"Well, sure enough, there's a great atmosphere here, just like a shopping mall in the real world."

"Right now, I'm on the twentieth floor of the city center." Shiina, Yui, Alice, Lifa, Lizbet, and Sirika were also around, while Bina sat on Sirika's shoulder, observing the surroundings with interest.

And there are countless people around us, they are noisy, not busy, and calm.

"I didn't expect to be able to come to a place like SAo's shopping mall. \"

Sirika said in a good mood.

As for why this happened, first of all, Shino, Rifa, and Yui once told me that I ran to the 73rd floor all of a sudden, and told me to go on vacation and stop capturing the manifesto.

Until now, I've been fighting to stop Lilan's rampage, and I'm so worried about everyone that I've decided to take a vacation.

Since the beginning of Norirun week, I wanted to stay at home on the 22nd floor and relax with my family for a while, so I told Shino and Yui, but one day Alice suddenly sent me an email suggesting, "It's a waste to take a break from the holidays, why not go to the city on the 20th floor?" ”

\"Kirito-kun, what about you? The shopping street on the 20th floor is sure to excite you. \"

It's true that when Shino and Yui went out shopping, I was resting, so I hardly ever went to the shopping street on the 20th floor. So, when Shino, who had been to it several times, said that it was very similar to a shopping mall in the real world, I was intrigued.

The atmosphere in the mall is a bit like a dungeon, maybe somewhere I wouldn't mind going in the real world either. So, I agreed to Alice's request and took Shino and Yui to the city on the twentieth floor.

The 20-story city has the appearance of a fortified city, with the entire city housed in a castle – exactly what the Tokyo Mall looks like in the real world. Paddy field.

When I first started visiting, I didn't have much interest in the cityscape, so I didn't care about moving on, and I realized that the streetscape was like a replica of a shopping mall, and when I thought about it, I was thrilled that it could be recreated so far. But it soon turned into a surprise.

When I arrived at the plaza on the 20th floor, I found Alice as in the email, but Lizbet and Sirika were also near Alice.

I only remember contacting Alice, so when I asked him why Liz and Celica were there, he replied, "I thought it would be better to play with a lot of people, so I sent you an email." I replied.

The two of them also said that Shino had asked them to come here, but perhaps because they were happy to be able to shop in large groups, their eyes were shining.

But surprisingly, Asuna and Yuki are not there. If you go shopping with a lot of people, and I've heard that most of them are girls, the first ones to appear will definitely be Asuna and Yuki, but no matter where you look, you won't find them.

When I asked Shino why the two of them weren't there, she replied: "For some reason, I want to rest with you. \"

Asuna and Yuki have also been fighting, and Asuna is in a state where Lilan is nearby, so he may decide to rest at home in order to spend meaningful time with Lilan.

"So the six of us ended up shopping together."

"It's a bit of a pity that Asuna and Ariki didn't come. Those kids seem to love shopping. \"

"Asuna and Lilan are together, so I want to make the most of this time.

Lizbet began to look around, a look of some confidence on her face. After all, Liz Bett's real thoughts must have been to come to such a place with her best friend, Asuna.

"Well, I'm here with you, I'm fine."

I felt as if Lizzebet was scolding me, so I called Lizbet again.

"Did you say anything?"

Lizbet suddenly looked surprised, turned to face me, and shook her head.

"I—I'm nothing special, look at you, when we go shopping, let's carry our luggage!"

"Yes, I've come all the way here, but I'm carrying my luggage!"

"Of course! You're the strongest guy. ”

"Indeed, I'm Yui, the one with the highest muscular strength." So, it's not that I don't understand Liz Bett's statement, it's just that it's a bit unconvincing to ask me to carry my luggage even though it's been a long-awaited vacation.

Thinking so, Alice was about to refute the next moment, but smiled bitterly.

"Come on, Liz, don't use Kirito-kun violently. Kirito-kun has been fighting until yesterday, and he has defeated more than a dozen bosses in a month. \"

"yes, you've defeated 10 bosses in a month!?"

Immediately after Lizbet, Sirika also showed a surprised expression.

