A journey to another world starting from a sword

"Hmm... I only saw her during the Boss battle, we didn't talk." Xiaochun replied, pretending to try to remember.

The guild's diplomatic work is mostly handled by the vice president, Asuna. Xiaochun doesn't even know much about the other strategy guilds. If it weren't for the frequent discussions at guild meetings, she might not know anything at all.

It seems that Kirito often teams up with Mr. Agil and the others.

"Boss battles?!" Leafa knew from Xiaochun's previous explanation that the way to leave SAO was to clear all 100 floors of the floating city. Each floor would present a floor boss, and the boss battles were particularly likely to result in casualties.

"Hmm, the other party seems to be quite famous." Xiaochun remembers this very clearly. Kirito, this player, snatched the LA from the boss from many guilds on the seventeenth and eighteenth floors. Liz was quite disappointed afterward.

“Famous players are usually given nicknames. This player named Kirito used to be called Blackie because he loved wearing black clothes.”

Leafa was immediately amused by the nickname. "What's so great about this? There's nothing to be happy about having this title."

Hearing this, Xiaochun lowered her head and suppressed her laughter. "Well, the other party has been very active in the conquest battles for several consecutive times. Now his nickname seems to be 'Black Swordsman'."

"Is this player named Kirito very strong?" Leafa asked repeatedly.

"I don't know, but according to Dante, the opponent's strength should be among the top in the raid group, and their level is likely already over level 50." When Xiaochun heard this, she originally thought that Vice President Asuna would be seriously dissatisfied, but unexpectedly, Asuna accepted this fact directly. It can only be said that Dante's words were very convincing. However, everyone in the guild felt that the opponent was definitely not as good as their guild leader.

“Is he stronger than Dante?” Leafa compared herself to the only reference point she knew of.

"Our president is definitely the strongest!" Xiaochun pointed to the top of her head and said aggressively.

Even if you praise me, it won't do me any good.

Upon hearing the voice, Xiaochun and Leafa turned their heads at the same time. Xiaochun even stuck her tongue out at Dante, saying, "It's already evening."

"Is it over?" Dante lit the lantern in his left hand with a "whoosh," illuminating the space between the three.

"No, it's just that the hour of Oddity has just passed," Dante explained. The sky outside today was a rare, deep blue, and very beautiful.

“We’ve checked it all. Oh, and I even saw your name on it,” Leafa said, handing over the parchment.

"It's not unusual to have my name on it, but your name shouldn't be on it, right?" Dante took the paper, glanced at it, and saw several unfamiliar names plus one correct answer.

"No, there isn't." Leafa sighed as she said this.

"What should we do next?" Xiaochun asked with concern. Even if they knew these names, it wouldn't help, since they didn't know where they were.

"That's why I came." After handing the list back to Leafa, Dante said to the two of them, "Argo said Kirito is in the tavern on the twenty-first floor."

"Ah, you just returned from a hunt and are planning to celebrate properly, right?" Xiaochun nodded understandingly.

"Yes, you've worked hard today." Dante smiled at Xiaochun. "Leave the rest to me. You go back to the guild to prepare dinner and welcome the new member."

"Huh? We have a new member in our guild?!" Xiaochun was overjoyed, finally no longer a junior. "Is the other person male or female?"

"She's a petite girl." Dante touched his nose at this.

"Hahahaha..." Xiaochun immediately burst out laughing, "At this rate, male players won't want to join at all."

"It's not that there aren't any," Dante murmured softly, his lips twitching slightly. "But Asuna rejected them outright."

Dante probably felt that the other party was dishonest and that joining the guild out of admiration was for ill intentions. He didn't know about the others, but he remembered that there was a man named "Kladier".

"Okay!" Xiaochun followed Dante toward the exit, only to have him shove a lantern into her hand—the one that had just been lit.

“I didn’t say hello to the guards when I came in, and I won’t be leaving with you.”

"Eh—" Xiaochun said, sounding rather speechless.

"?" Leafa, on the other hand, was really curious about how to avoid the guards at the door. She still remembered clearly the shout she received that afternoon.

Then she followed Xiaochun straight to the door. It was obvious that it wasn't time for the shift change yet. Perhaps the shift change had just happened when they came in, and the same two people were still standing at the door.

"You guys are only showing up now." It was the same player, and his tone was still very unfriendly.

“That’s right.” Xiaochun stopped and faced the two guards, then turned off the lamp in her hand.

At that moment, Leafa saw a shadow flash behind the two guards and instantly understood.

