Sword Art Online Light Novel Volume 09

Part 1
Woodcutter Eugeo is in the middle of chopping down a giant tree, more specifically, the «Gigas Cedar». This is Eugeo's and his friend Kirito's «Sacred Task», as this tree is quite resistant, even with several generations and more than three hundred years of diligent daily chopping using the equally tough «Dragon Bone Axe». At the moment, only one mel had been cut through, with three more mels to chop down. Eugeo and Kirito lives in Rulid Village, which is a part of the «Norlangarth North Empire». In order to expand the fields and pastures, the «Gigas Cedar» must be cut down to enter the forest behinds it. However, at the rate, it would take about nine hundred years more to chop the tree down. Work time now over, Kirito and Eugeo begin grappling each other before halting at hearing a scolding voice of the friend Alice. Alice is the village chief's daughter studying the Rulid Village sacred arts. At noon, she brings lunch to Kirito and Eugeo. What seems like a harmless question on how to make their food's «Life» last longer, becomes a quest to search for something that will keep their bento cool - finding ice in the forbidden «Mountain Range at the Edge».

Part 2
Eugeo and Kirito impatiently wait for Alice so they can finally go to the mountain range to find ice. While walking, Eugeo ponders on their future, and their past, before being chosen to his «Sacred Task» as a woodcutter. Kirito, believing that they can still choose their desired «Sacred Task» as a guard, wants to cut down the «Gigas Cedar» in two years. Eugeo refutes the idea, since the dream was impossible. Before lunch, they disbelievingly reached the mountain pass. Going into the dark cave in the pass, the air grew considerably colder, enabling them to see their breaths, even though it is summer. However, walking further into the cave was a surprise: white dragon bones, belonging to the white dragon who lived in the cave, killed by a sword. The question the trio are asking, who?

Part 3
Alice, Eugeo, and Kirito comes to the conclusion that the Integrity Kight did it. Kirito moves the ramains, only to find a sword, the «Sword of Blue Rose». It is absurdly heavy, forcing Kirito to leave the new found treasure, before going back to the original purpose for why they are there: ice. After achieving their goal, they readily heads back for the village, only to find themselves lost. They take the wrong path, ending up in the Dark Territory, a devil tribe. Alice, Eugeo, and Kirito arrive just when the White Integrity Knight fight the mysterious black knight. After a few minutes of intense clashing, the black knight is killed and Alice, unintentionally, falls forward and grazes her hand on the Devil's territory. Eugeo and Kirito, in a dazed state, carries Alice home to Rulid Village.

Part 4
The next day started off as normal, but at lunch, the Integrity Knight appears at Rulid Village to come to take Alice away for interrogation, then execution because of a broken rule in the Taboo Index. Kirito, in an attempt to free Alice, goes after the Knight with his axe, but was forced down by the other villagers. Eugeo stays frozen in his fear. The Integrity Knight ignores the commotion and leaves on his dragon with Alice bound to the saddle.