Sword Art Online Episode 05

A Crime Within the Walls (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 is a meeting at the 56th floor, «Pani», where all the top players in the «Lead group» are discussing the advancement of the game. In this meeting, Asuna – the vice-commander of the «Knights of the Blood» – debates with Kirito intensely over strategies to fight against the boss.

Later, on 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 lines. However after listening to Kirito’s reply, she rests beside him to test his theory and falls asleep with him. When Asuna wakes up from her eight hour sleep, she notices Kirito watching over her and almost attacks him before remembering what happened. 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, «Marten». Before they can eat, however, they hear a scream outside and hurry there to investigate.

Upon arriving, Kirito and Asuna witness a murder within the city, which should be impossible due to the «Anti-Crime Prevention» feature in the game. A heavily armored player is hung by a rope in front of a church, appearing to have been pushed out of a window after being impaled with a spear, and finally shattering into blue shards by the effects of the «Continuous Piercing Damage DOT». As the killed player is still within the city boundaries, Kirito believes that the cause of death was losing all his health in a duel with another player. However, the «Winner» notification for such a duel does not appear, eliminating that possibility. While investigating the murder case, Kirito and Asuna interview a witness, «Yolko», who claims that she was supposed to meet up with the victim, «Caynz».

After retrieving the murder weapon and leaving Yolko in the safety of an Inn, Kirito and Asuna travel to a player shop on the 50th floor, «Algade», to have it appraised by Agil. Agil deciphers that the weapon, «Guilty Thorn», was created by a player named «Grimlock». Kirito attempts to test if the weapon can harm him inside the city, but Asuna stops him before he can stab his hand. They exit the shop after leaving the weapon with Agil.

The next day, Kirito and Asuna meet up with Yolko at a café, and learn that Yolko, Caynz, and Grimlock were former members of the defunct «Golden Apple» guild which lost their leader, «Griselda», who mysteriously died in possession of the guild rare ring drop by the effects of the «Continuous pierce damage DOT». Yolko mentions that Grimlock was the leader's «in-game husband», and that the killer may possibly be after the three Golden Apple members who were opposed to selling the ring: Caynz, Yolko, and «Schmitt». By Yolko’s request, Kirito and Asuna bring Schmitt to have him meet with Yolko.

During their conversation, Yolko tells Schmitt that she believes that the killer is the vengeful ghost of their deceased female leader «Griselda» since no normal player could kill another inside the safe area. Suddenly as Kirito, Asuna and Schmitt are watching the panicked Yolko, she is murdered in front of them, stabbed in the back from a dagger through the open window. As she falls from the second floor window, Kirito rushes to the window to call her name but she shatters into blue shards in front of his eyes.

New Characters

 * Yolko
 * Caynz
 * Schmitt
 * Grimlock
 * Griselda
 * Lisbeth (mentioned)

Guilds

 * Knights of the Blood
 * Fuurinkazan
 * Divine Dragon Alliance
 * Golden Apple

Inventory

 * Agil
 * Guilty Thorn - for safekeeping

Locations

 * Aincrad Floor 50 Algade
 * Aincrad Floor 56 Pani
 * Aincrad Floor 57 Marten
 * Aincrad Floor 59 Danac

Adaptation Notes

 * Adapted from Sword Art Online Light Novel Volume 08 and Sword Art Online Material Edition 1: The Progressers 


 * Asuna and Kirito's argument at the beginning of the episode originally came from the first material edition.
 * In the light novel, Kirito, Asuna and Agil journey to the 1st floor and check the name of the victim on the «Monument of Life».
 * Asuna and Kirito's meal with Heathcliff was omitted.
 * In the light novel, the Guilty Thorn was robbed by Schmitt of the Divine Dragon Alliance after Kirito and Asuna leave Agil's shop.
 * In the light novel, Kirito goes outside the Area and uses a throwing pick to corroborate the piercing damage, but in the a'nime he tries to do it with the Guilty Thorn.

Quotes

 * "No, the third is impossible. I kind of hate to admit it, but SAO's rules are essentially fair. I can't imagine this game allowing murders in safe areas." - Kirito