-1734- Revealing the progress

After harshly scolding Rozen and Kirito, everyone ultimately let the two off the hook.

No matter what, the group, which hadn't fully gathered in a week, was genuinely happy to reunite.

Even though they usually logged into ALfheim Online (ALO) and met in the guild, it was only Rozen who had been absent, so they weren't truly scattered. However, Rozen had long become the backbone of the group. Without him, even when everyone was together, it felt like something crucial was missing. Only when Rozen was present did the group feel complete.

As Klein put it:

"Boss may be infuriating sometimes, but he's reliable. If anyone excludes him, they'll have to deal with me first!"

Of course, Klein couldn't help but envy Rozen.

"Damn it! It's bad enough that he's so handsome! But he's also rich, has a gorgeous fiancée, and even a lovely daughter! What a jerk! Just die already!"

That was Klein's true inner monologue.

Unfortunately, among the group, Klein was the most pitiful of the men.

Rozen's situation didn't need much elaboration: Asuna wasn't just his girlfriend but his fiancée. He was financially secure, had an adorable and well-mannered daughter, and was clearly on the path to the pinnacle of life.

Though Kirito couldn't match Rozen, he was currently being pursued by both Lis and Sachi, which was undoubtedly a complex situation.

As for Agil, he was already married to a beautiful and capable wife, who was so skilled in domestic matters that even Asuna sought her advice for cooking and housekeeping.

By comparison, Klein, who was still single, working tirelessly at his company, and frequently swamped with overtime, was undoubtedly leading a rather dismal existence.

Being the only "single dog" in a group of life's winners, Klein couldn't help but feel envious.

Of course, this was just the way the group interacted and joked around. Nobody genuinely held grudges, and such banter was quickly brushed off with laughter.

Fortunately, Agil's bar had few customers during the day and only got lively in the evenings. No one complained about Rozen and the group's antics, not even Agil, who often encouraged the chaos. Otherwise, a group of students and a couple of working adults fooling around in a bar would likely have been warned or kicked out.

Thus, the group spent their gathering amid laughter and good cheer.

Then...

"By the way, Boss, you've been in GGO for a week now. Judging from the online buzz, you've certainly caused quite a stir. But have you made any progress?"

Klein, holding a glass of beer, casually asked while drinking.

Hearing this, everyone turned their attention to Rozen.

"Yeah, Rozen-nii, have you found Death Gun?" Silica asked eagerly.

"Don't tell me you've just been gaming and forgot your main objective?" Lis questioned suspiciously.

"Suguha-chan, do you know how much progress the Guild Leader has made in GGO?" Sachi turned to Suguha.

"I don't know either," Suguha replied helplessly.

"We've asked him at home several times, but he always just says, 'Still investigating. Don't worry about it.'"

Kirito also looked resigned.

"So, does that mean there's still no progress?" Agil mused, crossing his arms.

"Come to think of it, is it even true that Death Gun targets famous players?" Asuna tilted her head, raising a thoughtful question that made everyone frown.

Indeed, it couldn't yet be confirmed that Death Gun specifically targeted well-known players.

So far, Death Gun's victims numbered only two, and while both were highly skilled and famous players in GGO, fame might not necessarily be the reason they were targeted.

Perhaps Death Gun had other motives.

Maybe the two famous players were just coincidental targets.

If that were the case, Rozen's strategy might be futile, and Death Gun's whereabouts might remain undiscovered.

Everyone present, being survivors of SAO, instinctively made worst-case assumptions. As such, they couldn't help but worry that Rozen's efforts might be in vain.

Unexpectedly...

"Don't worry," Rozen said, pausing briefly while raising his glass. After a moment of silence, he spoke indifferently.

"I've already made some progress."

Hearing this, the group perked up.

"Progress?"

Everyone immediately gathered around Rozen.

In an instant, Rozen was surrounded.

"You've found Death Gun's trail?"

"Has he targeted you?"

"Are you in danger?"

"What did you discover?"

The group bombarded Rozen with questions, clearly anxious.

Evidently, they were deeply concerned about the matter.

Especially Asuna.

"What's going on?" Asuna asked, her gaze serious as she stared at Rozen.

Rozen glanced at Asuna and then at the others.

Finally, he spoke.

"I've met Death Gun."

Rozen's expression remained stoic as he continued:

"And I've basically confirmed one of Death Gun's identities."

What identity?

"Laughing Coffin."

Rozen revealed this fact without hesitation.

"If I'm not mistaken, Death Gun is a remnant of Laughing Coffin."

At those words...

"—!"

Everyone froze, their faces stiffening and their pupils shrinking as if their very breathing had stopped.

"Laughing Coffin...!"

Kirito and Klein even stood up abruptly, their expressions filled with shock.

"H-How is that possible...!?"

Silica, Lis, and Sachi were equally stunned, while Agil was left speechless.

Only Suguha appeared utterly bewildered.

"W-What is Laughing Coffin? Why is everyone reacting like this?"

Not being an SAO player, Suguha was understandably confused.

"..."

Asuna, on the other hand, tightly gripped Rozen's arm at some point.

"Laughing Coffin..."

She bit her lip.

The bar instantly fell silent and heavy, leaving the group unable to speak for a long time.