SAO 15 - Alicization Invading

  Alice was so moved by the indescribably poignant scene that she too was about to cry—

  But in a certain corner of her mind, she repeatedly thought about whether this kind of thing could really happen.

  Although Alice did not hear Eugeo’s voice, there was an unmistakable instant when the sword released light. Then, the words that Tiese heard could not be completely dismissed as hallucinations.

  On the Blue Rose Sword, there still remained something that was the same as Eugeo’s soul… Was it like that?

  When Alice released the Armament Full Control Art, she also felt that the Fragrant Olive Sword seemingly fused with her own consciousness. Eugeo’s situation was not only the same as hers, he actually fused his own body with the Blue Rose Sword, and was fatally wounded in the process.

  Therefore, the idea that the remaining sword fragments could still have the owner’s soul may actually be possible.

  But, Tiese just said that Eugeo called upon her. If this was the truth, then what remained in that sword was not the reverberations of a soul, but the actual consciousness — or Incarnation.

  A hallucination caused by the girl’s desire? Or…?

  This was frustrating. If it was Kirito, he would immediately see through the secret of this phenomenon. After all, he was from outside this world, dropped from where the mysterious Gods live.

  Among her chaotic thoughts, like a small bubble, a phrase floated into Alice’s mind.

  World End Altar.

  That unfamiliarly named place seemed as though it had a way to the outer world.

  If they were able to get there, would all of the mysteries instantly come to light? They might even take back Kirito’s lost consciousness, wouldn’t they?

  But, the Altar was outside the Human Empire, on the other side south of the Great Eastern Gate. In other words, the border of the Dark Territory, ruled by the Dark Races.

  If they wanted to go there, first, they must not only defend against the army array beyond the Great Eastern Gate, they must penetrate it. No, even if they could penetrate the enemy army, they can’t just leave the Gate defenses behind and run to the south. As an Integrity Knight bestowed with overpowering strength, Alice carried the duty of protecting the Human Empire.

  She should just use herself to lure away the entire enemy army and lead them far away from the Gate while heading for the Altar. But, to the people of the Dark Territory, invading the Human Empire has been their wish for hundreds of years. There cannot be something more tantalizing than that…

  It seems that if they want to target the World End Altar, they must completely annihilate the Dark Army in front of them first.

  At this conclusion, Alice could not help but close her eyes.

  Although she came up with an exaggerated solution like annihilating the enemy, at the current situation, simply repelling the enemy vanguard first will be extremely difficult. However, she could only do that. Even if it is for Tiese and Ronye’s protection, and that of Kirito.

  Sighing softly, Alice interrupted these seconds-long thoughts, and walked towards the two ceaselesly wailing girls.

  Part 6

  Solus’s sunset had long disappeared into the east, but within the sky of the Dark Territory, which appeared narrow beyond the Great Eastern Gate, an ominous blood-red still shook steadily.

  As though they wanted to obscure that sight; white tents were erected towards both north and south at the center of the the Human Empire Defense Army camp, in the grassy plains that served as Dragon landing sites during the day. Under an Axiom Church flag flying high within, there gathered a total of thirty Integrity Knights and Defense Army Commanders, their faces all plastered with solemn expressions.

  Alice realized that the Knights and soldiers had not separated at all; she halted her footsteps in slight surprise.

  The Integrity Knights were clad in shining silver armor and the soldier commanders in black iron armor that lacked splendor, but still had a high Priority; both sides were engaged in enthusiastic discussion, clutching cups filled with Siral water. As she listened in, she found that the soldiers’ words had already lost all traces of convoluted honorifics.

  “Although it’s a makeshift regiment, it’s still pretty good, isn’t it, little girl?”

  A low voice suddenly came from her side; Alice turned frantically.

  Knight Commander Bercouli, with both arms crossed over his Oriental-styled clothing, stopped Alice who was about to salute, and continued:

  “In this Defense Army, everything related to the stupid formalities and stuff has been revoked. Luckily, there’s no term in the Taboo Index that says that [Normal citizens must perfectly greet a Knight before talking to him].”

  “Ha, haah… I also think that’s really unnecessary, but let’s put that aside right now…”

  Alice turned her eyes back to the army meeting.

  “— Where are the other Integrity Knights? As far as I can see, there are only ten over there.”

  “Very unfortunately, this is everyone.”

