"plea---se, cal...m d---own Akihi--to-sa...ma" (Kikuoka)
For a good 3 seconds, it feels like the whole association building lost the oxygen and misplaced into a planet with the heaviest gravity in the solar system.
"Oh well, I guess that is enough." Akihito turned his Haki off and immediately everyone else in the room obtained the ability to suck in air into their lungs once more.
The two adjutants who were behind Kikuoka gasped for air on the ground and the other players clad in divine dragon's trademark passed out behind Thinker.
As for the knights of blood, one of the two behind Heathcliff is down, yet one of them was paralyzed to one knee.
Two of the organization leaders breathe heavily, yet the man clad in red still locks his eyes with Akihito's as the heterochromia eyes of grey and red look back without any emotions.
"Kahhk-- as--... As we have speculated the situation.. kuh--! Akihito-sama is more than capable of handling a dungeon even on his own." Despite the crippling pain, Kikuoka forced himself to adapt and show the professionalism of an ex-lieutenant colonel.
All this while the coughing from divine dragon's leader becomes so much worse.
"Then I guess that's done. If there's nothing else I will be on my way."
Thus, Akihito stands up leaving the messy room as it is.
"Kuhhak--!! Wait, You bastard--!!!" (Thinker)
Kikuoka fixed his glasses, "Thinker-sama, I believe it would be best we leave that matter behind."
"What did you say!?" Thinker who gets to move his body again stood up and turned to Heathcliff who sat down after the Liberation Guild's leader leaves.
"Oi, don't you got something to say in this!?" The silver asked the red.
"You dragons always got your one-sided rivalry against us, so I won't be surprised if this is how it turned out. I don't care, The knights will protect Hokkaido with all our might."
"Tch--!!" The chair turned over Thinker stumps his feet to leave the room.
His teeth are visibly gritting against each other to show how much anger he accumulated throughout this meeting.
The guild leader left the room as well as his two subordinates who were in the room knocked out of the cold.
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Kikuoka assigned his men to move Thinker's knocked-out subordinates out of the room and Heathcliff sent his guild members back to the guild.
Only Kikuoka and Heathcliff are inside the huge meeting room now.
"Akihiko-san, it seems like it's going to be a rough year." Kikuoka stated thus, seemingly understanding that the true identity of Heathcliff is Kayaba Akihiko.
"Seems about right" The red man pulled out a circular item inside his inventory and placed it on the table.
*Ding*
[Private space has engulfed the current space dimension]
[Diameter: 10 meters]
[Timer: 04:99]
[Any words spoken inside the private space will only be filtered to the constellations]
"It was a small mistake, but I never thought this is how everything would be turned out." (Heathcliff)
"Haa... The administrator that told you he is on humanity's side and will help us shut down the game... Can you really trust his words?"
Kikuoka spoke sternly at him.
*Ding*
[Administrator F assures you that he is telling the truth]
Kikuoka has a frown on his face when he reads the message.
"I trust him as he is the one who becomes a fake constellation and give me what I have right now Kikuoka-san. I made SAO, but when someone... No, 'something' appeared in my dreams, he told me that he can make the castle that I loved a reality. Unfortunately..."
Something isn't right, Heathcliff was supposed to be calm and collected. But Kikuoka sensed something different from the current him.
"That castle is not mine anymore."
Despite the calm voice, it was a stern point that it felt like he was trying to emphasize that fact.
"That admin, I sure hope to meet them someday." (Heathcliff)
But Kikuoka had to see something else from the system.
*Ding*
The chat feature pops out from his system.
The constellation's message can be hidden perfectly when the message itself was made by a high-ranked constellation. But a chat feature is the most private thing you can have in this game.
They can only be seen if the player swipe the screen and showed them to you.
Therefore, Kikuoka had a hard time believing who he should trust in this world. Because the Chat that came from administrator F just made him even more confused.
[Administrator F: Player ID: Heathcliff is not right in the head either. Originally he planned to trap all players in the VR world. I am just using him in order to get to you and that player called Akihito.]
Kikuoka made sure he reads all those words without making a face in front of the co-creator of SAO before he left the room.
