After Shino finished speaking, Alice's expression looked like she had lost the ability to hear the children's voices clearly.
\"That's it, that's it. Heathcliff, the leader of the Blood Oath Knights, is actually Mr. Kayaba. And Mr. Kayaba is the final boss of this game, right?\"
"Yes. Everyone is very upset and shocked."
Alice took a sip of wine, looked at the ice cubes inside, and sighed.
\"Many people in town believe that Heathcliff will eventually pass the level. But if you say that this is how Mr. Kayaba becomes the final boss, then I think you are right.\"
Alice's gaze shifted from the ice cube to Kirito.
"Kirito-kun discovered Kayaba-san's true identity. In order to unlock the game, he and Kayaba-san started a massacre."
Kirito nodded reluctantly, but Leafa immediately turned around to face Kirito.
\"What big brother, why are you doing this!!\"
\"Because if he is defeated, Leafa, Shino, Asuna, Diabel, the children here, and everyone trapped in Aincrad will be released.
"I had no choice but to accept it."
After Kirito finished speaking, Alice threw the ice cubes into the cup.
\"In the final battle, when I was about to kill Kirito-kun, Kayaba-san suddenly disappeared. Leaving behind the shield "Crazy Conqueror\"
Afterwards, Heathcliff's shield was recovered and given to Diabell, who fought with similar equipment to Heathcliff. ——According to myself, the feeling of Heathcliff’s things will not disappear, so it will be used after repainting.
\"Yes. At that time, Kayaba disappeared like a program whose memory was destroyed.\"
\"Well, Kayaba-san, when you say this, I saw it on a video website when I was your age, and I couldn't help laughing in a cheating video. But with this game, that's not the case. Possible. Should be
Ye Xiu swallowed all the food in his mouth and nodded.
"Yes, this kind of thing can't happen. The cardinal system that oversees this world has been monitoring to prevent this kind of thing from happening."
\"Well, as expected of my daughter, you know quite a lot. Well, I know more than you.\"
Sasha looked at Yui and Alice alternately, tilting her head.
\"Ha, base number system? Is Xiao Yui the daughter of Teacher Alice?\"
Alice said "Oops" and smiled at Sasha.
"Sorry, it's a trade secret here, so please don't think too deeply about it."
Sasha turned to face Alice and tilted her head.
\"Teacher Alice, what did you do?\"
"What, psychologists and psychiatrists?"
Sasha tilted her head, with a question-marked expression on her face. Alice turned from Sasha to Kirito.
\"Let's get back to the topic. As Kirito-kun said, something must have happened to Kayaba-san. But with the protection of the base number system, that is impossible. The answer we can draw from this is\"
Kirito thought of the answer in his mind, but the answer sent shivers down his spine.
Basically, the game is governed by a cardinal system, but is also protected. That's why players can face the capture of this castle without worrying about bugs, but what happened to Kayaba Akihiko at that time would have been impossible if it had been protected by the Cardinal System. From this there can only be one answer, as Alice said, and to them, this is what they fear most.
"No way, the base number system is paralyzed!?"
Alice put the cup on the table with a serious expression.
"I think that's the closest to the right answer."
“Is it possible that the cardinal system is down?”
"This is not an impossible story. In fact, the world is so intrusive that it attracts ALo players like Leafa and Yuki. Security holes are exploited, and hackers and crackers get in. I've been there before Told you, it’s not a funny story.”
\"Lefa made a face, as if she remembered something.\"
"Yes, "Fugitive"!"
"Yes, it seems that what I worried about before has become a reality.
The "Broken Man", who was eyeing Aincrad, relied on his inherent technical power to enter and paralyze the base system to a certain extent, crack Mr. Kayaba, prevent his actions, and eliminate him. Isn't that that kind of place? "
Those who knew the "Fugitive" trembled at Alice's words. But the children around him didn't seem to notice, Lilan said with a sigh of relief.
