When I left my apartment and entered the city center and entered the highway, the number of cars increased dramatically, probably because it was a holiday and the weather conditions were arguably the most suitable for an outing.

When Shiinaa says that they are like people in line, Alice replies that it is true - they talk to each other like sisters as they move through the traffic. In a few moments, I walked through the city center and saw the sea.

So, Alice's car got off the highway, onto a lower road, and passed several traffic lights. In doing so, they came to a park by the sea and came to a parking lot full of cars, but Alice ignored it and kept running, and I entered the second parking lot, parked away from other cars.

It feels a little far away because it's on a slightly higher mountain, but outside the windshield is the reflection of the deep blue sky and the calm ocean.

"The sea is beautiful."

"Yes. Here, I don't think anyone will hear me. I wouldn't mind trying to hear the curiosity of the car at the end of the parking lot. ”

So, Shino unbuckled her seat belt and turned her body towards Alice. The main reason I'm here is to hear something important from Airi, not for fun. Alice's expression became a little more serious, as if she understood it herself.

"So Mr. Alice, what's the important story?"

"Calm down and listen to me, Shino. \"

Alice unbuckled her seatbelt and turned her entire body towards Shiina, then gently opened her lips.

"Starting this week, I will be retiring as a psychiatrist. Of course, I will also be retiring from the hospital where I am now. ”

As soon as Shino heard the words spit out from Alice's cherry-colored lips, in an instant, the waves and plants that were blown by the wind stopped shaking, as if they had been blown into a sleeping world. I had a hallucination, but I immediately moved my mouth from that world, and spit the phrase back.

"Uh, uh? What do you mean? ”

"This means that I must resign from your position as personal physician, and at the same time, your treatment will end."

When Shiinaa first meets Alice and signs a contract with an exclusive doctor to become a patient, Shiinaa recalls the time she was told. If I'm not mistaken, the contract at the time was three years, and as in high school, it was said to be longer if the treatment was postponed after checking the progress.

In September, before she was captured by SAo, she began to be treated by Alice. I was stuck at SAo last December and it's been a year since I started my medical checkup there. It's been less than three years, let alone two years.

"Wait a minute, teacher, what's happening all of a sudden? \"

"yes, something happened all of a sudden, and I was a little panicked. But it's for you—\"

"No, how did it suddenly become like this? It's been less than three years!? ”

Shino hurriedly said this, and Alice sighed softly, then leaned back in the helm's seat, facing forward.

"I'm sniffed out. No, it should be said that it is more accurate to be discovered, right? ”

"What did you do when you sniffed me?"

"Shino. You know, I'm a former Argus employee, one of the developers of SAo, and the creator of Lilan, Jupiter, Yui, and Strea. \"

Airi was a programmer before starting this job and is a former staff member of Argus who created SAo, known as the Demon Game, and brought it to the world. When he was trapped in SAo, only himself, Heren, Asuna, Rika and a few others knew about it, and he himself didn't talk to anyone but himself.

\"I see. I heard it directly from Airi Sensei. \"

"It's as if someone found out that I'm an SAo developer and an AI engineer at the same time. The person who tracked me down approached me and wanted to join the developer of a game. ”

Martell, Jupiter, Yui, and Stella are indeed artificial intelligence, but their intelligence and spiritual richness are something I have never seen before, and it is no exaggeration to say that they are living beings born in the online world.

And Airi who created it is undoubtedly a genius artificial intelligence scientist on par with Akihiko Kayaba. If it's a game company or a software company, you can get as much as you want.

The beautiful psychiatrist who concealed the facts and worked in a completely different job sighed deeply.

"In addition, games made there, such as "ALo", seem to be far superior to such commercial games.

The developers say they want to incorporate your AI into this game and plead with it. If you cooperate, I will give you a much higher monthly salary than the work you do.

"By the way, the name of the company is useless, and, first of all, the information itself is determined to be useless."

"So are you going to give up your doctor's identity?"

"Yes. I have already told my other patient, Meiji Shinkawa, about this. He said it didn't matter. The rest is up to you, Shino. \"

\"Teacher, do you like that job more than this one? \"

The exhalation sound of the exclusive doctor's nose could be heard throughout the car. Soon after, the resident turned to the inpatient and crossed his hands in front of his lower abdomen. There was a bit of loneliness and calm in his eyes.

\"I'm Shino. Of course, I don't hate meeting you, and I really like it, but most of all, I love making AI.

When I made "SAo", when I made "martel" and "Jupiter", when I made "Yui" and "Strea", I had a lot of fun and found that my life was worth living. I just felt like I was doing what I was supposed to do. ”

“”

"This is my mission, my destiny, and the work I do is the development and development of AI. After all, what I want to do is AI R&D and research. ”

Gentle atmosphere and a very feminine way of speaking, which is very different from when I was a psychiatrist. Shino saw Alice who felt the warmth of his mother, and unconsciously guessed that this was the real Serizawa Alice, and when she was working as an artificial intelligence researcher, she was the real herself.

"Of course I'm going to do bad things to you. However, the work I want to do is artificial intelligence research. ”

The attending physician turns the body back to the dazed exclusive patient.

