Chapter Text
"On the 37th Floor, deep in the «Gelapp Forest», lies a tree with blood-red leaves and ashen bark. Its strange visage has attracted many a Player, but they all come back saying the same thing. There's something Evil about that tree. Something terribly wicked.
There are a lot of things wrong with it; From the way none of the NPCs even acknowledge it, to how monsters refuse to even come near it. But the creepiest part of all, are the voices. An unnerving sea of voices calling out to any Player that gets too close by their name, begging for help.
Rumour has it that the tree is the resting place for deceased Players, their souls forever trapped within SAO! And so they remain, calling from beyond the grave to be freed from their suffering!"
Kirito rolls his eyes, clearly unimpressed. "I've heard scarier ghost stories."
"Oi, oi, you don't believe me, Kii-bou?" Argo gasps exaggeratedly. "I'll have you know, I research all my intel with a fine-tooth comb!"
"A comb I bankrolled..." Kirito didn't even try to hide his disdain for the greedy Rat. "And come on, an evil tree? Dead players? What next, the grim reaper?"
A pause. Knowing how Argo rolled, she probably does have some intel on an actual grim reaper boss; She didn't need him to hand her extra ammo.
"A-Anyways, those players probably just activated a voice recording in an unmarked safe zone!"
"Umm..."
The two players turned toward the third member of their party, long forgotten in the midst of their argument. Silica squeezed her pet Pina in a bone crushing hug. From her shivering body, pale face, and shrunken eyes, it was obvious that she had bought Argo's story hook, line, and sinker.
Seeing their eyes on her, Silica quickly tried to cover up her fear. She was a mature woman! An adult! A little ghost story wasn't going to freak her out!
... Much.
"Y-Yeah! There's no such thing as g-ghosts!" Silica announced proudly, though it sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than anything.
While Kirito found Silica's actions cute and... somewhat pitiful, he knew it only made her a bigger mark in Argo's eyes. But he wasn't completely blameless either. He was partially at fault for Silica even getting caught up in Argo's scheme...
It all started when Silica told him she wanted to be a Clearer.
She's trained a lot since the last time they met. So much so that she wanted to formally apply for the position by beating a local Field Boss. Kirito then had to gently explain to her that, no, you didn't have to apply to be a Clearer and no, he had no authority to even approve her application either. That would fall under Heathcliff and Asuna's jurisdiction, neither of whom Kirito was on speaking terms with.
Silica's disappointment aside, Kirito was still open to joining her on a Field Boss hunt. This was more than enough to cheer the young girl up. Kirito still had some hang-ups about watching newcomers try to fight bosses, but he came out of the fight really impressed by Silica's performance. She managed to match his skills quite well, and even prompted a few Switches herself. If there really was an application for joining the Clearers, Kirito would have approved her on the spot.
As a reward for Silica's growth, Kirito offered to treat Silica to dinner using the reward money from the boss fight. It was rightfully hers, after all, even if Kirito was the one to land the Last Attack Bonus. This was a rarity. Kirito never initiated anything if he could get away with it. So him being the one to invite Silica to dinner? It was basically a dream come true! With an excited squeal, she gleefully accepted Kirito's offer.
Enter — the Rat.
When the duo sat down in a fancy restaurant, stomachs grumbling from their talks on what they would eat, Argo appeared before them with nary a sound. She was like a ghost, a phantom that brought nothing but trouble. And on her face was her trademark «Business Smile». The same smile that had robbed Kirito of millions of Col throughout his time in Aincrad.
Oh, how he hated that smile.
Before Kirito even had the chance to drag Silica away, the information broker started talking. And just like that, Kirito lost. Argo's sweet words and charming demeanour were impossible to ignore, especially for someone who had never met the Rat before, like Silica.
Giving his oldest friend(?) a mean look, Kirito dared her to try and swindle money off of a poor, innocent child. Argo smiled back.
