I'm a Sword Master in Sword Art Online

"Chairman! Chairman!" Kradir screamed as if grasping at a straw, "Help me!"

The cloaked figure didn't even spare him a glance, but instead said to Mochizuki Kaede in a cheerful tone, "I knew I hadn't misjudged you, President Mochizuki, you really are delicious."

The voice sounded strangely familiar, and Mochizuki Kaede frowned: "Have we met before?"

The cloaked figure didn't answer, but slowly turned to Kradir. Under the latter's hopeful gaze, he suddenly changed the subject: "President Mochizuki, I smell a scent on you that's the same as mine. You must have been a model student in the real world, right? A top student at school, a well-behaved child at home. Those rules and dogmas bound you like chains, but I know—"

His voice suddenly lowered, taking on a seductive rhythm: "Deep down, you've always longed to break all of this... You crave chaos, don't you?"

“The knife in your hand has never been a toy; it yearns for battle, for tearing flesh from its enemies, for breaking bones—like the repressed desires within you, only you’ve never been aware of them.” He suddenly pointed at the limp Kradil. “Now, you can kill him. In this lawless world, killing is justified. But if you have a soft heart and let him go—”

The corners of his mouth, twisted into a grotesque arc beneath the cloak, said, "This madman told me himself that he wanted you to watch your companions fall one by one. He said that children value ridiculous friendships the most, and that's how he'll make you suffer. Oh, and he also specifically mentioned taking that Miss Asuna away from you."

Kradil's face turned deathly pale: "Guild...Guild Master?! Why did you—"

The cloaked figure completely ignored his questioning, simply gazing at Wang Yuefeng silently, as if admiring every subtle change in his expression.

Cladier turned to Mochizuki Maple, trembling. His sinister triangular eyes were now filled with fear and pleading, all traces of malice gone: "I...I never had such thoughts! It was...it was him!"

He struggled to raise his trembling finger, pointing at the cloaked figure. "This is the man who ordered me to do it! Everything he said just now was a frame-up! They're a red-name guild! Don't believe his lies!"

The cloaked figure merely made an exaggerated shrug, his voice laced with feigned disappointment: "Sigh, Kradir, you have the guts to kill, but not even the courage to admit it? Do you think Guild Master Mochizuki would believe your clumsy performance?"

The cloaked figure looked at Wangyue Feng and casually spread his hands: "We did contact Kradir, but we never instigated him to kill you. It was all his own idea. He enthusiastically described his 'grand plan'—how to torture you and take away everything you cherish. As a red-name guild, we are naturally happy to accept such talent."

Mochizuki Kaede's eyes narrowed. The other party had so frankly admitted to being a member of a red-named guild, yet the insignia above the cloaked figure's head was green. This reminded him of Joe from the [Aincrad Liberation Army], who also had a green name. Clearly a member of a red-named guild, yet disguised as an ordinary player.

Of course, Mochizuki Kaede wasn't naive enough to believe that Kradir was innocent. The intense malice directed at her, the twisted jealousy and hatred, were so real they were nauseating.

But what bothered him even more was that the cloaked man in front of him was deliberately leading him to kill Kradir.

A hypothesis surfaced in Wangyue Feng's mind: the [Sword of Sin] was likely a carefully crafted bait, designed to lure him to Kradir and stage a scene of mutual slaughter. The cloaked figure seemed to be playing a treacherous game, and they were all merely pawns to be manipulated.

Just at this moment——

"Xiao Feng!"

Asuna's call suddenly came from afar, her voice filled with anxiety.

In that moment of distraction, the [Paralysis] effect on Kradir was just lifted. A mad flash crossed his ferocious face, and he suddenly pulled out the [Sin Blade] from his leg, hysterically lunging at Mochizuki Maple.

Mochizuki Kaede calmly observed all of this.

Did the cloaked man foresee this moment? Was Asuna's appearance also part of his plan? These questions are no longer important.

At this moment, there is only one cruel fact before them—if they let Kradel go, Asuna, Silica, Yuna, and all their cherished companions will be in mortal danger.

