Asuna lost the strength to continue arguing, put down her cutlery on the half-filled plate and stood up.
“… About transferring, I’ll think about it.”
She was just saying that for now, but Kyouko insipidly replied:
“The deadline is next week. Fill in the required information and print three copies on the study’s table before then.”
Asuna looked down, turned around and walked towards the door. She originally wanted to just return to her room, but something lingered in her heart, she turned around, faced Kyouko and said.
“Mother.”
“… What is it?”
“Do you still feels ashamed about your dead parents, resentful that you were borne by a farmer rather than a famous house with history?”
Kyouko’s eyes widened in shock for a moment, followed by deep wrinkles near her eyebrows and mouth.
“… Asuna! Come over here!”
Although she could still hear the sharp voice, Asuna closed the door and blocked out the words. She quickly walked up the stairs as though to run away and opened the door to her own room.
At the same time, the sensors noticed Asuna and automatically activated the lights and air conditioner.
Asuna felt an intolerable restlessness, she walked straight to the room’s control panel and shut down the integrated AI. Just like that, she flopped onto the bed and buried her face into the large mattress, ignoring the wrinkles on her expensive blouse.
She didn’t feel like crying. As a swordswoman, she already decided not to cry tears of grief or sadness. However, that determination couldn’t endure the infinitely increasing unhappiness in her chest.
What kind of swordswoman are you, ridiculed a part of her heart. You’re just slightly good at swinging a sword in a game, what power do you have in the real world? Asuna bit her lips and asked herself.
Meeting a certain boy in that world, she should have changed. She should’ve stopped blindly following values given to her by others and fought for things she truly had to do.
However, looking from outside, how was she any different from before she went to that world? She still acted like a doll and displayed an empty smile in front of her relatives, she couldn’t simply refuse the path her parents forced on her. If she could only truly believe in herself in the virtual world, then why did she return to reality.
“Kirito… Kirito.”
Unconciously, she started calling that name repeatedly.
Kirito — Kirigaya Kazuto, still managed to maintain the strong will he obtained in SAO even after returning to reality for over a year. He should also be bearing considerable pressure, yet he never let it show on his face.
In the past, when she asked what Kirito wanted to accomplish in the future, Kirito embarrassedly smiled and replied that he wished to become a producer rather than a player. Moreover, not only something like a software for a game, he wanted to replace the currently constraint-ridden FullDive technology and produce a more intimate man-machine interface. For this, it seemed like he’d been visiting overseas technology forums, actively learning and exchanging opinions.
Asuna felt that he would rush towards that goal without confusion. If possible, she wanted to stay by his side and pursue the same dream. She looked carefully at what she should learn and hoped that they could continue to go to school together in the following year.
However, it seemed like that path has already been cut off. She still couldn’t resist in the end, that feeling of powerlessness assaulted Asuna.
“Kirito-kun…”
She hoped that she could immediately see him. Even if it wasn’t in the real world, she wanted to be alone with him in that house, cry to her heart’s content on his chest and tell him everything.
However, she couldn’t. The thought that the one Kirito loves wasn’t the powerless Yuuki Asuna, that it was one of the strongest warriors Asuna «The Flash» became heavy shackles and haunted her.
『Asuna… is very strong… Much stronger than I am…』
She remembered these words which Kirito whispered to her in that world. She might distance herself from his heart if she showed weakness.
That was too scary. Asuna lied down, and unknowingly entered a light sleep.
She saw herself with a sheathe decorated with silver hanging from her waist, arm in arm with Kirito, walking somewhere in the sunlight shining through the tree leaves. However, another one of her was locked in a dark place, only able to silently look at the laughing two.
In that bittersweet dream, Asuna strongly wished to return to that world.
Chapter 3
Aincrad’s 24th floor was a limnetic floor mostly covered in water. Its style is similar to the currently unreleased lake city «Salemburg» on the 61st floor where Asuna once lived.
The main block was named «Panareze». It was designed as a man-made island in the center of a large lake, connected to innumerable isles through floating bridges stretching out in all directions.
Asuna gazed at the festive Panareze from across the lake, and placed her head on Kirito’s shoulder.
The two of them currently sat on the south coast of an isle slightly north of the main block. The large tree behind them was budding, small waves washed at their feet. Warm wind blew over the lake even though it was winter, and the grass around them rustled.
“Hey, do you still remember? The first time you went to my house.” She lifted her face and asked, Kirito replied with a slight smile.
“I’m not boasting, but I’m confident that I have poor memory—”
“Eh-“
“— However, I still remember that time clearly.”
“… Really?”
“Of course. At that time, I got a super rare ingredient, and Asuna made a stew out of it. Ah… that meat was so delicious… Even now, I often think of it.”
“Really! The only thing you remember is about eating!”
Asuna pouted and hit Kirito’s chest, but there was still a hint of a smile in her voice.
“… Well, I also think about it often.”
“What, you have no right to complain about others… Hey, that stew, is it possible to recreate in the real world?”
