"You don't want to be criticized, do you? You don't want to be accused of being a stupid woman who raised a terrible artificial intelligence, right?

That's why you're trying to make Jupiter stop being a failed AI, so you're trying to make Jupiter grow, right? Even though this is something that Jupiter doesn't really want and doesn't want to, he still continues to force him to do it, right? If I wanted to notice that kid's unreasonableness, I would notice it at any time, and if I wanted to stop it, I could have done it at any time, but I didn't do it, right?

Actually, Jupiter doesn't want to do anything like that, but he's aggressive because he wants to meet your expectations, but he feels good and keeps you doing it without realizing he's aggressive, right? No matter how hard Jupiter is, no matter how bad he is, he just pretends not to know. I don't want people around me to criticize me for being a stupid woman, even if I'm the mother of a failed AI son! ”

Asuna's eyes widened, and Alice's words came in waves. Alice's words didn't stop.

"What do you think of the results? Jupiter has become stronger, he is stronger than he thought, and he must have become a stronger AI than Lilan. That's exactly what Jupiter envisioned, and it's what you imagine to be a strong man. "Yes, Jupiter.

But in the end, it didn't work. Jupiter's power is not enough to withstand your compulsive education. It's an amazing failure, isn't it? Despite all the effort I put in, the unhappiness I endured, and the effort to live up to my mother's expectations, I was still like that.

But I'm glad it happened. ”

"Why"

Hearing such an inquiry, Alice took a step forward and brought her face closer to Asuna. When the two were close enough to touch each other's breath, they opened their mouths again.

"Because, isn't it? If that child is still the same, you will definitely be criticized, ridiculed as a mother of failed artificial intelligence.

But that kid is going to die here, so you won't say that. After all, you're called that because of that girl. ”

Asuna's eyes widened and she covered her face with her hands. She continued to cover her face vigorously and began to make faint sounds like "ahh Alice opened her hands as she confirmed that her shadow was in Asuna's eyes. With a look of joy on his face.

"Now you won't be criticized anymore and you won't be looked down upon! You can now free yourself from your failed AI mom! Your honor and reputation are protected! You won't be criticized again! That girl too. This must be your wish, because through death, you can protect your mother's honor and honor! You can die to protect your beloved mother! ”

The next moment, Asuna let out a scream like tearing fabric. It seems to be comparable to the roar of the 'Strange Giant Wolf Dragon'. Shino couldn't believe it was from Asuna.

No, I couldn't believe the scene in front of me. This time, Mentor Alice looked down at Asuna who fell to the ground screaming, and the expression on her face seemed to say that she was disappointed.

"What a reaction. Do you want to protect your reputation and reputation? That's why you let that kid grow up, right? But it didn't work out. That kid was a real loser. Now you know. It doesn't matter. If anything, I'm sure you'll feel better when your failed child dies. Why do you look so sad? Why are you crying? ”

Asuna shook her head violently. Tears poured out of his eyes one by one, and every time they fell on his face, they scattered all around him.

"No, no, no, no!! I, I, I, I didn't mean that!! ”

"Don't you mean that? That's what you mean, right? That's what you mean. "You didn't make eye contact with your child, did you? You forced that kid to grow and learn, right? You thought you wanted that kid to get stronger, right?

You hate being criticized more than the happiness of living with that girl, so you use that girl because you want to make those who criticize you laugh, right?

You don't care about the girl who loves you, you don't care about her heart and feelings, so you're trying to use that girl to protect yourself from criticism from the people around you, right? ”

"No, no"

Asuna's voice became faint. The movements gradually slow down.

Alice's words are unbelievable, but they're all true—and Shino thinks so too. Alice's views resemble abusive language, consistent with what Jupiter said at the time and Asuna's thoughts.

So Asuna couldn't answer any questions. Now that the truth has been exposed to the fullest, there is no way to refute it.

Alice looked even more disappointed as she looked at the scene in front of her.

\"Isn't it? Of course you want to, right? For Jupiter to become stronger, for him not to fail. That's why you forced that kid, right? You despise that child's heart, ignore that child, don't you just let her go on talking, without taking into account her feelings?

You could have stopped him from pushing himself at any time, you could have avoided this outcome at any time, but you've been pushing yourself, and then you don't want to have that outcome, don't you? Isn't that what you meant? ”

Alice crouched down, looked at Asuna who fell to the ground crying, and said in a clear voice.

"How convenient is that for you after all the effort you've put into that kid?"

Eventually, Asuna stopped making a sound and knelt down with her hands on the ground. In the next moment, Shino walked up to Asuna and put her hands on Asuna's body. Asuna's body trembled a little, and subtle sobs kept coming out of her throat.

Meanwhile, the predation of Asuna's son, the "strange giant wolf dragon", continues. Moreover, it seems to have eaten all the corpses of the monsters here and no longer stretches out its tentacles. I guess he's finally going to leave the castle and head out into the wilderness.

After a few seconds of looking down at the parents of the 'giant wolf dragon', Alice sighed deeply, stood up, and glanced back.

\"I didn't mean that, I didn't mean that, did I?

