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Chapter 385: Chapter 381 ~ Information Broker

”Yuuji-san… Youʼre amazing. I canʼt believe youʼre not a beta tester. Or rather, are you actually a swordmaster in real life?”

”Ahahaha… Nothing like that. Iʼve learned swordsmanship a bit, but nothing like a sword master.”

After a late night grinding, Yuuji made his way back to the village from the dense forest. 

Walking alongside him was Kirito. He was a head shorter than him, so conversations were done with Kirito looking up or Yuuji looking down. 

At that angle, Kirito would be able to see from under the hood that covered most of Yuujiʼs visage. But most of his appearance was still covered by the cloth mask. 

Kirito could only see his eyes and his raven hair, but it was enough for him to infer the extremely handsome visage Yuuji might have under his guise. 

ʼThough, why would he hide his appearance if heʼs so handsome…?ʼ

After all, wouldnʼt it be nice to be handsome? Itʼd make everything much easier. 

People would tend to be more biased towards those with a pleasant appearance. 

He had seen it numerous times. The handsome guys in his school would be popular with the girls and teachers. And naturally, their mistakes would be diminished or even be thought of as cute. They could even do things that other guys, who had less pleasant appearance, would be rebuked for or punished. 

While beautiful girls would enjoy the attention of guys around her, be treated as a princess, and receive various benefits from them without even being asked. 

As someone who had only been the spectator of such things, Kirito couldnʼt help but wonder why he would hide it?

Wouldnʼt he be able to enjoy the same benefits in this death game? 

Especially if he was this strong? He wouldnʼt be lacking in the number of people wanting to follow him. 

”How about you? I noticed youʼre also quite used to the sword. I know youʼre a beta tester, but… do you perhaps learn swordsmanship in real life? Maybe… Kendo?”

”Yeah, I do. Iʼve learned Kendo for two years. Though I havenʼt touched it in quite a while.”

Kirito looked up to him with amazement. 

”Itʼs amazing that you can tell.”

”I can see it in your footwork. Most people who didnʼt have any real training with the sword would have messy footwork. But I can still see traces of Kendo footwork in your steps when you fight.”

ʼUnlike Coper, whoʼs clearly a novice with no real training.ʼ

He added in his mind, his senses keeping track of the young man who was now walking several steps behind them. 

Yuuji seemed to have instilled fear into him after his display of strength during their grind. Which was what he intended. 

Fear was the only effective repellant for these kinds of people. Coper now knew that he wonʼt be able to win against him one on one. And even if he were to lure monsters to attack Yuuji, he knew that Yuuji could simply kill them all before killing him. 

So now, all Coper could do was try and stay away from him, fearing that Yuuji would attack him if he were to ever notice his hidden intentions. 

Soon, the three arrived back at the village and they went to the Inn together, intending to stay there for the night. 

”Well then, Iʼll be retiring for the night.”

”Y-Yeah. Iʼll be going to the shop for a bit… Thanks for today.”

Coper lowered his head to Yuuji before immediately scuttling away. 

”Hm?”

A look of confusion flashed across Kiritoʼs expression. But his attention quickly returned to Yuuji as he began making his way to the only local inn within the village. 

”Y-Yuuji-san!”

Yuuji stopped and turned his head towards Kirito. 

”Uhm… This might sound weird but…”

Kirito clenched his fist, fighting his habit to simply stay silent, internalize everything, and look from afar. Detached. 

But this… This was a chance he couldnʼt afford to let go. 

Kirito had only come to admire a very few people in his life. One was the genius who made this virtual world and turned it into a prison for ten thousand people. 

Yuuji was the second.

That swordsmanship he saw in the depths of that forest… It lit up a fire of passion within his heart for swordsmanship he didnʼt even know he had. 

And his desire to see it once more, and perhaps learn even a fragment of his sword, pushed the words out of his mouth before his mind could stop himself. 

”If possible… Can you teach me your swordsmanship?”

There was a pause. 

A heavy silence, followed by a soft howl of a cold nightʼs breeze. 

