Chapter 64 – Sword Art Online (32)
The meeting had no practical discussions at all, but the mapping of the 20th floor of the labyrinth area on the 1st floor was completed at a speed never seen before, as if it had the effect of boosting the morale of the players.
On the afternoon of Saturday, December 3, the day after the meeting, the first party finally found a huge double-sliding door in the deepest part of the floor, and their cheers roared through the 20th floor.
After that, Dearbell and the others boldly opened the boss door and saw the owner’s face. Later that evening, at a meeting held again in Tolbana’s Fountain Square, he proudly reported.
The boss is a huge kobold with a height of up to 2 meters. The name is 《Ilfang the Kobold Road》, and the weapon category is a song. His subordinates include three Ruin Kobold Sentinels wearing metal armor and carrying halberds.
《Sentinel》 is regenerated every time the 4th level HP gauge of the boss decreases by one, and you have to catch 12 of them in total, but Seo-jun and the others didn’t say anything. It wasn’t going to be a sudden boss attack anyway, and there would be scouting battles a few times, so it would be clear sooner or later.
But something unexpected happened.
Surprisingly, the ‘Strategy Guide 1st Floor Boss Edition’ made by Argo was being sold on consignment at an NPC stall opened in a corner of the plaza.
The price is, of course, 0 Cole.
As a result, the meeting was temporarily suspended, and all participants bought a strategy book from the NPC and read the contents carefully.
As usual, it was a wonderful amount of information.
From the name of the boss that has just been revealed, the estimated HP, the distance and speed of the main armament, the amount of damage, and the sword skill used, it is tightly written over three pages. The fourth page was the commentary of his subordinate «Sentinel», and it was clear that there were four appearances, and there were twelve in total.
And on the back cover of the book, there was a sentence written in bright red font that did not exist in the previous ‘Argo Attack Guide’.
【Information is from the SAO beta test. It may have changed in the current version.】
The moment he saw it, Seo-jun reflexively raised his head and looked for Argo in the square.
But she was nowhere to be seen in her simple leather armor. He lowered his head again and muttered in a low voice.
“You did something pretty reckless.”
This red notice is the stance that Argo has maintained until now…
It could destroy the position of ‘a simple informant who buys information from unknown beta people’.
Almost everyone who reads this will have a suspicion that the mouse is not a beta tester himself.
Of course, there is no evidence, but it is clear that the risk of being the first target of a mass lynching in case new players and beta graduates become more goals in the future has increased.
‘Of course I’ll protect you.’
While thinking that way, it was also clear that this strategy book would reduce the annoying and dangerous reconnaissance battles. Most of the players who had finished reading the book looked at Dearbell standing on the edge of the fountain, just like yesterday, as they were trying to leave the leader to decide how to react.
Dear Bell still had her head down for several tens of seconds, as if thinking of something about her, but she soon corrected her posture and shouted in a resonant voice.
“Everyone, let’s appreciate this information for now!”
The audience shuddered.
This is because the remark can be taken as a choice of harmony rather than confrontation with the beta graduates. Also, I wondered if someone like Kibao would come out and fight, but the brown cactus head that caught a glimpse in front of the crowd was still in place.
“Even if the source is second, thanks to this guide, I was able to skip the recon battle that I thought would take two or three days. To be honest, I am very grateful. Because it was before reconnaissance that the most likely death would occur.”
Colorful heads nodded here and there in the plaza.
“… If this information is correct, the boss’s stats don’t seem to be that dangerous. If SAO was a normal MMO, your average level would be 3… , No, even 5 levels lower would have been enough. So, if you plan your strategy well, buy lots of potions, and challenge, it won’t be impossible to attack without killing anyone. Oh, sorry, that’s not it. I will never let you die. I promise that on my knight’s honor!”
“Awesome, Knight!”
Cheers erupted here and there followed by loud applause. Seeing that Dearbell had some level of leadership, it seemed like he would definitely set up a big strategy guild once he reached the third floor where he could create a guild.
“Then, although it’s a bit early, let’s start the actual strategy meeting from now on! Whatever it is, you have to organize the form of the raid so that you can divide the roles. Everyone, please organize a party with your colleagues or people nearby!”
Naturally, Seo-jun organized a party with his party.
Oh, Yuna was excluded. In the first place, she was not suitable for battle, and she was planning to raise her mainly for production.
