Hello, everyone. It's your Author, ArtLotus for another new story for all of you!
This is the sequel of Alfheim Online: The Shinigami. So I hope you will be much supportive towards it since I just started it.
Anyway, I present to you SAO II: Phantom's Rosario
Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!
Chapter 1: The World of Guns
A year after Sword Art Online (SAO) was cleared, online in a bar on another VRMMO game, Gun Gale Online the players were watching the live stream of «This Week's Winners», which was featuring the winner and runner up of the last Gun Gale Online tournament, called Bullet of Bullets: Zexceed and Dark Wind.
"The idea that agility is the only one that matters is only an illusion. Sure, agility is an important stat. Firing speed and dodging...If you were good at those two things, you were good. Until now, anyway. But that's all in the past now. And to those of you who spent the past eight months never leaving the house, raising that stat...Sucks to be you." Zexceed smiled in the screen.
Most of the people in the cafe showed disdain for the top player, as he had spread false rumours about AGI builds were the best option, thus most players invested in that stat.
"That's what we'd expect to hear from the top player of the most hardcore VRMMO, Gun Gale Online. Pretty extreme!" The Presenter smiled.
"Well, I may only get one chance in my life to be on MMO Stream..." Zexceed stated to the Presenter.
"Oh, don't say that. Aren't you aiming for the next Ballet of Bullets?" She stated with a smile as Zexceed smiled widely.
"Of course. If I'm going to enter, I'll play to win!"
"But you know, Zexceed-san..." At the player next to him, Zexceed looks at him. "BoB is a solo tournament with random encounters. Doing the same doesn't guarantee you'll get the same result. I'm not sure you should be chalking your victory up to your status type." The man known as Dark Wind exclaimed.
"No, the results were indicative of a broader trend within GGO. You're an agility-based character, Dark Wind-san, so I can understand why you'd want to deny it." At his comment, Dark Wind looks down with a frown. Suddenly, Zexceed stands up and spread his arms wide in the air. "It's true that, until now, the strongest strategy has been to raise your AGI, and fire a powerful physical weapon as fast as possible. But the balance of a MMO changes all the time. In particular, games with levels don't let you re-spec your stats. You need to constantly predict the future when you spend your points, because the best style for your level zone won't always stay the same. Minimum strength requirements and accuracy bonuses keep increasing for new equipments introduced..." Zexceed then flash his hair to the side with a laugh.
"Huh, Zexceed always used to talk about how awesome agility-based characters were. I can't believe I listened to him." A male player with glasses stated in disdain as he look up at Zexceed on the screen from his seat.
Suddenly, a hooded cloak player stands up from his spot on a seat and walks towards the center of the floor. Everyone looks at him moves before they watch as he pull out a normal gun and pointed it at Zexceed in the screen. "Zexceed...False victor...You will now be judged by true power!"
At his statement, players started to snicker and laugh at how incredulous he stated. But then hooded cloak player shot Zexceed in the head, breaking the screen.
"So you see...In the end, what's really important is the player's own ability-" Everyone started to snicker at the hooded cloak player before the sound of chocking could be heard and everyone looks at Zexceed. The blue haired player clutched his chest and disappeared due to a disconnection error, much to their shock.
"Oh my...Looks like we lost the connection. It should be back in a second, so don't touch that dial!" The Presenter said as everyone looks shocked at what happened. They then look at the hooded cloak player in fear.
Suddenly, the hooded cloak player pointed his gun to everyone. "This is true power! True strength! Fools...Remember this name, and fear!" he then pointed his gun upwards. "The name this gun and I share! Death Gun!" After he finishes, the hooded cloak player lifts up his head, revealing the metal skull face he had as steam burst out from his metallic teeth.
A month later...
"Be sure to be home by dinner."
Asuna looks down at her smartphone's text message and reads her mother's message in her mind. But before she could exit the application, another message pops out below her mother's message. She then read the text stated.