There might be other solutions, but Mochizuki Kaede had no time to ponder them. The cloaked figure's seductive words hissed in his mind like venomous snakes.

The instant the [Sin Blade] pierced his abdomen, Mochizuki Kaede's lightning blade was already outstretched. The blade flashed like lightning, precisely slicing across Kradir's neck.

Cladier felt dizzy and disoriented.

In his last moments before losing consciousness, he saw his headless body and Mochizuki Kaede's utterly indifferent gray eyes—

There was no anger, no hesitation, just as calm as when he was practicing cutting straw mats at the dojo as a child.

Chapter 97: Knee Pillow

Asuna only realized something was wrong after waiting for too long.

Her repeated messages to Mochizuki Kaede went unanswered. When she turned on friend location sharing, the flashing dot on the map had already moved outside the safe zone.

This discovery made her heart clench instantly, and she had a bad feeling for some reason.

"Yuna, Silica, wait for me at the dessert shop."

Asuna gave a hasty instruction and turned to leave without even having time to explain.

Following the map's directions, we arrived at the location of Mochizuki Kaede.

In the distance, she saw that familiar silver-haired figure from behind—

"Xiao Feng!"

Before she could finish speaking, she was horrified to see the man who had collapsed in front of Mochizuki Kaede suddenly spring up, his [Sin Blade] aimed straight for Mochizuki Kaede's abdomen. Asuna's pupils contracted sharply, and her elven sword was instantly drawn.

"stop!"

But everything happened too fast.

A flash of cold light, and the [Sin Blade] plunged deep into Mochizuki Kaede's side abdomen.

At the same time, the lightning blade drew a perfect arc—

"Shh!"

Cold, blue data fragments scattered through the air.

The man's head separated from his body, flew high into the air, leaving a trail of data fragments in its wake, and finally crashed to the ground, rolling several times. The last vestiges of madness remained frozen in his wide-open, triangular eyes.

The headless body and skull successively turned into data fragments and disappeared.

Under Asuna's gaze, the player icon above Mochizuki Kaede's head changed from green to red.

Just then, Mochizuki Kaede's legs suddenly gave way, and he collapsed to his knees, the Thunder Blade and the [Sin Blade] crashing to the ground with a loud thud. The paralyzing effect of the [Sin Blade] began to take effect, and he felt as if all his strength had been drained away. The [Paralyzed] status icon appeared above his vision.

He gritted his teeth, trying to prop himself up, but found he couldn't even move his fingers. He glanced at the spot where the cloaked figure had stood; it was now empty, with only a few withered leaves swirling in the wind. This discovery eased his tense nerves slightly; at least Asuna was safe for the time being.

"Xiao Feng!"

Asuna's voice grew louder as it approached, filled with an unprecedented panic. Mochizuki Kaede heard hurried footsteps, followed by the rustling of Asuna's dress as she knelt beside him.

Asuna took out a high-grade healing potion from her waist, and bit the stopper open with a soft "pop".

"Drink it quickly!"

She brought the bottle to Wangyue Feng's lips, her voice filled with an unyielding determination.

The cool liquid slid down his throat, and Mochizuki Kaede could feel the numbness gradually fading, like seawater receding from his limbs. He tried to move his fingers and found that he had regained consciousness.

"Don't rush to get up."

Asuna suddenly pressed down hard on his shoulder.

Before Mochizuki Kaede could react, the back of his head was enveloped in an incredible softness—the girl had actually placed his head on her lap.

The sudden lap pillow made Mochizuki Kaede's whole body stiffen.

He could clearly feel the curves of the girl's thighs, the warmth emanating from beneath the fabric of her uniform, and the faint scent of flowers. A few strands of chestnut hair fell down, shimmering with a golden halo in the sunlight, and tiny dappled patterns of light gently swayed, casting soft shadows on his face.

"You..." Mochizuki Kaede had expected Asuna to be shocked, even terrified, by his murder. But Asuna's reaction was completely unexpected. He was about to speak when she interrupted him.

