"The investigation team is completely destroyed-?"

A few days later, as Kuyina said, Kirito and his wife received a leader's invitation from Hitzcliff. When they returned to the headquarters of the Blood League Knights, what awaited them was this impact notice.

Hitzcliff closed his skinny hands in front of his face, with a deep valley between his eyebrows, and nodded slowly.

"It was yesterday. Although it took a lot of time to collect map archives for the 75th floor maze area, it finally ended without any victims. However, it was already predicted that there would be a hard battle against the leader... So we sent a team composed of five guilds, with a total of twenty people."

Hitzcliff continued with a lack of ups and downs. Since he was half closed, he could not see his current mood in his brassy pupils.

"The investigation is carried out under very careful action. We sent ten people as guards and standby at the entrance of the leader's room... The ten people who entered first arrived at the center of the room, and the entrance door was closed the moment the leader appeared. The next situation was reported by the ten people who served as guards. They said that the door was closed for more than five minutes, and no matter whether it was a lock-opening skill or a direct blow, there was no way to open the door. When the door finally opened-"

Hitzcliff pursed his lips tightly. After closing his eyes for a moment, he continued: "There is nothing in the room. All ten people and the bosses disappeared. There was no trace of being removed at the scene. And they did not come back... In order to confirm, we also sent people to the Black Iron Palace at the bottom to confirm the death list on the metal monument, and the result................"

He didn't continue to say anything, but just shook his head left and right. Asuna first held her breath, then immediately squeezed out a sentence from her mouth: "Ten......... how can this happen to everyone...?"

"Is it the crystal invalid space?"

"There is only this possibility. According to Asuna's report, the seventy-fourth floor seems to be the same, so I think it will be the case in all the boss rooms in the future."

"How could it be..."

Kirito couldn't help but sigh.

If you cannot escape urgently, the number of deaths due to unexpected accidents will increase greatly.

"It's starting to be more and more like a game of death..."

"But we can't give up the strategy because of this."

Hitzcliff closed his eyes and said in a sound that sounded like a whisper but firm voice: "Except for the fact that there is no way to take it out with crystal, this time the room seems to be structurally cut off the retreat behind it when the leader appears. In this way, only the troops that are most likely to be in favor of the command will be sent to guide this method. I was very reluctant to call you newly married people back. But I hope you can understand my difficulties."

Kirito shrugged and replied: "Let's help. However, I will give Asuna's safety the most priority. If I encounter a dangerous situation, I will choose to protect her safety first than the entire team."

A smile appeared on Hitzcliffe's face.

"When a person has someone who wants to protect, he can always exert his strength. I look forward to your struggle. We will start the strategy in three hours. The number of participants plus the two of you is thirty-four people in total. At one o'clock in the afternoon, gather in front of the transfer gate of Corinia City on the 75th floor. Then, disband."

※

“………Asuna…”

"What's up?"

"……………Don’t be angry and listen to me first. Today’s leader strategy battle... Can you not participate and stay here and wait for me to come back?"

“…………Why do you say such things to me?”

"Although Hitzcliff said that, he didn't know what would happen in places where the crystal was not available. I was scared... I just thought about it... what accident you might encounter..."

“…………You mean you want to go to that dangerous place yourself and then ask me to wait for you in a safe place?

If you don't go back to Kirito, I will commit suicide. In addition to the fact that you have no meaning to live, I cannot forgive myself who is waiting here. If you want to escape, two people will run away together. If you want to do this, I am willing to run away together.

However………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

“……………… Sorry… I’m so scared. To be honest, I really want to just run away like this. I don’t want Asuna to die, of course I don’t want to die myself. The real world………

Even if you can't go back to the real world, it doesn't matter.........I want to live with you all the time in that forest hut. It's just the two of us... forever..."

"Ahhh... it's really like dreaming. It would be great if it could be that way... I can be with you every day... forever...

Kirito, have you ever thought about it? What happened to our bodies in the real world?

Remember? At the beginning of this game, that person... Kayaba Akihiko's game description. He said that nervgear can allow two hours of disconnection. That reason is..."

“…In order to get our bodies transported to a hospital with care equipment………”

"In fact, after a few days, everyone encountered an incident of disconnecting for an hour, right?

I think all players should have been moved to various hospitals at that time. Generally, families cannot take care of vegetative people like us for several years. So they should be reconnected to the Internet after being moved to the hospital………………”

"Well... maybe that's the case..."

"If our bodies are in a hospital bed and connected to many pipelines to maintain life... I don't think it can continue without any abnormality."

“………………In other words…whether we can fully guide the game… there will be a deadline…”

"... And this period will vary depending on everyone's physical condition... In the game, topics about outside are considered taboos, so I have never told anyone about this... But Kirito, you are different. I... What about me, I want to be by your side for the rest of my life. I want to date you well, get married, and live together until old age. So... so..."

"So...we must fight now..."

No problem—it must be no problem. As long as we are together, it must be-

※

“…………………… Why do I feel like I’m completely destroyed…”

"What a coincidence, I feel this way, too."

On the 75th floor of the transfer gate square in Corinia, Kirito and Asuna twitched their eyes at Kuina who was still wearing the witch-slim dress. The expressions of other players were not much better, and they could even hear Hitzcliff muttering in a low voice, "Why are there such clothes?"

"Your Highness Princess, are you sure you are here to guide the boss, aren't you participating in the fan show?"

The knife made Klein ask Kuyana with laughter and tears.

"It's okay, I think my clothes are normal."

As he said, Kuyina said in a obviously sarcastic tone, "At least it's much better than someone's headscarf."

“……………………”

Klein, petrochemical.

"Well, Asuna!!!"

A light flashed in his purple eyes, and Kuina pounced on Asuna who was smiling bitterly like a hungry wolf. Speaking of which, he has lost his moral integrity recently.

Bang!

"it hurts!"

Kuyina covered her head and fell to the ground. When she was flying, an owl suddenly inserted into it and hit her with a head hammer.

"What are you doing, Xiaoya! It hurts really!"

Kuyina protested to the owl in dissatisfaction.

This is a monster named [Night Owl]. After being tamed by Kuyna as a demon, it was used as a proxy for Athena when she was in sao.

(I'm so embarrassed to ask what's wrong with me?)

The owl's apricot yellow pupils ignited a rage.

(You are too unconventional recently? You want to chat with girls when you see them. It's even more than that Kusanagi Gudo! If you continue like this, be careful of getting hatchet like that I'm like.)

(Wait! Why did Xiaoya know about Fujimakura!?)

(I wanted to know what the girl who was admitted to the palace should do, so I went to see it………)

(You shouldn't read this one!?)

(By the way, when I saw Yi Cheng getting hatched, I would feel a warmth.)

(He actually used Ling ○Li's expression to express this horror......)

(Anyway, don't go too far. Otherwise, let me experience what the queen's hatchet is.)

The owl pointed with a momentum at the messy Kuyina with her wings.

(………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

(Huh? Hey? Wait, wait! At least find a place where there is no one! Ah, there is no way over there~!!!)
Chapter completed!