"We're having a family dinnertonight. So, bring along Izayoi and Yui. I've already invited his mother to attend the dinner with."
"Family dinner?" Looking at the text message her mother sent once again, Asuna smiled, liking that every week of the month, her mother always held family dinner for both her family and Izayoi's. Smiling, Asuna started to type her reply.
"Alright, Okaa-sama."
After that, she exited the application and look at the date and month on her pink background phone.
14:50
SUN, DEC 7
2025
"December, 2025..." Asuna mutters before she looks forward. "Soon it'll be a year." She said before she walked out from the sub-station underground stairs.
Standing in waiting at the East Garden of the Imperial Palace, Asuna waits for her husband and daughter. She then felt a breeze and she looks up, seeing a leaf flying in the breeze.
"What's the difference the real world and the virtual one?" She wondered.
"Mama!" A voice shouted as Asuna looks at her right in surprise. But then, she smiled in delight as she kneels down and spread her arms to catch a running Yui in her arms.
"Good morning, Yui-chan." Asuna greeted as Yui smiled on her mother's jacket.
"Good morning, Mama." After she said that, Asuna stands up and smiled down at her daughter.
"I made it in time, right?" At the voice, Asuna looks up at the smiling Izayoi, who wore a white military jacket with mid stand collar and silver buttons lining from the bottom of his stomach area to the top, below his collar. There were two pockets on each side below his stomach area of the jacket. Two silver military button was placed on each side of his shoulder. He also wore white khaki pants.
Smiling at her husband, Asuna watches him walk towards her closer before she felt an arm wrap around her waist and she smiled in comfort, seeing as she was in his embrace.
"Good morning, Asuna." At the greeting, Asuna then wraps her arms around him and hugs him.
"Good morning, Izayoi-kun." After the greeting, the two pull back and Izayoi looks at his wife dressed in a white double-breasted jacket, red skirt with black knee socks and brown shoes. On her shoulder is her pink purse with red accents.
"You look great." Izayoi commented as Asuna blushes before smiling at him and looking over his attire.
"You look great too. You look like a pilot or general without the hat." Asuna commented before she turns her attention to her daughter and notices that she wore a white dress that reaches all the way to her knees. Memories begin to flash in her mind and she smiled nostalgically.
"You look cute in that dress, Yui-chan. Where did you get it?"
"I spotted it in a store and I asked Papa to buy this. It's just like my dress in SAO and it's comfortable to wear." Yui turns to twirl, making her dress harmonize by following her movement before she stop.
"It fits you perfectly." Asuna smiled, seeing her daughter in the dress that look like it was made for her. "The color of our clothes and Yui-chan's dress, it brings back memories." She stated as she caresses Yui-chan's cheek, causing her to smile and nods.
"Yes. Mama and Papa always wear white." Yui answered as Asuna nods before she looks at Izayoi.
"It's been a long time." He stated as Asuna pretend to grab her rapier around her waist like she always does.
"Yeah, but we don't have our weapons. For me, I don't have my rapier." Asuna stated before she looks at her husband's attire which was bright. "Anyway, why are you wearing a lot of white, Izayoi-kun?" Asuna asked in curiosity.
"I haven't worn this set of clothes before, so I'm wearing it for the first time. My mother always suggested these kinds of outfit for me to wear, I don't think one of them could be similar to a military general without the medals and hat. Other than that, this whole outfit brings back memories of when I wore white in SAO." Izayoi explained as Asuna smiled and lead Yui to stand between them and hold their hands.
"Since we happen to be wearing our colors today...What are the odds of that?" Asuna smiled before Izayoi answers.
"It's fate." Izayoi simply stated as Yui nods before looking up at Asuna.
"Yeah, it's fate, Mama."
Giggling at their antics, Asuna replies. "Yeah, maybe it is. Anyway, let's go!" With that, the three of them headed off towards the East Garden's entrance.
