If he obtains that degree of attention, he wouldn’t be able to use his current account anymore, but that doesn’t matter. As long as he has that gun, a new «Death Gun» can easily descend into the wilderness.
Then continue to kill. In the plan, the sacrifices will rise up to seven people. At that time there should be players constantly retiring, then the Gun Gale Online title would have been put on a death sentence.
«Death Gun» would become legend.
It won’t be comparable to that cursed death game «Sword Art Online» in the number of deaths, that was simply a crazy person cooking the users’ brains with a microwave oven.
«Death Gun»’s power isn’t of that low dimension. The bullet released in the virtual world will stop the heart in the real world. The only other person who knows the secret is «his» other half. That is why «Death Gun» is the strongest person. He won’t become a questionable rumor like the «Black Swordsman» who cleared SAO. The time that he will become the top player of all VRMMOs will soon come.
Absolute power—legendary devil—the strongest—the strongest—the strongest—…
«He» noticed that without him knowing, his right hand was holding the mouse tightly, he relaxed his shoulders while breathing raggedly.
He was looking forward to that day. If he obtains that legend, then he has no more use for this stupid world. «He» will forever bid farewell to those annoying stupid people.
After closing all the open double windows in the browser, «He» opened a new local HTML file.
Seven portraits in a column—made from cropping GGO screenshots, to the right of each is their name, equipment, and other information. The top picture, «Zekushiido», and the one below it, «Usujio Tarako», pictures were darkened, with a blood red X mark through them.
This is «Death Gun»’s target list, put in another way, this is the number of «Death Bullets» in that gun’s magazine. All seven were famous, strong players in GGO.
«He» slowly scrolled down the file, placing the bottom most picture in the center of the screen. The only female player in the seven.
The screen shot was taken from a right side angle. Her pale blue short hair was tied on either side of her face as it came down, hiding half of her cheek lines. It’s a shame her mouth could not be seen with the deeply wound sand-yellow muffler around it, but her deep blue eyes that seem like a cat’s eyes shone with enough charm.
The name displayed on the right was «Sinon». Main weapon is the anti-materiel rifle «Ultima Ratio Hecate II».
«He» had seen her many times in the game directly. When she was shopping at the Gurokken market street, sitting in a park bench eating a hot dog from a food stand, and sprinting in the battle field with that huge rifle on her back—. All of them full of coquettish charm that stirred his desire to possess her. He had almost never seen her smile, her eyes were usually filled with sorrow, but that attracted him even more.
«He» had some hesitation about this girl named Sinon being «Death Gun»’s target. If not only in game, her body and heart in real world as well became his—
But «His» other half, «Death Gun»’s other arm, probably wished for her death. Sinon was a cold sniper in GGO, there was almost no one who didn’t recognize her as famous player known as the goddess of the underworld. There was no one more suitable than her to be offered as a flower for «Death Gun»’s legend.
«He» stretched out his right hand, fingers stroking the photo of Sinon.
In the touch of the slippy polished screen, «He» really felt the real girl’s softness and warmth.
Chapter 6
Turning on the LED lights and leaning sideways to turn while on my bike, I passed through a large gate.
At that moment, feeling the critical gazes of the people walking on both sides of the avenue, I lowered the speed of my bike in a hurry.
This 125cc, 2-stroke, Thai-made, dilapidated motorcycle obtained through Egil’s connections was, in this era where electric scooters are common, emitting noise. When she rode with me, Suguha would explode with complaints like “Noisy—smelly—uncomfortable to ride.” Each time, I’d lie by saying that if she could get used to the wind then she could get used to the noise, but I regretted not choosing a 4-stroke scooter as well.
Possibly, the place I was rushing to was somewhere like this, especially if it was within the grounds of the hospital.
With the speed of a donkey pulling a wagon, I slowly continued along the avenue and saw the parking lot entrance ahead. Relieved, I rode in and parked at the edge of the motorcycle lot. I took out the real ignition key even in this era, and while taking off the helmet, I could faintly smell disinfectant riding on the cold December wind.
