guesses

13:00pm

forest house k4

"what in the world had happen there" leafa asked wanting to know what kirito and asuna had encountered

"how should i put it, someone attacked us, and by the looks of it, it seems like i got one thing right"kirito explained

"could they be the attacker of butterfly valley ?' leafa wondered at awe

"yes, but it at a cost" kirito wanted to said but fear of how the girls would react

"you mean, the cost of an eye and an arm ?, that doesnt sound like a big loss to me" klein said

"no..., we lost the excalibur" kirito quckly sip the tea to not see their shock

"you what, how !?" leafa jump out in suprise of what he just said

"kirito, please dont tell me you use the sword to draw them out !?" the blue cait sith asked in shock, not to mention angry, because she the one who help him get the sword after it was discarded in the ice palace quest

"i mean the plan still works, right ?" kirito creating an excuse to his action

"is that why your acting all suspicious dyeing the market ?" asuna asked realizing the weird thing kirito did during the swilvane market

"yes, but at least there is a good news for this, at least we have caught our culprit that had did the attack last night, and it seems that bring the Excalibur out was worth it" kirito explained hoping that the blue Cait sith girl name sinon could forgive him for this as he look toward her

"I mean yes it was, but still... that is the worst way to draw someone to you, what happen if it wasn't them but rather some random jerk that steal it, wouldn't that be a great loss" klein explained in disbelief of using such a plan

"now that you mention it, I didn't show the Excalibur during the market, but how did I get their attention" kirito me too me do as he wondered could it be the clothes?, no, they aren't the only race outside of sylph to have it, but neither was it Excalibur, kirito though before yui come in wondering if Papa was okay and with that click as he realize yui is what caught their attention, but why, the more he think the more he remembers that yui was was the only pixie that doesn't have pointy ears

"no wonder" kirito said "it's not the excalibur they are looking for, they originally was drawn to yui!"

"so your saying that they would have taken yui if it weren't for the Excalibur !?" asuna surprised at this conclusion as she worried what they will do with yui, while kirito put his suspicion mostly on Tate the Goliath as the way he look toward him, maybe he wasn't just look at him, but rather he was looking at all three of them, the more he think about it the more chilling it felt

"papa, mama, what are they going to do with me? " yui asked after hearing what mama had said

"it's alright, little yui, you don't have to fear, papa will protect you" kirito trying to comfort his little apple

as kirito try to comfort his daughter's the door was opened with a blonde Cait sith girl name Alice saying "kirito, I heard that you have gotten attacked while on exploring" Alice said as she look at kirito looking very closed to the point that asuna can felt something suspicious about to happen if she got closer to kirito face, but luckily Alice pull back as she realize there aren't any sign of attack

"you said you were attacked, but where are your scars? " Alice wondered still not understand much about this world

"the attack happen and shown only on the exploration, but once you arrive in a safe zone you will recover with all your body parts back" klein explained hoping to stop the confusion

"I see, kirito, could you tell me who this person is ?" kirito see Alice serious eye as he see a bit of fury in them it seems that he can tell what she planned to do

"what do you plan to do? " kirito asked just to be sure

"I'm gonna find him, and do a limb for limb on him" as kirito suspected her overprotective nature is still there even after got out of underworld, he can't blame her though, she was the one to take care of him during those times after all, he even remember the confrontation she and asuna had when she enter the underworld

"that won't be necessary" kirito attempt to calm her down before there is a knock on the door, everyone went silence as Alice heard this quickly put his hand on her sword, while asuna quickly get near the door with her wand in her hand as she look through the peephole to her she see a straw hat? like the one often wear by wanderers in movies, as she see the person with his hand on the straw hat he raised it and looking through the peephole as asuna see a man dressed in all red with some clothes covering around his shoulder

"is anyone there?, weird, I though it just saw someone enter this house a minutes ago, did sakuya even sent the right map though" the man look to his map as he turn the map left and right hoping he didn't see the map in the wrong side before he heard the doorknob turned as he turn to see asuna pointing her wand at him

"lady-i mean ma'am, mind tell me what's your doing? " he eyes look at the wand and see asuna serious look on her face as she slowly step out of the door menacingly stared at him at that moment he can only felt fear, as he try to calm her down, before kirito got out to stop asuna with some convincing as she finally let him in

he was force to sat beside kirito with many eyes looking at him in suspicion, he took a deep breath before he took of his hat, revealing he is a salamander (fire fairy), "my name is blesi, a salamander private investigator, to put it simply, like that of a police that capture people who done crimes in alo and report them to the territory and let them decide their fate " even with this introduction the people seems to getting more suspicion as he said "well not as in officially made by the salamander but more of private investigation"

"is this even legit ?" klein asked wanting other opinion on this

"like I said, it wasn't official" blesi remind nudging on kirito hoping to ask some question

"so, blesi, what bring you here for investigation" kirito quickly asked hoping to break the ice