\"So, Shino. I'm excited to be back working in AI development and research. It's a job that allows me to do what I really want to do. So, Shino. Please give this to me. \"I want you to let me do it

Since she started examining her, Shino was happy to spend three years with her, and just because Alice could see her, it wasn't difficult to go to the hospital, so she went out with Alice. It was a very fun time.

When I thought in my heart that that moment would end abruptly in this moment, my chest tightened, and pain and sorrow welled up all at once. Before tears flowed from her chest to her neck, throat, face, and eyes, Shino jumped into Alice's arms and buried her face in Alice's soft and warm chest. At that moment, tears finally overflowed and soaked Alice's heart.

"I don't want to say goodbye to my teacher, I want to be with you forever."

"Honestly, that's what I thought too. I don't know what to say, but I really like Shino. Because of Shino, I feel like I should do my best as a psychiatrist. I'm glad that I was able to meet Kazuto-kun and make a lot of friends like Asuna. \"

\"Me too. I like to be with people and Asuna, but I also like Ms. Alice just as much. \"

Alice put her hand on Shino's back and began to stroke her hair. Immediately after, Shino clenched her fist in Alice's chest.

\"Shiina, can you say you love me? \"

"Of course. I have no siblings and my mother lives far away. When I was with Teacher Alice, I felt like she was like my sister and sometimes even my mother. \"

Alice's words stopped abruptly, but immediately, Alice's hand took Shiina's body and hugged her like a human. There were tears in his voice.

"I didn't expect you to be so important to me, if you say so, if you do this, I can't leave you."

"Teacher, don't go"

"I can't do that, I've signed a contract, so I have to leave you. You also have to break up with me, but that feeling is real. And I can go on. ”

“”

Shino didn't look up, and asked Alice in her heart. Immediately, Alice asked in a voice filled with tears.

"You do love me, and always have been."

Hearing Alice's words, Shino asked herself a question again.

I love Alice for taking care of me, and although I don't trust her as much as I trust people, I trust her a lot.

"It's impossible not to love someone like that, and it's impossible for me to forget that feeling so easily."

"Of course. I love Airi-sensei. I love you forever. ”

"I get it, I get it, you love me so much"

Alice's voice sounded like something had happened, but Shino still buried her face in her chest. It didn't take long for me to realize that Alice's hand was back behind her hair and began to caress it with a familiar tenderness.

"Shino. I'm glad you take such good care of me and tell me you love me. That's why I'm taking the time to play ALo with you. Nothing, goodbye forever. It's nothing. \"

"It was a pleasant surprise." It's true that I'm making a virtual character with ALo, so if I activate ALo with Amusphere, I can see Airi again. However, Shino is looking for Serizawa Alice, not the fictional character "Alice" in ALo.

\"That's why, poetry. When the matter is settled, I will go to the real world to find you again. Not at ALo's Shino, but at Shino in the real world. That's why, until then, you'll love me. ”

Shino was a little surprised by this sentence and looked up. Alice's face was as gentle as ever, with a motherly air and warmth.

"Really"

"I won't lie to you, so if you've wanted to see me for a long time, I hope to make that wish come true one day. I don't know if you'll be able to wait until then. ”

"It's true that I might be able to see Alice again in ALo, but then I won't be able to touch Alice's warmth like I do now." From now on, a happy and warm time feels like a miracle. Yuichi was able to bring me a warm and gentle happiness that was different from other people, not Alice from ALo.

With a little patience, this moment that can bring her happiness again will come again - strangely, just thinking about it, Shino no longer feels how difficult it is to break up with Alice. No, leaving is lonely and painful, but the thought of one day I will be able to see Alice again, surprisingly, the pain and loneliness have diminished its power.

"Can we really meet again?"

\"I can see you. If Shino waits for me, I'll come to see you again. So, until then\"

"I can wait. No matter if it's a year, three years, or ten years, I'll wait with people. So, teacher, please come and see me again. \"

After responding immediately, Alice showed a surprised expression for a moment, then smiled softly and buried her face in Shino's hair. At the same time, Shiina's face was buried in Alice's warm chest. Breathing became a little difficult, but Shino knew that she couldn't feel the warmth for a while, so she pressed her face tightly against Alice.

"Thank you, Shino.

"It's a shame I didn't get to see you until the end." But when we meet again, I'll check you again until then. ”

"Yes"

Until this happened, I could feel the warmth of my mother. Now, it's Alice who gives it to Shino. Until recently, when she found out that she would never see Alice again, Shino's heart was full of pain and loneliness, but now it is almost gone.

I already have good friends like Asuna and Rika, my school has changed, I can play with everyone if I go to ALo, and my child Yui is there.

And in school, in reality, in ALo, there are people and people she loves.

On top of that, even if we have to go through ALo, Alice will come to see me as Alice and play with us. The day will come when she will meet Alice in the real world. Now I can think like this, there is no loneliness, no sadness, no pain.

Soon, Shino moved away from Alice's chest and sat back in the passenger seat with her body facing Alice. Then, Shino has a question, and Shiina, curious about it, asks Airi.

\"By the way, Airi-sensei\"

"What?"

"Is there anything wrong with the way you speak? It's so different from usual. ”

"Ah, this? This, I don't know whether to say it is a professional or not, they say it differently.

