Lyfa asked since she still couldn’t understand Sigurd’s mindset, Sakuya answered:
“It was probably that his heart could not forgive the situation. He could not tolerate being second place to the Salamanders.”
“…”
“Sigurd is a man driven by power, both in his character’s numerical stats and in his political power as a player… hence the thought of the Salamanders conquering the world tree and ruling over the skies of ALFheim, the idea of looking up at them from the ground… that is something he would not forgive.”
“…But even so, why would he spy for the Salamanders?”
“Did you hear about «UPDATE 5.0», soon to be introduced? Rumors say that it will include a «Rebirth System».”
“Ah… then…”
“He may have struck a deal with Mortimer because as long as the race’s Lord agreed, he would be able to become a Salamander. But Rebirth is supposed to cost a huge amount of Yurudo. I doubt that cold-blooded Mortimer would have held up his end of the bargain anyway.”
“…”
Lyfa had complicated feelings, so she tried to empty her mind by staring at the gold-colored sky and the distant cloud covered world tree.
Reincarnation as an ALF and being freed of the shackles on flight… this has been Lyfa’s dream since she first experienced flight. It was the reason she joined Sigurd’s team, it was why she was eager to hunt, turning almost all of the money over to the Sylphid council.
If I had not met Kirito and quit the team, Sigurd may have tried to sway me into his Salamander reincarnation plan. If that had happened, what would I have done?
“ALO really is a sinister game that tests the desires of the players.”
Kirito said suddenly, his voice mixed with a wry smile.
“The designer must have a bad character.”
“Fufu, that’s right.”
Sakuya responded with a smile.
Lyfa decided to follow her heart a little, she had held Kirito’s left hand in her right and put weight on it. Moving close to Kirito, who seemed unfazed no matter the situation, Lyfa’s heart gradually settled down.
“So… what will you do Sakuya?”
Upon hearing this, the beautiful smile faded into that calculating look of those in power, and her eyes closed. They immediately opened, this time the dark green eyes emit exceptionally bright, clear light.
“Rue, you’ve been training your dark magic skills, right?”
Upon hearing Sakuya’s words, Alicia large ears twitched back and forth expressing her affirmation.
“Well, then please use «Moonlight Mirror» on Sigurd.”
“That’s fine, but it is not night yet, so it won’t last long.”
“Never mind, it will soon be over.”
Moving her ears again, Alicia Rue raised her hands, took a step back, and started to chant.
Alicia’s tempting voice rose in the rhythm of the rarely heard dark magic incantation. The surroundings darkened suddenly, and moonlight poured quickly out of nowhere.
The moonlight immediately began collecting in front of Alicia, and, like liquid-gold, it formed a round mirror. Everyone watched in silence, and the mirror had a slightly wavy surface, reflecting a view from some other blurred place.
“Ah…”
Lyfa let out the small sound. Projected in the mirror, was a place she had visited a countless number of times: the lord’s mansion council room.
Lyfa could see a huge emerald green desk. Behind the desk, in the chair reserved for the Lord, sat a man. He had his legs crossed and propped up on the desk while he leaned back into the chair. His eyes were closed and his head was cradled in his hands; this person was Sigurd.
Sakuya stepped in front of the mirror and called out in a voice like a tightly-strung harp:
“Sigurd!”
In the mirror, Sigurd suddenly opened his eyes and jumped up like a spring. He probably saw in the mirror, coming eye-to-eye with Sakuya, his mouth open and his body shook constantly.
“Sa- Sakuya!?”
“Yes, unfortunately, I’m still alive.”
Sakuya replied indifferently.
“Why… no… the conference…?”
“It’s likely to end successfully. But the signing of the treaty has just begun. Oh yes, we had an unexpected visitor.”
“G… guest…?”
“General Eugene told us to say hello to you!”
“Wha?”
This time, Sigurd seemed to have undergone great surprise. His fine face turned pale, and his eyes shifted restlessly as he searched for words. His eyes locked on Lyfa and Kirito behind Sakuya.
