Hmmm ... oh I guess it is that time isn't it's me Night Assailant and as you can see I'm the one to greet you for the day even though it was a lot of trouble trying to stay here and not trying to draw monsters attention so I hope you're grateful that I actually waited for you guys anyway on these news we had another shoot up in readers reading in the 515 views and more reading list which I am not going to lie I was blown away from the number and I'll say this that I am 😶 glad that you guys enjoy it and know that if any of you look teasing me I'll kill you anyway that's all I have to say I'm going now
Joker Pov
As I was standing there and I was warped back to floor 76 and when I did I moved back the console and doubled check
' All right that seems to be no problem now coming back to the Hollow Area '
I then thought about everything that happened over there and then said to myself
" Philla seems like a mysterious person I can tell there's more to her than meets the eye she said that she killed someone but I don't by it for a second she doesn't look like the type to then again as is most people but I hope I can find out why"
As I was thinking about it more I was cut off from my train of thought when I had running footsteps and I looked and saw Leafa and Silica
Leafa : " Joker ! "
Silica : " Hey Joker ! "
Leafa: " T-Thank goodness "
" Leafa, Silica it's good to see you both "
Silica : " We are too, when we lost your location information and then when you were gone for a long time we got really worried "
" Hey don't worry you too it takes more than a unknown area to do me in so it's fine really "
I said re-ensuring them and then I remember how close I was cutting it back there if I have been alone and Philla didn't decide to help me things would have really gone South quickly, but I was put away from that thought when I heard more people running up turning out to be Asuna where my stomach dropped remembering all that transpired before and I gulped
" J- Joker ! "
" A- Asuna "
" A- Are you okay ?! "
" Yes I'm fine please calm down "
" T- thank goodness you're alright.
We and no idea what happened to you. It's been such a long time and no one had heard anything from you.
You we're lost for a whole day! You could have at least sent you a message to someone "
" Yeah sorry about that I would has if I could... wait what the hell I was gone for a whole day! "
" What do you mean if you could have did something happen, but still your a idiot you're worse than Kirito?!?! "
And she then started to cry and I came to her and hugged her to calm her down
" There there Asuna don't cry I'm sorry for making you worried I'll make more careful from now on "
And she nodded while wiping her tears away and I heard footsteps and saw Kirito and a not-so-happy Yui which made sense when I thought about it
Yui: " .... "
" Hey there Yui I'm sorry for making you and Asuna worried and before you start blowing up like Mount Vesuvius I already apologized to Asuna and and I'll try to be more careful from now on "
She looked unconvinced at first, but then looked to Asuna who nodded and she nodded back and looked a little better
" Alright Big Brother just make sure not to worry mommy so much there's only so much that her heart can take "
As I nodded and then I remembered I was till in my Phantom Theif attire and I realized how exhausted that fight with the Skull Reaper and plus the walk there and fighting off those smaller enemies
" Anyway I'll explain everything that happened that inn "
Asuna: " Oh ok "
Asuna then hugs and I hug her back and then unexpectedly he then hugs my arm very tightly
" A- Asuna what are you doing "
" I don't want my little brother getting lost again... "
And I didn't see that coming
" Little brother? "
I look down at Asuna and see that she still crying while holding my arm
" R-Right, let's head to the inn "
And we all started heading back to the n and Kirito walked up to me chuckling
" I warned you this what happen if you made Asuna worried "
He said patting my back
" But I'm glad you are safe and sound "
" Yea. Thanks. "
I looked down at Asuna feeling bad for making her worried
' I really made them worry I only remember feeling that during that time I got done being interrogated and captured by the police and seeing my team really worried about me and maybe they really do care as much as they do anyway I'll message that others that were coming '
(Timeskip)
After walking over there they were relieved to see that was okay though Sinon though she play it off nonchalantly is now a good starting to explain to them what happened
Kirito: " So that confirms it. This much either game glitching again can force you to teleport to another area. "
Sinon: " Forced teleportation. Wouldn't that be the same thing that happened to me and Leafa "
Leafa: " Wait does that mean you got transported to another world Joker? "
" No. This place I was sent you was still part of Sao. No doubt about that. More like a hidden area if anything "
Sinon: " A hidden area? Do things like that really exist here "
" it sure felt like one because I've been different hidden areas before and it this one did seem like it "
????
As they looked at me questioningly and I realize what I said and said that during this time I haven't really does hidden areas before in this game should I do to make my grinding and try to explore but never to the extent of that
' I may want to countdown experiences I had in Palaces and in the Metaverse before they start becoming suspicious '
" Anyway I think there's a high possibility of getting a hold of some powerful equipment and items by killing monsters there "
Kirito: "Oh really? I like the sound of that"
"Same. Which is why I want to go back there soon but now wouldn't be a good time especially- (Yawn) since going in there really made me bushed "
As I stretched and I thought that during the time there that there's barely really any opportunity to rest there till Philla and I found that Administration area
Asuna: " Is it really possible for areas like that to remain undiscovered though? Do you know anything about it Yui? "
Yui: " There are definitely areas in Aincred that for some various reasons funny how you playing haven't been told about. And those areas want to see what off right now to the store with the game, so that one could access them. "
Kirito: " Players have no way of entering non-public areas right ? "
" That's right. But the Cardinal system is unstable right now. If you consider that, it doesn't seem very impossible to have something like this could happen."