"I used to say this before I became a psychiatrist."

Speaking of this, Airi smiled brightly.

"So, when I was a psychiatrist, I'm working now, and that's how I talked. It's a completely different job, so I thought I should change the way I speak. You know, I usually only interact with you in this way. ”

Although the tone is the same, Shino was taken aback by changing the way she spoke halfway, but there was a strange sense of acceptance in her heart.

So far, Alice's way of speaking is the same as that of Akihiko Kayaba, which is the way of speaking of Alice Serizawa as a psychiatrist, and belongs to Alice Serizawa as a developer. And the real way of speaking in love is the latter.

"I've always treated you like this, I don't know if this way of talking suddenly makes me feel uncomfortable."

"No, not at all. She is kind, warm, like a real mother. ”

"Mom, card. Mommy mom card"

That's when Shino realized. At the moment of answering Alice's words, Alice suddenly began to stare at the windshield?? The gentle waves of the sea outside the glass. His eyes were gentle, calm, and a little hollow, and his hands frequently caressed his lower abdomen.

Although Alice has the sea and sky in her eyes, she sees it like another world. Seeing the figure that she had never seen before, Shino was stunned for a moment, but then tilted her head and asked.

"Teacher?"

"Oh, oh, oh, I'm sorry. What? ”

"Teacher, what's wrong? Suddenly—"

\"Ah, Shino, take a look. \"

"Ugh"

When Alice suddenly approached, Shino turned her gaze to Alice's. In the sky and sea, a world dyed blue, something floats in the sea. The distance is quite far and the shape is blurred, but it can be seen that it is a triangle like a pyramid.

"Pyramids in the sea?"

"It's Gamera."

"But what about Gamera?"

Alice smiled softly and looked out the window at the sea. Her eyes returned to her usual look at Alice Serizawa.

"Turtle, to be exact. This is a recently developed marine mobile research facility called 'Giant Buoys'. It looks like development started before we were stuck in SAo, but now it's finished and ready for use. It's really recent, maybe he's doing ocean-related research. ”

"But why Gamera?"

"Because it's a turtle. In an old monster movie, there is a monster that can be called the patron saint of the earth, ruling over the land, the sky, and the sea. The model of that monster is a turtle with the name of Camerala. That's why I named the turtles. The thing that owns it is called Cameral. Although the shape does not look like a Carmela at all. ”

Shino felt that there was indeed such a monster movie a long time ago. Also, I think it's a bit Alice to apply the name of the monster to that facility.

Soon, Alice sat back in her chair and turned to face Shiina. After all, that face had returned to Alice's usual appearance.

Then that's the end of the important conversation. There's still plenty of time, but what do you want to do? Where do you want to go? \"

\"I want to be with Airi-sensei. \"

"Really, you're more spoiled than I thought. So, after driving around the neighborhood, let's go to the mall and buy something, shall we? ”

"Yes"

When Shino smiled, Alice also smiled quietly, inserted the car keys, turned on the engine, stepped on the gas pedal while the music played, and left the parking lot.

For Shiina, that day was the end of a magical good time, but it was more fulfilling, fun, and friendly than anything she and Alice had spent together.

"Sorry, I called you out of the blue."

"No, it's okay, I don't care about anything."

On Sunday afternoon, he went to Shino's house to visit. Last night, Kazuto uncharacteristically didn't dive at Amusphere, but did research on his own computer, and received a call from Shino on his smartphone.

Since it's Shino's call, Kazuto wondered if there was something serious and went out, but the content of the call was whether Kazuto could come to the apartment tomorrow, which was a betrayal, and it was very simple, and Kazuto was relieved to hear it.

Kazuto has no plans to go diving with friends on Sunday and doesn't hesitate to meet Shino, which he agrees with. After a brief lunch, he headed to Shino's room, which was an apartment for SAo survivors who had already been here a few times.

Shino's room is equipped with the latest soundproofing and is as quiet as if you are in the middle of a forest. Shino sits on a bed that reminds me of the wooden house we spent together in the SAo world, even though the furniture is not like that, and Kazuto sits next to it.

"So, Shiina, what are you talking about? \"

\"Ah, yes. Didn't you get a call from Airi-sensei yesterday? \"

\"Airi-sensei called? No, I only got a call from you yesterday. Airi-sensei, has something happened? \"

Hearing Kazuto's question, Shino made a faint sound from her throat while taking her eyes off Kazuto and lowering her head. Seeing Shino's actions that almost all she does when she has something, Kazuren looked a little dumbfounded and called her again.

"Shino, what's going on? \"

"Airi-sensei, you have given up your role as a psychiatrist. My treatment is over. \"

\"Uh, Airi-sensei? Why is it here again? \"

"Because I want to do what I really want to do"

If I'm not mistaken, according to Shino, the period of treatment that Airi gave Shino was three years. Last year Alice started checking Shino, and this year is the second year. - It's only been two years, and although it's already much better, Shina's treatment doesn't seem to be complete. This is a complete abandonment of treatment.

"Teacher Alice said she would see you for three years, right? But it's only been two years. \"

"Yes.

"You admit it?"

"Yes.

