Staring at the computer that had been so easily unlocked, Asada Shino was plunged into shock.
Meanwhile, Haruto, after using the Heisei Grail to slip effortlessly into the system's backend, was now digging through the data inside Kyouji Shinkawa's computer.
Not even Shinkawa's full-dive rig escaped his scrutiny. Haruto pulled out the connection cables, linking them to the host unit, and examined it as well.
Yet, after a thorough investigation, the truth was revealed— there was no information about the attacker.
Before Shinkawa had fallen into a coma, he had not even heard any rumors about the urban legend-like tale circulating within GGO.
However, though there was no information about the assailant, Haruto stumbled upon an unexpected find.
A hidden document was unearthed from deep within Shinkawa's computer.
This file had been renamed and compressed several times, buried in layers of concealment. By ordinary means, even the most determined investigator would never have found it.
But Haruto was no ordinary investigator, and the Heisei Grail was no ordinary tool.
When he opened the file, what greeted his eyes was a flood of photographs.
Glancing over them, Haruto clicked his tongue, muttering under his breath. Beside him, Asada Shino's gaze was soon drawn entirely to the monitor's display.
They were pictures of her.
Many shots—taken from different angles, including images of her GGO avatar. The collection captured in meticulous detail the "unintentional" beauty of Shino.
She had no memory of ever taking these photos.
In fact, she was someone who disliked being photographed altogether.
The conclusion was obvious.
These were all taken without her knowledge.
And now they were sitting inside Shinkawa's computer, deliberately hidden in a secret folder.
The culprit behind the stalking was self-evident.
A wave of ice-cold dread washed through Shino.
She could not comprehend why someone she had considered a friend for years would commit something so revolting.
Her former perception of Shinkawa collapsed instantly.
But the reality proved even darker than her fears.
As Haruto scrolled further down the file, a detailed crime proposal appeared.
It clearly identified its author—Kyouji Shinkawa.
The plan described exploiting vulnerabilities in the upcoming GGO world tournament to carry out murders in real life.
It laid out methods for researching contestants' real-world addresses and personal circumstances.
Then, during the tournament, Shinkawa would put on a flamboyant performance in-game, selecting only players who lived alone as his prey.
While the targets were submerged in full-dive, he would slay their avatars in GGO—at the same time, his accomplices would administer special drugs in the real world, inducing fatal cardiac arrest.
Conveniently, Shinkawa's family ran a hospital.
He himself had studied medicine for years, making him practically an expert. With this knowledge, he could cover up the murders seamlessly.
And why?
Because Kyouji Shinkawa was a twisted psychopath.
Led astray by his older brother's murderous experiences in SAO, he hungered to taste human terror, to savor the thrill of taking lives with his own hands.
Among all potential victims, his most coveted target was—
Asada Shino.
The proposal, written in a feverish tone, declared:
He wanted to possess Asada Shino's body. If she resisted, he would kill her, and then desecrate her corpse.
These words made Shino shiver uncontrollably.
Her stomach churned with nausea.
She could not comprehend—why someone she had known for so many years, someone she had trusted—would harbor such terrifying thoughts.
The intent to violate her, to kill her, to desecrate her body—a malice so vile it crushed her spirit.
"Ugh!"
At last, Shino couldn't hold it in.
She bolted to the bathroom and vomited violently.
She retched until her stomach was empty, until even bile came up.
Shino had always been hypersensitive to malice.
Her past trauma had left her with fragile defenses, deep insecurity, and severe psychological scars. Her very body manifested these wounds in visceral ways.
Years ago, as a child, she and her mother had been caught in a bank robbery.
The memory of that day had blurred with time—but one moment remained vivid.
When the robber's gun slipped from his hand and skidded across the floor, landing right in front of Shino.
Driven by the instinct to protect her mother, herself, and everyone else present, she picked up the weapon.
As the robber lunged at her, she pulled the trigger.
Blood sprayed.
The vivid wound, the splattering crimson—those images seared permanently into her mind.
After that, she and her mother moved away.
But Shino developed a severe aversion—not just to firearms, but even objects resembling them.
She spiraled into paranoia, haunted by guilt for killing.
Her mental torment nearly consumed her. Only recently had she found a path toward healing—through GGO.
Inside the VR world, her hands no longer trembled at the sight of guns.
Her body no longer rebelled.
This discovery had filled her with joy.
She thought she was growing stronger. That one day, she could conquer her past fears.
Until today.
Now an even greater terror engulfed her.
It felt as though her painstakingly mended nerves had been ripped apart in one brutal stroke. The immense malice pressing down on her left her unable to breathe.
Before her racing heart could push her into cardiac shock, the bathroom door swung open.
A steady hand pulled her up from the floor.
Her body regained sensation bit by bit, as she collapsed into a warm embrace.
Through that contact, her frantic heartbeat gradually slowed, pulling her back from the brink.
Strength seeped into her limbs again.
Turning her head, she saw—the one holding her was Haruto.
There was nothing remotely romantic about the scene. She had just vomited until her body shook, and his shirt was now stained with spit and bile.
It was messy enough to make anyone recoil.
Only a true pervert could find delight in this.
Cough.
Haruto was no pervert—he simply didn't care about dirty clothes.
Once he felt her condition stabilize, he asked:
"Can you stand on your own?"
Shino didn't pretend to be strong.
She tested her legs, found them still weak, but stable enough if she had something to lean on.
She nodded, too drained even to speak.
Haruto loosened his hold, instead steadying her with a hand.
Shino swayed slightly, but managed to stay upright.
Together, they slowly left the bathroom.
Haruto guided her to the sofa, then poured a glass of water, mixing in sugar and salt.
"Electrolytes," he said, to prevent dehydration.
Shino accepted it and drank deeply— only to choke, nearly spitting it all back out.
Haruto gently patted her back until her breathing eased.
Time ticked by, and eventually, Shino regained a measure of strength.
"I'm sorry… for troubling you," she whispered, bowing her head. Her voice still carried the faint tremor of tears.
Haruto slipped off his outer coat and tossed it aside without a glance.
"Shino, your psychological condition is severe. I strongly suggest you seek professional help as soon as possible."
He spoke calmly—just stating the truth.