"Shut up." Asuna's voice was firm, but the slight tremor at the end betrayed her true emotions. "Do you know... how scared I was when I saw that knife plunge into your body?"

Mochizuki Kaede was momentarily stunned.

Asuna's fingertips gently brushed across Mochizuki Kaede's forehead, her rounded nails sweeping across his sweaty skin like feathers. Her fingertips carried a slight coolness, yet they brought a comforting warmth to Mochizuki Kaede.

"What exactly happened, Kaede?" As Asuna leaned over, her chestnut-brown hair cascaded down like silk, a few strands brushing against Kaede Mochizuki's cheek, carrying a faint fragrance. The moment the hair brushed against his skin, it was as light as a butterfly's wings, making him unconsciously hold his breath.

The girl's voice was so gentle, as if she were soothing a child having a nightmare.

Under such gentle questioning, Mochizuki Kaede revealed everything—from the investigation of the [Sword of Sin] to the confrontation with Kradir…

His voice was soft, yet it struck Asuna's heart like a hammer blow. With each word he spoke, she could feel the muscles in Asuna's knees tense slightly. Those were the girl's soft yet supple thighs, the fabric of her skirt rising and falling gently with her breath, conveying a reassuring warmth.

"So..." Asuna's voice tightened, "the one who attacked Yuna was from a red-named guild, and that one just now... was the one who wanted to kill us?"

Mochizuki Kaede nodded gently, her silver hair rustling softly against her knees.

Suddenly, Asuna bent down even lower.

Her long hair cascaded down, creating a curtain of seclusion around them. Her amber eyes were inches away, her long eyelashes trembling gently. Her nose was delicately upturned, its contours outlined in the backlight, and her lips, slightly pursed with nervousness, were a pale pink like cherry blossoms.

"Then why are you acting alone?" Asuna's voice was soft, her warm breath brushing against Mochizuki Kaede's nose. "Do you think we'll be a burden to you?"

A strand of silver hair was casually twirled around her fingertips, and her rounded nails occasionally brushed against Wang Yuefeng's temples.

"No, I just don't want to put you in danger." Mochizuki Kaede shook his head in denial, a gesture that made him sink even deeper into the girl's soft lap.

"Then do you know—" Asuna suddenly leaned closer, so close that Mochizuki Kaede could count the number of her eyelashes. Her eyes reflected Mochizuki Kaede's features, so clear that one could see the emotions surging within them, "How scared I am when you're in danger? I feel the same way, I don't want you to face danger alone..."

Mochizuki Kaede was slightly taken aback.

A long silence fell between the two.

They all tacitly avoided the topic of murder.

Mochizuki Kaede had no idea how Asuna's perception of her would change after she became a red-named player, nor did she know how to explain it to Silica and Yuna. That glaring red mark above her head was destined to bring them endless trouble.

He clearly realized that he could no longer appear in crowded places, much less continue to challenge the front lines with other raiding groups. The sudden appearance of a red-named player would only trigger panic and hostility.

Strangely, he felt no remorse whatsoever for killing Kradir. Even the clean, decisive feel of the beheading didn't stir any emotion within him. This unusual calm surprised even himself.

Deep inside, something is quietly changing.

A strange, violent energy coursed through my veins, like a long-dormant beast finally awakening.

Perhaps it was precisely because Asuna keenly sensed this that she suddenly offered him a lap pillow, using such a gentle method to try to soothe the turbulent darkness in his heart.

Mochizuki Kaede gently closed her eyes.

In this brief moment of peace, he felt for the first time that he was standing at a crucial crossroads.

Chapter Ninety-Eight: Departure

Not far from where Mochizuki Kaede was using Asuna's lap as a pillow, in another corner, two girls quietly watched this scene.

Silica and Yuna had just arrived when they saw the silver-haired boy resting his head on Asuna's lap.