"oh right, i'm pretty sure some of you may have heard of the attack especially the impact it did cait sith and the sylph territory, and i have been to the cait sith territory to request to meet alicia to get the info, but she simply told me to get to sylph, then i got to sylph, similar yet different result, let me go and find a guy name kirito, and im assuming this fine gentleman of a spriggan must be the kirito that sakuya had said, with that i must say its an honor to meet you" blesi explained before giving a welcoming gesture toward leafa before he prepare for the worst

"and of course how could i forget kirito beautiful of a wife ,asuna, and of course their adorable daughter, yui" blesi said sipping his tea with a smile on his face hoping to lighten up the mood, though it only bring suspicion by the others

"so its seems that you may have known us"

"of course, kirito, the blackswordman who beat the infamous death game, asuna, well known by the name the lightning flash for its speed, like the taoism symbol, each them have the other, how wonderful of a metaphor for the two of you" blesi said, yet he can sensing the eye from the ladies are getting more...menacing to say the least

"anyway" blesi got up as he walk toward the window "would you like cooperate with me on this case, we share the same goal after all ?" blesi turn back to see all of them in dead silent concern from the look he can tell, they dont fully trust him, yet

as kirito look to his friend see them in bit of silence some he can tell doesnt fully trust this man, yet there is on half of the trust, as he wonder if he should be the one that decided, leafa got up, as kirito see his sister making a invitation to him, as blesi look down, he simply smiled glad that he can get the trust of at least one person, but he didnt expect it to be from the enemy to the salamander "may this can improve the bond between two allies, thank you" he quickly press the button to see a name pop up above him went by the name leafa

"so your leafa, nice to meet you" blesi said making sure make leafa felt welcome to a stranger like him

while he can see kirito feeling happy for his cousin

blesi with the hat at hand, he tied the knot as he planned to go, as he had got a friend that he can trust on, to him at least a person with wide connection like leafa is a good enough option, before he got out of the door, he forgot to ask kirito

"is this apart of the safe zone ?"

"no, but there wont be monsters around" with kirito finish his word blesi he began to wonder what blesi was doing

"i see" blesi replied with a smile on his face before he got out of the house, with the only thing can said about him "he sure is...something" kirito look to alice as he got close to her ears to explain what he had in plan, before he look to asuna with a finger on his own lips

while outside blesi look back at the hut as he began to walk away from it, he enjoyed the scenery as he wander around the forest getting further and further he heard rustle near the woods around him, while he simply relaxes before two man standing in front of him blocking his path, with their sword and spears in the ready

while he look back counting that around four people, good thing, this isnt the death game so killing them wasnt a concern, as he raised his hand his sword formed in front of him, he see them in the ready, leaving him no choice but to do this, as he ept his hand raised, the people wonder what he was planning with the atmosphere around them getting stronger

before they knew it blesi throw some knife at the two in front before he quickly drew his long blade cutting the two, as he let his sword rest, the two people on the back see the blade as it was a saber that is a palm longer than the japanese sword, he look back, seeing the two was using a japanese weapon

"do you recognize what this sword was use for ?" only to see them speechless, "this is the sword used to counter woku like you" he explained pointing the blade with bloodlust in his eyes, as he approach them menacingly, before one of them began to charge only to get cut with hp reached zero in an instant

as the scream was heard, alice, followed what kirito had told her as she call out kirito, with the two ran toward where the sound was heard, while blesi had terrified the man to the ground, with blesi sword pointing at him, his face in fear of what he see, while blesi simply, hold him there, didnt plan to kill him like his partner, as he see not far were alice and kirito, as blesi had his foot on top of the man chest, pinning him down, while he had his sword sheatehd, when they came she and kirito wondered what had just happen

"alice, was it ?, mind help me point a sword at him, to kept him down, and kirito, listen up" blesi said as he had his foot off the man only to see the blonde girl had her sword point at him while blesi bend down

"listen here buddy" blesi said pat on the man armor "i gave you a chance to lived, i had questions to ask, and all you need is provide answers, deal ?" blesi look to kirito as he kneel down to hear what the man have to say

"what do you want to ask, kirito ?" blesi asked

"what do you know so far ?" kirito asked before blesi continued "anything related to the attack from yesterday" just to make sure he didnt speak too much useless info

"i didnt know much, but all i know was that someone sent us" the man said as blesi asked "do you know this person ?"