“Uh~ huh… It’s basically similar to chicken, perhaps if I work on the sauce… Still, it’s probably better for it to remain in our memories. A dish you can never taste again, isn’t that great?”
“Mmn, yeah, that’s true.”
Looking at Kirito nodding slightly regretfully, Asuna once again smiled. Kirito also smiled, and said as though he suddenly thought of something:
“Ah, right… Hey.”
“What is it?”
“We’ve unknowingly saved up quite a bit of Yurudo, when the 60th floor is opened, why don’t we buy a house in Salemburg? Asuna’s home was there in the past.”
“About that~”
Asuna thought about Kirito’s proposal for a while, and shook her head.
“Well, no. I don’t really have any good memories in that place. Use the money to help Egil open a shop in Algade.”
“Help revive that unscrupulous shop… The interest rate will be ten percent every ten days…”
“Wah, you’re going too far.”
They can talk forever about the memories they share of Aincrad. As they smiled and talked, Asuna noticed an increase in the number of players flying from Panareze to this isle. Everyone flew over the two of them, towards the large tree in the center of the island.
“Ah, it’s almost time. I have to go.”
While saying that, Asuna was still reluctant to part with the warmth against her. At that time, Kirito said with a serious expression on his face.
“Asuna. If you’re going to fight with Zekken…”
“… Eh?”
“Er… Well, no, that person… is very strong, really.”
Hearing some stuttering in Kirito’s tone, Asuna tilted her head.
“I’ve already heard a lot about Zekken’s strength from Lizbet and the others. Moreov
er, even Kirito was defeated. From the beginning, I’ve never felt like I’d win. I just want to see that sword… Besides, I really can’t believe that Kirito-kun actually lost.”
“Right now there are plenty of people stronger than me. Well, even among those, Zekken is special.”
“Speaking of which, Lyfa said you said something during the fight. What was it?”
“Ah, about that, it’s something I’m slightly concerned about…”
“What is it?”
“This and that…”
Asuna keenly noticed some kind of anxiousness in Kirito’s look. Asuna was getting more and more confused, and blinked.
No matter how strong the player called Zekken is, this isn’t SAO anymore. Even if you don’t surrender in time and lose all your HP, you can revive on the spot as long as someone casts a ressurrection spell. Even if you lose experience due to the death penalty, you only have to hunt for several hours to regain it.
However, Kirito quietly said something Asuna didn’t expect.
“I asked that person — You’re completely a resident of this world, aren’t you? Her response was a silent smile and a ferociously fast charge skill. That speed… broke the limit…”
“… That is saying, a super addicted player?”
Asuna tilted her head and asked, in response to her question, Kirito hurriedly shook his head.
“No. I’m not referring to certain VRMMO worlds, I’m talking about the entire «The Seed server»… No, that’s also wrong. I should say, it’s a product of the environment created by full diving… That’s what I felt.”
“What… does that mean…?”
“— It’s better not to make a first impression so early. I want you to feel the rest yourself. I think you’d understand if you fight.”
As Asuna blinked while Kirito patted her head, the sound of people landing continuously came from the tree behind them. Then, they heard a loud voice.
“My eyes just left you a little and you’ve run off to this kind of place!”
Hearing the sound of footsteps on grass, Asuna hurriedly lifted herself up.
Lizbet walked out with an apron dress from behind the tree, stood with her hands on her waist, looked down at Asuna and said.
“I apologize for bothering you while you’re busy, but it’s almost time.”
“I, I know.”
Hoisting herself with the wings on her back, Asuna immediately stood up and confirmed her equipment. A jacket weaved with silvery blue threads and a skirt of the same kind. Boots and gloves made out of the skin of a water dragon. Hanging from the sword belt around her waist was a rapier with a crystal handle. Every single one of them were treasures of the highest grade that could currently be obtained. That way she couldn’t blame it on equipment even if she lost.
Finishing her examination of things like the type of magical accessory she had equipped, she took a look at the clock.
There was still a bit of time before it was 3 pm in the real world. Asuna glanced at Kirito who stood at her side, turned around, looked at Lizbet, Scilica and Lyfa who were behind her, as well as Yui who was on her head and said.
“— Then, let’s go.”
They flew low in a row, toward the center of the unnamed island. A large hill came into view as they moved through the trees which extended into the distance. Branches stretched out in every direction from the large tree at the summit, and a large group of players had already gathered in circles at its base. A great cheer came rumbling like a tsunami.
As they noticed room in the audience and were landing, a player fell from far above accompanying a cry. He brutally fell headfirst to the tree’s base, raising a large cloud of dust.
The swordsman which appeared to be a Salamander lay sprawled on the floor for a good while before finally shaking his head and jerking up. With an expression that still showed the impact from the fall, he raised both his hands and shouted.
“I’ve lost! I surrender! I resign!”
At the same time, a sound signifying the end of the duel rang out and the sounds of clapping and cheering became louder.
Amazing, this is already the 67th win in a row, could nobody stop that person, countless calls like that mixed with praises and gripes intertwined. Hearing those, Asuna narrowed her eyes and looked up as though to confirm the winner.
