-319- Game developer's anticipation

Floor 24, Panareze.

At this moment, within the headquarters of the Crimson Wing guild, only Rozen was present.

"Yesterday they were all so lazy, and now they've all disappeared. They really have no shame."

Rozen muttered to himself as he walked into the guild's bar, prompting the pleasant chime of a bell.

At the same time, two adorable chirps sounded.

"Gu!"

"Gu!"

Saichou and Hanachou took flight from Rozen's shoulders, landing on the bar counter. Despite not having engaged in any battles today, they seemed ready to rest.

"You two are the same, huh."

Rozen chuckled wryly and commented, then approached without taking a seat at the bar counter. Instead, he sat at a table, leaving a seat open opposite him for the incoming guest.

"They should be arriving soon."

After all, this wasn't the real world but a game world where instant teleportation gates connected towns. As long as one wasn't in the wilderness training area or the labyrinth zone, they should arrive fairly quickly.

And indeed, that's what happened.

*Chime!*

With the sound of the bell ringing once again, the door to the bar swung open.

Two individuals entered from outside.

One of them was Asuna.

This rapier wielder, just like before, was dressed in a white-based red-trimmed knight's outfit with a miniskirt, a rapier at her waist. She looked dignified and heroic, captivating anyone who looked at her.

However, unlike the irresistibly attractive Asuna with her stunning appearance, this person ahead was even more eye-catching.

No matter who saw him, their gaze would immediately be drawn to him.

But unlike Asuna, who was captivating due to her beauty, this person drew attention not because of his looks but because of his presence.

An extraordinarily unique presence.

Like an indispensable protagonist, an upper-class figure towering above, his presence naturally exuded an allure that could captivate onlookers as he walked in.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting."

A voice issued forth from the figure's lips.

Rozen gazed at the person before him, taking in the sight.

It was a man.

Probably around twenty-five years old.

His face was somewhat gaunt, exuding a sense of determination along with an inexplicable intellect.

He was quite tall, at least a head taller than Rozen, but his frame, like his face, appeared exceedingly slender.

This man was clad in a loose scarlet robe, his long hair tied back into platinum white locks. His brass-colored eyes met Rozen's gaze, giving off an aura as if something fearsome were harbored within him, creating an imposing presence.

However, Rozen seemed to disregard the man's presence and the aura he exuded. Instead, he focused on the weapon he carried.

(A shield?)

Indeed.

What the man held wasn't a swiftly attacking rapier or dagger, nor was it a formidable battle axe or warhammer with immense attack power. It wasn't even the popular swords or spears among players. It was a shield.

A cruciform shield.

Of course, there were plenty of players who used shields, especially in the situation of SAO turning into a death game, where many hoped to enhance their defense by using a shield. However, Rozen had never seen someone like the man before him—someone who carried nothing but a shield, with no other visible weapons.

Upon closer inspection, though, Rozen noticed.

(Does the shield have a weapon attached to the inside?)

Although the weapon couldn't be seen from the front, at the top of the cruciform shield, a sword hilt extended slightly, proving the presence of a weapon attached to the shield's inner side—a one-handed sword or dagger that could be equipped.

(Not just using the shield for protection, but also as a scabbard?)

Rozen's thoughts raced, and then he finally spoke.

"Not too long of a wait, take a seat."

Rozen adopted a nonchalant demeanor that might have irked someone with a higher ego. However, the guild leader of Knights of the Blood Oath simply nodded and, following Rozen's lead, took a seat opposite him.

For some reason, Rozen felt that every move the man made was imbued with a certain aura.

It wasn't about nobility or elegance. Instead, it was a mechanical sense of rationality, as if every movement was calculated down to the tiniest exertion of force and muscle utilization.

In this context, Asuna, who had accompanied them, stood to the side and spoke first.

"Let me introduce."

Asuna addressed Rozen in this manner.

"This is the guild leader of Knights of the Blood Oath, Heathcliff."

Asuna finished speaking but seemed ready to introduce Rozen to her guild leader. Yet, Heathcliff raised his hand to interrupt her.

"There's no need to introduce this person."

Heathcliff, as the man named. His gaze remained fixed on Rozen, and a faint smile finally emerged on his well-defined face.

"The current leader of the clearing group, the guild master of the most powerful guild, the highest-ranking commander known as the 'Magus,' the frontline commander with an impeccable record, these rumors are well-known, and I'm no exception. I certainly recognize Guild Master Rozen."

Strangely, though these words were supposed to be complimentary, when spoken by Heathcliff, they seemed to carry an undertone of evaluation.

Moreover, Heathcliff wasn't merely evaluating Rozen. His gaze shifted to Saichou and Hanachou, who were playing on the bar counter. His eyes held a trace of curiosity as he looked at them.

Clearly, Heathcliff was greatly intrigued by the two familiars that Rozen had raised.

In fact, Heathcliff even said this:

"Are these the Rainbow Butterflies, known in rumors for being able to afflict various abnormal states upon even the guardian floor boss, effectively turning it into a living target and saving the lives of countless players?" Heathcliff murmured to himself, "I hadn't thought they could be cultivated to such an extent. Perhaps even the game developers hadn't anticipated this situation."

Heathcliff's assessment was astonishing.

"Guild Leader?"

Asuna spoke up, clearly surprised.

Rozen hadn't anticipated that Heathcliff would make such a judgment the first time he saw the Rainbow Butterflies. He locked eyes with Heathcliff.

"Isn't that quite an exaggeration, Guild Leader Heathcliff?" Rozen replied with a mix of laughter and disbelief. "How could the game developers not anticipate this situation? After all, these creatures were designed by them, right?"

If they had designed familiars capable of reaching such strength, then it was only natural to assume that these possibilities were within the original design.

However...

"That statement is only half true, Guild Master Rozen."

Heathcliff's words caused Rozen to raise an eyebrow in response.