Link Start."
As particles of light burst before his eyes, Hachiman found himself standing on the cobblestone streets of the Starting City… but wait — this didn't feel right!
(Huh? Is this "dropping in" directly? Ah, this isn't the avatar I created for playing, it's the one I used when I worked… Bad move, I should've recreated a new character from scratch… but how was it even still saved?)
Just as he was leaving the city to go hunting, he bumped into someone who must have appeared behind him without him noticing.
"Ah, s-sorry, sorry, sorry…"
Hachiman instinctively apologized, but then realized:
(That woman…? No, wait, in VR you can't trust appearances. Like that 200-kilo programmer who used a loli avatar…)
He stepped back to put some distance between them and tried to meet her eyes, but his social discomfort made him avert his gaze in silence.
She stepped closer and spoke first:
"Sorry, sorry… it's just that you're so interesting I couldn't help but watch you up close."
I'm the information broker Argo. If you need anything, don't hesitate to come see me
Hachiman tactically retreated three steps, his eyes locked on the tip of the other person's nose.
"Miss, according to Article 38 of the SAO Player Rules, approaching within 0.5 meters of another person without permission constitutes sexual harassment."
While sneaking a glance at Argo, Hachiman noticed the tattoo on her face and instinctively blurted out:
That tattoo of yours… where do you get the quest for the Martial Arts skill?
It's on the second floor, right?"
Argo's heart skipped a beat — the Martial Arts skill info was supposed to be a secret known only to beta testers like her.
Without letting it show on her face, she quickly searched her memory for the list of beta testers, but came up empty. Seeing Argo remain silent, Hachiman assumed she hadn't heard him.
Forcing his social skills into action, he introduced himself.
"Uh… my name's Hachiman, nice to meet you."
Argo, regaining her composure and hiding her surprise, pretended to be casual.
"Hachiman, huh? Then I'll call you 'Shōhachi'~ Pleasure to work with you~"
This time, Hachiman took the hit.
(Giving me a nickname right after meeting? Are you Yuigahama or something? Even your bad taste is identical…)
"More importantly…" — Argo suddenly leaned in to whisper in his ear —
"Shōhachi, who the heck are you? I don't recall anyone like you from the beta~"
The sudden closeness completely threw Hachiman off balance.
(Too close! This is gonna make me feel things! And what's with that deep voice? It's exactly like a certain someone's!)
Cold sweat ran down his back as he recalled the student council president, Iroha Isshiki. He took a deep breath to calm himself and assessed the situation.
(Revealing too much to an info broker is a bad move — better make up an excuse.)
"Ah… before the beta started, I helped out Kayaba Akihiko a little. It was just a temp job…
"If we're both players and the same age, don't use such polite speech, Shōhachi. You helped… were you working for ARGUS?"
"Just temporary help after meeting him as an intern… and as for the beta, I probably know less than the official testers."
(Not a lie — I really don't know the beta's progress or much internal content.)
Argo seemed to accept the explanation.
"No wonder you've got those moves~ Interesting… how about we add each other as friends?"
Seeing Argo smiling and holding out her hand, Hachiman was stunned again.
(A handshake right out of nowhere? Is she the same species as Hayama Hayato? Do 'normies' really make friends this easily?)
Then it hit him.
(Wait… in VR, a player's avatar doesn't have to match their real-life gender… In real life, no girl would come up to me offering a handshake.)
Thinking that, and a little more relaxed, he mimicked how he once high-fived Hayama, giving Argo's hand a light slap.
"W-well… nice to meet you."
"Then, if you need anything, just let me know~"
Hachiman watched her walk away waving, still frozen in place.
(A mix of Yuigahama + Iroha + Hayama? That Argo is unreal… Good thing she didn't have any Miura or Kawasaki traits, or I wouldn't have been able to say a word.)
Regaining his resolve, he stuck to his plan of heading out of the city, using a stealth technique not recognized by the system — though its effectiveness was still questionable.
(Lately, I've been able to talk to people more normally… these past six months haven't been for nothing. Still, being alone is the best… if only not for those people…)
Leaving the city, he found an empty hunting field, took a deep breath, and readied his weapon.
Not far away, two players were talking — their names were "Kirito" and "Klein."
"Klein! I told you not to do the Terminator pose mid-fight!"
"But it's every man's dream, Kirito!"
(These two idiots won't last three episodes… wait, why did the Boar King just respawn right behind them?)
As the massive tusks were about to skewer the red-haired samurai, Hachiman's body moved before his mind. His dagger, boosted by AGI, left a streak that landed… on the Boar King's backside?
(Damn it! I aimed for the weak spot! This system's messing with me!)
As the enraged boss charged, Hachiman bolted, opening his inventory. Suddenly, one item began to glow — Kayaba's so-called "favorite gear." It was… a frying pan, which in the beta had been called The Anti-Social's Redemption.
(Kayaba Akihiko, you son of a…!)
Right then, a private message popped up from Argo:
[To Shōhachi: Just recorded a video of a certain someone running ten laps around a tree while being chased by a boar~ 1000 Cor and I'll post it? (?>ω<)]
"Argoooo!!!"
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