best villain

In the field of vision, the rain of arrows poured down like a waterfall, and that figure swayed with the light of the sword.

Ah, it's this dream again.

Ah, it's this dream again.

Although it was a dream that I had seen many times, Asuna still couldn't help sighing.

A vivid scene emerges from a dream that will be forgotten as soon as you open your eyes.

Then, a vague figure of a young man appeared immediately after.

The inorganic scenery flickered like a slideshow. There was a person holding up a long sword to lead countless people forward. There was a person brandishing a long sword and facing the monster like a hill alone. engulfed...

Every time, every time, that person seems to be saying something that is incomprehensible but always makes a unique sense.But, nothing—couldn't hear anything, and Asuna couldn't hear anything.

It's like this every time, that everyone's words can't be conveyed.

Asuna knew what that person was complaining about, as if he was dissatisfied with the world itself, destiny itself, and everyone themselves.

That's it.

Just know so much.

Why is Asuna's chest tightened every time she sees such a scene.

It seems that I forgot something.

After repeating so many times, Asuna knew very well that she seemed to have forgotten something.

Yes, she did forget something, but she had no idea 'what'.

What did you forget?Can't figure it out anyway.

Therefore, whenever this dream appeared, no matter how insignificant the details were, Asuna would observe carefully and try her best to find instructive clues.

Originally, Asuna had the character of breaking the casserole and asking the end.

To put it simply, it is a slight obsessive-compulsive disorder.

This is the essence of Asuna.

Therefore, she must understand and let herself recall.

Countless times, staring at——

Recently I finally figured out something.

In fact, it was only recently that Asuna realized that the young man was wearing the uniform of the Knights of the Blood Alliance from the sao game era, because of the hazy feeling unique to dreams.The black hair and the straight facial features had to be seen many times before they could be seen clearly.

And this time, Asuna observed what the young man was talking about. .

Of course, not hearing what he was saying.

But there is such a skill as lip-reading in this world. Even if you don’t learn that skill, most people use their eyes to confirm the movement of the other person’s lips when they are listening to someone speaking, so that they can be sure that they are listening unconsciously. information is correct.

Asuna stared intently at the young man's lips.Through unskilled half-lip reading, I figured out some syllables.

"what!?"

When reading the lips of that young man, Asuna frowned in surprise.

"Why do you know my name?"

Yes, it was her name that came out of that young man's mouth.

"What's going on...?"

In the dream, a young man desperately shouted his name.

usually.This must have happened in the past.

But Asuna didn't have the slightest impression.

Why?What exactly is this for?

"Why, my heart is so uncomfortable..."

There was pain in Asuna's voice.

The scene changed again, the man looked up and seemed to be saying something, there were many sao players beside him, but they all looked at him with fear and astonishment?Why?

Before she had time to think about this question, Asuna heard it.

Yes, I heard it.

"My guess was right..."

"I am the one who brought you here. I am the one who hinders your escape, I am the one who empowers you to fight, and I am the one who kills you."

So say it.

"What am I?"

The young man closed his eyes as if giving up, and the sword in his hand fell to the ground.

At this moment, the uncontrollable emotion in Asuna's heart welled up, driven by that uncontrollable emotion, Asuna couldn't help shouting:

"--don't want!"

☆

"do not want!"

The moment the voice came out, Asuna opened her eyes and sat up on the bed.His forehead was covered with fine sweat.

"What are you doing, you suddenly said such sad words, even I was affected."

Asuna muttered to herself, her shoulders were still trembling slightly, but her mood calmed down a lot.

Although the air conditioner is set to cooling mode, it seems that I forgot to set the timer to turn off, which caused the air in the room to wake up early in the morning to be a little cold.

Asuna shivered and slowly got up from the bed.He stretched out his finger towards the integrated operation panel embedded in the control panel.Tapped the touch sensor.With just one movement, the curtains in both places were drawn with a slight motor sound, the air conditioner blew out hot air, and the LED light panels on the ceiling gave off a pale orange light.

The indoor technology developed by the rect home appliance department was also installed in Asuna's room.I don't know when this room was redecorated during the hospitalization.But for some reason, Asuna couldn't like this convenient device.Being able to operate things in a room with a single window is a matter of course in the virtual world, but when it appears in the real world, it feels a bit chilly for some reason.The skin seems to be able to feel the sight of inorganic substances like sensors all over the walls and floors.