  “Eh… EH?!”

  Alice could not help but hold up a hand to cover her high voice, and looked up at the Knight Commander, who had a slightly bitter look on his face.

  “How… Can this be? Including myself, there should be thirty-one of us Integrity Knights.”

  This was the same as Thirty-One, Eldrie’s given name in the Sacred Tongue.

  Bercouli’s reply was mixed with a low “Even though you say that” sigh:

  “You know as well as I do, little girl. About the «Reprocessing» setting that Chief Elder Chudelkin administered that caused memory discordance in the Knights. Since that guy died, the seven Knights who were still in Reprocessing in the Senate have still not awoken.”

  “…!”

  Alice could not help but widen her eyes. Bercouli continued in an even more dejected voice:

  “The only ones who knew the incantation for Reprocessing were Chudelkin and the Highest Minister. They’re both dead now, it’s impossible to wake those seven up without spending time to decipher the incantation, and there’s no time for that now. There’s only one Knight who is not in Reprocessing but in stasis; if we can think of a way to wake that guy up…”

  Alice felt that the Knight Commander’s words were mumbled, so she asked:

  “May I ask who this is, that single individual?”

  “… It’s the «Silent» Zayta.”

  “……!”

  Although she had never directly seen this person and had heard only a few rumored names, Alice still held her breath. The reason was that those rumors were simply too chilling.

  Bercouli coughed, hinting that they should discuss these matters another time. Then, he continued his explanation:

  “…In summary, there are only twenty-four awakened Integrity Knights as of now. Four of them have stayed in the Cathedral and Central Capital for management, and four of them are acting guards at the Mountain Range at the Edge. The remaining sixteen… This is the extent of what we can put into this line of absolute defense. Of course, that’s counting myself and you, little girl.”

  “Sixteen…?”

  Alice wanted to add “only”, but bit her lip and resisted.

  If they confirmed their situation again, half of the fourteen in the strategy meeting all lacked Divine Instrument — that is, they were lower Knights incapable of invoking the Armament Full Control Art. Even if they just considered close combat, they were warriors capable of slaying one or two hundred Goblins, but they couldn’t be expected to have the explosive power to stabilize the battlefield.

  To Alice who fell silent, Bercouli changed his tone of voice:

  “Say, what’re you going to do with the youngster…? How about I go to the rearguard…”

  “Ah… No, don’t worry about it.”

  At the Knight Commander’s awkward concern, Alice shook her head with a smile.

  “By chance, there are people among the volunteers who stayed with him in the Sword Mastery Academy?
?? I’ll leave him in their care once the battle begins.”

  “Heh, that’s good…. Then, how did it go? Was there anything when the black-haired kid got into contact with people he’d conversed with before?”

  Alice shook her head silently.

  Bercouli exhaled shortly, mumbling “Like that, huh”.

  “…I’ll only say this here. Honestly, I’ve always wondered whether the one who can really decide the tide of battle is actually that youngster…”

  Alice looked up suddenly.

  “Although he had the help of you, little girl, and his partner, being able to slash and kill Chudelkin and the Highest Minister is extremely impressive. If we just talk about the strength of his Incarnation, I’m afraid that not even I can compare.”

  “…How… can that be…?”

  Alice already had not the slightest doubt of Kirito’s strength, but Knight Commander Bercouli’s had honed his Incarnation for more than two hundred years. Conversely, Kirito was still an underage student. It would be better to say that, regardless of swordsmanship or physique, it is impossible to win against the Knight Commander in terms of Incarnation willpower.

  But Bercouli just refuted Alice with full confidence.

  “Before, when we clashed with Incarnation, I felt it clearly. This kid has built up real combat skills on the same level as I have. Just like that.”

  “Real combat…? What does that mean…?”

  “What it sounds like. Putting your life on the line.”

  This was even more bizarre.

  The people living in the Human Empire were protected, or restricted, by the Taboo Index or the numerous laws of various Empires; other than sparring with wooden swords, they usually would never have the chance to compete with real swords in their lifetimes.

  The only exception was when the Integrity Knights carried out actual combat at the Mountain Range at the Edge with Goblins or Dark Knights attempting to invade. But since that was unlikely to happen even once or twice between very long spans of time, and since the Integrity Knights possessed crushing fighting power, they honestly hardly counted as life-threatening conflicts.

