"So, this is Aincrad..."
"Yeah. This is where our death game began."
Hearing his words, Sinon couldn't help but wonder: if Hachiman had lost his life here, what would have become of the person she was today? The thought lingered, and before she knew it, the words slipped from her lips.
"I see... Thank you. Truly. Thank you for coming back."
"Hah? Well, I did it a hundred percent for my own sake, though."
"For yourself, for Asuna, and for your friends, right?"
"Who knows."
Watching Hachiman deflect the gratitude, Yukino turned to Asuna with a proposal.
"Say, Asuna. Regarding this man who is hopelessly incapable of honesty—don't you think it would be best to simply hit him for the time being?"
"If that would actually cure his dishonesty, I wouldn't be struggling so much..."
"A valid point. In that case, shall we tear something off instead?"
At Yukino's unsettling suggestion, Hachiman's voice trembled slightly.
"Stop with the sexual harassment phrased as a vague threat."
"Oh? I never specified what I intended to tear off."
"There aren't exactly many parts on a man's body you can 'tear off,' are there?"
"Hachiman-kun, that is sexual harassment."
"Damn it... I can never win against her in an argument..."
"Goodness. This is why men whose very existence constitutes sexual harassment are such a problem. Don't you agree, Asuna?"
Yukino turned to seek agreement, only to find Asuna turning her back, frantically covering her chest with a frightened look in her eyes.
"...Asuna? What exactly are you doing?"
"N-No! Don't! Don't tear them off!"
Hearing the icy edge in Yukino's voice, Asuna let out a small shriek.
"I see... So you are on that side as well."
"N-No, I'm not! I'm a fellow researcher! I'm working hard trying to figure out if something can be done about it!"
Yukino's eyebrow twitched at Asuna's frantic defense.
"Research? In that case, if you were to share one result of this research, I might be willing to cease my pursuit."
Desperate, Asuna latched onto the offer, blurting out her thoughts in a panic.
"R-Results... right, results. Um, well... if you have Hachiman-kun massage them..."
"Gah—! What the hell are you saying?!"
"Ah, wait! No! It was just part of the flow when I got a massage the other day! I just thought I'd try it out! I felt like it had some effect, but the sample size is totally insufficient for a proper study!"
Hachiman buried his head in his hands as he watched Yukino actually begin to consider the statement seriously. Sinon, for her part, had turned beet red and frozen solid.
Finally, having reached a conclusion, Yukino looked at Hachiman with a deadpan expression.
"Hachiman-kun, I have a small favor to ask. Would that be alright?"
"I really, really don't want to hear it, but... fine, I'll listen."
"If you are free tomorrow, would you mind massaging my chest for the entire night?"
"A-Are you serious? Your character is way too different from the old days!"
Even Hachiman, who had anticipated something absurd, assumed this had to be a joke.
"Of course I am serious. Naturally, Asuna would approve, wouldn't she?"
"Ah... u-um, sure? I think it's fine. Yukino seems really serious about it."
The moment those words left Asuna's mouth, Yukino looked at her in genuine surprise. Asuna tilted her head, puzzled by the gaze, but her expression remained completely serene. Seeing that gentleness, Yukino's expression hardened.
"Asuna. Are you saying that honestly?"
"Y-Yeah. If that satisfies you, Yukino, then I'm okay with it."
"I see..."
Yukino turned back to Hachiman abruptly.
"Actually, forget the previous request. I need to speak with Sinon. You two go ahead to Valhalla Garden and prepare to welcome her."
"Ah... o-okay."
"R-Right. Hey, Yukino. Don't say or do anything weird to Sinon."
"Don't worry. I just have a few things I want to ask her."
"Alright then. If you say so..."
Once Hachiman and Asuna had vanished through the Teleport Gate, Yukino turned to Sinon, her expression grim.
"Sinon. Seeing Asuna just now... what did you think?"
"About Asuna? Um... well, I was wondering if maybe I could ask for a massage too... and mostly, I just thought she's as soft on her rivals as ever."
"Excuse me?"
"W-What is it?"
"To you, is that the normal Asuna?"
"Y-Yeah. She's always been like that... basically tolerant of other girls. Though, I admit the... er, lewd stuff just now was rare."
"Is that so... I had seen signs of it before, but to think it had gone this far."
Yukino looked Sinon straight in the eye.
"If you were in Asuna's position, what would you have done in that situation?"
"Me? Let's see... I'd probably just say 'absolutely not' and keep Hachiman to myself."
"And would you completely eliminate the other girls afterwards?"
"That's..."
Sinon hesitated. She certainly had the desire to monopolize Hachiman. But to do so, would she cut out Asuna, Pitohui, and Yukino—friends she had met through him?
"I don't think I could do that... I want to cherish both my romance and my friendships."
"The other girls around him likely feel the same. Asuna's behavior is simply a twisted manifestation of that sentiment."
"Ah, that actually makes sense."
