After Layla parted ways with Kirito and his friends, she slipped into a dimly-lit alley and knocked at the door at the end.

"It's me—Layla."

"Yeah, I can see ya just fine, sweetie."

The voice came from behind Layla. She tried to whirl around, but the voice stopped her.

"Easy, tiger. Keep your eyes forward. We'll talk like this."

Layla obediently froze and stared at the door before her, which was in poor repair. It was like this the first time, too. As Layla wandered the streets searching for clues, somebody had approached her suddenly from behind.

"So. How'd it go?　Just like I told ya, right?"

"...Yeah. It did seem like he knew something."

"See? He knows. The Black Swordsman knows."

"But why?! Only people involved are supposed to know about the pain absorber..."

"He's an SAO survivor. He was also wrapped up in a top-secret government project. So it wouldn't surprise me if he knew."

"So, it's true about him then..."

Layla clenched her fists.

"See? I know everything there is to know about the people you deal with."

"I don't believe it. Neither Kirito nor Asuna seemed like they would..."

"Personally, I couldn't care less. And it won't hurt my fee-fees none if you don't believe me."

"But...if Kirito and his crew really did it, then..."

Layla forced the question out, and was answered by a whisper filled with malice:

"Then you'll just have to beat him."

"And if I do...will I know the truth?"

"Yeah... Then I can search his memory and drag the intel ya want out of it."

"Y-You're not playing me, are you?!"

"Okay, don't believe me. I don't care."

"F-Fine. Once I make sure for myself, then..."

But by the time she steeled herself and turned around, nobody was there. A sigh filled with despair and worry escaped her mouth. No matter how she looked at it, that guy was even less trustworthy than Kirito. But...relying on him was her only shot.

We didn't see Layla for a while after that. I considered messaging her, but never did. As we rose in the rankings, we looked for any intel or eyewitness testimonies regarding the memory-stealing and the Laughing Coffin, but we didn't turn up any results. Time just wore on, our anxiety ramping up with each passing day.

"I just can't believe it was all a rumor, Kirito."

"I'd like to agree with you, but I'm a little concerned by Layla's behavior when we asked her about it."

"True...she looked like she was backed into a corner. She might know more than she's telling us."

Asuna and I had taken a walk through town alone that day. We had just stopped at a cafe to rest our legs.

"Maybe we'll just have to rise in the ranking and draw her out of hiding."

"Yeah...but that will take a long time. We don't have the right equipment either."

"Yeah, true..."

It was actually a good thing that there were no victims cropping up. If it turned out to really be just a rumor, I wouldn't be disappointed. But it was difficult to prove something by absence of intel. This was a case of the devil's proof.

"...I guess we should pull back for the day. We've spent all our time logged in lately."

"Oh, you're done already?"

"Agh?! L-Layla?"

I blurted out a goofy yelp at her surprise arrival. Layla smirked at the sight of my dropped jaw.

"Jeez. Way to be overdramatic."

Saying this, she sat at our table and ordered an orange juice.

"Hey, Layla. Long time no see."

"Yeah, I've been really busy. So Asuna, Kirito, have you guys been playing Cross Edge a lot?"

"Yeah, now that we're finally good at it, the battles are fun."

And I meant it. Of course we were investigating the memory-stealing and Laughing Coffin, but Cross Edge was a well-made game. The PvP battles were really enjoyable. Layla's eyes lit up when she heard that.

"Wow...I'm glad to hear it. Thanks."

From the way Layla smiled, it was almost as if the compliment was meant for her.

"Right, you know the creator of Cross Edge, don't you, Layla?"

"...Yeah, I do."

Layla's smile faded, and her eyes turned downward.

"I more than just know him—he's my little brother."

"Y-Your little brother?"

Asuna and I exchanged looks. Layla had just dropped a bomb.

"Whoa! As in, the kid-genius who designed Cross Edge..."

"Yeah, that's my brother...Sora."

"Oh, okay... That explains why you're such a Cross Edge expert."

