Sword Art Online Episode 05

A Murder Case in the Area (圏内事件) is the fifth episode of the Sword Art Online anime adaptation. It aired on August 4, 2012.

Plot
On March 6th, 2024; there was a meeting at the 56th floor: «Pani», where all the top players in the «Lead group» were discussing about the advancement of the game. In this meeting, Asuna; the vice-commander of the «Knights of the Blood Oath»; debates with Kirito intensely over the strategies to fight against boss.

Later on at April 11th, Asuna finds Kirito sleeping at the grass hill on the 59th floor: «Danac» and tries to tell him off for not working at the front line, however after following Kirito’s reply; she rest beside him to test his theory and fell asleep. When Asuna woke up from her eight hour sleep, she notices Kirito watching beside her and almost attacks him before remembering what happen. To thank Kirito for protecting her as she was sleeping, Asuna tries to treat him to a meal at a NPC restaurant on the 57th floor: «Martin». Although, before they can eat; they heard a scream outside and hurried there to investigate.

Upon arriving, Kirito and Asuna witness a murder within the city, which should have been impossible due to the «anti-crime prevention» feature. A heavy armored player was hanged by a rope in front of a church; appeared to have been pushed out of a window while impaled with a spear, and finally shattered into blue shards by the effects of the «Continuous Piercing damage DOT». As the killed player was still in the city boundaries, Kirito believe that the cause of death was losing all his health in a duel with another player. However, the «Winner» notification for such a duel did not appear, thus eliminating that possibility. While investigating a murder case, Kirito and Asuna interview a witness: «Yoruko», who claimed that she was supposed to meet up with the victim: «Kains».

After retrieving the murder weapon and leaving Yoruko in the safety of an INN, Kirito and Asuna went to player’s shop at the 50th floor: «Arcade» and have it appraised by Agil. After deciphering that the weapon: «Guilty Thorn» was created by a player name «Grimrock», Kirito was about to test if the weapon can harm him inside the city, but Asuna stop him before he can stab his right hand. They left the shop after leaving the weapon to Agil.

The next day, Kirito and Asuna met up with Yoruko at a café, and learn that Yoruko, Kains, and Grimrock were former member of the dispatched «Golden Apple» guild who lost their leader: «Griselda»; killed because of a rare ring and by the effects of the «Continuous pierce damage DOT». Yoruko mentions that Grimrock was the leader «in-game husband», and the killer’s motive may possibly be after the three Golden Apple’s members who opposed to selling the ring: Kains, Yoruko, and «Schmidt»; a member of the «Divine Dragon Alliance». By Yoruko’s request, Kirito and Asuna bring Schmidt to have him meet with Yoruko.

During their conversation, Yoruko tells Schmidt that she believes that the killer was the vengeful ghost of their deceased female leader: Griselda. Since a normal player cannot kill another inside the safe area. Suddenly as Kirito, Asuna and Schmidt was watching the panicking Yoruko as she sat on the windowsill, she was murdered in front of them; stabbed on the back with another spear from the outside and fell through the second floor window. As Kirito call out her name, she supposedly died in front of his eyes by the scene of broken blue shard.

New Characters

 * Yoruko
 * Kains
 * Schmitt
 * Grimlock

Guilds

 * Golden Apple

Locations

 * Aincrad Floor 56: Pani
 * Aincrad Floor 59: Danac

Adaptation Notes

 * Adapted from Sword Art Online Light Novel Volume 08


 * In the light novel, the Guilty Thorn was robbed by Schmitt of the Divine Dragon Alliance after Kirito and Asuna leaves Agil's shop.