After a while of walking, the three of them stood in front of the board that showed a map of the East Garden of the Imperial Palace. After choosing which place they wanted to go, they headed to the said place.
"This is where Edo Castle's inner circle of defense used to be." Izayoi stated looking at the flower field at his left and a distance away from the field was the former castle tower of Edo Castle.
But as soon as the three of them arrived at the place, Asuna spotted some people around them begin to whisper to each other while they look at them, specifically at her husband. She begin to wonder if they are his sports fans since she noticed that they begin to smile at his direction and was supressing their excitement.
"Izayoi-kun, are they your fans?" Asuna asked as Izayoi looks at the smiling people looking at him that were spotted by her.
Casting a smile, Izayoi raised his hand to greet the people. Everyone who had watched the action begin to smiled widely and greeted him in return before some of the left while some of them approach the blonde.
"May I have your autograph?" A woman standing with her boyfriend asked with a smile as she brings up both her pen and paper towards Izayoi.
"Alright." Izayoi answered before taking the paper and quickly signing his signature on it while adding some words onto it. "From your country's athlete, hope you'll stay healthy and keep supporting me." After that, Izayoi gives the paper and pen back at the woman who hugs the paper to her chest before she addresses her boyfriend by pecking his cheek, causing him to blush. Then the woman turns to Izayoi and bows her head down in appreciation before she and her boyfriend walks past him.
"Um...May I have your autograph, Izayoi-kun?" Another woman asked with her parents standing behind her. She lifted both her pen and book towards Izayoi, who casted a smile before he took the pen and signed his signature while changing his words from the last fan.
"From your country's athlete, keep supporting me and watch my tournaments in the future." Izayoi wrote before he gave the pen and book back to the daughter, who smiled down at her signed book before she bows to Izayoi in appreciation.
"Thank you." She said before she smiled back at her parents, who smiled at her.
Then, the daughter's father steps forward as Izayoi watches him extend his hand towards him. "Don't lose pressure in the near future, Izayoi-san. You'll always be the best athlete there is. We'll keep supporting you." He said before he glanced at both Asuna and Yui who was standing next to the blonde athlete. He then focuses back at Izayoi, "I hope you will enjoy your time in East Garden because it's an enjoyable place to be with your family and loved ones." He explained smiling at the blonde as Izayoi smiled and shakes hands with him.
"Thanks." Izayoi thanked before the father nods and looks back at his family.
"We should go. We can't disturb his time here now, would we?" At this, both his wife and daughter smiled at Izayoi before the three of them walked past the blonde and left.
"Like an country's athlete, huh?" Asuna asked in amusement, recalling how her husband always treated his fans nicely.
"They asked for it." Izayoi answered before he looks down at his daughter. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Yui." At this, Yui shakes her head.
"I don't mind, Papa. They're your fans." Yui stated with a smile before she tried to pull both of her parents forward. "Mama, Papa! Let's go!"
At this, both Izayoi and Asuna followed her lead with smiles on their faces.
"Papa, you can't catch me!" Yui shouted as she run across the flower field with her dress flowing in the wind.
"We'll see, Yui." Izayoi smiled before he run towards her daughter but reduce his pace to not let the fun go away with her daughter. Just as Izayoi went to capture in on Yui with his arms, she barely escaped by crouching down before running forward. "You're getting smarter but the fun is just started!" He said before he continued to chase Yui.
Meanwhile, Asuna looks at the two in happiness, watching both of them run freely in the flower field. A tear escapes her eyes as Asuna looks at her daughter who was running freely from her husband. Before, she thought about making Yui a real person since she wanted to spend her time with her in the real world and in game. Over the time she spent with Yui, she felt life gave her a new meaning in life and it make her happy even more with Izayoi by her side. But she didn't know that her wish would come true so soon, to which her daughter in-game would be her daughter in real life.
"Mama, help me!" Yui laughed as she hugs Asuna, much to her surprise.
