Am I the only one streaming Sword Art Online on the entire internet?

After waiting for about ten minutes, Shino, dressed casually as usual and carrying a huge guitar case on her back, appeared in the cafe, found Endo's seat, and sat down in front of her.

“Tell me, Ms. Endo, what do you know?” Sinon stared intently into Endo’s eyes, her gaze full of scrutiny, her tone extremely serious. “I left at the time because I didn’t want to get involved in this matter, but after thinking about it, I realized I couldn’t leave you alone, because I don’t know what you know.”

“I…” Endo looked nervously at Sinon, whose face was serious, and his tone was also very uneasy. “You were there in that incident, right, Ms. Asada? You were with those fully armed soldiers, carrying a large sniper rifle.”

“To correct you, that wasn’t a soldier, and my sniper rifle isn’t exactly a large model,” Sinon corrected, frowning. “Before that, I want to ask you, how did you…”

“A friend of mine was using the internet there when he was taken hostage by those scary masked guys. Thank you so much for saving them, but this time… could you help me? The police said they were investigating, but they haven’t found anything yet.” Endo’s tone was completely different from her previous arrogant self. After all, she was now asking for a favor, and she might even know something she shouldn’t know. “I’m sorry to say this, but please, Shino, only you can help us now.”

However, Shino did not reply immediately. She searched through her handbag, then took out a thick stack of documents and threw them on the table.

"Sign this first. Actually, you already violated some of the rules by revealing the details of that bank robbery to my classmates, but I didn't pursue it then," Shino said coldly. "Remember not to threaten me with this kind of thing in the future. Before you reveal everything, we'll find you and throw you in a detention center to play with cucumbers by those tough girls, according to the confidentiality agreement. Believe me, you don't want to know what that feels like."

"As for whether I will help you... it depends. The arrangements made above, as well as my mood, are all factors that influence whether I choose to help you with your investigation. As for who we are, you can definitely understand it better by reading what's written above than by me saying it like this."

Endo nodded vigorously, then quickly glanced at the words above, hastily signed his name, and then raised his head again, trying to muster the courage to look directly at the girl he had once disregarded.

“Don’t be so tense. I can recruit a certain number of informants within my authority. As long as you do as instructed, there won’t be any problems. Rather, I think you should tell me about the known missing persons information so far, although I need to consult my superiors before I can begin the investigation here.” Shino felt the atmosphere was getting too tense, so she decided to ease the tension, otherwise the conversation wouldn’t be able to continue. “We’re an anti-terrorism organization, not some scary place. We just can’t appear in the public eye… So, tell me the time of their disappearance and the last place they were seen.”

“Well… about five days ago, we were going to a karaoke bar, and Kujo and Naoko said their families wanted them to go home early that day, so they didn’t come with us…” Endo hesitated for a moment before telling Shino what had happened that day, “And the next day they didn’t come to school, and their families said they didn’t go home that night…”

“That makes the investigation very complicated… The last known location of the disappearance is unknown, but the exact time of disappearance was five days ago… which is last Friday, right?” Sinon confirmed the information Endo had given her one last time, then pointed to the two desserts that had been served in front of her. “Eat first, and later take me to the place where you parted ways to see if there are any clues.”

"Thank you very much, Lord Asada... But didn't you say that you needed to consult with your superiors before you could begin the investigation? Why is it suddenly like this now..."

As Endo was saying this, she saw Shino raise her phone and then look at her with a somewhat amused expression.

"What kind of address is 'Asada-sama'? Just call me normally, I really can't get used to this. I just asked around, and the instructions from above are to conduct the investigation without affecting the current mission," Sinon said helplessly. Then she took out a small spray bottle and a small stun gun from her bag and handed them to Endo. "You're coming with me in a bit. Use these for self-defense. If anything unexpected happens, just hide."

"And what about you?" Endo asked subconsciously, but Shino seemed to have expected her to ask this, and gently patted the outside of her coat, revealing a slightly protruding part.

"I'll just treat this as a way to relieve the boredom during the preparation period. I hope this event will give me some surprises."

Alicization, February 4, 2025

Yuna didn't even know how she got back to her room. She only remembered falling asleep in the room next to Mo Yulan's, separated by only one wall, and waking up in this room.

The room, roughly six tatami mats in size, was covered in beige resin panels. The only furniture was a bed fixed to the floor, a small table, a sofa, and a small terminal for connecting to the ship's network. A narrow window opened at the other end of the bed, suggesting this was the outermost room of the entire Turtle.

She looked around and found that Aivisin wasn't in the room either, wondering what she was doing. There was a note on the table with neat handwriting, which she guessed was left by Aivisin.

"Avixin went upstairs to pick up a package and will be back later. Mom, you need to rest well, otherwise Dad will worry when he wakes up."