As Lilan said, even if the "fugitive" appeared here in SAo, he would not act like this for no reason. No, first of all, "Rogue Man" suddenly appeared in the online world, and the name "Rogue Man" comes from the method of disrupting society related to the Internet. A truly mysterious existence, only mentioned by the media. Its address, mission, age, and even gender are unknown. Therefore, I don't know what the purpose of "The Runaway"'s destruction is or why.
Kirito said while thinking about such things in his mind.
"I don't know what the purpose of the destruction is, if there is some religious reason, if terrorists like to destroy, or because I want to see society panic. Are you a happy criminal?"
Asuna took a sip of the drink in her cup and said to Kirito.
"I think the last point is the most important, the fact that 'The Fugitive' is likely to fire politicians, attack the media, manipulate stock prices. When it comes to chaos, I can only think of you." As an interesting criminal who likes to disrupt society. "
Sabotage targeting important areas of the country, such as police, mass media and politicians who would panic if attacked. Listening to everyone's stories, Shino believed that his extremely strange way of doing things was bringing chaos to society and the country, and that he was just a ridiculous criminal watching from a distance. When I was in the real world, I found out in books and on the Internet that there was an interesting crime incident. A terrorist attack was planned against a large candy manufacturer, which exhausted the police and the media.
Contrasting this information, the methods of "The Fugitive" also target the police, mass media and politicians, and their goals are consistent with the events of the funny criminals.
\"Asuna and I have the same point of view. "The escapee is an interesting criminal."
Alice made a face, as if she had thought of something.
"Think about it. A hacker AI hungry for knowledge will mess up the online society, messing up everything from the mass media to the police, fire departments, and even the railroads, and eventually knocking out a satellite and putting the ground on the ground." .This story is from an animated movie about 15 years ago.
"Isn't [broken man] also a hacker AI?"
When Kirito spoke with half-open eyes, Alice smiled bitterly.
"No. I don't know what to say, but that's impossible. If I could do something like that, it would be work I would be proud of, Jupiter is here, Martell is somewhere in this world .yes"
Hearing Alice's words, Asuna turned to look at Jupiter sitting next to her. Jupiter was so engrossed in eating that he didn't notice what I was looking at, but the child's mental age was just the opposite. He had almost forgotten what he could do.
When it was still under the care of Alice, or in other words, when it was being developed, it could do such a thing, but now Jupiter may not be able to do it. Originally, Asuna's true intention was not to let such an innocent Jupiter do such a thing.
"Is it possible that Martell escaped from SAo and became a 'breakfast man' or something like that?"
Leafa's words made Alice frown.
"Indeed, she was once released into the Internet world, but it was not until the emergence of the 'Broken Man' that she gained the ability to hack and crack. In the first two years, Martell was completely sealed, even the Internet No one in the world can get in. Also, I read that the reason why Martell's seal was broken was because of "the one who broke and fell". Martell = Equality There is no such thing as "Martell". 'The one who ran away' .”
After Alice finished speaking, she poured a drink that looked like black tea into the cup.
"Anyway, the 'Saboteur' is definitely lurking in this world and starting to do bad things. If you find him, please talk to me, because the 'Saboteur' may be targeting this world and those who want to do bad things." player." lives in this world. "
Kirito and the others gasped. Although the world is about to kill them, if "ravaged people" become the existence that kills players, then one day, they will be killed without warning. Just thinking about it makes me shiver from the bottom of my stomach.
"Okay, I don't know if this is really the work of the 'Breaker', let alone whether the 'Breaker's' purpose is malicious. Yes, let's enjoy this barbecue party."
Alice said this and smiled, but after all, everyone could not forget the story of the "Fugitive Man", and the speed of delivering meat to their mouths was also much slower. Among them, AI Yupiteru and Yui were the only ones who didn't stop using their chopsticks.
"That night, at 11:30."
At Alice's suggestion, Kirito and the others decided to spend the night in an empty room in the church. At first, they all said it was okay because they were going home, but Alice said: "You are very tired from the intense fighting and the inability to adapt to the experience.
"It's better to go to Imajuku to rest today and stay in the church." So, Kirito and the others decided to follow Alice's suggestion and spend the night in the church.