Asuna then looks up at the smirking Izayoi, who was slowly walking up to her and Yui, who hid behind her. "There's no way you can escape now, Yui. You're cornered."
Suddenly, Izayoi watches as Asuna raised her hand to block him from Yui. At that moment, a smile slips past the brown haired's lips as she and Yui runs past the blonde. "If you want to win, you have to catch both of us, Izayoi-kun!"
Looking at where her wife and daughter stood, Izayoi stood in his spot in silence before he chuckles. He then turns his head to look at the two, standing a few distances from him. He watches as Asuna pulled her tongue out at him playfully while Yui waved her hand.
"You can't catch us, Papa!"
"It's on." Izayoi mutters before he turns around and opens the top buttons of his jacket, revealing his white shirt's collar. "Don't think you can get away!" After he said that, he immediately gave chase and the two girls instantly run from him. Smiles were present on each of their faces as they're having fun as a family.
Time Skip
"Would you mind?" Izayoi asked as he gives his camera to a foreigner, who takes it with a smile before preparing to take a picture. As the foreigner adjusts his aim, Asuna smiled as she rested her head on top of her husband's left shoulder while she wrapped her arms around his arm. Meanwhile, Yui took her spot by being in the middle and in front of the couple while raising her two left finger in peace sign. Izayoi's right hand was placed on his daughter's right shoulder.
After the family had their fun on running on the flower field which resulted in the blonde winning, they took a rest for a while. After that, they continued to walk around the East Garden and enjoyed the scenery of the famous place before the blonde asked someone which is the foreigner to take their picture, much to the girls' happiness.
"Say cheese!" The foreigner stated as Izayoi smiled along with Asuna and Yui. A couple of shots could be heard before the foreigner let down the camera and gave the camera to Izayoi, who thank him in return and grab his camera.
After bidding farewell to the foreigner, his wife and his twin daughters, Izayoi and his family continued to explore the East Garden of the Imperial Palace.
"It's so big!" Yui exclaimed looking awestruck at the stone remains of the former castle tower of Edo Castle.
"Do you want to go over to the top?" Izayoi suggested while pointing his finger at the top of the castle.
"Yes!" At her answer, Izayoi leads her and Asuna to the top.
"Waa~!" Yui spread her arms out as she felt the breeze of wind hitting her as she stood at the center of the castle tower. Suddenly, Yui's eyes widen as she felt herself being lifted before she saw the sight of the flower field she ran in. She smiled as she gaze upon the flower field before she looks at the other places that she could see, much to her happiness of seeing new places. "Thank you, Papa!" Yui thanked as Izayoi looks upwards at her bright smile.
"No problem, Yui." Next to the blonde, Asuna gazes upon the sight that greeted her and she smiled. Seeing her expression, Izayoi speak up. "It's great, right?"
"It's beautiful."
"I'm glad you like it."
Time Skip
Noon
Former Cannon Placement
After spending their family date, the three of them sat down onto a bench at the corner of one of the pavement in East Garden.
"Tonight will be a family dinner. So, after this we're going to my house."
"Will we stay there for the night?" Izayoi asked looking at Asuna, who thought deeply at the subject, knowing that the three had sleep in her house before. But it wasn't for long since the longest time they had slept in her house was about three days.
Shrugging her shoulder, Asuna replies. "Possibly. And your mother is going to be there too."
"Great. Maybe she'll bring my baby photos."
"Maybe she will." Asuna smiled remembering how cute Izayoi is when he was a baby. Then, a thought entered her mind as Asuna looks down at Yui, who was sleeping on her chest. "Hey, remember the survey about what we'll do after graduation? What are you planning to do with your future?" Asuna asked as she strokes her daughter's head.
"Hm...I didn't give much thought about it. I've earn enough money from my career to last my life. I didn't spend much. But I think I'll continue my career. What about you?" Izayoi asked as he looks at Asuna, who looks down at Yui and smiled.
