In Aincrad, inside a small pastry shop on Tolbana's plaza.
A month into this death game, the people who had accepted reality had already left the Town of Beginnings. Some went sooner, some later, but most had gradually made their way to the central area of First Floor. Even though the game's overall progress finally seemed to be back on track, everyone still cared a great deal about how resources were divided up.
So no matter how you looked at it, sitting face-to-face in a pastry shop like they were holding a business meeting was far too extravagant.
"Whoa, one strawberry cake costs 1,000 Col? And I bet it's gone in like three bites too, right?"
The slender girl clicked her tongue at the menu, but there wasn't the slightest hint of thrift in the way she kept placing her order.
That yellowish-brown cloak of hers looked exactly like something out of a medieval European story about an outlaw. It was only because this warm, cozy, and shamelessly overpriced shop felt safe enough that she had pulled back her hood, revealing that gaudy face underneath.
He really couldn't understand why she'd painted those whisker-like streaks on her cheeks.
Then again, with those constantly darting eyes of hers, the nickname Rat suited her perfectly.
"You don't have to act like you haven't eaten in days every single time."
Sitting across from her, Satoru rubbed at his forehead, looking helpless.
"Food always tastes better when someone else is paying," Argo said without the slightest shame, tapping several more items on the menu and making the corner of Satoru's eye twitch.
"It'd be nice if the meal counted as part of the information fee."
"Like hell it would."
"Tch."
Satoru was reminded once again just how shameless she was, and couldn't be bothered arguing anymore. When it was his turn, he frugally ordered nothing but a glass of water and submitted it to the NPC.
"All right, be serious for a second." Satoru frowned. "I want to know if it's true that someone's trying to gather players to clear the First Floor boss."
Argo raised a hand and waggled her five slender fingers at him.
Satoru nodded.
"Yep. And it's happening within the next few days. Actually, you didn't even need to ask me that."
"Why not?"
"Because the organizer already asked me to find as many high-level players as possible and pass along invitations. You're included, so you basically just wasted 500 Col."
The girl across from him grinned in open delight, the whisker paint on her face practically twitching with how pleased she was.
Satoru only gave the fact that he'd been scammed a flat, lukewarm response. If he showed any regret, she'd just press the attack and mock him even harder.
Sure enough, when he didn't give her the reaction she'd been hoping for, Argo looked a little disappointed.
"Is now really the right time to go after the First Floor boss?" Satoru asked doubtfully.
Right as he said it, the expensive pastries arrived, carried over by an NPC. They almost seemed to sparkle. If Rat had even a shred of conscience, she'd take this much as payment and explain it on her own.
Instead, she held up five fingers again.
Satoru could only nod.
"Back in the closed beta, a level four or five party could already beat it. And that's during the closed beta. Now the top players are nearly level ten. We've held out this long already. First Floor's resources aren't going to bring any big changes at this point, so the only real option left is to move upward, right? And after that, the guild system will open up too. If someone wants to become a leader, then organizing the first large-scale operation like this gives them a huge advantage."
"I guess we should be grateful someone's willing to step up at a time like this, instead of just burying themselves in solo grinding."
"I'd say the impressive part is that I'm not a closed beta player and I've still managed to barely keep up with you people." Satoru took a sip of plain water, while Argo took a sip of her 600-Col lemon soda.
"Yeah, the fact that you haven't died really is a miracle, Yu-san."
If that counted as praise, then sure. Argo had already started eating, knife and fork working in perfect tandem as she went after the cakes on the table.
"So expecting me to do something for the greater good is asking a bit much, don't you think?"
"The way you're saying that..." Argo narrowed her eyes. "Is that your roundabout way of refusing to join this raid, Yu-san?"
"Forget the awkward nickname."
Satoru shook his head.
"I originally thought a non-closed-beta player who still dared to wander around the field alone had to be some kind of warrior carrying grand ideals and big dreams."
"Just think of me as your kind of person. You care about money. I care about my own interests."