Yes, I didn't mean to. Since you're very popular with the kids and take good care of them, I thought I could entrust Jupiter's affairs to you but I'm also involved in the Death Games, so I think my point of view is crazy. Jupiter is too much for you; You are not the daughter who was supposed to be a mother. But it was a good experience and it helped me a lot when I had real children. ”

Alice looked back again. In front of her is Lilan, the sister of the 'Strange Giant Wolf Dragon' in the form of a wolf dragon.

"Lilan, no, Martell. Please lend me your strength. I will heal the child. ”

"Can you heal him?" \"

"I can fix it. I'm your developer. I'll provide you with the console and invoke the developer command to initialize Jupiter. ”

Hearing Alice's words, Kiritto was taken aback.

"Initialization?! What happens when you do that!? ”

"Something does happen. The virus in her body will be cleared, and she will return to when her development was complete. The vaccine protector and the Anima box will return to their original state. But her memory will be erased. ”

\"My memories will fade!? Are you going to erase all of my memories and Miss Asuna? \"

To Lifa's alarm, Alice nodded unusually calmly.

"Of course. All of Jupiter's memories will be erased. ”

"Isn't this Yuichi's choice!? Is there no other way than initialization? ”

Yuki said unabashedly as Alice turned to Asuna again.

A few hours ago, Asuna could have done it. But now it's not possible. I had come to realize that Asuna was not fit to be Jupiter's mother. I didn't want to do that, but I had no choice but to initialize her. But it doesn't matter. For that child, Asuna's memories were nothing more than superfluous. The worst memory of being forced to do the impossible by a terrible parent. For her own sake, to erase such things. So"

Alice turned her face to Kirita and Shino, then to Yui and Streya, with a slightly calm expression on her face.

\"After initializing that child, Kirito-kun became a father and Shino became a mother. \"

\"Uh, we!? \"

"It's okay, you have Martell, Yui, and Streya, we are a family of six, and the children should grow up quickly."

Shino knows. This man is serious. They really want to initialize Jupiter and make them its parents.

Indeed, they already have a child named Yui, so they may be able to raise Jupiter in the same way.

However, if she was told that Jupiter was the child they should have, or if she had suddenly brought up such a topic before, Shino could only be confused. Jupiter is...

“”

For a moment, I thought I heard a small voice. Shino immediately looked at Asuna. Asuna's body trembled a little. However, it seemed that I was the only one who noticed, so Alice didn't pay attention and continued to move her mouth.

"We're running out of time. Martel, we're going to start initializing Jupiter now. ”

"Wait!!"

The sudden loud voice startled Shino. The sound seemed to reach everyone present, including Alice, who looked at the source of the sound. The source of the voice that sounded like it was full force was Asuna.

"Don't initialize Jupiter's memories"

Alice snorted as Asuna made a pleading sound. He seemed to be mixed with shock.

"I don't know what to say now, how can you say something like that? Are you saying you're not going to make Jupiter suffer yet? ”

Asuna shook her head. It's as if he uses his whole body to express his thoughts.

"I would be happy if I could be with Jupiter, as long as she was here, I would be happy. I don't need anything anymore. I don't want anything anymore

However, even as it should be, I... I was disappointed that she was told she was a failure... She's an AI that's better than everyone else... I want to prove that she's not 'failed.' I miss that girl."

As she spoke, two small puddles appeared under Asuna's face. Big tears flowed from her eyes.

"However, I know that with Jupiter now, he will say this, and I cannot deny that he is powerless, although it is good, I cannot overcome it, and I regret it. When I tried to convey this to that girl... The girl did everything she could to be strong. She tried to be strong for me... I thought that was her wish. No, that's what I think. I want me to just assume"

Asuna clenched her fists. My voice is powerful.

"Every time I see him grow, I'm happy. I feel like I can look back at the people who say I can't do it.

That's why I want Jupiter to become stronger. I want to make you stronger. It's so interesting to see Jupiter get stronger like that

However, the truth is that the girl did not want this, I had to listen to her true feelings, and I had to fulfill her wishes.

However, I succumbed to the frustration of being told I couldn't do it, and I was weak enough to give in, so I ignored that child's heart. I trampled on it. I tried to get that kid to do what I wanted. I forced the child to feel bad.

I imposed my own selfish desires on her, not even knowing that she was forced, and I tried to bind her heart, tear her heart apart, and impose her own worthless feelings on reality! ”

Asuna's head is getting closer to the ground, and her posture is getting closer to her prone position.

``... I did the things I hated the most when my parents asked me to do them, the things I hated for a long time...... I did what I decided not to do to Jupiter...... This is more important than anyone else. I did irreparable things to the child I loved and loved so much, I didn't know how she felt, I didn't know her heart, I didn't know the mother of that child, but that child, that child, that child"

Lilan was nearby, but he didn't use his powers. Still, Asuna continued to spit out the contents of her chest. It's as if he's revealing everything about himself, confessing.

"Asuna you"

Shino shouted in a low voice. My mind began to recall the time when I became friends with Asuna. At that time, Asuna and I became friends, and she became my best friend, despite the sins I was carrying. He accepted me to this extent.

However, just as Asuna didn't know about Jupiter, I didn't know anything about Asuna. Well, maybe he didn't want to know what Asuna had in mind at all.

Asuna understood me and my feelings, but I didn't understand Asuna and started yelling. Maybe I don't have the right to yell at Asuna.

Shiina, feeling very regretful, rubbed Asuna's body. Before I knew it, I heard the sobs of the people around me.