"I want to stay with you forever, Izayoi-kun. Both of us and Yui-chan. We'll be together forever." Asuna smiled in whisper.
"We'll be." Izayoi answered as Asuna looks at him in surprise, not knowing that he can hear her. "I can promised on that."
At his last words, Asuna smiled. "Thank you, Izayoi-kun."
"Dont worry about it." Izayoi said as he brush his thumb across Yui's cheek, which caused her to smile. "Anyway, I heard that you ask a question to yourself earlier." He looks at Asuna who held a confused look before realization came across her face. "What's your question about?"
At this, Asuna looks forward and ask the question that remained unanswered. "What's the difference between real world and the virtual world?"
"The difference? Which should I start?" Izayoi asked looking at Asuna.
"Virtual?"
"Well, if it's virtual world. Then, there's many possibilities such as fighting opponents that are stronger in real life. See the world in many different aspects that are difficult to find in real life where you have to cross over the entire world to see that those kinds of aspects. Whereas the real world, it's difficult to even move from place to place without money. There aren't many people that can fight me equally too..." Izayoi mutters in slight annoyance as Asuna giggled in her hand. "Anyway, the amount of information is different between both worlds. In the real world, you can feel more when you hold hands like this," He lift Asuna's hand in his. "than in SAO or ALO."
"That's true, I can feel a lot more from your real warm hand." Asuna smiled down at their intertwined hands before she looks up at the blonde in realization. "Oh, that's what you mean by information. Anyway, doesn't sound and taste convey a lot more information in reality, too? So even if the Amusphere had AR capability..."
"You'd know if something was real or not the moment you saw or touched it. But I think we shouldn't worry about that now, don't you think?" Izayoi asked with a smile.
At his statement, Asuna looks confused before she looks down at Yui and smiled in realization before she nods. "Yes, I think we should just enjoy ourselves as a family today than worry about the future and what it could do to further our technology."
"We have Yui now right? We can spend time in both real and virtual worlds. As a family, wouldn't you say?" Izayoi stated as Asuna rested her head on his shoulder.
"Yeah, and for that, I'm grateful." She mutters before she and Izayoi looks down at Yui with a smile.
After a while, the two of them quietly enjoyed the silence as they sat on the bench. But a voice interrupts the moment.
"Can I interrupt this lovely evening and borrow some of your time?" Izayoi and Asuna looked up at their right, seeing Kikuoka who smiled at them.
Four Hours Earlier at Ginza
"Can I do this without Izayoi?" Kazuto asked as he stood in the elevator while holding his smartphone in his right hand. He looks down at the text message that Izayoi and sent.
"I can't come with you, I have a family date with Asuna and Yui. We're going to the East Garden of the Imperial Palace. If you're finished with that four eyes, message me. If anything is to go by, it would be related to the recent news of GGO."
"GGO?" Kazuto asked in confusion, knowing the VRMMO game but didn't hear any news of the said game.
Suddenly, the elevator opens up and Kazuto turn off his smartphone before pocketing it in his hoodie pocket. He then exited the elevator and was greeted by a waiter at the receptionist counter.
"This way." The waiter gestured at his right and Kazuto bows his head slightly before following the waiter to the entrance of the restaurant.
"Here, Kirito-kun!" A voice shouted as Kazuto looks at Kikuoka who was sitting nearby the indie of the restaurant and was attracting attention from the guests in the room.
Coughing, Kazuto proceeded to walk towards the table where Kikuoka occupied. When Kazuto sit on his seat, the waiter pushes the seat closer to the table.
"I'll pay, so order whatever you want." Kikuoka stated with his arms spread out just as the waiter bowed and took his leave.
"I'll do that, then. Thank you very much."
"Oh, don't be so formal...Just talk to me like you would in ALO."
