Kirito led Ren through the small alleys until they stood before a low-slung tavern, tucked away on the village's edge, a place so discreet that without intimate knowledge of every nook and cranny of Mananarena, hardly anyone would realize it existed.
Ren observed the dusty, worn wooden signs. The dark door seemed to sink into the shadow of the wall.
A secluded spot. Infrequently visited. Perfect for meetings that shouldn't be seen.
Kirito placed his hand on the doorknob, paused for a beat before pushing it open decisively.
"It seems… we arrived earlier than expected," he said, his voice instinctively dropping. "It will be quite a long wait before we have enough people for a Boss conquest."
Ren nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the small, dusty windows, as if assessing the space inside.
"While we wait," Kirito continued, "let's take our time to eat and drink. And… I'll also introduce you to a few trustworthy people."
For a fleeting moment, the corner of his mouth curved into a barely visible smile. "Trust me, the sandwiches here are so good I even wanted to come back a second and third time."
Kirito pushed the door open; the hinges squeaked softly, releasing a rush of warmth and a faint smell of baked bread.
He didn't truly know what Ren liked; perhaps Ren was like him, accustomed to acting alone, quietly and reservedly. But there was one thing Kirito had noticed through their times together in companionship and combat.
Ren always had… an unexpected interest in food.
A very strange feeling. It contrasted sharply with the coldness he usually showed when they first met, and was unlike the overly open attitude Ren had towards his acquaintances.
Kirito lifted his head, as if to confirm Ren was indeed walking right behind him.
But what he saw… was only his own face, blurred and slightly distorted through the dark reflection of the Onyx visor.
Ren had put on his helmet at some point. No sound. No warning. Just a slight turn of his neck and the tightly sealed armor obscuring his entire expression.
Kirito froze for half a second. A look of confusion, mixed with slight dissatisfaction and awkwardness, his pitch-black eyes widening as he glanced at Ren.
Ren merely shrugged. A small movement, his armored shoulder shifting stiffly. No explanation. No words. He didn't even breathe heavier than usual.
Kirito sighed inwardly.
He was never the type to ask too deeply into other people's affairs. What kind of equipment, what kind of fighting style… whoever liked it used it, whoever suited it wore it. He understood that.
But on the other hand.
Kirito glanced at Ren again, his eyes lingering, scanning Ren from head to toe.
The deep black Onyx armor, smooth as polished stone, matched Ren's every movement eerily. No gaps. No superfluous details. The midday sun falling on the armor's surface only created a thin, knife-like streak of light.
Beautiful.
And so cool… it was hard not to feel jealous.
Kirito pursed his lips.
'Who wouldn't want to own armor like that…' he muttered to himself.
Ren continued his steady pace. He didn't look back; it seemed he hadn't noticed the gaze. Or if he had… he didn't bother to care. The sturdy Onyx armor reflected the dull, greasy yellow light of the tavern, blending with the heat from the grill to form a thin aura, isolating him from the surroundings.
Ren's gaze slowly swept across the space. Nearly half the tables were full, the whispers, the clinking of glasses, the scraping of chairs forming a noisy but vague current of sound.
But the moment Ren and Kirito crossed the threshold, that current seemed to freeze.
A few conversations stalled. All eyes, including curiosity, scrutiny, and sometimes even uneasy reserve, focused on the two. They lingered on Ren's black armor longer, before hastily retreating like a swarm of insects that didn't want to be discovered.
Ren, calm as a statue, assessed each face, each group pretending to be engrossed in their drinks.
In the left corner, Agil and a few comrades were seated, his burly figure obscuring half the ceiling light. When Ren's eyes reached him, Agil recognized him and subtly raised his mug in a brief gesture of respect. Ren responded with a curt nod, then continued walking through the tense atmosphere.
"Here! Over heeeere!"
A familiar, high-pitched, and completely unreserved voice popped up, causing Kirito to flinch slightly. A small figure shot up from the middle of the crowd, a brown cloak catching the eye, short brownish-blonde hair, and eyes gleeful as if she had just caught a sensational rumor.
Argo didn't bother to go around. She hopped straight onto the table, standing upright with absolute confidence, waving continuously toward Ren and Kirito, as if this entire noisy tavern were merely a launching pad for her grand entrance.
