Ye You turned around, not saving him any face, "As a commander, being greedy for credit and advancing recklessly is a major taboo. There's nothing wrong with wanting the LA reward, but don't throw your life away for it. Once you're dead, everything's gone."
Although these words were harsh, every single one of them rang true.
Diabel lowered his head and clenched his fists, "I've learned my lesson."
Right then.
"Wait a minute!"
A sharp, piercing voice rang out again.
It was that familiar cactus head again.
Kibaou squeezed out from the crowd, pointing at Ye You and Kirito with an indignant look on his face, "Even though the BOSS is down, some things need to be cleared up! The BOSS's attack pattern changed just now, why did you know? Especially you!"
He pointed at Kirito, "You didn't call it a Talwar just now, right? How did you know it was supposed to be a Talwar? You guys are beta testers, aren't you!"
The atmosphere instantly became awkward again.
Having just gone through life and death, the players' nerves were all on edge.
The term 'beta tester' was like a thorn.
Kirito's face changed, and he instinctively wanted to step back.
That fear of being isolated and shunned welled up in his heart once more.
However, a hand was placed on his shoulder.
Ye You took a step forward, shielding Kirito behind him.
"A brain is a good thing, too bad you don't seem to have one."
"If we wanted to steal the LA, when Diabel rushed in to his death just now, we could have just watched from the sidelines. Once he died and the BOSS was at low health, we would've gone in to finish it off—wouldn't that be a safer bet?"
The whole place went deathly silent.
This logic is rock-solid, so solid it's impossible to refute.
In that situation just now, anyone could see that Diabel was a goner. If Ye You and Kirito really were those 'beta tester scumbags' who'd do anything for gear, they could've totally used Diabel as cannon fodder to soak up the boss's skills.
He tanked the boss's crit head-on and saved him.
Kibaou opened and closed his mouth, his face turning the color of pig liver, and his finger was trembling as he pointed at Ye You: "Th-Then how do you explain how that kid knew the BOSS changed weapons? Other than beta testers, who could react that fast? You guys are just holding out!"
"Holding out?"
Ye You sneered, "The info during the beta was a Talwar, but it changed to an Odachi in the official release. What does that mean? It means that bastard Akihiko Kayaba changed the data. Kirito shouted it out just now because he has good observation skills and saw the hilt's shape was wrong. As for why I could block it..."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.
"Because I'm strong."
Four simple words, insanely arrogant.
But in the face of the feat of having just soloed the BOSS's berserk strike, this was the gospel truth.
"Don't lump us in with those beta testers who only know how to shiver in the Safe Zone."
Ye You casually opened the menu and swiped his finger across the equipment bar.
Whoosh—
A long trench coat, pitch-black as ink, appeared out of thin air, automatically layering over his original leather armor.
That was the rare equipment that had just dropped—the [Midnight Coat].
The black hem of the coat hung down to his calves, and the high collar covered his jawline.
He looked coldly at Kibaou.
"In this game, information is important, sure, but brains and reflexes are more important. In that situation just now, if it were you, even if you knew it was a nodachi, could you have blocked it?"
Kibaou subconsciously took a step back.
Couldn't block it.
He would definitely have been cut in two.
"Only the weak make excuses after the fact; the strong just adapt to the environment."
Ye You turned around, "Want gear? Want info? Then follow me. The mobs on Floor 2 are stronger, and even more people will die. If you're afraid of dying, then get lost back to the Town of Beginnings to rot away."
After saying that, he didn't even spare Kibaou a glance, walking straight toward the spiral staircase at the end of the hall that led to Floor 2.
Kirito stood there stunned, looking at that black figure from behind.
Originally... that position, the one condemned by everyone, should have been his.
He had already prepared himself to bear the infamy of being a "Beta Tester," even thinking of using an even viler attitude to separate himself from the ordinary Beta players as a way to protect the others.
But Ye You messed it all up.
He directly stomped the "Beta Tester" label underfoot, then replaced it with a label called "The Strong."
"Hey, why are you spacing out?"
Ye You stopped, turned his head, and said somewhat impatiently, "Do I still need to invite you? Black Swordsman."
Kirito's whole body jolted.
He took a deep breath, flashed a relieved smile, and quickly followed.
"Coming!"
On the other side, Asuna sheathed her rapier and pulled her hood down a bit lower. She glanced at the still-dazed Diabel and the fuming Kibaou, and without any hesitation, she started walking to catch up with the two men in front.
Even though that guy named Ye You has a sharp tongue, a nasty personality, and likes to force-feed people cream bread.
But I have to admit.
Following behind him, I feel very safe.
...
[Ding!]
[Desperate Rescue （Mental Level） completed!]
[Target: Kirigaya Kazuto （Kirito）.]
[Desperate Situation Evaluation: Pulled the target back from the edge of a destined tragic social death as an 'isolated solo player,' and forcibly granted the attribute of 'companion of the strong'.]
[Obtained rewards: Skill Book "Search （Search）" Proficiency MAX, Passive Talent: Villain Face （Deterrence against hostile units +20%）.]
On the spiral staircase, the light was dim.
Listening to the system prompt in his head, Ye You almost missed a step.
What the hell kind of Villain Face.
Is this system thinking he wasn't acting like enough of a villain just now?
But max-level
"Um... Ye You."
Kirito behind him finally couldn't help but speak,, "Just now... thanks."
"Thanks for what?"
Ye You didn't even look back, his feet never stopping, "Thanks for me stealing your spotlight? Or thanks for not giving you the chance to pull off that 'this great me is a cheater even stronger than a beta tester' flex you had ready?"
Kirito: "..."
Does this guy have mind-reading powers?!
He really was planning on saying that! He even had the lines thought out, some kind of chuunibyou speech or something like that.
"How did you know what I wanted to say?" Kirito asked in horror.
"Because you've got that saintly look on your face, it's enough to give me a stomachache."
Ye You roasted him mercilessly, "In this world, the good guys usually die the fastest. If you want to be a hero, you've also got to make sure you live until the final episode first."
"I didn't want to be a hero..." Kirito retorted softly.
"Then shut up and watch the road."
Ye You interrupted him.
At this point, the three of them had reached the end of the spiral staircase.
Ahead was a giant stone door.
Push open the door.
The view suddenly opened up.
Aincrad Floor 2, Urbus.
Unlike the medieval town style of the First Floor, this was a vast plateau terrain with rolling mesas in the distance, and giant herbivorous monsters dotting the lush green grasslands.
The wind was strong.
"Wow..."
Asuna, who had been silent all along, couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.
She took off her hood.
Her long chestnut hair fluttered in the wind.
Even though we're trapped in a death game, the scenery of this world is truly beautiful.
"Don't just focus on looking at the scenery."
Ye You broke the silence, pointing at the outline of a distant village, "We need to head to the Main Town first to activate the portal, then find an inn and have a big meal. Fighting the BOSS just now took too much out of me, I'm starving right now."
"All you think about is eating."
Asuna rolled her eyes at him, but her hand subconsciously touched her stomach.
Definitely hungry.
Moreover, thinking back to the taste of that cream bread from before, she actually found herself looking forward to the big meal Ye You mentioned.
"Oh, right."
Ye You suddenly turned around and looked at the two behind him, "Since we've reached Floor 2, the temporary party should be disbanded. I'm a solo player, and I'm not used to carrying dead weight."
Kirito and Asuna exchanged a look.
Before, they might have nodded and gone their separate ways.
But now...
"I didn't say I was going to follow you the whole time."
Asuna brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze drifting into the distance, "It's just... I'm going to the Main Town too, so it's just on the way."