Sword Art Online: Moonlight Swordman.

Following the directions Agil had once mentioned, Ren turned through a few winding wooden paths, passing stalls selling potions, weapons, and even… canned stew.

Eventually, he found it.

No longer just a makeshift booth under a tarp with a worn wooden sign in Tolbana, Agil now owned a proper shop, complete with a curved roof of dark wood, a sturdy oak door, and a sign mounted above that read:

"Agil's Gear & Goods – Reputation Builds Value."

Tucked into an unassuming corner of the trade district, the shop didn't stand out much.And yet… the number of players gathered there was surprisingly large.

Some walked out with scowls, clearly having failed to haggle the price down. Others beamed as they showed off new swords to their teammates.

The atmosphere was lively, but not as chaotic as the larger marketplaces.

Ren stopped in front of the store, looking through the well-cleaned glass window. He saw that familiar broad-shouldered figure laughing behind the counter, Agil, still the same bald-headed, warm-voiced man, chatting with a younger player.

A moment of peace. A steady presence in a world of constant turmoil.

Just as Ren stepped up to the door, it swung open from the inside. A young player walked out with a smile, clutching his newly purchased gear.

The small bell hanging above gave a cheerful chime.

"Thanks a lot!" the boy said with a polite bow, brushing past Ren.

Ren flinched. He gave a small bow in return, almost mimicking the gesture exactly, though the smile on his lips was faint, like a command executed with broken syntax.

Inside, Agil was wiping a fine layer of dust off some equipment with a thick cloth. When he noticed a customer entering, he looked up and offered a friendly smile.

"Welcome. Looking for something in particular?"

Ren stepped closer, nodding slightly. "Hello… long time no see."

It was just a polite greeting, but Agil paused. His smile didn't vanish, but something in his eyes shifted, like he was facing something… just a bit off.

"Hold on…" Agil squinted. "Have we met?"

Ren froze.

Agil tilted his head, drumming his fingers on the wooden counter. "I'm pretty good with faces, especially returning customers with unique features. But I don't think I've seen you before."

"Wait a sec… that voice…"

He suddenly stopped. His gaze sharpened as he looked at Ren, not in the way you size up a buyer, but the way you search for recognition.

As if a puzzle piece in his memory was twisting, trying to fit into place.

"You're…"

Ren blinked. "…I'm Ren."

The name came out so naturally, Ren barely realized he'd said it, until he saw Agil's eyes widen.

'Ah. That's right.'

'Agil has never seen my face before.'

All their previous meetings had been behind a shadowed hood, conversations exchanged in a rush or the gloom of passing markets.

The voice...perhaps familiar. The demeanor, maybe memorable. But the face? Completely unfamiliar.

So when someone who seemed like a stranger walked in and greeted him like an old friend, Agil's reaction… was understandable.

In the end, it wasn't just Agil who was caught off guard. Ren was, too.

Agil kept looking at Ren a moment longer, then chuckled, half-amused, half-mocking:

"If I had a face like that…" he said, dragging the words out, "…I'd be everywhere. Always. Might even post my own photo on the bulletin board to advertise."

Ren hesitated, unsure how to respond.

"…Doesn't suit me," he murmured, trying to stifle the awkwardness creeping into every breath.

Agil burst into laughter. A booming, genuine laugh, not teasing, just friendly.

"That personality hasn't changed, I see. Alright then, I doubt you came here just to hear me compliment your looks, right?"

Ren gave a slight nod. His expression calmed again.

"Right. I need a new sword."

Only then did Agil glance at Ren's waist. No scabbard. No strap. Just a quiet emptiness beneath the cloak.

He raised an eyebrow, scratching his shiny bald head, sounding a little surprised:

"Haven't seen you since the Starting Town, that day I told you about this shop…"

Agil paused, eyes seemingly drifting past Ren toward memories from the first floor, then continued, half-joking, half-sincere:

"Honestly, I thought you'd charge into the frontlines, fighting like mad alongside Kirito or Asuna. Weren't all of you pretty reckless when facing the first-floor boss?"

Ren gave a faint smile, a thin curve of the lips tinged with both self-mockery and calm.

He shook his head. "It broke. I need a new one… to catch up with the others."

The words weren't loud, but they were enough to quiet the air in the shop for a moment.

Agil nodded, asking nothing more.

"One-handed sword, right?" he changed tone, turning toward a rack of weapons along the wall. "Lucky timing. I just picked up a few good pieces. Not top-tier gear, but solid mid-range stats."

He glanced back. "Wanna take a look?"

