"This way! Lilan is here."
I stopped catching Shino and ran towards a certain place. When checking the map window frequently, Lilan's disappearing reaction appeared again. Lilan's reaction was confirmed in the rocky mountainous area on the west side of the cave where we were.
When I told him about it, Shino stopped capturing by saying "I'm coming" and started moving with my help as I could confirm the rerun on the map.
"Lilan must have remembered something." And he must have made it clear what he was doing or planning to do before he lost his memory, and flew to a place where he could confirm it. Lelan's memory should be called her "tamer." No, you should know.
"Having said that, I wonder if Lilan will appear in such a direction. Does Lilan have any concerns?"
"I have no idea.
Shino showed his profile. He had a smile on his face.
"By the way, Lilan, you said so, you are a troublesome master."
"Ruiluen has already told me. He is a beast tamer and must be taken care of by his relatives... I must be diligent to avoid being caught by my relatives."
Shino nodded and turned away.
Yes, I shouldn't be the animal trainer being taken care of by Zai Lan. Rather, the relationship between the tamer and the familiar has improved to the point where there is no need to worry. You have to be careful not to be ignored by Relan.
While thinking about this, she continued to run, and Lilan's reaction got closer and closer. Just when I thought I was about to reach where Lilan was, Shino seemed to notice something and stopped. I immediately stopped and looked back.
"What's wrong, Shino? Stopped suddenly."
Shino shushed and whispered.
"Hide in the shadows. There's someone near Lelan."
"What's going on? Who is near Lilan? I mean, do you know from this that you have the ability to search for enemies...?"
"We'll talk about the specifics later. Just hide first. Be careful when you're hiding."
I nodded temporarily and followed Shino into the shadows. And just as the two of us were hiding in the shadows and continuing to move forward, Lilan's signal came to us. Just like that, the white dragon and the human figure came into view, and the human figure immediately revealed its true identity.
Accompanying my "familiar" Lilan is Asuna, the deputy leader of the Blood Oath Knights.
Asuna was shocked by the sudden appearance of the white dragon. Did he attack me because I was careless with NPCs? Are you thinking of using an NPC to commit suicide? Or did you come to get rid of the black swordsman because he was an eyesore?
"Even if I try to think about it, I can only think of this." In any case, this guy must be here to attack me. Considering the size of the creature, humans are just the right size for food.
"What are you doing here? Did that solo player say something?"
Bailong just stared at me and said nothing. Naturally, NPCs are designed so that they cannot think in complex ways like players, or come up with their own answers. When I spoke to him, I couldn't answer directly.
The only thing that can be returned is the answer that corresponds to the other person's words, which is set at production time.
"Well, it's no use listening, you can't talk like a human being."
My name is Lilan, Asuna, the deputy leader of the Blood Oath Knights.
Suddenly hearing a "voice", Asuna looked around in surprise.
No, rather than hearing it, it would be more correct to say it echoed in my head.
"What is your voice now...is it your voice?"
Bailong closed his eyes and nodded.
"That's it. This is the "voice" of the NPC you made fun of. I can use it to communicate with others.
"You seem to have a very useful function, and you are worthy of being a resident in the game. So, what are you doing here with me, familiar Lilan?"
Lilan's face looked slightly angry.
``Why are you doing this? If I arrive late, you will definitely be seriously injured. It's obviously a battlefield, and challenging the BOSS alone is tantamount to committing suicide.
"That's what the dragon taught me when I met that solo player last time." The frustration at that time flashed through Asuna's mind, and now it was connected to the feeling that started to rise in his heart. Frustration.
"I am not qualified to preach to you. I have no need to talk to you, an NPC. Please leave immediately. I must start capturing this Aincrad."
His face was expressionless, and his warm voice sounded louder.
Asuna, why do you want to go so far? You were dizzy just now, weren't you? This is a common symptom of players who don't rest. Why are you fighting? Why are you aiming for the top of this castle? Lilan
Hearing this, various things came to Asuna's mind.
However, Asuna didn't want to say more and looked away from Bailong.
“Because there’s still so much unfinished business in the real world.
Lilan shook her head.
"No, I get it. Talk to me
Asuna couldn't help but be startled, staring into Liran's ruby-red eyes. The NPC reacts as if it understands its own story and the situation they're in. It's like you're thinking for yourself and making up your words.
