I opened my eyes and remembered the battle at that time. From around the 76th floor, monsters and boss monsters begin to disappear.

The true identity of the mastermind behind this is the first MHHP Martell variant created by Alice, "House Martell". "Hausmartel" attacked us as we climbed the floor, eventually being defeated by us on the 80th floor and vanishing.

Could it be that this is also what the 'fugitives' did? - I couldn't believe Yui's words, I opened my notebook and searched for the date before the battle with Martell - no, before the event itself was confirmed - and I managed to find it.

The sentence "NPC research/MHHP modification plan executor" fugitive".

"Not even Martell was forced to dance in the palm of the wreck's hand"

"I can't believe it." The number of events we experienced and knocked down. In fact, all this is the masterpiece of the "breakout", and all those involved in it are poor clowns who are forced to dance at the hands of the "breakouts".

The fact is that everything was arranged by the "broken people".

"No, wait. Could it be that Heathcliff's Cottage was also killed by the 'Fugitives!? ”

"I think something like that. It can be speculated that the 'Runner Breaker' believes that Heathcliff is the most disturbing being in the world, conducting various experiments and trying to eliminate him in some way, and succeeds. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the 'Runner-Breaker' killed Heathcliff, who disappeared during the fight with his father, leaving only a sword and a shield"

\"So the Kayak is dead? \"

Hearing my question, Yui lowered her head. "I think it's realistic. And the "saboteurs repeatedly conducted various experiments in that place, causing an accident in Ayn Grant, and triggering a pseudo-experience parasitic event that had not occurred until the other day."

True, we captured the members of the "Mone Mosinne" who were trying to spread the "pseudo-empirical parasite", entered their base, and took control of them. He defeated Shiina's "fugitives", who inflicted severe physical and mental damage on him, and threw him into prison, imprisoning him once and for all.

"So, I don't think there's anything to worry about causing more damage. As Miss Alice said, prisons are designed so that even those with a master account cannot escape. \"

"I don't think so"

"I couldn't calm down for a long time." Yes, I put the "fugitive" in jail at the time, but he's the kind of guy who can make things up to this point.

Even if we get caught and go to prison, it's within the calculation, and I don't know if he has successfully escaped from prison now, I can't help but think so.

"Daddy"

My daughter's voice brought me back to my senses. I didn't see a notebook, I saw my daughter's face. The notebook was already in her daughter's hand, and the expression on her face was very serious.

"Dad, don't worry, the only people who can make Mom happy now are us and Dad."

Yu continued.

"Mom's heart is broken, but I want her to recover.

"I want you to be a kind and energetic mom before you join this fight." And, as I said earlier, it was me, Miss Alice, Miss Asuna, and Miss Jupiter who could make my mother happy, and Dad was the closest to Mom. ”

\"Am I the closest to Shino's heart? \"

"Yes, so Dad, you have to cheer up, Dad also hopes that Mom can get better, if Dad is like this, Mom won't get better, and more importantly, she won't be relieved, I can't heal Mom's heart."

When I looked into Yui's eyes dumbfounded, I felt the warmth in my hands. Before I could react, Yui grabbed my hand.

"So Dad, don't worry so much, Dad is a person who can think, so you may not be able to think about it, but even so, don't think about this kind of thing in front of Mom, please only think of Mom, me and Mr. Lilan."

Shino is doing well now, but she is in a fragile state, not knowing when she will have a panic attack or be crushed by extreme anxiety. If I act uneasy, it will be an unnecessary burden on Shino.

"If I can do something about Shino's pain, then I have no choice. \"

"Yes, Shino said he was more worried, but what if I was also worried? \"

"If this continues, Shino won't get better for a long time, so you won't be able to go back to the house on the 22nd floor." \"

I held Yui's hand tightly.

"However, it's hard for me to make my mother happy by myself, so Yui, please help me. \"

"Yes.

Seeing Yui's sunny smile, I instinctively hugged her body.

That's right, I'm not going to do Shino, who was injured by the "fugitive". As Shino's husband, I have to be strong as a lover.

Thinking of this, my anxiety about seeing her disappeared, and instead, I was filled with a longing to be with Shino.

Guided by this feeling, I took Yui's hand and returned to Shino's room.

"I'm sorry to call you at this time, Kirito-san. You must be sleepy. \"

After Shino and Yui went to bed, Alice called me and I came to her room.

