Hachiman and Asuna were promptly escorted to the commander's tent at the Dark Elf camp. The tent exuded a solemn air, guarded by Dark Elf sentinels standing in formation with naginata at attention.
"Hachiman, we're not gonna get ambushed here, right?" Asuna asked, glancing around nervously.
"Nah, we should be fine," Hachiman reassured her. "This feels like an instance map, though. It's huge."
"Instance?" Asuna echoed.
"Yeah, a temporary map created for events like this. Basically, we've been shunted to an isolated area."
"So this isn't exactly the third floor?"
"Right. No other players can get in here."
They were ushered into the commander's tent.
"Well done, children of the human tribes, for aiding our kin," the commander said gravely, offering several reward items. After some deliberation, they chose lightweight armor, long overdue for an upgrade.
"Take these as well," the commander added, presenting two rings adorned with the Dark Elf crest. "Those who bear these may freely enter and leave this camp."
Hachiman, without thinking, started to slip the ring onto his left ring finger, then noticed Asuna hesitating over where to place hers. He froze, flustered.
An identical ring on our ring fingers? What am I doing? Keep it chill, go for the index finger. It's just an event item, no big deal. No acting embarrassed, absolutely not.
He slid the ring onto his left index finger. Asuna, whether by mimicry or chance, did the same. Seeing she didn't seem fazed, Hachiman relaxed and turned his attention back to the commander, whose head bore a [?] quest marker, signaling the next phase of the quest.
"Use this tent for tonight," the commander said. "It may be a bit cramped."
The quest would resume tomorrow. They considered returning to town but, at Kizmel's urging—and her mention of a bath—decided to stay at the camp.
Same tent, huh? Maybe I'll grab a partition… Hachiman thought.
The tent, despite being called "cramped," was surprisingly spacious. Asuna wanted to chat with Kizmel and told Hachiman to bathe first. He complied, relishing the rare chance to soak. In SAO, bathing wasn't strictly necessary, but a hot bath was a luxury he savored. Emerging refreshed, he pulled out his favorite drink, sipping contentedly. Asuna, mid-conversation with Kizmel, eyed it enviously, so he handed her one.
"You and Kizmel are getting along, huh?" Hachiman said.
"Yup!" Asuna beamed.
"I'm crashing in that corner. Take your time in the bath and sleep whenever," he said.
"Got it! Night, Hachiman!"
"Night."
Hachiman set up a sturdy partition by his bed and lay down, mulling over the day.
Is this the standard quest route? No clue, but it feels unique. Could be a hidden scenario. I'll check with Kirito's group later—they're probably ahead.
Lost in thought, he drifted off. Asuna, fresh from her bath, tucked a blanket over him, unnoticed as he sank into deep sleep.
The next morning, Kizmel woke them. Seeing her in daylight for the first time, Hachiman couldn't help but stare, struck anew by her striking beauty and graceful figure.
"Hachiman, what're you staring at?" Asuna teased.
"Uh, morning," he mumbled, caught off guard.
"Hmph," she huffed playfully.
Rested and refreshed, they set out immediately. Their goal: a sacred tree to the west, where another sacred key lay at its roots. Kizmel carved through enemies effortlessly, each kill automatically granting them experience and items.
"Feels like cheating," Asuna said, half-laughing.
"Yeah, but call it a reward for yesterday's grind," Hachiman replied.
"Fair enough," she agreed.
They spotted the sacred tree in the distance—and a Forest Elf figure approaching it.
"Kizmel, that's an enemy, right?" Hachiman said.
"Yes, and we can't let them take it. Run!" Kizmel urged.
They sprinted, the enemy matching their pace in a desperate race.
"I'll slow them down and fall back. You two grab the key," Hachiman said.
"Got it," Asuna replied.
"Don't overdo it," Kizmel warned.
Hachiman didn't notice how naturally he spoke to Kizmel, as if she were a real person. She'd shown no hint of being an NPC, and in that moment, neither he nor Asuna thought of her as one.
"Hachiman, I found it!" Asuna called.
Whether she secured the key or triggered a system flag, the enemy retreated.