"S-Sure...I'll have..." Kazuto opens his menu and his eyes scrolled down the types of drinks and desserts. His eyes widen as he looks at the prices of the desserts category. Meanwhile, Kikuoka look at Kazuto with a smile, knowing that he was surprised by the types of food in the menu. "I'll have the parfait au chocolate, the framboise mille-feuille, and a hazelnut latte." He ordered as the waiter from before wrote it all down and left, leaving Kazuto to sigh in relief.
"Sorry to bring you all the way here, Kirito-kun."
"If you're really sorry, don't bring me all the way to Ginza..." He said before he covered his mouth sideways. "And don't call me that in front of others!" He whispered.
"You're so cold...Anyway, I thought Izayoi-kun would come with you if I'm near where he would be."
"Well, he's out enjoying with his family in the East Garden of the Imperial Palace."
"Ah, yes. Well, I shouldn't interfere with family matters, right? Anyway, right after this, you can talk to Izayoi-kun about this. He'll want to know." Kikuoka stated as Kazuto raised an eyebrow at the man.
"What does he mean?"
"Anyway, after you woke up in the hospital a year ago, I was the first person to visit you." Kikuoka stated as Kazuto looks at him.
"He's right. He was my first visitor after I woke up. The leader of the response team. Kikuoka Seijirou, of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Telecommunications Bureau, Adavanced Communications Networks Promotion Division Section 2, AKA the Virtual Division."
"Well, what else do you need? Me and Izayoi told you pretty much everything there was to know about SAO..." When he finishes, he was caught by surprise by a clap sound of the menu being closed.
"I want to discuss something else today." Kikuoka said as he pick up something from his suit case and give it to Kazuto to see. "Look at this."
Looking at the brown haired middle aged man in the photo, Kazuto ask Kikuoka. "Who's this?" He then gave the chart to Kikuoka.
"Hmm, last month, on November 14th...The landlord of a Nakano, Tokyo apartment building smelled something while cleaning. She got worried and opened the electronic lock on the door, and discovered the body of this man, Shigemura Tamotsu, age 26. He's been dead five and a half days." Kikuoka then scrolled his chart pad down, revealing a messy place of a photo. "His room was messy but hadn't been ransacked. The body was on the bed. And on its head..."
Kazuto's eyes narrows, "An Amusphere?"
"Exactly. Given the possibility of foul play an autopsy was held. The cause of death was acute heart failure."
"Heart failure? His heart stopped? Why?"
"We don't know."
Then, the waiter arrived and brings Kazuto's order on the table, much to his surprise. "Sorry for the wait." He said before he left.
"Given the time of death, and the low probability of a crime a thorough autopsy was not conducted. But he'd been logged in for two full days without eating anything."
"That isn't so unusual. What's so special about this case?"
"The game he had installed was Gun Gale Online. GGO. Do you know it?" Kikuoka asked looking up at Kazuto.
"Sure...It's the only game in Japan with pro players."
"He had won a tournament in Gun Gale Online, GGO for short, that was held in October, to determine the strongest player. His character name was Zexceed."
"Then he was playing GGO when he died?" Kazuto asked in confusion.
"No, he was appearing on a program called MMO Stream, as his Zexceed avatar. We know the time from the logs. And this hasn't been confirmed, but another user wrote on their blog that something strange happened in GGO at the same time as his heart attack."
"Strange?" Kazuto said with his mouth full with cake.
"At the exact same time this was happening, a player was acting strangely in a bar. He screamed something about 'judgement' at the TV Zexceed was appearing on, and fired his gun. One of the players watching this happened to have an audio log running and uploaded the file to a video site. The file contains a counter in Japan Standard Time. The shot was fired at the TV at almost the same time Shigemura disappeared from the program."
"That's just a coincidence." Kazuto said as he put a piece of cake in his mouth.
"There was another one."
"What?" Kazuto nearly choked on his cake before he looks at Kikuoka.
