CHAPTER 12.2 - Zumfut

***3rd Floor Living Quarters Zumfut Raid meeting***

"Could you please repeat that?" Asuna asks with a dangerous tone

"Uh, me?" Kibaou and Lind felt scared looking at Asuna "Ehem.. Well, we finally formed a guild here on the third floor, our Dragon Knights Brigade and Kibaou's Liberation Squad" Lind spoke "We are thinking that these two guilds will work as rivals in order to accelerate the clearing of SAO. Therefore, what will be crucial in this relationship is the balance between the two" Lind swallowed hi saliva "In other words, Kirito-San and Asuna-San we want you to disband your party"

"You two are too exceptional even for us here at the frontline" Kibaou said

"Although we are better, for now, to keep the balance in the guilds, we cannot accept both of you in one guild," Lind said

"Ah, well thanks for the compliment but.. Well" Kirito felt that hearing that makes Asuna angry he can feel the dark aura covering Asuna

"Hold on. Does that mean from now, we can no longer join the Boss raids unless we join one of the guilds?" Agil ask

"No. That is not the case" Lind tried to explain

"So the choice of not joining anything exists right?" Kirito said, "That's settled!"

"Hold your horses, which means you aren't got plans in joining anything, I'm right?" Kibaou said and raised his eyebrow

"Kirito-Kun.." Their gaze diverted to Asuna "Do you have a plan to create your own guild?"

"Me? Guild? Eh?" Kirito scratched his head he is now starting to sweat

"Yes. Not Dragon Knight Brigade and Liberation Squad" Asuna ask seriously "The third guild"

"Hey! Now I don't think that's work" Kirito said he didn't imagine being or creating a guild "Besides, It's me you are talking about who would want to join the guild made by the beater?" Kirito look at Asuna who was now looking at him like 'We going to join that guild of yours' look "Eh..?"

"I told you! I said a secret meeting is better" Kibaou whispered to Lind

"Shut up! The only way is to make him swear in front of everyone" Lind said. They are now imagining a guild that Kirito, the best swordsman, Asuna the fastest fencer, and Agil the strongest tank; the third guild

"Nah. It's still doesn't work for me" Kirito smiled "I'm better of soloing, I'll think I remain this way"

"Right. Since you said solo" Lind said and faced Asuna "Asuna-San what do you want to do? We can't take both of you, but if you will join our ranks, I'll be honored"

"Ah, well.." Asuna look at Kirito like 'should I join their guild and leave you' look "Solo huh?" She raised her eyebrow at Kirito

"NO!" All their attention turned to Kirito

"Says the guy" Agil laugh "The couple player will stick together HAHA"

"Shot the Bullshit," Kibaou said looking at Kirito and Asuna.

Kibaou and Lind tried to convince Asuna to join their guild, while Kirito was thinking that Asuna should choose the guild that can help to enhance her skill and none of those two guilds can do that, not even on his side

***Forest of the Wavering Mists***

It's been two days ago since the raid meeting, Kirito now is standing while watching Asuna's defeat the Forest elf

"You know, you could at least draw your sword" Asuna shouted at him the whole fight Kirito stood up there watching her fight alone "Are you worried about something Kirito-Kun?" Asuna look at him in suspicious

Two days ago they made an appearance at the strategy meeting, after that, they returned to the Dark elf Camp to continue the quest. They are already done in the third quest it was the flower offering, where they need to fight some monster plant and offer it to the dark elves who died in the battle. The fourth was 'Emergency orders' and so there are now escorting rescued Dark elf scout. However, Kirito was already running this quest in the Beta he know that the Dark elf that they rescue is an enemy spy under disguise.

"Stay strong! We're almost there" Asuna said to the elf that they rescue, Kirito didn't say that the elf was a spy

"I'd hate to spoil a good story" He sight and followed them back to the camp

***Dark Elf Camp***

When they back to the camp the disguised elf expose his ruse and stole back the jade key. However, Asuna chased him in the forest. Kirito did not follow her

"You tricked me!" Asuna dash and attack the disguised elf making a linear and it becomes fragments "That's what will happen if someone tried to trick me" She started to walk back to the camp

Asuna heard something hiding in the trees near her "Monster?.. No?" Someone suddenly fell from the broken branch of the tree near where she was standing

"Ouch! That's hurt" Asuna look at the man who was wearing a hooded cloak so Asuna can't see his face however based on the clothes that the player wore; it's a man "Woah! You're Asuna-San?! The fastest Fencer player" The man approach Asuna "I'm a fan of yours"

He was a thin man wearing a dark grayscale mail that was not metallic but had close-fitting scales that clung to his torso and gleamed wetly. He also wore gloves and boots of the same material and had a chain mail coif dangling from his head to his shoulders. The border of the metal hood was torn and ragged, with tendrils of chain that hung down like locks of hair. His weapon was a one-handed ax and a round shield.

"Uhm, Yeah? HE-HE" Asuna said, she doesn't know what to say

"I hear that you were dating the strongest swordsman in the front line," The man said "What they did call him? Um.. Ah! The beater!" The man smiled "Ah you make a good team but if I had to guess.." The man smiled wickedly "I'd say he is the one adjusting to you, lot of players saw the both of you" Asuna stiff after hearing that "So you're aware of this, well it good that you know" Asuna bowed her head realizing that the man was right "The fact that you can do whatever crazy thing you feel like.." The man whisper in her ears "Is because you have a protector watching your back, I feel pity for him" The man laughs "That swordsman was talented, I'm just wondering why he keeps a newbie in his side. What do you think is the reason Asuna-San?" The man started to walk away "Don't think that you are a burden to him HAHA"

Asuna has returned to the camp but she is not in her self until they decided to go to their sleep. She turned to Kirito who was now sleeping soundly on her side "hey, Kirito-Kun.. I'm a burden to you?" She asks the sleeping Kirito. She remembered what he said when they attended the raid meeting two days ago 'I'm better of soloing, I'll think I remain this way' that's what he say. Asuna closed her eyes thinking that after chapter six of the quest she will disband their party. After a few minutes, Asuna felt Kirito stand up and come out of their tent, because of her curiosity she followed him using her hiding skills so Kirito won't notice her.

Kirito equipped his sword and started to walk outside the camp, kirito heard a rustle "A mob? No, it's a player. Show yourself!" Kirito shouted