บท 352: -348- A Date?
Floor 35, Wind Rooster Pavilion.
On the ground floor of this inn, Silica was sitting in a corner, holding Pina.
Many mid-level players had gathered around, extending their enthusiastic invitations to Silica as usual.
"Are you going to team up with us today?"
"No, you should team up with us."
"We're your best choice."
"Join our team!"
Player after player issued the same repetitive invitations to Silica.
Silica watched this scene with complex feelings. In the past, she would have felt quite pleased by so many people inviting her. But after experiencing yesterday's fierce battle that would determine SAO's future, Silica realized just how arrogant she used to be.
Compared to those figures who could determine the fate of players and this world, Silica was merely known among mid-level players. Her previous pride now felt like a limited perspective.
Now, Silica felt genuinely sorry as she addressed all the players around her.
"I'm sorry, but I don't plan to go out hunting today. I want to rest in the town for a day."
This was the truth.
After the events of yesterday, Silica couldn't muster the energy to venture outside her comfort zone.
Moreover, she had plans with someone today.
Therefore, she had to decline the invitations from others with apologies.
The surrounding players seemed somewhat disappointed. Some even tried different approaches, like offering alternative suggestions such as "Since you want to rest, there's a really nice place I know," which Silica could tell were less than genuine. Despite this, they eventually left after Silica's apologetic response.
The Wind Rooster Pavilion quieted down a bit, no longer as bustling as before.
However, Silica could still overhear conversations from others.
"Did you hear?"
"The Clearing Group managed to dismantle both the arrogant Orange Guild and the PK Guild."
"Even that 'Laughing Coffin' guild was taken down. Except for their leader who escaped, the rest were captured and they disbanded."
"Really?"
"This is great news!"
"But I heard the Clearing Group's Divine Dragon's Alliance got disbanded too."
"Is that true?"
"I never thought even the Divine Dragon's Alliance..."
"Could it be because of their battle with Laughing Coffin?"
"No, the one giving the Divine Dragon's Alliance orders was none other than Magus. How could there be any losses among their members?"
"I heard it was because the leader of the Divine Dragon's Alliance betrayed the Clearing Group and colluded with Laughing Coffin."
"Th-that's how it was?"
"I knew the Divine Dragon's Alliance couldn't be up to anything good."
"Originally, there were many Orange players in the Divine Dragon's Alliance. They might not have been killers, but they didn't hesitate to attack other players for rare items."
"That's what they deserve, right?"
"I heard that Guild Leader Zahard not only had to disband the guild forcibly but also leave behind all the resources, equipment, and items from the guild as resources for the Clearing Group's future raids. He was even sent back to the Starting Town on Floor 1. Though he still has his level, he lost everything and will probably be a nobody from now on, right?"
"After all, who would be stupid enough to team up with the Clearing Group's betrayer and collude with a PK guild?"
"They deserve it."
Player after player continued discussing such matters.
Listening to these discussions, Silica's emotions became even more complex. After all, she couldn't be considered an outsider; she was an important witness to this operation.
And this event had made headlines in various news outlets today, a topic of discussion among players across the server.
If others found out that she had witnessed a crucial part of this large-scale operation, what would they think of her? They would surely look at her with surprise and admiration, gathering around her and praising her endlessly, right?
Thinking about this, Silica didn't feel any joy.
Amidst these mixed feelings, Silica was more concerned about the impending meeting.
"Will Rozen-nii really come, Pina?"
Silica anxiously asked the small dragon in her arms.
"Chu!"
Pina chirped, but it was unclear whether it meant yes or no.
Yesterday, when the raid concluded, Rozen left immediately, heading to Floor 55 to confront Zahard face to face.
As for Black and XaXa, Kirito took care of them.
Naturally, Silica was in the same boat.
When Silica emerged from behind a tree, filled with unease as the battle ended, the black-clad swordsman addressed her.
"The Guild Leader has important matters to attend to, so he asked me to tell you, 'we'll meet again in the usual place tomorrow'."
Leaving these words behind, he escorted the two murderers away.
Silica returned to the Wind Rooster Pavilion and stayed there. This place was the only one she could think of as the "usual place" mentioned. Apart from their initial meeting spot and the forest where they fought side by side, Rozen and Silica hadn't shared any significant experiences elsewhere.
Using the Forest of Wandering as a meeting place wouldn't be appropriate, right?
Thus, Silica continued waiting here.
"No, no, no!"
Realizing her thoughts were wandering, Silica suddenly woke up, her face flushing. She shook her head vigorously.
"This isn't a date! It's just a meeting! A meeting!"
Silica started muttering to herself, flustered.
What she got in response was a teasing remark.
"Is that so? But I think even treating it like a date would be fine, don't you think?"
With a playful tone like a mischievous child, Silica was taken aback and quickly looked up.
Only at this moment did Silica notice that someone had sat across from her, a player looking at her with a cheeky expression. Apart from Rozen, who else could it be?
"Ro... Rozen-nii...!?"
Silica exclaimed.
"Chu!"
Pina also let out a cheerful chirp and flew out of Silica's arms, rushing toward Rozen.
"It seems you're in good spirits, little one."
Rozen laughed as he caught Pina, playfully tickling under its chin.
Seeing this, Silica confirmed it.
Rozen really came as promised.
In this moment, Silica felt joy more than any other complex emotion.
Initially, Silica had worried she might never see Rozen again.
Now, those worries seemed unnecessary.
(We're truly meeting again...)
Silica welcomed their reunion with happiness.
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