With his [Teaching Proficiency] and [Swordsmanship Proficiency], teaching Kirito swordsmanship would not only be possible. He could even train Kirito to the point that heʼd be able to contend against Kiba Yuuto, even as a normal human, in a few months. 

But teaching Kirito would require him to spend his time, and time was something he couldnʼt afford now. 

Although he was a master with the sword, after a full dayʼs of grinding and hunting for monsters in this death game, he was well aware of the limits of his skills in this game world. 

In the end, even if he was confident in his ability to survive against higher-leveled monsters, his skills alone wouldnʼt be able to generate the ”damage” needed to defeat them. 

He would need to level up, upgrade his equipment, level up and gain more ”skills”, and unlock new Sword Skills to truly advance. 

Moreover, his goal in this world wasnʼt only to survive. 

To complete his missions, he would need to reach level 100, deal the final hit to at least 10 floor bosses, kill the final boss, and eliminate at least 10 Red-Players from the red guild [Laughing Coffin]. 

He couldnʼt spend the time he could be using to strengthen himself to teach someone else. 

Yuuji now turned himself fully towards Kirito. 

And before the young man nervously waited for his response, he lowered his head slightly. 

”Iʼm sorry. I need to become stronger as quickly as possible. I canʼt spare the time to teach you.”

A quiet exhale escaped Kiritoʼs lips. 

The bitter taste of disappointment. But, it was a response he expected. 

After all, even he knew he was asking for a huge favor, something no one in their right mind would accept, especially in this situation. 

”I see… Then, at the very least, can I add you as a friend? That way, we can message each other and perhaps go on a quest together in the future!”

Yuuji could see the determination in his eyes. 

The determination to become stronger, to catch up to him, and to survive in this cruel world they found themselves in. 

Though, there was still naivety in those young eyes. A recklessness driven by confidence in his own knowledge as a beta tester, fear, and a lack of something—someone–-to protect.

ʼHm? Iʼm starting to sound like an old man… Iʼm still in my first year of high school though.ʼ

Well, considering he had lived through… several ”first-years” of his high school in various worlds because of the missions, he was still technically a first year high school student. 

”Alright.”

Yuuji nodded, and relief spread across Kiritoʼs expression. 

He was a promising ally, someone who would be capable of pioneering the players in their quest to conquer the final floor of this floating castle and escape the death game. At least, Yuuji thought so, if Kirito didnʼt let his recklessness drive him into danger he wouldnʼt be able to escape.

But that too, he would need to learn himself to be able to grow. 

Moreover, from what he had seen, Kirito seemed to have a decent character. And to hold on to such character in this situation was enough proof for Yuuji to, at the very least, associate himself with him. 

Yuuji accepted the friend request he sent. 

”Then, Iʼll see you tomorrow.”

”Yes! See you tomorrow.”

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”Hm… This should be the place, right?”

A short feminine figure looked around the village of Horunka she had just arrived in. 

The hooded cloak she adorned hid the short, curly golden-brown hair and brown eyes from the bright, illuminating morning sun that shined upon her as she stood near the well at the center of the village. 

She observed her surroundings, analyzing every detail she could find. 

A skill, or rather, a habit she had developed due to her curious nature. 

If her memory served her right, this should be the Horunka Village she knew from the beta version of Sword Art Online. 

It was a small village with only a few buildings, all visible from where she was standing, and otherwise barren.

Just then, a figure appeared, coming out of the only inn within this small village. 

ʼAh! A player!ʼ

Her eyes brightened. 

He must be a very experienced player! A beta tester! After all, most rookie players were still in the Town of Beginnings, learning the games mechanics, and only ventured a few distance away from the outskirts of the town. 

Even she, herself, had just gained enough experience points and confidence to go this far after a full dayʼs worth of grinding around the outskirts of the Town of Beginnings. 

Moreover, judging by the fact that he just came out of the inn, it could mean that he had stayed here for the night! That means, he had arrived, at the latest, the night before!

And there was only one reason why any beta testers would come to this village. 

The [Secret Medicine of the Forest] quest! 

”Hey! Onii-san!”