"This one happened on November 28th. Somewhere in Saitama City, Saitama. Another body found in a room in a two-story apartment. A newspaper salesman looked inside and saw a man, lying on a futon, wearing an Amusphere...Another horrible smell-" A cough sounded as Kazuto looked behind him at the old woman that coughed while she looked at them. "Well, skipping the particulars of the corpse...Another acute heart failure. He was also a highly skilled GGO player. His character name was...Lightly Salted Tarako? He was playing the game at the same time. He was at a meeting with his squadron...I guess that's what they call a guild...in a Glocken City Plaza...When he was shot by another player." Kikuoka explained to the black haired teen.
"Was it the same guy as Zexceed?" Kazuto asked as he sips on his hazelnut latte.
"Probably. He said the same things about power and judgment, and used the same character name."
"What was it?" Kazuto let his tea cup down.
"Death Gun." Kikuoka said above his chart pad.
"Death Gun?" Kazuto asked as the sun moved from the window they were nearby, which caused the area around them to be darker. Letting down his tea cup on its saucer, Kazuto ask. "You're sure it was heart failure, right?"
"What do you mean?"
"There wasn't any damage to their brains?" At Kazuto's statement, Kikuoka smiled amusingly.
"I wondered that, as well. I spoke to the coroner who handled the autopsies, and they said there was nothing wrong with their brains. And what's more the NerveGear used microwaves powerful enough to burn out the signalling devices and destroy part of the brain. But the Amusphere is designed for that kind of power emission to be impossible. The developers were insistent on that."
"You've done a lot of homework. Kikuoka-san...All this for something that seems like nothing more than coincidence and rumor?" Kazuto raised an eyebrow.
"Well, I'm ninety percent sure it's coincidence, or someone's making it up. So we're speaking hypothetically here. Do you think it's possible to stop a player's heart with a bullet fired from within a video game?" Kikuoka asked as Kazuto imagined the thought before he shakes his head in disbelief.
"I don't think so, but assuming this Death Gun should send some kind of signal to Zexceed's and Lightly Salted Tarako's Amuspheres..." Kazuto put his hand under his chin. "Some sensation of touch that would stop their hearts...or taste, or smell, or sight, or sound...Some kind of sensory information..." Before he continued, he heard Kikuoka sigh and he looks up at the smile that greeted him. "Hey, wait. You've already looked into all of this, haven't you? If you smarty pants have thought this through, there shouldn't be much left for me to do."
"No, no..." Kikuoka waved his hands in dismissal. "I'd never do that to you, Kazuto-kun. I enjoy talking to you."
"I'm done." Kazuto said standing up. "Here's my conclusion. Stopping a player's heart from within a game is impossible! The gunshots and heart failures are unrelated-" He then turns around as Kikuoka looks at him.
"Wait, wait! You can order another slice of cake. Just stay for a while!" Kikuoka stated as Kazuto look at him. "Well, I'm relieved to hear you say that aloud...I was thinking the same thing. These two deaths weren't caused by gunshots within the game. So I'd like to ask you...Will you log into Gun Gale Online and make contact with this Death Gun?" Kikuoka stated as Kazuto looks back at him.
"Why not just say it, Kikuoka-san? Go get shot!" He exclaimed with wide eyes.
"Well..." Kikuoka scratched his neck as Kazuto turns to him.
"No way in hell! What if something happened to me?!" Kazuto stated in mock anger before turning around to leave before Kikuoka grips onto his hoodie.
"We both just agreed that was impossible! And it looks like Mr. Death Gun has pretty strict criteria for his targets." Kikuoka explained as Kazuto tried to get away from his grip but then he stopped as he heard one of the words he used.
"Criteria?" At this, Kikuoka nodded.
Then, Kazuto sit on his seat as Kikuoka nods. "Yes. Zexceed and Lightly Salted Tarako were both renowned top-level players. In other words, he won't shoot you unless you're good. Probably. Even though you aren't the strongest player but you are second to Izayoi-kun. That is something-"
"It's impossible...GGO isn't that easy a game! It's filled with pros." Kazuto reasoned intently.