Among them, Kirito moved his mouth as if he was talking to himself.

"Asuna you"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry Jupiter, I'm sorry Jupiter"

Asuna kept sobbing and talking over and over again, the roar of the "strange wolf dragon" drowned out her voice. Sounds more painful than the last time.

The "Werewolf Dragon" is devouring the corpses of the surrounding monsters, while Jupiter, the original "Werewolf Dragon", is suffering from being consumed by the virus. Even though Jupiter has turned into a "strange giant wolf dragon", he may still be affected by the virus. As Alice said, Jupiter's time is running out for the 'strange wolf dragon'.

Alice sighed deeply and looked up at Jupiter, who had turned into a "strange giant wolf dragon" and continued to suffer from it.

"It's really convenient for you to say such things now."

Alice turned and walked towards Asuna. Even when Alice slowly approached, Asuna didn't react, and Shino, who was rubbing her body, raised her head first.

"Although we are not related by blood, or even human, I am a child who calls me Mommy, loves me, and makes me love her." How warm, grateful, and happy is a person, I think it's good for him to listen to what I say, I don't care about his mentality, do what I want, now you understand, how cruel, cruel, stupid. It's about trying to do that. ”

Hearing Alice's words, Asuna nodded with sobs. I didn't make excuses, I just nodded from the bottom of my heart. Immediately after, Alice slowly lowered her hips.

"Look up."

As Alice had said, Asuna finally looked up. Unusually, his face was covered with tears and snot. However, you can tell that it's not just a matter of crying. Seeing this, the corners of Alice's mouth rose slightly.

"You look good now, don't you? You're much prettier than when you're disappointed when people tell you aren't good enough. ”

Asuna looked into Alice's eyes and let out a hiccup sob. Behind him, there is also the figure of the 'Strange Giant Wolf Dragon'.

"Asuna. Now that you seem to understand your mistake, what do you want to do? \"

Asuna paused for a moment and lowered her head. I thought he was thinking, but he immediately looked up again, as if he had made up his mind. Large tears rolled down her eyes again.

"I, I did something unforgivable, but I want to stay with Jupiter! I want to apologize so that I can understand his heart! I want to get to know Jupiter properly!! ”

"Do you want to be with him? That kid was a loser. You're a stupid woman who nurtures that loser. You will be criticized for being a stupid mother. You're going to be criticized, right? ”

Asuna shook her head again and retorted loudly.

"I don't care about that! I don't care about being criticized and scolded!! No matter how bad I am, no matter how bad I am criticized for failing that girl Jupiter my mine. ”

Asuna looked up and said loudly.

"He's my lovely son!! Yuichi"

Asuna let out a scream worthy of the roar of the "Giant Wolf Dragon". The sound echoed through the ruined castle and through the woods. Hearing this, everyone lost their voices, and Asuna seemed to be exhausted, and turned into a position of falling on all fours again.

\"So please, Teacher Alice, please don't initialize, please don't delete that child's memory, please tell me how to help that child\"

Hearing Asuna's heartfelt plea, Shino felt a fiery sensation welling up in her chest. Tears seemed to flow out at any moment, but I held back and looked at Asuna. Several others were crying, but they kept looking at Asuna.

Listening only to Asuna's screams, Alice, whose attitude had not changed, sighed again and lifted her hips.

"If you had said it earlier, this wouldn't have happened. You're a criminal, Asuna. You committed the crime of causing such serious harm to that child and causing this situation. That sin. You have the will to atone for your sins. "This iniquity, the will not repeat it again." ”

Asuna nodded deeply. When Alice confirmed this and slowly turned her head to look at the "Strange Giant Wolf Dragon", the "Strange Giant Wolf Dragon" let out a sound that almost screamed. The white parts of its body have been swallowed up by black, becoming smaller and smaller. Like Asuna, she whimpered and breathed desperately.

The invasion of the Jupiter virus is going on inexorably.

"In Jupiter's current state, she has been eaten by the virus and is on the verge of death. Originally, those children were protected by vaccine protectors, and even if they were infected with the virus, they could be removed before they were eaten. "However, Jupiter is currently trying to carry out orders against its will, creating a large number of errors, and since it is responding to an endless number of errors with a vaccine protector, it is stopping the spread of the virus. It is not removed. ”

“... And then..."

"Yes. All you have to do is interrupt the command that the child is trying to complete. Then, the error will no longer occur, the vaccine protector will return to normal operation, and the virus will be cleared. If that happens, all the child can do for the time being is to avoid death. ”

Alice turned to Asuna again. His tone was pleading, his eyes sharp, warm, and friendly.

"Asuna, it looks like you just said sorry to me, but these are not the words you should have said to me. Who really needs to say sorry from now on, you can say that. "You already know it's not going to get anywhere. ”

Asuna blinked a few times, lowered her head, and then stood up. When Shino got up to accompany her, Asuna wiped her face with her arm.

When his hand left her, she had a determined expression on her face that I had never seen before. Shino took a deep breath and looked at her expression full of strength and kindness, completely different from the demon "Asuna the Flash Man" who conquered Aingrant.

"Asuna"

As if in response to Shino's call, Asuna pulled out the thin sword from her waist and handed it to Shino.