Kazuto subconsciously felt that he understood what Alice wanted to do, and even stopped Shino's treatment halfway. Alice was originally one of Argus' staff members who created SAo and released it to the world, and I think she could be Akihiko Kayaba's right-hand man, or someone who can successfully create ultra-high-performance AI such as Yui and Lilan. Streya, he's a genius.

Alice was able to do this because it was something Alice wanted to do from the bottom of her heart. Such a feat should be something that can be done because you like it. This shouldn't be something that can be done by a grudge end.

"Airi-sensei, are you back to AI research?"

\"That's right. Teacher Alice has said that it is her mission to create AIs like Lilan and Yui.

"Of course, the artificial intelligence created by Airi-sensei is amazing. Even Lilan and Yui were created by Airi-sensei, and it was only natural that they were needed. But where did Airi-sensei go? Artificial intelligence. Research is not "It's not something that can be done anywhere." ”

"You don't need to say much, it's a game company, and I can't tell you the specifics."

"Is that so?"

Immediately after, Shino seemed to sense something and raised her head. The focus of the eye is on the wall, but Shino's black eyes seem to reflect the world outside the wall.

However, Airi-sensei finally said. Although the frequency?? There will be a big drop, but she will play ALo with us and one day she will see us again in real life. Please wait until then. Wow. I will. "I've come to see someone, please wait. ”

"I'm coming to see you too"

"Yes.

Shino turned to Kazuto, who stared into his dark eyes.

Until now, Alice has said many times that "protect Shina" or "leave Shina's affairs to me", and because of this, Alice put Shino in her hands again.

"I don't know when Alice will come back, or how many years it will take." However, I have decided that I will continue to be with Shino and protect her for many years to come, and this power has never been so strong since sharing memories with Shina. There's nothing wrong with waiting for Alice for years with Shino.

- Kazuto summed up the thoughts that had already come to his mind, as if to prove it, he put his hand on Shino's hand.

"For Shino, Airi-sensei is the most important person to her, and she has helped me many times.

"Really?"

\"Ahh I already know that Shino and Airi-sensei are like sisters. I'm peeking into your head, so let's wait, Shino. \"

Shino was stunned for a moment, and smiled after showing a satisfied expression. I don't know how many times I've seen it, but when I saw that face that gave people a very reassuring feeling, he smiled.

"Yes, it does. We shared it in our heads. ”

"Yes. I guess this may be the first feat in the world. And the person who did this was none other than Teacher Alice's Lilan. \"

"Lilan, Yui, and Airi-sensei have been helping us."

"But even if Lilan and Yui are gone, I will protect you until the end. Let's be together forever. ”

Shino smiled and nodded without saying a word, as if entrusting her weight to Kazuto, and gently fell on Kazuto's chest. And the man caught it, put his hand on his back, and began to gently stroke his hair. Shiina's hair is as soft as silk, and every time I touch it, the nice smell of shampoo and Shiina's natural soft and warm scent enter my nose.

Then, when Kazuto was about to talk to Shino, there was a sudden loud bang in his arms, and the two of them were startled. The person who made the sound reached into his pocket and took it out, and found that it was a smartphone, and showed a sound and picture, indicating that the call was coming. - The name of my beloved child appeared in the address.

If there is a rumor, the person will click the start button of the call, switch to hands-free mode, and speak softly.

"Hello, Yui."

\"Hello Dad. Why didn't you log in today? Mr. Cam went to the labyrinth alone. \"

"yes, I'm going to my mother's house today, I still have some things to do."

After the father and the man, the mother Shino uses her smartphone to call her daughter in the fairy world.

"Yui, how are you?"

"Okay, Mom. I'm doing well as usual. Mom, how are you

"yes, I'm in good spirits. Still, I was a little shocked. ”

The fairy girl made a surprised sound through the tablet. Just hearing such a tone, Kazuto and Shino could imagine her daughter's surprised expression.

\"What shock? What shocked you? \"

\"Ah, your biological parents left Shiina. Looks like he's going to make you a sister or a brother. \"

"Indeed, Miss Alice's skills were enough to create me, Streya, and Sister Lilan. Maybe what Alice-San really wants to do is create an AI like us. \"

\"yes. That's why she left Shino and us. But it seems that she is here to visit ALo, so let's pick her up when the time comes. You are our daughter. At the same time, she is also Alice Sand's daughter. \"”

"Yes. Alice healed my mom and helped me a lot. The next time I see Alice-Sand, I want to pick her up. ”

Although she is the daughter of Kazuto Shino, her biological parents are artificial intelligence researcher Serizawa Alice. When Kazuto heard this, he almost forgot who Yui was. If I didn't, somehow I felt like Alice was going to take the initiative, and a strange sense of unease rose up in my heart.

"By the way, Dad, aren't you going to dive today?" \"

"It's not that you don't log in, but at least it may be a little unlikely during the day, and you may log in at night."

"Is that so? In that case, I think I'll play with my sisters until Dad comes. \"

"Ah, Yui. I'll log in at night too. \"

"Got it. Mom and Dad, please come over as soon as possible. ”

After the two said they understood, Yui responded with satisfaction and ended the call. After taking a deep breath, Kazuto put the smartphone back in his pocket and glanced at Shino.

