and let Diabel-san die?"
"Let him die...?"
Confused by his implication, I questioned him.
"That's right! You knew the skills the boss was using! If you had shared that information from the start, Diabel-san wouldn't have died!!"
His scream planted seeds of doubt in the rest of the raid. The reason Kirito and I could handle the unexpected Katana skills was...
"I... I know! They're beta testers! That's why they know the boss's attack patterns, the profitable quests, the hunting spots—everything! They knew it all and hid it from us!!"
One of the scimitar-user's companions began speaking rapidly in a stammering tone, pointing directly at us.
"Wait. The guidebook distributed yesterday said the "information is from the beta." If they're former testers, isn't their information the same as what's in the book?"
The objection came from the Mace-user who had defended beside Agil. It seemed there were still those with sense; his logical words made some nod in agreement. But from there, things took a strange turn.
"...That book was a lie. Even the information broker who distributed it is a former tester; she'd never give us the truth for free!"
"T-that's right! Diabel-san's death, and the deaths of the other two thousand people—it's all because of the beta testers! These aren't the only ones; there must be others! Come out and face us!"
The atmosphere flipped completely, and the stench of suspicion filled the air. Agil and Asuna tried to intervene to calm things down, but Asuna's words—since she was on our team—fell on ears.
As players exchanged suspicious glances, Alice could no longer take it. She started toward the scimitar-user and his friends. I tried to stop her, but she brushed off my hand and walked forward with angry strides.
"If you refuse to come out—"
── "Enough of this nonsense!!"
That sudden, angry shout made Diabel's companions tremble.
"I've been listening to you in silence. Do you really want to blame every misfortune on the beta testers? Don't make me laugh! Sure, the death toll might have been lower if they helped beginners from the start. But did it ever occur to you that former testers were among the dead too?!"
They didn't answer, but some looked shocked.
"I... at the very least, Mitsuki saved me. And I'm sure some of you were saved without ever knowing who helped you. More importantly, without them, the death toll in this battle would have been far higher! They are the ones who kept you alive until now! And yet... why can't you find a single word of thanks for them!!"
"And what about Diabel-san then! He died because of them!!"
"They were—!"
Alice paused.
"They felt guilty toward beginners like you. They believed they were responsible for the other players' deaths. But that isn't true... beta testers aren't gods or superheroes. There is a limit to the lives they can save. Whoever was near Diabel when he died saw what happened. Why are they being accused like this?! Because of your selfishness, how much more do you expect them to carry!!"
...Please. Stop it.
These were the only words in my mind. If Alice continued, she would be in danger. So, enough.
I looked at the other testers here—Kirito and Mito. Suddenly, I remembered the conversation I had with her in the forest.
"( Atonement... )"
Mito had accepted her sin of abandoning the majority of beginners, even the friend she swore to protect, and decided to atone for it. Even if that friend—Asuna—had survived, it wouldn't change her resolve.
I, too, was just like her. I had discarded the beginners. I left Klein in the Town of Beginnings and took a selfish path with Kirito. If there was a chance to atone, it had to be now.
I wasn't thinking of offering my life as a sacrifice. But an idea occurred to me—one that only I, one of the few players who reached the highest floors in the beta, could execute.
As I hesitated to carry out the only plan that could save the situation, Kirito whispered to me:
"...Mitsuki."
"...Yeah."
It seems beta testers understand each other well. Kirito's thoughts and mine were identical. With a single glance of agreement, we decided to take the biggest gamble of our lives.
"Shut up! You arrogant woman—!"
"He... hehehe."
Suddenly, Kirito let out a laugh. Beside him, I also put my hand over my mouth to stifle my own.
"W-what's so funny?!"
"Oh, sorry. Your argument was so low-level I couldn't help myself."
"Exactly. It's truly insulting to be lumped in with these amateurs just because I'm a former tester."
We stepped in front of the scimitar-users, pushing through the stunned raid members, and raised our voices for all to hear.
"Think about it. Out of the thousand people accepted into the SAO beta, how many do you think were "actual players"? Most were beginners who didn't even know how to level up."
"It was a pathetic situation... you guys are far better than them. I don't know how that scum even got accepted in the first place..."
Our contemptuous words silenced everyone. Even Agil, Asuna, and Alice, who had tried to defend us, looked bewildered, unable to grasp what we were doing.
"We reached floors no one else could reach in the beta. The reason we knew the boss's Katana skills is that we fought monsters using katanas on much higher floors."
"And we know plenty of other things, too—things an information broker couldn't dream of knowing."
"W-what are you saying? That's more than just being a tester. That's a cheat! You're just cheaters!!"
Shouts began rising from here and there: "That's right, they're cheaters!" "Beta cheaters!" Amid those voices, the word "Beater" (a blend of Beta and Cheater) reached my ears.