Maybe this is because Kiriko, Kiritani Kazuko’s house, has visited many times. The warmth of her traditional Japanese-style house contrasts with the coldness of her own.My grandparents' house felt that way too.When going to play during the summer vacation, Asuna would always sit on the sunny porch, shaking her feet, eating shaved ice made by her grandmother.However, the grandparents died a long time ago, and the house has been demolished for a long time——

Sighing lightly, Asuna put on her slippers and stood up.She suddenly felt a little dizzy. The gravity of the real world is really not a joke. It is not as relaxing as dreams and games.

Of course, the same feeling of gravity is simulated even in fantasy worlds.However, the Asuna of that world would be able to leave the ground like a bird whenever she just lightly kicked the ground.Gravity in the real world is not just a physical force.It also contains too many elements that cannot be shaken off no matter how many times you try.Although I want to fall on the bed again.But it's time for breakfast.As long as one minute is late, the mother will complain again.

He walked to the closet with heavy steps, and before he could stretch out his hand, the door folded and slid open.He took off his comfortable sweater and threw it on the bed in rebellion.Putting on a spotless blouse and a long dark cherry dress, she sat on a stool at the dressing table next to her.The mirror also unfolded automatically, and the lights on it immediately lit up.

Even at home, my mother does not allow Asuna to dress carelessly.Asuna picked up the comb.Quickly tidy up the long hair that was messed up in the sneak.

As soon as he took a step from his own room into the dark corridor, before closing the door, the backlight went out by itself.

Walking down the semi-circular stairs and reaching the lobby on the first floor, the housekeeper Akiyo Sada just opened the entrance door.Is dinner is ready and going home.

For short women in their 40s.Asuna smiled slightly and said:

"You've worked hard, Miss Sada. Thank you for coming every day. I'm sorry I didn't say it until now."

The housekeeper quickly shook her head, and immediately returned the salute deeply.

"It's a small thing, Miss. It's work."

Asuna looked around and asked in a low voice when she saw no one was present:

"Have mother and brother returned yet?"

"Mr. Koichiro seems to be coming back later. My wife is already in the restaurant."

"Really? Thanks."

The conversation ended quickly, and the housekeeper bowed again, then went out and left.

I remember that she seems to have two children who are junior high school students and elementary school students.Although the family is in the Setagaya area.But if you go shopping and go home now, you won't be there until 07:30.Tough time for kids with a healthy appetite.I once said to my mother, don't do this, wouldn't it be nice to let her prepare dinner and put it there, but my mother didn't even bother.

After that, Asuna walked across the hall to the dining room.

As soon as the heavy oak door was pushed open, a calm but stern voice came.

"you are late."

Asuna couldn't help but looked up at the clock hanging on the wall, it was exactly 06:30.

But it was too late to explain.The voice came again.

"Come to the table 5 minutes early in the future."

"sorry."

Asuna muttered softly, and sat down on the bench chair by the table.

Sitting diagonally across from her, her mother, Kyoko Yuki, was sipping her favorite sherry while staring at the original economics book in front of her.

He is tall and tall, and although his face is well-shaped, his facial features and stern expression give off a cold and stern impression.Maybe that's exactly what I expected.She kicked out school rivals with sharp rhetoric and acrimonious politics, and became a professor-industry at the age of 49 last year.

Regardless of the identity of the mother.She is indeed a successful woman.

After Asuna sat down, Kyoko closed the hardcover book without raising her head, spread the napkin on her lap, glanced at Asuna and said nothing.

But Asuna still kept her head down.With a grunt I started and picked up the spoon.

For a moment, there was only the sound of silverware clashing in the restaurant.

Vegetable salad with blue cheese, broad bean soup, grilled white fish with herbal sauce, whole wheat bread and more.The menu is like this.The daily meals are determined by Kyoko through nutritional calculations, but of course she didn't cook them.

Since when did the dining table with just me and my mother feel so tense, Asuna thought as she moved her hands.

No, maybe it's been that way since a long, long time ago.Remember to be sternly reprimanded for spilling soup or leftover vegetables.It's just that the former Asuna didn't know that there was a lively dining table.

While eating mechanically, he was still recalling what happened in the dream.

Suddenly, Kyoko's voice brought Asuna back to reality.

"Use that machine again?"

Tomorrow carefully looked at his mother, and nodded slightly.

"Well, because I made an appointment with everyone to do homework together."

"As for homework, if you don't do it well with your own hands, you won't learn anything."

Asuna lowered her head and said something else.

"Everyone, we all live far away. If we stay over there, we can meet soon."

"Using that kind of machine is not considered a meeting at all. And homework is done by one person. It's just fun with friends."

But Kyoko didn't listen at all, and instead began to tell her big truth.

"Listen well. You don't have time to play. Since you are two years behind other children, of course you have to study harder for these two years."

"I have studied hard. The grade notification form for the second semester has been printed out and placed on the table, right?"