It was shocking to learn that Layla's little brother was the mind behind Cross Edge. Even with The Seed as a platform, it was truly startling that somebody in middle school could have made such a complex game.

"All the Cross Edge players are having a blast. I think it really is a great game."

"Me too... Thanks, Asuna."

But the joy that had been in Layla's face was long gone, replaced instead by a dark shadow. Was her brother no longer involved with Cross Edge?　But she was so happy talking about it earlier... Could that be why she was so upset when we brought up the strange rumor the first time we spoke?

"Hey, Layla..."

"Well, it doesn't matter anymore. Anyway, are you guys gonna play Cross Edge some more?　I should take you to a dungeon."

Layla cut me off before I could ask my question with this cheerful idea, exorcising the gloomy air that hung over the table. I sensed in her a strong aversion to being asked anything further. If I tried to force the issue with her, it would only build a wall between us.

"Cool. Yeah, we haven't been to the dungeon yet. Thanks in advance."

We would have more chances to ask about her brother. Thinking this to myself, I replied cheerfully and got to my feet.

"So, Kirito, what other games have you played?"

Layla asked me as we raided the dungeon.

"I mostly play ALO, and sometimes GGO. And also...SAO, I guess."

"SAO...I take it you're one of the people who came out of it alive, then?"

"Yes. Asuna and I are both SAO survivors."

Layla gave me an understanding nod.

"I figured you were."

"You figured?　Layla, did you already know about us?"

Asuna asked her dubiously. Layla quickly shook her head.

"No, um, you're both just such good fighters that I figured you had some hardcore gaming experience."

"Oh...well, you aren't wrong. SAO was a very hardcore game."

"Yeah. We honestly didn't know if we would live or die."

Even now, I would get little flashbacks. Flashbacks of those days back in Aincrad when we were literally fighting for our lives. Seeing Asuna and I fall silent, Layla lowered her gaze.

"Well...I'm glad you guys made it out safe."

"Thanks."

We proceeded through the rest of the dungeon in silence. When we defeated everything in the deepest area, we got all sorts of rewards. And after we cleared the dungeon, Layla took her leave, promising to show us a new area next time.

The next day, Asuna, Layla, Alice, and I headed to the new area Layla had mentioned. As it was newly-built, so there wasn't much known about it yet. It was a new map for most of the players in it, and it was a rather unsettling place. Because of this, it hadn't been very well explored as of yet.

"Here we are. This is the place."

Layla announced as we arrived in a wasteland filled with boulders. There were no signs of life. Not even an insect. The only plantlife to be found were a handful of withered trees. It was indeed an unsettling place, but not all that unusual for an RPG field.

However...it evoked an intense sense of deja vu in me. An endless, desolate wasteland. Heavy winds, weighted with dust. It was designed to be unfit for survival. And it was—

"Hey, Kirito, is this what I think it is?"

"What is it doing in this world...?"

Asuna and Alice were thinking the same thing. It was from a world that should not exist as a game field.

"Yeah...this is Underworld."

"What's wrong? Why are you all so quiet?"

"Oh...well..we're just really surprised because this looks like someplace we've seen before."

I should have seen it coming. In the avatar selection screen, Alice and I had the option of choosing our Underworld avatars. I just never would have dreamed the game would regenerate an Underworld field.

"You've seen this place before?　But nobody else recognized it."

"Yeah, I'm not surprised. Nobody's supposed to know about this."

"......"

When the words escaped my lips in a murmur, Layla's gaze sharpened. Uh-oh. I said too much. How can I explain this to Layla...?

"Kirito, behind you!"

"What?!"

At Alice's warning, I took a quick step forward. I drew my sword at the same time, spun around, and assumed a battle stance. Asuna and Layla already had their weapons drawn.

"Grrr..."

Our attackers were smaller than humans, and had green skin. They gripped rusty swords and were growling at us.

"Are those...?"

Goblins from Underworld. They looked just like the goblins Eugeo and I fought at the End Mountains. I never thought I'd see one here...

"Kirito!　We'll ponder this later!"

