Although Kayaba Akihiko didn't die this time, he still uploaded the "Seed of the World" to the internet, making it available for free download and use. The value of this fully immersive gaming technology was immeasurable, especially for gaming companies. Without access to this "Seed of the World," other gaming companies would have no choice but to shut down or pivot their business entirely.
With the "Seed of the World," however, the starting line was leveled for everyone, and the competition would now depend on each company's production capabilities.
Even if the authorities wanted to ban it, it was already too late. The file had been downloaded far and wide. The "Seed of the World" was not particularly large in size, and any household with a computer could download it. However, turning this seed into a fully functional game was no easy feat. Factors like modeling, storyline, and server infrastructure meant only well-funded entities could create a complete immersive experience.
For companies, this was a blessing. But at the national level, the implications were less clear. Given Kayaba Akihiko's history, there was concern about whether the freely distributed "Seed of the World" might harbor hidden dangers. Such caution was reasonable, especially considering that the highest-level permissions for the "Seed of the World" were still in Kayaba Akihiko's hands.
Now, however, Daniel Davis also possessed these permissions.
While gaming companies saw this as an opportunity, governments had to address a slew of security concerns. Imagine a network built on the "Seed of the World" where national entities lacked the highest-level permissions—such a scenario could pose a grave risk to national security.
"You're asking about the identities of those three people? Sorry, I have no idea. I only knew them in the game and don't know anything about their real lives. You should be more aware of this than I am."
Daniel Davis himself was also questioned by the authorities, represented by Kikuoka Seijirou, a member of the Virtual Division—a team formed specifically to investigate the SAO incident under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' Advanced Communications Network Promotion Division Second Section.
After an initial round of general questions about SAO, Kikuoka shifted focus to the identities of the three shadow clones Daniel had created within the game.
This was an oversight on Daniel's part. His own identity was carefully constructed and well-supported by his shadow clones in the real world. Even though he hadn't been hospitalized, no one doubted him—after all, he was wealthy. Wealthy people often receive top-notch care even while staying at home. Kayaba Akihiko himself hadn't been hospitalized, either.
But Daniel hadn't given as much thought to the identities of Nagato, Itachi, and Sasuke—his three in-game shadow clones. This oversight now filled him with regret. Not because of the investigation itself (since no matter how thorough the authorities were, they couldn't uncover the existence of people who didn't exist in the real world), but because of the upcoming release of the fully immersive Naruto game.
Fortunately, Daniel's shadow clones had only used the names Nagato, Itachi, and Sasuke without adopting their appearances—small mercies in a larger oversight.
"It's unfortunate. We've thoroughly investigated all the players and found no leads on those three individuals," Kikuoka said with a wry smile.
The investigation revealed that while many players in the game knew of the trio—having been saved by them, including Yuna (who had died in the original story, leading to the events of Ordinal Scale)—no one in the real world had any idea who they were.
Despite being saved by the clones, there were no romantic storylines with Yuna, as she already had a childhood friend.
The three existed in the game but couldn't be found in reality, leading the authorities to suspect a connection to Kayaba Akihiko. As a guildmate of the three and their leader, Daniel naturally became a subject of questioning.
"I'm not sure. In that death game, people rarely talked about real life," Daniel explained. Even with Asuna, they hadn't discussed much about their real lives.
"In any case, we're grateful for your contributions in the game. Sasha and those children especially owe you a debt of gratitude."
"I was just doing what I had to."
"If you remember anything important about SAO, please let us know. The impact of Kayaba Akihiko's actions was far-reaching." With those words, Kikuoka rose from his seat.
"I will," Daniel replied, standing as well.
"By the way, congratulations on the public beta of Alfheim Online. The flying mechanics, though, seem a bit challenging," Kikuoka added with a smile as he prepared to leave.
"Practice makes perfect. I didn't expect you to try diving, though."
"As part of the investigation, I can't remain entirely uninformed, can I?"
"Kayaba Akihiko's actions in SAO were deplorable, but there's no denying his genius."
"Agreed."
"Kirigaya Kazuto—let's just call you Kirito. What are your thoughts on the Akatsuki guild?"
After leaving Daniel, Kikuoka met Kirito at a café in Ginza.
Although Kirito's family wasn't as affluent as Asuna's or Daniel's, they were still well-off by ordinary standards.
Due to personal reasons, however, Kirito rarely asked his family for money. His biological parents had died in a car accident when he was young, and he was adopted by relatives—his current parents were likely related to his biological parents in some way.
As a child, Kirito was exceptionally bright, excelling academically and in kendo. He had a close relationship with his sister, Suguha Kirigaya. However, learning the truth about his parentage one day caused him to withdraw emotionally. He abandoned kendo and turned to gaming as a means of escape. Even so, the foundation he had built in kendo remained.