Yuuji stopped and turned towards the cloaked girl running towards him with a waved hand. 

”Hello! Itʼs nice to meet you! The nameʼs Argo! Sorry for bothering!”

”My name is Yuuji. Itʼs nice to meet you. Is there something I can help with?”

Argo nodded excitedly.

Inwardly, she felt relieved. Although he was hiding his appearance not only with a hood, but also a cloth mask, Yuuji seemed to be quite friendly. 

”Yes! I want to buy something from you!”

”Buy?”

Yuuji tilted his head slightly. He first thought of the Anneal Blade in his hand, but that wasnʼt something heʼs willing to sell right now. 

”If youʼre talking about this sword, I have no intention of selling it.”

”Ah, as expected! So you have completed the [Secret Medicine of The Forest] quest! That makes things easier!”

Argo pointed at the sword on the side of his waist and continued.

”I donʼt want to buy the sword itself, but the information of the quest!”

”The information?”

Argo nodded. 

”Yes! Since the quest details could have changed since the beta version, information on the official quest could still be valuable and potentially save lives! I plan to create a series of paid guide books, and one free edition, to circulate the information needed for players to survive in the game!”

Upon hearing her reason to buy information of the quest, Yuuji had a newfound respect for the energetic girl before him. 

In a time when players, specifically beta testers, scrambled to level up quickly, garner strength, and survive in this death game by using their knowledge of the beta version of the game to their advantage, she chose to disseminate information through guide books. 

All so that as many players would be able to gain basic information about the world and begin garnering their strength. 

”Alright. How much do you wish to pay for it?”

Argo was surprised to receive his agreement so easily. But she quickly gave him a number, lesser at first so if he were to negotiate for a higher price, sheʼd be able to still make a small profit. 

”How about this much?”

She sent him a trade request with the amount of Cols she would be paying. 

”Sure.”

”Eh?”

This was unexpected… She expected him to negotiate for a higher price. After all, itʼs the most rewarding quest you can get as a newbie. 

”You seemed surprised.”

Although his face was covered by a cloth mask, Argo could imagine him smiling from the amused tone in his voice. 

”W-Well…”

”I like the way you do things. You donʼt collect information solely for profit, but also try to help out new players by doing this. Iʼll support your effort.”

He accepted the trade, and he was now a few hundred Cols richer. 

”Thank you… That helps a lot.”

Argo lowered her head, her gratitude going beyond getting such information for a cheaper price, but for his support and praise. 

”Then, hereʼs the details of the quest.”

Yuuji explained all the details of the [Secret Medicine of The Forest] quest, how to start the quest, the item-drop needed to complete it, the location of the monster he had to kill to drop it, and other monsters players may encounter while doing the quest. 

And as she listened, Argo couldnʼt help but be amazed by how detailed and thorough of the information he was giving.

”...This is great! As expected, there are a few difference to the quest detail than in the beta. Itʼll be a great warning to those whoʼd try to complete it!”

”Iʼm glad it helps.”

Argo smiled brightly and extended a hand for a handshake.

”Thank you, Yuuji! Youʼre a great help!”

”Youʼre welcome.”

He took her hand and shook it. 

Now that her main intention was accomplished, Argo couldnʼt hold back her curiosity once again. This time, towards Yuuji himself. 

”Hey hey, by the way. Why are you hiding your appearance?”

Yuuji smiled behind his cloth mask. 

”My appearance will cost you a lot more.”

”Ahaha! What are you, a celebrity? Your face shouldnʼt cost that much!”

Argo teased, her lips curled into a smirk. 

”But fine, Iʼm an information broker, but Iʼm not the kind to pry into otherʼs personal information.”

Argo then sent him a friend request.

”Letʼs be friends. If you have information in the future, call me up! Iʼll pay you a fair price from the get go next time!”

”Sure.”

Yuuji accepted her friend request, and she became his second friend in this world. 

”Hehe! Great! Then, please take care of me, mister mysterious!”

”Likewise, miss information broker.”

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AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please comment your thoughts~! I would love to hear what you think about it~!!!! 

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Thank you~!