At that time, Sinon thought Kirito's sister Leafa would be living in the same room with them, but it turned out that she was living in the same room as Asuna, Yuki, and Jupiter.
Used by Kirito, Shino, Yui, and Lilan.
At first I didn't quite understand why, but then Asuna whispered: "After everything that happened, spend more time with your family." I understood that it was Asuna's arrangement for us to go back to the room.
To be honest, Shino wanted to spend time with Kirito, Yui, and Liran, so I think Asuna’s arrangement was very thoughtful.
However, perhaps because she was satisfied with her stomach, Yui went to bed as soon as she entered the room. Things didn't end there. Probably due to exhaustion from the battle, Kirito and Lilan fell asleep in the blink of an eye. She thought she would be able to survive the life-and-death battle safely and spend time with her family again, but Shino was very disappointed when her family except her fell asleep.
Since there was no other way, Shino turned off the light and wanted to sleep, but found that the bed was already full. Of course, the reason was that Kirito, Yui, and Lilan were asleep in their normal state. If Sinon is added here, a gorgeous river character can be completed. Only then did I realize that this bed was about the same size as my usual bed.
Sinon quietly got into bed without making any sound - so as not to wake up her beloved husband and daughter during this game. Perhaps because there were already three people inside, the quilt always maintained a comfortable warmth. As soon as it was put on, the whole body felt warm.
Before me are the figures of my loved ones, sleeping peacefully. After participating in this game, the people I love, the people who love me. Kirito, Yui and Lilan.
The warmth these three people bring to me is something I will never get in the real world. When I got stuck in this game, I wondered why I got stuck in this world, but now I can't help but think that I would have gotten stuck in this world sooner, and Kirito and I would have been better off. I almost regretted not meeting Lilan and Asu. Na.
On the day of the incident, there was nothing but ice and snow in the cold world - there is no doubt that it was Kirito and Yui who melted the ice and snow and turned it into a warm world. Especially Yui, after doing something like this, she was convinced that she had no right to call herself mother, she called herself mom and acted like a real daughter. No, I think she is my biological mother.
Thinking about it now, when I was in the real world, I completely closed my mind. Yui opened her closed heart.
However, it all started with his encounter with Kirito. It is no exaggeration to say that I am who I am today because I first met Kirito, and I have come to believe that the time I spent with Kirito was the happiest time of my life.
"But that time." When Kirito started fighting Heathcliff, who admitted that he was Kayaba Akihiko, he felt like he was no longer alive. Kirito is dead. Kirito disappears in front of me. He didn't want to believe it and blamed it on Kirito, but at this time, Sinon's heart was filled with the fear that Kirito would die.
At that time, if Heathcliff had not died and stabbed Kirito's chest with his own blade, cutting off Kirito's life, just thinking about it brings back the fear at that time, filling my heart. ,dominate. Very worried that I won’t be able to do anything in my own power.
\"Whenever I feel this fear, I always rely on Kirito.\" Kirito can eliminate this fear.
\"Kirito is sleeping now, but I want to wake him up.\"
\"I want to hear Kirito's voice.\"
\"I want Kirito's warmth.\"
\"I want to spoil Kirito.\"
"!"
At this time, a voice sounded in Shino's heart. This is my own voice, no one else's.
"I can't. I thought I wanted to be strong, but I can't do anything. If I did, I would be scared and unbearable."
"I always wanted to be stronger." However, I was weaker than I thought and not strong at all. Not only that, after meeting Kirito and the others, he was indeed able to have warm days, but because of this, he had a strong fear of losing them.
\"What if I wake up tomorrow and find that Kirito is not here?\"
"What if Yui isn't around when I wake up?"
Just thinking about it makes me heartbroken and heartbroken. After coming to this world, Shino discovered that although a part of herself had indeed become stronger and able to open up, that part of her heart had become weaker.
"I, as expected"
The corners of my eyes suddenly felt hot and I was about to cry. ——That’s when I noticed it again.
