"What the hell is going on! Why did Heathcliff find us? ”

Ye Chi asked vaguely while wiping the tea on his head.

"Yesterday...... When I returned to the Guild Headquarters in Gransom, I reported everything that had happened to the Captain. After reporting that I wanted to suspend my activities in the guild, I will go home...... I thought my application would be approved for this morning's regular meeting......"

Asuna lowered her head, clenched the teacup with both hands and said:

"As a result, the head of the regiment he ...... He said that he could allow me to leave the group for a while, but there were conditions...... The condition is ...... Want to fight Levy for a while...... And Kirito is also ......"

"He's got a bad brain, huh? Just look for me...... What's the matter with Guan Tongren! ”

Ye Chi slammed the table with an unhappy face......, "Ahhh Just assassinate him while he's not looking......"

"No, right? I heard that he has a skill that can't be hit below half of his HP in one hit...... As long as the HP is above 50% or even a little bit, this can absorb unlimited damage before it is destroyed...... At least twice......" Kirito replied in a serious way.

"Otherwise, you will be entangled head-on first, and then I will give him a hard ...... from above or behind like facing the boss."

"Don't! Even if I succeed, I'll be dismantled by the angry players! I'm not like you can run away anywhere! ”

"That's what I said......"

"Hey, hey, hey! What's going on! How did it become a serious and start discussing getting rid of the head of the regiment! Asuna lifted the table......

"And yes! Since you are so confident that you can clear the regiment commander, you can simply fight with him! ”

“OKOK…… Change the topic...... Ye Chi looked at Asuna, who was a little crazy, and quickly changed the topic: "He wants to fight me for Mao!" ”

"I don't know...... I've tried so hard to convince him that there's no point in doing so...... But he just wouldn't listen to ...... anyway."

"But...... That's a rarity. That man would make such a condition......" Kirito interjected.

"That's it. The head of the regiment usually doesn't talk about guild activities, and even the floor strategy matters are handled by us, and he has never issued an order at all. But I don't know why this time it was ......"

Although the leader of KOB relied on his overwhelming charm to grasp the hearts of his guild and even the entire strategy group, what is surprising is that he has never given instructions or orders, and the only few times he participated in the strategy was only without saying a word, silently resisting the monster attack like a reef.

"Really...... As an assassin, I really don't want to fight that guy...... That's a barbed iron turtle......"

"Well...... Forget it......"

“…… Anyway, I'm going to take a trip to Grandsam. I'm going to talk to him directly. ”

"Hmm...... I'm so sorry. I'm always giving you trouble......"

"It's okay...... I'll continue to ...... any trouble After all......"

Ye Chi suddenly felt Asuna's expectant eyes......

"Isn't it too much for the two of us to pit each other......"

Atmosphere Killer Skill get......

"Forget it...... You're qualified......" Asuna was slightly disappointed, but still happy......

"I'm a fool when I know it's going to be like this."

"What do you say?"

"No, nothing ......"

The strongest men, living legends, paladins, etc., have been given the title of Guild President of the Blood Alliance Knights, and it can be said that they cannot be counted on one hand.

The man's name was Heathcliff - the aforementioned barbed turtle...... The second player after Ye Chi, and the strongest player at the moment, is not one of them.

Using a pair of swords and shields that simulate the shape of a cross, the "Holy Sword", a skill that allows him to attack and defend with ease, is as hard as a can, and it is said that no one has seen his HP fall into the yellow zone until now. During the battle of the 50th Floor Boss Raid, which had many casualties, he alone held out the battle line that was almost collapsing for ten minutes, and this anecdote is still talked about today.

No weapon can penetrate Heathcliff's shield.

This is already one of the laws that Ain Gruntree is most convinced of.

However, for Ye Chi, this is nonsense, who is stupid to hit the shield......

―――――― 55th floor, Gransom, the sovereign of the headquarters of the Knights of the Blood Alliance.

The 55th floor of the main street district, the city of Gransom is also known as the "Iron Capital". It is so named because, unlike other towns, which are mostly made of stone, the town's main building, the giant minaret, is made of steel that glows black. Although many players have settled here because of the thriving art of smelting and carving, there are no street trees at all, and it gives the impression that it is particularly cold when the wind blows during this autumn season.