"Let's go, they're probably waiting for us," Kirito said, his eyes still swiftly scanning around Argo, as if amidst the noisy crowd, he was trying to find a familiar and necessary figure.
Ren simply nodded, no need to ask further. He followed Kirito, coldly navigating through the packed rows of tables of players. The chatter, the clatter of dishes, the smell of baked goods, all blended into a dull, meaningless layer of noise around his black armor.
Finally, the two stopped right at Argo's spot. She was still standing proudly on the table, treating it as her undeniable territory.
The table was nearly full. Kirito only needed a quick glance to find Asuna. She was leaning over, talking to someone. A sharp light flashed in Kirito's eyes, fleeting, but enough for Ren to notice. He pulled out a chair and sat down almost immediately.
Ren slowly pulled out the last empty chair. The Onyx armor brushed against the chair back, emitting a dry, light metallic sound, enough to draw attention. He scanned the table: besides Kirito, Asuna, and Argo, there were four others.
Asuna was conversing with a girl in a pure white cloak, her milk-tea brown hair draped over her shoulder. It could only be Yuna. Her expression was gentle, radiant, creating a complete contrast with the tavern's chaotic atmosphere. Next to Yuna was Nautilus, looking so calm he was almost expressionless, as if he was here more to observe than to participate.
Next was Shivata, sitting upright and reserved as always. And at the end of the table, a man in a knight's steel armor, covered from head to toe, revealing no skin. The gray steel under the oil lamp only enhanced his distant and mysterious appearance.
Ren subtly felt the weight of a few gazes directed at him and automatically dispersing. He sat up straight, silent, like a static mass of shadow that had just inserted itself into the center of the crowded table. No expression. No reaction. No expectation of welcome.
But the atmosphere had changed, tangibly. Ren's presence was like an invisible pressure, forcing others to adjust their breathing or speaking pace before continuing their interrupted conversation.
Everyone almost simultaneously turned to Ren, but their eyes were directed at Kirito, sharing the unspoken question: Who is this person?
Kirito let out a short sigh, shrugging, acknowledging that this reaction was entirely justified. Since the day he donned that tightly sealed Onyx armor, Ren had not reappeared on the front lines. With this outfit… who could recognize him?
"Ah… um… this is Ren. Everyone already knows him," Kirito said, his voice slightly awkward, then quickly shifted focus by glancing around the table. Finally, his gaze settled on the Steel Knight at the end. "And… let me introduce the last person to you. Liten. She's the representative from ALS. And Shivata is the representative from the Dragon Knights Brigade."
Ren clearly felt a wave of glances sweeping over him, most of them coming from Yuna and Nautilus; it had been a while since they parted ways, and Ren knew his two friends had a lot they wanted to say.
But his entire attention, at this moment, suddenly focused on a single detail.
"She?"
He flinched slightly. If Kirito hadn't misspoken. Liten… the person in that heavy, tightly sealed steel armor, turned out to be a woman.
As if recognizing Ren's scrutinizing gaze mixed with curiosity, Liten gently raised her hand. A system window popped up in front of her; a few quick maneuvers. Then the heavy helmet suddenly disintegrated into pieces of golden light, vanishing without a trace.
Her face was revealed, small, delicate, and surprisingly feminine. Her face was like a Kokeshi wooden doll, but with sharper features. Her topaz eyes were bright and calm, almost emotionless. Her orange-brown hair was neatly cut just above her eyebrows, leaving her entire face bare, unconcealed.
The contrast was strangely striking: the massive, heavy, battle-worn steel armor embracing a small figure, topped by a young and composed face. On her back, her long, rough mace remained still, a silent reminder: regardless of appearance… this was still a player capable of shattering a miniboss's bones with a single strike.
Ren tilted his head slightly, not uttering a word. But in his eyes, a layer of silent, swift assessment had just begun. Liten simply looked back at him. Her gaze held little emotion, responding only with a small, precise nod.
The thin, delicate tension between Ren and Liten momentarily appeared, then was immediately swallowed by the tavern's incessant noise.
Just then, Ren proactively broke the silence. He extended his hand, a surprisingly polite gesture contrasting with his cold exterior.
"My name is Ren, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Liten smiled gently, a fleeting smile, completely different from her emotionless battle face, then reached out and took his hand.
"I'm Liten. I know you, Ren. Shivata and Kibaou often mention you."