Floor 5 of Aincrad, Shiyaya Village.
At the heart of this village lay a natural hot spring, its main attraction.
The spring was a wide pool with light bluish water, faintly steaming, indicating its warm, comfortable temperature. The surface was adorned with green lotus leaves, pink flower petals, and even floating fruits, adding an exotic touch.
The pool was surrounded by lush scenery. On one side, large dark gray natural stones formed a natural wall holding the water. On the other, a unique building with a conical orange-tiled roof and dark brown walls exuded a warm, rustic charm. It likely served as a changing room or rest area.
Currently, a man and a woman soaked in the calming hot spring—none other than Charlie Avalon and Yuuki Asuna.
"Phew…"
Charlie leaned against the pool's edge, savoring the water's warmth.
"What's up with you, Asuna? Suddenly inviting me to bathe together—you're not sick, are you?"
He looked at Asuna across from him, puzzled.
Indeed, they were bathing together!
Of course, unlike Japan's common practice of bathing nude in hot springs, both wore swimsuits.
"I just wanted to properly thank you, Charlie."
Her long hair tied in a high bun, revealing her slender neck, Asuna explained her sudden behavior.
Charlie studied her expression, then sighed.
"Are you okay? Stop pretending to be tough. There's no way you felt nothing after seeing death."
"…"
Asuna fell silent, lowering her head. She didn't deny Charlie's words. Raising her gaze, she looked at him with eyes full of doubt.
"Why do some players kill others when they know death here means death in the real world? I can't understand their thinking at all."
"You don't need to understand their mindset, Asuna. You're right, they're wrong. That's it."
"In Sword Art Online, some players kill others for fun due to a mix of factors: warped morality from the game's death-game nature, the initial lack of real-world consequences in the game, and the rise of player-killer guilds like Laughing Coffin, who find joy in causing suffering."
As a former police officer in his past life, Charlie somewhat understood the psychology of red-cursor players.
The game's premise—death in-game equating to real-world death—ironically desensitized many players to the gravity of killing. Moral boundaries blurred. Some, especially Laughing Coffin members, might be driven by a desire to inflict pain and fear, finding pleasure in others' suffering.
They could have pre-existing psychological issues or be drawn to the game's chaotic, violent nature, which gave them 'power' over life and death.
Though player-killing was a grave offense with real-world death as a consequence, the lack of tangible real-world repercussions for in-game actions (beyond death itself, which some might find thrillingly horrific) emboldened some to engage in such harmful behavior.
No prison, no trial—just death, which, for psychopaths, was a 'game.'
"That's terrifying… Humans can be more monstrous than monsters."
Hearing this, Asuna felt her worldview crumble.
After all, her family had sheltered her well. Her wholesome social circle meant she'd never seen humanity's dark side.
"Let's stop talking about grim topics."
Sensing Asuna's mood shift, Charlie changed the subject. He grabbed a bundle of floating grass nearby and tossed it at her.
Without waiting for her reaction, he picked up a banana floating within reach.
"Wanna try something?"
"T-Try what?"
Asuna held the grass bundle, staring as Charlie stood from the pool.
Her face flushed seeing his chiseled abs, like neatly stacked bricks.
Charlie stepped out, water dripping from his ideal physique. He glanced back with a smile.
"A duel… Well, calling it a duel might be too much. Hmm… Let's say swordplay. We'll mimic a duel."
"Now?"
"I want to see your swordsmanship progress, Asuna. Don't want to?"
"Haaa… Nii-san was right. No matter how mature they seem, they're still kids at heart."
Asuna sighed, a wry smile on her lips. She finally agreed to Charlie's silly proposal.
Stepping out of the pool, Asuna stood three meters across from Charlie.
Charlie held the banana like a sword, while Asuna gripped her grass bundle. Her swimsuit added to her awkwardness.
"What's the rule?" Asuna asked, trying to distract from her nervousness.
"How about the first to land a hit wins?" Charlie replied, twirling the banana.
"You mean a clean hit?"
Though new to the game, Asuna was learning its terms, thanks to Charlie's teachings.
"Exactly." Charlie nodded.
"S-Sure."
Asuna agreed, hiding the blush on her cheeks.
A clean hit in combat, especially in games, refers to a strike that lands effectively on the target without being blocked, parried, or deflected. It hits directly, unobstructed, showcasing superiority in speed, precision, or strategy.
In their mock duel, a clean hit would decide the winner, symbolizing success in breaching the opponent's defense and landing a potentially decisive blow in real combat.
"Nice stance." Charlie praised as Asuna assumed her usual rapier fighting posture. It was graceful yet sharp, her grass bundle an imaginary blade ready to strike.
"Alright, come at me whenever you're ready."
Unlike Asuna's serious demeanor, Charlie was relaxed, holding the banana like a legendary sword.
"Here I go!"
*WHOOSH!*
Asuna darted forward, her movements swift and light, like a breeze. Her grass bundle thrust straight ahead.
*WHOOSH!*
Charlie charged at the same moment.
*SWOOSH!*
With a smooth sidestep, he dodged Asuna's thrust, countering with his banana aimed at her stomach.
(So fast!)
Asuna reacted quickly, twisting her body to evade the banana by a fraction of a second. She spun, not rushing to attack again, instead observing Charlie's movements closely.
"As expected of you, Asuna. You're impressive. I planned to end it in one strike, but your reaction's above average. You remind me of Aiz."
A sudden displeasure flared in Asuna's heart. For some reason, she was annoyed Charlie compared her to another woman.
"Comparing another woman while with a lady is rude."
"Is that so? Thanks for the reminder. I'll be more careful next time."
Charlie nodded lightly, oblivious to the sour note in Asuna's words, taking it as mere advice.