"It's extraordinarily bleak, it looks ......," Ye Chi looked at the street—although it wasn't that there was no one, it gave people a feeling of fernando gothic......

To be honest, I was a little nervous to come here with Asuna......

Because ah...... I don't know what that guy has in mind...... But if the reason is reasonable...... It's okay to fight him......

After walking between the side-by-side minarets for about ten minutes, a taller minaret appeared in front of me. There were many silver spears protruding from the huge door, and the red cross flag on a white background was blown everywhere by the cold wind. This is the headquarters of the Blood Pact Knights.

"It looks similar to the knight's castle of the Knights Templar...... Ye Chi looked at the sword cross on a white background and complained......

"In the past, the headquarters was located in a small house in the 39th floor of the country town, and everyone complained that it was too narrow. I'm not saying that guilds are not a good thing to grow...... But the town is so cold that I don't like ......"

"Then hurry up and get things sorted out and go get something hot."

"Okay...... Take me one! Kirito, who has been ignored for a long time, angrily brushes his sense of existence.

After climbing the wide staircase, there is a gate that is open to the left and right, but on either side stand heavily armored guards armed with spears. Asuna made a noise from the spikes of her boots as she walked to the door, where the guards raised their spears and saluted when they saw her.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Whether it's a neat one-handed return salute or a vigorous way of walking, it's hard to believe that she is the same person as the depressed girl in Achill's store an hour ago.

Ye Chi followed her without squinting.

The tower, like the street, is made of black steel, and its first floor is a fairly airy hall that is now devoid of a single person.

"Silent as a grave...... Aren't there just thirty of you? Why do you make the headquarters so big? Staying in it was like camping......"

“…… Indeed...... Kirito seemed to make up his brain and shivered...... "It's really cold...... You don't always have a tent when you stay at headquarters, do you? ”

Asuna glared angrily......

The footsteps of the three men echoed through the steel-cast corridor, and after climbing a considerable number of steps, Asuna's footsteps finally stopped in front of a cold steel door.

"Is this the ......?"

"Hmmm......"

Asuna nodded listlessly. "Don't worry, I'm here ......," Ye Chi whispered, touching his head at the same time...... Then, as if she had finally made up her mind, she stretched out her right hand and knocked the door, and then pushed it open without waiting for an answer from the person inside.

The bright light flowing from the door made people squint, and looking at the door in this gloomy corridor actually felt like seeing the kingdom of heaven.

Inside is a circular room that uses an entire floor of space in the upper tower, and the walls are all transparent glass on all sides. The grey light that filtered in through the glass gave the room the same hue.

In the center of the room was a large semi-circular table, with several men sitting on each of the five chairs lined up across the table.

Ye Chi directly ignored the ABCD of the dragon set, and locked his eyes on the man who lived in the middle......

A man with the name of a paladin, Heathcliff.

[That Iron King・Eight ......] thought silently in his heart.

His appearance does not seem to be oppressive at all. I guess I'm about twenty-five years old. He had a skein-eyed, thin face that looked like a scholar, his head was covered with long iron-gray hair, and he was tied up at the back of his head, rather tall, but slightly thin, and he was draped in a bright red robe that resembled a judge's robe, and he resembled a church stick, a high-ranking red-clad club......

But the most distinctive thing should be his eyes. The incredibly brassy pupils emitted a strong magnetism, which made those who confronted him feel timid—but Ye Chi only thought that he might be lacking taurine...... The eyes are so yellow......

Asuna made a noise from her boots as she walked over to the table and bowed to him gently.

"I'm here to say goodbye to you."

After hearing her words, Heatscliff smiled a little bitterly and said:

"Don't jump to conclusions. Let me talk to them. ”

After speaking, he first turned his gaze to Ye Chi, "Black assassin...... Mr. Livingslet, yes......"

"Yes...... If the name is too long, you can call me Livingstone. ”

"This is the first time I've met you outside of the Boss Raid venue. Livingstone. ”

"Probably...... I haven't participated in the raiders for nearly a year since I was pitted by the thatch, and it's natural that I haven't seen you. ”

Ye Chi noticed that when he complained about the cottage...... Heathcliff's expression seemed to ...... A subtle change...... It's not obvious, though......