In the sunlight streaming out from between the branches of the large tree, a player’s silhouette came spiraling down.
Zekken was smaller than imagined. Due to the name, Asuna imagined that it would be a huge man with bulging muscles, but Zekken should be considered slim. The details could gradually be seen as Zekken slowly approached in the backlight.
Her skin color was milky white with a hint of purple, a characteristic unique to Imps. Her long hair was a lustrous and gorgeous purplish-black. The obsidian armor which covered her chest had a slight bulge, the blouse and windswept dress beneath that were a bluebottle violet. On her waist hung a thin, black sheath.
In front of Asuna’s dumbfounded gaze, the undefeated swordswoman «Zekken» quickly spun around before landing lightly en pointe. Then she lifted the corner of her skirt, placed her right hand in front of her chest and curtsied like an actress. At the same time, the men around once again whistled and cheered.
Zekken nodded slightly and stood up, her face wreathed in smiles and innocently made a V sign. She was clearly shorter than Asuna. On her small face were dimpled cheeks, a slightly upturned nose and her large, flashing eyes displayed an amethyst-like radiance.
Asuna still hadn’t recovered from her astonishment, and nudged Lizbet’s abdomen with her elbow.
“… Hey, Liz.”
“What is it?”
“Zekken — is a girl?!”
“Uh huh, didn’t I mention it?”
“No you didn’t! … Ah, could it be…”
This time she glanced at the face of Kirito who stood on her other side.
“The reason Kirito lost…”
“No, it isn’t.”
Kirito shook his head seriously and said.
“I didn’t go easy because she’s a girl. I already fought really seriously. Really… At least until halfway.”
“Who knows?”
Asuna haughtily turned away from him.
During this time the Salamander stood up, smiling even though he lost and shook Zekken’s hand before turning around and returning to a corner in the audience. The girl who wore a red hairband on her dark hair casted the lowest level healing spell on herself and looked around.
“Then, the next challenger, are there any?”
Her voice was also the high, lovable voice of a young girl. Her tone was bright and innocent, making it hard to associate with a seasoned warrior.
ALO doesn’t support sex change, so the player was definitely female, but the randomly generated virtual body doesn’t reflect a person’s age or physique. Even so, the realisticness of «Zekken»’s mannerisms makes people believe it’s her real age and appearance.
‘Why don’t you go’, ‘No way, I’d get killed in seconds’, conversations like those kept coming from the surroundings, but nobody signed up. This time it was Lizbet’s turn to nudge Asuna’s abdomen with her elbow.
“Hey, go.”
“No… Wait, I need to get into pace first…”
“You can just get into that kind of thing in a round against that child. Now, go quickly!”
“Wah.”
Thump, her back was pushed, and Asuna fell several steps forward. She hurriedly spread her wings to stop falling, stood up straight and found herself looking face to face at the girl with the alias Zekken.
“Miss, want to try?”
Twitchingly smiling, Asuna can’t do anything but,
“About that… Well, then here I come.”
Respond quietly like that. Before her fight with Zekken who she imagined to be a large and ferocious man, she expected there to be a vigorous battle of words, but too many things have messed with her pace.
However, the surrounding cheers were left seething. Many people knew that Asuna was a frequent winner of the monthly tournament, and voices calling her name can be heard.
“OK!”
The girl snapped her finger and beckoned towards Asuna.
Breathing deeply, Asuna made up her mind and walked towards the center of the human wall. After the surrounding voices gradually stopped, she first confirmed the conditions of the fight.
“About that, can you describe the rules?”
“Of course. You can use magic and items if you wish. However, I (boku) will only be using this.”
The girl who really suited the personal pronoun «boku» tapped the hilt of her sword with her left hand while responding. Her almost naive confidence provoked Asuna’s will to fight.
… In that case, I won’t use means of restraint like long distance magic attacks either. A straightforward fight between swordswomen is what I wished for, whispered Asuna in her heart and placed her right hand on the hilt of her rapier, at that time.
Zekken loudly said something even more leisurely.
“Ah, right. Miss, a fight on the ground or an aerial one, which do you like?”
Originally thinking that it’d obviously be an aerial one, Asuna was shocked and stopped unsheathing her rapier.
“… Either kind is fine?”
Zekken grinned and nodded. Asuna couldn’t help but wonder if it was some kind of ploy. However, there wasn’t a hint of wickedness in the smile of the Imp girl. That was saying, she simply believed that she could win no matter what kind of fight it was.
If it’s like this, I won’t go easy. Thinking this, Asuna responded.
“Then, a fight on the ground.”
“Ok. Jumping is fine, but you can’t use your wings!”
Zekken immediately agreed, and folded back the characteristic shadowy wings on her back. The color of those wings which were shaped like a bat’s immediately faded and became almost unnoticeable. At the same time, Asuna also used the command to remove her wings: her two shoulderblades tightened up completely and were fixed there for two seconds. A jingling sound came from behind her, and she understood that her wings had disappeared.
Sword Art Online - Volume 7 - Mother's Rosario Page 4