"Shiina, please take care of me for a while. I don't need a weapon to go to that girl\"

Shino was surprised by this sentence.

Asuna wasn't going to the 'strange wolf dragon', but to Jupiter, who seemed to be in its deepest part. The "Giant Wolf Dragon" is an entity that consumes all kinds of data, and now it is also looking for large, dense data that can repair itself.

And since we also exist here as data called doppelgangers, we can say that we are the prey of that 'strange giant wolf dragon'. Entering the deepest depths of that 'Strange Giant Wolf Dragon' means one thing.

"Are you really going to be eaten by that thing?"

"His body was full of viruses. If you are accepted, you will not be alone!? \"

Asuna nodded, Reland's voice ringing in her head. Others wanted to do the same, but Asuna retorted without hesitation.

"I have no choice but to do this, and besides, that child is suffering because of me, I don't want that child to suffer anymore, and if I can stop it, then I want to stop him." I'm the one who can help him. That's why I went to him. ”

Regardless, Asuna didn't stop anymore. I want to help Jupiter, who has turned into a strange wolf dragon. I want to free my beloved child from pain. This feeling is what motivates Asuna.

Worried, Shino realizes that there is no way to stop Asuna, so she takes the sword from Asuna's hand. Asuna said "thank you" and started walking towards a location. There is only one "Strange Giant Wolf Dragon", whose body is made of a thick black liquid.

Asuna's appearance and the appearance of being devoured by an extremely large being that transcends the laws of the world was a sacrifice made to appease the angry gods. In order to protect the people of this world and save her children, Asuna launched an attack on the fierce god in the form of a wolf dragon.

Without saying a word, Asuna approached the child who had become the 'strange wolf dragon', and when the distance was close enough, she stopped and looked up at her child.

Asuna's eyes clearly reflect the painful image of the missing child, and she tries to call him.

"The Yuwupai—"

The next moment, the back of the 'Strange Giant Wolf Dragon' exploded. Just as the writhing tentacles were torn to shreds, roars and explosions rang out, and Shino immediately covered her eyes with her arms.

I withdrew my gaze when the 'Wolf Dragon' let out a scream similar to the sound of metal crashing.

A "life bar" appeared above the head of the "Strange Giant Wolf Dragon", and the remaining power continued to decrease until it turned yellow. Based on the screams of the Strange Wolf Dragon and the drop of the HP bar, Shino speculated that the Strange Wolf Dragon itself did not explode.

Asuna, who was approaching, also looked at the 'strange giant wolf dragon' with a puzzled expression.

"W-What!? \"

What happened at this time? Thinking so, Shino noticed the back of the exploding "giant wolf dragon". On the back of the 'Giant Wolf Dragon', there was a red electric current flowing along with black smoke. And it's not just red, it's red-black.

I've seen electricity like this before. At the time, I was sure it was here, in the throne room of Aktarim Castle. And at that time, the existence that emitted this red-black electric light was

As if in response to Shino's flashback, a red-black electric explosion occurred on the back of the 'Strange Giant Wolf Dragon'. At the same time as the 'Giant Wolf Dragon' screamed and fell, Shino did not miss an energy bomb flying from the night sky with the same electricity as the explosion. Not just Shino, but the people around her. Everyone looked at the night sky.

In the night sky of this virtual world called "SA:o", the moon and countless colorful stars sparkle brightly, and there is a red light that is noticeably larger than them. That's not a star.

He was dressed in pitch-black armor and fur, with golden ornaments everywhere that gave off a distinctive glow in the moonlight. He is well-defined, wolf-like, with ears and horns integrated into his back. His true identity is a wolf dragon with no tail tip, wings, and flapping wings.

When I looked behind him, I spotted a figure.

It was hard to see because it blended in with the night, but he was a man with blood-red hair combed back, wearing a sleeveless black combat uniform, and his eyes were full of hideousness.

"Oh my God, Genesis !?"

Shino immediately said the name "Black Dragon Swordsman", who was called by the players around him as the man with the same name as his beloved Kirito. At the same time, he learns that it was Genesis and his partner Anubis who attacked the "Giant Wolf Dragon".

"What, I saw some kind of amazing effect from the castle, so when I got there, it turned out that some incredible prey appeared. I can't believe that such a thing is still in this early field. ”

Even though it was far away, I could see a clear smile on Genesis' face. It grinned hideously, like an excited animal that had found a really good prey. Apparently, Jupiter, who had turned into a "strange wolf dragon", was attacked as an enemy monster. Kirito, who sensed this, stood beside Shino and stroked Shino's forehead with his arm.

"Genesis, stop! This is not an enemy monster! Don't attack! ”

"Oh? Forget it, you can think of a better excuse, it seems that they don't want their prey to be stolen. Well, wait, if you say that, it looks like this guy is a good prey. Well. ”

Anubis, as the master said, "familiar", opened the capsule again, unleashing several red-black electric bombs. The electric bombs that pierced the night sky and went straight all hit the back of the 'Strange Wolf Dragon', causing a huge explosion. It will cause an explosion and emit red-black electricity and black smoke at the same time.

The 'Xenomorph Giant Wolf Dragon', which had been weakened by the virus, let out a scream and fell again, and the 'health bar' turned red. Although the "Giant Wolf Dragon" can capture the data of monsters, its combat ability and defense are only about the same as that of Jupiter. If Anubis continues to attack me, I can't stand it.

