March 20, 2023. 4:56 PM — Flooded Catacombs, Floor 25

  The combined group—Veget's party and Klein's—kept pushing through the tunnels, mapping the unmarked sections of the catacombs. After the fight with the Drowned Sentinels, they moved with far more caution. The corridors weren't wide, which made it hard to deal with slow enemies that hit like trucks.

  In some tunnels, they ran into Wet Rats the size of full-grown dogs. They weren't especially strong, but everyone knew what a nest could mean: a panicked retreat... or worse.

  That was when they reached a strange fork.

  Something felt off, even though no one could point to exactly what.

  Yuiha studied the area with tightly controlled calm—until something tripped her instincts. The torchlight didn't look natural. The shadows were perfectly outlined on the walls and ceiling.

  She frowned.

  The lighting engine had been updated before the open beta. There was no way light errors like this should still exist.

  —I don't know why, but this path gives me a bad feeling —Miwa said.

  —I don't see anything weird —Issin shot back.

  —I agree with her —HappyGoose added.

  —You always agree with her —Veget snapped, exhausted.

  Silver noticed Yuiha's expression and moved closer, whispering near her ear.

  —Something wrong?

  —The shadows —she answered.

  —What about them?

  —They're perfect.

  —So?

  —Look at the shadows in the previous hallway.

  Silver turned and studied the uneven, broken shadows behind them. Then he looked back at the new corridor and finally saw the difference.

  —And that's bad?

  —It shouldn't happen. If they look like that, there could be an enemy or hidden mechanism affecting the lighting. Or...

  —Or...?

  —Or this area has some kind of bug. And that's a lot more dangerous.

  Silver nodded and stepped toward the center of the group.

  —There's something wrong with the shadows in that corridor. They're perfect—while the rest of the catacombs have irregular shadows.

  Everyone looked around and spotted the difference.

  Miwa watched him with an amused smile.

  —And you noticed that all by yourself?

  Silver said nothing.

  —I'll bet Yu-tan noticed, and you stole the credit —she went on, teasing.

  He tried to smile, but the members of FuuRinKaZan were already starting to lose patience.

  —Are we really going to miss a chance at a treasure room because of some lighting effects? —Dynamm asked Klein.

  The samurai leader glanced at Veget, who was watching Silver in silence.

  —It could just be an oversight. That's not enough to prove something's wrong.

  —But... —Silver tried, and couldn't find anything else to add.

  Veget crossed his arms.

  —All right. Let's be fair. Who wants to explore this corridor?

  All of Klein's party volunteered—along with Miwa and Goose.

  —Fine. We move —Veget said.

  Silver stayed back with Yuiha. Veget looked at them from the corner of his eye.

  —It's fine if you don't want to come.

  Yuiha clenched her fists.

  —Wait!

  Everyone stopped and turned toward her.

  —It's impossible for any area in Aincrad to have perfect, static shadows. That was classified as a critical defect, and the lighting engine was debugged before the open beta.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Silence hit like a wall.

  —And how do you know that? —Dale asked.

  —...Yu-chan...? —Miwa tried to speak, her voice breaking.

  Veget and Ryuho watched Yuiha closely. Silver tensed—but Yuiha's hand on his shoulder forced him to stay still.

  Yuiha closed her eyes and took a slow breath before she spoke.

  —I know... because I participated in both closed betas and the open beta. And the shadow pattern was something I personally reported.

  The silence turned graveyard-deep.

  Miwa stared at her like someone had just ripped something out of her chest.

  —Can you guarantee this pattern means danger? —Veget asked. There was no judgment in his voice—only caution.

  —I can't guarantee it —Yuiha said calmly—. But it's very likely we're looking at one of two scenarios.

  Veget nodded.

  —First?

  —An illusion trap that alters shadows. That usually means stronger enemies.

  —Second?

  —This zone was removed before the open beta and came back because of a CARDINAL decision. In that case, it could have serious bugs. We could even get trapped... or be eliminated if the system decides to purge the map.

  Veget was quiet for a few seconds.

  —All right, Yuiha. I trust you. We're not going in.

  Then he looked at Klein.

  —I can't stop you from entering, but if something happens inside, I won't risk my party to rescue you.

  Klein scratched his neck, thoughtful.

  —Can't argue with that... If the missy says it's dangerous, I believe her. I trust the beta players. Besides, I'm friends with the beater! —he added proudly.

