CHAPTER 1.2

Asuna woke up to the sunlight hitting her coming from the window; she waved her finger in the air to check the date 2022.11.19 (SAT)

"November 19, 2020, Saturday in the real world" She murmured "The uniform mock exam is today"

_________

She is now walking down the stairs intending to leave the inn where she was staying

"Welcome, please beware of danger," The NPC owner of the inn said, and Asuna just nod and continue walking until she reached the door

When she came out she was greeted by busy people walking and chatting, she walk into the bakery to purchase black bread "Welcome.." The seller said after Asuna click the circle button to buy

She seat on one of the benches that she saw in the streets while eating "This is supposed to be only a game but why do I feel hungry? This is ridiculous" she continues "And doesn't even taste good, I want to eat Sada's cooking"

She heard the two players talking and she accidentally heard what they were talking about which in turn caught her attention

"The hidden log-out point?"

"It's probably fake info anyways," another man said

"No, no I believe this information was from Rat"

"Oh?"

"Then, it exists in the west forest?

"Yea, there's a cave in there.. But it's said no one who entered has ever returned" There was a mixture of apprehension that could be heard in the man's voice

"You're just scared of the monster there" The man teasing

After Asuna heard that she quickly got up from her seat and went to their table

"Where? Is that west forest?" Asuna asked them

"Huh? It's the same as its name, keep walking along with the west gate for about an hour" surprised, still pointed the way

"Thanks" Asuna was about to leave when she stopped by another man

"Wait, you need to be a level 3 to go there" but Asuna ignored that and continued walking "This miss must be waiting for you to offer to take you there" He continued

"You need to wait for the right moment. Don't be hasty; I'll pick a date in the future to help you.."

"No! That way I won't be able to make it" Asuna said with a watery-eyed

"Something important in the real world?" They said while the other man thinking: 'Poor kid.. Must an ill family member'

"Yes.. Today is the High School Entrance mock exam!" Asuna answered.

The earlier pity the men's felt was replaced by laughter "HAHAHAHAHA Mock exam? The date of the mock exam!" They said sarcastically

"This is incredibly important!" Insisted Asuna

"All jokes aside, I advise you to give up and come here and drink with us" The man invented her still holding their laugh

"Excuse me, thank you for your warnings," Asuna said as she left the place

"Ah—she left.. A college entrance exam, huh? She's the same age as my nieces" Asuna heard them in the distances

Asuna stopped and ask an NPC man that she saw in the street "Which way is the west?"

The other players who heard her murmured "Oi, she's asking the NPC for direction"

"This is the central market.." The man that she asked said

"She doesn't know anything.." Another man murmured

______

***Asuna in the west forest***

While walking she notices low-level monsters so she hides behind the trees after a few minutes she saw a big tree and under that is a cave "It's here"

"This isn't just a game if I don't back and hurry and return.." She swallowed and hesitated to enter but she could do nothing but walk in 'I need to go back in the real world' in her thought. She drew her sword "What a nasty breeze, stinky and humid" The whole area was dark and there was not enough light coming from outside the cave, she accidentally touch something "Soft? What is this?"

She touched the monster who was still salivating, its growl can be heard throughout the cave. Asuna didn't expect its sudden attack so it hit her and sprang her, She saw her Hp level and it's already in yellow in just one hit "AHH—not good" She was fit to get up but she could not move her body "What? I can't move.. Am I dead?" She looked at her Hp again and its already in red, little by little her sight was fading but she could see vaguely the monster that was currently walking towards her "You must be kidding me, I can't open my eyes, I can't do anything?" Her tears dripped and she remembered her life in the real world.

The monster was about to attack her when suddenly a fast man ran from behind the monster and attacked it with a sword making a vertical arc, the Hp of the monster drops quickly until it is gone it quickly became a fragments

"Who?" Even if Asuna wanted to see who it was, she couldn't do it

"AH- thanks for that! Gosh, using my name to spread rumors, that's the info house for you" The girl stopped in front of Asuna who is still lying on the ground "Noob-Kun, you still alive?" Asuna moved slightly she can only see the shoes of the two who saved her "Thank god she's still alive, here this is a health potion drink it" The girl handed her the health potion

"Then, I'll be going back. You take care of the rumor spreader yourself; I don't wanna become a PK-ER" The man said

Asuna drink the health potion that the girl gives her "I got it" The girl said

"Then I'll leave the usual thing to you, laters" The man left the scene

"You calmed down?" The girl asked her

After Asuna drinks the potion her Hp level Is back in full green "Yea, thank you very much" While seating Asuna asked "Um.. What's the info house?"

"Well, it's basically what the name says it specialized in the trade of information, collect everything and provide for a price. If it's information that benefits the public, then it's spread. In some situations it'll also hide certain pieces" She explained "And by the way, that information I just gave you cost 10 cols"

"HAHA How weird, it's just a game yet it's like reality" Asuna soft laugh

"Of course, right now this world is real," The girl said in a serious tone

"Info house-san, is the hidden exit is just a rumor?"

"Sorry, there's no such thing"

"Then, sell me a piece of information; what do I have to do to become strong?" Asuna asked there is no choice but to fight

"Is that just for survival?" The girl asked as she removed the hood of her cloak

"No.. It's to not regret a second time" After Asuna said that the girl which is known as Argo the rat remembered Kirito one of the beta testers like her

Argo is a nimble-looking player who has brown eyes and curly golden-brown hair. She wears full-body and leather armor, a hooded cloak, and also has whiskers on her face, which were originally a mark from a quest, but now make-up of her choice.

"Huh, then first this.." She gave a book to Asuna

"It's the guide to the first tier of sword art online," Asuna said in shock

"Yea, something like a reference book, I'll give it to you for free this time"

"I'll start reading immediately," Asuna said started reading the book

"Um.." Argo is currently looking at Asuna who is now seriously reading the book. They saw a mad boar passing by

A Frenzy boar is a low-level monster, found in the fields beyond the Town of Beginnings. The Frenzy boar rewards a level one player with twenty-four experience points and thirty Col after being killed.

"I see, if I don't provoke it, it would not attack me. Usually, called blue bore attacks involuntary?.. The involuntary attack is.. The information and the conditional requirements are in harmony. The author seemed to have personal experience all that is explained in the manual?" Asuna read the book aloud

"Excuse me—"The girl tries to call the attention of Asuna, but Asuna didn't hear her, she continues reading

"But for the starters, this is a very good reference. The main ideas and side notes are all on there, as well as picture references" Asuna commented while scanning the book

"Method of attacking.. because I'm using a thin sword this should be it.." She grabbed her sword

"It feels like fencing," Argo said, a mad boar is passing by in her back

"The starter ability is 'fast sword' use your conscience to imagine the movement of the blade" Argo did not expect Asuna's fast movement to attack the boar behind her

"Ah, I did it," Asuna said after she killed the low-level monster

'So fast?! What happen' Argo did not expect that Asuna can be that fast, she is currently looking at Asuna in shock

"If you attempt to do something, then you will accomplish it," Asuna said she is now looking at her sword

"I take that back I can't give that information to you for free. What about? Your name as payment for the information?" Argo said in an evil grin

"Name? Yuuki Asuna desu"

"Sorry noob-san, you got it wrong. Please give me your username"

"That's my username"

"Oh, your user name is also Asuna. But usually, when you say name it's referring to the username, this time I'll forget it, but so be careful in the future" Argo explains but Asuna saw a boar again and attacked it "PAY ATTENTION WHEN I SPEAK!" Asuna back in her seat and listen to Argo