Sinon nodded at Yukino's analysis.
"I do love him, and at the same time, I love Asuna. I assume it is the same for you?"
"Y-Yeah..."
"However, we are not allowed to stay by his side simply because of her permission."
"Ah."
With those words, Sinon vaguely understood what Yukino was trying to say.
"Exactly. Asuna mistakenly believes—or has convinced herself—that without her permission, we cannot be at ease around him. In short, she is looking down on us without even realizing it. In the case of those two, being too kind is a fatal flaw."
"I think I get what you mean."
"That is why I intend to correct that misunderstanding. I would like your cooperation, if you are willing."
"Okay. If it's something I can do."
Yukino's face softened at Sinon's reply, and she leaned in to whisper something in her ear.
"Eh!? Eeeeh!? Are you sure? Really?"
"It's no problem. Well?"
"Understood. I'm in."
"Then let us catch up to those two. Come, this way."
"Okay."
On the way to the Teleport Gate, the surrounding players parted ways the moment they saw Yukino's face.
"I apologize for the fuss, but thank you kindly," Yukino said to them with a radiant smile.
"I rarely come to the First Floor, but this makes visiting rather exhausting."
"A-Ahaha..."
Just as they approached the gate, a player suddenly called out to them.
"Hey there, you two look strong and lovely. If you're free, how about playing with me?"
Such solicitations were apparently rare for Yukino; the surrounding players gasped and took a step back. Yukino herself looked surprised, likely unaccustomed to such casual approaches recently.
"Hey, who's that idiot?"
"His level looks decent, but I've never seen him before."
"If he doesn't know Yukino-san's face, is he a convert from another game?"
"That guy's dead meat..."
Amidst the whispers, the player introduced himself to Yukino.
"The name's ZeXceed. I usually play a game called GGO, but I converted over here for a change of pace today. Meeting beautiful women like you right off the bat? Talk about lucky."
(No way... Is that the real ZeXceed?)
Sinon was stunned by the introduction and immediately began calculating how to keep her identity secret. But as if to shield her, Yukino took a step forward.
"I see. That explains why you could call out to me so casually. Well, these things happen. I am Yukino, the Vice Commander of Valhalla Resort."
"Valhalla Resort? Is that a guild? Huh... like a Squadron in GGO, I guess."
"ZeXceed-san!"
"We've been looking for you!"
"Oh, Yukko. Haruka."
Two female players, seemingly ZeXceed's companions, came running from the distance. Upon hearing their names, Yukino's brow twitched.
"Geez, what are you doing? You didn't do any research, ZeXceed-san, so please don't wander off from us! We actually looked into things!"
"Exactly! If you accidentally mess with a member of Valhalla Resort, we are absolutely done for!"
Yukino and Haruka had thoroughly researched the game before converting. They had correctly deduced from the name "Valhalla Resort" that it could only belong to Hachiman and his group. Consequently, they had sworn a solemn oath to never, under any circumstances, get involved with Valhalla Resort during their temporary stay in ALO.
Unfortunately, they had neglected to inform ZeXceed of this critical detail.
"Hm? If it's people from that guild, I was just asking them to play with us."
"Eh?"
"Wha..."
Yukko and Haruka froze, then slowly, fearfully, turned to look at Yukino. Trembling, hoping against hope that she was a member they didn't know, they asked:
"Um... may we ask your name...?"
"Ah, this person is..."
Cutting off ZeXceed, Yukino spoke.
"I am Yukino, Vice Commander of Valhalla Resort. I never expected to meet you two in a place like this, Yukko-san, Haruka-san."
"Ah... ah... out of everyone, why her..."
"I-I-It's been a l-long time."
For them, Yukino was the worst possible encounter. Even YuiYui would have been marginally better.
"Oh? I threw out a lure just in case, but it really is you."
"Ah."
"We messed up..."
The two realized their blunder. If they had just feigned ignorance and dragged ZeXceed away, they might have survived.
"What, you guys know each other? Then there's no problem. Let's all go together..."
"S-Sorry! We have urgent business, so please excuse us!"
"We are truly, truly sorry! We're going back to GGO first!"
"H-Hey, what's wrong with you two all of a sudden!?"
The two women sprinted away and logged out a short distance later. From that day on, they vowed never to return to ALO and offered ZeXceed absolutely no explanation regarding Yukino.
"What was that about...?"
As ZeXceed stood dumbfounded, Yukino quietly addressed Sinon.
"Say, Sinon. Do you know this person?"
"He's Hachiman's enemy, Yukino."
"Enemy? I see... So he is an enemy of his."
"Yeah. He verbally abused him pretty badly a while back. If you watch the video, you'll understand. Just... step back a bit, okay?"
"Understood."
Yukino pulled a broadsword from her storage—one taller than herself and incredibly wide. The surrounding players gasped and, following Sinon's lead, retreated further.
Yukino then addressed ZeXceed.
