SAO Ch 15 Kuradeel

“Why did a person like you join the KoB? A criminal guild would have suited
you better.”

“Keh, why are you asking something so obvious? It’s because of that girl.”

He said this with his raspy voice and licked his lips. When I realized that he
was talking about Asuna my blood began to boil.

“You damn bastard…!”

“Woah, why are you glaring at me like that? It’s just a game isn’t it…? Don’t
worry. I’ll look after your precious sub-leader for you. After all, I have a lot of
useful items.”

Cradil picked up the poisoned water bottle and then shook it to produce some
splashing sounds. Then he gave an awkward wink and kept talking.

“And you just said something very interesting, that a criminal guild would suit
me more.”

“…well, it’s just the truth.”

“I was complimenting you. You’re pretty sharp. Kekekeke.”

Cradil seemed to be considering something as he laughed. Then, he suddenly
unequipped the gauntlet on his left arm. He rolled up the white sleeves of his
undershirt and turned his bare forearm so that I could see its underside.

“…!!”

//[Then a long Laughing Coffin exposition/reveal and background on the subjugation incident]

Asuna and I were in the group too. But the information had leaked somewhere,
and the PKers were prepared and waiting for us. In my frenzy to protect my
comrades, I ended up taking the lives of two Laughing Coffin members by
accident.

//[So Kirito already went through that trauma of killing before, and Asuna was there to see that. This is before he kills Kuradeel/Cradil. And puts an extra weight on Asuna's guilt.]