Seeing the child's tragic condition, Asuna turned to Anubis and Genesis on her back and screamed.

"Stop!! Don't attack this kid! Don't attack this kid!! ”

"If the mobs are disgusting, then I guess that's it, this guy is the tastiest guy! There's no reason not to kill him!! ”

Undisguised in their excitement, Genesis and Anubis let out a roar and began to fly around the "strange giant wolf dragon". In Genesis's eyes, the 'Giant Wolf Dragon' is likely to be a powerful rare boss monster or something.

Of course. Under normal circumstances, the 'Giant Wolf Dragon' would not appear in this world, and Genesis knew nothing about it.

However, if the 'Giant Wolf Dragon' were allowed to attack like this, Jupiter would be defeated. If that happens, there will be no exes and no children.

While everyone was calling on Genesis to stop attacking, a voice rang in his head.

\"Battle Addicts!! Kirito, we'll stop it!! \"

"That's exactly what I meant!!"

Kirito jumped onto Lilan's back and straddled him. As soon as Kirito caught everyone's attention, he turned his attention to Asuna.

\"If I start over, I'll stop Genesis! Asuna will stop Jupiter!! \"

Before Asuna could react, Lilan flapped her wings and flew into the sky. In this way, it flew to Anubis under the impetus of the Book of Genesis. Genesis and Anubis must have seen at a glance that they were here to interfere, and they fought back against Kirito and Lilan in a fierce air battle.

Seeing that the attack of the 'Strange Wolf Dragon' had stopped, Asuna finally shouted at the 'Strange Wolf Dragon'.

"Jupiter!!"

Maybe it's because she's been blinded by the virus and her other sensory organs are highly developed—or maybe she's never forgotten her mother's voice—and the 'strange wolf dragon' is Asuna's. As if to respond to the voice, I stood up. Stand up and turn my body towards it.

Even if you can't see, you know where things are. As if to show this, the 'strange giant wolf dragon' set its gaze on Asuna and slowly lifted its upper body. With a loud thud as a heavy black liquid dripped from the Strange Wolf Dragon's body, Asuna slowly turned to her. Asuna stood in front of the 'strange wolf dragon' with a determined gaze, as if she was not afraid of anything.

While everyone was stunned, Lizbet called out his name in a voice that bordered on screaming.

"Asuna"

"It's okay, me and this kid"

The next moment, the 'strange wolf dragon' slammed its front legs to the ground and fell to the ground, swallowing Asuna's body with its big mouth.

"Asuna──────────!!! \"

When Asuna opened her eyes, she found herself lying face down. It seems that before he knew it, he lost consciousness and fell into a coma. If I pass out while wearing Amusphere, I should automatically log out, but it doesn't seem to work.

Where is this? Asuna sat up slowly, looking around. Everything around me was black. It's not black, it's black. As proof of this, if you look at your own body, you can see this clearly. It's filled with even light, just like under a floodlight.

I looked around and saw what appeared to be a wall a little further away, and there was also a ceiling. The texture of the floor looks like plastic or something, but it's all black with a wriggling blue pattern. It's like a space ready for fighting special boss monsters.

"This place I'm sure about"

Asuna thought in a somewhat hazy mind.

After returning from the United States, I was scolded by Shiina, and I logged in to SA:o. There, when he heard that Jupiter was dying with the virus, he asked him to pour out everything in his heart.

By this time, Asuna's consciousness had fully awakened.

That's it. At that time, in order to save my beloved child Jupiter, I approached the existence of the child's mutation. As soon as I approached my child, he opened his mouth.

“！”

Asuna realizes that evidence of what happened next is nearby.

A large, pitch-black room full of blue, scary things. This is the corpse of a monster. Before coming here, the corpses of countless monsters were seen all over the castle of Aktarim, their body parts were missing as if they had been torn apart, and for some reason they had not disappeared, and now they were all black and in a state of discoloration.

Capture monster corpses in large numbers, with twisted blue patterns on the black walls and floor. Apparently, this is inside the belly of Jupiter's mutated creatures.

After confirming this, Asuna breathed a sigh of relief.

Being taken in by Jupiter was my goal at that time. And now, he has safely reached where he should be in the belly of Jupiter.

When Jupiter was outside, he could barely take in any words. One way Yui, who conveys words and feelings to Jupiter, is by jumping into Jupiter's body and talking to him directly.

That's why Asuna chose to be taken in by Jupiter.

“”

The place where I am is is the closest place to Jupiter.

Since it is in Jupiter's body, it can be said that this is where Jupiter's 'Anima box' is naturally located. I must find Jupiter's "Anima box" as soon as possible – or rather, find a way to talk to Jupiter – and atone for the sins I have committed.

"Jupiter!"

When I made a sound, a dryad appeared in the room. No reply. There were only dead monsters around, and I didn't think anything was going to happen.

It was at this time that Asuna found herself having some difficulty breathing. This is in the belly of Jupiter, who turned into a monster. If I was thrown into the belly of a monster, I would feel the lukewarm warmth of the creature and the strange humidity, but that doesn't seem to be the case here, because the temperature and humidity are uniform. I don't feel cold or wet.

While the temperature and humidity should not change, the air that fills the space seems to be clinging tightly to it. Thinking of this, Asuna looked around again and noticed something.

