Sword art online: Aincrad's Flash

"Are you saying we should just leave?"

She shook her head. "Of course not. I'm saying I lead and you stay back in support- the whole way. And if I say to run, run."

Toyo knew she wasn't trying to sound condescending, but her opinion of him was starting to rankle.

"I won't argue that you're stronger than me, but I do know how to fight too. I've been taking on mobs outside the city since day one."

Naomi arched an eyebrow at him. "Monsters in dungeons and lairs are almost always stronger than normal mobs, and usually come with their own abilities or Sword Skills. Have you been in any dungeons yet?"

"No, but-"

"And with that kind of gear- not to mention your beginner sword?" She shook her head, but then her voice softened. "Just trust me on this, alright? Stay behind and let me take the aggro. I promise that if we find any loot, I won't take more than half and you'll get priority. You're the one who found the cellar. It's only fair."

Toyo's mouth worked, but he didn't know how to reply. He hadn't been trying to accuse her of loot hoarding. Though he had only just met her, he could tell she was fair and a team player. He had simply been trying to convince her to let him shoulder his share of the danger. Scared though he was, terrified even, he didn't want anyone putting themselves in extra peril because of him.

"Do you trust me?" Naomi asked.

Toyo sighed in resignation and dipped his head. "I trust you."

"Then let's go see what's in the cellar."

Toyo took the lead, retracing their steps back towards the closed cellar door in the floor at the centre of the warehouse. With her weapon out and ready, Naomi knelt down, seized the door handle, and- after a brief look back to ensure he was still behind her- pulled.

Nothing happened.

"It's locked," she muttered under her breath.

"Which all but guarantees something good is down there." Toyo looked around at the old warehouse. "Problem is, none of the crates here is lootable. If the key isn't in any of them, and it's not on the ground either, who knows where it could be hidden."

Naomi pulled again, harder this time, then paused and began wiping away dust from the surface of the door. After a few seconds, she sat back on her heels and gestured for him to come close.

"Look at this."

He leaned in. "You found the keyhole."

"Not just that."

With her free hand, she wiped away more dust.

Toyo's eyes widened in alarm.

The dark, unmistakable stain of dried blood coated nearly the entire cellar door.

…

"Bless you, beautiful lady, bless you!" the jubilant, pink-faced merchant cried as he pumped Naomi's slender hand within his two huge palms. "And not a moment too soon! That bastard Johilis was about to disqualify me from entering the lists!" He chuckled devilishly and raised a fist in the air. "But now, I will surely win the chicken race tomorrow!"

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"Of that, I have no doubt," Naomi replied with a grin. "Your little athletes did not make it easy for us."

The big man chuckled again until his face went red, then he nodded proudly.

"Oh yes, I can imagine. They're good girls, truly, but they have a touch of the rebel in them. Wild they can be, and quite unruly. Often remind me of my own daughters back in Tolbana, they do!"

He boomed a laugh and slapped a knee at his own joke, but then caught himself as he noticed the slowly darkening sky.

"Ah, but I'm afraid I must be heading back to the lists now. It wouldn't do to lose my place in the race, after all, you've done for me, and I know Johilis would love to scratch my name out, the snivelling little whoreson! Thank you once again, fair lady, may your beauty never fade!"

The big merchant turned surprisingly fast on his heel, picked up the large chicken cage with his three little devil birds now inside, and started out of the merchant's quarter.

Naomi cleared her throat. "Master Filiun, are you sure you're not forgetting something?"

Master Filiun froze midstep, then quickly turned and trotted back over with an apologetic smile etched onto his face.

"Ah, but of course, how could I be so forgetful? A thousand pardons, o radiant one! Here, your reward."

Reaching into his elegant purple frock coat, he smoothly retrieved a hefty leather pouch and dropped it into Naomi's open hand. The beta-tester weighed it in her palm a moment, then gave the big man a charming, feminine smile.

*****

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