October 24, 2024 Floor 55: Grandzam
I understand the situation.
I'll explain it to the rest of the guild.
There's that, and we are also requesting a temporary leave from the guild.
Why is that?
I'm currently beginning to question the Knights of the Blood Oath.
Very well.
However,
you'll return to the battlefield before long.
October 25, 2024 Floor 22
Look at that view!
Don't get too close to the edge and fall.
We got a nice house.
It took all our money, though.
But here, we can live in peace.
Kirito-kun?
What's wrong?
Hey, Asuna...
Does our relationship exist in this world alone?
That question makes me angry, Kirito-kun.
Even if this is a virtual world,
my feelings are real.
There is one thing I've learned here.
To keep doing your best, up until the very end.
If we make it back to the real world,
I'll find you again.
And fall in love with you again.
The Girl of the Morning Dew
Normally, he's so forward.
But sometimes, he's surprisingly naïve.
Like a little kid.
He isn't younger than I am, is he?!
Kirito-kun...
I love you.
Let's be together forever, okay?
Good morning, Kirito-kun!
Morning...
D-Did you hear that?
Hear what?
N-Nothing!
Anyway, where should we go to play today?
You know...
We played yesterday and the day before, the whole day.
Then, you don't want to play?
I know a place that could be fun.
So, where are we going?
You'll find out when we get there.
Hey!
Carry me on your shoulders!
C-Carry you?
It's no fun always seeing things from the same height...
With your STR parameter, it should be easy, right?
W-Well, maybe, but...
Aren't you a little old for that?
My age doesn't matter.
Come on,
no one's watching.
O-Oh, fine...
If you turn around, I'll slap you!
This doesn't seem fair.
Ready.
You can already see the lake from here.
I can't see it...
Then I'll carry you later.
Now, let's go!
Set a course, north-northeast!
Right.
That scared me.
Someone's watching...
I guess there are people.
Go on, wave back, Kirito-kun.
Not doing it.
Should I get down?
Hang on tight!
Yesterday, I heard a rumor in the village.
Here, deep in the forest, you can see things.
See what?
Ghosts.
D-Does that mean
astral-type monsters?
Nope.
Real ghosts.
They say the hatred of the monsters that were hunted here
takes form and wanders the field nightly.
And we're nearly there...
To the place the rumors mention?
About a week ago,
a woodcrafter came to find wood.
As he focused on gathering it, night fell.
And he caught a glimpse of something white,
beneath a nearby tree.
Was it a monster or something else?
The white shadow walked slowly into a nearby grove of trees...
H-H-H-Hey!
L-L-Let me down!
What's wrong?
K-Kirito-kun, over there.
What is it?
You've gotta be kidding...
That's...
That's no ghost!
W-Wait, Kirito-kun!
Jeez...
A-A player?
This is pretty strange.
Strange?
There's no cursor.
Some kind of bug?
Probably.
Why is a little kid like this playing SAO?
We can't leave her out here.
Once she wakes up, we'll figure this out.
Let's take her back.
Yeah.
One thing's for sure.
Since we were able to move her here,
she can't be an NPC.
That's true...
An NPC would have given a harassment warning
when you picked her up.
And she isn't a quest giver, either.
If she were, our quest log would have updated.
Which means she's a player.
At least, a player is the most likely scenario.
But what was she doing out there?
I don't know what's going on,
but maybe she has a parent or guardian?
Yeah, she must've logged in with her family, right?
I hope they're safe.
Hey, she'll wake up, right?
Yeah, if her body hasn't disappeared,
then signals are being transmitted to and from her NerveGear.
I think it's a state similar to sleep.
So I'm sure she'll wake up eventually.
Yeah.
Hey, Kirito-kun?
Honestly.
If...
If she entered SAO all alone...
If she's been alone in this world this long...
Goodnight.
I hope you wake up tomorrow.
K-Kirito-kun!
Wake up, Kirito-kun!
Morning...
Something wrong?
Get over here!
I'm glad you woke up.
Do you remember what happened to you out there?
I see...
What's your name? Can you tell me?
N-Name...
My name...
Yui?
Yui... That's my name.
Yui-chan, huh?