\"By the way, Shino. \"

"What?"

"Do you have any plans for the future?"

"No, but what happened?"

"It's just the two of us, so I wanted to go out for a while. I'll pay all the money. ”

At this time, Shino realized something. Anyway, Kazuto and I went back to the real world and went to SAo Survivors School, but we didn't date together. I did a lot of things when I was at SAo, but I didn't go out shopping together after I returned to the real world.

"Then again, we haven't dated anything since we came back to the real world. \"

"Yes.

"Well, let's go out now. Ah, but where to go? ”

"Actually, I didn't really think about the destination." Asked again by Shina, Kazuto involuntarily tilted his head, raised his head, supported his chin with his hand, and began to think.

"yes, just hang out in the city for a while. Just like when I was in SAo, when I first launched. \"

"It's probably the best thing. Or rather, I might want to go to a coffee shop. ”

"Understood. As my princess said. ”

"SAo is over, don't talk like that. \"

"I see"

In the next moment of surprise with someone, Shino I sighed softly and began to laugh. Shino's laughter became louder when Kazuto laughed, and Kazuto seemed to be surprised by Shiina's laughter, which he had never seen before, but before that, Kazuto's laughter also became louder.

After the two laughed together for a while, Shino got up from the bed and turned to Kazuto. The expression on her face was brighter and warmer than when we first met.

"Come on, let's go, and people. \"

"Yes"

Kazuto nodded to Shino's bright voice, and then stood up.

Meanwhile, in "Alfheim Online", in a hotel room in World Tree City.

"This is Asuna. After a day, Asuna logged into Amusphere and lay on her bed in a hotel room in a luxurious city at the foot of the Fairy World World World Tree.

Since ALo is a VRmmo, the avatar data stays where you were when you logged out, and even if you quit, time in the game and the world itself will continue to advance, so the player avatar when you quit will be the same as when you were logged in. Sometimes you become a target for monsters.

Also, if you die in this game, you will be punishable by the so-called death penalty, and you may lose non-equipped items. In order to prevent this from happening, Asuna came to the hotel in World Tree City and quit.

"Good morning, Asuna. I think you're a little late today. \"

"yes, I delayed logging in a bit, sorry."

"I don't care. I had been playing with Kem before Asuna came. \"

The purple-haired girl Yuki sat in a chair and was in front of me?? Before smiling. Unlike Asuna, the girl did not come into the world with Amusphere, but instead lived in this world using a medical device called a medicuboid, which was once used by her best friend Shino and her teacher Alice. - So, whenever you log in, you can only see Yuki.

"By the way, Yuki, did something happen when I quit? Someone other than Yuki opened the room and entered. \"

"That's not true. The key to Asuna's room is only for me and Asuna, and I haven't even told Kem about it. So all of Asuna's belongings are safe. \"

"Yes.

At this time, an expression suddenly appeared on Yuki's face, as if he had thought of something, and as if he was surprised by something, which made Asuna slightly surprised.

\"Ah, I see, Asuna. \"

"Eh, what's wrong?"

"Asuna, you moved SAo's data from NerveGear to Amusphere, right? \"

"Uh, yes. Even I can do this kind of surgery."

Immediately after, Asuna felt a flash of light flash over her head, and she was taken aback. Thinking about it, Adam's adventure was over, and just as I was about to quit, Alice gave me an item, and I quit. The data for this project is in NerveGear, and that data has been transferred to the Amusphere I am currently using.

Maybe you can confirm it - thinking like this, Asuna didn't say anything to Yuki, so she pulled up the window and operated the project window with her right hand. Where is that item? - When Asuna was sorting through the items she had gotten and noticed something unfamiliar, she stopped her fingers to avoid counting mistakes or misreadings.

(The)

The name is "Unknown_package". Unidentified item, with only "Unknown Packaging" written on it.

Since coming to ALo, I've gotten into the habit of checking the items I've gotten when I defeat enemies or open treasure chests, so so far I've not found anything suspicious among the items I've gotten, Asuna knows.

However, in my adventures and captures so far, I don't remember getting an item with such a name, and I never got information that an item with such a name exists in ALo. This is probably the item Alice gave me at the time. The conversion was successful, and Asuna was a little surprised. At the same time, I noticed that Yuki was looking out of the window without realizing it.

\"Ah, Asuna. What is this? \"

"Actually, after Yuki quit SAo, Alice-sensei gave it to me.

\"Teacher Alice gave it to me, so can you try it?" Teacher Alice is not the type of person who would do terrible things. \"

"I'm a little worried, though. There is discipline, just in case. \"

Yuki nodded, grasped the hilt of the sword at his waist, and assumed a posture like a cohesion. Just as Asuna took a deep breath and used an unknown wrapper, an item summoned from the window and landed on Asuna's palm.

It was a blue crystal that looked like it reflected the sea or the sky, and it was a beautiful little crystal that absorbed the light in the room and sparkled, and I put it in and I was shocked.

\"Oh, that. Crystal? \"

Asuna noticed while listening to Yuki's monologue. I've seen this crystal color somewhere before. No, it's not something I've seen before. That world, at the time of Ayn Grant, until a certain moment, was almost the same color as I saw every day.