"You can see it, but the performance evaluation of that kind of school doesn't count at all."

"What kind of school?"

"Listen up, Asuna. In the third semester, besides the school, we also need a tutor. It's not the one that is popular through the Internet recently. I will come home properly."

"Wait...wait a minute, it's so sudden..."

"see this."

Kyoko stopped Asuna's protest with an involuntary tone.Pick up the thin and light terminal panel from the table.Taking the panel handed over by her mother, Asuna frowned and scanned the screen.

"What is this? A placement test?"

"It's the third-year transfer exam for the high school where my mother's friend is the director. It's an opportunity I just got. It's not a patchwork school, it's a serious high school. It's a credit system, so you can talk about it. This semester will meet the graduation requirements. In this case, you can start college from September."

Asuna looked at Kyoko dumbfounded.Putting the terminal back on the table, raising his right hand slightly, interrupted the mother who was talking more and more vigorously.

"Wait, wait a minute. I will be very troubled by making such an arbitrary decision. I like the current school very much. There are many good teachers, and I can study hard there. There is no need to change schools."

That's all.Kyoko sighed exaggeratedly, closed her eyes, pushed the center of the gold-rimmed mirror frame with the tip of her left finger, and leaned back on the chair.These movements are also unique to Kyoko, and are part of the speaking technique that is often used to make opponents realize their superiority.If you do this action on the sofa in the professor's room, even men will be cautious.Even her husband, Akizo Yuuki, could see that at home he would try his best to avoid confrontation with Kyoko.

"Mom has done a good job of investigating."

Kyoko spoke in a teaching tone.

"The place where you go to school is not a school at all. The curriculum is so-so and the level of teaching is low. The teachers are patchwork. There are hardly any people with serious experience. The place is not so much an educational institution as it is. Said it was a correctional facility or a containment facility."

"That... that statement..."

"Although it sounds good to be a carrier of students whose education was delayed due to an accident, that kind of school is actually just a place where children who may cause problems in the future are put together and monitored. That kind of facility might be necessary for kids who are fighting each other all over the world, but you don't have to go to that kind of place."

"..."

This is too one-sided assertion.Let Asuna do not know how to explain.

The school in Nishitokyo, where I started attending last spring, was built urgently in less than two months after the announcement of the plan.Its purpose is to relieve children who have been delayed for two years from their education by being imprisoned in a death game known as swordartonline.As long as the original Sao players are under the age of [-], they can enroll for free, and after graduation, they can get the qualifications for the university entrance examination. This extremely superior treatment has also caused a wave of criticism in the society.

But Asuna, who went to school there, felt it firsthand.That school is not a mere protection net.All students are obliged to participate in one-person consultation once a week. Depending on the answer, they may be sent to the hospital for re-diagnosis or even required to take medicine.In other words, it is to test whether everyone has anti-social tendencies, and if so, continuing to "treat" is not good.Therefore, the word "corrective facility" that Jingzi said was not without basis.

Even so, Asuna loves that school.No matter what ideas the government and the Ministry of Education have, all the teachers on the scene are voluntary and open to the students.There is no need to deliberately hide the past among the students, and more importantly, they can be with friends who are heart-to-heart.With Lisbeth, Silica, several partners from the original strategy team, and—Keiko Kiritani, the best friend who has been with her all this time, fighting side by side, and talking about everything.

Asuna clenched the fork in her left hand and bit her lips tightly. She wanted to say desperately, "I am what my mother called 'a child who has been fighting each other'. I have been living in the daily life of taking each other's lives with swords. .and with no regrets about those days."

Kyoko, completely oblivious to Asuna's inner struggle, continued:

"Even if you go to school in that kind of place, you can't go to school seriously. Think about it, you are already. But in this place, you don't know when you will be able to go to college. Your friends from junior high school will be there next week. I went to the test center to take the unified test. Are you not in a hurry at all?"

"Such things as entering a higher school... a year or two later is not a big problem. Besides, going to college is not the only way out."

"No."

Kyoko coldly denied Asuna's words.

"You have abilities. You know how much mommy and daddy worked so hard to bring out those abilities. But two years were wasted in that strange game. If you were an ordinary child, mom wouldn't say That's what you say. But you're not like that, right? It's a sin not to make the best use of the talent you've been given, and let it rot. You have the qualifications and ability to go to a good university and receive a top-notch education. Then you should Do this. It’s fine to enter the government or a company to use your abilities. It’s also fine to stay in college and pursue an academic path, my mother will not interfere to that extent. But I will not allow you to give up the opportunity to receive higher education.”

"I don't have that kind of innate talent."

Asuna interrupted.