"I'm not the same kind of creature as someone as gross as you."
"You're enjoying that a lot," Satoru said, watching the satisfied look on her face as she polished off the cakes one after another. "Besides, why single me out? Why is it that whenever I want to buy information from you, I have to treat you to a nice meal first?"
"Because you're way too calculating, even more calculating than I am. If I want to make sure a clever girl like me doesn't accidentally get tricked into letting something slip, I need to fleece you first so I'm guaranteed to come out ahead."
"Listen, Yu." Argo sighed. "We're all trapped in here together now. Only thinking about yourself is a pretty shallow way to look at things. Even someone like me is doing my best to help people."
All Satoru saw was an endless cash siphon.
"Hey, buying information costs money too," Argo shot back, apparently having read his thoughts from his face.
"Of course I'm going to the raid, so you can stop taking cheap shots at me for now," Satoru said with a sigh.
"But it's still because you're thinking, 'If the boss goes down, I'll definitely get better stuff,' right? You're a pretty selfish guy."
"..."
"Well, whatever. I guess the invitation's been delivered." Argo put on a fake ladylike air and daintily wiped her mouth.
Satoru looked at the table full of empty plates in mild surprise.
"You finished all that already?"
"Any other questions? If you want to ask more next time, you'll still have to bring me here for a meal first."
"You definitely have information on the First Floor boss, right?"
"Of course. Twenty thousand Col."
"..."
"Aw, fine, fine. I won't rip you off this time. I'll be releasing a strategy guide in the shops later anyway, and it'll be in there," Argo said.
"You're being that generous?" Satoru looked at her suspiciously.
"Of course... though I'm still a tiny bit short on expenses. Just a little over ten thousand Col." Argo clasped her hands together. "So you get the idea."
"Why do I have to be the one paying that?" Satoru shook his head at once.
"Then I won't sell you any information anymore."
This woman.
Satoru was starting to run out of options. As a merchant whose goods were in high demand, she really did have the upper hand. Especially against someone like him, who had no closed beta knowledge.
"Fine, fine. Here." Satoru opened a trade window and spun the number wheel.
"Thank you so much! Don't worry, I'll put your name at the end of the book!"
"No thanks."
Watching the number in his wallet plummet, Satoru couldn't help feeling a little depressed.
"But you really are rich. I don't get how you managed to make that much money." For once, Argo sounded genuinely curious.
The hand lifting Satoru's cup paused slightly. He fell silent for a moment.
"Want to know? Three thousand Col."
"Oh."
On the receiving end of his mockery, the information broker gave a little snort and turned to leave without any hesitation.
The bell over the shop door rang, and she was gone in no time. The waiter NPC even bowed politely toward the now-empty doorway and said, "Please come again."
Satoru let out a silent sigh.
The sunlight pouring in through the window was almost too bright, falling across one side of his face and leaving the other in shadow, dark and blurred. He leaned back fully into his chair, trying to let himself relax a little.
It had been a long time since he'd had anything close to a normal conversation. Then again, even if he weren't trapped in this game, it probably would've been the same.
"What a decisive move. And after we'd been following you for so long."
In the gloomy forest, Satoru, still alive only by a hair, watched those ill-intentioned people with wary eyes.
"It's rare for me. First time I've seriously wanted to do something like this, and you beat me to it. Can you tell me your name? Trying to recruit someone like you, someone who trusts nobody, probably isn't realistic. Still, we can at least leave an impression on each other."
Satoru only took a slow step back.
"Relax. We won't tell anyone..."
The two or three of them let out harsh laughs like vultures. Their laughter overlapped with the shattering burst of a character vanishing, the same sound a monster made when it died.
"I refuse," Satoru said heavily.
"It's nothing... We'll meet again eventually anyway. After all, you've already 'killed' before."
"..."
Satoru stared into the clear cup, sunlight rippling through the water inside.
He kind of wanted a cigarette.
Alone, he drained the cheap water to the last drop.