Asuna: " I see. Thank you for the explanation, Yui.
" I don't think I did a very good job. I wish I knew more about the systems operational status "
Joker: " No you told us exactly what we needed to know "
I say patting Yui's heard
" Oh,good! As long as I'm helping you big brother I'm happy "
Liz: " So Yui. What about what you was outside earlier about being new materials and stuff in this area "
" I think it's a possibility "
" I see. Unknown materials. New skill it's all pretty exciting! Hee hee!
Kirito: " Maybe I could learn some new sword skills! "
Silica: " Maybe there'll be something there that I'll be able to power up Pina! "
Sinon: " Maybe I'll be able to get stronger weapons "
Leafa: " Me too! I'll get more.
Asuna: " Hold on everyone! Are you seriously thinking about going to this place?! "
Joker: " Yea guys as much as I want to go back now but that place is extremely tough and if you're not properly prepared you have your butt handed to you "
As everyone was shocked can you hear me say that and I raised my eyebrows
" What ? "
Liz: " Well it's just just a shock is off because well since we're used to a certain swordsman always rushing headfirst and you're done then it's just sucking is all "
Kirito: " Hey ! "
Joker: " 😓 Okay ? Hm "
Then I remind myself of Philla
" Oh that reminds me I met a another person their with me while I was there "
Asuna " Someone? "
And as soon as I mention that everyone except for Kirito started to glare at me
" Mmmm. Why are you on glaring at me "
Yui: " Big Brother. This person"
Sinon: " It's a girl, isn't it "
Joker: " Yeahhh. How did you know ? I met her at the hollow area. Her name is Philia "
Asuna: " I knew !!! You're just as bad as Kirito ! "
Kirito :" What that supposed to mean ? "
Sinon: " I thought you said you weren't messing around? Turns out you were just sweet talkin this girl the whole time "
Joker: " Oh for the love of Messiah. If you call fighting a Skullreapers messing around that's exactly what I was doing "
Kirito and Asuna looked completely shocked
Leafa: " What are Skull Reapers "
Asuna: " The Skull Reaper was the boss for floor 75 "
Kirito: " And it killed half of the assault team when we fought it "
Leafa: " Oh "
Joker: " Yeah. Me and Philia were able to kill both of them. They weren't and as powerful as the boss itself if only two people can fight them. They were just as strong "
Asuna " Then it's a good thing that you're not going anywhere else today you are going to rest "
Then I nodded and said
" Alright "
And as soon as I did she took my arm started taking me to my room for whatever reason, I can't help but notice are girls that were left I couldn't help but see a hint of jealousy and their eyes for whatever reason
Timeskip
As Asuna open my door and sat me down at my bed as well as she did
Joker: " I'm sorry for having to worry you and other so much "
As she shook her head and said with a soft
" Oh it's fine you don't need to apologize what are friends for and they worry about each other and their safety besides like I said I see you as my little brother and yui sees you as a big one which practically makes us family not in a real sense but it's still the same "
As I was shocked as and then had a smile and I switched into my my casual clothes and remove my mask being replaced with my glasses
As I was I couldn't help but feel eyes on me so I used my passive skill
" Third Eye "
And looked and saw it was Asuna
Asuna Pov
As Joker was switching out hear gear I couldn't help but watching because well meaning of others well over time came to a conclusion that we noticed about him and that was he was hiding something I know it's bad to speculate but we all came to the same conclusion because whenever he was always shrouded in mystery and he always had an unreadable look which is part of the reason why I made him a part of me and Kirito's partner when we going to dungeons so that way we could get a read on him and see what he's hiding and maybe we could help him lower his guard because I did trust them but if it turns out that there's something about him that could endanger I mean one I'm going to make sure I know what's what so I'm going to make sure to try to gain his trust and have what he is hiding out in the open
' I'm sorry Joker '
Joker Pov
As I got done and saw Asuna and she smiled at me and said
" Good night little brother see you tomorrow since I have a meeting with the blood oath so I'm going to have to go rest well and know we mean not be related by blood I care about you all the same and I can tell that the same and care about you so goodbye
She said before walking off it left me alone with my thoughts and I remember the look that she tell that's her and others don't fall away trust me yet so I guess even with the bonds I have with them it's not going to be as others
" Everyone "
" please be safe"
Well everyone seems that Joker still doesn't fully trust them after all but what will this new development turn out after finding out that the others don't fully trust him either how will this affect they're saying only the future knows find out on the next episode of Sword Art Online Hollow fragment: Hollow Theif
And sorry for not after dating for a while just needed to Serious brainstorm Matt session be as big of a gap anymore well see you till then