December 25, 2023. 9:42 a.m. — Town of Beginnings, Floor 1

  Christmas morning was chaos across the entire tower. Special events were triggering on multiple floors, some lasting the full twenty-four hours, and players were rushing blindly toward whatever areas felt “safe” for their level, hoping to score a valuable drop.

  Inside the cathedral, Sasha was making breakfast for the children using supplies Veget and Miwa had delivered separately.

  —Where are Yuiha-nee and Silver-nii? —Mina asked, devouring a pastry.

  Sasha went still for a heartbeat, steadying her breathing before she answered.

  —They’re on the front line, sweetheart. They haven’t had time to come visit.

  —They must be beating bosses one after another! —Kain added, puffing up with pride.

  Sasha smiled at them softly, but the smile faded as she looked out the window.

  It had been more than a month since she’d last seen Yuiha and Silver. On the day they usually came to leave money for the children, a pouch stuffed with an enormous amount of col had simply appeared on the dining table. No note. Sasha had assumed it was them.

  In early December, she’d tried to message Yuiha to tell her the children missed her.

  That was when she realized Yuiha’s name had vanished from her friends list.

  She made an excuse, left the cathedral, and went straight to the Black Iron Palace; to the Trace of Life. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears as she ran her eyes down the endless list of names.

  And then she saw it.

  Yuiha.

  Her legs stopped working. She collapsed to the floor and cried in silence, knowing she had to break down there. She couldn’t let the children know yet.

  A thin thread of relief followed when she confirmed Silver was still alive. Though… knowing him, that didn’t mean he was okay.

  He must have been the one who left the bag of money at the cathedral.

  The noise of the children pulled her back to the present. She forced her smile back into place and began handing out gifts.

  In the middle of the squeals and laughter, she looked out the window again.

  —Please, Silver… don’t do something stupid —she whispered.

  * * * * *

  December 25, 2023. 10:28 a.m. — Great Pine Forest, Floor 35

  Silver was still in the forest, standing in front of the massive tree where the Christmas event had taken place. The resurrection crystal lay on the ground like it was nothing more than another stone.

  When the event ended and the portals vanished, monster respawns returned to normal.

  He’d spent nearly nine hours in the exact same spot, being attacked nonstop by a Brutal Bear; an enormous beast with black-and-red fur and massive claws, one of the most feared monsters on Floor 35.

  Silver took the hits without flinching. The “fight” had become endless thanks to his absurd defense and passive regeneration. Over the entire night, the creature had barely managed to shave off twenty percent of his HP—just a few points at a time.

  —Hey! Are you okay?

  A voice in the distance snapped him out of his haze. It was so gentle he couldn’t help looking up.

  Several meters away stood a girl in light armor with a rapier hanging at her hip.

  She was about 1.67 meters tall. Long white hair fell straight to her waist, loose and unbound. Skin as pale as the snow covering the ground. Fine, delicate features. Large, expressive eyes—pale lavender—filled with genuine concern.

  To most SAO players, she would’ve looked like an angel.

  To Silver, she simply wasn’t Yuiha.

  He lowered his gaze again as the bear kept pounding on him.

  The girl watched a little longer, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. This wasn’t combat. It was a Brutal Bear throwing everything it had on a player who didn’t care. Only someone from the front line could afford to do something like that.

  —Who is he…? —she murmured.

  It didn’t look like weapon testing. Maybe new armor? But if that were the case, he’d be fighting something that actually challenged him.

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  —Do you need help? —she asked again.

  This time, the player didn’t even look up.

  The girl put her hands on her hips, incredulous.

  —Okay… I guess you don’t.

  And she moved on. There were still hours left in the Christmas events, and she wanted to find at least one worth doing.

  * * * * *

  Nearly two hours later, the white-haired girl passed the same spot again and couldn’t believe her eyes.

  He was still there. Same place. The Brutal Bear was still attacking him without pause.

  Monsters didn’t get tired. They didn’t get bored. They didn’t have willpower or reason. The bear could keep swinging for days until Silver died, if he never moved.

  She approached, knowing aggro wouldn’t shift unless she attacked.

  —Hey… do you need help? —she asked again, just as gentle.

  Silver didn’t look up.

  She studied him for a moment, then pulled out a red potion and tossed it. Silver’s body flashed green as his HP restored.

  —What the hell did you do that for!? —he snarled.