  According to this, the one in the Human Empire with the most real combat experience would undoubtedly be Bercouli, who had fought the Dark Army when the Knighthood had been much smaller. In actuality, it is said that when he had just become an Integrity Knight — although hard to believe — he was pitifully defeated by a Dark Knight and barely escaped with his life.

  Compared to the Bercouli then, Kirito has more real combat experience?

  If that was true — it can’t be experience from this world.

  It was from his real home, «The Outside World». But that should also be the kingdom where the Gods who created the Underworld lived. It’s clearly that, but there is combat there? And who exactly did he put his life on the line against?

  Alice did not know what to think anymore; after hesitating briefly, she made up her mind.

  By now, she could only come clean to Bercouli. The existence of the Outside World — and the World End Altar that can connect to that place.

  “… Oji-sama… Actually, when I was battling the Highest Minister…”

  Just as she was collecting her words, as they reached the tip of her tongue.

  Suddenly, a sharp voice came from behind the Knight Commander.

  “Your Excellency, it is time.”

  Alice turned her eyes to the owner of a voice that replied “Yes”.

  An Integrity Knight stood there, wrapped in light purple armor that was still dazzling at dusk, equipped with a silvery-white rapier on the left abdomen.

  As soon as she saw the bird-of-prey-like winged helmet that completely obscured its owner’s face, Alice felt a lament floating into her heart — directly speaking, it was an “Ahh” feeling.

  To Alice, this was probably the person whom she could get along the least with. The Second Integrity Knight and Vice Knight Commander, Fanatio Synthesis Two.

  Alice tried not to show her inner thoughts, and pressed her right fist to her left chest in a Knight’s salute.

  Across from her, Fanatio performed the same action, her armor clanking. But, different from Alice, who was standing straight with legs slightly apart, Fanatio shifted her center of gravity to her right leg and relaxed her left shoulder, putting on a delicate figure.

  It’s this part about this person that I just don’t… Alice muttered silently as she dropped her hand.

  She probably wanted to hide it with her armor, helmet and stern tone, but as soon as someone of the same gender saw her, Fanatio’s unconcealable femininity would emanate from her words and actions like the fragrance of a huge flower. This was also a «Technique» that Alice, who was taken to the Cathedral at the age of a child, had not had the opportunity to appreciate.

  When Vice Knight Commander Fanatio was battling Kirito and Eugeo on the fiftieth floor of the Cathedral, she suffered near-fatal injuries from a direct hit by Kirito’s Armament Full Control Art. But according to lower Knights who happened to be at the scene, Kirito had casted Healing Arts onto Fanatio, whom he had painstakingly defeated, and used a strange Art to transport her to some place, saving her life.

  Although it sounded very much like what Kirito would do, Alice’s heart was still not calm.

  Besides, although this person has always said for a hundred years that she was loyal to Knight Commander Bercouli, she named four lower Knights who were smitten with her as her direct subordinates. Are they, who can only yearn but not touch, not pitiful? At least stop wearing a silver mask day and night and show your face to other people.

  As Alice was muttering in her heart, Fanatio suddenly placed her hands on both sides of her helmet.

  With a click, she unlocked the buckle and casually raised the equipment that shined with a light purple glow. Lustrous black hair billowed out, flowing in the night wind and emanating a silky gloss.

  Alice had only seen Fanatio’s face once, and it was a chance encounter while she was heading towards the Cathedral’s baths. It seemed to be her first time seeing the Vice Knight Commander take off her helmet in plain sight of everyone.

  As she stared at the beauty that seemed to be even gentler than before, she understood. Her soft lips shone with light lipstick. She, who always concealed her femininity until now, actually put on makeup—?

  Fanatio smiled slightly at Alice, who stood blankly, and said:

  “Long time no see, Alice ne. I’m relieved that you’re so spirited wa.”

  “……”

  Ne? Wa?[5]

  Alice could not help but remain silent for a few seconds, then returned the greeting:

  “Long… Long time no see, Vice Commander.”

  “Just call me Fanatio. Anyway, Alice. I only heard tell… You brought back that black-haired boy?”

  At this sudden question, Alice immediately purged her mind of all surprise, her alertness rising at the same time.

  Although the ones who healed Fanatio were Kirito and the sage Cardinal, she might not know that. To Kirito, who struck her down, it wouldn’t be strange at all for her to harbor hatred and loathing.