Alice's room, which used to have the illusion of being stared at by old-fashioned furniture, is now the same as her own. Before that, I felt like I had entered this room many times.

Mainly because Alice often calls him out, and when he talks to Alice, he always uses this room.

While I sat on the couch facing the table in the center of the room, Alice sat on the opposite bank, serving tea on the table. However, Alice poured hot milk into the cup this time. This may be to prevent me from having insomnia.

Alice stood in front of me, surprised by the presence of hot milk, and that she was dressed in her usual clothes, not the lightest clothes she wore when she slept.

"Okay, okay, you have a lot to say, it seems that you have a lot to say to me."

"yes, it's like a mountain, I know."

"Coo-coo. It's not like it's been a long time since I've seen you. And, although I'm not with you as often as Shiina, it's been a long time. From your gestures and expressions, I can understand many things. \"

Alice looked at me and smiled.

"Indeed, I met Alice the day after I met Yui. Later I learned that Alice was a staff member of Argus, the author of Yui, Strea, Jupiter, and Martell, and from there I reported a lot of things. Now that I think about it, Alice and I spend almost as much time with Yui as I do.

"I'll start with that. Or rather, I have a question for you. ”

"What is it?"

"Poetry is about poetry.

\"I've always lived with Shiina, and I know Shiina's past. "But, as Alice said, I've never seen Shino have a seizure because of it.

When Shino regained her memory, I saw her panicked appearance in my dream. However, while I was still conscious, the first time I saw Shino have a seizure was when I was on my way to the headquarters of Monemothy.

"Yes. When I went to the stronghold of Mone Mosine and was attacked by 'escapees', I saw Shino's seizures for the first time. ”

Until now, Shino is about to return, and I still have in my mind what Shino was like at that time. Shino's figure, pointed at gunpoint, saw what we couldn't see, frightened, screamed, and cried.

Although I thought I had fully accepted Shino's situation, when I thought of Shino at that time, I felt a strong sense of uneasiness in my heart, and my body trembled unconsciously.

"Are you disillusioned?"

"That's not true."

I see. But Kirito-kun, you know, too. You and Shino cleared Ayn Grant in this way, and even if you return to the real world, you say you'll be with me, but Shina's treatment isn't over yet, and there's still a danger of a sudden seizure. \"

\"To you, an ordinary pistol has become a terrible thing in Shiina's eyes, as if you can see a demon. "In the eyes of the general public, poetry was an ugly and disgusting thing. Of course, you'll be treated the same if you're nearby. ”

"Indeed, before I met Shino, or rather, before I came into this world, I had the same thoughts as ordinary people. "I feel that people with mental disabilities are disgusting and disgusting, and I think the people around them and the people who care for them are also having a hard time.

"Of course, that's probably what I thought."

\"That's right, you've accepted Shino and even got married, I don't think you think that way anymore, but people don't think that way. Even when I came back to reality, I would continue to take care of her, but once she had a seizure, the people around me would look at her with cold eyes. When the time comes, you will also be targeted. \"

Alice looked me in the eye with a grim expression.

"Excuse me, Kirito-kun. Do you still want to be with her? Do you want to accept everything she has and live with her? Do you want to continue to face her without running away from her? Can you do it? \"

I lowered my head and thought about it.

Of course, if Shino had a seizure in public, she would have been treated as a deranged person at once, and I might have been treated the same if I had been nearby. If I were an ordinary human being—no, if it was before I came into this world, I would have quickly disappeared from Shiina's sight.

"But now it's different." Shino told me everything, admitted that I was a murderer, and told me that she liked me. He told me from the bottom of his heart that he was enjoying being with me and that he was happy.

When I had a seizure, I felt a little scary, but now I want to protect her from all these things and all my fear of her is gone.

Even before the seizure, I wanted to protect her, continue to love her, be with her, and continue to do what I wanted.

I looked up and told Alice about my pulsating feelings for her.

"I always thought I understood everything about her, her thoughts, her pain and her fears.

"Is that so?"

"This time it's clear.

"I want to protect Shino. \"I want to be close to Shi Nai for the rest of my life, cherish her all my life, and grow old with Shi Nai. If Shino's heart is something that can be healed, then I want to heal Shino's heart too. \"

"Even if you're discriminated against, aren't you?"