“Ly…!?”
Suddenly, his eyes opened wide, and he finally seemed to grasp the situation. Sigurd bared his teeth in a predatory smile.
“…Those incompetent lizards. So… Sakuya, what you want? Reprimand money? Kick me out of the Ministry of Power? But if you lose me as army commander, what happens to your political power…”
“No, if you can no longer stand being a Sylph, I’ll grant your wish.”
“Wh, what…?”
Sakuya elegantly waved her left hand, and a huge system menu exclusively for the Lord appeared. The numerous windows were not stacked, but formed hexagonal columns of light. Sakuya found one particular window and slid it out with a finger.
In the mirror, Sigurd stared as a blue message window appeared in front of him. Looking at the message, his face flushed instantly, and he stood up.
“Why, you..! Are you insane? You… to me… You are going to banish me!?”
“Yes, you will become a renegade and wander the neutral zone. I pray that you can find new fun in this game soon.”
“Well… I’ll sue you! I will go to a GM with a complaint of an unjust use of power!!”
“As you wish. …Goodbye, Sigurd.”
Sigurd raised his fist and began to continue his tirade. Sakuya touched a button on her menu, and Sigurd disappeared from the mirror. Since he was banished from Sylph territory, he would be randomly transferred to a neutral city other than Aarun.
The gold mirror now reflected an empty council room, but, before long, the surface began to distort. With a loud metallic clang, it shattered, and the shroud that had been covering the setting sun disappeared.
“…Sakuya…”
The quiet once again returned, Sakuya’s eyebrows furrowed, and Lyfa sensing her feelings called out gently.
The beautiful lord waved her left hand once again, dismissing the menu window, and sighed with a smile.
“Whether my judgement was right or not will be decided at the next lord election. Anyway, thank you Lyfa. I’m very glad you, who stubbornly refused to join the council of elders, came here to the rescue. Alicia as well, I’m sorry you got mixed up in the Sylphid civil unrest and came under danger.”
“We survived, so it doesn’t matter!”
Following the casual voice of the Cait Sith lord, Lyfa shook her head.
“I did not do anything. If you want to thank someone, you should thank Kirito.”
“Yes, now that you mention it… what are you…”
Standing side by side, Sakuya and Alicia Rue looked at Kirito with a question written on their faces.
“Are you actually the ambassador of the Spriggan-Undine Union?”
Out of curiosity, Alicia asked, her tail flicking. With his hand on his right hip, Kirito answered confidently:
“It was all a big lie, of course. A random bluff, but it was necessary for negotiations.”
“Wha…!!”
Their mouths dropped open, at an utter loss for words.
“… what an unreasonable man. and boasting such a thing in that situation…”
“When you’ve been dealt a bad hand, you have to raise the stakes.”
Kirito bragged unapologetically. Suddenly, Alicia was smiling, and, with the mischievous smile of a cat, advanced a few steps nearer Kirito, and she looked at his face from close-up.
“You big liar, you’re really strong
though! Do you know? General Eugene is probably the strongest player in ALO. You actually beat him face-to-face, so you’re the Spriggans’ secret weapon, right?”
“How could that be? I’m just a humble wandering warrior.”
“Pfft, yahahaha!”
This arrogant answer made Alicia laugh, and she took Kirito’s right hand and hugged it to her chest. Tilting her head, she gave him a sexy look.
“Free means you can come to Cait Sith territory as a mercenary. I can offer you three meals a day and an afternoon nap.”
“Wha…”
Lyfa felt her lips draw tight. But, before she got a chance to speak up, another voice abruptly interrupted.
“Hey Rue, no cutting in line.”
In came Sakuya, with a more amorous voice than normal. She was now dressed in a sleeveless dress and grasped Kirito’s left arm.
“He came to rescue the Sylphs originally, so that should give us preferential negotiation rights. Kirito-kun, we will go for a drink in Sylvian, which will double as a courtesy, and then we can take care of some personal matters…”
Pili Pili. Lyfa’s face turned red with rage and started to twitch uncontrollably.
