Sword Art Online Episode 06

Phantom Avenger (幻の復讐者) is the sixth episode of the Sword Art Online anime adaptation. It aired on August 11, 2012.

Plot
After witnessing Yolko dispersing into fragments, Kirito spotted the hooded murderer fleeing from the crime scene and attempted to capture him. During the pursue, the hooded murderer took out the teleportation crystal. When Kirito notices this, he uses his blade throwing skills to stop the hooded man but it was blocked by the safe area protection. Unfortunately, the hooded murderer got away by using the teleportation crystal and because of the bell, Kirito was not able to hear where he was going.

Frustrated in his failed attempt to capture the perpetrator, Kirito return to the room and slammed his fist against the wall; displaying the «Immortal Object» screen. Meanwhile Asuna was guarding the terrified Schmitt, who fully believes that the murderer is the vengeful ghost of their deceased guild leader: Griselda, because of the assailant’s robe that is similar to Griselda’s outfit. But Kirito still believes that it was not a ghost but a logical explanation to the two murders within the safe areas.

After sending Schmitt back to the «Divine Dragon Alliance» main base, Kirito and Asuna contemplate about the recent events. Asuna begins to believe that the black robed player is really Griselda's ghost by having to seen it twice. But Kirito still insist that it was not a ghost, because ghost would not be able to use a teleport crystal. It seem Kirito had an explaination consider to the teleport crystal but quickly disregard it after. After a moment, Asuna gives Kirito, a sandwich. Kirito praises the sandwich and though the sandwich was brought but soon found out that it was handmade from Asuna. Kirito jokingly suggests to auction Asuna's handmade food, in order to get rich. This anger Asuna causing Kirito to loss grip of his sandwich. As he witness the sandwich shatters into fragments, Kirito at first seem upset with the disappearance of the sandwich but in reality, realizes the truth of the crime, exclaiming, "what we saw was actually something else and that there have never been any weapons or logic that could make murders possible in safe areas."

While at the 19th floor: «Hill of the Cross», Schmitt visits Griselda's grave, asking forgiveness. Than a ghost like voice is heard, repeatedly saying "Really?" frightening Schmitt. Than something began to get close to him quickly, Schmitt turn around and found a rabbit. Schmitt relieve, turn around to find the hooded ghost. The ghost ask Schmitt, "What did you do?" and grab out a sword. Frighten, Schmitt confessed that on the day, he was given a crystal and a memo were in his belt pouch, but was interrupt by a man voice saying "Whose orders?" Schmitt thought the man was a ghost of Grimlock. Schmitt reply saying he does not know who give the order and admit to never murdering anyone. The two ghost is revealed to be Yolko and Caynz.

Returning back to Kirito and Asuna, Kirito states that Yolko and Caynz were in fact still alive. Explaining that within safe areas, player's HP cannot lower under normal circumstances but objects on the other hand, expire like the sandwich. The spear that pierce Caynz's armor, didnt lower Caynz's HP, but only the armor's durability, explaining the dispersing shards. And by timing for the moment the armor broke, Caynz teleported away resulting an imitation of death. And as for Yolko, Kirito estimate that Yolko had the dagger in her the entire time she was talking to them because she never once stood with her back to them. When the timing was right, she acted like a dagger from outside had hit her. And their plan was to bring Schmitt to their old leader’s grave, and record his confession for aiding the murder of Griselda.

Meanwhile, Schmitt realizes Yolko and Caynz's plan, and state that he was only following an order that someone had paid a lot of money for him to do. Schmitt than was attack by a dagger that causes him to be paralyzed. The attacker were members from the player killing guild Laughing Coffin. They came with intention to kill Schmitt, Yolko, and Caynz. Just as the situation was looking grim, Kirito arrives in time to save them on a horse and scare off the player killers by claiming that he has reinforcements arriving soon. Heeding to Kirito’s warning, «PoH», «Red-Eyed XaXa» and «Johnny Black» depart from the scene. Schimitt thanks Kirito for saving them but ask how he knew they would be ambush. Kirito respond, that he didn't know, but thought it was a possibility.

Kirito begins asking questions about the two weapons made by Grimlock. Yolko and Caynz admits that Grimlock was not willing at first but eventually gave into their request. Kirito tells them that Grimlock didn't oppose to their plan for Griselda's sake. Suprising Yolko and Caynz.