""Beater"... a good title. That's right, we are "Beaters." From now on, don't confuse us with mere beta testers."
── So that's it. This is better.
With this, the players' perception of former testers would split into two categories: "Beginners who just participated in the beta," and "the filthy Beaters who hoard information for themselves."
This way, even if Mito or Argo's identities were exposed, they wouldn't be targeted like this. From this moment on, Kirito and I decided to shoulder all the players' hatred and spite alone.
The price of calming this situation was losing any chance of joining a guild or party in the future... but since I intended to go solo anyway—that was only half a lie.
Frankly, even moments ago, I was hesitant to re-form a party with Alice. Once I made my decision, a slight sense of relief washed over me.
"We'll be the ones to activate the warp gate on the second floor. If you want to catch up, prepare to die at the hands of monsters you've never seen before."
Kirito opened his menu and swapped his armor. He replaced his simple leather chestpiece with a long black coat that covered his body.
"Looks like you're the one who got the Last Attack Bonus... if I had landed a chain there, things might have been different."
"Don't complain."
We exchanged those simple words, then opened the door behind the throne. Beyond it lay a long staircase leading to the second floor.
Before entering, I spared a quick glance back. It seemed Agil and Asuna understood our intent. So did Alice. I wished we could have parted with a smile, but seeing the expression on her face made me feel a pang of regret.
As I climbed the heavy stairs, Kirito suddenly spoke:
"...I'm sorry for dragging you into this."
"That's my line. After all, I parried those Katana skills so brilliantly; I would've been exposed sooner or later anyway."
"...But, you spent a long time with Alice, didn't you?"
"It's fine. She's capable of moving forward now, and no doubt Asuna and Agil will help her."
Furthermore, even if we didn't form a party, Kirito and I planned to participate in future boss battles. As long as we were alive, we would meet them on the battlefield. This wasn't an eternal goodbye; it was enough for me that those three understood us. That was more than enough.
Finally, we reached the end of the stairs and a new door appeared. With a slight hesitation, we opened it to see the vast plateau that characterized the second floor. In the distance, the main city of the second floor, Urbus, was visible.
We sat on the balcony overlooking the field, staring at the view in silence for a while.
"It's been a long time since I saw this view."
"Yeah, that's tr—uh?"
My tone shifted at the end of the sentence as I heard footsteps coming up the stairs behind us.
"It's a beautiful view, isn't it?"
Asuna appeared, holding her hair as it whipped in the wind. Looking at her again, she really was strikingly beautiful. Fan clubs for her and Alice would surely spring up soon.
"This is a message from Agil-san: "Let's fight together in the next boss battle." ...And also from Kibaou-san."
We were surprised to hear the name of such an unexpected person. Kibaou, who had hated testers at the meeting? I thought for a moment he might have sent a threat like "watch your backs in dark alleys," but that didn't seem to be the case.
"He says: "You helped us today, but I still don't acknowledge you. I'll reach the 100th floor my own way"..."
Out of seriousness, or perhaps as a joke, Asuna tried to mimic Kibaou's accent in her message. I saluted her effort in my heart. As for Kirito... he was laughing so hard that Asuna's sharp glare eventually silenced him.
"...Aside from that, there's something I want to ask. How did you two know my name? I never told you, did I?"
"Oh... do you see your HP and party members' HP in your vision? Isn't there something written above them?"
After a funny mistake where she moved her entire face to see her HP, Asuna read the words only she could see with a hesitant voice.
"Ki... ri... to... Kirito? Is that your name?"
"Yeah."
"Then... you're Mitsuki?"
"Exactly."
"Heh... so it was written there all along."
Asuna let out a light laugh and sat beside Kirito.
"Actually, I came to thank Kirito too. You... gave me a lot of help."
"O-oh... thank you."
"Thanks to you, I found a goal to pursue in this world. So, I'll do my best. I'll try to survive with all my strength, and I'll get stronger. Until I reach the place I aspire to."
"...I see. I'm sure you'll succeed and become much stronger. And it's not just me saying that; Mitsuki-sensei guarantees it too."
"What do you mean "Sensei"... regardless of the title, Kirito is right. I support you too."
"...That's all I wanted to say. Well, I'll be going now."
Asuna said this and headed back to the first floor. She paused for a moment before the stairs, then continued as if nothing had happened. Suspecting something, I watched the staircase area and found someone hiding behind the door.
"Hey! Shall we go now?"
"Ah, sorry Kirito. You go ahead."
Kirito looked puzzled while stretching, but he likely sensed something, so he walked toward the main city without a word. Thus, I was left alone here—no, I was with someone else.
"Don't you want to come out now—Alice?"
From behind the door, Alice stepped out, looking embarrassed and hesitant.
"...How long have you known I was here?"
"Since Asuna left. That long golden hair was clearly visible."
