Three months after Lisbeth's house-buying declaration, with Hachiman and Asuna's help, she finally saved enough Col. True to her nature, she forgot about interior costs, forcing her to borrow a hefty sum from Hachiman.
"Got a name for the shop?" Hachiman asked.
"Lisbeth's Weapon Shop. Simple," Lisbeth said.
"Fits you perfectly," Asuna said.
"What's left to do?" Hachiman asked.
"Need more stock materials," Lisbeth said.
"Let's go gather some," Hachiman offered.
"Thanks!" Lisbeth beamed.
With everything set, opening day arrived. Without heavy promotion, the shop saw a steady start—KoB members via Asuna's connections and Lisbeth's stall regulars stopped by. With Hachiman supplying materials cheaply, the shop's future looked bright.
Days later, Egil contacted Hachiman with a rare request for advice. Hachiman headed to his stall.
"Sorry to drag you out," Egil said.
"No big deal," Hachiman said.
"Liz opened her shop, right? Got me thinking I want one too," Egil said.
"Makes sense," Hachiman said.
"I've got some locations in mind. Want your take on them," Egil said.
"Not sure how much I can help, but I'm in," Hachiman said.
"Thanks, man," Egil said.
They toured several spots, settling on a room in a building in Algade, the fiftieth floor's main town, over a player house.
"Got the funds?" Hachiman asked.
"Planned for a house, so this is affordable," Egil said.
"Two friends opening shops back-to-back. Feels kinda big," Hachiman said.
"Crafters are stepping up, supporting the frontline," Egil said.
"I've got some concerns, though," Hachiman said.
"Like what?" Egil asked.
"More players might start thinking it's fine to stay here forever," Hachiman said.
"…Yeah, especially lower-floor folks," Egil agreed.
"If this world lasted forever, that'd be an option. But…" Hachiman's expression darkened.
"What's up?" Egil asked.
"What do you think's happening to our bodies in the real world?" Hachiman asked.
"Probably in hospitals, kept alive," Egil said.
"Right. But if someone's bedridden, fed only by IV, what happens long-term?" Hachiman asked.
"They'd… deteriorate," Egil said.
"Exactly. This world has a time limit. We're not just minds," Hachiman said.
"So, clear it fast, or we all die," Egil said.
"Worse, some might snap, realize this, and start killing players indiscriminately. Others might just enjoy it," Hachiman said.
"Got it…" Egil said.
"Sorry, got heavy," Hachiman said.
"Nah, I needed the reminder. Thanks," Egil said.
"All we can do is keep raiding," Hachiman said.
"Yeah," Egil agreed.
"Good luck with the shop. Call if you need me," Hachiman said.
"Thanks, Hachiman!" Egil called as Hachiman waved and headed home.
Raids resumed, and months later, the frontline reached the fifty-eighth floor. After a day's raiding, Hachiman relaxed at home when Argo messaged him about an incident requiring help. Apparently, PKs were spiking in the thirties floors.
"My guess? Organized," Argo said.
"Evidence?" Hachiman asked.
"Multiple victims per attack," Argo said.
Hachiman pondered. "So, a group ambushing?"
"Pretty much," Argo said.
"But party-versus-party fights shouldn't kill so easily. Sounds more like someone like me or Kirito wiping out a whole group," Hachiman said.
"Even in mid-tiers, only a few Raiders could pull that off," Argo said.
"Unlikely, then," Hachiman said.
"Yup," Argo said.
Hachiman thought again, then smirked. "So, even if it's a slim chance, someone could do it. Kirito's the culprit. Let's arrest him."
"Haa-bo…" Argo sighed.
"Kidding. Any patterns in the incidents?" Hachiman asked.
"One person keeps surviving," Argo said.
"A decoy," Hachiman said.
"Maybe luring victims to ambush spots," Argo said.
"Track them?" Hachiman asked.
"That's the starting point," Argo said.
"Who are they?" Hachiman asked.
"Rosalia. Your least favorite type," Argo said.
"My least favorite, huh? I'll look into it," Hachiman said.
"Thanks," Argo said.
Hachiman began investigating and soon spotted Rosalia. His observations confirmed Argo's warning.
Confident and jealous. Definitely my least favorite type.
He tailed her, noting her base in the forty-seventh floor.
Too obvious. Screaming 'I'm a normal player who loves this place,' Hachiman thought.
He kept watch. One day, Rosalia left her house, face hidden by a hood. Sensing a lead, Hachiman followed her to the nineteenth floor, where she met Joe—long missing and tied to the conspiracy.
Gotcha. She's with them, Hachiman thought, certain Rosalia was part of the PK group.
Rosalia had been cozying up to a guild called Silver Flags, hunting with them multiple times without incident. Hachiman monitored her relentlessly, but today she stayed put. Then Argo sent an urgent message: Silver Flags had been wiped out, except their leader.
Rosalia hasn't moved today, Hachiman thought.
"Argo, what happened?" he asked.
"Talked to the surviving leader. Rosalia gave them good hunting spots. One was an ambush. The others were legit, so they didn't suspect. No hard proof, but someone was waiting," Argo said.
"Damn, I should've watched the spots, not her. My bad," Hachiman said.
"My miss too. Next move," Argo said.
"Got one?" Hachiman asked.
"Yo, Hachiman. Heard everything," Kirito said, joining the call.
"Kirito…" Hachiman said.
"Haa-bo keeps tracking Rosalia. I'll send Key-bo to the sites. No more attacks," Argo said.
"Kirito, I—" Hachiman started.
"Don't carry it all alone. Together, we're unstoppable, right?" Kirito said.
"Yeah… Kirito, lend me your strength," Hachiman said.
"The leader's at the fifty-first floor with a corridor crystal, demanding they be jailed," Argo said.
"Jailed, not killed," Hachiman noted.
"Must be dying to kill them, yet he's holding back. That leader's something," Argo said.
"Let's take that request, Kirito," Hachiman said.
"Yeah. Argo, got their guild name?" Kirito asked.
"Orange guild, Titan's Hand," Argo said.
"We'll crush Titan's Hand together," Kirito said.
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