"Ugh! Last month, I thought the floor occupation was progressing very quickly, but is this also the credit of Kirito-san!? \"

"Ah," I replied. Last month, I started thinking more strongly about teaming up with Lilan and actively participating in boss fights to exert my powers.

Only then did I realize that, as Lilan said, my human dragon slot, even if it was full, would rush into the second trough, change into the form that Liran had before when he was furious, and grow out of his body with a sword, and start fighting. What's more, unlike then, Lilan was completely conscious, so he was able to communicate with me and fight.

In this form, Rairun's power is incomparably stronger than before, and he is able to resist any boss's attack, instantly unleashing high-intensity attacks.

However, on the other hand, the effect of the human dragon ghost tai released after the second charge is shorter than the human dragon ghost tai released after the first charge, and the rerun will revert to its original state. It took about twenty seconds to form, but even then, twenty seconds was enough to make the monsters here grow huge and kick away the newly strengthened bosses.

Unleash the strengthened human dragon, unless it is as strong and terrifying as a quarter-point boss, it may be weakened in the blink of an eye.

Just like the beastmaster on the 60th floor, the boss didn't appear at all after the 60th floor, and the boss that came here was like a monster that was amplified and strengthened, I could throw it, and I ran up to the current 73rd floor in one fell swoop.

Well, originally, Asuna, Yuki, Lifa, Diaberu, Klein, and Ekir are all fighting desperately, and their strength is even stronger than when they fought on the 60th floor, and even Diabel and Asuna's command has improved. Progressed. I made further progress and led the capture team to challenge the boss.

The formations and tactics instructed by these two people have been calculated like never before, and I was not afraid to fight any boss, and I was not killed, and I successfully climbed to the 73rd floor. So I can say that it wasn't just me and Lilan who were able to reach the 73rd floor, but because everyone worked together.

"No, no, we have come this far because everyone has worked together to fight. Everyone said that it was because of my strength and Lilan's strength, but in fact, it was everyone's efforts, and it was difficult to break through with Lilan's strength alone. ”

Lifa lined up next to me.

"But I think everyone is very supportive of my brother, and everyone says that it feels better to fight with my brother, and I am no longer afraid of the boss, and I can fight calmly. After all, my brother is everyone's hope. That's right. ”

"There's no such thing, it's just that people don't realize it. Maybe Lilan said the same thing. ”

At this point, I noticed that Lizzebet was scolding me again, and I turned my face to him.

"Although Kirito fights desperately, I\"

"Liz, what's wrong?"

Just when I thought he wouldn't say anything more, Liz jumped in front of me and blocked my way.

\"Kirito, I'm going to fight too. \"

"Uh, what is that, from the bushes to the sticks?"

\"I'll fight you while crafting weapons, too. I'll be on the front line too-\"

\"Ah, it hurts, Miss Alice, Shina, Liz————!!! \"

Suddenly there was a voice behind him, Lizzebet stopped talking, and we all turned around. It was Asuna and Yuki, who were supposed to be on vacation at home, but our eyes immediately widened.

In Asuna's hand, she held a princess-like person. On the other hand, Lilan, who usually leans on Asuna's shoulder, leans on Yuki's shoulder.

"Not Asuna"

After Shino answered, Asuna rushed towards us with Yuki and Lilan. Then, all our attention was focused on the person being held by Asuna.

"Isn't this a child!"

Asuna was holding a silver-haired, shoulder-length teenager all white, wearing a white T-shirt with a white hoodie and white shorts. Although he was a boy, he was not as young as us.

"What's wrong, son?"

Asuna replied with an embarrassed expression.

"When I was flying with Lilan in the sky on the 61st floor, I heard a voice, and when I got there, the kid broke down. We've been together, but he's never woken up. I don't know if the line has been disconnected. ”

Shiina's and I rolled our eyes. What Asuna had just said was similar to what she had said when she found Yui. Perhaps this child follows the same pattern. Just as I was about to speak to Asuna, Alice spoke first.

\"By、By Bibo!? \"

All at once our eyes were on Alice. Alice had a look of utter surprise on her face that I had never seen before.