While imagining the familiar figure in her mind, Asuna placed her finger on the crystal as if invited, and the small crystal detached from Asuna's palm and flew into the air, receiving Yuki's attention at the same time.

What the hell is going on? - Sensing their question, or just about to answer, the sea crystal suddenly glowed strongly, Asuna and Yuki let out a scream of surprise, and I instinctively covered my eyes.

When the flash faded, Asuna immediately turned her face back to the crystal, but was speechless. Crystal wasn't there, but was wearing a plain white hoodie and trousers, long silver hair reaching halfway up to the back of his head, a face so thin that it could be mistaken for a girl, and a little boy was suspended in the air. The fetus is in?? in the womb.

"Yu Peter?"

It was once created by the teacher Alice and sent to Ayn Grant to treat the player who was trapped in SAo, but it was sealed, and the existence of the "Saboteur" broke the seal and came out. Jupiter, protect her and summon her presence to her mother".

Both Asukina and Yuki were stunned by the sight of their existence that should have been exhausted and extinguished in the final battle against the "Shattered Fugitives", but it didn't take long for the silver boy's face to slowly lift and his closed eyelids to open. - His eyes were blue, just like they were when he was in Ayn Grant.

"Yubi Hui?"

“... Mother"

When Asuna heard the words and voices coming out of her lips, a message window appeared in front of Asuna's eyes. Asuna wasn't surprised, albeit suddenly, and she looked away from the silver boy and opened the information window to read what was displayed. When I realized this, Ariki was equally attracted to this message.

\"To Asuna

"If you've read this, you've met again." Sorry, Asuna has been silent.

Just before the Monemosine Raid, I was entrusted to Yupipo by you, but at that time I turned Yupipo into an object of goods using an order that only Yupipo could call, and sent it to you. The reason why I entrust Yupibo to me every time I cross a floor is because I share the memories collected by the dungeon with Yupibo himself.

Yupibo is an ultra-high-performance artificial intelligence called mhhp. The "breakdown man" might be one to keep an eye on. Well, to protect you and Yupibo, I silently let you take this step. When this message is opened, for sure

This is supposed to be the world after the "fugitives" fell.

In the tranquil VR world, let's give you back the real Yupi-bo. Please, my son.

From Alice / Serizawa Alice"

After reading this message, Asuna couldn't understand the meaning for a while, but when she met the eyes of the silver boy on the floor, she understood the meaning of the message.

When I was in SAo, every time I went to the piano, Alice would ask me to keep Jupiter by her side, and Asuna did as she asked and let Jupiter go to Alice's side. Back then, I sometimes couldn't help but wonder what the hell Jupiter was doing with Alice, but no matter how much I asked Alice or Jupiter, I couldn't find an answer.

However, now that the answer has crossed the world, everything has become clear. Since then, Jupiter has copied Jupiter's subject, which belongs to Alice. And this means that Jupiter, who disappeared by the "Broken Runner", is also a replica, and the body has always been by Alice's side, which is very safe.

At that time, Alice gave herself Jupiter's body, which had been turned into an object. As I unzipped here, a boy who looked like Jupiter walked out. , Jupiter himself.

"Asuna, this is if this is true, this kid is!!" \"

Listening to Yuki's voice that was too surprised to know what was happening, Asuna closed the information window, looked at the silver boy's sea-colored eyes, and whispered.

"Jupiter, do you understand what I mean? \"

"yes, Mom."

"Mother." After Asuna's battle with the "runaway man", she hears words that she thought she would never hear again. However, no matter how distorted his gaze was, Yui had the figure of the boy in front of him undistorted.

"Jupiter!! Jupiter"

By the time he realized it, Asuna had jumped on top of Jupiter and hugged him tightly. A warmth that I thought I would never feel again enveloped my body, and the reassuring scent of only Jupiter flowed into my nostrils.

"Oops, it hurts a little, Mom."

"Jupiter, Jupiter, Jupiter!!"

There was no doubt that Jupiter was here, and lived as such—the mere thought of it filled Asuna's heart with intense joy and tears welled up in her eyes. Despite Jupiter's pain, she raised her voice, but Asuna hugged him tightly and spread out throughout the inn.

I cried loudly. - When I noticed, Yuki was also holding Jupiter and crying.

The moment I thought my wish would never come true, my wish came true.

It's been three months since we started ALo. We SAo survivors, although it is a game where you can become a fairy and fly in the sky, we can use sword skills, move our bodies, and use magic that is not available in SAo, just like in SAo. On my days off, I was so engrossed in the game that I almost forgot about time and everything.

In fact, when I listened to SAo survivors during school, most of them were talking about ALo, all about where the monsters appeared, the conditions of the missions, and the things that made us want to join.

However, when we're looking for something in common with those players, we're always looking for something different. Yes, it was Hannibal, an unidentified man who gave birth to a wrecked man, disrupted society and is still active behind the scenes.

Ever since I heard the word from the mouth of the "fugitive" bearded dog and learned of its existence, I've been looking for that "Hannibal". Hannibal is constantly exchanging views and can be approached if there are any clues. However, their efforts were all in vain, and no one was able to get any clues that would have brought them closer to Hannibal.

