"That, that's not a sword. If you've been carrying something like that, you'll be reported for violating the gun and knife law, you know? “

"Violating the gun and knife law? If the standard equipment alone is reported by the GM, it will not be possible to attack it. And, is there such a law here? “

“GM？ Strategy? What are you talking about? “

I couldn't help but tilt my head in confusion.

How can this be so wrong? And the girl's reaction was also strange. When you see a sword, you say that it violates the gun and knife law, and there are words like GM and Raiders that are confusing, and the reaction of SAO players is completely different. As if she wasn't a player of SAO.

By the way, where is this?

The girl's question elicited an answer from Egil.

This is on the 50th floor of Al Cade City, inside my shop.

50th Floor...... Al Kade? Is there such a place name?

Sure enough, our words didn't match at all. It was as if our conversation was completely incomprehensible. Moreover, it is very similar to Lilan's situation. The girl may have had amnesia.

Hey, you. Your situation is very similar to my amnesiac companion, don't you remember anything before and after you came here?

The girl fell into deep thought, lowered her head slightly, then raised her head, and shook her head.

I don't know, like, I don't know at all......

And so it was. The girl, like Lilan, has lost her memory.

Do you mean there is no memory?

The girl nodded.

I can't remember the reason for coming here and how it happened. I can't even remember anything from before. It was as if my mind was shrouded in a thick fog.

Sure enough, like Lilan, so did this girl. Lilan should be able to understand this girl's situation.

I looked around with this thought, but I didn't see Lilan.

Well, what about Lilan?

I whispered to Lilan, feeling a stirring in my back. Slightly flustered thinking about what had happened, he suddenly heard Lilan's voice.

I'm right on my back under your coat. In order to avoid confusion, it was hidden first.

The warmth behind this is Lilan. And as Lilan said, if Lilan shows up in front of this girl, it will only add to the chaos.

I understand. Please hide it before coming out when the time comes.

I said yes to Lilan and turned back to the girl.

You, I'm sorry for making such a request all of a sudden, can you stay with me for a while? I would like to explain to you the current situation.

The girl stared at me with an angry expression, but gradually her expression softened a little. Or rather, bordering on expressionlessness.

...... What the hell is going on, tell me.

Good. First of all, can you tell me your name? I'm like I said before, I'm Kiritto. Maybe you can't even remember your name?

The girl spoke.

"I remember my name. My name is Shino Asada.

Shino Asada...... Aada?

Wait a minute. That's a real-world name, isn't it a fictitious name from the game? It's rude to call you by your real name. “

Shino tilted her head.

"Real name?"

At this point, I realized that Shino didn't seem to understand the current situation.

"I want to know your character's name. Wave your right hand and the status screen will pop up, where you can check it. “

"Wave your right hand...... And then...... Ah, what is it? “

Shino waved her right hand and was surprised to see the status window that appeared.

Sure enough, Shino is not a SAO player. Players won't react like this.

Then Shino looked at the window and muttered in a low voice.

"'Shino'...... It seems like my name. “

"I see, Shino. Please look after me in the future. “

Shino changed her name to Shino and nodded slightly.

"Please take care of me."

"Then Shino, I'm going to explain the state of the world now-"

As soon as I said this, Egil seemed to notice something and called out to us.

"Ah, I'm sorry, Kiritto! It's almost time to open the store. So can you continue to explain it elsewhere? “

"Huh, really? Why didn't you say it earlier? “

"Because you startled me when you suddenly appeared. Anyway, I can't lend it to you. It's a bit of a rush, but please leave. “

"Okay, okay, I see."

I turned to Shiina. Anyway, I have to take her and Lilan somewhere else. On the way to find the square, I found a coffee shop with a nice atmosphere. I decided to take them there and talk about the world. Anyway, I haven't introduced Lilan yet, so I'm going to tell her about Lilan and the whole world, but she's going to be shocked......

"What are you doing, Kiritto? Egil is not happy, hurry up and leave. “

Shino's voice brought me back to my senses, and I nodded.

"Ah, yes. Then Egil, borrow this place for the time being, thank you. Good luck with your business. “

With that, I hid Lilan in my coat and left Algrede's town with Shiina.

I took Shino and continued through the dirty streets of the Algard to the coffee shop I had just found. In contrast to the somewhat ambiguous townscape, the interior of the café is quite stylish and has a nice atmosphere, so I thought it was a great place to chat with Shino about the world.

Guided by the NPC, I sat down in an empty seat and ordered two drinks...... After coffee, turn your gaze to Shino, who is looking around with interest.

