Chapter 22 Who is waiting for me?

The Nine-Headed Dragon Flash was the most powerful sword skill Arthur had mastered!

As a supersonic sword skill, the Nine-Headed Dragon Flash's speed was beyond comprehension, allowing its user to counterattack instantly, one of its unique characteristics.

According to the system, Arthur couldn't recall his exact movements. All he knew was that in a blink of an eye, he had landed behind the Bull Leader. As he materialized, the dragon-shaped sword lights exploded into nine strikes.

"No way!" Kiriko exclaimed. From her vantage point, she saw nine slashes materialize on the Bull Leader's body in different directions, all in an instant. A nine-hit combo sword skill, far surpassing the technique Arthur had used to defeat Ilfang. Such a powerful skill this early in the game? It felt like he was cheating!

Arthur panted heavily. The Nine-Headed Dragon Flash was immensely powerful but also incredibly draining, leaving him more exhausted than using two Flame Flowers. Yet, it was worth it.

Sheathing the White Rose Star, Arthur smirked as he looked at the Bull Leader, its health bar completely depleted. "A one-hit kill. Not bad."

"Skill executed: Nine-Headed Dragon Flash. Proficiency gained: 100."

"Proficiency maxed. Would you like to upgrade?"

The system prompt finally arrived.

Upgrade.

Arthur didn't hesitate. He then turned to examine the reward screen.

Wild Boots

Rare Equipment

Increases movement speed

Adds 5 points to Agility

Enhances kicking DPS

Arthur raised an eyebrow. His luck wasn't bad; he had scored a rare item.

Equipping the boots, he tested his speed and found it significantly improved.

However, the boots' appearance was rather crude and unattractive.

But they were comfortable to wear.

Arthur decided to sell his old shoes in town later since they weren't as good as these new ones.

As Arthur continued to slay monsters with his White Rose Star, Kiriko, from a distance, watched him intently before silently leaving. A fierce determination to surpass Arthur began to grow in her heart.

By midnight, Arthur easily dispatched the last Rage Bull and glanced at the moon high above. With his level now at 20, he sighed with satisfaction. "That should be enough for now. Time to head back."

"Grinding all day is so tedious. Maybe I should buy some quest information from Argo and relax a bit," Arthur muttered to himself as he walked.

Returning to the spot where he had encountered Kiriko, Arthur found her still fighting monsters with relentless determination.

So diligent? Arthur was surprised. If Kiriko were a man, he wouldn't have been as shocked. But seeing Kirito transformed into the female Kiriko made it remarkable.

"It's late. Want to head back together?" Arthur asked impulsively, feeling awkward after. Wasn't it too forward to ask an unfamiliar girl something like this?

Kiriko wasn't surprised to see Arthur, knowing the canyon only had one exit to Urbas. But his offer made her pause.

"Um, it was just a polite suggestion. No pressure," Arthur said, seeing Kiriko lost in thought.

Polite suggestion? Kiriko's lips twitched, but she looked at the moon and nodded. It was indeed late.

"Okay, it's quite late," Kiriko sheathed her sword and nodded.

"Huh?" Arthur was taken aback by her agreement.

"What? Not going, Hope Swordsman?" Now that it was cooler, Kiriko donned her black cloak and saw Arthur still standing there, prompting her to speak.

"Right," Arthur smiled, stepping forward. "Don't call me Hope Swordsman. It's kind of embarrassing."

"Embarrassing?" Kiriko was puzzled. Titles were a sign of recognition for one's skill.

Ah, the Japanese don't get the cringe factor, Arthur thought, sighing internally but smiling. "Just call me Arthur."

"Got it." Kiriko nodded. During the strategy meeting, Arthur had mentioned his name.

"Arthur... are you American?" Kiriko asked curiously.

"Yeah," Arthur nodded.

"Then why did you choose this game?"

"Well, it just seemed interesting, so I picked it," Arthur said, even though he had no memory of choosing this strange game.

"Really? In a way, we're alike," Kiriko mused.

"In reality, does Arthur have someone important?" Kiriko's tone carried a hint of longing.

Arthur was taken aback. He hadn't really thought about this question before. In his previous world, nobody cared about him, but in this world... Arthur couldn't find any memories about it.

Seeing Arthur silent, Kiriko thought she had said something wrong and quickly explained, "Arthur, you've become so strong, yet you still work hard. There must be someone important waiting for you to go back to in reality. That's what I think, but asking about such things is impolite. You don't have to worry about it."

Arthur scratched his head. "Who knows? I've already forgotten about the past."

Closing his eyes slightly, Arthur could only use amnesia as an excuse.

"The moment I opened my eyes, all I saw was Kayaba Akihiko announcing that SAO had become a death game. And before that moment, I completely forgot everything." Arthur shook his head with a bitter smile.

Kiriko hadn't expected it to be like this, so she could only offer words of comfort. "Don't worry, Arthur. As long as you clear this game, you'll find out eventually."

"Maybe," Arthur said, seeing that Kiriko was clearly deceived by him, he felt a twinge of guilt, but there was nothing he could do. He really didn't know how to answer this question. So, pretending to have amnesia was the best choice.

"Forget about me, Kiriko, don't you have someone you want to see in reality? Compared to me, as a female player, you're even more diligent." Arthur looked at Kiriko beside him.

"Indeed," Kiriko shook her head helplessly but still responded to Arthur's question, "Yes, I have my dear sister and beloved mother. They're waiting for me to go back, so I have a reason to work hard. I want to see them again soon and... apologize to my sister."

Arthur naturally knew about Kiriko's background, so he didn't find it strange, nor did he inquire further. Knowing just enough would make his relationship with Kiriko closer without seeming intrusive.

The two of them strolled through the grassland area together and returned to Urbus.

After bidding farewell to Kiriko, Arthur returned to the inn where he was staying.

He had planned to sleep, but he tossed and turned in bed, unable to find any sleep.

Because Kiriko's question just now had left him feeling confused and lost.

Ever since he appeared in SAO, he had been subconsciously avoiding this question. Perhaps even he hadn't noticed it himself. But today, after Kiriko asked him this question, he suddenly panicked.

What awaits him outside the game? Arthur didn't know, but thoughts swirled in his mind, becoming more and more complex until, in the end, he stared blankly at the ceiling, motionless.