Ten days later, at the east gate of the Town of Beginnings, Ryuto arrived with Asuna.
He stopped for a moment, gazing up at the stone tablet over the gate engraved with those familiar words. A quiet sigh escaped his lips.
"Finally… task complete. Let's go turn it in, grab the reward, and start leveling right away."
During the mission, both he and Asuna had focused entirely on completing their objective, spending nearly all their time on the road.
As a result, their levels hadn't risen much. Even after more than twenty days in the game, they were only around level 13.
It didn't help that they were now five levels above most monsters on the first floor, meaning the EXP gains from combat were painfully low.
Without further delay, Ryuto led Asuna straight to the blacksmith shop. As soon as they stepped inside, a wave of heat greeted them. The blacksmith — a burly middle-aged NPC with a question mark hovering over his head — strode over.
"Little brother, did you find the Muxin Ore?"
The anxious tone made Ryuto chuckle, but he quickly opened his inventory and handed over the gleaming, deep-brown Muxin Ore.
"Excellent! Now, watch as I forge a peerless weapon from this!"
The blacksmith hurried to the workbench, pulling a massive bucket from beneath the table. From a container nearby, he poured in a thick, transparent liquid. Noticing Ryuto's curiosity, the man began to explain.
"The Muxin Ore comes from the thousand-year-old heartwood of a tree that absorbed mineral veins deep underground, merging with them over centuries. It has both the resilience of metal and the toughness of ancient wood. Because of its unique nature, the usual fire-forging methods can't fully bring out its potential."
He set the ore into the liquid and continued,
"That's why I'm using an ancestral water-forging method. This liquid absorbs and retains heat exceptionally well. I'll slowly heat the ore in it, letting it soften without burning, then shape it with hammer strikes. At the final moment, I'll use an ancient ice-crystal breath I obtained long ago to lock the form instantly."
He glanced at Ryuto. "By the way, what weapon did you have in mind?"
There was no hesitation. Ryuto's eyes were firm.
"A spear. Definitely a spear."
The blacksmith simply gave an "OK" gesture and turned back to his work. The black metal soaked in the strange liquid showed no change even after half an hour. Ryuto, remembering he still had another appointment, finally stood up.
"We can't wait here the whole time. We'll come back to pick it up later. Bye."
He pulled Asuna along as they left the shop.
After leaving, Ryuto opened his friends list, selected a familiar name, and sent a quick message. Then, he made his way to a restaurant in the Town of Beginnings.
Inside, the medieval-style eatery was nearly empty, populated only by the system's NPC waitstaff.
If SAO hadn't become a death game, this place would have been bustling with players eager to sample unique in-game dishes. But since Kayaba Akihiko's fateful announcement, no one had the heart to leisurely dine here.
A maid NPC led Ryuto and Asuna to a table. They ordered drinks and waited in silence.
Before long, the door swung open. In walked a petite player wearing an oversized khaki cloak — so wide it almost looked comical. She made her way over, pulled back her hood, and reached for the menu.
Her face was heavily painted, with six whisker-like lines drawn on her cheeks — three on each side. Sharp, clever eyes peered out from beneath the makeup, like those of a quick-witted little mouse.
"Argo, you're late," Ryuto said flatly. "Do you know how much col I lose every minute I wait?"
"You still reek of that copper-stink," Argo shot back as she sat down.
"Wow… a strawberry cake costs 1,000 col, and it's gone in just a few bites?" she muttered, staring at the pricey menu — but still ordering it without hesitation.
"Hey, I'm treating, but don't act like you've been starving," Ryuto sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"A meal someone else pays for always tastes better." She didn't even glance up as she placed another two orders.
"It'd be nice if the meal was included in the intel fee," she added casually.
"As if," Ryuto replied instantly.
" Tch."
Ignoring her grumbling, Ryuto got straight to the point.
"I've heard rumors. Is it true someone's trying to gather players to challenge the first floor's boss?"
Argo raised a hand and spread five slender fingers.
Ryuto nodded. "In five days, then. No need to even ask you how I know."
"Exactly. The organizer hired us info brokers to pass word to every high-level player possible. It's basically an open invitation — which means, my friend, you just spent 500 col for nothing."
Her smug grin made the painted whisker marks seem to twitch. Ryuto ignored her, lost in thought.
"Sure enough… as our levels rise, the EXP from first-floor monsters keeps dropping. High-level players who can't stand the slow gains will naturally start aiming for the upper floors. Back in the beta, the first floor was cleared at level 5… yet now, everyone's sitting at around level 12."
Ryuto leaned back slightly, continuing his quiet analysis.
"Once the guild system unlocks, whoever takes the lead in this floor boss raid will have a massive advantage when establishing their guild. They could recruit most of the top players, become a recognized leader, and be praised as a hero guiding everyone toward clearing the game. Their goal is obvious."
Argo raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed.
"Brother Ryuto, that's incredible. You pulled all that from just one piece of news. Thanks for the insight!"
Ryuto's expression darkened. He could already picture Argo selling his speculation as premium intel for a hefty amount of col.
"It's better to be glad someone's willing to step forward. We shouldn't assume the worst of their motives," he said calmly.
"After all, compared to some people… Oh, wait. You've got a party now. Still, someone chasing money is a lot nobler than some of the alternatives."
Her eyes flicked between Ryuto and Asuna, a hint of meaning in her gaze.
Even with her Search Enemy skill, she couldn't read their levels.
Argo prided herself on her knowledge — as an info broker, she knew all the best leveling spots, routes, and strategies. Her own level was among the highest in the current player base… yet she couldn't get a read on either of them.
That could only mean one thing: both Ryuto and Asuna were far stronger than even the current top-ranked players. And still, they hadn't stepped up to lead the charge against the first-floor boss.
For a moment, she felt disappointed. Ryuto, the number one player from the beta test, choosing not to lead? She didn't accuse him directly, but her earlier remark had carried that subtle sting.
Of course, Ryuto understood her implication. But he didn't bother to defend himself. He'd lived two lives — patience was second nature. Time would prove his actions right. Any misunderstandings would be resolved in their own time, even if it meant bearing the weight of others' judgment for now.
Asuna, however, didn't see it that way.
Her eyes narrowed, and she stood up abruptly, voice sharp.
"What do you know? Ryuto-kun didn't lead those top players because they don't need him to clear the game — they'll manage on their own. Instead, he focused on the mid- and lower-tier players. For nearly a month, he's been traveling to different leveling areas, saving countless players who had the courage but not the strength, pulling them back from the brink of death, giving them the confidence to keep fighting. The high-level players don't need a leader — the low-level ones do."
She paused, her tone turning even firmer.
"And as for money… do you know about the pamphlet the apothecary gives out for free?"
She tossed a small, brown-covered booklet onto the table.