Chapter 117 – Going to Rescue Asuna
"Sigurd, you look like you're in a good mood. Did something nice happen?"
In the Lord's chamber, Sigurd was staring at the clock, keeping watch and idly thinking that Sakuya should be dead and teleported back by now.
'Once Sakuya returns, I'll pretend to comfort her, then subtly suggest there might be a traitor within the Cait Sith. That should buy us plenty of time.'
As he imagined a bright future—everything proceeding exactly as he had planned—Sigurd couldn't help but grin smugly.
Even the sunlight seemed more pleasant today. Everything was so perfectly in line with his ambitions that it almost felt eerie.
'Everything's going too smoothly. It's almost scary how well it's going.'
Recon's capture had occurred shortly after Sigurd left.
The small unit he had contacted was ambushed and annihilated by Hachiman's team, so they never had a chance to warn him.
Thus, Sigurd had no idea that Recon had already spilled the beans.
With both feet propped up on the table, Sigurd lounged in the Lord's chair, humming a tune with his hands behind his head and his eyes closed.
"You're in way too good a mood, Sigurd."
The sudden voice made Sigurd jolt violently. That voice—it was way too familiar. He looked around in panic.
The door, which should've been closed, now had a slight gap. But what he was staring at wasn't the door—it was the wall ahead. There, in a projected image cast by Moonlight Mirror magic, stood Sakuya—completely unharmed and staring him down.
"Sa–Sakuya?! Jeez, you scared me... Did the meeting go well?"
"Sorry to startle you. As for the meeting... it didn't go quite as planned."
"I see."
Sigurd smirked inwardly. Even though Sakuya wasn't dead, if the negotiations had failed, then everything was still going according to plan.
"That's a shame. Maybe we have a spy within our ranks. Let's investigate thoroughly and look for another opportunity, okay?"
"Oh? A spy, you say...?"
"Of course! I mean, it's unthinkable that we'd have a real traitor, right?"
"True. A Slyph wouldn't betray their own kind. But you, Sigurd—someone who wants to be a Salamander—you don't really count as one of us, do you?"
"...!"
Sigurd was at a loss for words. In the image, Sakuya continued calmly:
"When I said the negotiations didn't go as planned, you assumed they failed, didn't you? But it's the opposite—our four races have formed an alliance."
"That's absurd! There's no way the Salamanders would agree to that!"
"That's a normal reaction. But—if they are with us, then it's a different story."
"They?"
"That would be us, Sigurd."
"Yo. Still clinging to your pathetic pride to avoid reality?"
Sigurd suddenly recognized the two new figures in the image.
"You two... You're the pair that was with Leafa earlier!"
"I'm Kirito. Pleased to meet you."
"I'm Hachiman. Both the current and former Undine Lords are acquaintances of mine, so they've joined the cause."
"Wait... former Lord? Don't tell me—you know the 'Absolute Tyrant'?!"
"Wow... Are you some kind of suicidal maniac? Wanting to die that badly?"
"W-What do you mean?!"
"Hmph~ Saying stuff like that to me~"
"Eek!!"
With the sudden appearance of a golden-haired woman in the projection, Sigurd's face went completely pale—it was none other than Soleil, whom he had only briefly met once years ago.
"Soleil-sama, honestly, this guy's done for anyway. Let's just leave it."
"True. I'll leave the rest to you all. But if we ever meet again... heheh."
With a sly smile, Soleil disappeared. Sigurd, frozen in fear, heard Kirito continue:
"As for the Salamanders—I defeated General Eugene in a duel, then Soleil finished it off. That's how the alliance was sealed."
"You... beat General Eugene...?"
The nonstop shock left Sigurd's brain blank. Suddenly, Hachiman shouted:
"Well done! That's the moment we needed!"
"What the hell are you talking about?!"
"Not talking to you... it's now or never!"
Before Sigurd could react, searing pain shot through his neck. The world spun, and in the midst of it, he saw his own decapitated body—and behind it, a player holding a blood-soaked blade.
"..."
That was his final thought. As his body vanished into pixels of light, only a glowing resurrection crystal remained.
"Hachiman-senpai! I did it!"
"Awesome! I can't believe you actually pulled off the ambush!"
"A traitor like him could never be forgiven!"
"Great job, Recon."
"Leave the rest to me. And Sigurd, listen closely—since you hate being a Slyph so much, I'll help you out. As of now, you are permanently banished from the Slyph territory."
The revival crystal flickered in protest for a full minute before going dark for good. The traitor Sigurd would now be forced to wander aimlessly, barred from entering any of the major race territories.
"Miss Leafa..."
"Recon was sooo cool just now! Super amazing!"
"Th-Thank you!"
Blushing furiously, Recon silently vowed to repay Hachiman one day.
As the group dispersed to prepare for the final battle:
The Slyphs and Cait Siths secured military funds; Sakuya left to handle aftermath matters; Alicia hinted she had a secret weapon; Eugene refused any financial aid, saying the Salamanders were already fully prepared; Möbius and Soleil took over the reorganization of the Undine army.
Finally, ten people remained—Hachiman, Kirito, Leafa, Yukino, Yui, Komachi, Iroha, Klein, Agil, and Silica—and they set off toward their ultimate destination: Aurn.