Agil rummaged through the rack behind the counter. The light clink of metal rang out before he laid three swords carefully onto the wooden table.

"Each has its own style," he said, running a hand gently along the spine of one blade. "Not top-tier gear, but in your hands? I figure they'll do just fine."

Ren nodded slightly, then picked up the first sword and examined its stats, impressive enough.

[Steel Fang] +4

Description: A straight sword with a slender, elongated blade. The steel doesn't reflect much light, making it ideal for those who prefer to move in silence.

ATK: +90 (30)

Durability: 220/220

STR: +3

Trait: High swing speed, suited for players who favor evasion over blocking.

Passive: +3% chance to inflict Light Bleed on beast-type monsters.

Agil tapped the blade lightly. "This one's light and cuts fast, but don't expect it to handle heavy blows. It's for swordsmen who like to keep moving."

"Total damage is 120, including +30 from four successful enhancements. That's the safe limit, fifth enhancement has a 70% failure chance unless you collect the right materials."

Ren gently turned the sword in his hand, feeling the balanced weight and slender profile. The blade's surface reflected very little light, matte and muted, as if it belonged more to shadows than sunlight.

He gave a test swing through the air. There was virtually no resistance.

A clean, quick, razor-sharp slash, like a breeze slipping across a throat. Not overly powerful, but precise.

Ren glanced again at the stat window. The italicized (30) after the +90 made him frown slightly, that was the bonus from four safe enhancements, the maximum without risk.

"It's forged from alloy dropped by Iron Boars," Agil added, still digging beneath the counter. "Common stuff on Floor Two, but good blacksmiths know how to compress the metal to make it tougher. That one you're holding is the best of the mid-tier batch."

Ren nodded quietly and set the sword down again, a flicker of hesitation passing across his eyes.

"If you want," Agil said, catching that look, "I can hold it for you for a bit. But if someone else shows up with the full price, I've gotta sell. Business rules."

Ren gave a short nod, then reached for the second sword.

[Stonebite] +3

Description: A short, thick, and heavy blade. Not as sharp as traditional swords, but its broad point and thick spine feel like a single slash could crush through anything.

ATK: +110 (35)

Durability: 180/180

STR: +4

Trait: Slower swing speed, but has a small chance to stun with horizontal slashes.

Passive: +5% damage against monsters with armor or hard shells.

Agil chuckled, his low voice rumbling."With this one, you don't have to worry about the armored turtles or those stone-shelled worms around this floor... But time your swings right, miss once, and you'll eat a full counterattack."

Ren said nothing, simply placed Stonebite back down, then turned to the last sword.

[Windslash] +3

Description: A blade that looks like it was made to cut wind. The design is slightly unusual, gently curved forward, with a pale silver-gray leather grip. It carries a chill like dawn mist, and just by looking, you can feel the speed coiling around it.

ATK: +80 (16)

Durability: 200/200

STR: +2

AGI: +2

Passive: +10% attack speed for the first strike in combat.

Hidden Buff: When HP drops below 30%, gain +5% attack speed for 10 seconds.

Agil laid the sword down using both hands, like presenting a weapon made for an outlier.

"This one's for risk-takers," he said, eyeing Ren. "The more hurt you are, the faster you strike... sound familiar? Pretty much the way you fought that first-floor boss."

Then he gave a quiet laugh, not mocking, but nostalgic. "It dropped from a giant wind bee on Floor Two. Not high-tier, but don't underestimate the passives."

Ren didn't choose immediately, but looked up and asked:

"What about prices?"

Agil smiled slyly, then pointed to each sword in turn.

"Brace yourself. Weapons don't come cheap now that you're not stuck on Floor One."

Steel Fang +4: 7,200 Cor

Stonebite +3: 8,000 Cor

Windslash +3: 9,000 Cor

Ren muttered under his breath, "Why don't you just rob me."

His voice wasn't loud, but sharp enough to slice through the space between them. A few players nearby turned their heads, curious.

Agil simply shrugged, completely unbothered. "I'd love to. But believe me, that's already close to what I paid for them."

He raised both hands, as if declaring his innocence. "You know me, I'm not the kind to overcharge just because someone walks through the door. This is the friend price."

Ren shook his head, not arguing, not complaining. He just stared at the three swords laid out before him as if reading a riddle with no words.

After a short silence, his fingers touched the hilt of the curved blade, the one that shimmered like wind slicing across a still lake.

"…I'll take Windslash," Ren said softly,not with conviction, but like confirming something quietly to himself.

Agil simply nodded, asking nothing more.