Sword Art Online: Faithful Hymn

Chapter 58: Sinon - Part 3: Gabriel and Vassago

"PoH... from Laughing Coffin..?"

Those are the only words my mouth could emit once I could recognize the smile on the tinted man's face. There is no question about it. The shadiness of the character, his posture, his choice of words... they all resemble the infamous leader of SAO's most well-known murder guild: Laughing Coffin.

As timorous as I am, this is not a moment to let my guard down. I know that Sinon must be thinking the exact same thing, although she clearly has a tougher time to grow her backbone.

"May I ask who you two a-"

The blonde-haired man quickly interrupted himself, leaving the tinted man on the sideline as he shoots his gaze to me, not looking at the fearful Sinon anymore.

"How silly of me. Who wouldn't recognize one of the top-players? I'm more curious about you though."

The man whose name I still don't know slowly approaches me. Whether I should be vigilant or not right now, I don't really know. I clearly don't get the friendliest perception from this man, although what is the worst thing that could happen? In the real world, I'm simply lying down on a hospital bed with Shino next to me. We're not vulnerable nor in danger.

"My name is Chase Goldheart."

I explicitly use my previous vendetta right now. Sinon would have no idea at all what I would be talking about, though the man in front of me seemed like he would applaud me for my effort. PoH on the other hand clearly didn't seem to care that much. He does not recognize me from SAO. I should count myself lucky for that.

"Your full name? Well then, fellow American, I'll gladly introduce myself as well."

"...?!" is all Sinon could exclaim.

"I am Gabriel Miller, chief tactical officer of Glowgen Defence Systems, as well as child of the former president and founder of the company."

I immediately looked into Sinon's direction, and we both had the exact same thought. Both of our inner body languages greatly exclaimed 'The freaking military?!', although this is not where Gabriel decided to call it a quit.

"But that begs the question, who... are you?"

This is a question that he wouldn't ask Sinon, mainly because he would see her as a normal gamer girl with a passion for FPS games. What he'd practically mean, is why Sinon would hang out with a 'commoner' like me. He knows she is too good for me, and so do I.

Still, if I would really tell him who I am, I am pretty sure even he would open up his eyes more than he currently does. It would also provoke the tinted man behind him, PoH, to open himself up. If there is one thing I'm curious about, it's his motivations for murder.

"I am an SAO Survivor. Other than that, I'm no different from other people around my age, really."

And right I was. The moment I mentioned the words 'SAO Survivor', PoH was left with his mouth wide open. I deliberately look at his direction, indicating that he is no stranger to me. As I foresaw, Gabriel noticed my gaze.

"Oh? Then I guess you know my friend Vassago here."

Knowing PoH's terrible reputation due to murder in SAO, he does not deserve any praise at all. All I could do in response to Gabriel's question, was to simply nod one time. To my surprise on the other hand, PoH interrupted both of us in order to get his moment to shine.

"Fuck this trip down memory lane man. Why don't we cut the chatter and get into business already?"

As much as I didn't approve with Vassago's words of choice, I kind of agree with him. If we would have continued on this conversation, who knows when I would be talking about Yuuna. If anything, I want to avoid that subject with two men who clearly don't give me the friendliest vibe.