"no, all i know is that the boss of mine been talk to someone, someone by the nickname the poet"

the man explained "the poet" blesi look around as he see the flame still burning "mind telling me which one is the boss ?" blesi asked as he prepare the revival "the one you just killed" blesi look to the spearman he just killed not long ago, as he had the potion ready with he sword on top of the flame, waiting to press on him after getting revived

with the healthbar recover half way, and the man finally revived blesi quickly put his sword near the man neck as he see it, blesi can see the frustration of this man, but blesi simply wanted answers, as he look at alice to request to let the man go as they arrive to blesi shortly, "tell me, what do you know about the so called poet " as blesi finished his question before he can do anything the man began to cursing at blesi "you salamander pansies, i wont tell you anything" blesi hear this wonder if he should be called brave or just outright stupidity for this, but he doesnt mind the namecalling as he had a solution prepared in his mind

"all right then, funny enough i got plenty of revival potion, and i can let you see me killing you, revive you, then again, again, and again until im satisfied, you dont want to see me going massacre mode and see those eyes, do you ?" blesi taunt the man as the man is remind of the menacing look on blesi face during the attack "please, please, anything but that, no more!"

"what did you do to him before this ?" kirito asked seeing this man reaction it was as if he had seen a ghost

"just made some menacing look...with a bit of acting" blesi replied awkwardly "so tell me, what do you know about the person went by the nickname the poet"

"all i know was that she had given us sums of money and materials in this game, other than that we didnt know much about her" the man explained

"wait, how can you be sure it is a she ?" alice asked

"b-because" the man mumbles before blesi have to press his sword touching into his neck "spit it out" blesi force further before in all sudden

blesi see two flying thing attach to the string of rope, blesi saw this as he quickly recognize what it was before pushing alice and kirito away as he throw a knife into the object, with one of it return the other however got to the man head as it cover his entire face while he struggle to break free blesi try to pull the thing as he quickly got up to after it, in a mere second he hear the sound of a slice within that thing the next thing he see is the man body, with its head gone, leaving him fell to the ground headless before it dissipated into pieces of dust

the three who witness it was in shock of the weapons existance, blesi had heard the description of this object use but he never imagine that someone would use it in this game, after calm down from the shock he quickly pull alice and kirito up seeing them able to respond made him sigh in relief, even he had no idea how should he react to seeing that, let alone letting a survivor see it, he soon heard laughter as he wanted alice to hear where it was from, but without warning huge gush of black smoke surround them as she can hear the laughter only remind her of the annoying chudelkin

but luckily thank to her ears she hear sound of metal spinning on metal, until she realize it from above as she look up to see a man in all black with a pair of metal piercer about to attck them from above, with a warning the three dosge the incoming attack, as it targeted blesi, knowing its impossible for him to see in the dark, while blesi can simply dodge the piercing attack in random, with most of the incoming attack making his hp drop in critical rate, while kirito quickly to attack the man, before blesi felt kirito grab him and let him remain behind him, while blesi think its best to use another weapon he had, as he pull out a handheld crossbow before asked "kirito help me see where he was at"

"okay" kirito agreed as he look around the place, before blesi decide to lay his arm of crossbow upon kirito shoulder "just say it when you find it" as kirito look around the tree, while alice continued to hear the sounds, they can sense his presence but the place around them prevent them from hearing him

soon kirito see someone running around the forest while alice can hear the sound of steel spinning on metal, before hearing it toward kirito "kirito, 3 o'clock" hearing this blesi pointing at the direction "bullseye!" he said as the trigger was pulled and the bolt create sounds that suddenly stopped in a second indicating a hit while the cloud slowly disperse

kirito look to see another spriggan on the scene as he wore in all black with the only weapon on him are the flying guillotine and a piercer that attach to a ring, with this kirito realize he could be one of the mysterious attacker that leafa mentioned

"who are you ?" kirito point his sword to the fellow spriggan as he see the man simply laugh "hahahaha, well, well, well, if it isnt the blackswordman who survived the deathgame"

"what is up with people keep calling me the blackswordman this day ?" kirito questioned as he heard it multiple times

"my name is ivar, the guillotine, one of the survivors of the...deathgame" ivar said as kirito is reminded of the members of the laughting coffin when he smiles with his teeth shown "were you a member of that group ?"

"oh you mean the one who laught in a coffin ?, then no, ohhh i remember now, your an enemy to them is it, say i heard that you never enjoy murder, so how does it feel killing them, the blackswordman" anger and feat began to enter kirito mind as he suddenly plunge his blade into ivar stomach, as alice attempt to stop it but ivar continued his word

"whats wrong, kirito, feeling angry, wanna burst it all out, how can you protect those precious to you without even able to kill a madman like me !?" kirito mind clouded with scenes of him forcing to kill people that try to kill him, as tears flowing down his eyes feeling guilt and ashamed of such an act

ivar seeing an opportunity grab the blade and plunge it deeper as he look deep into kirito eyes as he whispered "we will meet again, soon" as ivar hp drop to zero his avatar turned to dissipated dust as it slowly faded in front of him as kirito kneeled with his sword loose from his grip, as alice see him broken down, with kirito mind remind of those who had died in front of him from the time in the death game to the time in underworld many lives both real and artificial had died in his hand

blesi came close as he told alice to call the others to help in this while he will remain here to see how the situation become