Once they were far away from the Iron Palace, Dante approached.

"Why are they so rude?" Leafa asked, puzzled.

"They probably think they've maintained the stability of Aincrad and protected the interests of most ordinary players," Dante said, shrugging.

"It's just bullying some weaklings, but to treat ordinary players like this is really..." Even Xiaochun was dissatisfied with the other party.

The so-called protection of the interests of the majority of ordinary players is merely helping players who want to join their guilds. On the contrary, the other party will monopolize the efficient training areas and drive out non-guild players. This is something Argo mentioned casually before.

“Don’t say that. At least we’ve left the lower levels. Some of the criminal activities there were indeed handled by the other side. As for the attitude issue, we’re human, there’s no need for us to retaliate.” Dante patted Xiaochun’s head and said.

"Pfft... I know, I didn't have that thought." Shaking her head and flicking her hand away, Koharu turned back to Leafa and smiled, "Then I'll leave the rest to the guild leader. I'm going back to the guild now. Leafa, why don't you come over for dinner later? I'm telling you, Asuna's cooking is amazing."

"Anyway, I've already logged in as a friend, there will be plenty of opportunities later." Dante sighed helplessly, then waved his hand, indicating that he should hurry up and leave.

"Okay~" Xiaochun winked at Leafa again before leaving, meaning she was welcome anytime.

"Relocate! Gildestan!"

After Xiaochun left, Dante said to Leafa, "Let's go too. You should know how to move, right?"

“Of course!” Leafa patted her chest and said, SAO does indeed have a very realistic physics engine, causing her chest to bounce wildly.

Dante pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a little dizzy. "...That's good."

The main street on the 21st floor is significantly larger than "Golaar," which is why players experience a stark contrast when entering the 22nd floor.

The blue light of the sky dyed the iron-gray moat a deep blue. NPC night watchmen walked down the street with oil lamps in hand, the flames casting swaying shadows behind their iron masks. Farmers drove their carts toward their farms outside the town, the horseshoes clattering against the bluestone slabs, sending up a few sparks.

Although darkness was gradually falling, the town seemed to be just waking up. Orange light emanated from the windows of every building, illuminating the roads outside and accompanied by a lively atmosphere. A large number of players had gathered here, making it resemble a medieval-style "Night City".

The aroma of roasted rye wafted from around the corner, mingling with the pungent smell of wild onions stewing in a clay pot. The blacksmith's bellows were still panting, and sparks flew up from the eaves, startling two grey doves.

The NPC selling pottery jars tapped the earthenware pots with a wooden spoon, the tinkling sound accompanied by the lute music emanating from the second floor of the tavern.

"What if I've mistaken someone else for someone else?" Leafa started to feel a little scared as they arrived at their destination.

"You won't mistake them. Everyone in SAO is the real person they are in real life. If they are, they are; if they aren't, they aren't," Dante said, turning his head to comfort her. Then, just like he had placed his hand on Haru's head earlier, he placed his palm on Leafa's head and stroked it.

"Stop! I'm not a child anymore." Leafa quickly smoothed her hair with both hands.

"Haha, anyway, I'm definitely older than you." Dante indicated that he was actually the same age as the "older brother," then took a step back. "You can go in now."

"Huh? You're not coming with me?" Leafa looked back in shock.

"?" Dante tilted his head slightly. "Do I need to go in?"

“Of course!” Leafa nodded vigorously and tugged at Dante’s sleeve. “I feel more at ease with you by my side.”

"...You're talking like the girls in our guild." Dante was helplessly dragged towards the tavern door by her.

"Alright!" Leafa slapped her cheeks to encourage herself, then pushed open the oak tavern door. As the light from inside filled the room, the previously faint buzzing sound suddenly became clear.

Inside were many players, all dressed in armor, engaged in heated discussions at the dining table, occasionally bursting into laughter.

Leafa breathed a sigh of relief when she didn't spot her target immediately, and then began to observe the tavern's surroundings; it was quite lively.

With delicious food and adventurers clinking glasses on the table, she was starting to lose track of whether she was in a game world or the real world.

Leafa slowly walked inside, glancing left and right repeatedly. Her actions only drew a glance from the players who had been spotted, who then continued drinking their beverages.

Then a voice carrying keywords caught her ears.

"...Kirito, do you think we could raise the main training area to the twenty-third floor?" asked a blond player wearing a knitted hat.

"Hmm...we're still a little short in terms of level."

The player who spoke was indeed silhouetted against a black background; no wonder he was called the "Black Swordsman." Leafa slowly stopped in her tracks.