The wind blowing from the field toward the interior seemed to be on my side rather than Alice's. If she were wearing that blue scarf, it wouldn't have happened, but now there was nothing to hide her hair's beauty.
"...Well, didn't you have something you wanted to say?"
"Actually... I'm sorry."
"Wait, why are you apologizing?"
"── I couldn't help you. Worse, you saved me again and ended up like this... I feel ashamed of my weakness and helplessness."
"Really... why does everyone around me feel so responsible? Even if I told you not to worry, you wouldn't listen."
"Of course not!"
"You and Kirito fought with everything you had to protect everyone! Yet you were treated so harshly... it's just horrible."
"You know, Alice, I didn't fight to earn anyone's praise. Honestly, I'm angry at what they did, but... what they said is true. This is our way of atoning for what we've done."
"But—"
"── That's enough. It's enough for Kirito and me to know that you, Agil, and Asuna feel this way. ...Thank you. It made me happy when you tried to defend me."
After those final words of gratitude, I stepped back. In Alice's beautiful blue eyes, there was no longer any trace of tears.
I had done well. If this were the real world, my back would be drenched in sweat from the tension. I felt I deserved a prize for this.
After that, we spent some time admiring the view of the second floor in a slightly awkward atmosphere until Alice spoke as if remembering something.
"Right, there's something else I should apologize for—"
"Again? Say what's on your mind; I won't get angry."
I looked at Alice after saying one of the biggest lies an adult can tell.
"Actually... even though we were in the middle of a battle, I ruined the scarf you gave me..."
"..."
"... S-say something at least. I'm ready for whatever you have to say."
"── Pff... hah... Hahahaha!"
"W-what?! I didn't tell you to laugh! It's common courtesy to value the gifts we receive! What's so funny...!"
"B-because... I was wondering what on earth you were going to say with such a serious look on your face...!"
I laughed so hard my stomach muscles would have cramped in the real world. Meanwhile, Alice puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. In that moment, she looked nothing like a noble knight, which only made me laugh more.
"Damn it...! Enough, I was a fool to even apologize to you!"
Alice turned away and stomped toward the stairs. I spoke softly to her as she moved further away.
"I'm glad the first person I partnered with in Aincrad was you, Alice."
As I ran off, three HP bars vanished from the corner of my vision. Kirito had disbanded the party. Alice must have noticed it too, but I kept moving before she could call out to me.
If the conversation had gone on any longer, my resolve might have wavered. Since I had chosen the solitary path of a "Beater," I couldn't afford to leave any room for regret.
I had said everything I needed to say to Alice.
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You can read the entire first volume exclusively on my Patreon. It is recommended to avoid the Player Information chapter, as it contains some spoilers, so it's best read after finishing the first volume.
🔗 https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Raven737
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to open the link!)
I have also published a complete Tokyo Ghoul story there. Below, you will find the story's title, a summary, an overview of what you can expect, and the love interests of the main character.
Human, Ghoul, or Both?
Summary: Due to a mistake, a boy finds himself a member of Squad 0. Whether by luck or misfortune, this is a tale where something is bound to change.
Character Profile: Ryotaro Nari
Data: 170 cm / 67 kg
The CCG scouted Ryotaro at the age of fourteen after he managed, by pure chance, to take down a ghoul that had attacked him. Forced into Squad 0, he discovered that he is a "Half-Ghoul" capable of using a Kagune instinctively.
Because his body naturally increases Rc cells, his physical abilities rival those of ghouls, yet he always makes sure to hide his true strength. While he has not yet reached the level of Kisho Arima, he possesses enough power to confront the Owl. In his full Kakuja state, his strength approaches Kisho Arima's peak.
He is a true miracle; as a Half-Ghoul, he can eat human food normally without any restrictions. He has no grand dreams for the future, only aspiring to a stable and quiet life.
Ryotaro bears a suspicious resemblance to Kisho Arima. Everyone who meets him in Volumes 1 and 2 notices this similarity, especially the silent aura that surrounds him. When he later begins wearing glasses, it is no longer just a passing resemblance; they look like twins, with only minor differences in bone structure and height.
In essence, he is not much different from Furuta, though their goals diverge. Ryotaro builds his existence upon hills of invisible corpses; he knows that without building that hill, he cannot reach the world he craves.
What to expect from this story? Misunderstandings, drama, tragedy, and a dark world—extremely dark, especially in Volume 1.
Power Scaling: From strong to even stronger.
Romance: Featuring two central heroines, Eto and Hairu Ihei.
Highlights: A perfect portrayal of the original Tokyo Ghoul characters and world.
Volume Structure
Volume 1: Focuses on world-building and time-skips to prepare for major events.
Volume 2: The true climax. Title: The Search for Happiness.
Final Volume (2.5): The end of the journey. Title: What Ryotaro Nari Found.