Kenshi, The Spirit Swordsman

Chapter 36

Right now, in the morning, me and my siblings were eating breakfast while I was watching Stone Ocean on Netflix for the 4th times.

Kotori: Bro, were you up late again?

Ngoc: Yep. It's a school project. On mechatronics.

Kotori: Metatron?

Ngoc: Mechatronic.

Shido: Man. It's so sad to watch Jotaro die again.

Ngoc: I feel you.

Kotori: Hey, guys, check this out!

She handed me the tablet as I looked at the website.

Ngoc: The Holy Sword Excalibur's been discovered in ALO? Seems like they haven't actually acquired it yet.

Kotori: You said it.

A few months ago, Itsuki, Maria, Shido and I got swallowed up by a huge earthworm-type monster on the Arun Plains, and we're dropped into Jotunheim, an underground realm. There, we came upon a four-armed humanoid monster assaulting a demon that resembled a hybrid elephantic jellyfish. When Itsuki asked us to save the monster being bullied, I guided the four-armed monster to the lake and it fell in, giving the elephantic jellyfish demon the victory. Dubbed "Tonky" by Itsuki, this demon transformed himself into an eight-winged creature, and let us ride on his back, carrying us to a passageway leading to the surface. It was on the way up that we saw it. A giant labyrinth hanging from the World Tree, wrapped up in its roots... And a long, golden sword shimmering at its base. Excalibur...

Ngoc: I was planning to go after it one of these days...

Kotori: But you've had your hands full clearing levels in the New Aincrad.

Ngoc: Yeah, but I wonder how they found it? Players can't fly in Jotunheim, and it's so high up, you couldn't spot where Excalibur is unless you flew.

Kotori: You think someone rescued one of Tonky's friends like we did and managed to put up a Quest Flag?

Shido: That would make the most sense. A creepy thing like that...

Kotori glared at Shido.

Shido: Uh, no... to want to save such a unique demon requires really weird taste...

Kotori: ...

Shido: ... That thing's creepy, okay? Even Ngoc agreed with me.

Ngoc: Do I? Oh, I do.

Kotori: He is not creepy! He's adorable! But that means that it might just be a matter of time before someone crashes that dungeon and claims the sword.

Ngoc: Yeah, you're right.

Kotori: What are you two gonna do?

Ngoc: Well... Kotori, going after rare items isn't the only thrill that virtual MMOs offer.

Kotori: I guess not. Just powering up through our weapons specs isn't really...

Shido: But seeing as he showed us that sword, I think we need to live up to Tonky's expectations. I'll bet that deep down inside he must be hoping that we'll break into that dungeon. After all, Tonky's our friend, right?

Kotori: Even though you just called him creepy?

She said with a smug look.

Shido: Whatever.

Ngoc: Anyway, are you free today?

Kotori: I don't have much thing to do at Ratatoskr today.

Ngoc: All right! Hey, Tonky can carry up to eight people max, right? Kirito will be dating with Asuna for all day. Mio and the others have their own job to do. Agil's got his cafe to run... And Chrysheight isn't exactly reliable... And I'm sure Recon's in Sylph territory... So that means me, you, Shido, Sawa, Tohka, Yoshino, Kurumi and Nijika.