"Phew, glad we avoided a fight," Hachiman said.
"Yeah, no guarantee we could pull off yesterday's stunt again," Asuna agreed.
"Hey, something's over there where the enemy was," Hachiman pointed out.
"What's this? Another key?" Asuna wondered, picking it up.
Kizmel interjected, "Wait, both of you. I sense one of my kin nearby."
A [!] marker appeared above her head, indicating a side quest. They followed her lead, finding a tree with a small keyhole. Inserting the key revealed a hidden compartment and a figure inside—someone Kizmel knew. She rescued them, concluding the side quest swiftly, leaving them to ponder its significance.
"Looks like there's a bit of time before the next quest," Asuna said. "Wanna check the stalls? There's a weapon shop too."
"Might find a gem," Hachiman agreed.
While exploring, they spotted an oddity among the camp's wares: swimsuits.
"Are these… swimsuits?" Asuna asked, incredulous.
"Yeah, they stick out like a sore thumb," Hachiman said.
"Suspiciously so," she added.
"Maybe we'll need to swim later. Should we grab them?" he suggested.
"Better safe than sorry," Asuna agreed.
As they purchased the swimsuits, Kizmel approached, signaling the next quest: infiltrating an enemy stronghold near a great eastern tree. The Dark Elves had cloaking gear, powered by their unique magic, preventing misuse in towns. The goal was to find and retrieve another sacred key before the cloaking effect wore off.
The quest was Hachiman's stage. His keen observation skills let him locate the key with ease. Kizmel praised him warmly.
"You're remarkable for a human, Hachiman," she said.
"Uh, thanks, but flattery gets you nothing," he deflected.
"She probably doesn't get that one, Hachiman," Asuna whispered.
To their shock, Kizmel responded smoothly. "Hah, no need for modesty. I'm genuinely impressed, Hachiman."
"No way… Asuna, I can't even think of her as an NPC anymore," Hachiman said.
"Yeah, I'm just gonna treat her like one of us," Asuna decided.
Having breezed through the third quest, they met the commander again, receiving a hefty haul of materials, col, and permission to use an officers' open-air bath. Apparently, the three sacred keys were now collected, with the next quest set for morning.
"An open-air bath? That's your thing, right, Asuna?" Hachiman teased.
"Totally, I'm thrilled," she admitted.
Then Kizmel dropped a bombshell. "I got permission too. Shall we bathe together?"
They froze. Refusal seemed rude, but the idea was daunting.
"Wait!" Asuna exclaimed. "Hachiman, the swimsuits! If Kizmel wears one, it's fine, right?"
"Swimsuits, huh? Guess that's our only option," Hachiman said.
Still feels like a high hurdle… he thought.
"I'll try not to stare," Asuna said, blushing.
"Of course," he assured her.
The open-air bath was smaller than expected. Hachiman entered first, facing away from the others. When Asuna and Kizmel joined, he tensed, hearing their approach.
"Bathing in swimwear? A curious human custom," Kizmel remarked.
"Y-Yeah, it's a human thing," Asuna said, scrambling to cover.
Hachiman kept his eyes firmly ahead, feigning indifference.
"It's my first time in swimwear. Does it suit me, Hachiman?" Kizmel asked.
"First time, huh?" he replied, instinctively turning—only to catch sight of Kizmel in a purple bikini and Asuna in a white one-piece. His eyes darted away as he stammered, "Y-Yeah, it looks great."
Asuna's face was scarlet, and Hachiman, feeling guilty, spoke up. "Asuna, I… turned on reflex. Sorry."
"It's fine, probably unavoidable," she said softly. "So… did it look okay?"
"Looked amazing," he said earnestly.
"Thanks," she murmured, sounding unoffended. Hachiman sighed in relief.
Glancing up, he noticed the pitch-black sky. Right, no stars in Aincrad's sky.
Asuna seemed to share the thought, her expression tinged with longing. "Hachiman, I hope we can all see a starry sky together someday."
"Yeah," he agreed softly.
The trio's time Moulton, the moment passed quietly under the starless sky, as the second day of the campaign quest drew to a peaceful close.