"I don't mind. I swear to Shino that I will spend the rest of my life with Shino. I will continue to protect Shino. \"

As I confided everything to Alice, she continued to look me in the eye in silence. His gaze was sharp, like a terrible monster, and it made me shiver and feel overwhelmed. But I held back and continued to stare into Alice's reddish-brown eyes.

But within ten seconds, Alice was laughing.

"Goo, goo, goo, ahhahahahaha"

I didn't expect that Alice, who had such sharp eyes, suddenly covered her eyes and laughed, which made me speechless in surprise.

"What's the matter with you?" Didn't know how funny my face was - Alice stopped smiling and gave me her face back.

"Shino really met a good person, and I didn't expect it at all. \"

“”

Alice smiled and put her hand on my cheek. A mysterious and pleasant warmth crept over my face, like my mother's.

"Kirito-kun, you're amazing. Ordinary people will immediately run away or stay away from her when they see such a girl, but you would rather make up your mind. After all, you've exceeded a lot of my expectations and you're an amazing girl. \"

"I'm still dumbfounded." I should have been told something I could understand, but for some reason I couldn't understand it. Perhaps sensing my presence, Alice gently stroked my cheek.

"People in the past used to speak good words, and their eyes were as good as their mouths. People with shallow decision-making, as well as people who just want to survive in this situation, usually have trembling eyes and swimming.

But Kirito-kun kept staring at me, his eyes full of truth. Your thoughts are absolutely true. I want to see it. ”

"Oh, is that so?"

It was as if I finally understood what had happened, and my heart was filled with relief. It doesn't matter if Alice is crazy or if my face is so funny.

\"But Kirito-kun. It's so unreasonable for you, who are not psychiatrists, to stay with her alone and continue to take care of her. She may reject you. \"

"When I was told this, I was taken aback." Indeed, I vowed to stay with Shino, but she wouldn't necessarily agree. It's no surprise that he was disgusted that he had epilepsy and then closed himself off and rejected me.

"When that happens, I"

"yes, what should I do then"

"It's easy. Believe me. ”

"Ugh"

I was taken aback by Alice's honest words. The psychiatrist in front of me continued.

"For the record, I know her better than you do, and I've been with women for a long time. So, if there's something you don't understand about her, or if you're confused, rely on me. I'll teach you all sorts of things. ”

"Honestly, I'm glad to hear you say that." But when I think about it, I don't know where Shino and Alice are in Tokyo, and I don't know which hospital used medicuboid to get to this point. First of all, it's rude to teach these things, so it's a bit difficult to ask.

"You're saying that, but where are Alice San? \"

"Where are you in front of you?"

"No, it's in the real world. I don't know which hospital Miss Alice and Shino use. \"

Alice looked somewhat convinced.

\"Ah, yes. I met at SAo, so it didn't feel like I met in the real world. Words like this\"

"What if that's the case?"

"I'll let you know when this game is cleared, and I'll ask you to tell me your full name when the game is over."

"Fu, do you have a full name?"

Although I was a little surprised by this statement, Alice continued.

\"That's a problem, Kirito-kun. What is your wife's real name? What is my real name? Answer me. \"

"The sudden question baffled me." However, I was shocked when I heard the full names of these two men, and although I was confused to see so many names, their names were firmly imprinted in my mind.

\"That Shino's real name is Shino Asada. You're Alice Serizawa. \"

Alice smiled, as if to say "the right answer".

"Yes, so you know our real name, but we don't know your name, and that's important. So, before this game is over, I'll let you tell us your name, and in exchange, I'll tell you where we are. Once the game is over, the etiquette of the game disappears, so that's okay. ”

"It does, but"

"Then that's a rule.

Alice stared into my eyes again. His gaze was sharp again.

"It's almost a hundred, but in this world, you don't know what's going to happen until the end.

Kirito-kun, don't let your guard down.

"You are the last hope of all the players in this world, and the last hope of that girl." Either way, please make sure to come back alive. Let's meet Shino. ”

Alice's eyes were like mirrors, reflecting my face.

Until now, I've been climbing this castle, defeating tens of thousands of monsters, thinking that I'm going to get all the players back alive, and I want to come back to reality alive myself. Keep going like this, and now that I've climbed to this point, those thoughts and wishes are about to become reality.

Moreover, even if I return to the real world, I want to stay with Shino, and my duty is to become Shino's position and protect her for the rest of my life. To start it, you have to leave this world alive.