"Yeah, the story's obviously a load of bull," Argo nodded sagely. "It's why a lot of people didn't want to pay up after they heard it. They couldn't believe that something so ludicrous would cost 100,000 Col!"
"Oh right, the cost!" Silica gasped. Pulling up her menu screen, she started rifling through her tabs as she tried to get a trade started. Her face soured as she looked at her remaining balance. "Sorry, I don't have much money on me right now, but-"
"I'll pay," Kirito interjected. His finger was already hovering over a trade window for 100,000 Col.
Looking up at her older brother figure, Silica couldn't help but admire him. To Silica, Kirito was nothing but selfless and kind, a gentleman who didn't want a lady to trouble herself. He was everything she loved in a man, and then some.
But the internal war Kirito and Argo were having told another story.
'You planned this,' Kirito's eye twitch accused Argo.
'What are you talking about?' Argo's wicked smile replied. 'Were you really going to let poor old Silica pay when you know you're far richer than she'll ever be?'
'You're a monster, you know that?'
'Au contraire. I'm a rat.'
Gritting his teeth as he accepted the trade, Argo thanked Kirito for his generosity.
Kirito really hated that smile.
"Now that you're done with your... 'intel', we're gonna go back to ordering," Kirito sighed. Dealing with Argo was always a tiring endeavour, but they were at least done with her.
"Aww, Kii-bou, you shouldn't have!" Argo's smile beamed like a summer heatwave. Hovering her hand over the restaurant's menu, she tapped on one of the options and accepted the order prompt. "I'll have the «Flame Roasted Chicking»~"
"We're paying separate bills." Kirito answered matter-of-factly.
"Even poor Silica?"
Kirito raised an eyebrow. "I invited Silica to lunch; of course I'm going to pay for her meal."
"Only paying for one girl's meal? What kind of gentleman are you? If these are the kinds of manners you're teaching Silica, I don't think you two should see each other anymore!"
"But I'm not... You're just...! What are you even trying to say?!"
Kirito was completely flabbergasted by Argo's implications. This is the first time the two of them have even met! Who was she to decide who Silica associates with? He quickly turned to Silica, looking for someone, anyone, who was in his corner.
"Silica, back me up here!"
One look at Silica's heavenly smile, however, and Kirito immediately understood what Argo's plan was.
"It's okay, Kirito," Silica flashed Kirito a smile, warm and innocent like a child going to her first day of school. "I can pay for my own meal too!"
Kirito absolutely hated that smile.
Groaning, Kirito rubbed the bridge of his nose as he mentally calculated how much money he'd be spending today. "It's alright, I'll pay for Argo's portion too."
"See? Was that so hard?"
Kirito refused to respond to Argo's question. He knew that whatever he said would be his downfall. She'll always find a way to turn things around in her favour, after all. Giving her less ammunition to work with was a very big priority for Kirito when interacting with the Rat.
"So as I was saying, I'll have the «Fire Roasted Chicking», the «Almondo Soup», the «Golden Mooncheese Fondue»-"
"Alright, that's enough out of you," Kirito grabbed the menu out of Argo's hand, earning a surprised shout from the information broker.
"Are you really gonna let a girl starve?!" she got off her chair, wiggling her fingers as she got ready to tackle the Black Swordsman for her menu.
"Maybe you should start considering a diet!"
Something in Argo just snapped, and she pounced. The bewildered swordsman fought back, holding the smaller girl at bay as he held the restaurant menu just out of arm's reach from her. Unfortunately for Kirito, it was a losing battle. Argo was just too quick for him, deftly dodging his attempts at restraining her as she added another dessert to the pile.
As they continued to fight over their orders, Silica watched the scene in amusement. The two of them sure were close. She's never seen Kirito act so animated around... well, anyone! Sighing, she wondered if she could have a relationship like that with Kirito one day...
With the sound of Kirito and Argo's bickering as background music, Silica's mind wandered as she slowly flipped through the restaurant's many menu items. It wasn't every day Silica got to eat at such a fancy establishment, and she wanted to make her order count! But what should she get? Everything looked so good!