(However)

Of course, I am also one of them, and I have no idea or even grasp what the ultimate purpose of "Hannibal" is, except that "Hannibal" is the birther of the "Broken Man". 1st place. Not of course, we just met the "broken man" created by "Hannibal" and only heard the word "Hannibal" from there.

Kikuoka, who was observing our SAo survivors, also told me the story, and he himself seems to be looking for and investigating "Hannibal", but does not seem to be able to get any notable information. Yes, because all I can tell you is that the "runaway" is Sugo, and this phrase comes from Sugo's mouth.

However, when I talked to Kikuoka, I got some kind of hint. If Sugo is the "escapee" and Hannibal is the one who turns Sugo into the "escapee", then it is theoretically possible that Hannibal is the one who can get in touch with Sugo.

Indeed, Sugo is a native of Recto, and Recto is one of the leading companies in Japan. It seems that he is conducting research in this area, so Sugo must have had contact and transactions with countless people. Among them, it is not at all surprising to come into contact with a person named "Hannibal".

So, as a SAo survivor, I used my human power to convey a lot of insider information to Kikuoka, and asked Asuna, whose father was the owner of Rector Corporation, what kind of people Sugo had come into contact with. Up to now. I asked him to investigate Taka.

Kikuoka and Asuna - though Kikuoka wasn't that enthusiastic - immediately investigated and sent me the results, but Sugo came into contact with more people than I expected. As it turned out, there was no way to investigate, and that was the end of our search. Because "Hannibal" immediately returned to square one.

Still, although I asked Kikuoka and Asuna all sorts of things, I felt like I knew where Hannibal was. The "Fugitive" produced by "Hannibal" is Sugo who logged into SAo as Alberridge.

And judging from the words and plans of the bearded dog at the time, it is very likely that he received instructions from "Hannibal" when he was SAo. Otherwise, I would not have been able to create and lead the Monemosines, or create simulated parasites.

(He's sick)

In other words, "Hannibal" is inside SAo. "Hannibal" used Sugo to completely confuse the real-world media and police, and then logged in with Sugo and had Alberridge and others work behind the scenes, behind the scenes. When Alberich lost, "Hannibal" quit and disappeared into the real world, just like us.

However, I can't help but feel like I'm being watched by Hannibal. No, "Hannibal" must have been observing Alberich and us around him somehow. Even at the end of Alberich's life, "Hannibal" must have been watching Alberich and those of us around him.

And now it is possible that "Hannibal" recognized us as the one who defeated Alberich and set his sights on us. And, since SAo adopted the same face and body as in the real world, it is likely that Hannibal remembered the faces of everyone present.

As the one who defeated Alberich, "Hannibal" might have figured out something. Either the real world, the VR world, or both, in order to get ready for this day, I told everyone about this idea and told everyone to be careful in their daily lives. At the same time, I told him to be moderately reassured because he might not be able to do anything.

"Okay, there's finally a big update tomorrow, let's clear this quest first to meet it."

"By the way, Kirito, are you thinking about something? It's been a long time since you've been involved in our conversation. \"

After telling everyone to be wary of Hannibal, I logged on to Yalfheim Online and headed to the snowy mountains with my companions. This is due to the massive addition of new areas and missions to the \Alfheim Online\ we play, as well as a large number of weapons, armor and items, with a super-massive update tomorrow.

When it was announced, I was overjoyed and longed for that day, but when I thought about it, we would definitely move to that super-sized new district from the time it was done. , I find that it will be less likely to come to my area where I am now.

I'm sure we'll be coming to this area less and less often - anyway, my best friend Kem came to the conclusion that we should wait while doing interesting quests limited to this area, and then we jumped on the bandwagon. I decided to create a format where I invited my usual companions to tasks that I thought would be interesting and waited for the corresponding update.

Then, I formed a team with Kem, the wind fairy who proposed the format, Spiegel, the shadow fairy who recently joined us, and Diabel, the water fairy I've known since the days of SAo, and found a quest I wanted to do before the update, and I headed to the Snow Mountain region. By the way, Lilan, who has been with me all along, went on a mission with Asuna and the others this time.

Along the way, I fell into the world of thoughts. Diabel, who became a water sprite after being noticed, smiled bitterly.

"As I thought, Kirito still has the habit of SAo itself. When Kirito is lost in thought, he cannot see his surroundings. \"

"Ah, Diabel, this habit was around before Kirito went to SAo. When Kirito's virtual character is in MMO?? When I was still I thought something was wrong, so I tried to call him by voice and he was still thinking. Treasure"

"Kem injected information into Diabel, whom only I knew at SAo. "Indeed, before I went to that world, I was already deep in thought, sometimes even standing still. Then, he is always woken up by Kem. - Now Shino and Yui are the majority.

When Diabel smiled wryly again, this time Spiegel called me with an excited look on his face.

\"Could it be that Kirito is thinking about tomorrow's update? \"

"Oh yes. Tomorrow is the biggest update ever. Just thinking about it excites me. ”

"That's right! Tomorrow's additional continent is Swarthalfheim, right? I'm looking forward to the floating continent where light and darkness meet! \"

Seeing the information and truth about the addition of new areas, Spiegel's eyes sparkled like a child. When I first met him, he had a dark face like the Springgan of our race, so I thought he might be carrying something, but if you say that, it's no different from a pure gamer.

