CHAPTER 2.2 - Beta Tester
"If it were me, I would choose 'information' whenever I reach a new city or town, this guide book is always in the item shop" Agil showed them a guide book "Everyone must've benefited from this. Plus, it was distributed for free" He added
"It's extremely useful" Asuna showed her guidebook
"Oi.. You said free?" Could not paint the face of the man next to her "This guy charged me 500 cols-" He turned back to where Argo was standing "Ah?..." She suddenly despaired
"However, no matter how you look at it, this information guide is to advance" Agil continue while looking at the guide book "This strategy guide on monsters and map data the information shop provided is something from Beta players before us" He raised the guide book and presented it to the players "Listen up, this information is the best gift for us beginners, it's true many people died, but that's because they thought SAO was the same as other MMOs and missed the opportunity to retreat when they noticed" Kibaou has slightly embarrassed even him didn't know about the existence of the guide book "On the other hand, those of us who learned to use the information booklet is still alive"
"There's a winner" Asuna rests her chin in her hand "Gosh.. There really are people who want to suffer with them" While the man next to him was looking at her "Even though there were things that only the Beta player could do.."
"But.. Not everyone.." The man turned his gaze back to the stage
"Kibaou-san I understand your feelings but surely isn't it the time to look forward?" Diavel intervened "If the Beta players can contribute towards beating the boss, There's nothing worth having faith in than this." Kibaou stared at him as he tried to convince him "So we're clear, then let us get to the main topic.."
"DIAVEL-SAN!!"
"Dia.. Diavel-san!" One player shouts his name while holding his guidebook, and walking towards the stage
"What.. Strategy guide for the boss?" Diavel asked him when he handed him the guidebook
"I just bought it from an NPC vendor at the squire"
"Didn't we just find the boss room? How come it's out so fast?.." One of the players said
The book contains the name of the boss, skill, speculated Hp, damage output, and even his minions
"It's incredibly informative.." Diavel said while reading the book "This is great. From the statistics, it doesn't look dangerous"
"Ah, you're right," Agil said still looking at the book. The players were encourage
"Eh?! Wait a minute!" They all looked at Kibaou "Look at this!" He pointed to the lower side of the strategy guide book where the 'RAT' word was written "Of course! This information shop knows who the Beta testers are! No, that Rat woman is a Beta-Tester, no doubt about it" He is referring to Argo "Why don't you ask about this first?" Suddenly the man sitting next to Asuna stood up and quickly went to the stage "Yea.. Are you just gonna blindly trust a Beta-Tester's information? They could be leaving out the important information and make us fall into a trap! They only know how to benefit themselves!" He could no longer tolerate the contempt of Beta-Tester "If this information from Beta-Tester shouldn't she be the one to prove it first?!"
"It's
"Where? Where'd She go!" The players murmur
"He ran away? That bastard?!" Kibaou said. He is about to speak when Asuna suddenly spoke
"Right now- Other than giving your appreciation, what else can you do?" The players turned to Asuna and were surprised when they saw he
"G..A.. girl!!"
"Is she cute?.."
"Looks like she has a nice body.. But in the end, still a game addict.. We can only wait.." They murmur while checking Asuna's appearance. She was the only woman there so the players were surprised
"Our enemies are not the Beta-Testers! But rather this floor's Boss" They turned their attention to Diavel "Right now we just have to appreciate this information" He raised the guidebook
"Yes. It'll save us the most dangerous task of scouting the area" Agil said "However, it's impossible to beat this floor without any sacrifices" He is stating the fact; even if they have a guidebook for the Boss, it is still inevitable that someone will die with them, especially when they fight the floor Boss, it is different from the monsters they encounter in the labyrinth. Some of them are still hesitant
"No. There will be zero death." Diavel said "If everyone is afraid that the information has flaws, I will protect everyone" He is trying to convince the players "I will wager- My night's Honor!" He put his hand on his chest a sign that they could trust what he said, and because of that, he gained the trust of the players "Then it's fine. Plus, we have a princess" He looks at Asuna
'These types of people will definitely lead great guilds' in the mind of the man who saved Asuna in the labyrinth
"Well then, let's go straight to the main problem" Diavel continue "First we have to make a raid party, so everyone please form a party"
"Oi!.." Asuna would have asked, but other players started looking for their party players
"If you want, how about joining my party?" The player asks another player "Ok"
"Ah.. You got left out too-" The man said, all players have a party except the two of them "Right! Then you can join my party!" Asuna raised her eyebrow, she doesn't like the idea of the word 'Party' "Um.. You can't join the raid party if you don't form a party first" He explains
"Do what you want" She doesn't have any choice "Do what you want. If you invite me… I will have to accept" Asuna thinks that no one wants to party with her because she is weak and the fact that she is a girl so she might be a burden
"Is.. is that right?" He said while sending her the invitation "I send the invitation.."
"By the way-" Asuna accept the party invitation
"Asuna.." He can see now the name of Asuna
"Before we got here, you told me something, I couldn't hear you clearly over the sound of the wind," Asuna said
"..If both of us live after the Boss battle I'll tell you" He answered
"Are you guys a two-player party" Diavel approached them
"Ah.. Yes" The man said who next to Asuna while she turned her head to other sides
"Sorry! Can you two support the group fighting the kobolds guard?" He bowed his head "It can't be helped since we don't have enough party members" He apologies "When you put it that way, you've been a great help"
"Fighting minions is not simple either; it's also an important role," He said
"Really, but- the princess's guard. As a knight, I'm very jealous" They fist bump
"AHAHAH.. It's an important role, right.." He could feel Asuna's dark aura listening behind them
The chatting of the players can hear in the whole amphitheater
"Then let's end it here. The Boss battle will start two days from now" Diavel informed them "Meet here at 8 in the morning, spending tomorrow resting is fine, team practice is fine, getting along is fine too. Do whatever you want"