That's a nice name.
I'm Asuna.
This is Kirito.
Auna?
Kito?
Hey, Yui-chan, what were you doing in the forest?
Do you have a mom and dad somewhere?
I don't know...
I don't know anything.
That's awful.
Hello, Yui-chan.
Can I call you Yui?
You can call me Kirito.
Kito?
Kirito.
Ki-ri-to.
Kito.
Maybe it's a little hard.
Whatever is easier for you.
Daddy.
M-Me?
Auna is Mommy...
That's right.
I'm your mommy, Yui-chan!
Mommy!
Daddy!
Mommy!
You must be hungry!
Let's eat.
Yeah!
Here you go.
This is yours, Yui-chan!
Yui, this is super spicy.
I want the same one as daddy.
I understand.
If you think you're ready, I won't stop you.
Everything in life is an experience!
It's good...
She's got guts.
Tonight, we'll do a full course of extra-spicy.
Don't tease her.
I'm not cooking that!
You heard her.
You heard her?
What do you think, Kirito-kun?
She doesn't seem to have any memories.
But more importantly, from the look of things...
It's like she's regressed into a baby.
I...
I'm sorry.
I don't know what to do...
You want to take care of her
until she regains her memory, right?
Yeah, but...
It's a tough problem...
If we don't get back to the front lines,
it'll take that much longer for Yui to get out.
Yeah.
Let's do what we can for now.
Judging by her gear,
I can't imagine she's been farming monsters every day.
Let's check the Town of Beginnings
for any parents or siblings she might have.
Right.
I don't want to say goodbye to her, either.
Kirito-kun?
I don't know how to express it.
It hasn't been long.
But having her here has made this feel like a real home.
It just feels that way.
Yeah.
But it's not like we'll never see her again.
And if she has a family or guardian,
they're probably worried right now.
Yeah.
When she wakes up, we'll go to the Town of Beginnings.
Get ready to equip your stuff if you need to...
That place is Army territory.
We should be careful.
Mommy...
Daddy.
October 31, 2024 Floor 1: Town of Beginnings
I haven't been here in ages.
Me, neither.
Yui-chan, do you remember any of these buildings?
I don't know.
Well, the Town of Beginnings is really big.
Let's start at the central market.
Hey, Kirito-kun...
How many players are here currently?
Hmm, I wonder.
About 6,000 players are still alive in SAO.
Including the Army, around thirty percent are in the Town of Beginnings...
Maybe a little fewer than two thousand?
Then isn't the place a little empty?
You're right.
Give back the children!
Hey, it's the day-care woman...
We've been waiting for you!
Return the children!
You make it sound like we're doing something bad.
We're just teaching them how things work around here...
This is an important part of the Army's mission.
That's right.
The citizenry has a duty to pay taxes.
Gin! Kain! Mina!
Are you over there?
Sasha-sensei!
Sensei, save us!
Forget the money.
Give it all to them!
Sensei, that's not good enough.
You guys owe a lot of back taxes.
So you need to leave your equipment,
along with your armor.
Everything.
Get...
Get out of the way!
Or...
It's okay now.
Put your equipment back on.
What?
Who the heck are you guys?
Are you going to interfere with the Army's mission?!
Well, wait a second.
I don't know you.
You do know what it means to defy the Liberation Army, right?!
Kirito-kun, take care of Yui-chan.
Right.
Don't worry.
In a safe zone, your HP won't decrease, no matter what.
That's right.
There's just a mild knock-back effect.
But even still,
safe zone fights are terrifying experiences.
Don't—
D-Don't just stand there. Do something!
Wow.
That was amazing, miss!
I've never seen that before.
Yeah, you were so cool!
Thank you.
Thanks! You were great!
I want to do it, too.
See? Mom's really strong, isn't she?
Everyone...
Everyone's hearts...
Yui?
Yui-chan?
Yui, what's wrong?
Everyone's hearts...
Yui?
Yui-chan, did you remember something?
I... I...
I wasn't here...
I was always alone, in the dark...
Yui!
Yui-chan!
Mommy...
I'm scared, Mommy...
What was that, just now?
Yui-chan.
Next Time: Yui's Heart