It’s Saturday, one week after my meeting with Kikuoka in the expensive cake shop.
I had left after reading the email saying that the preparations for my starting area in Gun Gale Online were finished. What kind of place was I heading to? It was a large municipal hospital in the Chiyoda ward, a municipal of central Tokyo. Though I don’t usually enter the heart of Tokyo, I already knew the way. It was the same hospital I was previously hospitalized in for my muscle rehabilitation after being freed from SAO.
Though rehabilitation had only taken a month before I was discharged, I had continued to commute back and forth along this road many times for examinations and the like. In the past half year, I hadn’t visited the hospital, but when I looked up at the white building, which had become a familiar sight, strong feelings of nostalgia and forlornness rose to the surface. I lightly shook my head, shook out the sentiments, and started walking in the direction of the entrance.
The discussion six days ago on Sunday in which I explained my current situation to Asuna reappeared in my mind. It had been at the promenade in the Imperial Palace near this hospital.
“…Eeeeeehhhhhhh!? Ki…Kirito-kun, are you quitting ALO…!?”
I saw Asuna’s eyes, wide with disbelief, begin to grow teary, and shook my head vigorously in a hurry.
“Th… that’s not it, that’s not it at all! It will just be for a few days; I’ll immediately transfer back! The… the truth is, because there is a certain reason, I have to check out another VRMMO… “
With this appeal, Asuna finally relaxed her shoulders and, this time, a dubious look rose to the surface in her eyes.
“Check it out…? If that’s the case, why can’t you make a new account like usual? Why do you have to convert over?”
“That, that is… it’s that ‘Glasses’ from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications …”
Then, with some difficulty, I explained why Kikuoka Seijirou’s summons comprised half the reason the place of the date was the Imperial Palace while intentionally omitting one part.
Just as we arrived at the gate, we finished our general conversation, returned our admission ticket at the window booth, and when we were near the Hirakawa Gate Bridge that spanned over the moat, Asuna, with a really complicated face, said.
“Kikuoka-san’s request… then it seems like it can’t be helped. I, somehow feel unsure if it’s alright to put my faith completely in him or not… But I am extremely in his debt…”
“No, I have the same feeling.”
At that moment, we both wryly smiled.
But Asuna immediately returned to a serious expression, gripping my hands tightly and saying.
“…Return as quickly as you can. ‘That’ place is our only home..”
I nodded, lowered my gaze to the surface of the moat and replied.
“Of course. I’ll return to ALO as soon as possible. It’s just research on what’s going on in the «Gun Gale Online» game.”
—That’s right.
I wasn’t completely honest with Asuna about the true purpose of Kikuoka’s request. In short, the core of my mission was to contact the player who might possess a mysterious power, the rumored «Death Gun». I didn’t tell her, because I believed that if I did say it, she would undoubtedly stop me, or perhaps propose to
dive together.
It was a selfish excuse, but I had already decided that I have no intention of letting her anywhere near a virtual reality with the slightest hint of danger.
Of course, I also believe that, probably 90% of the time, the «Death Gun» talk was a product of rumors.
That, from a virtual reality, a human in the real world could be killed.
No matter how many times I thought about it, I could not believe that such a thing was possible. AmuSphere, no matter how you say it, is only a machine a bit more technologically advanced than a normal TV. Technology such as «Virtual Reality» and «Full Dive» tend to seem magical but, in the end, it was merely a convenient tool, and was by no means something like a magic item that could detach the soul from a person’s real body and transport it to a parallel world.
But, the remaining one-tenth of the probability moved my legs to this place.
Many months ago, I was sorting an accumulation of old electronic magazines within my PC storage; one magazine was published just before the operation of SAO. In it I discovered a short interview with Argus Director Kayaba Akihito. There, while he was alive, he talked about ‘it’.