"A person's way of life should be chosen by himself, right? I used to think that going to a good university and finding a good job is the whole of life. But I have changed. Although I can't answer it now, I will definitely find what I really want to do .I want to take another year at my current school and find that out."

"That's just self-restriction. No matter how many years you stay in that kind of place, you can't open any roads. But the school you want to transfer to is different. The university above is also a prestigious school. If you leave good grades there, you can enter. Mom's going to college. Listen carefully, Asuna. Mom doesn't want you to go down a miserable path. I hope you can build a career that can be proud of to everyone."

"My career? So, what is the person I introduced to me at my home some time ago? Although I don't know what ideas were instilled in me, but that person even has the tone of being engaged to me. It restricts my lifestyle. Isn't it the mother who chooses?"

Asuna couldn't restrain the slight tremor in her voice, but Kyoko brought the wine glass to her lips unmoved.

"Marriage is also a part of career. If you get married without material freedom, you will regret it after five or ten years. What you said you want to do will become impossible to accomplish. At this point, Yuya-kun is impeccable. Nowadays, compared to big banks with constant factional struggles, a regional bank run by a family is more reassuring. Mom also likes Yuya-kun. He is a straightforward and good boy, isn’t he.”

"It seems that you haven't reflected on it at all. It was revealed a few days ago that someone in Dad's company secretly tried to conduct human experiments on the brains of many game players. The dead person is Sugo Nobuyuki, chosen by Mom."

"shut up."

Kyoko's expression changed drastically, and she waved her left hand as if chasing away annoying bugs.

"I don't want to hear about that person. Originally, the person I liked said that he wanted to adopt him as an adopted son. It was your father. He has never looked at people from the past. It doesn't matter. Although Yu Ye-kun is a little bit domineering, but It's more reassuring, isn't it?"

really.Asuna's father, Akizo, has not paid much attention to the people around him since a long time ago.He only devotes his energy to the management of the company, and even now that he has stepped down from the CEO position, he does not care about cooperation with overseas capitalists at all.Akira San himself also said.It is my own incompetence that only values ​​the development, management ability and rising ambition of Xuxiang, but does not see the internal human nature.

However, Asuna feels that Sugo Nobuyuki's aggressive personality has gradually increased since junior high school, and the severe pressure from the surroundings is also one of the reasons.Moreover, part of that pressure was undoubtedly contained in Kyoko's words.

Asuna swallowed her bitterness and said in a stiff voice.

"—Anyway, Asuna doesn't want to associate with that person at all. It's up to Asuna to choose the partner."

"That's fine. Anyone can do it, as long as they are good people who are worthy of you. But let me say first, students in that kind of facility are not included."

Asuna was dumbfounded again. Could it be that she didn't want to transfer because she had a lover in that school?

"You have to understand that both mom and dad want you to be happy. You have been looking forward to this since you were in kindergarten. Although you have encountered a little setback, you can recover completely. As long as you work hard now If you do, you can accumulate a brilliant career."

It's not me but mother, Asuna muttered in her heart.

Both Asuna and older brother Koichiro are a key element in Kyoko's own 'brilliant career'.Koichiro entered a first-class university and left a solid track record after taking office in a company, which satisfied Kyoko.Asuna was supposed to follow closely behind, but was involved in such incomprehensible things as the Sao incident, followed by the Sugo incident, which lowered Rect's corporate image, and Kyoko felt that her life was flawed .

Asuna lost interest in continuing the argument, put down the knife and fork and stood up.

"I will consider the matter of joining the class."

Anyway, that's the first thing to say, but Kyoko replied:

"The deadline is next week. Fill out the necessary items before then, print three copies and put them on the desk in the study."

Asuna turned and left. She wanted to go back to the room just like that, but she couldn't restrain what was lingering in her mind. She just took a step and then turned to Kyoko at the table and said.

"Mother."

"what's up?"

"Mama is ashamed about the dead grandparents. Is it dissatisfied that you were born into a peasant family instead of a famous family with a history?"

Kyoko's eyes widened as if stunned for a moment, and he roared uncontrollably:

"Asuna! Come here!"

Such a terrifying reaction had been expected, so Asuna closed the door heavily, walked up the stairs quickly as if fleeing, and opened the door of her own room.

Compared with those trivial things, she cares more about what happened in the dream. It seems that she has dreamed something, but she can't remember it at all after waking up. It's too bad. .

Asuna faintly felt that there was not much time left for herself.

It seems that we are about to bid farewell to this dream.

No, nothing was figured out, it ended inexplicably, she would not accept such a result.

"Go out for a walk."

Asuna leaned against the door of the room, looked up at the ceiling for a while, and said suddenly.