I don't mean to be your last hope, but I will definitely climb to the top of this castle and come back alive with Shino and the others. Since coming to this castle, that feeling in my heart has now become even stronger.

"Of course.

He spat out his determination and let Alice suck it into his ear.

Alice just looked me in the eye and didn't say anything, but eventually smiled.

\"I beg you. I want to bring her Shino back to the real world and give it to you. \"

"I'm not going to let you die."

"Yes"

Alice nodded slightly, letting go of the hand on my cheek and leaning back against the couch.

\"Even so, Shino doesn't want to leave you, and unless Shino recovers, it's hard for you to go to war. \"

"Ahh

\"I swear I'll come back alive, but if Shino doesn't recover, I won't be able to go to war." "I don't know why, but I completely forgot.

"Well, her mental strength is stronger than when she came into this world, and she has made friends that have been difficult to make until now. She's currently being treated, but if you and Asuna take care of her, she'll be able to get back on the offensive front in no time.

"Mr. Alice"

When Alice called out to me, she turned to face me.

\"As I said earlier, I was helpless in front of Shino who was having a seizure. \"

"I told you. Is there anything wrong with this? ”

"Until now, I've tried not to think about it in order to make up my mind, but I've always had something in my heart."

Shino was having a seizure at the time and couldn't do anything because I didn't know anything about Shino myself, even though she seemed to know everything. And now, although it has gotten a lot better, Shino is in a state where she doesn't know when it will have a seizure.

\"If I can understand Shino more deeply, I can do more for Shino, alleviate Shina's pain more, and heal Shino better\"

\"You don't mean you want to relive Shino's memories, do you? \"

I came back to my senses and turned my face to the doctor in front of me. The doctor's face was no longer as calm and sharp as before, but full of astonishment. But I just thought about it and didn't say anything.

"Uh, no, I am!"

"You look like that, you're the kind of person who doesn't like to have a straight face the most, and you're the kind of person who shows it when he thinks of something."

Shino and Yui did tell me that if they wanted to know what I was thinking, they could just look at my face, and Asuna, who fought together, had already told me that sometimes I made a frightening expression when I was fighting.

"That's what they said"

"Well, you're such a problem kid. Indeed, as an exclusive doctor, I'm glad you understand Shino. But Kirito-kun, although it's a pity that you want to relive Shino's memory, it's the love you look up to. \"

“”

"You don't have to go that far, and even if you don't want to know Shino that much, you're loving Shino enough." That's enough for now, so don't think too much about it. \"

"Is this the love you look up to?"

Alice nodded deeply, but soon she was staring at my face. As I thought about what to do next time, Alice opened her mouth.

"Until now, I've been reaching out to you and observing your behavior, but maybe you don't know how to feel distance from others.

"Alice hit my target brilliantly." Yes, I don't know what to say, how to get closer to others, or how to do it.

Originally, my parents were not my biological parents, and Naoba and I were not siblings, but cousins. My biological parents died before I can remember, and I was taken in by my mother and her husband (who was my sister's husband), so naturally I was raised there as if I were my own child.

I think I knew this fact when I was ten years old, when I visited the resident registration network and gathered all kinds of information. Since then, I have had no idea how to develop a sense of distance from others.

"No, I didn't really try to make friends from the beginning, and most importantly, I'm a complete otaku." That being said, I don't have many friends. Among them, the one who gets along the most and plays games together is Kem, who was supposed to save Yuki and came to this world.

"Sure enough, do you understand?"

"I understand that you have a lot of dangers and vulnerabilities compared to normal people. I'm sure you haven't really trusted someone yet, you haven't met someone you can trust. That's not even your Lifa sister. ”

"No, I believe in Lifa, I trust her, I think she's a lovely little sister."

"But the way Rifa and Shino get along is very different. \"

"Well, of course, Lifa and I are brother and sister"

\"But you trust Shiina, who is not your family, and you don't trust Lifa, who is your family. \"

"I was caught off guard again and was taken aback." Alice sighed and folded her hands over her chest.

"No, that's why she's attracted to you, and you're attracted to her."

"Ugh"

After that experience, she couldn't trust anyone else, not even the biological parents she wanted to protect. And you are not good at creating a sense of distance between you and others, you can't trust your biological parents, you can't trust your family. ”

"Indeed, I may be very similar to Shina. "After a certain point, I no longer trust others, including my parents, but I long for the warmth of the world, and although I have the desire to love someone, I can't find anyone I can think of. And, if you think about it normally, you've done something worth sinning.