The note read something like this, and after reading it, Yuna suddenly laughed. She wasn't as immersed in sadness as before, perhaps because she clearly knew that Ivy was also by her side, or perhaps for other reasons.

Suddenly, a small microphone next to her flashed a blue light, and then a female voice that was unfamiliar to her came out.

"I am Kamishiro, can we talk, Yuuna?"

"Please come in, I'll open the door right away." Yuna pressed a button next to the microphone, and then the door slid open to the side with the sound of an engine, allowing Yuna to see the black-haired young woman standing in front of the door.

After Rinko entered the room, she greeted Yuna, who then closed the door, making a slight click as the lock clicked. She sat on the sofa and looked at the girl she had watched grow up, who had only become more beautiful with age.

"You've changed a lot since you were little, Yuna." She greeted her with a smile, then raised the oolong tea in her hand to Yuna. "I brought you some drinks; you must be thirsty."

"Thank you, I am indeed a bit thirsty, after all, I slept all afternoon." Yuna nodded, unscrewed the cap of the oolong tea bottle, and took a big gulp of the icy liquid inside. "Rinko-neechan, you're here this time too..."

"Um... I'd say my job is more like an assistant position; the main research work is still done by the professor." Seeing the sadness still lingering in Yuna's eyes, Rinko quickly tried to lighten the mood. "It's a shame I didn't get to see Mo's face earlier, but he seemed very healthy, like he was having a happy dream."

“Regardless, I still want to thank you all for helping Arashi. Rinko-neechan.” Yuna gave a forced smile, then sat down next to Rinko, leaning gently on her shoulder. “He’s always the type who’s meticulous in ordinary times, but when it comes to crucial moments, he often goes all out. I’m always worried that something will happen to him, but this time…”

She stopped there, burying her head in Rinko's chest and sobbing softly. Rinko gently stroked Yuna's back, saying nothing, but comforting her with this gesture alone.

After a long while, Yuna gradually calmed down. She slowly raised her head, looked directly into Rinko's dark eyes, and then lowered her head again, feeling a little embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, Rinko-neechan, for making you see me like this..." Her voice was so soft and weak that Rinko could barely hear it.

"It's okay, Yuna. If I had to say, I think I felt pretty much the same way you did back then." Rinko Kamishiro patted Yuna's head helplessly, then sighed softly. "And unlike you guys, my feelings for that person... were probably just unrequited love from beginning to end."

"You mean..." Yuna looked up in confusion, she could roughly guess who that person was.

“It was him. I was coerced into helping him with that plan, managing his body for someone who had been infiltrating the game for a long time… That’s what people are saying. So I was treated as a victim and spared prosecution, my name wasn’t even revealed, and I was even able to leisurely travel to America.” Rinko Kamishiro took another deep breath, straining to finish her sentence. “But that’s not actually the case. He did indeed implant a bomb near my heart, and it was a real bomb that could explode. But I also know very well that the bomb will never detonate—it was actually just a disguise, a fake murder weapon he planted before the incident ended so that I wouldn’t be held accountable, and it was the only gift he gave me.”

Even upon hearing such shocking news, Yuna's expression remained unchanged... or rather, it was more of a look of pity.

“I never knew what he was thinking deep down, and I never found out what he was pursuing... He usually just stared at the screen studying his world or fiddling with little pieces of paper. Even the one time he took me to Kyoto, he did the same thing.” Rinko Kamishiro’s voice suddenly became excited as she said this. “He even left me aside and chatted with that super cute-looking boy for a long time! Of course, I only found out later that it was Momo.”

Yuna's pitying expression just now stemmed from this. However, she wisely didn't say much, simply sitting there as a dutiful listener. After all, Rinko Kamishiro was only sharing these experiences with her because of her current low spirits.

"Kayaba mentioned many times that a huge city floating in the air appeared in his dream. The city had ten different areas, and different people lived in the areas, including nature-loving elves and demons covered in flames... But I never expected that he would actually turn this city that only existed in his mind into reality, taking ten thousand players with him, leaving me all alone in reality."

Rinko felt a slight pain in her throat, perhaps because she hadn't spoken this much in a long time, or perhaps because this past event was still difficult for her to accept. However, she intended to continue. But just then, Yuna suddenly tugged at her hand, stopping her.

"That must be hard for Rinko to accept. Watching the person she likes suddenly leave her and carry out some evil plans..." Yuna said softly, "I don't know what other people think, but neither Arashi nor I mind that past."

Alicization, February 5, 2025

"Why do you say that? I am..." Rinko looked at Yuna in disbelief, while Yuna nodded seriously.