"I don't know much about them. They were highly skilled and active early on but became less involved in game clearing later—probably due to their small numbers."
"And their leader? What kind of person is he?"
"An incredibly capable individual. Without him, far more people would have died in the game. Beyond that, I don't know. In SAO, people rarely asked about real-life matters."
"I see. Thank you for the information."
---
Meanwhile, in Alfheim Online, Daniel was teaching Asuna how to fly. With her natural talent, Asuna quickly grasped the mechanics. Yui, on the other hand, needed no practice. As a sentient AI born within SAO, she had access to administrative privileges granted by the "Seed of the World." Simply put, she was a GM.
The three of them now stood atop the World Tree's aerial garden in Alfheim Online. After much deliberation, Asuna had chosen to become a water fairy—essentially a "healer berserker," destined to shine once again.
Even though Daniel had high-level privileges, he avoided cheating. To him, it would ruin the essence of the game.
As the "Seed of the World" spread across the internet, countless fully immersive games began appearing. While the fervor of the SAO incident began to fade over time—partly due to government efforts to shift public focus—Daniel remained busy. He had no shortage of ideas for new games. Concepts like Resident Evil, Battle Royale, and Attack on Titan were ripe for adaptation into immersive gaming.
Before starting Alfheim Online, Daniel had found an opportunity to meet Asuna's family. With his current resources and fabricated identity, he easily met the expectations of Asuna's mother, far surpassing the likes of Sugou Nobuyuki. As a result, Asuna's rigorous elite education was temporarily paused.
To compensate for the gap in Asuna's education, her mother, Kyouko Yuuki, enrolled her in a cram school almost immediately after her return. If not for government regulations requiring SAO survivors to attend a designated school, Kyouko might have filled Asuna's entire schedule with classes. This led to friction between Asuna's parents and her brother, with Daniel's appearance diffusing the tension.
---
"Rinko Koujiro, there's someone who wants to meet you." As the SAO incident waned, Daniel sought out Rinko Koujiro just as she was preparing to leave Tokyo.
"I'm not interested," she replied curtly.
Rinko was a prodigious talent and had been Kayaba Akihiko's girlfriend. Both companies and the government wanted her expertise, particularly regarding Kayaba's research. However, overwhelmed by the aftermath of the incident, Rinko refused all offers.
"This person is someone you know. You might regret not meeting them. The location is one you're familiar with—your former workplace." Daniel gave her a mysterious smile, piquing her curiosity.
After a moment of silence, Rinko reluctantly agreed to go with him.
"Akihiko..." In the basement of the research facility, Rinko froze at the sight of a familiar silhouette—a figure she thought was long gone.
"Rinko, I'm so sorry," said Kayaba Akihiko as he turned around. While his face was unfamiliar, his voice was unmistakable.
"I'll leave you two to talk." Seeing their silent exchange, Daniel tactfully left the room, granting them privacy.
---
"Konno Yuuki, the Absolute Sword, huh?" Back at his villa, Daniel reviewed the profiles of two twin sisters, one of whom would become the famed Absolute Sword and creator of the Eleven-Hit Combo Mother's Rosario.
In the current Alfheim Online, Daniel had introduced an original skill system. His
Crossing Blades could be considered such a skill. However, while Crossing Blades was an eight-hit combo, Mother's Rosario was an eleven-hit technique. It was a testament to Konno Yuuki's extraordinary talent.
As for Daniel, if he wished, he could create combos of twenty or even thirty hits. Dual-wielding could push these numbers even higher. But Yuuki was an ordinary human, and in the original story, her eleven-hit combo made her nearly unrivaled—Kirito being her only match.
While Kayaba Akihiko had withdrawn from game development, he was not idle. His first post-game project was refining the FullDive medical system. Initially conceived during the SAO incident, this system had been anonymously donated by Rinko and was already in use in medical institutions.
Konno Yuuki and her sister were among the first to benefit from this technology.
For the Konno sisters, the system didn't cure their AIDS—a terminal condition in this world—but it gave them the joy of living during their final days.
Though Daniel had means to save lives, the scale of his efforts couldn't match the potential of mass-produced technology. A technological breakthrough could save countless people where an individual's power could not.
"Contracting AIDS through a blood transfusion... how absurd. Let's see who was responsible." The Konno sisters' case had caused a stir at the time, but the investigation had ultimately fizzled out. As ordinary individuals, the sisters were powerless to seek justice.
But Daniel wasn't about to let it slide. He assigned his shadow clones to investigate.
"If it was accidental, then so be it. But if it was deliberate, there will be consequences."
Corruption in the medical industry was nothing new, Daniel reflected. In the Marvel universe, similar scandals abounded—blood, organs, and other vital resources being stolen, sold, or mishandled for profit.
For those who abused such systems, Daniel had little mercy. If he encountered such individuals, he would ensure justice was served.
------------------
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