\"Do you look alike Shino?" \"

"To be honest, you look a lot like her, but you don't know how to keep your distance from others, so you just want to go deeper with her, you're going too far."

When Alice told me, I felt a thunderous shock inside. I just thought that if I could learn more about Shino, maybe I would be able to heal her, or love her more deeply, but I didn't expect that the reason why I thought this way was because I was not good at keeping a sense of distance from others.

"I mean..."

"But I like that part of you."

"Ugh"

Alice clasped her arms gently.

"Well, it's true that you're trying to think too deeply, but at the same time, you can also try to get to know each other to that extent.

Alice continued with a wry smile.

"And Shino is not punishing you. As long as it is a person who is seriously offended, regardless of age or gender, she will punish. \"

"I think the reason she loves you is because you're the kind of person."

Alice put her hand on my stunned cheek again.

"Now I know how much you love Shino. If you're here, Shino will heal soon. So I beg you, Kirito-kun. If there's something you don't understand, like how to keep your distance from others, or about Shino, come to me. I will teach you step by step. \"

Alice's reddish-brown eyes reflect the target's face like a mirror, sometimes making you feel the horror of monsters. It was no longer there, and it shone with a very calm, gentle light.

"I feel like I'm getting to know myself better this time, and I feel like I've figured out how to deal with Shino in the future. "There are a lot of things I don't understand, Alice is a seemingly elusive person, but Alice is still a trustworthy person.

\"You mean, I'm also a patient of Serizawa-sensei Alice San? \"

"yes, um, I'm a counselor and I'm also a psychiatrist, and I'm good at listening to people's concerns and coming up with solutions. I don't charge unless I really need to see a doctor, so please talk to me. Now, take a break today. ”

"I'll let you do it. Thank you very much today. ”

I quietly got up from the couch, said goodnight, bowed my head, and headed back into the dark hallway, then to Shino and Yui's bedroom. His steps felt much lighter than they had come.

After Kirito left, Alice sighed and leaned back on the couch. What I've always seen – or rather, I'm tired of seeing – is the ceiling without intricate patterns.

"Wow. I didn't expect the two of you to get together to discuss the same thing. ”

Before Shino had a seizure and was hospitalized, Shino had asked Alice for advice. The content at the time was exactly the same as Kirito, "Being with him makes me want to be spoiled, and I want to know more about him." At this point, will he hate me? ”

"Twisted people, attracted to each other, huddled together, dependent on each other, huh?"

Alice covered her eyes with her palms. Just like that, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"Kirito how are you going to change her mind, and the other person's mind? \"

One day after I started nursing Shino, Shino and I went back to our home on the 22nd floor. The reason is that Shiina's condition is better than expected, the trauma has not recurred, and I am by her side.

After receiving these three things, Alice said that there was no need to be hospitalized in the church anymore, and that it would be better for Shino to go back to the house on the 22nd floor, so we were allowed to go back to the house on the 22nd floor. Well, my condition was that if anything happened, I would immediately return to my first self, but I was able to come back much sooner than I expected.

"It's been less than a week, but our house feels like it's been open for about a month." I should have seen it a long time ago, but I sat down on one of the pieces of furniture, the sofa, and looked at the pieces of furniture that I missed.

"I feel like I'm back after a long time."

Shino also sat down on the couch across from me. The clothes he wore while in the house were a light green hoodie and a pair of white pants cut above the knee. The clothes I wore when I was in the hospital were pajamas, and it felt like I hadn't seen Shino wearing them for a long time.

"Yes.

"Of course, if you want to be hospitalized, you will probably stay for about a week. However, I spent about three days at Alice Sand's church.

"At that time, I suddenly remembered something." Shino just came home from the church, is it really okay? Shiina's heart is very unstable right now, so whatever Miss Alice says can happen.

"Shino, are you really okay? Any worries? \"

Shino lowered her head slightly.

"To be honest, I'm a little worried, I don't know when my symptoms will actually come back, it's the same in real life, and many times I suddenly remember and can't figure out anything when I'm in the hospital, it's really painful."

“”

When I couldn't answer, Shino raised her head and called out to me.