And finally...
[Chrysheight: What do you mean?]
*Ding*
[Administrator F: There are three administrators. Those branded with the alphabet of A and K, and finally me. Now you want to end this shitty game? Go get Player ID: BallsDeep69.]
Something appears on Kikuoka's head, yes... It is more headache.
*Sigh*
[Chrysheight: Ah, is that so? Then I guess I'll go get my pills first.]
He decided to cast aside the current problem so that he can deal with the mountains of paperwork in his office.
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.
Kirito has been leveling up inside Aincrad and teleported back home back and forth for the last couple of days.
The second floor which is a safe zone has not had many monsters inside of it. Rather, the monsters there seemed to give no damage and drop low-leveled potions once they were killed.
Something that wasn't in the beta at all. Also, Kirito wasn't able to understand the use of the MP stat that he have at all.
He figured if he keeps leveling up he might come across something, but to his dismay, nothing.
That, until one Sunday morning a doorbell made him go downstairs since his family is not at home.
And when he opened the door...
"✨Join my guild✨"
Kirito can never forget the nonchalant smile that Akihito has whenever they talked face to face.
*Thud*
For a second Kirito realized he had shut the door as if some wild natural instincts told him to do so.
He then breathes in...
And breathe out...
*Open*
"✨Join my guild✨"
Again, the guy with a nonchalant smile stated those words as if nothing happened.
"No. How did you even know where I live?"
"Come, Join my guild, Gary!"
"For the last time, no! And who's Gary!?"
"Come join the Liberation guild, we have cookies!"
"ANSWER MY QUESTION YOU STUPID NPC!!
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---Please Standby---
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"Why am I even serving you some tea...?" Kirito grumbled as he served some tea to the Guild leader.
"Should you really be saying that In front of the guy?"
"Yes, I could. Since the guest doesn't seem to have an invitation with him."
"Well sorry. But I got some priorities here y'know?"
...
"... I am not joining any guild."
"Come on now, I haven't even told you about my guild..."
"Why do you even need me anyway? In the first place, you were also a solo player."
To this remark, Akihito put up a stern face.
"Have you ever thought how this whole catastrophe will affect our lives... To the point our family might be the ones in danger sooner or later?"
Akihito finally caught his attention.
"I've shown my power to everyone else. From now on I'd probably attract much attention. I will make a few comrades, and maybe enemies."
Kirito stares at him with a "well duh"-kind of face, "Ah, so you just realized."
"Which is a good thing"
Kirito raised an eyebrow at him.
"I know my powers would draw unwanted attention to anyone else sooner or later. Either they just want to be friends with you, or become your enemy..."
Despite his evasive attitude towards Akihito, Kirito actually listens to his words.
"Did you really think it'll be fine to bear the burden alone? If I have no one to care about, then yes. I can imagine myself dying at the hands of those who wanted to obtain me yet can't. And they figured it's better if no one has me if they can't..."
At this, Kirito's eyes finally widened.
"That was the same for you wasn't it... Kirito?"
Just a few days ago a word came from the government. The man known as Kikuoka Seijuro came to Kirigaya's residence.
His family was present at that time, he was given an offer to become a member of the association.
Of course, his parents rejected the idea as that would make him some kind of a civil officer in the public's eyes.
"Soon there will be more guilds to offer their hands at you, and when you fail to reach their hands, they would point their swords against you instead."
Kirito now understood why the guy who always proclaimed to be a solo player in his friend list made a guild.
"If I were to become strong and draw attention, might as well make it so that I am too strong for my own good."
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"Alright, I'll try to think about it."
"Yeah! Be sure to think about it thoroughly, Gary~!"
"Call me that again and I'll decline the offer immediately."
"We must save my family!"
"The neighbors can hear you, shut up. And was that supposed to be some reference or some sort?"
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To be continued.
TELL ME WHY!? AIN'T NOTHING BUT A HEARTACHE TELL ME WHY!? AIN'T NOTHING BUT A MISTAKE. NOW NUMBER FIVE. I NEVER WANNA HEAR YOU SAAAAY, "I AM JUST A FISH"