What shocked them even more was that the player icon above Mochizuki Kaede's head, which should have been green, had turned a striking red. Silica subconsciously rubbed her eyes, and Yuna's eyes widened slightly as well; for a moment, both thought they were seeing things. But soon, worry replaced their surprise.

“Something must have happened to Brother Feng here…” Silica crouched down, her twin ponytails falling over her shoulders. She murmured softly, her voice filled with concern.

Although she didn't understand why Mochizuki Kaede suddenly became a red-named player, in Silica's heart, Mochizuki Kaede would always be the hero who lent her a helping hand in the third level of the Misty Forest.

Silica watched Asuna gently stroke Mochizuki Kaede's forehead. Her small face showed pure envy for Asuna and Mochizuki Kaede's intimate gesture, but not a trace of jealousy.

Yuna stood behind her, her slender fingers gently resting on Silica's shoulder.

Her gaze lingered on Wang Yuefeng, the scene from the sixth-floor boss battle flashing through her mind—the warmth of the boy's unwavering embrace in that life-or-death moment. From that day on, whenever she saw Wang Yuefeng's back, an inexplicable flutter would rise in her heart.

A white bird swept overhead, casting a fleeting shadow. The two girls tacitly refrained from approaching, instead silently waiting in the distance.

They all understood that what Mochizuki Kaede needed at this moment was perhaps the peace that Asuna could provide.

……

Mochizuki Kaede lay back on Asuna's lap, his gaze fixed on the outline of the girl's chest rising and falling slightly with her breath.

"I'm leaving the Golden Rule," he said softly, his voice so calm it didn't sound like he was discussing his own departure. "The position of president is now in your hands, Asuna."

Asuna's fingers, which were gently stroking his silver hair, suddenly froze.

Her amber eyes widened slightly, and her fingertips curled up, leaving a brief touch on Mochizuki Kaede's forehead.

"Xiaofeng..." her voice was very soft, "Why did you suddenly say such things?"

Wang Yuefeng gazed at the sky, where wisps of thin clouds drifted slowly across the azure backdrop: "I'm already a red-named player. Staying in the guild will only drag you down with me. If I show up on the front lines with a red name, what will other guilds think? They'll question the stance of [Golden Rule] and suspect we're colluding with those red-named players. Daily activities are also a problem. I can't be with you in crowded places. I can't let you be labeled as 'red-name accomplices' because of me."

Asuna's lips trembled slightly.

She understood that every word Mochizuki Kaede said was true; red-named players were criminals, practically public enemies in this death game.

Asuna took a deep breath, her chest heaving: "So you're planning to leave us and act on your own from now on?"

Mochizuki Kaede nodded silently.

"You think..." Asuna's voice trembled slightly, "that we would give up on you for such a reason?"

Mochizuki Kaede shook her head: "This is not giving up, it's just a temporary separation."

There were deeper considerations that Mochizuki Kaede didn't tell Asuna—he needed to investigate the cloaked man whom Kradil called "Guild Master," the suspicious Jo within the Aincrad Liberation Army, and the red-named guild behind them all, like venomous snakes coiling in his mind. And such an investigation was destined to be conducted in secret, as a lone wolf.

Asuna gazed into Mochizuki Kaede's resolute eyes, realizing that she could not sway his decision.

Mochizuki Kaede continued, “The Water Boots, the Banner of Valor, and the White Knight Set are drops from the floor bosses, so I’m handing them over to you. With your abilities, you’ll definitely shine even without me, and perhaps a stronger guild will extend an olive branch to you.”

"Xiaofeng, what nonsense are you talking about?" Asuna shook her head violently, her chestnut hair drawing a resolute arc in the sunlight. "Golden Rule will always be my guild. I will not join any other guild, never."

Mochizuki Kaede paused for a moment, then chuckled softly. That smile carried the familiar gentleness Asuna knew, yet it also held a complex emotion that Asuna couldn't decipher.

"I'll be leaving for a while." Mochizuki Kaede slowly rose from Asuna's soft lap, brushing off non-existent dust from his uniform. He looked directly into Asuna's eyes: "I'm entrusting the guild to you during this time."