CHAPTER 7.1 - Horunka Village

He uses a dagger but Kouki never throw it so fast, this is just the first time that he saw someone throw in fast like that. He just kept watching Asuna while fighting the monsters, he sees potential in Asuna "For sure she will be a good guild member or guild leader in the future.. No, wonder she became famous" The news was spreading that there is a woman using rapier kind of sword and a Beta-Tester man called 'Beater' defeated the 1st-floor monster Illfang, there is no doubt that news refers to Asuna. Of all sword-women, Kouki met she was the best and fastest in terms of using a rapier and now in using daggers

"Hey!.. Kouki-Kun?" He didn't notice that Asuna had been standing in front of him

"Yeah, you're done?" Kouki came out from his hiding place and noticed that all the little nepenthes that had been here was gone "How is the feeling of using daggers in the real battle?"

"It's not that bad. It's lightweight and not difficult to use" Asuna quickly grabbed a dagger and threw it behind Kouki, he turned around and saw the dagger stuck in the monster's forehead "Bullseye.."

***Horunka Village***

After a few hours of walking in the forest, they finally arrived at the Horunka Village. It consists often of buildings including an inn, weapon, shop, and tool shop, so it can serve as a hunting base. In its surrounding forest, there are no monsters that spawn around Horunka that cause paralysis or equipment destruction. There are seven private Non-player character houses, one of which is a two-story building that offers the seven medicine of the forest quest.

"Hey! Kouki-Kun!" They were destructed by the voice of a girl calling Kouki when she got close she quickly hugged the man "You just left here last week and yet you are here again" The girl looks very happy seeing him "You miss me? Admit it!" The girl pouted then diverted her gaze on me "Who is she?.. Don't tell me?.." It looks at her from head to toe. Thinking that Asuna had read what she was thinking she immediately spoke

"I'm not his girlfriend!.." Asuna said

"She's one of your followers?" The girl said. They spoke at the same time "Why do you think I'm thinking that maybe you're Kouki's girlfriend?" The girl raised her eyebrow to Asuna and smirked. Because of embarrassment Asuna's face turned red

"Enough, Liten this is Asuna.." Kouki introduced them to each other "Asuna this is Liten, she's a player too like us" Liten has feminine facial features that make him seem similar to a kokeshi doll. She has topaz and bob-cut orange hair, cut neatly above the brows.

"What are you doing here?" Lited ask them

"I will tell you later, but now we're looking for a place to stay" They follow Liten into an NPC house "Come in; I rent this whole house you can stay here" They seated on the couch, Liten left them and she returns immediately with a cup of tea "Now tell me why you two are here? If you are here for the quest, sorry but it was already completed.. No chance for you guys" Kouki sip the tea

"Were not here for the quest of anneal blade quest.." Kouki returned the tea in its saucer "Were here for the special rare type monster leaving in the Inson Lake"

"What?! Are you really out of your mind?! You know better than anyone that it's just a legend" Asuna dropped the cup of tea when she heard that

"It's just a legend?" The hope she held that the fleuret would still be restored was suddenly gone "I think it is impossible huh?" She bowed her head "My beloved rapier.." Her eyes started waterily, she doesn't like anyone to see her crying but she can't help it

"During the Beta-testing.. I saw it in my own eyes.. That monster.." Kouki approached Asuna and held her on the shoulder "Your rapier will be back.. I promise.. Asuna" Kouki gives an assurance smile to Asuna. This is the first time Asuna saw his face, he removed his cloak and his mask.

Kouki has a slender-looking boy with soft-looking flax-brown, slightly wavy hair, green eyes, and cream color. He is wearing a cloak and inside is unbleached, rough cotton or flax, short-sleeved, light shape cut on the chest, with a black belt and a black trouser, and he has the same sword-like Kirito

He gently wiped tears from Asuna's cheek.

"Ahem!" Liten throws a bad look at Asuna. Kouki returned to his seat and drank his tea "Why do you need to fight that special rare monster?"

"After upgrading my rapier in +6 it destroyed.." Asuna explains "Are you.. Are you two are Beta-Testers?" Yesterday Asuna notices Kouki's strange behavior compared to the first time they met

"Oh, I see, well I guess that was the new penalty" Liten feels sorry for Asuna "Yeah? You didn't know?" Liten looked at Kouki

"Sorry Asuna if I didn't tell you earlier that I'm a beta-tester as you see lots of players don't like us, every time they heard 'Beta-Testers' they became angry.." Kouki looked at Liten who was suddenly changed from her cheerful aura

"They accused us of being deceivers.." You will see the sadness in Liten's eyes "That's the reason why I decided to leave here on the beginner's floor instead of being a front line player"

"Liten-Sama I understand your feelings because I also know two Beta-Testers and I have seen how other players despise them" Asuna remembered how players called Kirito; 'Beater'. And how they called Argo cheater during the fight in the 1st floor Boss "However, they don't let those players destroy them they are still fighting to achieve their goal and that is to clear this death game"

"I can't believe you're still saying that despite losing your rapier.. You are different" Liten smiled "Yosh! I will accompany you there but prepare yourself Asuna-sama because the monsters there was dangerous compared to the boar that you encountered in fields"

"By the way do you know the player who completed the secret medicine of the forest quest? The one who rewarded by the anneal blade.." Kouki ask

"There are only three players who completed the quest first is you, the second one is Ryufior, and the last one.." Liten paused slightly "Hmm, I didn't ask his name but I can describe him, that player has slightly long but neat black hair and black eyes, at first I thought she is a girl because his delicate face showed no trace of masculinity, but he is cute" Liten smiled remembering the man face. Asuna was confused looking around the two of them; she didn't understand what they were talking about.

"We are talking about the quest one's you completed any quest you will receive a reward" Kouki saw the confusion into Asuna's face so he explains "There is only one to three quest here in the first floor what you need to do is to get the medicine from a dangerous plant monster if you succeeded getting the ovules the NPC will give you a anneal blade as an expression of gratitude"

"Means that there are different quests on each floor?"

"Yeah, if you completed the quest you will receive a reward it could be an extra skill, Sword, etc.. You can try it but remind you that you can only do the quest alone and there is a limited person who receives the reward" Liten explains.