Yui looked at Asuna blankly.

"Get out?"

\"yes, Mom, Dad, Mom, I'm going to run again with my sister and go to a fun place. Hey, summary, do you want to go? \"

Yui hugged Lilan, stood up with her eyes shining, and nodded.

"Go!"

"Good! Now that it's decided, let's hurry up and prepare. ”

As she spoke, Asuna smiled and gently stroked Yui's head. The way he handled and interacted with him seemed familiar, and we were all dumbfounded. I'm supposed to be a father, and Shino should be a father, but looking at Asuna's attitude towards me, Asuna looks more like a mother.

Shino, who was watching all this with me, had a sad expression on her face.

"Maybe Asuna is better suited to be a mother. \"

\"No, no, Yui calls Shino her mother, so Shino is her mother. Uh, I didn't expect Asuna to be so good with children, no, she's good at getting along with Yui. \"

"Even so, if you treat me like I'm used to, I'll lose my confidence as a mom"

"Why don't you teach me how you taught me to cook?"

"I will."

However, I think Asuna is really used to it, or rather, she is a very homely woman. For example, cooking, how to interact with children. If I get married, I believe I will be a good wife who is known far and wide. Well, not as good as Shino.

"Ah, what is this?"

Just as we were talking like this, Asuna, who was communicating with Yui, suddenly made a strange noise, and Shino and I both looked at Asuna. Asuna faced Yui and touched the window, but she kept tilting her head so that things wouldn't go well.

"What's wrong, Asuna? \"

As I approached to check on the situation, Asuna turned around and looked at me with a confused expression.

"There's something wrong with Yui's window, look at it. \"

Following Asuna's instructions, we looked in amazement at the window that appeared in front of Yui.

When the menu window is opened, the English name, level, "hp bar", "Sp bar", "Exp bar", and equipment data are displayed in SAo, but Yui's "hp bar" is displayed. \", \"Sp bars, \"XP bars\" do not exist, and even the level is not displayed.

What's more, Yui's name bears the mysterious word "Yui _mhcp_001". There are also fewer options for equipping characters than ours, with very few items and options. It feels like opening a different screen than ours, but it's definitely the same window as ours.

"What is this?"

"Asuna, what did you do? Are you messing around with the setting? \"

Asuna shook her head at Shiina's inquiry.

"I didn't do that. However, Yui-ko's clothes looked cold, so I decided to dress her in something different. I'm there. ”

Why such a thing happened, why Yui didn't have what we had, and what the word mhcp_0001 meant, I can't remember at all. It's 001, so I can't help but think it's a model, but I'm trying to figure out why the player has a model, but I can't understand it. Completely mysterious, hands up.

"I don't know. But Asuna, can you equip me? \"

Asuna nodded after letting Yui operate the window.

"Yes.

If I'm not mistaken, Shino must have some clothes, so there should be some that Yui can equip.

"Shino, please give Yui some clothes as a gift. The size of the clothes is automatically adjusted to the wearer's size, so even Shino's clothes, Yui should be able to wear. \"

Shino said "I see" and nodded, then brought up the prop screen and sent the prop out. Immediately after, Asuna, who was operating the window, reacted.

"Ah, here we are."

"Alright, Asuna, let's equip Yui. \"

Asuna said "I'm sorry" to Yui, shook her hand, made a similar pose to the equipment screen, and clicked the "OK" button. Immediately after, Yui's clothes were changed to a light blue hoodie and an indigo skirt, and before she knew it, Yui's eyes were shining on this strange dress.

"Wow, it's like Mommy!"

Sure enough, although Asuna is used to dating Yui, Shino seems to be Yui's mother, and she is happy to wear the same hoodie as Shina. Shino, who was sitting next to me, had a happy expression on her face.

"Alright, it looks like the preparations are complete, let's go."

With that, I stood up with Shino, and as I approached Yui, Yui held out her hands to me.

"Daddy, on your back"

Yui suddenly asked me to hug her, and I was inadvertently surprised, but now that I think about it, the only people I have ever held in my arms are Shino and Lilan, and if I have to say it, Sirika and Lizbet are also counted. A little kid like Yui. I've never picked it up, and Yui is very small, so she probably carries a two-handed sword on her back.

"Got it. Yui, let's go! \"

With a good heart, I picked up Yui's body and carried her on my back. As I thought, Yui's body was much lighter than her weapon, and the interpreters and dark repellents she had always equipped felt heavier. My hands were full, but it was an easy win.

"Run, stand on Asuna's shoulders.

"Got it. Borrow your shoulder, Asuna.

"Even so, when I'm in town, it's on my shoulder."

After confirming that Lilan jumped on Asuna's shoulder with a wry smile, I wanted to walk away, but Shino immediately shouted at me.

"Even if you make a mistake, don't leave Yui's things behind. \"

"It's okay, let's go."