However, at this moment, Kem interrupted our conversation with a look of displeasure.

"That's not right. Kirito's expression didn't look like he was thinking about it, but about something more important. \"

"That's amazing," I shouted involuntarily. In fact, I spend more time with Kem than Lilan or Shiina, and I spend more time with him than I do with myself. And he himself is an observer, and you can guess what he is thinking just by looking at his face. Shino actually said, "Tell me the secret of guessing Kirito's thoughts." \"

\"Ah, yes. After overcoming SAo, I found someone I loved. I'm curious what he's doing now. \"

"Is that really the case?"

"That's it. She is more important than anything else. Kem-kun, do you know why I sometimes fall into deep thought with a serious face? \"

\"To be honest, Kirito has changed since becoming a wife and child. However, please don't do this again when fighting. There can't be a lot of resurrection items, and even resurrection magic takes time to cast. Besides, I'm the only one. "And Diaberu, who can use it. \"

"yes, okay, let's get rid of this boss first so no one gets hurt."

As I spoke, I turned to face the snow in front of me. I took on this task because I wanted to complete it before Svart Alfheim implemented it. The content is very simple, it is to defeat the giant insect dragon that appears in the vast snowfield area halfway up the snowy mountain.

This insect dragon is a word that refers to a type of dragon that looks like a snake and has no arms and legs. I already knew this, so I immediately understood that this Snow Mountain Insect Dragon was a snake dragon that controlled the ice attribute. I'm in the Snow Mountain, and it's theoretically impossible to manipulate the wind attribute or the fire attribute.

However, most of the information about the giant insect dragon is just my guess, and I don't know what kind of monster it is. That's why the battles are fun.

"So, I want to start fighting right away, but are you all ready? \"

"If it's preparing, it's already fine. As long as Kirito doesn't fall into deep thought. \"

"It doesn't matter. I wouldn't do that in battle. \"

Under the watchful eyes of my half-eyed friends, calm newcomers, and smiling SAo friends, I walked with everyone to the center of the snowfield. In the midst of a blizzard that was a little more violent than when I first saw Lizzebet, I put my hands on the weapon on my back and stepped on the snow.

Walking from there, nothing happened, and we came to the center of the vast snowfield.

Kem must have thought something was about to rush out, and he looked around suspiciously, saying in a voice that wouldn't be swept away by the blizzard.

"Nothing happened"

"Yes, but be careful. After coming to this kind of place for a while, the norm in SAo is \"

In fact, something similar happened during the SAo mission. So, even if nothing happens, I can't let my guard down. Then, as if the alarm bells were really ringing, the blizzard suddenly stopped, and as soon as the surrounding situation became clear, the earth began to shake.

"It's coming!"

Diabel, the leader of the Holy Dragon Alliance, shouted as if telling the members, and at the same time prepared his weapons.

Wrapped in snow smoke and scattered with small Xiaoice blocks, it looked like a giant tower that could soar into the sky, but when it reached the sky, it twisted and began to move towards the sky. After a while, when the spire was completely exposed to the ground, we were surprised to find that the tower was actually a monster.

Look at the way it jumps out, it's covered in a crust of ice that looks like countless thorns, and it has sharp fangs on its jaw, but it has no hands, no legs, and half of us. A snake dragon with huge transparent wings growing from its back. I heard it was?? Worm dragon, so I can predict that it will be a snake dragon, but I can't predict that it will fly, Spiegel raised his voice.

"Wow, flying!?"

"It's a bit of a surprise if it's flying. \"

"If it were SAo, development would be dangerous, but that's okay now. \"

I nodded at Diabel's words. Of course, in SAo, the player is tied to the ground, encounters a flying enemy, and can only wait for the other party to come down or launch a ranged attack in some way, and only my Lilan or Shino can do that.

However, now we have wings on our backs and can even catch up with enemies flying around at breakneck speed. Before I could finish speaking, translucent wings that glowed pale blue appeared behind Diabel's back, tearing through the snow smoke created by the snake dragon and flying into the sky at once.

"Alright, let's get started!"

I loudly pulled out the two pitch-black swords in the scabbard on my back, grew wings on my back like Diabel, and flew into the sky with Kem and Spiegel. Passing through the cold air of the snow-capped mountains, when reaching the same height as the Ice Snake Dragon, the figure of the Ice Snake Dragon was seen. The enemy-only LV is 150 and the "hp bar" is 3. Its name is "Friezmold_the_Icewormdragon". It seems to be read as Frismold.

The body of the ice serpent named Friesmoded was wrapped in carapace, but it was as thick as thousands of years of wood and as long as a river. Its appearance reminds me of the monster Jörmungård that appeared in Norse mythology, which is the basis of this game, but as expected, it is shorter and smaller than Jūrmungård.

And considering the characteristics of the monsters I've fought so far, this guy's body is so big, he should be able to use his size to attack, breathe, and magic attacks. I can read their moves, but I still don't know what will happen to them, so I have to be careful. Because this time Lilan doesn't have a boss Buster expert.