Just like how Kirito and Seiya had once rushed to snatch quests, resources on the first floor of Aincrad were limited.
And with nearly ten thousand players flooding in this time, the competition was fiercer than ever.
In this death game, seizing the initiative and securing useful resources naturally meant greatly improving one's chances of survival.
Compared to the ordinary players, the beta testers—those who had already experienced SAO during the closed test—knew far better where the most valuable early-game resources lay.
That was why the player known as "Kibaou" suddenly jumped out at this meeting. His goal was to condemn those "beta testers" who, for their own selfish gain, had hogged all the limited resources.
This, in turn, left the struggling ordinary players with almost nothing—even to the point that many didn't even get to "taste the soup."
So Kibaou's demand was simple: he wanted the beta testers present to stand up and apologize on behalf of the ordinary players who had died.
And as he spoke, he kept casting subtle glances toward Kirito.
Clearly, he knew Kirito was a beta tester, though it wasn't certain if he bore a personal grudge against him.
At Kibaou's words, the crowd reacted with mixed feelings. Many beta testers lowered their heads in silence, while ordinary players had their emotions stirred, glaring in solidarity as though ready to point their pitchforks at the testers.
Among the crowd, a dark-skinned burly man frowned slightly, pulling out a small notebook, just about to speak—
When suddenly, laughter rang out from behind.
Hearing the laughter echo through the gathering, Kibaou's face immediately twisted with rage. He turned sharply toward the source of the mocking sound: a young black-haired boy, standing on higher ground with his arms crossed, watching him with eyes full of scorn—like one might watch a clown's performance.
"You little brat, what's the meaning of this? You think what I said is wrong?"
From his appearance, Kibaou was clearly an adult, well past student age. His weathered features suggested he'd been through society already.
By contrast, the boy—Seiya—looked barely fifteen or so, just a kid in Kibaou's eyes.
To be mocked by such a "child"? As a grown man, Kibaou felt utterly humiliated.
"Sorry, sorry, I don't mean to disrupt this meeting. It's just that what you said was so naïve I couldn't help but laugh.
Judging by your age, you're not young anymore. Yet to think there are still people as childish as you—it really is funny."
If Seiya had kept silent, Kibaou might have cooled down. But with that explanation, Kibaou's fury only exploded further.
He even drew his weapon, raising his iron hammer menacingly. He declared that unless Seiya explained exactly how he was being "naïve," the next second he'd smash Seiya's head in.
"Isn't it laughable? You want justice for the ordinary players—on its own, that's not wrong. And what you said is true: on the first floor, most of the limited resources have indeed been claimed by the beta testers.
But tell me—why should they be obligated to care for the ordinary players?
Have you forgotten? This SAO… is a death game!
When everyone's life is on the line, you expect people to act like saints?
If you were stranded in a desert with a small supply of water, would you generously share it with strangers?"
Seiya's words struck like lightning. Kibaou froze in silence.
Even the ordinary players who moments ago had felt righteously indignant now fell speechless.
Because he was right. Human beings were selfish by nature. In the face of survival, who would willingly give up their advantage? If they themselves had been beta testers, would they really have shared their resources with others?
"Hmph! The only reason you're talking like this is because you're one of them—a beta tester yourself! Of course you'd defend your own kind!"
Kibaou tried to push back, but even he could hear how hollow his words sounded. His face flushed with embarrassment.
Seiya smirked. "You're the real idiot here. At a strategy meeting, the one thing that matters most is unity. And yet you—by harping on this nonsense—are the one sowing division between beta testers and ordinary players.
Since you like moral grandstanding so much, why don't you start by sharing your gear and items with everyone here? After all, aren't there plenty of players present weaker than you, Kibaou?"
Their quarrel was spiraling out of control. Finally, Diavel, the blue-haired knight who had organized the meeting, had no choice but to step in as mediator.
"This young man is right. Whether beta tester or ordinary player, our top priority is the same: to defeat the floor boss and clear this death game.
So let us focus on working together for now. Any other disputes can be settled later.
Mr. Kibaou… and this young man here…"
"Seiya. Just call me Seiya."
"Very well. Mr. Kibaou, and Seiya—I ask the two of you to give me some face and let us continue discussing the boss strategy."
Diavel smiled politely, but inwardly he cursed Kibaou for making trouble and wasting everyone's time.
"Seiya? Wait—you mean that Seiya? From the Wenren Trading Guild?"
At that moment, the dark-skinned man, Agil, finally seized the chance to interject. He flipped open his little notebook and asked.
His words sparked recognition across the crowd. Several players pulled out their own notebooks, flipping through, before staring wide-eyed at Seiya in shock.
"No way! That's the real Wenren Seiya? In person?"
"I thought the head of the Wenren Guild would be some businessman… never imagined he'd be such a young boy."
It was true—compared to Kirito, Seiya's name had already spread far and wide in SAO.
And the once-defiant Kibaou? Upon realizing that Seiya was none other than the famed "Saint," he was left dumbstruck.
In SAO, well-known players often earned strange nicknames and titles.
But with only a month since launch, very few had been recognized with such titles.
Kirito had yet to earn the moniker "Black Swordsman." But Seiya? He had already become widely known, his title spreading among the player base—
They called him "Saint."
(End of Chapter)