"Here...... Not a real-world ......"

"I really think so." The interior of this Ayn Grant is a game after all, but if you take damage, your HP will die at zero, and you can still feel the taste of food and drink, and most importantly, the scenery that unfolds is just like the real world, with texture and three-dimensionality.

"Even if you say it's the world inside the game, it's hard for people on the outside to recognize it." The world is full of reality. No, another reality, this world.

"Yes, Shino. I want to talk about the world from now on, okay?"

Shiina, turning to me, nodded.

"yes. Talk to me. ”

I told Shino about the structure of the world and about Ayn Grant. Along the way, Shino was surprised, rolled her eyes, and raised her eyebrows many times, but all in all, she listened to everything I said. As soon as the words fell, Shino said anxiously.

"Sword Art Online...... I seem to have heard it somewhere. If you want to end it, anyone can beat it......"

"Yes. To escape this world, you have to beat this game...... You have to reach the 100th floor, which is the top of this castle. Defeat the boss on floor 51 and proceed to floor 52. ”

"So, if your health in this world goes to zero, then you will die in real life......"

"Yes.

Shino sighed softly and nodded.

"Understood, I really don't want to jump out and run into the field and lose my life, so I'll go with you."

"Thank you.

"For the time being, Shino has nothing to worry about." Thinking so, Shino opened her half-open eyes again and stared at me.

"That's right, Kirito. When I see your back, your back moves. What's wrong with your back?"

At that time, I finally remembered what the warmth on my back was. Yes, it's fine to talk about everything, but I haven't talked about my reliable partner yet. If Shino saw it, she would probably be scared silly, but as long as she lived in this world, she couldn't escape.

"That's my friend, Chongrun, you can come out."

Immediately after, I heard the sound of birds flapping their wings behind me, and at the same time, my coat floated up. At this moment, a white dragon suddenly appeared on the table between me and Shino, and Shino said loudly in surprise.

"Wow!? What is it!? ”

I smiled wryly and said that this was not the reaction of SAO players.

"This is my partner, Lilan.

Shino propped her hands on the table and stared intently at the little dragon in front of her.

"This is your companion? What is it? Dragon? ”

"It seems to be called "Stegosaurus""

At the same time that Zailan's "voice" echoed in her head, Shino screamed again and looked around. …… For the time being, the people who talked to Lei Run seemed to have this reaction. Well, at first I was one of them.

"Wait, what was that voice just now. Straight in my head......"

"That's Ruilan's 'voice', Ruilan communicates with us telepathically, it doesn't matter."

Shino: "Is that so!?" He glanced at me, then retracted his gaze to Ruirun.

"Very, nice to meet you, Zailan. I'm a poet......

"I've been listening to Kirito's back, so I know. Looks like you're having a hard time.

Shino's eyes widened.

"Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Ruirun scratched his ears with his hand.

"I understand. I speak the language of everyone in this world. You look like this, but it's not that you don't understand the language.

Shino looked at Li Ran blankly.

“…… The world is made well, right? Even this kind of thing can understand human speech and can speak. ”

"No, that's not right." Rebroadcast...... It's so special. Even ordinary NPCs have a hard time talking to us, but Lilan understands human speech like a player, thinks and comes up with answers on her own, and speaks smoothly. And Egil said that no other "animal tamer" would bring such a tamer.

"The replay is so good." At the very least, if I could meet another "Beast Tamer", I might be able to figure it out, but neither Ekil nor I knew who the "Beast Tamer" was, so there was nothing we could do about it. But I can't be unaware, so I have to do something about it eventually.

"Well, in short, Lilan is a good person, and she is also very combative. It's a reliable dragon to help us get through this, even if it's a friend—"

As soon as she was about to say this, Shino's hands reached out to Liran's cheeks and body and began to caress them. His eyes and hands are gentle, as if admiring a pet.

"It's ...... Monsters in the game? I can't believe it, hairy...... It's so cute. ”

"I was surprised." Until now, Lilan has hated being touched by other players, and players who want to touch her tend to run away, but she doesn't try to escape Shino. Instead, it hangs its tail on the table and closes its wings. It seems that he has calmed down.

"I don't believe Ruirun didn't run away......"

"Instinctively, I spoke to the pampered Lilan."

"Re-run, are you okay?

"It should be fine. And, Kirito, this is a man you can trust. This man is so calm.

"You know what?"

Shiina's half-open eyes opened again, alternating between me and Lilan.