With that, I walked to the door with Yui on my back. Then, walk through the 22nd floor of the field, which is still as calm as usual, to the village with the portal, and to the 1st floor of the ancestral city of Arhan. After seeing the nostalgic origin town, Shino immediately folded her arms.

As he did so, he had a strange expression on his face.

"This is the town where Kirito's adventure began. \"

That's right, I met Klein, Ekiel, and Diabel in the city and started running towards the 100th floor. But at the same time, this is also where the players gathered on the first day of our game, and it is also the place where Akihiko Kayaba was sentenced to death, so good memories and bad memories are awakened - since Shino was kidnapped by this game in the game, 50 floors, you don't know, players who start fighting from the first layer always have mixed feelings.

"So, Asuna, which direction is Alice's church running? My impression of Alice was so strong that I couldn't even remember the location of the church. \"

"The church is located on the north side of town.

The official name of the "Legion" is the "Ayn Grant Liberation Army", and it is one of the super-large guilds under the Ayn Grand, alongside the Holy Dragon Alliance and the Knights of the Blood Oath.

As the name of the PLA suggests, it is a guild that challenges captives in order to free players from Al Grant, but it plunders players' funds in the form of taxes and lures disobedient players into crime-free zones It is not as famous as "Laughing Coffin", but it is not as bad as "Laughing Coffin", but it is known for doing bad things, such as forcibly robbing money, items by slapping, harassment, etc., and also using them as in-game currency instead of funds. Yes

However, it is rumored that when the "Legion" was first formed, it was an organization like the Holy Dragon Alliance, trying to liberate players and challenge captives, and it seems that something happened that led to the retreat. , and the leader was almost replaced, but from that time on, things began to gradually go wrong, and it is said that it became the current state.

I don't know if it's true or not, but if the story is true, I'd like to ask what happened to thinker and what kind of person he is. Because when Zink led, the Army was a good organization. I don't know if it will be realized.

The base of the "Legion" is in this city, the ancestral city of Arhan, and the inhabitants of this city are the objects of exploitation by the "Legion". At first, it was a city that protected players who were just waiting to be released, with no confidence in adventure and capture, but now it can be said that it is a country where the dictatorship of the "army" runs rampant.

- By the way, Tilberu was so disgusted with the existence of this "army" that he even used the army to intervene when disciplining guild members. Of course, this is about the "army", because Zinke is no longer a leader.

"Of course, it's like an army dictatorship in this town. Shiina, Asuna, get your weapons ready. If there were army thugs, they would not hesitate to burn Lilan. Yui will definitely leave me. Na"

With the consent of the three of us, we began to walk towards the church where Alice was. However, I immediately felt uncomfortable and slowed down. No, perhaps it would be more correct to say that I encountered an incident that forced me to take my time.

The town used to be crowded with players who weren't confident in their strategy, but I didn't meet any players as I walked. The City of the Primordial has become empty, as if only NPCs existed. I've been here before, and when I saw that figure, I couldn't help but have a sense of incongruity.

"However, there are a lot of NPC vendors, but I can't see players, how many players live in this city now?"

Asuna answered the question.

"Currently, the number of surviving players is about 6,000.

Shino had a serious face.

"[The army] snatched their belongings and the currency called the tax from these 1,000 frightened people.

Lilan, who was standing on Asuna's shoulder, met Shino.

"Why do you think so?"

"Even if you wait in fear, nothing will change.

"I understand your feelings, and I think Shino's words are right. "However, most people in this world are ordinary people who were originally limited to playing games. Originally, no one could stand up and end the situation where they were killed by the enemy and they would surely die.

\"I understand your feelings, but maybe not everyone is as strong as Shino. \"

Shino made an unconvinced expression and called softly. This is the habit of poetry when it is frustrated.

\"[The army] is hovering here, but it doesn't seem like the army will come close to Teacher Alice. Before you get into trouble with the army, go to Teacher Alice-\"

Asuna was about to say this when she heard a loud voice coming from the corner of the street.

"Give me my baby back!!"

It was a female voice, but it was followed by several male voices.

"Oh, it's like a kindergarten teacher."

"Yo, I've been waiting!"

The voices of men with very bad tones. And judging from the woman's words, it is clear that something bad has happened. Shino, who was the first to understand this, shouted to Asuna and me.

\"Kirito, Asuna! \"

"Oh, let's go!"

We started running in a completely different direction than the church, towards the place where we heard the sound. Passing through a narrow back alley, it didn't take long to see a dead end, in front of which I saw the back of a woman, and in front of the woman, I saw a man in gray-green and black armor. The group that rules the city, the "Legion". I hid in the shadows nearby so as not to be spotted, and as I began to check the situation, a woman raised her voice.

"Give me back my baby!"

One of the men moved his hand slightly. A humble smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"Don't speak ill of people. I just teach children social knowledge. This is also the duty of [the military]. ”

"That's right, citizens have an obligation to pay taxes!"

The men began to laugh vulgarly. Perhaps, but if you take off their helmets, you'll see their sparkling eyes. Moreover, three children can also be seen behind these men. It seems that they caught it.