"It might sound a bit willful to say this, but the time I spent in SAO was incredibly precious to me. Even when I'm old, I'll still feel that the short time I spent living with Arashi in that world was the most beautiful period of my life," Yuna said softly. Although a voice inside her told her, "You won't grow old," she still said it. "If we're being serious, everyone living in that world is no longer completely innocent. This is something we all have to face, even though things have been settled for a long time."

She gently hugged Rinko Kamishiro, resting her head on her shoulder without moving, and said, "Stay with me a little longer, Rinko-neechan... okay? Just let me be willful one last time."

Rinko nodded, then let Yuna lie there, gently stroking her head as she did so. However, this quiet and beautiful scene didn't seem to last long.

"Authorization granted, opening the door... Huh?"

A strange noise suddenly came from the doorway. Rinko and Yuna looked towards the door in confusion, only to see a silver-haired girl standing there, carrying four heavy, rolled-up steel plates on her left shoulder and a heavy-looking iron box in her right hand, looking at them with curious eyes. Behind her stood a short, silver-gray-haired, emotionless girl dressed in a neat combat suit, a Vector sword hanging from her waist.

"Mom, who is she?" Ivy asked, staring intently at Rinko Kamishiro. "What are you... doing? This is so strange."

"Ahem..." Yuna coughed lightly twice, then climbed off Rinko's shoulder and leaned back on the sofa somewhat guiltily. "She's Mom's friend, little Ivy. But what are you doing here..."

"The boss just threw Vivi and all this stuff onto the roof by helicopter, saying we might need them later." Ivy put the reinforced steel plate she was carrying on her left shoulder against the corner of the wall, then placed the heavy box on the ground with a dull thud. "To be honest, this isn't the first time the boss has played tricks. He said there might be some strange things going on this time, so it's better to be prepared than anything else."

"You mean...this...Ocean Turtle...might be intruded upon?" Rinko Kamishiro's expression suddenly changed drastically upon hearing Ivy's words, and she asked in horror, "Impossible, I know the security facilities here. A research institute of this level couldn't possibly be..."

“First of all, I knew that this kind of place would definitely have a major weakness, which is underwater. If your sonar is not up to standard, it is easy for the enemy to infiltrate the ship’s lowest watertight compartments from underwater.” Vivi, who was behind Ivy, suddenly spoke up. “And unfortunately, as a defeated nation that was restricted in its military equipment, you have an inherent technological disadvantage when facing them, which is irreparable.”

“Wait a minute, you were the only one who asked about my identity. I think these things…shouldn’t we be open and honest about them? After all, it seems you two are the real intruders.” Rinko Kamishiro drew her pistol from her waist, the muzzle not pointed at the two girls, but her eyes were full of wariness. Then she looked at Ivyxin with a surprised expression, “Wait, you’re Ivyxin, the AI ​​that was in charge of managing the psychological state of SAO players back then…that derivative of the Cardinal System?”

“Oh, so this big sister knows Ivy. That saves us the trouble of introductions.” Ivy smiled and nodded, then pointed to Vector standing next to her and continued, “But now Ivy is here as her mother’s good daughter~ By the way, this is my…”

“SMG tactical doll, codename Vector, currently an operator of the mercenary squad [Azure Eyes], commissioned by Mr. Tetsuya Shigemura to carry out the security mission for Ocean Turtle.” Vector waved his hand, then picked up where Ivy was going, introducing himself in this way, before suddenly raising Ivy’s hand and saying expressionlessly, “And… let’s just call her the little angel’s girlfriend.”

Although she tried her best to maintain a blank expression, both Rinko and Yuna could clearly see the blush spreading across Vector's face. Yuna, who was relatively familiar with Vector, knew that for someone who always maintained a taciturn image, making such a bold declaration was probably already the limit for her.

“Alright then, I’m Dr. Rinko Kamishiro, one of the principal researchers on the Alicization project. It’s nice to meet you.” Rinko Kamishiro didn’t seem to care about these minor details; she was clearly more concerned about what Vector had just said. “But what you just mentioned…them, do you know who the possible intruders are?”

Vector noticed this as well, and after waiting for her overheated processor to cool down a bit, she explained to Rinko Kamishiro:

“I don’t know, but I can guess a general idea. First of all, Mr. Mo (Vivi: “Shouldn’t I call him father-in-law? Vivi?”) is obviously out of the sight of the attackers that day, so it’s definitely not them. As for the rest… my superior suspects they are the same group of people from that Tokyo terrorist attack, or another group that you don’t know about yet.”

Vector's words were particularly vague, and Rinko could only barely understand that there were three possible groups attempting to infiltrate the building. However, she didn't ask further, because she wasn't responsible for the security of this maritime research institute; she was just a researcher. In other words, not being in a position to interfere was perfectly reasonable for her.

"Um... Mom, let's put the things here for now. Ivy and Vivi, go check in with the person in charge here and then find our room. We'll come back and pick them up later."

