kscans

Chapter 405 - The Ultimate Blessing

Five days after the discovery of the research facility, maintenance on the spaceship Demeter was complete, and the day of departure for space had arrived.

They could now confirm the coordinates of Amanda's location, the Spaceship Aphrodite, in real time. Technology from the facility even allowed them to remotely disable its stealth and operate its hatches.

The spaceship would launch from the area around Lee’s hideout, and so most of the involved parties had gathered there today.

The members going were Hayato, Esha, Relic, Sonia, Mist, Damian, and for piloting the spaceship, Lee and the members who were at the hideout.

Esha, Relic, and Sonia were chosen as the personnel to perform the hacking on the Spaceship Aphrodite, while Mist and Damian would accompany them as doctors. The others would provide support from Earth and the various colonies.

Members of the Foundations like Ney, Jolth, and Parsha had also said they wanted to go, but they were stopped by those around them. Their guards had persuaded them that they should not go, as there was no telling what might happen.

As for Lunaria, Ney and the others had stopped her. Since viewing the facility’s technology required Lunaria’s permission, it would be a problem if something happened to her. They persuaded her that the facility's technology should be accessible at all times in case something happened to Hayato’s team, and Lunaria reluctantly agreed.

There was information that the Spaceship Aphrodite was going to leave Earth. Even if there was no danger to their lives, the possibility that they could be taken along with it could not be denied.

There were others who had said they wanted to go, but it was decided that they would board with a small, elite team, and these members were selected.

It was dangerous, but Hayato had been designated by Hypnos and Infinity. And for hacking the spaceship, they had no choice but to rely on Relic and Sonia. As for Esha, she was chosen not so much as a hacker, but for her excellence as a programmer.

Mist and Damian would not board the Aphrodite but would be on standby on the Demeter. Just having talented doctors nearby would be a great source of reassurance for Hayato and the others.

Normally, when Hayato and Esha went somewhere together, Ren would tease them, but this time was different. She pleaded with them tearfully, "You absolutely have to come back."

Ash also seemed worried about Hayato and the others and had come to see them off.

"If you think it's dangerous, turn back immediately. If you guys were gone it would be… boring."

"Of course. I haven’t seen the movie yet. Besides, you’re going to make a movie starring you and Ren-chan someday, right? I’ll come back for sure to see that."

"I still haven't eaten enough chocolate parfaits, so I'll be back. Please have some ready and wait for me."

"You absolutely, absolutely have to…!"

After their talk with Ash and Ren, Ney and the others also came and left them with words to the effect of, "You must come back." Relic and Sonia said, "We will bring them both back for sure, so please don't worry," and were in turn scolded to make sure they themselves came back safely.

After saying their goodbyes to everyone, Hayato's group boarded the spaceship. Lee was already on board, giving instructions to the crew.

"We’re ready to go anytime over here."

"We’re counting on you."

"Leave it to me. I’m the leader of team ‘Scavenger.’ As a transporter, I have a track record of properly delivering any cargo to any place. Getting you all there, and bringing you and everyone else back. This is the easiest job I've ever had."

Lee said this with a laugh and told them, "Sit down and buckle up."

Hayato and the others followed her instructions, sitting down in their seats and fastening their belts.

The spaceship Demeter was a space freighter for transporting cargo. It wasn't rocket-shaped, but closer in form to a space shuttle. First, it would fly through the sky like an airplane, and then exit the atmosphere.

Once preparations were complete, the Demeter began to move down the runway. The runway had also been maintained, so there was almost no shaking.

"Alright, let’s make a scene!"

As Lee said that, the other crew members let out a cheer. The Demeter accelerated further, and a considerable amount of gravity pressed down on Hayato and the others.

The Demeter left the ground and gradually ascended. The air currents were rough, causing a great deal of shaking.

Amidst it all, Hayato tried to remain calm. He couldn't say he wasn't anxious, not by a long shot, but he was surrounded by capable people. He believed that no matter what happened, everyone would support him.

Just thinking that made Hayato feel more at ease.

(If what Infinity said is true, there's a high probability that things will work out if I meet Diite-chan. Everyone has prepared so much for me. I will meet her.)

As Hayato made this resolve, the spaceship Demeter accelerated further and continued its ascent.

"Those are the coordinates… a ship that doesn't show up on any sensors. Pretty impressive, isn't it?"

Lee said with admiration.

They had exited the atmosphere soon after takeoff, and about two hours later, they had arrived at the coordinates near Amanda's location. On existing sensors, the area was completely empty, but according to information sent from Earth, the Spaceship Aphrodite was nearby.

When Lee operated a panel on the cockpit, a massive spaceship appeared before them.

