Sword Art Online Volume 16 – Alicization Exploding Chapter 18 – War of the Underworld 43 Alice. —Alice Synthesis Thirty. The young prodigious knight, a stark contrast of Renri on all fronts. She should be preparing for the Defense Army’s secret plan even at the current moment, a large-scale art to halt the front lines on her own. As though cornering Renri, tormented by an emotion that made him feel even smaller, Novice Trainee Arabel added to her words with a desperate look. “Esteemed knight, I do apologize if I am overstepping my bounds… but could you possibly lend us a hand? To be honest, the two of us can hardly even defeat a single goblin. We must… we must keep Kirito-senpai safe!” Renri squinted against the dazzling light in Ronye’s eyes. He thought it a light that belonged only to those who had carved their mission onto their heart, those determined to accomplish their mission even if it meant casting their lives away. —Where had I left mine behind, when even a novice trainee girl, yet to graduate from school, has it? Or perhaps I had lacked mine ever since I first woke up as an integrity knight in this Human Empire…? Renri heard a dry voice trickle from his own mouth. “You should be fine here… I think. His Excellency, Knight Commander Bercouli, is the one commanding the Defense Army Second Unit and if anything gets past his guard, that’s equivalent to the end of the Human World anyway. It’ll end up the same no matter where you run. I plan to sit here until the battle ends. I won’t get in your way if you intend to stay anywhere close…” With his words fading off into his soundless breathing, Renri went back, deeper into the tent, and sat down with a thud. It was about then—