While the players on the upper floor are celebrating another level, a crucial strategy is also being carried out on the bottom floor.

In the underground labyrinth area of the Black Iron Palace, outside the room with the GM control device, the battle in the second round has entered a stalemate.

Moving faster than normal people's dynamic vision, sparks and red scratches continue to appear around the Grim Reaper boss.

And because he couldn't pinpoint Yuki's location, this boss-level boss had no choice but to wield a scythe in anger and constantly destroy the surrounding buildings.

"It's ......"

Covering her mouth in exclamation, Yui couldn't understand everything in front of her, or rather, she couldn't find a corresponding phenomenon in her database.

From the back of the cushion that happened to the ground, what the little girl saw was a blonde girl who was constantly overflowing with blue data particles all over her body, and her movements were completely similar to those of the two before.

(Is it Yuki...... Is it also the existence of GM permissions? ）

This is already the only answer in Yui's little head that can explain for herself.

……

The white light continued to slash at the enemy's body, and the Reaper boss's health bar began to recede rapidly.

(The body is very light....... ）

The long sword dancing in his hand was getting faster and faster, and the frequency of sword skills had unconsciously surpassed the eleven consecutive hits.

(The power is also rising...... ）

The blade with the afterimage collided violently with the Death Scythe, and for a moment, it was Yuki who was actually the player who had the upper hand.

Flicked the boss's scythe away, and Yuki, who seized the opportunity to win, did not stop the offensive.

(One by one now words!) ）

At this moment, the unified "consciousness" broke through the original apex and reached the limit, exerting its power beyond the rules set by the system.

Swinging the long sword in his hand vigorously, at least twenty or more slender scratches appeared on the unstoppable Grim Reaper.

With an unwilling roar, the boss who began to stiffen shook his hands, and finally exploded into blue shards in a cloud of white light.

……

"Hoo ......"

Exhaling a breath and withdrawing his weapon, Yuki looked at his hands, as if reminiscing about the state just now.

The last series of attacks must have surpassed the eleven consecutive attacks of the "Psalm of the Virgin".

According to this game, this should be considered a new "sword skill"?

However, being able to do this also shows that her "consciousness" has fully adapted to this world.

The gold began to fade from the ends of her hair again, and Yuki, who slowly walked back to Yui's side, found that the little girl seemed to be very embarrassed, and she wanted to speak several times and stopped.

Knowing that she must still be a little confused, Yuki smiled and reached over his hand.

"Let's go, this is not a place to chat."

“……”

"Hmmm......"

Gently holding the soft wattle in front of him, a smile appeared on his small lips again.

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

Located in the deepest part of the Black Iron Palace's underground safe area, is a square room with only an obsidian-colored stone table.

Sitting side by side with Yui on the stone table, after a moment of silence, the little girl finally didn't hold back, and asked her own question in a low voice.

“...... Excuse me, do you also have GM permissions? ”

Accustomed to the innocent Yui full of 'mother', this sudden change of words made Yuki a little subtly unaccustomed.

"I'm not a GM."

Hearing the little girl's words, the sword girl, who could roughly guess why she asked such a question, shook her head.

"Really......"

Her expression was visibly lost, and the little girl sitting on the stone table folded her legs and curled up to hug her knees.

"Yui...... You've regained your memory, right? ”

“…… Well. ”

Answering Yuki's question with a soft hum, Yui slowly explained her identity as a start.

- "Psychiatric Management Support Program", MHCP Trial No. 1, program code "Yui".

That's where Yui comes in.

Although Yuki had known about these for a long time, she still quietly listened to the little girl's story.

“…… So, in order not to make the player feel incongruous, I was also ...... by "Cardinal" The developers of the system have given emotion mimicry to the function, whether it is sadness or smile, all of them are fake...... Even now......"

Halfway through speaking, the little girl's voice gradually became choked, and tears overflowed her eyes.

“……”

"Yui, do you really think so?"

In a gentle tone that even surprised herself, the girl who had been a listener comforted her.

"Even if your relationship is really 'imitated', the memories you spent together will never lie."

“——！”

Putting his hand on the little girl's head and gently **, Yuki laughed a little embarrassed

"Anyway, I was your 'mom' for two days, didn't I?"

"Hee-hee-hee......"

As if thinking of something, the little girl who wiped the corners of her eyes also smiled slightly.

“…… Actually, I've always wanted to see you. ”

“……？”

After a short pause, Yui, who was in a better mood, began to explain again.

"After the game started, although I was forbidden by Cardinal to interfere with and contact the player, I still fulfilled my obligation to monitor the player's mental state."

"At that time, everyone's mental condition was really terrible, but among all the frequencies, only one person's brain waves were completely different from the mental values of other people."

"That's you, Yuki."

Glancing at the girl next to her with curiosity, Yui continued.

"It's just that in the process of trying my best to contact you, I was finally crushed by the accumulation of errors, and the program gradually began to collapse."

"In order to slow down the speed of Honkai, I had to hover in a place where the player stats are relatively stable."

"So the moment I saw you, I was too excited to withstand the impact of the information, which caused my program to be damaged again."

（…… Is it...... That's what happened...... ）

After hearing Yui's explanation, the reason why she wandered around Yuna was also explained.

And Yuki finally understood the origin of her 'obsession' with herself.

“…… But Yuki, why did you know that I would regain my memory after I came here? ”

Tilting her little head to speak again, this is the last thing Yui understands.

Since it's not a GM, how do you know that there is a control device that can connect to the GM's permissions?

"Ahh

The smile was a little weird, and Yuki gave Yui a very vivid analogy.

"Because, I'm 'plug-in.'"

It's just that what is referred to here is definitely not the kind of plug-in in the conventional understanding.

……

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

- The fifty-fifth floor of "Ayn Grant", the headquarters of the Knights of the Blood Alliance.

Completing the strategy of the seventy-fourth floor would have been something that everyone should be happy about.

Only this time, things seem to have taken a different turn.

In the conference room, Kirito, who had returned to the headquarters to complain, stood in front of Heatscliff in a daze, still maintaining a shocked expression on his face.

“…… What the hell do you mean, Captain. ”

Clenching his teeth, he squeezed the words out of his mouth, and the young swordsman said word by word.

"Doesn't it seem like I'm not clear enough?"

In stark contrast to Kirito's expression, the silver-haired young man calmly repeated what he had just said.

"Kirito, I'm Akihiko Kayaba."

“——！！！！！”

From the moment Yuki stepped into the GM management permission room, someone's script seemed to have shifted again.