"So, ZeXceed-san. We have people waiting for us, and while it is truly regrettable, I have decided to eliminate you right here."
"Since those girls left, why don't you just accept my offer and play? I'll have you know, I'm a top player in GGO... wait, what's with that giant sword?"
ZeXceed finally seemed to notice the weapon, his eyes widening.
"Do you know the term 'Safe Zone Combat' in Aincrad?"
"No, I... I don't."
"Here in the city, you cannot inflict damage on an opponent. However, the impact is still transmitted. Do you understand what I am saying?"
"Ah, yeah... I get it. Same as fighting in the city in GGO."
"You see, I am not particularly skilled at combat using weapons. So, when I consulted our leader about what to do if someone like you harassed me in a Safe Zone, he gave me this."
"That thing? Talk about a gift with no sense of taste. If it were me, I'd give something more..."
ZeXceed didn't realize he had just stepped on a landmine.
"You say... his gift lacks taste? I see. So you require no mercy."
"Wha..."
"This is bad! Everyone, get back!"
Hearing Yukino's murmur, Sinon shouted a warning. The crowd, terrified by the sheer pressure radiating from Yukino, scrambled backward.
"I mean, right? It's not a present you give to a lady who looks as elegant as you."
"Elegant? What nonsense are you spouting? I may lack the technique to swing a sword, but in terms of raw power, I am far superior to you."
Yukino lifted the massive sword effortlessly with one hand. ZeXceed, Sinon, and the onlookers could only stare in shock.
"W-What the hell..."
"Listen well. Never forget the name Valhalla Resort. In ALO, this name commands reverence—and serves as a symbol of terror. We won't meet again. Goodbye, ZeXceed-san."
With all her might, Yukino slammed the sword into him.
ZeXceed was launched an impossible distance, smashing into an indestructible building, then bouncing off the ground repeatedly like a ragdoll. Perhaps having lost consciousness, his Amusphere's safety mechanism engaged, and his avatar vanished.
"Ooooh!"
"A-Amazing..."
"I've never seen Yukino-san hold a sword before, but that strength is insane."
"Valhalla strongest!"
Sinon returned to Yukino's side, moving timidly.
"Y-Yukino... your strength is incredible too..."
"Well, it is merely stats. I did train, after all."
"It's probably a long way off, but... I wonder if I can really make it as a member of Valhalla..."
"You will be fine. Come, let's go."
Amidst thunderous cheers, the two passed through the Teleport Gate, warping to the Coral Village on the 22nd Floor.
"Look, you can see the tower over there, right? That is our base."
"Tower? I thought you said it was a garden?"
"Fufu. That is a surprise for later."
The area was teeming with players who had seemingly come just to catch a glimpse of Valhalla Garden. It had apparently already become one of Aincrad's tourist attractions.
"That uniform... another Valhalla member!"
"Today is crazy. Hachiman-san and Asuna-san just passed by earlier."
"Ah, isn't that 'Absolute Zero'?"
"It's true! It's Yukino-sama!"
"Who's that with her?"
"No emblem on her chest or back."
"A new member? Damn, I'm so jealous."
Walking next to the composed Yukino, Sinon felt self-conscious but managed to walk with her head held high. As they neared the tower, the crowd thinned out until, upon reaching the base, no one else remained.
"Naturally, almost no one approaches this close. Even if they come here, they cannot enter. Perhaps they think we will scold them."
Yukino guided Sinon to the entrance. Though, to the naked eye, it looked like nothing more than a blank wall.
"Here?"
"Yes, right here."
Yukino touched the wall, and a panel materialized.
"Now, please touch this."
"Okay."
The moment she did, an electronic voice echoed around them.
[Register this player as a provisional member?]
"Yes."
[Player Name: Sinon has been registered as a provisional member.]
Soundlessly, the wall slid open to reveal an entrance.
"Well? Nervous?"
"Y-Yeah."
"There may be others inside, but rest assured, there are no strange people."
They climbed a spiral staircase. Arriving at the upper floor, a cozy little house appeared before them.
"Please, go inside."
"It's smaller than I thought."
"Fufu. I suppose it does look that way. I thought the same thing at first."
Yukino opened the door. The moment Sinon stepped across the threshold, a sensation similar to passing through a Teleport Gate washed over her.
"Kh... that was..."
When she opened her eyes, a vast space stretched out before her. It appeared to be a grand hall with an attached bar. Looking up, she saw rooms arranged in a circle several stories high, resembling a cylindrical apartment complex. Looking out the windows, the path they had just walked was gone; instead, a massive garden extended into the distance, with something looking like a training arena with spectator seating visible further away.
"Sinon, over here, over here."
Asuna called out to her, carrying a tray with six teas. Beside her stood a stunningly beautiful woman with pointed ears and a cute, child-like girl. Hachiman, sitting on a sofa, turned toward them and raised a hand in a lazy greeting.
-------------------------------
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