It was evening now. The crimson sunset had long faded into a deep blue night. Street lamps along the main avenue bathed the rustic town in a warm golden light.
Following Silica back to the Weathercock Pavilion, Kai spotted a woman leaning casually against the doorframe—a female player with long red wavy hair, glancing outside now and then as if waiting for someone.
Silica froze mid-step. Her expression darkened, and she looked down, trying to slip past the woman without a word.
But the moment the woman saw her, her vividly red lips curled into a seductive smile, like she'd applied some color-changing cosmetic.
"Oh my, isn't this Silica? Why are you back so late?"
"G-good evening…"
Forced to respond, Silica gave an awkward greeting, then tried to move on quickly.
But the woman didn't plan on letting her off so easily.
"Oh right, I remember now. You got lost in the forest, didn't you? I'm so glad you made it out in one piece."
Her voice sounded concerned, but her eyes swept over Silica's empty shoulder, and a twisted smirk formed.
"Oh? Where's that lizard of yours? Something happen to it?"
Silica's eyes reddened. She lowered her head, fists clenched under her sleeves, trembling.
In SAO, familiars can't be stored in the inventory. There's no pet space feature. So if a beast tamer's familiar isn't visible, it means one thing—it died in battle.
While beast tamers are rare, their mechanics are well-known. This woman with red hair knew that full well. But rather than console Silica, she rubbed salt in her wound.
"Pina… she's already dead…"
Silica's voice was low, forced out as she held back tears.
"Oh? Dead already? I thought it looked pretty nice for a lizard. Guess it was all for show, huh?"
"That's not true!"
Silica shouted, her emotions surging like fire. She lifted her head and stared the woman down, eyes fierce.
"Pina died protecting me. It's my fault. I was too weak… But I will bring Pina back!"
"Oh?"
The woman's amused smile faded slightly, and she raised a brow. "So you plan to head to the Hill of Memories to get the revival item? But with your level, can you really handle that?"
The Hill of Memories was in the garden zone of Floor 47, crawling with level 40–50 monsters. Silica, only level 45, would struggle to clear it alone.
However—
"Of course we can."
Kai walked forward, placing a hand on Silica's head as he passed, as if shielding her in his shadow.
The woman's eyes scanned Kai—no fancy armor, just a worn black coat and a single longsword on his waist. He didn't even carry a shield. He didn't look like a high-level player at all.
"…Who are you?"
Unable to gauge his level, she asked cautiously.
"Does it really matter who I am?"
Kai stepped closer until only a hand's width separated them. In a low voice only they could hear, he said, "Or should I call you by your true name—Rosalia, guild master of the criminal guild Titan's Hand?"
From the moment Silica's expression darkened upon seeing her, Kai had guessed her identity. Their conversation only confirmed it.
Rosalia—green-named in public, but the mastermind behind several robberies and killings. She was also the reason Silica had a falling out with her team in the original story and ended up lost and nearly killed in the forest.
Kai's tone turned cold as he recalled this.
Rosalia's face turned pale as his words reached her like nails scraping against metal.
"Heh… I have no idea what you're talking about, dear swordsman."
Her gaze turned vicious.
"But I'd watch out if I were you. Girls like Silica are great at playing the victim. Don't let her fool you."
"I don't need you telling me who I should trust."
Kai stared straight into her eyes. "Let me warn you just once—leave Silica alone. Otherwise… until this game is cleared, you'd better stay inside a safe zone. Because if not, I'll make sure you experience true hell."
His gaze sharpened like a sword, and an invisible killing intent pierced into her. Rosalia staggered back, her face drained of all color.
"Mr. Kai…?"
Silica, confused, watched him whisper something to Rosalia. Whatever it was, it had shaken her deeply.
Kai turned and gave Silica a gentle smile. "It's nothing. Let's go."
"…Okay."
Though still puzzled, Silica trusted him. After all, he was her savior—and the key to reviving Pina. She quickly followed him into the inn.
As she passed the door, she glanced one last time at Rosalia.
The woman who always wore a smug grin now stood frozen in fear.
"Silica?"
Kai's voice called from inside.
"Ah—coming!"
She turned back and hurried in.