—‘It’ referred to the «Realized World» called An Incarnating Radius, abbreviated as Aincrad. Within it, all players would see many dreams becoming a reality. They would find swords, monsters, and mysteries, without stopping to realize that amongst those game-like symbols, a power which forces even the players themselves to change exists in that world—.
Undoubtedly, I’ve changed. Asuna, as well, has changed. Even Egil, Cline, Liz, Scilica and the others, as in that world, in the two years that passed, we definitely experienced a change in personality to a degree that we cannot return to how we once were.
But, what if we assumed Kayaba’s «evolution» did not stop there… ? Thanks to the VRMMO execution package «The Seed», now, while at the nook of the limitless growth of the VR Nexus, if we can assume the framework called reality and virtual reality itself are able to change, what kind of factors will be born… ?
Making an *uin* sound, the automatic door in front of my eyes opened and the smell of detergent and warm air surged forward and interrupted my unending thoughts.
On top of the fact that two GGO players died in the real world, I cannot affirm that contacting «Death Gun» would pose absolutely no danger. After I return to ALO, if I am honest about this to Asuna, she will definitely get mad. But eventually, she will surely understand.
To me—who supposedly cut off the time to monitor Aincrad, the person named Kirito who released «The Seed» package into the world—there were no other choices beyond this.
After visiting the bathroom, relying on the printout of Kikuoka’s email, I finally arrived at the designated room on the third floor of the hospital ward. There wasn’t a patient’s name on the plate beside the door. After knocking, I pulled the door open—
“Ossu! Kirigaya-kun, long time no see!”
The one who greeted me was a nurse I was acquainted with. She took care of me previously during my long rehabilitation.
Under the nurse cap, her long hair was braided into three thick strands where at the end of that, a small, white ribbon swung. Dressed in a light pink uniform, as a girl, her considerably tall stature cast a sharp silhouette that most certainly appeared to be a temptation for the hospitalized patients. On the left side of her chest was a small nameplate with «Aki» written on it.
The small face expressing a smile was certainly, appropriately clean and beautiful like a white-robed angel, but, responding as necessary, knowing she can become scary when she likes, I got out of my stupor in one second and hurriedly lowered my head.
“Ah… he-hello, sorry for not contacting you.”
At that moment, Nurse Aki suddenly extended both of her hands, and touched me, from my shoulders to my arms, and tightly grasped the sides of my stomach.
“Wa…waaa!?”
“O—, you’ve sufficiently put on some meat. But, it isn’t sufficient yet, have you been eating correctly?”
“I, I’ve been eating, I’ve been eating. But, uh, how should I put it, why is Aki-san here?”
I looked around the room but in the small, private room, there weren’t any other people.
“I heard about you while talking with that government official with glasses. By all means, for the sake of that government official, the virtual … network? You’re doing an investigation? Even though it hasn’t been a year since you came back, it’s difficult, isn’t it? Given that, since I was in charge during your rehabilitation, I was requested to keep check of the monitors, and today, I got out of my normal shift. Having talked to my superiors, as one would expect from the power of the state, I certainly felt that. Anyway, again, for a short while, we’ll be working together, Kirigaya-kun.”
“Ah … sa-same here.”
Somehow, believing that I am weak to beauties, he came up with this shrewd plan, Kikuokaaaaa—while cursing the agent who wasn’t there in my mind, with a smile, I grabbed the hand that Nurse Aki held out.
“…So, that government guy with glasses didn’t come?”
“Yeah, he said something about a meeting that he couldn’t get out of. He entrusted me with a message for you.”
I opened up the manila envelope that was handed over and took out the handwritten piece of paper.
‘The report was forwarded by mail to the usual address. It has been requested for the overhead expenses to be paid completely with remuneration after the mission is completed. P.S.: Just because you are alone with a beautiful nurse in a private room, you shouldn’t let your youthful impulses run wild.’
