AUTHOR'S NOTE
So, this chapter was supposed to be part of chapter 15, but it ended up being way too big, so I split it into two. Don't worry, though, I won't make you wait another 2 days for the chapter that was supposed to be today. Enjoy a double release!
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"My name's Kibaou! There's something I wanna say before we take on the boss! Some of you here..."
Drifter suppressed a sigh at the sight of the cactus-looking guy on the stage. He saw Diavel also push down a frown of irritation at being so rudely interrupted. Kibaou was... Very vocal. Drifter had already discovered that when the man started an argument with Liz over some repairs he was not satisfied with. It was also from that situation that stemmed his dislike.
"... need to apologize to the 2.000 who have died so far!"
Drifter froze. While most players seemed confused, he knew exactly who Kibaou was referencing. One peek at Argo's clenched jaw showed she too knew. That finger of his seemed to be pointing directly at his little info broker, and Drifter had never wanted to punch someone so much as he did now.
Sneakily, he reached behind his back, and grabbed Argo's hand in his own. He didn't look at her, just gave her a reassuring squeeze. She relaxed, though she did pull closer to them, not-quite-hiding behind Drifter and Yuna. The songstress smiled at Argo warmly, to show that they were with her for whatever happened. So focused they were on making sure the info broker was okay, they didn't notice the glance she exchanged with Kirito.
"Kibaou, those people you are referring to, do you mean the ex-beta-testers, perhaps?"
"Of course I do! On the day this stupid game started, the beta guys ditched us beginners, and they all disappeared. They took all the good hunting spots and easy quests for themselves, so they were the only ones getting stronger. And since then, they've just ignored the rest of us."
As much as Drifter wanted to beat the player up until he shut his mouth, he had to admit Kibaou was mostly right. Mostly, because while there were a lot of asshole beta-testers - and that was according to Argo herself - a good number of them, info broker included, were doing their best to help other players or clear the game.
Drifter didn't know many beta-testers. Only one he was aware of, in fact. But he had talked with Argo, and she had disclosed some information. It had been right after that mess in the labyrinth and Drifter brief orange state. Yuna and Nautilus were there too. The info broker said that of the thousand beta-testers, about seven hundred had rejoined the game, at least that she knew of. And of the two thousand crossed out names in the Monument of Life, almost a fifth belonged to those beta-testers.
Many beta-testers had been selfish, and hogged all the best grinding spots and quests, yes. Quite a few of those who died had probably been because of the changes Kayaba added after the beta. They paid for their greed with their life. But they didn't amount to even half of the beta-testers.
Many had died while trying to clear the labyrinth while relying on old knowledge. Their aim had been to escape and free everyone else. Others had perished trying to save newbies. A few had even been in contact with Argo, helping her gather intel, and Drifter knew their deaths haunted his friend more than she would ever admit.
Of the beta-testers who were still alive, three groups could be separated. The first was of those who were hiding in the Town of Beginnings just like pretty much everyone else. Just because they were beta-testers, didn't mean they were brave. The second group was of those fighting in the labyrinth to clear the game. Drifter suspected more than a few of the people he knew were ex-betas. As for the final group, they were those like Argo, who weren't active combatants, but were trying to use their knowledge of the beta to warn and teach new players.
Drifter got the feeling Argo had told him all that because she didn't want him to feel he was ever being abandoned again. She probably was also afraid he would hate her if he found out through anyone else, such as what was happening right now with Kibaou. As if he could ever get angry with his little rat.
"There's got to be some of them here! Guys who were beta-testers! We should make them get on their knees and apologize, and give up all the items and money they've hoarded!"
Drifter had to hold back the urge to scoff. Surely the man could not be that stupid, right? Any hope the beta-testers would show themselves and offer help went right out of the window when he demanded they gave up their items - items which were effectively keeping them alive. Drifter knew that if he had to give up his << Kobold Spear >>, he would be as good as dead. Beta-testers were the same.
"As party members, we can't trust them with our lives! And they can't trust us."
Oh, good, Kibaou went on. Because of course he did. Why wouldn't he? All he was about to do was sow distrust between the raid group right before the battle that would decide the destiny of eight thousand people.
Near him, Drifter saw Kirito frowning with a pained expression. The way Argo threw him a sympathetic look tipped Drifter off to something, but he wasn't about to poke his nose in someone else's business, especially someone he just met. He could shut Kibaou up, though.
"Can I say something?"
Just as Drifter was getting up to retort the cactus-hair's accusations, a familiar deep voice interrupted him. With a few steps, the black-skinned merchant took the stage.
"My name is Agil. Kibaou, let me get this straight. You are saying that because the ex-beta-testers didn't take care of them, many beginners died. That they should take responsibility, apologize, and provide compensation. Is that right?"