“Ah, too cunning, Sakuya-chan. I oppose seduction.”
“You have a right to say that? You are too close to him!”
Two very beautiful lords were double-teaming Kirito, and his uncomfortable look changed to a red-faced look of embarrassment…
While thinking that, Lyfa grabbed Kirito’s collar from behind and cried:
“No! Kirito-kun is my…”
All three turned to look at Lyfa. At the same time, she realized what she was saying and returned to reality.
“That is, m… my…”
Unable to find the words, Lyfa was left in an awkward silence, and watching it all, Kirito smiled and said:
“I appreciate your kindness - sorry, I promised to go with her to the central region.”
“Oh.. is that right, that is unfortunate.”
The usually reserved Sakuya voiced her regret truthfully, and turned her gaze to Lyfa.
“You’re going to Aarun, Lyfa? Is it a pleasure trip, or…?”
“I was leaving the territory - or so I thought. But, though I don’t know when, I will definitely go back to Sylvain.”
“I see, that’s a relief. You have to return, with him of course.”
“Make sure to stop by my house when you do, and I’ll roll out the red carpet.”
The two Lords left Kirito, and their expressions became solemn. Sakuya put her right hand to her chest and tilted her body gracefully, Alicia bowed her head and her ears drooped a little, both of them thanked Kirito and Lyfa. Sakuya raised her head and said:
“I would like to thank you, Lyfa and Kirito. If we had been defeated, the difference between us and the Salamanders would have grown out of control. I wish to express my gratitude…”
“No, such a thing…”
Seeing Kirito scratch his head with a troubled look on his face, Lyfa suddenly thought of something. She stepped forward and said:
“Well, Sakuya, Alicia. The reason for this alliance, is it for attacking the World Tree?”
“Well, ultimately, that is our goal. We will challenge the World Tree together; if both races are reborn as ALF then that’s great, but if not, the race that succeeds is responsible for assisting the other during the next Grand Quest. That is the bone of the alliance.”
“Please let us take part in the attack as well, as soon as possible.”
Alicia Rue and Sakuya exchanged glances.
“I don’t mind you accompanying us, it’s more like we want you to join us. But we don’t know yet about timing, but why?”
“…”
She took a peek at Kirito. The enigmatic Spriggan boy cast his eyes down for a moment and said:
“The reason why I came to this world is to reach the top of the World Tree. There is a certain person that I must meet, and there is a possibility that person may be there…”
“Person? Are you talking about Fairy King Oberon?”
“No, I think it is someone different. It is someone who I can’t contact in the real world, but who I must meet by any means possible.”
“Oh, at the top of the world tree means a person on the management side? A really mysterious story, don’t you think?”
The topic seemed to have attracted Alicia Rue’s interest, as she said with shining eyes, but her ears and tail drooped immediately.
“But… to prepare and fully equip the party members’ equipment will take a while… it’s not possible in a day or two…”
“I see, that’s true… No, my goal is just getting to the base of the tree for now… After that I will think of something.”
Kirito laughed slightly and, ‘Oh yes’, as if reminded of something, Kirito waved his left hand. He quickly manipulated the window, and materialized a huge leather bag.
“This should help in the way of funds.”
Saying so, Kirito handed out the bag, judging from the sound, it seemed to be heavy and full of Yurudo. Alicia who accept the bag staggered for a moment then hurriedly hugged it with both hands, she looked inside and her eyes instantly became rounded with astonishment.
“Sa… Sakuya-chan, this…”
“Hmm..?”
Sakuya bowed her head as her right hand entered the bag. From the inside she drew out a large coin with a white green shine.
“Waahhhh!”
Seeing this, Lyfa also cried out in an incredulous voice. The two lords continued to stare at the contents of the bags, seemingly frozen in place. The twelve people watching from behind cheered.
“…One hundred thousand Yurudo Mithril coin… all of this!?”
