[The leader of the strongest guild "Blood Alliance Knights" is Akihiko Kayaba! 】

When Kirito Yuki's duel ended, the news began to spread like an earthquake throughout Ayn Grandrie, and players in all towns exploded.

What's more, they began to question whether the entire guild of the Blood Alliance was a pawn of the Kayama, and demanded that they disband it immediately and give an explanation.

Fortunately, the upper-level strategy group and several large groups on the front line jointly issued a statement, which gradually stabilized people's hearts.

It's about tomorrow's strategy, and now is not the time for civil strife.

However, the blow of this news still had a bad chain reaction for the entire guild of the Blood Alliance.

After all, many people joined here just to follow Heathcliff, but they didn't expect that their spiritual leader was actually the mastermind behind the scenes, which made it difficult for many people to accept the reality at once, and they chose to quit the group directly.

……

After returning from the seventh floor, in the conference room of the headquarters of the [Blood Alliance Knights], the players who knew the news for the first time gathered here to discuss countermeasures.

"I really didn't expect it...... That Mr. Heathcliff is actually Akihiko Kayaba......"

Holding her rapier and looking at the confused face printed on it, Asuna whispered to herself in a somewhat distracted voice.

Doesn't this mean that their every move has long been under the monitoring of the other party...... Is it really possible to beat the game in that case?

What's the point of working so far, anyway......

Faced with this shocking fact, the chestnut-haired girl, who knew Heathcliff's strength, was in a low mood again.

“…… With that expression again, are you still thinking about what just happened, Asuna. ”

There was a slight vibration of someone sitting down beside her, and the crisp voice came to her ears.

"Yuki ......"

Taking the teacup handed by the other party, the chestnut-haired girl looked at the girl who embedded her body into the sofa with a look of enjoyment.

It's the strongest man in the true sense of the word, isn't she worried at all?

"When you feel uneasy, stop and look around you."

As if to see what Asuna was going to say, Yuki smiled and opened her mouth before she could speak.

（…… Around? ）

Hearing the other party's suggestion, the girl who was worried in her heart subconsciously raised her head.

“……”

Around the desk, the bald man and the down-and-out samurai with a young stick envoy were discussing something fiercely.

On the other side of the sofa, the little girl of the dragon envoy is communicating with her demon with a serious face, and next to her, the blacksmith girl is also constantly pulling down her equipment bar. Checking the durability of the weapon.

Those who are not here are certainly not idle.

Kirito, who has reinvigorated, has temporarily taken over as the head of the Blood Alliance Knights, taking the place of the missing Heathcliff to integrate the entire guild.

Although in the end, the man still canceled the right to use Kirito's second sword as a punishment, but the loss of this skill, the young swordsman seemed to have figured out something, and his actions became more mature.

Lanzi and the others are also contacting the members of the strategy team of other guilds to discuss tomorrow's battle together.

Originally, Yuki, as the principal, was supposed to help contact.,But he was 'ordered' by his sister not to run around.,Go and take a break.。

It can be said that except for Yui, who is sitting obediently and watching everyone, everyone is focusing on their own affairs and preparing for tomorrow's battle.

(It turns out that I'm the only one who can't see the direction clearly...... ）

The hair slipped down her ears, and Asuna, who lowered her head again, smiled bitterly.

"Asuna, remember the question you asked me when we first met?"

Tilting her head slightly, Yuki looked at the chestnut-haired girl who was lost in thought because of her own problem.

“……”

"...... 'Can I be as strong as you?', huh?"

There was a murmur, and it seemed that she had not forgotten the events of that day.

"Hmmm! So for now, I think I can answer your question. ”

Nodding in satisfaction. Yuki looks happy that Asuna remembers the events of that day.

"Sitting here like me and becoming a member of the frontline strategy team is actually the best answer."

"If the name we recognize as 'flash' is not enough to give you confidence, look for the courage to move forward!"

"I don't think you mind being the force that sustains you."

“……！”

As Yuki's words fell, the chestnut-haired girl suddenly found that the people around her had unconsciously stopped communicating and looked at them.

Achill with his hands around his chest, Klein with a thumbs up, Keita smiling shyly, Lizzebett grinning, and Sirika holding Bina......

And, Yuki, who is sitting next to her.

You can clearly feel the charm of encouragement in your sight.

Asuna, who opened her mouth slightly and wiped the corners of her eyes in a little panic, but she couldn't suppress the warmth in her heart.

It's different from that time.

It turns out that she is not alone for a long time......

……

************************************************************************************************************************

(Whew, neither of them is worry-free...... ）

She had long found out that Asuna had been holding herself up, but she had never found a chance to talk to her.

Now looking at Asuna, whose eyes are gradually becoming clearer, Yuki is also relieved.

"-uh!"

But just as the sword girl was about to relax, someone suddenly tapped her head lightly with a notepad, and a familiar voice came from behind.

"Every time Xiaoyou educates others, it's a set, but I don't know why I can't do it."

“…… Sister Lan, Xiao Zhi, you're back. ”

Turning his head to find his sister looking at him with a complaining face, Yuki looked away with some weakness.

"Well, forget it...... Ladies and gentlemen, Kirito has already replied to the message. ”

Sighing helplessly, Lanzi originally had a lot to say about 'discussing' with Yuki when she came back from the seventh layer, but tomorrow's battle was too important, so she had to put down this idea first and talk about more important things.

"Tomorrow at nine o'clock in the morning, all players who are going to participate in the 'Kayaba Raiders' will gather in front of the transfer gate of 'Corinia' on the seventy-fifth floor and break into the maze area together."

"After the waiting area in front of the boss, we will start the official strategy in the eight teams divided into the upper limit."

After Lanzi finished saying this, Yuki found that everyone's bodies were tense.

It's certainly impossible to say that you're not nervous.

It's just that for the frontline strategy players, tomorrow may be the last and best chance.

Then, the only way to do this is to block your own consciousness and muster up energy!

That's what everyone thinks, at least for now.

……

Now that the time has been decided, everyone is ready to return to their guild station to make the best adjustments.

Walking out of the Blood Alliance headquarters, Yuki, who fell at the back of the team, looked at the sky alone, his eyes were extremely deep.

"Yuki-hurry up! The transfer door is about to open! ”

The light of the portal lit up, and seeing the black-haired girl hanging at the end who didn't know what she was thinking, Naoba had no choice but to shout loudly.

"It's coming!"

Hearing the shout, Yuki, who withdrew his gaze and trotted up, showed the same smile as usual again.

……

(Tomorrow...... Is it ...... ）