Seeing that Vector had already explained things to her, Aiweixin decided not to linger here any longer. She wanted to finish dealing with things quickly so she could sit with Yuna, who seemed to be in a bad state, or have a heart-to-heart talk with Vector on this beautiful night.

After saying this, she pulled Vector away from the room, leaving only Yuna and Rinko. After exchanging glances, the two of them simultaneously revealed relieved smiles.

"I didn't realize you'd reached the age of motherhood, Yuu-na," Rinko Kamishiro said with a smile. "These two children are so adorable; it's hard to believe they're artificial intelligence..."

"I don't care about these things. Anyway, to Lan and me, Ivy is just our daughter."

Underworld, March 21, 378th year of the Human Calendar

[Quest Completed: Cut down the Demon Tree, Ghijassidar, and obtain permission to travel to a nearby town.]

[Remaining parts of character build: sufficiently powerful weapons]

[Current main quest: Participate in and win the sword tournament; teach Eugeo swordsmanship]

This is my second week in this world. I've completed the first step of the main quest. Although I don't know what the final outcome will be, or whether I'll be able to travel to the outside world, I have no choice but to move forward.

[Yuna and Ivy should be outside too. I wonder what their situation is, whether they've... appeared in this world? Impossible, I haven't sensed their presence here. Ivy is artificial intelligence; if she were in this world, she would definitely appear beside me immediately.]

[I vaguely sensed that the surroundings were shrouded in the fog of war, and the unknown lay before me... Ah, I'm willing to pay the price (two points) to launch a reconnaissance mission, Qiu Li Gao!]

------

The next morning was exceptionally sunny. After making some preparations, Sorin and Eugeo set off for the nearby town. As they walked along the path to the fork in the road before entering the forest, they saw an old man with white hair and beard standing there, his back straight as he watched the two approach.

Upon seeing the old man, Eugeo ran towards him with a big smile.

"Grandpa Kalita! Did you come to see me off? Thank you so much, I didn't see you yesterday."

He looked elated, and after Thorin made a slight complaint about the name "Kalita," he guessed that this was probably the lumberjack Eugeo had mentioned before, the previous one from Gigas Cedar.

The old man named Kalita smiled gently from under his beard and then placed his hands on Eugeo's shoulders.

"It's unbelievable! I could only cut down Gigas Cida to the length of a finger, but you actually managed to cut it down... Can you tell me how you did it?"

“It’s all thanks to this sword… and the help of my friend. His name is Sorin, and he’s a very strong swordsman.” Eugeo drew the Blue Rose sword and showed it to the old man, then pointed to Sorin beside him.

"So you're the legendary 'Lost One of Vector'? I see. You have a changeable appearance." Kalita approached Sorin, his sharp gaze seemingly seeing through him, but he immediately smiled. "I'm a little sorry to interrupt your journey, but could you come inside with me for a moment? It won't take up too much of your time."

"Okay, all right... Is there no problem, Solin?"

Eugeo glanced in Sorin's direction, but Sorin simply shrugged, agreeing to the invitation, and then followed Kalita and Eugeo into the forest. Of course, he was inwardly complaining that such a Western fantasy world actually contained concepts like "Phenomena of Change," which were closer to Eastern metaphysics.

After walking for more than twenty minutes, the two arrived at a wide clearing. This was the original habitat of Kijas Cida, where it had stood as the ruler of the forest for hundreds of years. Now, however, its massive body could only lie silently on the ground. Perhaps in the near future, it would be completely decomposed by the decomposers in the ecosystem, part of it participating in the cycle as matter, and the other part flowing away as energy.

"...Grandpa Kalita, what happened to Kijas Sida?"

Upon hearing Eugeo's voice, the old man walked silently toward the front of the tree trunk. Sorin followed closely behind, but the branches on the trunk of the Gigas Cida tree and the logs it had swept down were tangled together, making their journey feel like walking through a maze.

Upon closer inspection, he discovered that no matter how thin the branches were, they were not broken; they were simply stuck in the ground or among the rocks.

"This is truly astonishing strength. I initially thought those black areas were carbonized, but now it seems... it's probably closer to those extremely strong metals," Sorin thought to himself. "If this wood were used as a material, perhaps some formidable weapons could be made."

He noticed the old man in front of him had stopped and was pointing to the very top of the trunk of the Kigas Cida tree, a branch that stretched straight upwards. This rather long branch had no other branches, and its tip was as sharp as a rapier.

“Look, of all the branches of the Gigas Cida, this one has absorbed the most of Thorus’s favor. Come, use that sword to cut it off here, but cut it off in one stroke, otherwise it might split.”

Sorin nodded, took the Blue Rose from Eugeo's hand, glanced briefly at the spot the old man had pointed to, and secretly increased the pressure on his hand.