"By the way, this is the same." When I was in the real world, I didn't cry much, but after coming to this world and meeting Kirito and the others, I cried a lot. It's not a small thing, but I tear up more easily than I do in real life.
"It's really useless."
Shino murmured in a low voice, thinking of a person in his mind. There is only one person in this world who is as important as Kirito and Yui. That person owed me a debt in the real world and still owes me a debt now. At times like this, when you just can't help yourself, if you go there, you'll get good advice and be healed.
"let's go"
Shino stood up as quietly as possible, called out the window, put on a normal hoodie over her pajamas, dressed very simply and lightly, and left the room. The corridor outside the door was dimly lit by a few small lamps on the wall.
Fortunately, everyone seemed to be asleep, there was no sign of anyone, and there was no sign of Asuna and others coming out of the next room. An empty corridor in the middle of the night.
Shino tried not to let the footsteps pass through, and finally stopped in front of the door of the first room. This is the room of Alice, the church's nurse administrator and his former teacher, who has suffered tremendous emotional damage.
"He's probably sleeping at this time, or he might not come out if I knock on the door." Still, I wanted Alice to check in on how I was feeling. Please come out and give me the answer. Sinon prayed in her heart, and then lightly knocked on the wooden door in front of her twice with her fist. I said nothing.
"Who is this time? Is it Sasha?"
A familiar voice came from inside. After a while, the door banged open - the teacher who had never seen anything like this appeared, but he didn't care. Not only that, the person opposite me also looked surprised at my clothes.
\"Isn't this Shino?
Hearing this, Shino-Utano replied in a low voice.
\"Teacher Ai Li, is it okay now?\"
Alice——Ai Lili opened her eyes wide and smiled slightly.
\"Is that so? Okay, Shino. I'll check it out for you. Come in and sit down.\"
Shino nodded slightly and stepped into Alice's room in this world. She had been here several times. The first thing that caught his eye was the antique furniture, but Shino didn't care and sat down on the sofa near the table in the center of the room. Alice immediately sat down next to me.
"Can't you sleep?"
Shino nodded slightly.
Alice replied as if she had guessed.
\"Well, I did have a bad experience. If it is natural to be unable to sleep, is it natural? Where is Kirito-kun?\"
\"Kirito is sleeping. It seems I'm the only one who can't sleep.\"
\"I see. Ever since I met Kirito-kun, I thought I would never see you again and you would live well, but that doesn't seem to be the case. What is hidden in your heart? Is it still like this now?\ ""
"No, it's not about the real world. It's about this world."
"What about this world?"
"Yes"
After finishing speaking, Shino revealed everything to Alice. What I've been thinking about since the battle on floor 75 ended, and what I just realized.
After Sinon finished speaking, Alice sighed softly.
\"It turns out that Kirito-kun, Yui, and Lilanen who love me so much are great, but I'm afraid of losing them this time. Is this what you mean?\"
Shino just nodded slightly. Alice continued.
"It's true that you can be happy while having someone who is important to you, but at the same time, a lot of times you worry about losing those people. Maybe that's just a given."
"Teacher Airi, I want to become stronger."
"Yes"
After hearing Shino's sudden words, Alice closed her mouth. Shino lowered her head and continued.
\"Ever since I met Kirito, I have been very happy. Kirito protected me. That's why I always want to protect Kirito, so I will become stronger.\"
Alice crossed her arms.
"From the time you came to the real world, you wanted to become strong. However, at the beginning, you wanted to become strong in order to overcome trauma so that you could live independently. Isn't this a good thing?" From being able to live to protecting what you have Beloved person? "
"Yeah but I feel like I'm getting weaker."
"Are you weaker?"
\"Yes. What if the happiness I have now suddenly disappears, what if Kirito dies in front of me, what if I wake up in the morning and find that Kirito is gone. I shouldn't think about these, but I do Think about it.\".Yes"
Alice put her hands on Shino's trembling shoulders.
"Since when?"
\"Heathcliff and Kirito were fighting, and Kirito was about to be killed. At that time, I really couldn't do anything but watch Kirito being killed. I thought I wanted to protect Kirito, but then For once I felt really helpless.
