Holding Yui's little hand, she walked through the "Monument of Life" square with the player roster engraved on it and arrived at the main entrance of the palace. Although anyone could enter the place, there were not a few players at all.
The remaining halo of the sun slanted on the simple steps, and the leaves stained with autumn colors swayed slightly, taking away a bit of gloom.
Blocking the slightly dazzling sunlight with her hands, Yuuki felt like she was seeing the light of day again after spending most of the day in the underground maze.
In the previous data battle, she still completed loading before the white light swallowed up the screen.
No one knows what she did on the GM management control device, not even Yui who has been standing by.
Judging from the corners of the Absolute Sword girl's mouth that turned up at that moment, she must have been satisfied with the result.
After looking at the time and wondering if he should go back to the church to tell Yuna and the others that they were safe, Yuuki quickened his pace.
But the moment she walked out of the "Black Iron Palace", she didn't expect that someone had been waiting outside for a long time.
"Ah! Finally the wait is over and you finally come out!"
With a unique and strange tone of voice, the bearded-faced rat merchant rarely laughed, but came forward in a serious manner.
She glanced at Yui next to Yuki with a strange expression. Although she wanted to gossip, now was obviously not the time to do such a thing.
"Now is not the time to sit down and 'take care of the kids' at the lower level! Do you know that there's already a huge commotion at the upper level!"
His expression was a little anxious, and what Argo said made Yuuki a little confused.
But it shouldn't be a trivial matter to get this 'busy' intelligence agent to come to the door in person.
"I can actually make you so nervous...Did something happen at the top?"
Could it be that something happened to Sister Lan and the others? Thinking of the harm, Yuuki couldn't help but worry and frowned.
"...Ahhhh!!! As expected, I don't know, President Busy Man! It's time for you to change your habit of not liking to read emails!"
Argo, who was holding her forehead, groaned, and she knew that Yuuki's old habit had returned.
"Forget it! I won't charge you for information this time!"
After muttering something like, "You'll find out when you get back to the upper level anyway," the rat merchant waved his hand "magnanimously."
"Listen up! Kirito, the deputy leader of the Blood Alliance Knights and the user of the "Two Swordsman Style", has issued a request for a 'Duel' to you."
"...?"
(...Kirito?)
With Yuuki's puzzled expression, Argo solemnly revealed the most important news she had received.
"And this duel is not an ordinary solo protected by the system, it is a 'death duel'!"
"The people from the Blood Alliance even said that if you don't go, he will give up the strategy and 'find an opportunity' to have a showdown with you! What is the deep hatred between you two?!"
"——?!"
No wonder Argo said that there was a huge commotion at the top, and even she, as the person involved, was shocked by the news, let alone other people.
(Is that guy...)
Although Kirito was impulsive in some aspects, he would never ask her for such a duel at this juncture for no reason.
——In the small villa at the headquarters of "Floria" and "Arcadia" on the 47th floor.
If we were to say who was most excited when the news about Kirito and Yuuki's duel spread, it was undoubtedly Suguha and Aiko.
For Suguha, one is her brother and the other is her best friend. She cannot accept anything that happens to either of them.
Lanzi's mood was not much better either. Her most important sister was going to have a 'death battle' with her best friend's brother. Why it would be like this is still hard for her to understand.
Moreover, these two guys actually made a "tacit agreement" not to reply to communications, and they couldn't even be found anywhere!
Looking at Suguha, who was staring at her friend icon with a pale expression, and Aiko, who was in a daze, Asuna and the others were anxious, but they didn't know how to comfort these two people.
What worried everyone was that Suguha received a notice from the Blood Alliance Knights headquarters that Kirito had left the station and no one knew where he had gone.
His request to ask the group leader Heathcliff was also rejected, and he had no choice but to leave.
To make matters worse, when Aiko arrived at the entrance of the "Black Iron Palace" after receiving the summons, she also received the news that Yuuki and Yui had left long ago.
I don't know if fate is playing a nasty joke on them. They always act late, and now the two protagonists of the incident have disappeared.
"...Xiao Nao, why did Kirito make such a request to Xiao Yu..."
The hands on her legs held her knees tightly, and Lanzi murmured sadly.
Aren’t we all friends? Why on earth is this happening?
"I don't know either...Sister Lan, I really..."
Suguha, who lowered his head, finally couldn't suppress his emotions, and tears flowed down his cheeks.
The fear that someone from her brother and Yuuki might 'disappear' has been lingering in her mind.
Obviously you have seen the hope of clearing this game, does the god really not like happy endings?
Looking at Suguha and Aiko who were silent again, Asuna and the others, although they were also sad, knew that they had to rely on them to cheer up at this time.
"No, it doesn't matter! Look! Don't the Blood Alliance even know the location of this duel?"
"There must be a turning point!"
In a dilemma, Lisbeth, who was bumped by Asuna with her elbow, had no choice but to speak, and she didn't know whether the words were comforting or not.
Although she is usually a very smart big sister, she is also a little confused at this time.
Just because the Blood Alliance doesn't know, doesn't mean Kirito can't tell Yuuki...
"..."
Finding no response from either of them, Asuna sighed and pulled Lisbeth, who was a bit bitter.
Silica definitely had no hope. The little girl had been sitting on the side holding her familiar from the beginning, falling into the same dejected state as Aiko and the others.
At this time, I can only rely on her!
Bracing herself up in her heart, Asuna walked up to Lanzi.
"blue……"
After sorting out her words, the chestnut-haired girl tried her best to put a smile on her face.
Just when she was about to continue speaking, Aiko, who had been sitting on the sofa, suddenly stood up, startling Asuna.
"There's news..."
The subconscious words attracted the attention of everyone present.