"The next target's that party, looks like," Hachiman said.
"Yeah… wait, Kirito, look at that small one. What's that?" Hachiman asked.
"A familiar? Rare sight," Kirito said.
"Now that you mention it, I heard rumors about a dragon tamer. Think her name's Silica," Hachiman said.
Hachiman and Kirito had been closely tracking Rosalia. Days later, they learned she'd set her sights on a new target—a party with Silica, the dragon tamer. Rosalia seemed to be tagging along with them.
"I'll watch the party for now," Kirito said.
"I'll gather intel in town," Hachiman said.
"Contact me if anything happens," Kirito said.
"Got it," Hachiman replied.
Trouble came faster than expected. That day, while Hachiman scouted the nineteenth floor and Kirito monitored the party, an urgent message from Kirito arrived as their hunt likely ended. He needed Hachiman to take over Rosalia's surveillance. Sensing something, Hachiman rushed to the Wandering Woods, spotted Rosalia leaving, and confirmed the handover to Kirito.
Silica's not with the party, Hachiman noted.
He briefly worried she'd been attacked, but the other members seemed fine, occasionally glancing at Rosalia or back with concern. Probably a spat with Rosalia, and they split up. Kirito must be chasing Silica.
Hachiman kept tailing the party. Back in town, he saw Kirito and Silica return from the forest. Rosalia, spotting them, started harassing Silica. Kirito noticed Hachiman, signaled discreetly, said something to Rosalia, and left with Silica. Hachiman continued tracking Rosalia, who muttered angrily while tailing them.
Heard her say she doesn't like that girl. She's pissed enough to say it out loud. Jealousy's worse than I thought, Hachiman noted.
Kirito's message came quickly. As expected, Rosalia and Silica had argued, and Silica left the party. Kirito, alarmed, contacted Hachiman and chased her. He saved Silica just in time, but her dragon familiar died.
It's gone… Kirito knows how to revive it, so it's fine, Hachiman thought.
Kirito planned to escort Silica to the forty-seventh floor tomorrow for a revival item, using the Mirage Sphere to explain the location at their inn. Hachiman saw Rosalia enter the inn, likely to eavesdrop.
Their exchange went like this:
"Kirito, Rosalia just went in. Probably eavesdropping," Hachiman messaged.
"Got it. What's the plan?" Kirito replied.
"Set a trap. Loudly explain the destination, then act like you just noticed something and check outside," Hachiman said.
"Understood," Kirito said.
"Rosalia really hates Silica," Hachiman added.
"Silica's no fan of her either," Kirito said.
"Figures. I'll keep tailing Rosalia and see what she does," Hachiman said.
Rosalia emerged, fiddling with her window, then returned to her base. Hachiman prepared for two scenarios: Rosalia at the ambush site or not.
The next day, Hachiman saw Rosalia leave her forty-seventh-floor base without using the teleport gate, heading out of town. He followed. She met allies behind a rock, out of sight, and moved toward the Hill of Memories.
Found you, Titan's Hand, Hachiman thought, messaging Kirito that Rosalia planned to attack Silica herself.
He continued surveillance. Kirito later confirmed he and Silica had reached the Hill of Memories and were returning. Hachiman spotted Rosalia's group lurking in a wooded area on the route back, likely planning an ambush. He sent Kirito the location. Kirito, confident his level advantage would suffice, told Hachiman to head to the prison area to interrogate Rosalia.
The prison area was a row of cells for isolating criminals. Green players could come and go, but anyone with an orange cursor, even once, was trapped inside. Corridor crystals could lock players in, but their cost and rarity meant no reported cases. Criminals could roam within, with private cells locked by personal authentication for minimal privacy. Meals were provided thrice daily. Green players locking themselves in would be stuck, but it was livable. Harassment calls could restrict players for periods based on the accuser's discretion.
They're here, Hachiman thought.
A corridor opened, and Titan's Hand arrived, unusually docile. Hachiman smirked, messaging Kirito: What'd you do to them?
He approached Rosalia. "First time meeting. I'm Hachiman. Who's your boss?"
Rosalia stayed silent.
"You met Joe, right? He's the mastermind?" Hachiman pressed.
Rosalia lunged. Hachiman sidestepped, circling behind her. She froze, startled by his speed.
"Looking the wrong way. Behind you," Hachiman said.
She spun, attacking again, but Hachiman slipped behind her once more, landing a full-force blow to her back. In the safe zone, no damage registered, but the impact sent her flying meters forward.
"Want to go again?" Hachiman asked.
"Raiders are monsters," Rosalia spat.
"Don't deny it, but Kirito and I are a special breed," Hachiman said.
"Fine, I'll talk. Everything," Rosalia said, her spirit broken, spilling even unprompted details.
Hachiman left her there and exited the prison.
"Kirito, how'd you break them? Everyone but Rosalia was quiet," Hachiman asked.
"Took all their attacks head-on. Didn't dip below my natural recovery. Then I put my sword to Rosalia's throat," Kirito said.
"You just tanked them to flex? You're brutal," Hachiman said.
"She fought back?" Kirito asked.
"Tried to attack, so I dodged twice and blasted her from behind," Hachiman said.
"Merciless," Kirito said.
"The intel's serious. Worse than we thought," Hachiman said.
They met with Argo to share.
"Laughing Coffin?" Kirito asked.
"Their parent guild," Hachiman said.
"Laughing Coffin? Grim name," Argo said.
"Led by a poncho-wearing guy, PoH," Hachiman said.
"PoH? An acronym?" Kirito asked.
"Key-bo, probably the same guy who taught Braves their scam," Argo said.
"The poncho guy from back then," Kirito said.
"Known members are Morte, Joe, and a cadre, XaXa," Hachiman said.
"Those guys from the twenty-fifth floor… Never heard of XaXa," Kirito said.
"A dangerous group's forming," Hachiman said.
"Should I warn major guilds?" Argo asked.
"Do it. Better safe," Hachiman said. "Rosalia said Laughing Coffin's a pure murder guild."
The issue was resolved, but a bigger threat emerged. Laughing Coffin loomed as a future foe. Raiders' views on death had shifted, a potential issue if they returned to reality. If forced to fight and unable to neutralize them, what would Hachiman do? If his friends were at risk… He steeled his resolve.
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