Sword Art Online Gameverse x Reader

Chapter 3: Back to Town

She pointed to a plate with a simple yet appetising plate of breakfast. For me? What's her scam?

Y/N: "... what are you after?"

Argo: "Nothing! 'onest! Well for now at least, but I told ya yesterday didn't I? That I came off way better in that deal of ours yesterday, this is to help ya recuperate! And I wanted to ask ya for somethin'..."

You sat down at the seat Argo reserved for you and offered her a grin.

Y/N: ".. Thanks for the meal, what's your question? Shoot."

Argo: "Ah, so ya face does work! That's the first time I've seen anythin' on ya face other than total neutrality! And its not so much a question as a request... pal, you ain't gonna try an' clear this whole game on as lil' as a nights rest a week are ya?"

Y/N: "..."

Argo: "I can see ya are real devoted to whateva it is goin' through ya head, but do ya think ya can handle the more intelligent mobs when we get to the higher floors when ya are on a sleep-deprived autopilot? Even if it's just a couple hours after two days of bein' out there, better than what ya were on before, right pal?"

Y/N: ". . . my face works just fine thank you"

Argo: "Nyehehehehe!"

FLASHBACK ENDS

Argo really seems to care about my health, I'd like to think its not just because of the info I can offer her but because she doesn't want me throwing my life away because I didn't look after it properly... 

*STAB* *STAB* *SHATTER* *STAB* *STAB* *SHATTER* 

*DING* *LEVEL UP!*

And I plan to take that into consideration when it's appropriate.

*STAB* *STAB* *SHATTER*

Like now, looks like I just levelled up again, and these kobolds are giving such a negligible amount of exp that I might as well head back to town, thankfully Argo gave me that map data; I didn't realise there was a map and I didn't map out anything for all the time I was out here.
But with this map data I should be able to find my way back to town way quicker than before!

*Timeskip to being back in town*

I suppose I can sell off my labyrinth map data and the mob details to Argo, see if I can get some info on these non-combat skill quests, cooking is great and all for keeping me going out on the field but I heard that smiths can use a portable smithing table to repair equipment out on the field, that would definitely come in handy!

I'm sure she's on that bench of hers, that bench I tried to claim I sat on every day when Argo first confro-

Argo: "'Ey U/N! Ya back, and the week ain't even over yet! What'ya got for me then?"

Y/N: "Think of the devil, I'm hoping for a trade of information... if you're interested in the map data for the labyrinth and it's mob details that is?"

Argo: "Aww, ya thinkin' of ol' Argo? I'm flattered! But onto this info ya offerin', of course I'll buy it from ya, but ya shouldn't go into the labyrinth on ya own, especially as the whole place was totally uncharted! Risks like that are what'll get ya killed!"

Y/N: ".. sorry mam!"

Argo: " ! ... so what are ya wantin' to trade for that risky labyrinth data of yours?"

Y/N: "I'd like info on how to unlock the non-combat skills, where to find the quests and any tips would be nice as well... if that's not asking too much?"

Argo: ".. I didn't expect that from ya at all, I reckon ya could count all the hours ya spent in the safe zones with just ya two hands! And again ya sellin' me info worth way more than what ya gettin', an' whats with ya sudden interest in town quests?"

Y/N: "That sounds like info I can sell down the line! And why don't we start putting all these overpayments on a record I can redeem later, like one of those old punchcard systems at coffee shops? 

Argo: "Now now! Let's not go getting street smart on ol' Argo now! Ya my best source of information, and so far nobodies come complain' so I've got a lotta faith in ya word U/N, I've even been puttin' some thought into a nickname for ya!"

Y/N: "I don't need a nickna-"

Argo: "As for what you asked for, I'll do a proper job of it for ya, then I'll send ya a message so ya can read it at ya leisure! How's that sound to ya?"

Y/N: "Yeh, that sounds good to me" you say as you navigate your menu to send her the information, as you hit send you notice someone walking towards the two of you.

Assuming it's another customer you turn back to Argo

Y/N: "Seems I'm not your only customer after all! I'll leave you to your busin-"

???: "Excuse me, but I couldn't help but overhear that you've mapped the entirety of the labyrinth solo, what say you-"

Argo: "Sorry pal, he's already sold the mapping to me, I'm sure my friend here wouldn't undercut me right in front of my face but I'm happy to talk business with ya."

You give a small smile to Argo, hoping to convey your thanks for handling the talking for you, she seemed to notice judging from that grin on her face.

???: "Oh, that wasn't my intention. I apologise. I was actually asking if you would be interested in attending the meeting I'll be holding tomorrow in Tolbana, it's the First Floor Boss Strategy Meeting"

People are planning to deal with the first boss already? I can't imagine that many people are cut out for it yet considering how few people I've actually seen in the Labyrinth, let alone its outskirts. But if they're planning to do the boss room, I want in.

Y/N: ". . . sure. Where and when?"

???: "There's an open-roof amphitheatre, we'll be meeting there, just take a seat and try to be there by 16:00 if you can- there's about 30 confirmed but it's an open meeting so we're hoping for more... oh and my name is Diavel."

Y/N: "16:00 huh? That gives me good time for my other commitments... I'll be there Diavel, and my username's U/N"

Diavel: "Good to hear! Someone of your resourcefulness will certainly be of great help to the cause. Now, Argo was it? I would like to buy the information about the Labyrinth that U/N had just relinquished to you-"

You begin walking away, looks like we're finally going to start making progress in clearing this game. You can't help but feel excited, the gamer in you is looking forward to a challenge and a new area to explore.

But as a survivor in this game, you'll need to remember to exercise an overly healthy amount of caution, this is a death game still after all, and if we've already lost over 2000 people before we even reached the boss I worry that we may take heavy casualties during the boss fight.

I'm as ready as I can be.

<Author's Note: This chapter came out way later than I wanted it to, there were a couple of rewrites to get to a point I was happy with, I feel the story may be progressing a little slower than it could be, but I'd like to think that it means I can flesh out this a/u a little more!
I think the next chapter will still not be fighting the boss, I've got a decent plan thought up for the next chapter though and I promise that Chapter 5 will feature the defeat of the first floor boss! >

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