There was the «Blue Cheese Clawbster», made from the stainless steel «Clawbsters» fished on the oceanic 25th Floor. Maybe she could try something light like the «Koro Koro Coronet», made by squeezing the juice out of roasted «Koro Monsters». Ahh, but she wanted to try the «Cherry Bombolone» too! Harvesting the sentient «Elder Elk's» explosive cherries is really hard, especially since they're only found on-
'On the 37th Floor, deep in the «Gelapp Forest», lies a tree with blood-red leaves and ashen bark.'
Silica blinked, shaking the thought out of her head. No, she was not going to think about that! It was fake, just like Kirito said. There's no such thing as ghosts!
...But what if there were?
She shook her head violently, pressing her nose up against the menu to avoid thinking such a horrifying thought. Think of the food, the food! «Oopa Loopers», rings of «Immortl Axolotl» tails coated in golden flour? A great appetiser! «Buttered Horn», a carefully carved «Atlas Beetle» horn basted in «Chickow» butter! Mouth watering! «Ghost Chop», a phantasmal meal made from «Soul Reaper»-
'Rumour has it that the tree is the resting place for deceased Players, their souls forever trapped within SAO!'
"Silica, you ready to order?"
"H-HAI!" Silica shot up from her chair before covering her mouth and shyly sitting down again. "I'll have the Mountain Ghos-GOAT! «Mountain Goat Steak»!"
Taken aback by Silica's sudden outburst, Kirito knew that there was only one person at fault for leaving the poor girl so distracted. Shooting Argo an annoyed glare, he noted that the girl had an apologetic expression on her face. She clapped her hands together and whispered a quick apology.
Good to know she still has a conscience.
"If it makes you feel any better, I'll go investigate the rumour tomorrow," Kirito sighed. He really didn't want to give this whole ghost business any more thought, but it was the best idea he could think of to ease Silica's worries. "Who knows? It might be the starting point for a new Quest."
Silica poked her head above the menu. "You will?"
"Absolutely," he reassured her.
"Well, ain't that just sweet," Argo grinned, resting her head on her hand. "Tell me if you find anything fun, Kii-bou!"
"So you can fleece more kids for money?"
"So I can impart hard-earned life lessons about disbelief~" Argo waved him off as she leaned back on her chair, resting her feet on the table. She turned to Silica. "What about you, Silicchi? You gonna join Kii-bou's little scavenger hunt too?"
Silica looked down at her feet, trying to find the courage to respond. Sure, going on an adventure with Kirito was always a fun time, but... No, she can't be scared! This opportunity doesn't come every day! If she doesn't go on this adventure today, Kirito will just invite someone else instead! Like Lisbeth, or Asuna!
"I'll do it!" Silica proudly announced.
"Really?" Kirito sounded incredulous. "You know you don't have to force yourself if you-"
"I'll do it!" Silica repeated one more time, giving poor Pina another tight squeeze. He squeaked like a dog toy.
Argo just grinned at Silica's resolve. "Atta girl! You go have fun hunting those dead Players~"
As Kirito was about to shoot the information broker another glare, an NPC waitress appeared from the kitchen holding a tray of food. Kirito grumbled, reining in his anger for after the meal. It was hard to get mad over food.
"Excuse me, who ordered the «Golden Mooncheese Fondue»?" the waitress asked, more as a formality than anything else.
"... Argo!"
Argo cackled as she took a large spoonful of her dinner, letting out a girly squeal as the sweet snack melted in her mouth. While Kirito was furious that she had successfully robbed him in broad daylight, Silica just laughed along at the duo's antics. As much as she was disappointed that her lunch date with Kirito was ruined, she was much happier that Argo had set up a date for them instead. Sure, she would have preferred it if they weren't going to visit a demonic tree that ate people, but it was the thought that counts!
"Ehehe... Thank you," Silica whispered to Argo.
Argo winked back, stuffing another spoonful of fondue into her mouth. It was all in a day's work for the Rat.