Heathcliff nodded slightly, closing his thin palms on the table.

"I've heard about it too...... Is there a problem with the cultivation of skills? Kayaba ...... What a joke......"

His expression was subtle......

"Even though we are known as the strongest guilds, we still feel underpowered from time to time. And now you're ready to take away the important main players in our guild—"

"So you sent her a cannon fodder guard? Who is guarding whom? If you really value her, you should be more careful about choosing the person who guards you. ”

The man sitting at the right end of the table with a stiff face immediately turned his face and seemed to be about to be furious, and Heathcliff gently stopped him with his hand—in fact, Ye Chi was looking forward to it—and then said:

"I have commanded Cladil to reflect on his mistakes at home. I apologize to you for bothering you. However, we can't let you take the deputy head away so easily. Livingstone. ”

Heathcliff stared at this side tightly, and Ye Chi looked at each other without flinching.

"If you want to take Asuna, rely on your sword—your 'assault sword' to take her away. Play with me, and if you win, you can take Asuna with you. However, if you lose to me, you will have to join the Knights of the Blood Alliance, and the same is true for Kirito-kun. ”

"Terms aside, this matter has nothing to do with Kirito, why are you involved in him?"

"Because I'm curious, I've heard a little about the 'Assault Sword', and now it proves to be a potential stock worth wooing, and the 'Second Knife Stream' is different, investigate it and then decide, that's it."

"Hizcliffe, you are so good at calculating, you have made two mistakes, one, although Asuna is your subordinate, it is not your private property, you, your copycat version of the temple have no right to interfere with her actions, and second, Kirito is only our friend, and I have no right to interfere with his decision."

"So, we've broken down on this matter, and we'll see it for no time, Head Heatscliff." After Ye Chi finished speaking, he turned his head and left, "Asuna, Kirito, let's go." ”

Just as Ye Chi was about to walk out of that door—"Wait a minute." ”

Ye Chi turned his head and stared at Heathcliff, "How is it?" Want to show some more sincerity? ”

Heathcliff's face was full of ancient wells, "First of all, about you, Livingx-kun, your terms remain the same, this is my bottom line, as for Kirito-kun......"

"I said, Kiritto has nothing to do with this!" Ye Chi is about to leave again.

"It's not up to you."

"Could it be you?" Ye Chi just stepped out with his front foot......

"No, it's up to him...... He seems to be very sorry...... Kirito-kun, I won't force you to join us regardless of victory or defeat, but how about at least a fight with me? ”

Ye Chi looked at Kirito speechlessly—I saw a fierce battle intent flashing in his eyes......

"Okay...... It's my misfortune to have such a pig teammate...... That's it, Captain Heathcliff. ”

"Happy cooperation, Livingstone, I hope we can get along well in the future."

"No, you should wish us a happy holiday." Ye Chi left without looking back.

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

"You're a fool!"

The scene returns to the second floor of Argette, Achill's shop. After kicking the shopkeeper who poked his head out to confirm the situation, Ye Chi could only coax the fried Asuna.

Asuna was now holding Ye Chi's head and pounding it with her little fist.

"Hey, hey, hey...... It's almost ...... I'm here for your own good......" Ye Chi said while resisting her fist - finally grabbed it, Ye Chi squeezed it lightly and pushed it back.

She finally quieted down, but she puffed out her cheeks angrily - this girl's delicate posture is really in great contrast with her usual seriousness......

"I see you've been tired lately and want to earn you some paid leave...... That guy is really a black-hearted boss...... Besides, it's just the first-hit winning mode, plus your leader's bug skills...... I won't kill him......"

"Who's worried about him! I'm not...... Lose sleep over something...... You...... "......The last coda is almost inaudible......

Ye Chi looked at the girl's flushed face, stood up and touched her head, "No problem, life like this now...... I don't want to change......"

"Hmph~ But Levi-kun, you're really powerful...... You can actually bargain with the head of the regiment......"

"I don't even dare to talk about it...... How dare you face each other? Ye Chi said softly.

――――――――――――――――――――

So...... Today's arrival, please check, transitional chapter......

Other than that...... Take a day off on the 18th...... The move was confirmed that day......