Sword Art Online Gameverse x Reader

Chapter 21: The Beater

Argo: "Ah, so you are still alive! I was startin' to wonder!"

Y/N: "Did I not reply to your message yesterday?"

Argo: "Oh you did, but ya never can tell with ya can I?"

Y/N: "You make me out as some sort of danger magnet or something..."

Argo: "Well, with all those scares ya gave us, ya gonna have to convince me otherwise! But not now, the clear group is gettin' real antsy. I'm assumin' ya got the info they're wantin' right?"

Y/N: "I do... and it sounds like it's worth a pretty sum of Col-"

Argo: "-Ya a real pain, ya know that right?"

Y/N: "I was just kidding, I do want to get some pay though"

Argo: "Of course I'm payin'! When have I not?"

I navigate through my menus and initiate the process to send her the mapping data I collected

Y/N: "I managed to get all of the map info up until the labyrinth, was planning to explore that tomorrow..."

Argo: "All of it?! Ya really are somethin' else aren't ya..."

Y/N: "i- I ummm, it's just how I always played games y'know?"

Argo: "Yeh, ya really do give off those lone wolf vibes, but ya really should use ya pals more... anyways, here's the Col for the mappin' but there's more where that came from if ya willing to relinquish that mob info I know ya got in that noggin' of yours."

Y/N: "Of course I do, I have a system I follow. But this info isn't shared through a menu unfortunately. Although I wanted to try something new... so I created a draft message to you with all the info on it as I went, thought that'd be an easier way to transmit info to you without having to come find you every time."

Argo: "Sounds efficient, or that ya are just really fed up with me teasing ya all the time!"

Y/N: "... well, do you want me to send you the info via message or not?"

Argo: "Well, I'm not gonna say no obviously, your info is reliable and I trust ya aren't gonna use the distance ya makin' between us to try soloin' the Floor Boss before the week's over... right?"

Y/N: "Not sure on that yet, depends on the difficulty of the mobs in the Labyrinth, and how long it takes me to find the Boss Room."

Argo: "U/N... ya a real piece of work, don't make me set Asuna on ya!"

Y/N: "...Please don't."

Argo: "ehehehe! Consider it a warning to my favourite lil' source of info and laughs."

Y/N: "Noted... well, if that's everything settled I'm going to go get some rest."

Argo: "Ayup, all sorted here. I'll read through ya message and send ya the full sum of Col whilst ya sleepin'. G'night U/N."

Y/N: "Goodnight Argo."

*TIMESKIP TO THE NEXT MORNING*

I had an early night's sleep, the sun hadn't even fully set, but that means despite my waking before the sun has fully risen over the land I still got a decent amount of hours sleep.
I make myself some breakfast with the basic cooking set I set up in my inn room as well as fresh rations to last me the next couple days- I then used my portable smith to repair my gear.

Once I was all set I made my way out of the inn and back towards the Field, today I plan to make some headway in the Labyrinth. It's best if I can get that all mapped out and the mob details recorded before any other players end up there, plus I definitely do enjoy being ahead of the pack for grinding exp... the lack of competition for grind spots is something I always enjoyed but here it's especially important so as to keep to my levelling quota and make sure I'm always at my best and ready to help. My adventures with Philia, Rain and Lisbeth proved that I'm not quite strong enough yet to fight without worry...

???: "Oh, hey! U/N!"

Y/N: "hmm?"

I turn around to the voice calling my username to find a black-haired boy with an equally black coat.

Y/N: "Oh, uh- hi Kirito."

Kirito: "Hey again, so you making your way into the field too?"

Y/N: "Yeh, going to have a look around the uncharted territory and see if I can get some more levels... you?"

Kirito: "Same here, I guess you also got Argo's new info this morning then? All of the area past the Mid-Floor Boss has been mapped already and some good spots to farm were listed. Thought I'd make my way there as soon as possible to beat the big guilds there y'know?"

Y/N: "Oh, did she publish it already? That was fast... yeh, I'm not a big fan of competing for mob spawns so I like to get there as early as possible."

Kirito: "Wait, did you get her info early then? How didn't you know she had already published it?"

Y/N: "'Cause I sold the info to her last night-"

Kirito: "-Ah, that makes sense actually. What with all the gossip about you and all. So you're Argo's secret source of intel then, shoulda guessed that to be honest..."

Y/N: "I don't even want to hear about the gossip..."

Kirito: "Oh it's nothing too bad, just that if someone should have died to a mob but didn't it was because you saved them. A bunch of lower level players out in the fields and then the pair of girls you helped with their dungeon quests-"

Y/N: "-damn it Rain, i told you to keep it to yourself, I don't need the attention!"

Kirito: "Well it's not like it really matters does it? Nobody ever sees you around the safe zones, that's the other rumour: that you live out on the fields and only come back to sell your info to Argo"

Y/N: "That one's mostly true I suppose, but I stopped sleeping out here now. I go back to the inn now..."

. . . this silence is kinda awkward, I want to slip away and get on with my mob grindin-

Kirito: "... well, um. You wouldn't mind if I walk with you out to the further parts of the field, you seem like the dependable sort and you did solo the Mid-Floor Boss- of which I still haven't told anyone about in case you were worrying!"

Y/N: "I forgot about that, had a rough couple days right after that and then went straight back to work... sure, I don't mind accompanying you, we're going in the same direction after all..."

Kirito: "Great! Well, let's get going then I guess?"

Y/N: "Sure, let's go."

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