"Y-Yeah."
Kibaou unconsciously took a few steps back when Agil walked right up to him. Drifter had to admit that seeing the merchant so serious was much more intimidating than his business persona normally was.
"You received this guidebook too, didn't you? It was provided for free at the item store, after all."
"Sure, I did... So what of it?!"
"It was the ex-beta-testers who were distributing these."
Kibaou scowled, seeing his momentum halted, and Drifter almost cheered for Agil when the man turned around to show the booklet to the attending players. They were all very familiar with the book and the three pairs of whiskers printed on the cover. Some more than others.
Drifter grinned, and, before Argo could escape, ruffled her hair. Kirito seemed especially taken aback by the fact the info broker didn't claw his eyes off.
"See, little rat? We are here."
Argo smiled and nodded gratefully before catching herself and pushing Drifter's hand away.
"Bah! Anyone with a brain could tell it was a beta-tester who made those. I'm sure she is an amazin' and beautiful heroine. I would love to meet her one day."
The party, minus Sinon and Asuna, who seemed confused, laughed. Due to their short banter, Drifter missed what Agil said next, but he could tell from Kibaou's surly frown as both men returned to their seats that it convinced most players in the amphitheater that beta-testers weren't all bad guys. That was for the best, as the interruption had gone for long enough. Diavel quickly took the reins back.
"All right. Okay, can we resume the meeting now? As for information on the boss... Actually, the latest edition of that guidebook was just issued."
Drifter raised an eyebrow at Argo, who smiled cheekily.
"According to it, the boss' name is << Illfang the Kobold Lord >>. Also, he has an entourage known as << Ruin Kobold Sentinels >>. The boss is armed with an axe and a buckler. He has four health bars, and when the last one is in the red, he switches to a curved sword-type weapon called a Talwar. His attack pattern changes too."
Diavel let his words sink in, allowing the players to realize that the boss wasn't just a bigger version of the labyrinth mobs. << Illfang the Kobold Lord >> had it's own peculiarities, all of them deadly. Drifter had already read through the entire guide, even if it wasn't the latest version, and forced his party to do the same, so they weren't surprised.
The light blue-haired player then went on to talk about money, experience, and item distribution, before dismissing the meeting. Drifter nodded. It was better to solve this now than have a problem later.
"All right, it seems this is it for today."
"The fight is tomorrow, huh? After a month, I can't believe we are finally getting 'round to it."
Patting Nautilus' shoulder, Drifter turned to the three new additions to the party. The mysterious Asuna, the ranged fighter Sinon, and the possible beta-tester Kirito.
"So... I think it's better to get this out of the way now. You three are all solo players, while we have been in a party for some time now. There's a big difference between fighting solo or with others, so there's bound to be some trouble and miscommunication. If y'all don't mind, we could sit down for a meal, then discuss roles, tactics, and whatnot. What do you say?"
Drifter knew he was kinda talking like he was calling the shots here, but he couldn't help it. His biggest worry was one of the three new players making a mistake, or fighting like they normally do, and putting Yuna or Nautilus in danger. Luckily, they didn't seem to mind. Sinon and Asuna nodded, while Kirito pointed at somewhere behind Drifter.
"Sounds great, but I think someone's coming over."
Drifter spun around, and, lo and behold, Diavel was walking towards them. With the corner of his eyes, he noticed Argo disappearing, followed by a short message from her saying there was work to be done. He typed a quick reply before the raid leader arrived.
"So we see each other again. Glad you could come."
Diavel offered his hand to Drifter first, then greeted everyone else. Asuna and Sinon answered with just a nod, as expected, but Kirito shook the man's hand. Both stared at each other for slightly longer than it was necessary, and Drifter got the distinct feeling the two players knew each other, but also sort of didn't.
"I wanted to discuss your party's role. No offense, but you are mostly a group of randoms, so I would like it if you could hang back and take care of the adds."
Meaning, Diavel didn't trust them to handle the boss, and wanted them to handle the << Ruin Kobold Sentinels >>. Instead of giving an answer directly, Drifter turned to the rest of the group.
"I agree."
"No problem."
"Uhum."
"If everyone else is cool with it."
"Hm."
Receiving affirmative responses, Drifter gestured with his head to Diavel, signaling their agreement. The player smiled brightly, and bid farewell to them, but not without giving another look to Kirito.
"Well, who's hungry?"
As if on cue, Nautilus and Kirito's stomachs rumbled. Drifter snorted, and Sinon and Asuna giggled. Yuna patted the blushing boys in the back.
"I know the perfect place! They might even let me sing later."