Kirito recalls the conversation with Asuna. Asuna ask Kirito, what he would do if he got a legendary drop. Kirito responds, hating that kind of situations, so that is why he went solo. Asuna respond, that in her guild, they have a rule, that the item belongs to the person who received it. She continues saying that in SAO, it's up to the player to announce what he or she received after a battle. That it is better to set a rule like her guild to prevent having secrets and lies. Asuna. This rule would make marriages to mean something in SAO. Explaining that once you're married, the item storage is shared with the significant other. After getting married, the player cannot hide anything anymore. Asuna thought it was romantic and realistic. Kirito with curiosity, ask if Asuna was ever married. Asuna misunderstood, was prepared to attack with a fork. Kirito quickly clear up the misunderstanding and realize something about the storage sharing. Kirito ask what would happen to the items if a significant other dies. The answer was mostly likely that all of the decease's item would be given to the partner. Leading them to believe that the rare ring in Griselda's storage must have went to Grimlock, and not the murderer. And that Grimlock stole the ring from his own storage.

Now in the present time, Caynz question if it was Grimlock that send the memo and killed Griselda. Kirito explains that Grimlock hired the Laughing Coffin to commit the murder. Kirito also justify that Grimlock help Yolko and Caynz's plan so he can use that to bury the ring case forever. Waiting for a chance for all three of them to get together and exterminate them for good. Explaining the appearance of the Laughing Coffin.

Asuna arrives with a captured Grimlock the client of the «Laughing Coffin» who was watching from a distance. After being cornered, he admitted that he was the mastermind behind the death of his wife, whose real name is «Yuuko». His actual motive was that he did not want her personality to change from what it was originally in the real world. Believing that his Yuuko had vanished and wanting to keep Yuuko as she appeared in his memories forever, he decided to kill her, convinced that he killed his wife out of love. Asuna corrects him, saying that it was not love, but a feeling of possession. Startled by Asuna's word, Grimlock fell to the ground shaken. Schmitt, Caynz, and Yolko come to Grimlock, take him by the arm and ask if they may take Grimlock, to which Kirito agrees.

As the case draws to a close, Asuna ask if Kirito what he would do if he was to get married, and notice a side of his partner that he had not known before. Suprising Kirito, he replies that he would be lucky to be married to someone because that would mean they would love every side of their partner that they already know. Before leaving, Kirito grab Asuna's arm to show her Yuuko's ghost and felt that the Yuuko can now rest in peace. Asuna suddenly ask if they can add each other as friends, but Kirito still insist that he was a solo player, but Asuna urge him to think about while they get some food as they head back to town.

New Characters

 * PoH
 * XaXa
 * Johnny Black
 * Grimlock

Guilds

 * Golden Apple
 * Knights of the Blood
 * Divine Dragon Alliance
 * Laughing Coffin

Inventory

 * Caynz
 * Teleport Crystal
 * Asuna
 * Sandwich
 * Kirito
 * Throwing Pick x 3
 * Sandwich - given by Asuna
 * Yolko
 * Record Crystal
 * Guilty Spike
 * PoH
 * Mate Chopper

Location

 * Aincrad Floor 19: Hill of the Cross

Adaptation Notes

 * Adapted from Volume 8 A Murder Case in the Area.


 * In the LN, Asuna and Kirito go over to the 20th Floor in an attempt to ambush Grimlock at an NPC restaurant that he apparently likes, but in the anime, they just sit on a bench to have dinner.
 * In the LN, Schmitt was asked to write down the names of all Golden Apple members and he gives the parchment with the names to Kirito. While waiting for Grimlock on the 20th Floor, Kirito reads the parchment and notices that Caynz's name is romanized as Caynz, instead of Kains, which clues him in that the murder was a hoax. In the anime however, Kirito deduces the truth through his sharp intuition after seeing his sandwhich burst due to hiting the ground with low durability.
 * In the LN, Grimlock denied his guilt of having Griselda murdered at first, saying that Griselda must have tried the ring on which is why he did not receive the ring himself after she was killed and only admited his guilt after Yolko unearthed an «Eternal Storage Box» with Griselda's Seal of the guild leader and her marriage rings, proving that Griselda could not have tried the ring on.

Quotes

 * If you married someone, that means you love every side of your significant other that you already know. So if you find a new side after to love, doesn’t that mean you’ll love your partner even more? - Kirito

Episodio 6