The corpses of the monsters that were brought into Jupiter turned black all over their bodies, and they turned to ashes at first, disappearing. It's as if there's something invisible in the air destroying it.

"Monster"

In the silence, as her gaze was drawn to the sight of the monster turning into black ash and disappearing, Asuna suddenly looked at her body.

Just like when I went out to find Jupiter, my body was covered with the gear I had been using, predominantly white and red, but gradually getting darker and darker. It is slowly turning into the same color as the surrounding monster corpses.

The equipment in his hands has begun to turn black, and in some places it has been carbonized and holes are beginning to appear.

"This!"

The equipment is disassembled like a monster. Asuna was aware of it immediately, but at the same time she realized the truth of the matter. Now it's me who is being dismantled.

Based on this story, I heard that Jupiter was infected with a data-destroying virus. Since we are inside Jupiter, everything we ingest can be infected and destroyed by the Jupiter virus.

My own data is also being eroded by viruses all the time. Now it seems that the equipment has only barely taken its place, but once the equipment is destroyed, the next thing to do is to start destroying yourself. If that happens, my avatar data will be destroyed and I will be forced to flee here - I can't help Jupiter.

Just like Jupiter, I'm running out of time. Asuna noticed, looked up and screamed.

"Jupiter, where is Jupiter!? Please reply if you are there!! ”

Asuna's voice resounded again in the blue and distorted black space, the same mass as the thick liquid that flowed out of Jupiter's body. As the Devourer's destruction progressed, there were fewer obstacles and more sounds.

And there doesn't seem to be any reply.

Maybe I can't get Jupiter to hear me.

Do we have to go deeper to get to the heart of Jupiter?

Asuna looked around anxiously, but all she could see was the amorphous black ceiling, walls, and floor, showing a blue wriggling, and there were no passages or corridors in sight. The inside of the large room was completely enclosed, and there was no idea how they got in.

"Jupiter Jupiter!!"

Still, Asuna screamed.

Where is it.

"Where are you, Jupiter?"

I'm here.

At that moment, as if to convey her thoughts, a strange sound came from the ceiling a little further away from Asuna. It was a harsh sound, as if something was moving and covered in a thick layer of viscous liquid. As if invited, I turned around and noticed a blue light on the ceiling. Intense blue light that is different from the churning blue in black.

It grew bigger and bigger, and finally jumped out like it fell from the ceiling.

“A！”

Accompanied by a heavy black liquid falling from the ceiling is a white cube with intricate patterns carved into it. At that time, the main body of "mhhp" and "mhcp" that Lilan showed me was the "Anima box". Asuna instantly understood that the object that suddenly appeared was undoubtedly Jupiter's, and cried out.

"Jupiter!?"

The next moment, the white box suspended in the black space bloomed with an even more intense blue light, and soon became violent, like an explosion. Asuna immediately covered her eyes with her arm, trying to protect them from the black light that seemed to emit superpowers.

The equipment that originally protected her hands, that is, part of the equipment that was eaten by the virus, had completely turned black, carbonized, and disappeared, leaving only Asuna with her bare hands, but she was worried about this. Over there.

Seeing that the light stopped and turned her eyes again, Asuna made a sound and swallowed. Around a white cube that appears to be Jupiter's heart energy box, there are some black objects that resemble an iron texture.

Before Asuna could think of such a thing, the black objects floating around the Heart Energy Box began to wrap around the Heart Energy Box, forming a certain shape. Its shape gradually became similar to that of a four-legged terrestrial creature, with rib-like metal on its chest, strong armor on its arms and leg tips, and finally armor and tail resembling the silhouette of a wolf. , is created.

Just when I thought the transformation was about to end, a thick black liquid suddenly secreted from the heart energy box, and a body formed between the armor. At the same time, its limbs are raised, and another pair of arms extend from its shoulders, taking on a posture similar to that of a bipedal creature.

After a sequence that deviated from the norm was born a strange six-legged monster that looked many times smaller than the Jupiter I had seen before I came here.

It looks like a werewolf, perhaps because it has the silhouette of a wolf, but its posture is closer to that of a bipedal creature like a human, and its body is made up of black, semi-liquid matter and metal parts. This, it doesn't look like a real werewolf. It's as if an inorganic creature has used all his might to recreate a ferocious wolf dragon.

Asuna froze, as if forgetting that she was being destroyed by the virus, and could only stand there and watch.

"Jupiter, that's?"

The next moment I called him, a change occurred in the inorganic werewolf dragon. The calyx slowly opened, and a voice sounded in my head.

"I"

The boy's voice was a little faint, I had heard it many times. It definitely belongs to Jupiter. Inside that inorganic werewolf dragon is Jupiter's heart energy box, and the current inorganic werewolf dragon is Jupiter's body. Asuna noticed and tried to call him again.

"Jupiter, it's Jupiter, after all! Jupiter, it's me! I am here!! ”

At this moment, the inorganic wolf dragon changed its shape, let out a loud shout, and pounced on the 'Anima Box' itself. It's as if he's been gathering strength, trying to unleash something. The voice echoed in my head again.

