"...Xiaoyou, do you want to play that game today too?"
In Yuuki's ward, Aiko, who wore her long hair tied up in front and was often jokingly called by her sister, "Sister, your hairstyle is dangerous," couldn't help but ask the black hair who kept recording certain information in his notebook.
girl.
"Ah. Well..."
After hearing her sister's question, Yuuki, who was dealing with her own affairs seriously, nodded subconsciously.
"..."
Seeing Yuuki like this, Lanzi didn't know whether to be happy or sad.
Because since Yuuki received that strange machine half a month ago, she has rarely left the hospital.
Even Dr. Kurahashi was amazed, and even thanked for the first time the game that could help this troubled child to calm down and not catch a cold.
But for Lanzi, it would be better if he could play with his sister.
"That's great... I also want to see what kind of game can make Xiaoyu so involved..."
His expression was a little lonely, but Yuuki had been busy with "strategy" recently, which took up a lot of time for the two of them to get along, and even the opportunities for chatting were reduced a lot.
"I can't help it, because the quota is limited. I'm just lucky."
Knowing that he might have 'snubbed' Lanzi during this period, Yuuki put down the 'work' in his hands and smiled apologetically.
And in her heart, she was actually a little lucky.
This machine, which was just released in May, is still in the test operation stage, so the price is not very cheap.
Although the future market positioning is in the name of home game consoles, at least for now, for a family that has to maintain three patients, the price is not something that can be easily ignored.
The one Yuuki had was provided by the developer in the name of testing the game.
So after understanding this, Lanzi gave up decisively.
Although she usually plays games, she is not an avid fan.
As long as my sister is happy, that's fine.
…
"Then, I will go back first. Although the game is fun, your body is more important."
After looking at the electronic clock in the room and packing away the nutritious meal specially made for Yuuki, Aiko took out her sister's recipe and gave instructions.
"Yeah, I understand, Sister Lan, be careful on the way home."
Waving towards the door, Yuuki promised to come, but only she knew whether she would be 'obedient' or not.
Before closing the door, Lanzi peeked through the crack in the door and found that the black-haired girl had indeed laid down and put on her helmet, and sighed with a headache.
(Let’s talk to Dr. Kurahashi...)
Feeling that her sister was a little too indulged in it, Lanzi dragged her "heavy steps" towards the doctor's office.
Well, this is what she should do as a sister. She is definitely not unhappy because her sister doesn't talk to her.
——The third floor of "Aincrad", the main district "Zimford".
With "forest" as the design theme, three huge yew trees are its characteristics. The huge ancient trees cover almost all the land on the third floor.
Next to the portal in the main block of the town, a young man wearing what looked like cheap equipment and a one-handed sword at his waist was leaning against a tree stump with his eyes closed, as if he was waiting for someone.
"Oh! Still so on time, little brother~"
The voice came from behind, and it also had a strange ending.
"...It would be better if you didn't get stuck every time."
Finally, someone's Yuuki turned around and looked helplessly at the female hook user with three beards painted on her face.
This female hook user character who dresses like a rodent is named "Argo" and claims to be not a player but an "intelligence dealer".
He is wandering around in several cleared floors of Aincrad, and is now somewhat famous among players.
After being put off by the other party with the excuse "I'm not late anyway, the intelligence agent is very busy", the boy who was too lazy to dwell on the problem stretched out his hand towards the female grapple user.
"Have you brought everything I asked for?"
"certainly."
He took out a brown scroll from his arms and handed it over to Argo who answered affirmatively.
After a few glances, Yuuki confirmed that there was nothing wrong and readily traded the information fee to the other party.
As far as game intelligence agencies are concerned, the other party is indeed considered a 'professional'.
“Thank you for your patronage~”
Looking at Cole who had already received the money, Argo grinned and continued with some curiosity.
"But your recent requests are getting more and more strange. Forget about the information related to monsters in the past, this time you even want the conversation methods and action patterns of those NPCs. Can you still study these things?
Come?"
Although the basic principle of an information dealer is not to inquire about a customer's secrets, Argo, who had done business with the boy many times, still asked in the tone of a half-joking friend.
The first time the two met by chance was around the "Holenka Village" on the first floor. At that time, Argo saw Yuuki who was studying the terrain carefully and thought he was his colleague, but later he felt that he was more efficient on his own.
Some low-ranking teenagers offered to buy information, which made the mouse girl overturn her guess.
"Want to know?"
"Um?"
Looking at the curious girl, the young man proudly made a 'ten' sign.
"One hundred thousand koels."
"...Why don't you go and grab it!!"
With an expression of "If you don't want to say it, forget it", Argo yelled.
She has always 'tricked' others, but today someone actually wanted to trick her.
"Hey."
Of course she is not doing meaningless intelligence collection, it is just to compare with the world that will be transformed into death gamification in the future. And she also wants to know what level the AI in this world has reached now, and whether there is any possibility of further progress.
Having studied many relevant theoretical courses in this world, she is no longer a novice when it comes to constructing virtual worlds.
To what extent Kayaba Akihiko's understanding of the "world" as a quantum physicist has reached is what she wants to confirm.
Moreover, these information might allow her to appear openly and openly in front of everyone as a 'tester' instead of a 'fixer'.
As long as that 'opportunity' appears.
…
"Okay Argo, I still have a task to do next. If there is any information I need, just contact me then."
Putting the scroll into his prop storage, the young man turned his back and waved his hand, walking towards the camping ground at the southern end of the forest.
"Ah, I know."
Putting on the hood again, the mouse girl responded briefly and hurriedly disappeared in another direction.
Now that you've got everything you want, it's almost time to start today's adventure.
Holding down the hilt of the sword, the character transformed by Yuuki once again enjoys this world that is still a game. (To be continued)