Chapter 19: Shengzai Has a Sarcastic Trait Too?

Due to “Weapon Block,” Shengzai took a direct hit from the Dogman Lord and plummeted to the ground like a meteor.

But due to the nature of “Weapon Block,” the Dogman Lord’s nodachi was violently repelled by the recoil, leaving his defenses wide open.

At the moment Shengzai shouted “Switch,” Asuna dashed across the ground at astonishing speed and arrived before the fallen Dogman Lord in an instant.

Her slender sword “Flying Star” glowed as a series of rapid, invisible thrusts exploded across the Dogman Lord’s body, draining his HP to the absolute limit!

After using a skill in SAO, there is a brief stun state.

In boss fights, to avoid being instantly killed during this stun, players use the “Switch” mechanism.

Asuna’s continuous thrusts had reduced the Dogman Lord’s HP to the brink, yet he finally stabilized himself and swung his nodachi down at Asuna!

“Switch!”

As Asuna spoke, Kirito finally descended from the air and plunged his sword straight through the Dogman Lord’s skull just as the beast was about to strike!

That descending strike instantly emptied the Dogman Lord’s HP bar, causing him to shatter and vanish on the spot.

“Whoa! We finally killed it!”

“Great! We did it! We’ve taken down the first-floor boss!”

With the first-floor boss defeated, the teleportation channel to the second floor opened.

The members of the strategy group who witnessed this all erupted in excitement instantly.

This victory by the strategy group over the first-floor boss gave everyone immense confidence.

Moreover, as the first to clear the floor, they would be the first players to enter the second floor and gain early access to its resources—obviously a huge advantage.

After delivering the final blow, Kirito received the special reward: “Night Cloak.”

Yet just as he put it on, preparing to begin his overpowered life as the “Black-Cloaked Swordsman,” a troublemaker suddenly jumped out again.

“Why? If you knew the boss’s moves all along, why didn’t you share the info earlier?”

“Do you realize Diabel almost got killed by that boss just now?!”

“This isn’t a game anymore—if Diabel’s HP had dropped to zero, he would’ve died for real!”

Hearing Yagami’s words, Kirito—who had just donned the black cloak and was praising Asuna’s perfect coordination—froze in place.

Already awkward with social interaction, he was left speechless by Yagami’s accusations, standing dumbfounded.

Diabel, who had just consumed a healing potion and restored his HP to safety, finally came to his senses.

Seeing Kirito’s black cloak and the open teleportation channel behind him, his expression turned complicated.

“Enough, Yagami. This is my own fault—I can’t blame them.”

“Besides, if not for Mr. Shengzai, I would’ve been dead just now.”

Diabel hadn’t expected that after all his efforts, someone else would reap the reward.

To be honest, though he felt regret, he ultimately accepted the outcome with resignation.

He’d pushed himself so hard partly out of selfish motives, and without Shengzai’s intervention, he truly would be dead now.

“Mr. Diabel, are you really just going to let this go? If these beta testers hadn’t hidden the info, you wouldn’t have…”

“Yagami, I said that’s enough! If not for Mr. Shengzai, I’d be dead right now!”

“Our goal was to defeat the floor boss—and we did. We should be celebrating, not stirring up conflict among players!”

Diabel was utterly speechless at the troublemaker. He’d once thought Yagami would make a decent subordinate.

But now he realized he needed to reconsider—Yagami was loyal, certainly, but his brain was severely lacking.

And not only was his brain lacking, he kept making suffocatingly stupid moves.

Diabel understood the full context: Shengzai and the others had spared him the humiliation by not exposing his failure.

But to Diabel’s shock, Yagami still insisted on dragging this issue out.

“I truly don’t understand how someone with a brain that hasn’t even fully developed can survive in this world.”

“I thought you were just dumb, but now I see you’re completely brainless. Arguing with someone without a brain is my mistake.”

“I’d try to explain to you, but your walnut-sized brain couldn’t possibly comprehend it. So goodbye forever.”

Shengzai waved his hand, not even glancing at Diabel or the furious Yagami behind him, and walked straight into the teleportation channel to the second floor.

Hearing Shengzai’s scathing words—without a single curse—Asuna blinked in surprise: “Does Shengzai have a sarcastic trait too?”

After two days of interaction, Shengzai had always seemed polite and erudite to her—she never imagined he had a sarcastic side.

And this kind of sarcasm—no profanity, yet capable of driving someone to rage—was something few could withstand.

“That means he’s truly angry. In all the years I’ve known him, occasions where he reveals this hidden sarcastic trait are extremely rare.”

Seeing Shengzai leave without even saying goodbye, Kirito knew his best friend was genuinely furious.

Just as Kirito was about to follow him into the second floor, Diabel suddenly called out to him and Asuna.

“Regarding Yagami, I apologize on his behalf. You can see he has no ill intent—he’s just blunt and impulsive.”

“And thank you both for saving me and cleaning up my mess by defeating the boss. Otherwise, the consequences would’ve been catastrophic.”

“Because of my selfish desires, I nearly caused a disaster. I apologize again to both of you.”

As Diabel spoke, he bowed deeply to Kirito and Asuna.

His humility, combined with Kirito and Asuna’s naturally kind natures, instantly dissolved whatever little resentment they’d held.

“Besides the apology, there’s one other thing…”

(End of Chapter)