"Kim, Kane, Mina, are you there!?"

As the woman stretched and called out to the children behind her, she heard voices behind the men.

"Teacher Sasha, help me!"

In response to the children's faint voices, the female Sasha responded.

"If you have money, donate it all!"

"Teacher, no, no!"

One of the men in the way let out a vulgar laugh.

"It looks like you're in arrears on your taxes. Money alone is not enough. ”

"Oh yes, I have to leave the gear behind too. All the armor, all the stuff. ”

"It's so angry." They all want to strip the kids of their clothes. Watching the children being intimidated by the violence that I couldn't believe it was an adult, I felt a sense of anger akin to murderous intent. I'm not satisfied if I don't blow them away!

"Those guys Shino, Asuna, Lilan!! \"

I shouted to everyone, and emerged from the shadows, and as I was about to rush to the children at full speed, something swept past us with great force. When I looked at Sasha and the men, everyone was looking at the children, and a woman with long shiny black hair like Asuna and wearing a white coat of a different color stood very close to the children.

"That's it!"

As soon as Asuna saw the woman, she was about to open her mouth, but she was immediately called out by the children.

"Mr. Alice!!"

"Alice." According to Asuna, it's a female player who protects children in the church. It is true that the woman's appearance is very similar, or identical, to that of Alice, as Asuna said, but is that woman Alice?

Thinking of this, the woman who seemed to be Alice immediately bent down and hugged the three children.

"Alright, put the equipment back, the teacher will chase them away."

After calming the children with a majestic, slightly muffled tone and a manly way of speaking, he quickly stood up and turned his body to the "army". Carrying a one-handed sword at his waist - the length of the sword was quite long, and the men were ready.

"Hey, hey! What are you! ”

"Interfering with our [army's] mission—"

Just as the man was about to say the next word,

"No!"

The woman, who appeared to be Alice, drew her long sword from her waist in a grid unit, and used her stabbing sword technique to aim at the man who was talking. The woman's sword skills erupted at the man's neck, and a roar sounded, and the man fell to his knees on the spot, staring at the woman blankly, as if he didn't know what was going on.

The next moment, a man who seemed to be the leader jumped in front of the man and yelled at him.

"Hehe, you don't look like that, but you know what it means to oppose the PLA."

"No!"

Before the leader could finish speaking, the woman threw her sword skills at the leader's throat again. The leader was blown away, rolled on the ground, and fell in front of his companions. He tried to stand up immediately, opened his mouth,

"This, this, what are you doing-"

"Yay!!"

Before she could finish speaking, the woman shot her sword skills at the leader's throat again. The man was blown away again, this time on top of his comrades. The leader let out a shrill scream and called for help from his companions.

"Oh, don't look at you—"

"No!"

Just as she was about to make a move, the woman shot another sword at the leader's throat. The leader was knocked away again and flew in front of Sasha, but he was in a state of collapse and could not stand up.

The leader was completely defeated, and while everyone else was trembling and staring at the woman, the woman was wielding a long sword like a sharp sword, the tip of the sword pointed at the men, and he glared at me with a demonic expression.

"Fighting within range doesn't take lives, but you can keep blowing you all out of town if you want, and once you're out of range, your work, quests, and life will be over. Get lost, don't touch the kids anymore, you big hungry ghosts. ”

"Where's the momentum just now?"

Not long after fleeing, the leader also stood up, screamed the same, and ran away.

After confirming that the gangsters who tried to touch the children had been disbanded, the woman put the sword back in its scabbard and returned to the children.

"Are you alright? Has anything been taken away? ”

After shaking their heads, the children suddenly hugged the woman's body, probably too scared.

"Thank you, teacher."

The woman nodded and began to stroke the children's heads, but immediately, Sasha, the woman facing the "army", rushed over.

"Mr. Alice"

"Sure enough, that woman was what Asuna said Alice. \"

Alice looked at Sasha's face and smiled.

"Sasha, I'm glad you don't fear the army when you fight. But maybe I don't need to come out. ”

Speaking of this, Alice suddenly raised her voice.

"People over there, come out."

Alice's words surprised us unexpectedly. Apparently, Alice is aware of our presence.

We sighed softly and stepped out of the shadows to see the eyes of the children, Alice, and Sasha gathered in the back alley, but Alice immediately turned her attention to Asuna.

\"Isn't it Asuna? Are you here to be a nurse? \"

"Oh no, it's not like that, but"

Just as I was about to answer Asuna's words, Alice turned her gaze to me and stopped moving. There was an expression on his face, as if he had seen something very amazing. When I turned my head to look to the side, Shino was there, but Shino was stunned when she saw Alice.

What the hell is going on - Alice's mouth moved just as she was about to call Shino.

\"What, song, no、!? \"

Just as I was about to be surprised when I heard this, Shino spoke.

\"Ah, Miss Alice Alice!? \"