“I’m sorry I missed you.”
While stroking Yuna’s hair, who was making an apologetic expression, Seojun opened her mouth.
“It’s okay, don’t make that face.”
“But…”
“Uh huh.”
“… Thank you.”
After organizing the whole party, they decided to try the boss tomorrow after they were ready, and disbanded as it was.
Seo-joon and his party also moved to their lodgings.
The lodging they took was a store without an [INN] Sign.
The shop with the 【INN】 signboard means that it is the lowest price on the lower floors and is a lodging where you can just sleep.
There were quite a few rooms other than inns that could be rented by paying a call.
So, the place Seo-jun and the others rented was an annex to a huge farmhouse.
Although it is a two-story building, there are three rooms on the first and second floors, unlimited milk, breakfast and dinner for an additional 10 calls, a large bed, and even a bathroom.
Of course, the price is so high.
We made 100 calls per person per night.
Still, it was a place worth paying for and renting. In the beginning, the money was quite generous.
“Ugh, I’m tired.”
“I know.”
As soon as we entered the inn, Yuuki fell on the table.
The other girls also complained that they were mentally exhausted from the long meeting. Asuna, who was the only sane one, went to pay for dinner to the farm owner NPC.
“What do you think it looks like?”
While waiting for her meal, Seojun asked them.
The first to answer him was Kirito.
“See, it’s not bad. That Diorbell player, I think he has quite a bit of leadership.”
“I agree. There are not many people who can lead by example at a time like this.”
“I’m not good at something.”
“Yuuki-chan, why do you think so?”
“Ugh, a woman’s intuition? Perhaps her older sister felt the same way. Right?”
“Aiko too?”
“… Huh. He looked like someone with a plan.”
Different opinions.
But it all made sense.
As they ate and talked for a while, Sinon opened her mouth.
“But do you really need to go with other people? I think it would be enough for us to go alone.”
Silence fell suddenly.
Sinon said with a puzzled face.
“Uh? What did I say wrong?”
“… No.”
Seojun shook his head.
A strange smile hung on his face.
“Is that a very good idea?”
Come to think of it, there was no need to attack together.
Aside from knowing that unlike the original work, he doesn’t die even if he dies, it was because he judged that Seo-joon’s own skills would be enough to deal with the boss.
‘Why didn’t I think of this?’
Soon, Seojun realized.
So far, he has been thinking in the frame of ‘original work’.
Yeah, if you think about it carefully, he didn’t have to follow the original work anywhere.
‘If we catch each other, we’ll be able to feed the cactus-headed cubs some candy.’
By the way, Diabell too.
Dearbell was actually a beta tester who controlled Kibao behind the scenes. He said how that was possible because he hid from everyone that he was a beta tester.
The reason why he was able to play Kibao, who hated beta testers, was, of course, because he hid that fact.
‘He’s the one who’s going to come to Mi-hwa, but looking at it closely, he wasn’t that good.’
To put it simply, it’s a billionaire.
That’s why he didn’t want to see him do well.
Well, anyway, while he was lost in thought for a moment, the girls talked.
“I know? With Jun-kun’s skills, I think he can defeat the boss by himself.”
“Can we catch the junk mobs?”
“But wouldn’t it be a bit dangerous?”
“No, it won’t be that dangerous because you can fall back if it’s dangerous.”
They had absolute faith in Seo-joon.
That is because Seo-jun’s performance that he has shown so far has been at a level far beyond that of an ordinary human being. Among the players in the current SAO, who could single-handedly defeat dozens of monsters without getting hit by a single one?
I can assure you, there was no doubt that there would be none other than Seo-joon.
And it wasn’t just his trust in Seo-joon.
A higher-than-average level and armed with the best equipment available on the 1st floor also played a part, but above all Kirito, Yuuki, and Asuna.
These three beings gave me great faith.
This is because those three were the second strongest power after Seo-joon, who actually served more than two people with a single body. That’s why, if only the boss was properly tied up, I didn’t feel the danger as much as a miscellaneous mob.
“So, what do you think Jun-kun?”
After talking, Asuna asked Seo-jun as the representative.
Everyone’s eyes are fixed on him.
“… I am.”
After thinking for a moment, Seojun nodded his head.
“Let’s try it ourselves, boss attack.”
