Shino-san.
Are you free now?
You haven't quit this game yet?
I heard about what happened to Shino-san...
I couldn't quit even if I wanted to.
Somehow, I still feel indecisive on what to do.
Hey, did something happen?
I don't know anything other than the rumors.
I came to this place because I was worried about that rumor.
Erm, how's Haseo?
Did Haseo... say anything?
Why don't you just ask him directly?
Haseo won't say anything...
...to me.
I am being a nuisance to you. Sorry.
You are the only one left who can be by his side.
Ask him directly. That's for the best.
Shino...
Why didn't you tell me anything...
Why didn't you answer your phone...
OVAN!
What are you doing at a time like this?!
Where are you?!
As I thought, it's this place.
We tested three times, and the analysis became impossible at the same place.
Yata-sama?
What is the data that is impossible to analyze?
It was originally spam data that didn't need to be analyzed.
You forgot the prerequisite.
If this is said to be the scrap data left over from the spam data,
that could explain how Ovan was able to escape. I know that.
And?
What is remaining is most likely logic that we are unaware of.
What does the architecture comprise of?
Most likely a save dump.
However, such data exists in the game. Moreover...
What is it?
The SF that made use of TaN,
is the SF that existed during the online gaming era.
We have...
...in this game...
...within The World, there exists something that we don't understand.
That something was clinging onto Ovan's PC body, and we have confirmed that.
We have to ascertain what that something is, and at the same time identify its intentions.
Isn't that so?
Pai.
Yes?
It's time for you to make your move.
Yes.
When was the last time you met Shino?
You must be worried.
I've finally found you.
I have been searching for you, here and there.
Hey... that Sign...
It was left behind when Shino-san was defeated, is that true?
What if it's true?
Haseo...
...you were there, right?
I was.
I couldn't do anything. Absolutely nothing.
If I had contacted you much earlier,
it might have ended up differently...
It doesn't matter.
But...
Sorry, phone. My cellphone is ringing.
Shino?
Haseo?
What happened?
What happened to Shino-san?
Haseo...
What is it?
Phyllo, you seem weird somehow.
Have you met up with Haseo?
I came here because of that, but...
Phyllo, are you okay?
The truth is that...
...I'm not feeling that well.
Mind telling me?
Did something happen?
If that was Tri-Edge,
there's nothing we can do.
You met him?
She's late....
Ah, you've arrived?
It's you right?
Why did you come from that direction?
I can arrive here fairly quickly since I'm carefree and independent.
Once I reach the harbor, it's so near that it doesn't matter if I walk or take a bus.
However, the appointment place is a bit complicated.
You are still the same.
Ah, well...
Even if I change to a new PC Body, I'm still the same inside. That won't change.
If you came here with that character, I guess you have agreed and acknowledged what I said, right?
I like this.
I didn't like the other prior characters I had.
However...
However?
I do not want to return to the dark side.
TaN is no longer around, so things like the dark side no longer exist.
There's no longer a need to return to it, isn't that so?
Then why?
What were you planning by giving me a new PC Body?
Don't worry, I don't intend to use you to break the rules.
How dangerous. This character will be kicked out if any rules are broken, right?
Hence the question is whether you are willing to accept the character.
I'll contact you again.
Name...
Is it fine to remain Saburou?
I'm not willing to give in. Even though there's a revision, and this place is different from before,
That which makes up The World has not changed at all.
Even though I don't really understand, it's all right if you don't mind.
Wait a minute, what were you thinking?!
If you were planning to greet me at this kind of place, it was meaningless for us to arrange to meet at the alter!
Ah, well...
Since the dark side no longer exists, I thought that there's probably no need to sneak around.
I say...
Anyway, what is it?
Tri-Edge.
Something to do with him?
Maybe and maybe not.
I'm very concerned over the rumors that have been spreading over the BBS lately.
But to be honest, I can't say anything right now.
One more thing, an event was held recently right?
Those limited edition guys?
At the painful forest, right?
Yes, that.
Were you all involved in that?
What do you think we are?
Interfering with an event organized by CC Corporation...
We don't have that kind of power.
Is that so?
The old man that lives next to the girl that dreams constantly of song lyrics,
is surprisingly a famous composer.
I don't get your analogy.
Oh well. It's interesting, so I'll be using this body.
Thank you. I'll contact you again.
Where did you go?
I am not an NPC. I exist in the real world.
It's normal if I'm not here.
Same goes for you, what happened?
It is not the time to sleep yet.
Er...
No, next time I guess.
Hey.
What do you think of those rumors on the BBS?
There are plenty of rumors, which are you referring to?
You haven't see it?
As I was saying, which one?
If you get defeated by Tri-Edge, your PC is lost.
The player in real life will become unconscious.
He's a bastard that makes people unable to return.
How's Shino?
Leave Shino alone! How do you know?
Let's go to a different place. Come with me for a while.
What place is this?
The place I met Tri-Edge.
You...
...did you defeat Tri-Edge?
No.
But... how come you are unharmed after meeting up with him?
That's right.
I don't understand. I mean, why?
Haseo.
Huh?
I am...
...not worthy of being Tri-Edge's foe.
I don't know why, but I managed to survive.
Something like that happened?
I told you because it did.
Then, why is Shino...
How's Shino?
Shino is...
The real life Shino is... unconscious.
She's lying on top of a hospital bed.
She...
...the way she was defeated is not normal.
I called her immediately.
Hey! Pick up your phone!
After that,
I received a call from Shino's mother.
She called after looking at the call records, right?
Shino lives alone.
Her friends felt that something was wrong, and contacted her family. Quite a commotion broke out.
She...
The landlord unlocked the door, and she was all alone until the medical personnel arrive.
Alone all this while...
If not for her friends...
What did her mother say?
"Why did something like this happen?"
"Do you know anything?"
It's as if I...
It must be tough on you.
Because this happened...
Haseo...
It's because this happened.
Because...
...if I had gone to the chapel earlier...
It would be the same. In the worst case scenario, there might have been another victim.
But you see...
If it's Tri-Edge, you definitely can't defeat him.
Hey, is there something special about this field?
As you can see, it's just a normal field.
I came to understand why he appeared at the Lost Grounds.
But he...
...Tri-Edge...
...why did he come to a place like this?
Phyllo, why did you come here?
Why?
Just felt like it.
You, who always stays at the Mac Anu bridge, came here because you "just felt like it".
Do you really think someone could find that answer plausible?
Errr...
Speak.
Ovan and Shino...
...first encountered each other here.
Become stronger.