"No, even if I tell you, you won't understand."
"Why can you say that? Now, you think you can't understand my language? Lilan
"Well, that's right, you are not just a 3DCG model with a program."
Lilan's eyes became sharp.
You're about to be killed by that simple program.
Asuna glared at Hakuryuu.
Bailong's "voice" continues.
"Let's hear it again. What did you leave behind that made you want to escape and come back alive from this castle?
Asuna clenched her fists.
"The reason why I want to go home - I want to go back to my parents." I have the means to get into a prestigious university and become an excellent person. But being trapped in a place like this puts it at risk. If I continue like this, I will deviate from the path my parents expect me to take. It will be done. I'd rather die than let this happen.
"What do you know? What it feels like to be a person who aims to be an excellent human resource... you don't understand."
Lilan's face looked a little surprised, but then returned to her original expression.
That's it, so you have to be a good person. Why? Lilan
"teeth?"
"I'm asking you why you want to be a good human resource. It looks to me like you're no different than any human being out there. Why do you want to be that good? For what, after all?
Asuna's heart welled up with intense anger.
"You said you couldn't understand what I was talking to you, so don't ask me again."
``I can't. If I let you go like this, you will be destroyed. I'm afraid you will be destroyed. What drives you? What makes you exhausted? Lilan
The next moment, the events and current situation of the real world flooded Asuna like a tide. And it continued to spread endlessly, overflowing into Asuna's body.
Asuna's father is a businessman and her mother is a scholar. She has grown up under the expectations of her parents since she can remember. Both her parents were strict with her, but Asuna was treated gently by them. Every time I see these two men's faces, I worry about the expressions they will make if I fail to live up to their expectations.
I'm sure my brother, who was born before me, felt the same way.
Both her brother and Asuna were sent to private schools chosen by their parents. There were never any problems and their grades were always at the top. Among them, Asuna took classes many times after her brother left home to go to college. No, if anything, it's probably the same as being forced to take classes.
In fact, she was one of the best performers, but Asuna didn't really enjoy going to class, there were many times she didn't want to go, but she didn't want to disappoint her parents, so she persisted and continued.
This parental interference extends to friendships. If Asuna talks casually, her parents are immediately rendered useless and they restrict Asuna's friends from interacting with anyone other than their approved friends.
Asuna, who continued to live such a life, felt herself being dragged in a direction she didn't want to go by the collar and bracelet attached to her body. In an emergency, I can cut off the collar, bracelets and chains that bind me, but once I cut off these chains, what awaits me is the disappointment and despair of my parents. I couldn't cut the chain because I was afraid something would happen to me if I took it off. As a result I had to continue being dragged into the cage with the collar and bracelet on - that's what I thought.
From then on, Asuna no longer regarded her parents as good things. However, Asuna's inner fear of betraying those expectations did not disappear, and she ultimately continued to act in accordance with her parents' wishes. However, when her brother decided to work in his father's company and brought back a game console called Nerve Gear, Asuna's mood to continue her studies began to collapse. She wanted to use the Nerve Gear machine that her brother brought home. The wish was born.
He had already heard of Nervegear through his father, but when he first heard the name, he showed no interest. However, I still remember my shock when I discovered that this was a gaming console that fully recreated virtual reality.
At the time, Asuna felt very comfortable with the tagline inviting players into a completely virtual reality, an alternate world that was unreal. Even just once, I want to see a world different from this one, a world not ruled by my parents. paddy.
Asuna asked her brother to let her use the Nerve Gear for one day, then put it on and descended into this world.
"That's luck." Just after playing the game for the first time and feeling the excitement of being able to become someone other than himself in the real world, the creator of the game, Kayaba Akihiko, suddenly appeared in the empty sky and said This game is a death game. .Tell this game until the game is completed
I dumped the player and disappeared, saying I couldn't leave the game.
While the players around her were falling into despair and fear, Asuna's head was filled with things from the real world. I have a math homework to be completed by tomorrow - if I can't turn it in, I don't know what my teacher will say or what my parents will think of me. I have to go home early and finish it.
"I'm sure the death game is a lie." After a day or two, they should come up with a countermeasure and they should be able to escape... With this in mind, Asuna locked herself in the hotel and waited for the opportunity to escape. However, after a week or two, let alone a day or two, no one reached out to help.
