Yan's Shyness Was Unexpectedly Cute?...

As Heathcliff's words spread, the atmosphere at the scene immediately began to stiffen...

Wu Yan and Heathcliff locked eyes. Neither spoke again as they faced each other, gradually pushing the rigid atmosphere around them into something grave. There was even a stifling sense of an impending storm, like a volcano about to erupt, making Asuna beside them anxious.

The two men standing before her now—setting aside their relationships with her—even considering only their identities, were figures who could make information brokers dig up headlines with a mere stomp of their feet in this world!

One was the strongest player at present, while the other was the leader of the strongest guild at present...

If today's events caused their relationship to deteriorate, even turning them into enemies, it would undoubtedly be an enormous blow to the entire SAO!

Anyone standing here and witnessing the two of them confronting each other like this would probably be terrified, let alone Asuna. One was her superior, while the other was the man who was about to become her husband in this world. Whether for public or private reasons, Asuna did not want to see the two of them at each other's throats... Just as she was growing increasingly anxious and was nearly unable to stop herself from stepping in, Wu Yan suddenly spoke.

"Commander Heathcliff, you still remember the promise you made when we dueled last time, don't you...?"

At those words, Heathcliff's gaze sharpened. His expression darkened slightly as well. He already had a rough idea of what Wu Yan wanted to say, but he still answered honestly. "Of course I remember. I promised that if you lost that duel, you would join my Blood Pledge Knights. But if I lost, then until SAO was completely cleared, I would use every bit of