"I understand"
After Alice was silent for a while, she finally spoke again.
\"Indeed, you are placed in a harsh environment from which you can never escape. And this is what Kirito-kun's existence continues to bring. If Kirito-kun dies, it is all over - it is so natural. .\"Thinking about it this way, I am also afraid of losing. There are too many things. "
\"Is this the case with Teacher Alice?\"
"Oh, by the way, that's why you think like this. You're afraid of losing happiness. You don't want to lose happiness. When you are in the real world, this kind of thing will not happen."
"It's like I don't have anyone who matters to me when I'm in the real world." No, I thought my mother, grandfather, and grandmother who protected me from bank robbers were important to me, but when I was in After I went to high school in Tokyo and started living on my own, I stopped thinking that way.
“It wasn’t what it was”
\"That's why you had this idea after meeting Kirito-kun. However, it makes no sense if you succumb to this anxiety.\"
Alice hugged Sinon's body from the side. Alice's unique warmth enveloped her whole body.
"It's natural to worry and fear that you're going to lose your happiness. It's not a weakness, it's that you're a lot stronger than you were in the real world. Because you're stronger, you start to have this ability." Anxiety . "
"real"
"Yes, don't worry about fear and anxiety, you are becoming stronger. If you become stronger than you are now, I believe you will no longer have fear and anxiety."
"How can I do this?"
Alice caressed Shino's back.
"It's simple. Believe in yourself and love yourself."
"Do you believe in yourself?"
\"That's right. Because up to now, you have been denied every day, so you can no longer believe in yourself. You are already strong enough. If necessary, you can even protect Kirito-kun. You yourself cannot believe this. a little.\".
""
"This is right." Until now, I have always believed that I am a murderer and a person who does not deserve to be happy, and I have always lived like this. I don't like myself like this at all, I have no confidence at all.
\"So, Shino. You should believe in yourself more and try to love yourself. If you do this, you will definitely become stronger, both physically and mentally.\"
"real"
"Yeah, it doesn't matter, you can, because you are a person who can love well, a person who can love, you have to love yourself before you can love others. Well, if you love too much, you are just a narcissist By."
Alice shed tears almost unconsciously at her last words, but Shino felt warm in her heart. Indeed, until now, Shino still couldn't believe in herself. As Airi said, a lack of confidence can lead to a fear of losing Kirito, Yui, and Lilan.
"You are not the kind of person who should not be confident, and you also have a powerful power called shooting skills. It doesn't matter, you can protect what is important to you before losing it. Have confidence. If it were you, I could
Shino grabbed Alice's hand.
"Somehow I feel like I've figured out why."
\"That's right, you're just a little unsure of yourself. So starting from tomorrow, just fight with confidence. It doesn't matter, you can protect Kirito-kun and the others.\"
"Okay, starting from tomorrow, I will try to believe in myself a little more."
"Yes, your aura, you are much stronger than you think. From now on, believe in yourself more and fight. You have the strength to protect what is important to you."
Shino smiled.
\"It's a little strange. When Teacher Alice said that, I felt full of energy. I think I should try to believe in myself.\"
Airi smiled too.
\"Well, that's the kind of doctor I am. So, Shino, what are you worried about? Can you sleep tonight?\"
"I'm fine now. If I go back to my room and sleep, I should be able to fall asleep immediately."
After hearing Sinon's answer, Alice slowly let go of Sinon's body. At this time, Shino looked at Alice's face, but there was a smile on her face.
\"I see, then I'll leave today. You're tired from fighting the boss.\"
"I understand. Thank you so much for today."
"You're welcome. If you have any questions, just come back. I'm your exclusive doctor."
Shino nodded, stood up from the sofa, and looked back on his way to the exit.
\"I'm sorry, Teacher Alice.\"
\"Ah. Shino, don't worry.\"
Alice - After Shino heard Alice's words - Shino quietly opened the door, walked into the corridor, and returned to the room where the person she was supposed to protect was sleeping.