Even for Sakuya, she said in a blurred voice while staring at the coin in doubt. Still amazed and shaking her head, she returned the coin to the bag.
“This kind of money, it is almost impossible to earn this without fighting the Evil God-class monsters in Jötunheimr… Are you sure? With this much money you could build a castle in a prime location.”
“I don’t mind. It is no longer necessary for me.”
Kirito didn’t seem to have any deep attachment and nodded.
Sakuya and Alicia once again looked in the bag, released a deep sigh, and lifted their heads.
“…With this much, I think we are fairly close to the target amount.”
“We will prepare the equipment immediately and will contact you when we are ready.”
“I will leave it to you.”
Sakuya opened a menu window, and Alicia put the bag into it.
“Just the thought of wandering around in the field with this much money makes me shiver… Let’s get back to Cait Sith territory as quickly as possible before the Salamanders change their mind.”
“That’s true. We’ll continue the conference when we return.”
The Lords nodded to each other and signaled to their followers. The long table and chairs were cleaned up quickly.
“We owe you a lot. We promise to do our best to make your wish come true, Kirito and Lyfa.”
“I’m glad I was able to help.”
“We will wait for your contact.”
Sakuya and Alicia shook hands respectively with Kirito and Lyfa.
“Thank you! We’ll meet again!”
Alicia once again exposed a mischievous smile, wagged her tail neared Kirito and kissed him on the cheek. She left the flustered Kirito and turned toward the frowning Lyfa - what did she mean? - and gave her a quick wink. She then spread her pale yellow wings wide.
The two lords waved their hands and flew straight up, with a streak of light they moved toward the red sky west. The six people from each race lined up in beautiful V, a formation like that of wild geese, and followed.
Lyfa and Kirito watched them until their figures disappeared in the sunset sky.
The sound of wind whistling and the leaves playing on it were the only reminders that a fierce fight had just occ
urred. A fight with the fate of three races on the line now seemed like nothing more than an illusion. Lyfa felt a bit cold, and nestled up to Kirito.
“…everyone is gone now.”
“Yeah, it is finally over…”
The break with Sigurd and the series of events that followed it, Lyfa felt as though it had been a long time. Not just the seven or eight hours that had truly passed.
“Somehow…”
Together with Kirito, this was the true real world, she felt that this winged her was her true self - Lyfa / Suguha thought, but could not express in words. Instead, she pressed her body against Kirito’s chest, and tried to feel his heartbeat, then…
“Why you, I said no cheating, papa!”
“Waa.”
Yui jumped out from Kirito’s breast pocket and spoke in an indignant voice. Lyfa hurriedly put some distance between her and Kirito.
“Why so sudden…”
Yui flew around the flustered Kirito’s head a few times after he said that, then she sat on his shoulder and her cute face pouted.
“The Lords sticking to you seem to make your heart beat faster for some reason!”
“I-… I am a man, so it can’t be helped!!”
Lyfa was relieved when she found out Yui wasn’t talking about her, but she had a new doubt so she asked Yui.
“Hey, Yui-chan, am I okay?”
“Lyfa-san seems to be alright.”
“Wh, why…?”
“Well, Lyfa doesn’t seem to give off the feeling of a woman…”
This blunt reply, came from Kirito.
“Wai… wha… What do you mean by that!?”
She could not ignore those words, Lyfa’s hand unintentionally drifted to the handle of her katana.
“N… no, I mean… Like easy to get close to… It’s good meaning, yes.”
A smile rose on Kirito’s face while a chuckle emerged.
“Instead of worrying about that, let’s hurry and fly to Aarun! The sun is going down!”
“Ah, hey, wait!!”
Lyfa spread her wings and kicked off the ground.
Kirito aimed for The World Tree accelerating, she chased after him while beating her wings at full force and took a quick look behind. Past those huge mountains, is the vast expanse of Ancient Forest and familiar Sylph territory. However, she didn’t linger on it as the stars started to emerge in the navy blue evening sky.