Alice's sharp warning pierced the air, bringing me back to the moment. There were five goblins. Not the sort of opponent we should underestimate.

"...What's wrong. Something on your mind?"

Layla asked me in a searching way.

"Oh, uh...it's nothing. I'm fine. Let's go!"

Despite my expectations, the goblins were not all that tough to beat. Underworld goblins possessed Fluctlights, so there were unique differences between individuals. The game had not replicated that detail, but I still felt guilty killing them. It felt different than slaying ordinary monsters.

"......"

"Is there something you know about this area that I don't?"

Layla asked stiffly, after we'd defeated the goblins and Alice and I stood still in discomfort. Her voice was colored with suspicion and distrust.

"This area, those monsters...you know something, don't you."

"Y-Yeah...I've seen it all before."

Underworld was considered a state secret. I'd been told not to blab about it. For my own safety, I couldn't breathe a word to anybody about all the things that had happened there.

"Uh-huh... So you do know more than you're letting on. You know some secret truth!"

Layla's voice was filled with rage. She glared at us with the burning eyes of an enemy.

"Layla...what's come over you—"

"Set Michael free!　Set this game free! Let it go back to the way it was!"

"Whoa!"

I barely blocked Layla's whirling daggers. Blade shrieked against blade as she pushed me backwards. I had no idea Layla had such strength in her...

"Yah!"

I managed to parry her and tried to regain my footing. But Layla's relentless daggers didn't give me an inch. Each slash could spell my end if I failed to block it.

"Kirito!"

"Layla! Stop this madness!"

Asuna and Alice got between us, with Alice hurling herself at Layla to try and stop her. But in the game of Cross Edge, Layla was a cut above the rest. She evaded Alice's charge by a whisker, then threw her at Asuna as she was diving in to attack. Asuna and Alice slammed into each other, falling to the ground.

"Asuna!　Alice!"

Why was all of this happening? It was all so confusing that my brain couldn't make sense of it. But one thing was clear: I couldn't let Layla kill me. Not like this. Even though it was just a game...Cross Edge had some ominous rumors. To protect myself, and to protect Alice and Asuna, I had to make it through this...

"...I have to fight."

I drew my sword and faced off against Layla. Layla's hate-filled gaze grew even more intense.

"I swear I'll drag the truth out of you. I will save Michael."

I wasn't sure how long the fight lasted. Layla was a high-ranker. I knew I couldn't hold anything back.Then, the next thing I knew, Layla was splayed at my feet. She was cut all over and had taken a lot of damage. Asuna and Alice were in the same state.

"...Hey, you guys okay?"

"Yes. Are you all right, Kirito?"

"I'm fine. But Layla..."

"...I think she's just unconscious."

Asuna's voice brought me a fleeting moment of reassurance before the fatigue washed over me. The physical toll on my body...my suspicions of Layla...the guilt over getting Alice and Asuna wrapped up in this...and the ominous rumors about Cross Edge...it all shorted my brain, causing my vision to go blurry. Just as I was about to faint, somebody grabbed my hand.

"Whoa there. You okay, Kirito?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. Just a little tired..."

His voice was terribly reassuring. This was the presence that had held me up for so long. With him by my side, I could keep fighting forever...

I heard Asuna and Alice gasp. And it was then that my hazy consciousness cleared.

I opened my eyes...and was met with a pair of dark green eyes and flax-colored hair.

"Huh...?"

I would never mistake that face. Standing before my very eyes...was Eugeo.

"Eu-Eugeo...?"

"Yeah. You're looking well. It's a relief to see you again, Kirito."

"....."

As I stood there, too shocked to speak, Eugeo gave me a strange look.

"Eugeo...is that really you?"

"So this is Eugeo..."

Alice and Asuna were also too shocked to speak. But Eugeo didn't seem at all concerned. He crouched beside Layla on the ground.

"You shouldn't abandon an unconscious girl, Kirito. That's not like you."

"...Yeah. You're right. Sorry."

The other rumor circulating through Cross Edge...was that you could be reunited with the dead. And for what it was worth, that rumor had turned out to be true.