"But I'm feeling good now. It's not painful at all. In fact, when I was in the hospital, there was no one. But this time, Ms. Alice, Yui, Asuna, Jupiter, and Lilan are all there, as well as you. \"

Shino smiled softly at me.

"So this time I was able to be discharged from the hospital so quickly, all because of you, I think, and thanks to you."

I see. I'm glad to hear that. \"

I smiled at Shiina, and looked around. There are no humans or monsters other than us.

"That's how it should be." When Shino was discharged from the hospital, she suddenly called Asuna on the way to the attack and asked him to take care of Yui and Lilan like Nori Lundi. Yui and Lilan objected and said, "We can go all the way home!" But Alice, who had been checking on Shino, stepped in to persuade them and Asuna, saying: "On this day, your mom wants to be alone with your dad. \"

As a result, Yui, Lilan, and Asuna reluctantly swallowed it, leaving only Shiina and me to be replaced on the 22nd floor. By the way, Yui and Liran will live at Asuna's house on the 56th floor as usual and will come to pick her up tomorrow morning.

\"Anyway, Shino, are you nice to me?

Shino lowered her head again and made a slightly pained sound.

"Because if it weren't for two people, it wouldn't have been possible."

Shiina's words made me swallow. Indeed, until today, we have not been separated from Yui and Lilan, and because of all the events that have happened, it has not been so bad.

I don't know if that's why Shino is so angry—right now, Shino is the most active, extreme, and attacked target of the month.

\"I、That's the one, I understand when the night comes\"

I could see that my face was red and hot, but at the same time, Shino's face was also a little red.

"Yes"

Immediately after, Shino raised her head as if she realized something.

"Of course, I didn't take time out to spend time with you for this, I wanted to be alone with you, go for a walk or something."

Shino, blushing, recalled in confusion what she had said. Of course, since the capture has recently entered its final stage, I started to focus only on the capture and didn't spend much time with Shino.

I found out that Shino sometimes wanted to be alone with me, but recently it has become an unfulfilled wish.

"Well, yes. I certainly don't have time to be alone with you. Well, where do we go for a walk? ”

"That's why I said this layer."

"Oh, I see, I'll go out now, but it's okay."

After seeing Shino nodding, I got up from the couch and came to Shino's side.

"Shiina, tell me when you're in trouble. \"

"I'm fine. Really, I'm fine. ”

Shino said as she gently held my hand. When Shino's unique pleasant warmth gradually spreads from my hands to my whole body, I know that I can usually go out with Shino, and my heart is filled with joy and excitement

"Will it really end without incident?" Will Shino be able to return to this home safe and sound? A strange feeling of nervousness and uneasiness swirls in the mind, just like before the challenge boss fight.

\"Kirito, Kirito, what's wrong? \"

"Ahh

Shiina's voice brought me back to my senses. \"As soon as you turn your face to the place that calls your voice, you will see Shino's anxious face.

(oops)

Maybe my expression just now looked uneasy - I thought I wouldn't upset Shino, but I suddenly made her like this.

"Maybe you don't want to go out?"

"No, no, not with Her Royal Highness the Princess. Let's go, let's go. ”

When I said this jokingly, Shino smiled wryly and held my hand tighter. From my experience so far, I know that clenching her hands like this is when Shino wants to spoil her.

As I left the house, I locked the door and looked at Shino. Although it was only three days, Shino was immediately attracted by the view from the 22nd floor, making her miss it as much as the house itself.

"I don't know, it's like home. It's been a long time since I've been here, but I feel nostalgic. ”

"Really, it feels weird, probably because I've been in an unfamiliar church for too long."

"We're only in church for one day at most." However, this time it took three days, and I also had to take care of Shino, so I barely left the city. Or rather, I was told not to go to Alice and not to leave Shiina's side.

The reason is that the "fugitives", having been arrested, quickly escaped from prison and disappeared somewhere in Ayn Grant. When Shino wakes up, the guests are "The Thinker" and "Alberridge", and when Alice answers them, she tells them that the "Decomposer" has disappeared from the Black Iron Palace run by the Thinker.

Since the thinker was not the kind of person who could lie in the first place, and he himself was flustered, Alice immediately understood that he was telling the truth, and after sending him to the Black Iron Palace and Alberich to the headquarters of the Knights of Blood, he returned to me and told me about it.