  Veget ordered a withdrawal. They used crystals to return to Mirewood and report the anomaly.

  On the way back, Yuiha tried to approach Miwa.

  —Miwa-chan...

  —Not now, Yuiha.

  Hearing her name without affection hurt more than she expected.

  Silver stepped forward, but Veget stopped him.

  —Not now.

  Miwa activated the portal and returned to the capital on Floor 22. Ryuho and Goose followed her. Before leaving, Goose glanced at Yuiha and gave her a small, quiet gesture of thanks.

  Yuiha had asked Silver to leave her alone for a moment. He wanted to refuse, but her look didn't leave him a choice. He headed toward the outpost's exit, putting away Aegis and his sword—and pulling his broadsword from his inventory.

  Yuiha watched him go and covered her face with both hands.

  —Don't worry about him. He's not going to throw himself at mobs to die.

  Veget's voice pulled her back to the present. He sat beside her without asking.

  —I hope you're right —Yuiha said, forcing a weak smile.

  —He can be impulsive, but he's responsible. He wouldn't leave you alone... especially not now.

  Yuiha tried to distract herself, rolling small stones between her fingers. Veget watched her in silence for a few seconds.

  —I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth sooner. I didn't know how —she said at last.

  —It's not a big deal —he reassured her—. It's not like beta players go around announcing it to the world.

  Yuiha blinked at him... then let out a loud laugh. The first one in a while.

  —Thank you —she said.

  Veget returned the smile—one of the rare, genuine ones people had seen from him.

  —Honestly, I can't believe Miwa didn't figure it out sooner.

  —What?

  —When you joined us, you'd been playing solo on Floor 1, but you knew the mechanics better than anyone in the group.

  She stared at him, confused.

  —Then... why didn't you say anything?

  —Why would I? If you weren't saying it, you had your reasons. And it was only a suspicion.

  Veget was quiet for a moment before continuing.

  —I need you to understand something. It doesn't matter whether you were a beta player or not. You're part of this team. And because of what you know, we've advanced more safely. Miwa will have to accept that. And if she doesn't... that's not your problem anymore.

  Yuiha smiled shyly. That's when she noticed Veget standing, looking toward the outpost's exit.

  —I should probably get out of here —he said—. Looks like your boyfriend still hasn't burned off all that tension, and I'd rather not give him a reason to take it out on me.

  Yuiha burst out laughing. She didn't correct the misunderstanding.

  They'd never labeled what she and Silver were. They'd never named it out loud.

  But she knew there was something between them—something real, something mutual.

  She got up slowly and walked toward the exit to meet him.

  —You okay?

  —Yeah. I beat up every monster around here. They didn't even touch me.

  Yuiha raised both eyebrows.

  —Liar.

  —What? —Silver protested, offended.

  She smiled and pointed at the upper-left corner of his interface.

  —Did you forget we can see every party member's HP bar?

  Silver went silent.

  —Your HP dropped to yellow three times. Three —she continued—. The last time, I almost went after you.

  —I'm sorry —he said honestly—. I didn't want you to worry. I felt... useless in the catacombs. I couldn't protect your secret.

  Yuiha lifted her hand and brushed his cheek with her thumb.

  —Do you remember what you told me yesterday? That I can't be responsible for everyone's life?

  —Of course I remember. It's true.

  —It's also true for you. You're not responsible for what happens to me. I'm responsible for my choices... and their consequences.

  Silver looked at her, pained.

  —But I want to protect you.

  —And you do. You do it really well. I just... don't want you doing it out of guilt.

  He lowered his gaze.

  —Then... what do I do?

  Yuiha studied him for a beat.

  —Just stay with me. Always.

  —Even when you ask me to leave you alone? —he asked, confused.

  Yuiha laughed—bright and clear.

  —Especially then. I just needed a little space to sort out my thoughts... not for you to storm out of camp, ba-ka.

  Silver frowned.

  —Why doesn't the auto-translator translate that last part?

  —Beta tricks —Yuiha said, wearing a smug little look.

  Silver made an exaggerated face.

  —I hope it's not an insult.

  —Not exactly —Yuiha replied, eyes sparkling with mischief.

  She took his hand before he could say anything else and started guiding him toward the outpost's only inn.

  —Come on. Let's eat something.