  —I just saved you —she shot back, defensive.

  —Don’t get involved.

  She watched him closely. His voice was angry, but his eyes were empty; like he’d already died inside and was just waiting for his avatar to follow.

  —You lost someone important —she said. It wasn’t a question.

  Silver didn’t answer, but his fists clenched.

  She closed her eyes briefly, drew her rapier, and attacked.

  Star Barrage.

  Eight rapid strikes pulled aggro instantly. The bear lunged, but she dodged cleanly and countered with quick thrusts.

  —Hey… sorry to bother you… can you give me a hand?

  Silver didn’t move.

  She used another skill and slid behind him.

  —Switch —she murmured.

  Silver’s body responded even if his mind didn’t. He raised the Aegis and met the charge with Shield Charge.

  The bear stumbled back, stunned.

  —Switch! —she called, launching in.

  Raging Storm.

  Thirteen consecutive thrusts shredded the monster. The Brutal Bear flashed—and dissolved into fragments of light.

  The girl made a neat little flourish with the tip of her weapon as she sheathed it, then smiled.

  Silver still wasn’t looking at her.

  She frowned, stepped closer, and reached for his hand.

  —Hey. Look at me.

  Silver jerked away immediately.

  —Don’t touch me.

  —Then stop pretending I don’t exist —she snapped.

  Something in her tone hit him like a slap. He finally raised his eyes.

  —What do you want? —he asked, sour.

  —To understand why someone stands in the middle of a forest waiting for a weaker monster to kill him slowly.

  Silver held her gaze for a few seconds.

  —I wasn’t waiting for it to kill me —he said at last. —I was here first. It showed up and started hitting me.

  She wrinkled her nose. The explanation sounded reasonable… but it still didn’t fit.

  —And you didn’t think to… I don’t know… leave? Kill it? Do literally anything?

  —I don’t have anywhere to go. And there’s no one left who cares whether I survive.

  Her lavender eyes widened.

  —Who did you lose?

  —My wife.

  —Can I ask how?

  —Player killers. Over a damn weapon.

  She was quiet for a moment.

  —I lost my entire party to Laughing Coffin. An ambush on Floor 30.

  The name hit him like an electric shock. Silver looked at her properly for the first time; and saw someone carrying a pain uncomfortably close to his own.

  Silence stretched between them until she spoke, softer now.

  —Can you tell me about your wife?

  Silver bit down on his lower lip, a knot forming in his throat. But he forced himself to answer. It was the least he could do for her.

  —Her name was Yuiha. Her eyes could calm any fear. And her smile… it made you believe you’d make it out. While the strongest players hoarded the quests and the best hunting grounds, she handed out food to the people stuck in the Town of Beginnings, too scared to step outside the walls.

  A faint smile touched his face as a tear slipped free.

  —I was one of the players she helped. She saved me twice. In the Town of Beginnings… and on Floor 39.

  His voice cracked.

  —I lost my teleport crystal… and she gave me hers. She didn’t ask. She didn’t give me a choice. She just… got me out. And she stayed behind.

  His shoulders shook, and the words collapsed into bitter sobs.

  —She died because of me.

  The girl stepped in and hugged him hard, holding him together.

  —That’s not true. It’s not your fault. And it’s not hers either.

  Silver looked up at her, begging for those words to be real.

  —The fault belongs to the murderers who killed her —she continued. —Don’t say it’s your fault again. All you’re doing is taking responsibility away from the people who actually deserve it.

  Silver felt the guilt loosen—just a little—and in its place something new began to burn. Acid and sharp.

  The girl took a step back.

  —Are you afraid to die? —she asked.

  —I don’t care if I die.

  She let out a small, bright laugh.

  —Then… could you help me?

  —Help you do what?

  —Bring justice to this world.

  Silver didn’t answer.

  —This system doesn’t punish murderers —she went on. —For them, a cursor changing color is a badge of honor. That’s why I want to give them the punishment the game never will.

  —And how would I help with that?

  —By stopping red players from hurting innocent people. Only someone as strong as you can do it.

  Silver met her eyes and felt her resolve, steady, unflinching.

  —I’m Akari —she said, offering her hand.

  Silver hesitated, then took it.

  —Silver.

  Akari smiled with a warmth he hadn’t seen in nearly two months.

  —Then let’s bring this world the justice the developers forgot to build in.