"I will, I will be strong, I will be smart!"!! \"

The moment Jupiter shouted, multiple semi-liquid tentacles shot out of the inorganic werewolf dragon. It is similar to the tentacles that stretch out and swallow the corpses of the surrounding monsters, trying to devour the data, but it is much thinner, but it has extremely thick whip-like tentacles.

Soon after, they began to violently attack their surroundings, striking and poking them. An irregular attack, as if frightened by something invisible, wants to drive it away. Like Jupiter, the inorganic wolf dragon has lost its sight and seems to be able to perceive things only with other sensory organs.

Asuna, frightened by the inability to see, screams loudly as she carefully prevents her tentacles from hitting the floor, ceiling, and walls.

\"No, Jupiter, it's not right! Jupiter, this is not right! Stop! \"

"Get out of my way!"!! \"

As Jupiter's screams echoed in his head, a furious tentacle slashed Asuna's abdomen. As if pulled by something powerful, Na slammed into the wall behind her. It hit me from the back, making my flesh and bones creak and I stopped breathing as if air was trapped in my lungs.

"Hooha"

Asuna crouched down as soon as she fell from the wall to the floor.

Since you are diving into this world through the Amusphere, your pain inhibition mechanism, the pain absorber, is working all the time, so even if you are faced with a situation of pain or electric shock, you will only feel similar discomfort.

It was supposed to be like this, but when I was attacked by Jupiter, I felt a pain in my abdomen that was no different from a real pain, and it has not gone away yet. What's more, it was hard to breathe, like my lungs were compressed. I wonder if the pain inhibition mechanism isn't working.

No, that's all I can say. First of all, technically, this place is not SA:o, but inside an mhhp called Jupiter, which has been infected with the virus. SA:There is nothing strange about the existence of something in the o.

All the pain and suffering I felt here became a reality and attacked me. It's a place that's even more extreme than SAo.

Asuna squeezed out her willpower, propped up her aching body, and looked ahead. Jupiter, who had turned into an inorganic wolf dragon, made a stomach-shaking sound and continued to attack the area with his tentacles.

He doesn't just look like he's running wild, though. In fact, he looked like he was frantically trying to fight the pain.

\"Jupitrous\"

At the moment when Asuna let out a cry like a squeezed voice, tentacles struck the surroundings. The tips of the tentacles flew out like bullets, continuing to collide with the walls.

One of them hit Asuna in the head again. Asuna was blown away like dust in the wind and hit the wall headfirst again. In an instant, the world turned monochrome, and my ears were blocked by the chirping of cicadas.

When it slid off the wall to the floor, the world returned to color. At the same time, Asuna's consciousness swayed up and down, side-to-side, and she noticed that her hair was loose and she could no longer feel it covering her legs.

The leg gear has been destroyed and carbonized.

And the virus that destroys the equipment that covers the tip of the body is slowly changing the color of the equipment covering the tip of the body.

"Huhuhuhu"

After settling her consciousness, Asuna turned her attention to the rampaging inorganic wolf dragon again. The body of the inorganic werewolf dragon is Jupiter.

\"I'm going to get stronger! Be smart! MORE!! More !! \"

Jupiter is screaming.

I keep repeating that I will become stronger and smarter. He just took the stupid wish that Asuna had once given him as an order to carry it out. Even if he is infected with the virus, even if he becomes like that, even if he is on the verge of death, his priority is to carry out his orders.

Abandon your heart, your thoughts, your will, everything.

"Jupiter..."

Asuna dragged her aching body and tried to get up, but halfway through her knees lost strength and fell. Even if I tried to put pressure on my legs, I couldn't. I couldn't help but feel heavy, as if a weight was attached to my whole body.

When I looked up like that, my vision distorted. Before I knew it, the tears began to flow and I couldn't stop it.

"Jupiter Jupiter"

My child acted like he hadn't heard anything and continued to attack the surroundings with his tentacles. It's as if he's trying to remove everything that prevents him from getting stronger and smarter.

All of these attacks and behaviors are unjustified. Jupiter is still desperately moving the "Anima Box" to fulfill his mother's wish as he screams. He continued to be reckless, trying to become stronger and smarter.

Continue to act recklessly, he is dying.

"Jupiter, let's stop, you don't have to be strong, you don't have to be smart"

Jupiter waved his tentacles, screaming incessantly. Jupiter's screams still echo in my head.

"I am! I am!! \"

"I—I'm wrong, I don't know anything about you, and I did something like that, so please stop!"

Even though Jupiter raised his head and screamed, there was no sign of stopping. It uses its tentacles to hit its surroundings again and again, hurting itself from the inside.

When I looked down at my body, I noticed that my usual white clothes had become very dark. The virus is devouring himself and Jupiter quarter by moment.

\"I'm going to get stronger! Be smart!! \"

Jupiter's roar echoed throughout the room, its tentacles rampaging around the room. It's like I can't get any closer to him. Even so, Jupiter is still trying to fulfill his mother's wishes.

“”

Asuna lowered her head, her mind reminding of Jupiter's time as she was studying.

A bedroom in a house that was supposed to be a temporary residence in the residential area of the City of the Ancestors. Jupiter learns all sorts of things, accumulates knowledge, and becomes stronger and smarter.

When Jupiter happily reports that he has become stronger and smarter, he smiles and says "hehe", and the smile fills his mind, quickly overlapping with the image of Jupiter in front of him.

Jupiter wants to report and boast that he is stronger and smarter again.

