"Excuse me?" Asuna took a step back from the prostrating guardsman. The others were likewise stunned into scratching their heads.

"Our kingdom has long been tormented by the neighboring beastmen, and we've lost several cities to their vicious attacks. We receive only the slightest support from our neighbors, and lose more people with every day. Please, great and noble ones, save humanity from their claws. We are too weak to offer resistance, but if you were to grace the battlefield, you would save us all!" The captain pitifully begged with his head pressed against the ground, making the five of them quietly shift on their feet.

"We definitely got a better reception here than in that Etsy kingdom, eh? Haha…" Klein was first to try and break up the tense air. "We're not very familiar with the area, but there shouldn't be a problem with helping out where we can."

"Uh, I'd like to call in my Huddle." Issin interjected. Klein immediately asked for a moment from the guard. He also motioned for Kirito and Asuna to come over, Harry One a little hesitant in putting his arm around Asuna, but getting over it quickly enough.

"Floor's yours, Issin."

"I wanna say that I'm not against the idea of helping them, but…" With their heads pressed together in a huddle, they could all feel the deep breath he took. "Remember the way that village was getting torn apart? All that blood, and the stench...what I'm saying is, it might not be good for us to get too wrapped up in it. Even if we aren't in danger, there's a reason why game ratings spike with depictions of violence."

"What? So we should just chill and let evil burninate the countryside?"

"Kirito, I know you don't really know the rules, but sass and backtalk are to be left outside The Huddle. It's so we can work out the serious stuff, which I realize we probably should have done earlier."

"Er, sorry. I mean, sorry to you Issin. What I mean is if we do nothing the fight'll probably come to us anyway, right?"

"I guess, but it might not reach us before we're pulled out of here, right?"

"...Yeah" Kirito's response was the uncertain one that time. Truthfully, they were really pushing the boundaries of how long they should have been in dive, someone should have noticed and taken their NerveGear off. Unless their perception of time had been distorted, which wasn't impossible, but more and more things weren't as he expected them to be. Of course what other alternatives were there? He was in an isekai like those yen a dozen webnovels?

As if; though the verisimilitude of the world kept him worrying. If it really was trying to be an accurate simulation, AI was advancing by leaps and bounds, but usually there would be at least a few bugs. Then again, purchasing Yggdrasil's servers showed at least some measure of confidence, the NPCs may have already gone through some primary testing…

But the 'what ifs' and 'may haves' were piling up. If the other option wasn't even more ridiculous, Kirito would have long abandoned the idea they were still in the game.

"So I think, for our own good, we should try to stay out of this. We're not made for this kind of barbaric stuff." Issin threw a glance over at Harry hoping to be backed up. "Besides, we could just stay here to protect the city, even that would help."

"I'm...I think we should head out." To everyone's surprise Harry One disagreed, "These guys, I think they're more than real enough. As awful as it would be to get involved, we need to help because of that."

Asuna and Klein nodded to Harry's answer. Inelegantly worded, it still resonated with something felt inside of them. Kirito simply closed his eyes— if they were back in reality, would they so readily jump into danger? It was the right thing to do maybe, and they might even do so there, but they should really put some thought into it. The consensus wouldn't change, but he felt people should try considering things more thoroughly.

"Alright, so it looks like the rest of us are in favor, even after further consideration. Are you still against this Issin?" Despite being the only one against the plan, Klein made sure that his friend wasn't feeling oppressed by the will of the group.

"... Yeah. But I don't want to stop you guys if you think it's important. Besides, these guys need someone to protect them right? I've got magic to get out of here if I really need to."

"Well, if you're really okay with that. Alright. Huddle over." Klein moved back and everyone broke apart. "Sorry to keep you waiting Cap. Of course we'll help you out, and my man Issin here will stay behind with you guys while we do our thing. You got some quests for us? We work best when given clear objectives."

AN: Mmm, tasty food and drink summoned with conjugation spells.

It's unfortunate I can't timeskip Ainz without timeskipping for the SAO cast, things are already desyncing. Kirito and the others have only been through about four days, which is the first day Ainz leaves his house in canon. And I've already got a scene of him being an adventurer….

Here take this small chapter. Don't get your hopes up.