By the year 2024, approximately 6,000 players remained alive in this world. Nearly 30% of them—roughly 2,000 people—still lived within the First Floor's "Town of Beginnings," even two years after the death game began.
One cannot blame those who find themselves unable to fight. Not everyone possesses the inner strength to face reality like the "Clearers" who risk their lives on the front lines. To those remaining behind, the courage required to beat the game likely looks like nothing more than reckless foolishness—a suicidal leap into the abyss.
The air in the Town of Beginnings, where I returned after a long absence, felt cold and suffocating, mirroring the bleak psychological state of its inhabitants.
"Yui, does any building here look familiar to you? Anything at all?"
Kirito carried Yui on his back. She looked around with curiosity, peeking over his shoulder, but eventually shook her head. It seemed her memories had truly vanished.
"Alice and I will go meet Sanya. You two stay here, look around the city, and check the bulletin boards."
"Understood. Message me if anything happens."
"You too."
We left Yui in the care of Kirito and Asuna and headed toward the city church. There, orphaned children lived in small communities, and Sanya was one of the players who looked after them. We hoped her insights might provide a lead.
"... Doesn't something feel off?"
"What do you mean?"
"Given how many players stay on this floor, we've barely seen anyone in the streets."
"... You're right."
The path from the central plaza to the church was short, yet the lack of people was striking. No one lingered near the Teleport Gate, and we had only spotted two people since our arrival.
"Now that I think about it, those players acted suspicious. They were looking around anxiously, as if they were hiding to avoid being found."
For those who have barricaded themselves in this city since day one, monsters aren't the only source of terror. They were clearly afraid of something else.
"── Let's hurry."
"Right."
As the church came into view, we suddenly saw a female player bolt out of the building and run in the opposite direction. Even from a distance, her desperation was clear. Alice and I exchanged a quick look and decided to follow her.
Despite our speed, the Town of Beginnings had a layout as complex as Algade, and we soon lost her trail. The "Tracking" skill, a sub-skill of the "Searching" category, only works for party members or registered friends, making it useless for following a stranger.
"She couldn't have gone far..."
She likely ducked into an alley off the main street. As I scanned the nearest turning, a voice reached my ears:
"── Give the children back, please!"
The voice echoed from the depths of a deserted alleyway. I nodded to Alice, and we sprinted toward the sound.
"── Mitsuki, Alice!"
"This way, let's go!"
Kirito and Asuna had heard the commotion too and joined us. The four of us, with Yui in tow, raced across the stone pavement. After several sharp turns, we saw the woman from before. Several players stood in her way, blocking the alley. Their heavy metal armor and green cloaks were unmistakable; they were members of "The Army."
"Those bastards...!!"
I gritted my teeth and accelerated, kicking off the ground with force. Using my high Agility and Strength stats, the four of us leaped over the heads of the Army soldiers. Kirito and I landed in front of the three children cornered at the end of the alley, dropping into combat stances.
"── You were very brave. Don't worry, you're safe now."
"Sheathe your weapons and step back. You did a great job holding out."
Asuna and Alice spoke to reassure the children while casting icy glares at the thugs.
"... Who are you?"
"Do you intend to interfere with the Liberation Army's official duties?!"
"Duties? Since when did 'The Army' become a pack of low-lives extorting children?"
"This hardly looks like the conduct of a massive guild claiming to clear the game."
"Whoa, easy there... it seems you've misunderstood. We're simply teaching these brats a lesson in social rules. This is a necessary part of the Army's operations."
"You corner small children in full gear, and you call that a 'lesson in rules'?!"
"Ah... since I don't recognize your faces, you must be outsiders. Fine, I'll tell you: these kids neglected their duty to pay taxes. Demanding back-payments isn't wrong, is it?"
Taxes. I had heard a rumor at Agil's shop that The Army intended to collect taxes from players living in the Town of Beginnings. At the time, I dismissed it as a bad joke, but they were clearly serious.
"This caretaker has accumulated a lot of debt. We won't just take her money; she has to hand over her equipment too—weapons, armor, everything."
"You fools... your tyranny has reached the point of oppressing the very people you claim to protect. You even target small children. The fact that scum like you hide behind the word 'Liberation' makes me sick...!"
"... Watch your mouth. Do you realize the consequences of defying the Liberation Army in this city?"
The man who appeared to be the squad leader drew his sword, the sound of steel ringing out as he raised it threateningly. The blade caught the sliver of sunlight filtering into the dark alley.
"We don't mind becoming Player Killers 'Outside the Area' if necessary. Understand?"
The children recoiled in terror. But for us—people who had faced monsters on the front lines, like the Seventy-Fourth Floor Boss and its massive blade—the sight of someone brandishing a pristine, scratch-less broadsword was almost laughable. We nearly smiled at the absurdity.
However, in this world, pointing a sword at another human carries immense weight. It is an act that should never be accompanied by such a vile smirk, even "Inside the Area."
Therefore—
"── Then I'll teach you a lesson instead."
"── Kirito, look after Yui."
"Stay where you are and feel true terror... the terror of battle."
