Aincrad, Floor 1, Town of Beginnings
Under the influence of Morin, the butterfly that had stirred up countless changes, the original storyline of SAO had long since deviated. The Town of Beginnings, which in the original story was left only with players waiting for rescue after the initial chaos, had transformed a year ago when the clearing of Aincrad truly began. It was proposed by Star Flame to establish the Town of Beginnings as a comprehensive administrative center for various guilds.
Thanks to the proactive efforts of the Star Flame guild, the Town of Beginnings and the entire first floor were no longer places where players idly waited for salvation. Even younger and less experienced players had been integrated into the comprehensive management system. Although the rewards were modest, by completing logistical management tasks and earning a small amount of Cor, they could at least afford basic food and lodging without any real hardship. Moreover, major guilds such as Star Flame, the Knights of the Blood Oath, and the Aincrad Liberation Force maintained permanent personnel on the first floor, ensuring both safety and the prosperity of the Town of Beginnings.
In the central plaza, Morin and his group had just materialized through teleportation, immediately attracting the attention of the many players scattered around. Recognizing the figures who had arrived, voices quickly rose among the crowd.
"Look over there"
"Is that the Star Flame guild's team"
"It is more than that. That is Morin, the leader of Star Flame, and their elite squad"
"And the Black Swordsman"
As Morin and his team moved across the plaza, players began exclaiming one after another in excitement and awe.
If clearing all one hundred floors and escaping this death game was the primary concern of all players in SAO, then the various clearing guilds were like the member states of the United Nations in the real world. The reputation of Star Flame among players could be compared to the influence of the Security Council, and much like how even the most remote places on Earth had heard of the United Nations, the players of Aincrad knew Star Flame's name.
Especially Asuna's title, the "Black Swordsman," which had been widely spread by the players themselves. Wearing her black cloak and elegant female-style armor, Asuna caught the eyes of many players who even began cheering softly, gazing at her like she was a celebrity stepping onto the red carpet.
"Asuna, it seems you have quite a few fans," Morin said teasingly, gently taking Asuna's hand.
"Hmph. I am not one of those celebrities..." Asuna replied, her beautiful face flushed pink. She struggled slightly to free her hand from Morin's, but her tone carried more shyness than protest.
It was obvious to anyone watching that Asuna was simply acting spoiled.
"Hehe, the name Black Swordsman is even more famous than any real world celebrity here," Morin chuckled, narrowing his eyes slightly as he placed a hand lightly on Asuna's waist.
Seeing their guild leader and vice leader openly flirting like this, members of the Star Flame elite squad and many nearby players were bombarded with the figurative dog food of their public affection. Some male players looked on with envy and jealousy, while a few female players whispered among themselves, casting glances between Morin and Asuna.
Still, even with their shamelessly intimate behavior, there was no one foolish enough to act like members of the fictional FFF group, screaming "Burn them" and causing a scene. Most players could only stew in envy, silently wishing they had Morin's luck in winning over the heart of the famed Black Swordsman.
Just as Morin and his group were about to leave the plaza, several teleportation lights flashed nearby, and a new group of players appeared.
"Eh Kirito, Klein, you guys just returned too" Morin called out, recognizing the familiar figures.
"Eh Guild Leader Morin What a coincidence" Klein grinned, waving cheerfully.
"Hello Guild Leader Morin And Miss Asuna..." Kirito added with a polite nod.
The relationship between the Fuurinkazan guild and Star Flame was a good one. Klein had always maintained friendly interguild relations, and Kirito, who had once struggled with the loneliness of being a solo player and the label of beater, had now registered under Fuurinkazan. He was not the cold and isolated figure he could have become.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Morin noticed that Kirito's expression seemed a little heavy, and behind him, the timid figure of a girl, who should be Sachi, clung nervously.
"Speaking of which, what were you guys doing just now" Morin asked, glancing curiously at Klein.
"Oh right. Remember how we discussed at the last guild meeting that we needed to strengthen order management Well, we discovered that someone had started a so called killer guild here in Aincrad. They call themselves Laughing Coffin," Klein explained, his voice carrying a mix of anger and disbelief. He pointed at a restrained player being guarded by their group.
"I really do not get it. Not helping clear the game is one thing, but creating some self destructive murder guild... They killed the leader of a small guild recently. So we moved in and wiped out this batch of lunatics"
"Laughing Coffin huh..." Morin murmured thoughtfully.
Asuna noticed his strange expression and gave him a curious glance, but chose not to ask immediately.
Morin, however, was very aware of the significance. In the original timeline of Sword Art Online, Laughing Coffin and its members would become major villainous forces, even influencing events long after the game was over. He remembered that several of its members went on to appear in later arcs like Phantom Bullet.
Now, because of the butterfly effect he had stirred, Laughing Coffin had been dismantled before it could even take root. And Sachi, who in the original story had tragically died, was still alive, walking nervously beside Kirito.
It was fascinating to see how much had changed.
---
After parting ways with Fuurinkazan, Morin and his group walked leisurely toward the Star Flame guild's residential district on the first floor. Once the others had spread out or gone off on errands, Asuna finally leaned close and asked quietly.
"Morin, about that Laughing Coffin matter earlier..."
"It is nothing serious," Morin said with a gentle shake of his head, brushing it off with vague words. He smiled and wrapped his arm around Asuna's waist, whispering, "Let us not think about unpleasant things. How about we go back and get some rest"
"Morin... not here... this is the guild's public area..." Asuna stammered, her cheeks turning crimson.
Despite her protests, Morin kept holding her close, ignoring the envious and admiring stares from their guild members as they disappeared toward their residence.
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Need More Chapters
Every 500 Power Stones
1 Bonus chapter.
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Try Other Fics I Have
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