It was night. The girls who returned to the 47th floor of "Florya" rarely made any noise. Instead, they greeted each other and returned to their own rooms to start recharging their energy for tomorrow's battle.
stand up.
But when the main hall was dismissed, Aiko suddenly stopped Yuuki, as if she wanted to say something.
But soon, the long-haired sister shook her head, and then smiled and told her sister to have a good rest.
Seeing Aiko, who was hesitant to speak, turn around and leave, Yuuki felt a little melancholy, and finally had to classify it as 'pre-war syndrome'.
…
The small villa was enveloped in endless silence, and the time soon came to late night, with only an hour or two left before dawn.
The night wind blew through the sparse starry sky and into a room with an open window, causing the sleeping little girl to slightly twitch her eyes.
"Well……"
Getting up from the bed, Yui, who moved into Yuuki's room because she didn't want to be separated from her 'mom', rubbed her eyes and looked dimly at the girl next to her who was still fully dressed and standing at the window looking at the distant scenery.
"……Mother?"
Somewhat curious about why Yuuki hadn't rested so late, Yui tilted her cute little head slightly and asked.
Due to the program transfer and liberation, the little girl seems to have identified this 'mother', and the name has been changed again from the name back to the name she used when her memory was confused.
"Ah, did it wake you up?"
Upon noticing the movement behind her, the girl turned her head with an apology on her face.
"Did something happen?"
After getting out of bed lightly, Yui walked to Yuuki and asked softly.
"...It's nothing, I just feel a little emotional that time flies by so fast."
After smiling calmly, Yuuki turned her head to the window again.
"..."
The room fell silent again, and the two of them stood quietly for a while.
The silent melody took away Yui's sleepiness. As a mental management support program, she who is very sensitive to emotions can clearly feel the fluctuations in Yuuki's heart.
This look that seemed to be worrying made the little girl feel slightly uneasy.
It's not like he's worried about failing tomorrow's strategy, but more like he's worried about being unable to change certain established facts.
I don't know if it was her imagination, but Yuuki was clearly standing in front of her, but she gave people the feeling that she might disappear at any time.
The words that came next made Yui even more convinced of this.
"...Yui, if one day I have to go somewhere far away, can you stay with them on my behalf before I come back?"
The girl who said this did not turn her head, as if she didn't want people to see the expression on her face.
"..."
"……don't want……"
But before she could finish her next words, Yuuki found someone grabbing the corner of her clothes.
A small voice sounded from behind.
"...I'm just a program...I can't do such complicated things..."
The feeling of the clothes being clenched came. The little girl had noticed something and started whimpering sadly.
"Originally, I was born as an MHCP and should have been cleared from the system after constant mistakes. Thanks to my mother's help, I was able to gain a new life..."
"Our time together has obviously just begun. I don't want this to happen..."
As if to deny the sadness in Yuuki's words, the little girl shook her head vigorously.
"But...if such a day comes, please take me with you..."
"Isn't it weird? I'm obviously just a program..."
Then, with determination and determination, Yui expressed her request, but she also seemed a little disappointed because of its own particularity.
"Yui..."
Sensing the seriousness in the other party's words, a bitter expression appeared on Yuuki's face for the first time.
(...'When you feel uneasy, just stop and look around you.' Fortunately, I dare to say this to others...)
(No wonder Sister Lan said that to me. It turns out Asuna is not the only one who is confused...)
It’s no wonder that for Yuuki, this ‘end’ may just be a ‘beginning’ in another sense.
But this time is different from before. She was born into this world as a 'human' and has lived for more than ten years. She also has relatives and bonds.
After she successfully survived, she still had to face the end of leaving here.
Is this seemingly endless reincarnation between life and death really the 'salvation' she expected?
Facing the approaching final moment, Yuuki inevitably became a little sentimental.
"...I understand. I'm sorry, Yui, for making such an unreasonable request to you."
After touching Yui's little head, Yuuki tried her best to calm down her mood and resumed her usual tone.
Although I still can’t see the future direction clearly, if I stop here, I won’t even be able to find tomorrow.
(If I succeed this time, I must have a good talk with that 'idiot' goddess after my return...)
If every time it ends with disappearing, what's the difference between this future and a "lunchbox"...
She believed that there must be a way to maintain her bond somewhere.
The clock quietly points to twelve o'clock, which means that a new day has arrived.
After putting Yui to sleep again, Yuuki did not rest, but came to the maze area on the 75th floor alone.
Everything here is made of a material similar to obsidian, and the overall look and feel has a sharper atmosphere than the middle and lower floors.
If you continue to walk through the game, players will find that there are two completely different levels of difficulty before the 75th floor and after the 75th floor.
But now, someone is ready to help them avoid the need to continue taking risks.
After passing through the cold and damp corridor, the girl alone walked into the obsidian door that was completely open, as if welcoming the challenger.
In the room, at the front of the originally empty large space, there was a ruby throne that was out of place.
Feeling the arrival of someone, the man on the throne slowly opened his eyes with a slightly surprised expression.
"This is really surprising...I thought you would be fully prepared to challenge me again."
"Didn't you expect that there is already a challenger on the second day?"
But out of surprise, the man in red on the throne didn't seem to have any intention of getting up.
"You shouldn't forget that I am not sitting here as a player, but as a boss template."
Smiling with a high and aloof attitude, the man in red - Heathcliff reminded Yuuki who came here.
On the other hand, the girl with the Absolute Sword, who had anticipated this, did not stop because of Heathcliff's warning, and made a small and plain sound from her mouth.
——[Program Eecution (program execution)]
——[Character data correction and permission changes.]
——【Code Name】
——【Mayuri(万里)】
The data representing the characters are constantly churning, and the information begins to be reorganized.
"Then the conditions are equal, Heathcliff."
The elf girl, who symbolizes judgment, is here! (To be continued)