Comprehensive Manga: The Master is not here today

Chapter 173 The Ghost of SAO

Due to the stipulations set by BB that game behavior must be performed, players who are really unwilling to fight monsters almost all choose production skills, and many of them choose to become blacksmiths.

The three of them entered the West Market and soon found a blacksmith player with the same skill proficiency of [Iron Hammer], and asked him to strengthen them.

With the enhancement success rate reaching the limit of 90.00%, the three of them were lucky enough to successfully enhance their weapons, bringing the weapon to an enhancement level of +7.

After doing all this, today's mission is over. The +8 strengthening materials are on the monsters in the second layer of the maze area, so next, all they need to do is to advance quickly.

I went to the restaurant last night for dinner again, but it was only their restaurant, and other players had already appeared today.

They had no choice but to continue wearing cloaks in the restaurant to hide their identities.

"——It's really hard to be a celebrity. You have to cover up everything from eating to eating. Isn't this similar to me?"

The three of them had just sat down when a joking voice suddenly came from the speaker. The person who spoke was wearing a cloak like them, and his appearance could not be seen clearly.

But that very distinctive tone immediately betrayed the other party's identity.

"Argo!"

Fujimaru Ritsuka and Asuna happily called each other's names, and Argo also took off his cloak, revealing short golden hair and beard-like paint on his face, and said with a smile:

"Long time no see, Ritsuka and Asuna."

"Oh, there's also Tongzai."

"Are you being too deliberate?"

Kirito couldn't help but complain, and then asked:

"How do you know we're here?"

"I told her."

Asuna smiled and said:
"Argo just sent a message asking if we were in [Urubas] and if we wanted to have a meal together, and then I sent her our address."

Kirito suddenly said:
"Oh, so this is what your operating system window was doing just now?"

Seeing the four cloaked men gathering here, other players in the store looked over curiously. Seeing this, Argo gave a thumbs up and pointed behind him, and said with a smile:
"I'll take you to a more remote restaurant. This is free information for you."

"That's troublesome!"

The three of them followed Argo to another restaurant, which looked very hidden from the outside. As expected, there were no other players in the restaurant.

At this time, the three Fujimaru Ritsuka took off their cloaks and revealed their true colors.

After the four people sat down, Argo smiled at them:

"Although it's a little late to say this, congratulations on successfully conquering the first level!"

"Thank you!"

Fujimaru Ritsuka smiled at her and asked:
"What are you doing during this time?"

"Of course it's still the same as before, collecting intelligence and selling intelligence."

Argo put his hands on the dining table and said with a smile:
"Thanks to you, the second floor has just been opened. This is the busiest time for my business!"

"Speaking of which, the players on the front line should have advanced to [Mamelo] Village. I didn't expect the three of you to still be here."

"Although there is no advancement, we are still leveling up, so it's okay."

Fujimaru Ritsuka briefly told her about their leveling up and strengthening weapons today. After Argo listened with interest, he teased Kirito:
"You can actually level up with our female player Light, Tongzai, please don't hold them back, okay?"

"of course not."

Faced with Argo's teasing, Kirito's answer seemed a little lacking in confidence.

After seeing how Fujimaru Ritsuka and Asuna fought and spawned monsters, he really couldn't keep the closed beta players at ease. If he didn't work hard, he might really hold them back.

Fortunately, Fujimaru Ritsuka is still willing to say good things for him.

"Kirito is also very strong, and he also has a lot of information. It should be said that he has helped us a lot."

Kirito immediately looked at her gratefully, she was indeed his captain!After chatting for a while, Argo seemed to suddenly remember something, and asked with a mysterious smile:

"By the way, do you know that there is a very strange rumor that has appeared recently?"

"Weird rumors?"

The curiosity of the three people was immediately aroused.

This is the case with Argo. As an intelligence dealer, she can always tell interesting content and then take Cole out of their pockets.

After willingly paying five hundred kohl as intelligence fee, Argo said in a mysterious tone:
"Recently, there seems to be a ghost wandering around in SAO. Players have seen each other in towns, leveling areas and even maze areas."

"According to many players who witnessed it, the ghost seemed to be a young girl, probably only about seven or eight years old."

"There are bold players who try to get close to the opponent, but they are unable to capture the opponent's traces. The moment they are discovered, the opponent's figure immediately disappears without a trace."

"Ghost? Little girl?"

Asuna couldn't help but leaned closer to Fujimaru Ritsuka. After being close to him, she reluctantly smiled and said:
"Um, it should just be an NPC or something, right?"

"But maybe, there are ghosts in SAO after all."

"Eh?"

Not noticing Asuna's body gradually stiffening, Kirito talked eloquently:
"If I remember correctly, after reaching the fifth floor, there should be ghost-type monsters."

"Monster, that should be fine, right?"

After Asuna muttered a few words in a low voice, she asked Fujimaru Ritsuka next to her:

"Ritsuka, what do you think that so-called ghost is?"

"Well, I think it should be an NPC."

Fujimaru Ritsuka's expression was a little weird at this time, because when she talked about the little girl, she couldn't help but think of the little guy she saw at BB.

Will it be her?

"Right!"

On the other side, after getting the same answer from Fujimaru Ritsuka, Asuna pumped her fist excitedly.

Argo also smiled and said:
"You really think so."

"Indeed, most of the players who have heard the rumors now think that the other party should be a special NPC. There are even many players who think that the other party may have some kind of special mission and are going to look for him specifically."

Kirito expressed his understanding, because the other party did sound like this type of NPC.

If SAO was still a normal game, he would also want to check it out.

But under the current circumstances, he can only focus on improving his strength first, and then see if there is a chance to meet the opponent by chance.

After finishing their meal while chatting like this, Argo said goodbye to them again and quickly disappeared around the corner of the street, not knowing where he went.

They also parted ways with Kirito and returned to the B&B they rented to rest and prepare for a new day.

"Well"

In the middle of the night, Fujimaru Ritsuka woke up from her dream for some reason and opened her eyes in a daze.

After coming to SAO, except for being disturbed by BB, she slept soundly the rest of the time. This was the first time she woke up from a dream in the middle of the night like this.

Maybe I didn't drink enough water before going to bed, and I always felt a little thirsty.

So just as she was about to get up to drink water, she suddenly noticed that when the moonlight outside the window was shining in, a dark shadow was also projected on the wall.

!! ?
She turned her head suddenly and saw a little girl's head lying on their window.

The moment the two looked at each other, the other party immediately showed a panic expression, and then disappeared.

What a ghost.

(End of this chapter)