The three of us—Alice, Asuna, and I—drew our weapons and faced the Army soldiers.
"What? You think you can fight? Only three of you, and with women too? Do you honestly think── Gwaaaagh!"
Before the man could finish, a beam of light pierced his chest. It was the basic rapier Sword Skill, "Linear," unleashed by Asuna. Though she had been away from the front lines, her "The Flash" thrust had only grown sharper, scattering purple sparks and blowing him backward.
"Don't worry. We're 'Inside the Area.' No matter how much we attack, your HP won't drop."
As Asuna said, the "Anti-Crime Code" active within cities prevents HP from decreasing. The weapon hits the "System Wall" before it can damage the player's virtual avatar. However, since the HP doesn't drop, the color of the player's cursor remains unchanged, allowing the attack to continue indefinitely.
Using this mechanic, the front-line players developed a training style called "Safe Zone Combat." It simulates encounters with armed monsters or high-level players without the risk of a fatal duel.
The higher the attacker's level and skill, the louder the sounds and the brighter the flashes produced by the protection barrier. The sheer force of the impact triggers an instinctive fear of death in the victim, even if they know they are protected by the system.
The Army soldiers, who had done nothing but bully others on the lower floors, were no match for Asuna's relentless strikes. They did nothing but scream and flail on the stone ground.
"You idiots! Don't just stand there, help me...!"
In response to his screams, his comrades drew their weapons. Not only that, but other soldiers who had been blocking adjacent alleys began to converge on our position.
As the number of enemies grew, Alice and I stepped up beside Asuna. In that small alley of a massive city, a fierce battle broke out, waged by three of the elite "Clearers."
Asuna's lightning-fast "Linear" thrusts, Alice's rising "Slant" strikes, and my "Shaft" spear blows—combined with Martial Arts skills like the "Senda" punch—sent the soldiers flying one after another. Fear quickly took hold, and they began to scramble for their lives.
Honestly, I wanted to block their escape and give them a lesson they'd never forget, but our goal wasn't torture. Besides, if I went too far, my dear partner might turn her blade on me; she has no mercy for those who cross the line.
The number of soldiers dwindled rapidly. Suddenly, one of them lunged toward the woman hiding in the corner—the children's caretaker—and grabbed her, attempting to take her hostage.
"D-drop your weapons! Or don't blame me if something happens to her!"
... I have no more words for this level of stupidity. Did the beating make him forget we were "Inside the Area"? Either Asuna or I could have landed a precise thrust between his eyes, but it wasn't necessary. We sheathed our weapons.
"Y-yes. That's better. Now, get on your knees! Apologize for what you did in a kowtow and── Guuugh?!"
Suddenly, a purple light exploded over the soldier's head with a sound like a detonation. The soldier collapsed unconscious on the spot.
"К черту (To hell with you)── taking advantage of my absence to practice this tyranny... it seems 'The Army' has truly hit rock bottom."
It was a powerful "Vertical" strike unleashed from a leap off the building roof. A girl in a red leather vest, Sanya, stood there. She shook the blue light effects from her red sword and looked down at the fallen soldier with utter contempt.
We left the Army scum where they lay and returned to the church with the children.
"First, I thank you for saving the children. Thank you very much (Спасибо). And I'm happy to see you again. It's been a long time, everyone."
"We're happy you're safe too, Sanya. We were worried when we didn't see you on the front lines lately."
Sanya gave a regretful smile. As we suspected, "The Army" was the reason. She couldn't leave this place because she had to protect the children from the thugs extorting the city's players.
"The money I earn is for these children. I don't have a single Col to put into the pockets of those savages. I used to drive away the tax collectors, sometimes with force... but it seems my actions led to today's incident. I'm sorry, Sasha."
The woman with glasses standing next to Sanya was "Sasha." She looked after the children in the church alongside Sanya.
"Don't worry about it, Sanya. If you hadn't stood up to them like that, things might have been much worse. At least I feel strong and happy knowing you're fighting for the little ones. If anything, I should apologize for relying on you so much."
"── Moving on... you said the girl's name is Yui. Is she alright?"
"... Yes... I think she just lost consciousness. But what happened wasn't normal at all."
"Right. I've never seen a phenomenon like that before──"
It happened immediately after we silenced the Army thugs. Yui, who had been watching from Kirito's back, suddenly spoke:
"The hearts... of everyone...!"
With those words, she reached her hand out into the void. Kirito asked if she had remembered something, and she replied:
"I... wasn't here. I was always... alone... in a dark place...!"
We couldn't grasp the meaning of her words. As Yui tried to remember more, her face twisted in pain. Suddenly, a deafening noise, like a drill to the skull, filled the area. Yui cried out, clinging to Asuna. "Mama, I'm scared...!" she screamed before losing consciousness entirely.
"The hearts of everyone... Kirito, Mitsuki. Does any explanation come to mind?"
"Mmm... unfortunately, no."
"Me neither. Since the change happened here, it's natural to assume Yui's memories are linked to the First Floor. But this floor is far too large to search without a clue."