I wanted to make myself, my mom, smile again, so I tried to be stronger and smarter.

I can't help but do it because I want to please myself.

"Jupiter mine is for me, isn't it? You're desperately trying to be stronger, smarter, for me. You've been doing everything you can for me. If that's the case, then I'm really happy. I'm really proud of you. ”

Asuna looked up. In the landscape distorted by tears, only Jupiter, who had turned into an inorganic wolf dragon, remained in his original form. His violent behavior has not changed either.

"But if you die because of it, it doesn't make any sense! I don't want the meaning of all your efforts to be erased!! I don't want you to kill me, me."

Next, a flashback appeared in Asuna's mind.

"I've forgotten for a long time"

The decisive battle of the Jade Palace on the 100th floor of Al Grande. The real world after the loss of Jupiter.

Although he returns after successfully ending the Game of Death, he discovers that it is a real world without color.

Even with my family, I hardly feel any joy, and I only feel a sense of loss every day, like I have a hole in my heart.

I feel guilty and regretful for leaving my precious children and those days when no emotion entered my head or heart.

Now, it's happening again

"I don't want to spend time without you with you"

"I am, I am"

"What a good life would be without you"

"Strong and smart"

"I can't imagine life without you anymore"

At the same time that one of Jupiter's tentacles flew in, Asuna summoned the power of her whole body and let out a scream from the bottom of her heart.

"I don't want !!"

With a scream, the surrounding sounds disappeared. The large room, which had been filled with the auspicious sound of Jupiter's chaotic impact on the tentacles, fell silent.

In the silence of the world, Asuna slowly raised her head. Jupiter's tentacles were right in front of me, but stopped in mid-air. Not only in front of him, but even Jupiter's entire body became completely stiff.

It was as if he realized something important and froze.

\"I don't want it, I don't want it? \"

Asuna made a small sound. Immediately after, Jupiter extended four arms, including tentacles, to his head.

\"Ahh I've had enough. I've had enough. I don't want this anymore.

Jupiter held his head with four arms and tentacles and crouched in the air.

"I have to get stronger. "You have to be smart. Because that's what mom wants. Because my mom wants me to do it. My mom wants me to stop being a loser.

Although it is a little blurry, the 'voice' continues, and the outline is clear.

"But if I'm no longer a loser, I can't stay with my mom." I can't be with my mom. I can't even eat my mother's rice cakes. You can't do it because you don't need something like that, so you can't do it.

I don't want that. I don't like that. I don't want to be stronger, smarter, I don't want to be like this

Jupiter knelt down hard and began to move his shoulders as if he were crying. The "voice" was mixed with sobs.

\"Mom, I miss you, Mommy, I want to see you\"

When Asuna heard this, tears welled up in her eyes, and Asuna's vision became even more distorted. However, even so, he never lost sight of Jupiter.

My child is now looking for his mother.

I'm looking for myself as a mother.

I must answer.

Before she could feel a sense of mission, Asuna gathered the strength of her whole body again and let out a scream.

"Jupiter!! Jupiter"

Jupiter looked up in surprise and removed his hand from his head. The calyx moves slowly.

"Kasan? \"

"Yes, yes. That's right. - Mother, yes, Jupiter. \"

The moment Asuna speaks, no matter how far away, make sure you can hear it. The inorganic werewolf dragon turned to Asuna and opened its chest with rib-like metal. Moreover, something came out of it and made a sound.

When I saw it, it was a boy about ten years old. He was wearing no clothes, his snow-white hair and skin were exposed, and the skull, wrists, upper back, and lower body above his eyes were swallowed by a semi-liquid black liquid, which had been put away. , suspended in the air by the same tentacles that grew from various parts of the inorganic wolf dragon.

There is no doubt that Jupiter is my beloved child, and I have always longed to meet him.

Seeing the painful sight, I tried to cover my mouth, but Asuna stopped me. Jupiter raised his hands, tentacles made of semi-liquid heavy liquid suspended in the air.

His fingers were stained with heavy liquid, desperately stretching forward.

"Kasan Kasan"

As soon as she saw this scene, Asuna understood everything.

Jupiter looks for her mother, and she wants to go.

"Jupiter..."

Asuna noticed the smile on her face, slowly stood up and walked towards the child. I can't even walk, I can't help it because my body is so heavy that I can't do it, but my body keeps moving.

The closer you are, the more aggressive the virus becomes. Every time I got closer to my child, the gear on my body would get darker and darker until it gradually turned to carbon and disappeared.

When I got within two meters of the child, my coat disappeared and my underwear immediately turned black and disappeared.

This warmth sustains Asuna's progress.

Just as I came to the child, the tips of the child's body, including the hands and feet, began to turn black. However, Asuna didn't think much of it, sat down and put her hand on the child's cheek, which is why the child's face turned dark.

"He's dressed like this. It must be painful, painful, lonely, lonely, cold. I've been doing bad things for a long time. I've had a hard time.

So we're going to give this kid his favorite place.

"Come on, Jupiter."

Asuna said this softly and clearly, and then carried the body of the child, who was also wearing nothing, into her own chest, which was also wearing nothing.

As soon as the child's arms wrapped around her back and she felt a hint of warmth in her chest, Asuna's gaze slowly turned white and consciousness vanished.