At that moment, I crushed the memo completely with the envelope and threw it into the pocket of my rider jacket. If this was read by Nurse Aki, her harassment act could really be prosecuted.
Offering a stiff smile at the suspiciously winking female, I said.
“Ah—… Well then, we should immediately connect to the net.”
“Ah, yes yes. Let’s start the preparations.”
At the side of the bed that I was guided to, bright colored monitors were lined up and on top of the bed rest, a brand new AmuSphere was giving off a silver radiance.
“Now then, strip, Kirigaya-kun.”
“What … What!?”
“The electrodes, to stick them on. In any case, when you were hospitalized, I saw everything already so you don’t have to turn red—”
“… uh, is only the top okay … ?
After Nurse Aki thought for a moment, fortunately, she nodded. Resignedly, I took off my jacket and my long-sleeved shirt and lay down on the bed. All at once, the electrodes used by the electro-cardiogram monitor were stuck to various places on my upper body. In terms of AmuSpheres, there exist some that also have heart rate monitors but Kikuoka seemed to have misgivings that the feature might be taken down by cracking. Looking at that one thing, I understood that he is, at least somewhat, truly concerned about my safety.
“Alright, with this, everything is ready.”
When the nurse checking the last monitor nodded deeply, fumbling, I picked up the AmuSphere, put it on my head, and turned on the power.
“Uh, well then… I’m off. Probably, I’ll be diving for around four, five hours so …”
“Alright. I’ll properly watch over Kirigaya-kun’s body so don’t worry and take care.”
“I … I’m in your care.”
I wonder, how things turned out this way … while I was thinking about this question, seemingly after everything that had happened, I closed my eyes.
At the same time, with my ears, the electronic sound informed me of standby completion.
“Link Start”
After reciting the command, the radiating white light that I had grown used to seeing blocked my field of vision, my consciousness was released from my body.
The moment that I landed in the virtual world, I remembered that faint uncomfortable feeling.
The reason was confirmed after a
few seconds. That’s because the sky had one side dyed with yellow with traces of faint reddish tinges.
I heard that the time inside «Gun Gale Online» was synchronized with reality. In other words, since it was just one o’ clock, the sky was supposed to be the same blue that could be seen through the window earlier in the hospital. Despite this, the sky showed the depressing color of twilight, there was no discernible reason for this.
Anyway, after imagining one thing after another, I shrugged my shoulders and ignored it. The desolate earth setting of GGO was modeled on Earth after the last war. It was probably a production for the sake of giving an apocalyptic atmosphere.
Once again, I turned my eyes to the majestic appearance of GGO’s central city «SBC Gurokken» spread out in front of me.
As one would expect, an excellence that only exists in SF VRMMO, that form differs a lot from the newly established capital city «Yggdrasil City» of the world up in the tree, Alfheim and from the previous Aincrad’s layered levels’ fantastic townscapes.
The buildings with a metallic feel rises as if piercing the heavens, air corridors connecting them together like the mesh of a net. Neon colored hologram advertisements were busily streaming in the gaps between the buildings; approaching the ground, they increased in number, like a flood of color and sound.
Finally, I looked at the ground and what I was standing on was not anything like soil or stone, but a path paved with metal plates.
Behind me was what seemed to be a domed building established as the initial character starting location, and in front of me, a street like a city’s main street stretched out. To the left and right of the street, questionable shops were tightly lined up in a spectacle resembling some side street in Akihabara.
Then, the players coming and going were also only groups that held an atmosphere that couldn’t go straightforward. Overwhelmingly, there were a lot of males. Perhaps it was due to my experience with ALO, which has a relatively high proportion of females, or possibly, that world’s inhabitants’ delicate fairies. The sight here instead was overwhelmingly of rough men, strutting while wearing military camouflage jackets and black body armor, truthfully, it gave a feeling of oppression and, how should I put it, excess, or if I say it clearly, filth. In addition, with all of those unfriendly eyes, truthfully, it was hard to talk to.