Zhang Yu heard the shouting in a daze, and his consciousness was slightly clearer.

“…… Wake up, jade wake up! ”

"Daddy...... Daddy......"

Asuna's slightly crying voice and Yui's immature shout finally pulled Zhang Yu's consciousness back. His fingers twitched, and he woke up. The pain in his head was sharp, and he almost fainted again.

"Painful ......"

"I fainted again, it seems that this is the sequelae of every time I violently consume my mental power to use the [Infinite Sword Technique]. But it's not without benefits, the mental power is a lot stronger than last time. And I'm getting deeper and deeper about it, so I thought I'd use it this time. I underestimated myself who exploded with all my might......"

Zhang Yu silently probed his mental condition, and now he has eased up. Sure enough, just like the last heads-up boss, his mental power has grown. It is estimated that when you practice, your mana will increase a lot like last time.

Asuna crouched beside Zhang Yu, half-holding him on her knees. He frowned deeply and bit his lips, as if he was about to cry. But because Yui was by her side, she kept holding back and didn't cry.

Yui, on the other hand, didn't have so many scruples, and her eyes were as dark as black pearls filled with tears. threw himself on Zhang Yu's chest and cried out in a hurry.

"Dad... Why... To be like this... It would be nice to let me go......"

Yui lay on Zhang Yu's chest and cried pear blossoms with rain. He smiled, gently stroking her long, silky hair.

"Stupid ......"

He heard a soft, slightly complaining scolding sound above his head. You don't have to look up to know that Asuna is angry.

"Ahem, Yui doesn't matter who you used to be, you're our daughter now. So Dad must protect you. ”

Yui was still crying but smiling, moving her little lips.

"Daddy...... Mom...... I remembered it all......"

At this time, Zhang Yu had gradually regained his strength and sat up. Yui also sensibly left his chest and continued to speak slowly.

"This world, called Sword Art Online, is governed by a huge system. The system can control the balance of the world based on its own judgment. And the system is designed with the concept that no human maintenance is required.

Correct errors with two main programs, and then use countless subroutines to make all the adjustments in the world...... However, there is one task that must be performed by humans. Troubles caused by the player's mental condition can only be solved by humans...... Therefore, the staff of dozens of people was originally prepared......"

"The system developers wanted to leave the task of taking care of the players to the system, so they tried to make a certain program. Take advantage of the NERvGear feature to monitor the psychological state of players in detail, visit players in question, and listen to their voices......

[Mental condition management. Supportive Program (MentalHealthCare-Counseling Program), MHCP Trial No. 1, Program Code [Yui]. That's me. ”

Overly surprised, Asuna gasped, unable to comprehend what she had just heard.

"...... program? Is it intelligent AI......?"

After asking the question hoarsely, Yui kept a sad smile and nodded.

"In order not to make the player feel incongruous, I was also given the ability to imitate emotions - it's all fake...... Including these tears...... Miss Asuna, I'm sorry ......"

Tears continued to flow from Yui's eyes, and the particles of light dissipated. Asuna took a light step and leaned over to Yui's side. The hand stretched out, but Yui shook her head slightly, as if to say that she was not qualified to accept Asuna's hug.

Zhang Yu shook his head with a smile, grabbed Yui's little hand with his backhand, and held it tightly. The other grabbed Asuna's hand and gently pulled them both over.

"Yui, the world is real. You also have the true feelings of human beings, and you can cry and laugh. So you're our daughter and we're family. ”

With tears in her eyes, Yui stretched out her slender hands to the two of them.

"Daddy...... Mom......! I want to be with you forever......"

Asuna didn't wipe away the spilled tears, but moved to Yui's side and hugged the tiny body tightly.

"We're going to be together forever, Yui."

Zhang Yu also hugged Yui and Asuna.

Asuna suddenly remembered something, lowered her head and asked softly.

"Yui, your memory is back now. Will you lose your memory again in the future? ”

"Mom, no...... Two years ago...... On the day of the official operation......"

"I don't know exactly what happened, but Cardinal gave me orders other than they were supposed to be. All interference with the player is prohibited...... This allows me to constantly monitor the player's mental state without being allowed to make specific contact. ”

Asuna reflexively sensed that the [unscheduled order] was the only game manager from SAO. Operation of Akihiko Kayaba. Yui doesn't have any information about this person.

She continued with a sad expression on her young face.

"The state can be said to be - terrible to the extreme...... Almost all players are shrouded in negative feelings such as fear, despair, anger, etc., and sometimes there are people who fall into a state of madness.

I should have rushed to the side of those players to listen to them and help solve the problem...... But I can't reach out to the players...... The paradox of having obligations but not being empowered caused me to accumulate mistakes and begin to fall apart......"

At the bottom of this quiet underground labyrinth, only the subtle sound of Yui wafting like a silver thread vibrating. Asuna and Zhang Yu listened in silence to what she had to say.

"One day, I was monitoring as usual, and suddenly I noticed that two players had different spirit stats from others. That brain wave is a frequency I haven't received so far.

Glad...... Safe...... But that's not all...... I wondered what kind of feelings it was, so I continued to observe the two men. As I watched their conversations and actions, I felt an incredible desire in my heart.

That's not how it works...... But I want to go to those two people...... Want to talk to them directly...... Wanting to get closer, I wandered around every day with the closest system management device to the player's house where the two of them lived. I was probably almost out of order by then......"

"Does that mean the forest on the twenty-second floor......?"

Yui smiled and nodded.

"Yes, Mom and Dad...... I've always wanted to...... I'm going to meet you...... When I saw you in the forest...... I'm really happy...... It's weird, it's not supposed to happen...... I'm just a program......"

Yui, whose tears kept falling, closed her mouth. And Asuna, who was shocked by some indescribable disgust, clasped her hands in front of her chest.

"Yui...... You're a real AI, right? You have a real intellect......"

Asuna murmured, and Yui tilted her head slightly and replied:

"I ...... I don't know...... I don't know what happened to me......"

At this time, Zhang Yu, who remained silent, took a step forward.

"Yui is no longer just a program operated by the system, so she can express her hopes. When AI has emotion and intelligence, it is intelligent life. ”

Then in a gentle tone.

"Yui, you're really alive." ”

"I ...... I ......"

Yui struggled to wipe the tears that were about to fall from her eyes.

"Daddy...... Mom......! Can I really be your daughter? ”

"Of course, Yui."

Asuna hugged Yui tightly, trying to express her feelings at this time with strength.

"One day we will be reunited as a family of three. Go home, we're going to ...... forever Let's live together......"

Zhang Yu finally smiled and said something that only he could understand. At this moment, my heart began to bear something called family responsibility.