"First, let's raise everyone's level to 30," shouted a brown-haired player who looked like the leader.

"Hey—I can't do it." "You're still a long way off."

"Brother?" Leafa called out tentatively, taking off her hat, which silenced everyone at the table, who all looked at her.

"Forest spirits?" Kirito gasped, almost placing his hand on the hilt of his sword. Why would forest spirits appear on this floor?

As a player who also chose the Dark Elf faction, the Forest Elf should have drawn his sword and attacked him the moment he saw him.

No, he's being too sensitive. This is a pub within the industry.

And what did he just hear?

elder brother?

Chapter 175: A Love Triangle in the Dead of Night

"I've finally met you, brother!" Kirito exclaimed as the elven girl in front of him grabbed his hands and shook them.

"Huh? You can trigger a quest in a tavern?"

These words were spoken by the guild leader, Keita, and not only Keita, but the other members of the guild were also very surprised.

"Well, maybe so. This should be one of those NPCs in an event." Faced with this sudden event, Kirito could only explain, "Being mistaken for an older brother by a suddenly appearing spirit isn't an uncommon setting, is it?"

“No, no. It’s me, brother,” Leafa said, pointing to herself.

"Is this Dad's sister?"

A child's innocent voice surprised Leafa.

She quickly looked down and saw that her brother was holding a little girl, and the father was...?

As if struck by lightning, Leafa never expected that in less than a year, her brother would already have a child in the game!

Warhammer Master Iron Xiong clicked his tongue and said, "Wow, this kind of enthusiastic performance makes it hard to believe that this is an NPC."

"Ah..." Kirito looked at Leafa, who was frozen in place, and said kindly, "I'm not your brother, although I do have a sister in real life."

"Kirito has a younger sister?" The thief Dakar struck a pose with his body leaning forward.

"Yeah, she's only in middle school." Kirito said, turning back to Leafa and then looking down at her. "To be honest, my sister's breasts aren't as big as yours."

A promising future.jpg

Indeed, no one can ignore such a magnificent thing.

"!!" Leafa reacted and immediately became angry, her face flushed as she slapped Kirito.

"Ugh." Kirito instinctively covered his face, a phantom pain surging from the spot where he had been hit.

"Kirito?" Sachi got up and walked over.

"Whoosh~" The thief Dakar put his hands behind his head and whistled, enjoying the spectacle.

"I... I'm still growing up, and the first thing I said after not seeing you for so long was sexual harassment?!" Leafa said incredulously, the emotion of the reunion vanishing instantly.

"Daddy, does it hurt?" his daughter Yui asked considerately.

"Yeah, it's nothing." Kirito said to his daughter with a wry smile, then looked up and touched his face. "It's not like I had to hit her."

"Hmph, it's just a virtual avatar, it has absolutely nothing to do with its real size!" Then Leafa suddenly remembered, "Ah, that's not what I wanted to talk about, it's me, me! Suguha! Kirigaya Suguha!"

"Huh?" This time it was Kirito's turn to be stunned.

"Kiritani Suguha is...?" The companions at the table were filled with curiosity and doubt.

"My real surname is indeed Kirigaya." At this moment, Kirito was also confused. What was going on? Could it be that an NPC was impersonating Suguha to deceive him? Was that even possible?

Registration and login are indeed based on real names, but even so, SAO shouldn't be able to obtain players' family information.

"It must be your sister. She logged into another full-dive game using NERvGear. It's probably some kind of connection issue."

The voice sounded unexpectedly familiar. Kirito looked behind the elf girl and saw a tall figure that seemed familiar.

"It's you." Kirito said casually, but his heart tightened, and he looked at the spirit. "So you really are Leafa?"

"Yeah, how come you don't believe me when I say it, but you believe Dante when he says it?" Leafa was quite speechless.

"Dante? 'Knight' Dante?" Keita heard an incredible name from Kirito's sister.

"Dante, that member of the strategy team?" Warhammer wielder Iron Bear murmured.

"Eh!!!" Dakar screamed, putting his hands on the table.

"Looks like everyone knows you," Leafa joked, turning around, then pulled the person forward. "Yes, yes, Dante brought me here. As a member of the strategy team, you should... um..."

"Tsk." Before he could even ask where she got all this information, Dante covered the girl's mouth, but he was too late.

"The strategy team? Kirito?" The people at the table were stunned and looked at Kirito in unison, except for Sachi, whose face showed worry.

The sudden accident made me feel cold all over.