"Honestly, several quests come to mind regarding 'hearts,' but Yui isn't a Quest NPC, and those quests are triggered on higher floors. More importantly, I don't understand the phrase 'alone in a dark place.' I've never heard of a quest involving being trapped like that."
Even searching his memories of the Beta Test days, Kirito found nothing useful. The available information was completely contradictory.
"... Regardless, you should stay here tonight. Traveling a long distance would be too hard on a child in this state."
"Thank you, Sanya. We gratefully accept the invitation. Alice, Mitsuki, what will you do?"
"We'll go back up for now. We'll visit you again tomorrow morning."
"That's a shame. I wanted to talk to Alice, since we're both from foreign countries──"
"... Let's save that for another time. We'll be going now."
We said goodbye to Sasha and the children and left the church. I was worried about Yui, but Alice's back looked a bit slumped as she walked ahead of me.
I could guess why: Sanya's words. Sanya saw Alice as a fellow foreigner, but Alice herself lacked the memories to even confirm her own origins. Having no past to speak of—not knowing who you truly are—is more terrifying than I can imagine. She was still fighting a bitter internal battle.
I wished I could dispel her anxiety, but there was little I could do.
That night, the small double bed felt strangely vast as we slept side by side. I waited until Alice fell asleep, her face buried in my chest as if clinging to something, before I finally drifted off myself.
The next day, we returned to the church carrying honey pies from the Forty-Seventh Floor as gifts for the children. At the entrance, we found a visitor.
The woman, named "Yuriier," said she had come looking for the powerful players who had crushed the Army soldiers yesterday—meaning Asuna, my comrades, and me. At first, I thought she came for revenge or to protest, but that wasn't the case. She had a request.
This was the gist of her story:
The current tyrannical behavior of "The Army" violates its founding principles. The instigator behind this shift is a player named "Kibaou." As a result, the guild has split into two factions: Kibaou's followers, and the original members who conducted cooperative activities under the name "MTD" before the guild rebranded as the Aincrad Liberation Force.
Kibaou's faction, growing in influence, began monopolizing prime hunting grounds and extorting players in the Town of Beginnings through "taxes." In response, the founder of MTD, a man named "Sinker," tried desperately to restrain Kibaou.
As criticism against Kibaou mounted for neglecting the "Clear" despite monopolizing resources, he forced a disastrous attempt to raid the Seventy-Fourth Floor Boss using high-level subordinates. The result, as we knew, was catastrophic. Sinker used this failure to prepare for Kibaou's expulsion from the guild, but──
"── That man... he left Sinker alone in the depths of a dark dungeon...!"
A heavy silence fell over us as we listened to Yuriier's trembling voice.
The name Kibaou was etched into my memory. He was the man who had criticized Kirito, me, and the other Beta Testers during the First Floor meeting—specifically criticizing the idea of a specific group monopolizing resources.
However, I remembered that after clearing the First Floor, he began to understand our actions. He later became the leader of the "ALS," one of the two largest guilds on the front lines. Despite his friction with the "DKB" guild, he had seriously contributed to the early stages of clearing the game. What had turned him into a tyrant who ignored and even incited crimes? How could he go so far as to commit "Player Killing" (PK) by sending a rival into a deathtrap?
According to Yuriier, Sinker believed Kibaou's claim that he "wanted to talk face-to-face without weapons" and didn't carry a "Teleport Crystal." It had been three days since he was sent to the depths of a dungeon via a "Corridor Crystal." Although they confirmed he was alive and in a safe area, there was no plan to rescue him.
"The dungeon where Sinker is trapped exceeds our level and abilities. Since Kibaou holds power now, we can't ask the rest of the Army for help. So, I've come to ask for yours. Please, help me save Sinker...!"
Silence reigned. We were all thinking the same thing: could we truly trust her?
The desire to help was there, but she was still a member of "The Army," even if she claimed to be part of Sinker's peaceful faction. Since we didn't know the inner workings of this corrupt organization, we had no way to verify her words. It could be a trap to lure us into that dungeon. Most importantly, Kirito and Asuna had Yui to think about. They couldn't risk leaving her alone.
"Alice and I will go save Sinker ourselves."
I was about to say it, but—
"── It's okay, Mama. This lady isn't lying."
Yui, who had looked sleepy during the long, boring conversation, spoke up suddenly.
"Yui... how do you know? Did you remember something?"
"No. I just know."
She couldn't explain why, but she wasn't speaking without reason. A sense of certainty shone in her small eyes. I recalled our first meeting and how she acted as if she could read my heart. Does she have the ability to read souls? Regardless, my mind was made up.
"── I understand. We'll accept this request."
"Yes. I understand perfectly the desire to save someone precious."
Alice said this, seeing her former self in Yuriier. Kirito and Asuna followed suit. As for Sanya, it was decided she would stay at the church to protect it from any potential retaliatory attacks by Kibaou's followers.
"... Thank you.. Thank you so much!"
The tears streaming from Yuriier's eyes as she bowed her head didn't look fake at all, exactly as Yui had said.
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