"That's it." Kikuoka pointed his finger at Kazuto. "What does it mean to be a pro?"
"Just what it sounds like. Gun Gale Online is the only virtual MMO that lets you exchange game coins for real money." Kazuto explained as Kikuoka wear a surprise look.
"Oh?"
"Basically, you can take the money you earn in-game and exchange it for real cash. The pros are the ones who can earn money in GGO every single month. A top player can make anywhere from 200,000 to 300,000 yen a month. For that reason, the high-level GGO players spend far more time and passion on their game than other MMO players. I can't just log in and expect to match them. Find someone else." Kazuto answered to Kikuoka, knowing that it would be suicidal if he logged into GGO and encounter the player Death Gun.
"Wait, wait..." Kikuoka hold up his hands in protest. "I don't have anyone else!" Kikuoka then drop his hands. "If you don't think you can fight the pros, I'll pay you to cooperate with the investigation. This much." Kikuoka lift three fingers which caused Kazuto to stare at it with surprise
Kazuto gulp down his saliva as he glanced down, "Why is this such a big deal to you? It's just another Internet horror story."
"You see, my bosses are worried about this. The effects of full-dive technology on the human body are the single biggest focus of research right now. I want to know what's really going on before they start trying to use this to restrict the technology. I want to be sure. How's that for a reason?" Kikuoka asked seriously.
"Wouldn't it be faster to ask the administrators?" Kazuto asked in curiosity.
"Zaskar, the company that develops and operates GGO, has its servers in America. The real company's address, phone number, and e-mail are all confidential. Since the Seed went public, all kinds of shabby virtual worlds have popped up. Which means the only way to get at the truth is to make contact with them within the game. Of course, we'll take every safety precaution. And I won't tell you to get shot. Just tell me your impressions, and give me your judgment. Will you go?"
"The two thousand people died in Aincrad. After a year, I've almost put that behind me. But now, more people are being murdered in virtual reality. And I'm being called back. How am I going to tell him about our meeting? Will he go too?" At the thought, Kazuto look at Kikuoka.
"What...What about Izayoi?"
A smile spread across Kikuoka's face, "He'll be with you." At this, Kazuto raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm sure he'll be on board on this case along with the other."
Four Hours Later…
Former Cannon Placement
"We don't know the real cause of their deaths since I suspected it wasn't just acute heart failure that took both of their lives but it did from our autopsies."
"Zexceed and Lightly Salted Tarako." Asuna mutters the names of the ones that had died.
"It can't be their deaths would be caused by a single gunshot within the game. If what you said was true, the power he wielded is not human. And I did not believe that humans can obtain abilities like that within the game or outside of the game." Izayoi explained as he stood next to Asuna on the pavement, away from the bench but just far enough so that they can't interrupt Yui who was sleeping on the bench with Izayoi's jacket being a pillow for her head.
"Yes. That is why I have asked Kirito-kun to ask about his opinion of the case and he said it was impossible that they were killed in-game hypothetically speaking." Kikuoka stated as he gave Izayoi the chart pad. The blonde grabs the chart pad and scrolled down the pictures and he narrows his eyes when he saw the Amusphere around the heads of the dead. Meanwhile, Asuna gasped as she saw the dead faces. Hearing her gasped, Izayoi give the chart pad back to Kikuoka and hold his wife's hand comfortingly. "Don't worry."
Looking at him, Asuna nods before she breathed deeply and looks at Kikuoka. "So what is the reason you came here?"
"This case needs to be investigated or more lives could be lost. Just like I asked Kirito-kun, will you two join in Gun Gale Online?"
To Be Continued…
That is the end of SAO II: Phantom's Rosario. If you love the chapter so far and is interested to read further, then please support it. One of the things to support is to review, favorite or follow. But you can do all three of them if you want. But honestly, review on the chapter because I want to know how'd you think about the chapter so far.
Anyway, I'll be going. I have to continue working on the second chapter.
Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!