Asuna and I listened together, and we were all taken aback and realized that Aingrant was still in danger, but Asuna immediately calmed down and sent a message to the members of the Knights of the Blood Oath, the Holy Dragon Alliance, and other major guilds, asking them to track down the "Breaker" and find the base of the "Breaker".

I heard about it in a place where Shino was away, and I wanted to tell Shino right away, but Alice stopped and said that it was the "Crash Man" who put Shiina's sleep, and if she found herself free again in Ayn Grant, Shino might panic and mistakenly think that she would be targeted again. I didn't tell Shino that the "fugitive" had fled as instructed.

At present, as a countermeasure, we are following Alice's advice and hurrying to arrest him. Because I already know that once the strategy reaches the 100th floor, after clearing the level, there is nothing "Honkai Bad Man" can do.

And now that we have reached the 96th floor, and there are still 4 floors to reach the 100th floor, we can completely defeat his purpose here, and once we reach the 100th floor, we can be freed from this world and be able to return to the original real world.

"Now I can't attack because of Shino, so everyone is doing it. "If everyone's duty now is to be in charge of arresting, then my duty is to heal Shino's heart so that she can come back and arrest her. Therefore, I had to lighten the burden on Shino's heart as much as possible.

"Then, Shino. Is it really okay to go for a walk? Don't you have any other places you want to go? \"

Shino seemed to remember something, and looked at the sky gently. Directly above Shino, there is a blue sky, and it feels high, probably because it's autumn.

"Speaking of which, I've never been alone with you."

It's true that I used to go shopping a lot, but when I went shopping, I mostly bought equipment and items, so it was mainly for the guide, and when I wasn't usually shopping, Yui and Lilan were almost there. Then again, I've never gone shopping alone with Shiina.

"Come to think of it, yes, okay, let's go shopping, shall we? The colonel did a lot of things because of the number of attacks, and it seems that it is no longer a trivial matter. ”

"How many do you have?"

I brought up the status window and checked the bar that showed the amount I had, but the number there was the column. The house next door is 25 million kohl, so I have enough money to buy four houses of the same grade as this one.

Until now, most of my money had been spent on buying houses and gear, but sure enough, I had never bought a house, and when it came to gear, I couldn't find anything better than the gear that Kayaba gave me when I joined the Knights of the Blood Oath.

Plus, if you infiltrate dungeons and labyrinths, defeat monsters like bandits, and open treasure chests, you'll often find weapons that sell well, even though they're not as good as the ones you're using now. He reached this amount, probably because he sold all the weapons he had acquired and organized his inventory without spending almost any money.

"By the way, according to Egil, I got it from above and sold it in Egil's shop. \"

It seems that middle-class players bought the equipment and used it happily.

"About 125,000,000 columns."

Just as I was muttering this, a slightly surprised voice came from the side. As soon as I looked at it, I saw that Shiina's face had round eyes.

"Have you saved so much!?"

"yes, I haven't used it lately, even if it's an attack that has knocked down an enemy who has lost a lot of money. And, because there's so much going on, I don't have time to use it either.

"That's why you can play as much as you want."

"Hey, what do you mean by having fun, having fun?" Then again, can you do such a thing in this world? \"

"My head spun in an instant." Perhaps because this game is a pure Japanese full-dive mmoRpG, gambling like a casino or pachinko does not exist, so gambling-related gambling is impossible.

"In this case, buying expensive things should be a good pastime in this world, but Shino shouldn't like this kind of thing, so she may not be able to do it. \"

"If you say you can do it, you can do it. Do you have anything you want? For example, ridiculously expensive clothes or hats. ”

"I don't want anything like that. To be honest, it would be nice if I could walk and talk with you. ”

I was taken aback when I heard Shino's words. What Shino just said was more than just expensive clothes and hats.

Hawkers,Shino and Yui have said similar things to me several times.,I should have gotten used to it.,But for some reason.,My body is full of happiness and embarrassment.。

"I see, then let's go shopping, don't buy too expensive things, after all, the 20th floor?"

"I'd rather go to the eighty floor than go there. You see, that big, wide port town. ”

"Come to think of it, there are a lot of people there, but I don't go there much, okay, let's go to the eighty floor."

Holding Shiina's hand tightly, I stepped out of the dense grassland and headed for the portal on the 22nd floor. It's not a strategy or a battle of annihilation for Monemosine, it's a walk with your loved one – the pace of the date couldn't be more relaxed and fun.

