Ep 12. The Sage of the Library

Kirito has been transported to a new realm, "Underworld," and has been tasked alongside his friend Eugeo to climb the Central Cathedral in order to find Alice, a friend they both lost many years ago. As they climb, they encounter a woman in a library with long white hair and a demeanour that's both playful and mysterious. She introduces herself as Cardinal and tells them that if they want to learn more about the world, they must pass a test.

The test is to find a book in the library that has been tampered with and fix it. The book in question is a history of the lands of Underworld and they soon discover that the tampering has affected the accuracy of the information contained within. As they search for the source of the corruption, they realize that the true issue lies within the memory fragments of the people who wrote the book. They discover that Cardinal is capable of reading memories and she, along with Kirito and Eugeo, set out to find the source of the problem.

Along the way, they meet a man named Quinella, who holds a position of power within the realm. She is intelligent, ambitious, and willing to do whatever it takes to maintain her status, including manipulating the memories of those around her. She convinces Kirito and Eugeo to participate in a tournament, a rite of passage for any swordsman aspiring to become a knight.

The tournament presents a series of challenges, including fighting off a group of goblins, navigating a maze, and fighting a powerful dragon. Kirito and Eugeo both succeed in the tasks, thoroughly impressing their peers. However, they begin to realize that there is something off about the tournament and tensions begin to mount.

As the tournament draws to a close, Kirito and Eugeo are approached by an elderly knight named Eldrie. Eldrie tells them that he knows they are planning to rescue Alice, but that they are in grave danger. Quinella is aware of their plans and is ruthless in her methods of preserving the order of the realm. Eldrie offers to assist them in their efforts to rescue Alice, but warns them that it will not be an easy task.

The episode ends with Cardinal informing Kirito and Eugeo that Alice is being held captive within the Central Cathedral and that they must prepare for battle if they hope to succeed. They realize that this may be their greatest challenge yet and that they must work together if they hope to rescue their beloved friend.