\"Alice Sand? \"

"What's wrong, Teacher Alice? \"

Instead of answering Shino and me, Alice walked over to Asuna and turned her gaze to the child in her arms.

"Yubibo, after all, it's Yubibo!"

\"Uh, what's that Yubibo? \"

Instead of answering Asuna's question, Alice asked rhetorically.

"Asuna, where did you find this girl? \"

\"Uh, uh, does Miss Alice know this girl at the venue on the sixty-first floor?" \"

"I don't know anything, anyway, let's take this kid to the inn in the city, we can't just go on like this."

Alice turned her face to us, and we looked around in amazement.

"Sorry guys. Asuna and I won't go shopping. Let's go to the hotel now. \"

I raised my hand slightly.

"Wait, I'll go too."

Shino and Yui then shouted to Alice.

"I'll go too"

"I want to go with you too."

"I see, what about Liz and Celica? \"

Lizbet put her hand on her hip.

\"I'm thinking of going with you. For some reason, Asuna can't seem to cope. \"

Sirika nodded.

"I'll go too.

"Okay. Let's change your destination, everyone. ”

With that, Alice walked towards the hotel with Asuna's baby in her arms, and we followed her around town.

◇◇◇

We rented a room in a decent hotel on the twentieth floor and slept the boy Asuna brought in there.

When Asuna was held by Alice again, the boy didn't wake up at all, and he didn't regain consciousness when he was put to sleep. He's really like Yui when we first met.

Asuna was the first to spot such a boy, gently stroking his head.

"Don't wake up, kid"

Cerica sat in her chair and muttered to herself, and Asuna shouted to Alice, who was standing next to her.

"Teacher Alice, I have a hunch that you just called this boy's name. \"

"Oh. I called you. ”

Lizbet said, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.

"If I'm not mistaken, you call me Yupibo. Is this child's name Yupibo? ”

Alice shook her head, facing me, Shino, and Yui.

\"Kirito, Shino. Do you remember what you said about MHCP and MHHP? \"

"I remember, but"

Asuna, Sirika, Lizbet, Yuki, and Lilan immediately tilted their heads.

\"mhcp？ mhhp？ Teacher Alice, what are you talking about? \"

\"Kirito-san, what do you mean by that? \"

"An abbreviation for something?"

“Emu Eichi pee，Em double Eichi pee？”

Yuichi knew about mhcp and mhhp and the people were developer Alice, and Sinon and I, who I had heard from Alice. The other players didn't know this information, and the four didn't know about the existence of MHCP and MHHP. In the next moment, Shino shouted to Alice as if she realized something.

"You mean, this kid!?"

"Yes, Shino. He is a child with good intuition. \"

I also think Alice made a look of understanding something, and Shino noticed something.

There is only one answer to the fact that Alice suddenly brought up the story of MHCP and MHHP.

\"Impossible, Alice-Sand, this kid is! \"

"Well, Kirito-kun seems to have noticed it too. Perhaps, you are right. \"

Of the five people left, Lilan raised her voice.

''What happened?'' What exactly did you notice?

Alice put her hand on the sleeping boy's forehead and said to me and Shino.

"Let me introduce you again, Kirito-kun, Shino. The main body is "Jupiter." \"

Hearing this, our eyes widened and we were speechless.

MHHP, Alice was originally supposed to be created to take care of the player's mind, but it is said to be the great invention of the century, which evolved by fusing information from the world of computers and the internet to become a living organism. The content of the show is not exaggerated at all.

We couldn't believe that this was a boy who was being stroked by Asuna and sleeping in front of us, and we couldn't accept it.

"Whew, huh? This kid is Jupiter of MHHP!? \"

"Yes. No doubt. ”

Only then did Yui, who was sitting on Shino's lap, tilt her head and shout to Alice.

"Alice-Sand, why do you know about MHCP?

Alice turned her face to Yui and gently grabbed her hair. There was a sense of sadness on that face.

"I see, you don't know me.

"That, that, Teacher Alice. We don't quite understand either\"

\"Ah, yes. I didn't say anything to Asuna. I will try to explain it clearly, so please understand as much as possible. \"