"Sure enough, it's beautiful"

"Shiinai and I went to the port town on the eighty floors. "This used to be a place of monsters, but Martell got out of control because of the "Breakout" and devoured it. Well, because of this, the 80th floor is attracting attention as a healing place very close to the front line, and it is also popular among couples.

Moreover, although it is autumn on this layer, the intensity of sunlight has not changed in the slightest, and it is eternal summer. Perhaps because of this, when you turn your face to the coast, you will see middle-class gamers enjoying their holidays and sea bathing in swimsuits.

"Well, it's already autumn, but it's not getting cooler here, and the sun hasn't changed in the slightest since summer."

"Maybe that's how it was arranged. You see, like the last time we went to Springfield. ”

Hearing Shino's words, I remembered the scene of the cherry blossom boulevard that I walked with Shino a long time ago. The weather there is frozen in spring, and the cherry blossoms last for a long time. Therefore, that place is called Springfield, but if the place were also set up in the same way, it would be called Summerfield.

"Perhaps. But there's more to it than just leisure and vacation. ”

"It's easy to get distracted by the coast and mountains, but it's a big port town." Sure enough, it's not as good as the city that started on the first floor, but there are many shops, maybe because it is a city close to the sea and the mountains, and the stalls sell skewers of seafood and mountain products.

"I tried it the last time I was here and it was delicious." - Well, today is a date with Shino, so instead of eating that kind of thing to fill your stomach, you should go to a high-end restaurant to fill your stomach, so it's okay.

\"So, Shino, where do we go first? \"

"I'm sorry, I didn't think too much about it."

Shino's answer made me feel overwhelmed. Since he said he was going to shop in the city, I thought Shino had something he wanted to buy, but apparently I was completely wrong.

"Well, Shino feels a bit like that, even if you come to a place like this, you don't want anything. \"

"Is that so?

"I will"

Shino said, holding my hand tightly. For Shino, who usually doesn't like to do such things, such a joint hand is very unusual. Today, Shino's aggressiveness, I understand again.

"Let's go"

After confirming Shino's nod, I took Shiina's hand and headed to the port town by the mountains and the sea. As soon as you enter, you can see the town bustling with couples and friends, and you can also see the NPCs running the shops talking to the players who come and go.

On the stalls set up by NPCs, skewering, stewing, frying, and roasting all kinds of delicacies from the sea and mountains. Usually I go to NPC's stalls to eat discounted food, but now I don't think so.

\"Anyway, you ate that kind of thing when you were captured, right? \"

\"Ahh That's because you can eat while walking around town. Do you want to eat? \"

"No, it's not like that. I just thought Yui would be happy to eat it. \"

"Yes, Yui eats everything, so if I buy food from the stall, she will happily eat deliciously. \"

"No, it's not just Yui. "Lilan prefers to eat that kind of thing. Maybe it's because Liran is a dragon that is different from us, not the food made by Shino, so he eats simple dishes that give full play to the umami of the ingredients.

According to him, Shino's food is many times better, but the food in the open air is even better.

"Of course, Yui would be happy to eat it, but Lilan prefers to eat that kind of thing.

"So isn't it better to cook something like this for Ruiran than I cook?"

"No, no, Shina's food is still delicious, so Shina's food is even better. \"

As I walked and chatted about such trivial matters, I suddenly froze when I saw a certain store. Shino couldn't help but be surprised by the way I looked, and immediately stopped me.

"Kirito, what's going on?" \"

“”

In front of me is an NPC-run clothing store with a black mannequin wearing a hat and a plain white sleeveless dress. Seeing it with my own eyes, in my mind's head, I remembered the time I spent walking around the city alone with Lilan.

At the time, Lilan surprised me when he said he wanted to eat crepes and that he couldn't wear clothes or hats because he was a dragon.

Until now, my mind was full of Shino, so I didn't think much about it, but I wanted to know what happened to Lilan at that time. Even when I asked him in detail, he wouldn't answer me.

What happened to Lilan at that time, what kind of thoughts did he have in his heart, and what kind of changes happened to his heart? I thought about it for a long time, but I couldn't think of an answer.

As I continued to think, the figure of a white wolf dragon came to my mind.

"No, first of all, what exactly is a replay?" When I made him my companion, I thought he was just a simple one