As Hayato stared in surprise, he was told that a signal to disable the stealth had been sent from an external source. Even if they couldn't see it, they could approach it, but docking was easier if they could see it, so they had apparently used the technology from the research facility.

The Demeter approached the Aphrodite.

There was no attack or anything from the Aphrodite. It was quiet, and even when the Demeter extended its docking arm, there was no movement. They had been on high alert, but the connection was completed without any problems.

"Hayato-sama, are you ready?"

Relic looked at Hayato and asked.

Thinking he was asking about his resolve, Hayato replied with a serious face.

"Of course, let’s go."

Relic nodded and sent a glance to Esha and Sonia as well. They both nodded.

Before entering the airlock, Mist and Damian came to the hatch.

"May fortune be with you. If you think it is dangerous, please return immediately. I promised everyone that I would bring you back for sure, so please don't make me a liar, alright?"

Mist said with a smile, and Hayato also smiled and nodded, "Yes."

Hayato and the others confirmed the spaceship's airtight state and then opened the hatch.

The cargo area of the Spaceship Aphrodite. That was where Hayato and the others set foot after passing through the airlock.

It was just a massive space with nothing particularly noteworthy, but the fact that he was inside the Aphrodite filled Hayato with a deep sense of emotion. He had connected to this spaceship's server through his headgear countless times. To be physically standing in that place in reality was a strange feeling indeed.

Who could have imagined when he started the game that things would turn out like this? It was thanks to this spaceship and the virtual reality that he was able to meet Esha and the others as human beings. Thinking about it, Hayato felt a sense of destiny with the spaceship itself.

Hayato quickly switched gears. There was no time to be lost in thought, he told himself, and sent a glance to Esha.

"First, we need to restart the virtual reality and then—"

"Hayato-kun. I'm glad you came."

A voice echoed through the cargo area.

"Infinity?"

"It seems you remember me. It appears I have lost another bet."

"A bet? Oh, right, you said you were making a bet with Hypnos."

"That's right. She said that you would definitely come here. I bet on the impossible, but I lost."

Infinity replied cheerfully. He lacked a sense of tension, but the way he spoke happily of his loss reassured Hayato that he was probably on their side.

"So you’ll help me, then?"

When Hayato had met Infinity before, he had said that if Hayato did as Hypnos said, he would help him. Hayato was referring to that conversation.

"Of course. But, what do you want to do, Hayato-kun? What should I do?"

"I want to meet Diite-chan. Please help me with that."

"A perfect answer. I myself cannot act directly, but if that is what you wish, I will help in any way I can. That is the reward for the bet Hypnos proposed. First, I will show you where you can log into the virtual reality."

"Is the virtual reality still running?"

"That virtual reality is not something that stops just because you want it to. In any case, the AI imitating Curtis is doing something foolish, so please log in quickly and help everyone."

"Something foolish?"

"You will understand when you get there. For that thing, it is likely just a way to pass the time with no emotion involved, but I find it disagreeable."

Anger was palpable in his words. It was unclear what was being done, but the fact that he was asking him to help them meant it was at least not something good. Hayato urged Infinity to take him to the place where he could log in.

Infinity immediately lit up a blue line on the floor to show them the way. Hayato and the others followed the line.

The giant spaceship was like a maze, but after a while, they came out into a massive hall. There, countless capsule-shaped beds were arranged, and inside them were people.

"Those are the cryosleep pods. They are currently still connected to the virtual reality, so I ask that you not touch them carelessly."

Hayato was surprised and took a sufficient distance from the capsules.

"Are we supposed to log in from an empty pod?"

The capsules that Esha and the others had been in were also here. Some of them belonged to people who had regained their memories and left, and Hayato guessed that he was supposed to use one of those.

"No, Hayato-kun, there is something special for you. I have prepared it for you, so I ask that you proceed a little further."

Hayato furrowed his brow at those words, but thinking that even the time to ask questions was precious, he pressed on.

He passed through the hall of cryosleep pods and moved to a door at the far end.

"Beyond that door is the device you can use to log in."

As Infinity’s voice was heard, the door slid open from the center to the left and right.

Inside the room was an egg-shaped sphere made of metal, and from it, exposed wiring was connected to various parts of the room.

When Hayato and the others stepped into the room, the sphere split open from the center to the left and right. Inside was a comfortable-looking chair, and a giant headgear that could be worn while seated.

"That is what Curtis himself used. Not even the AI imitating Curtis can alter its settings. I, however, am an exception. Please use it without hesitation."

He was caught quite off guard, but Hayato steeled himself and approached the chair.

"Hayato-kun."

Infinity stopped Hayato as he approached the chair.

"Let me say this first. The Spaceship Aphrodite will leave Earth in a few days and will not return for a hundred years. As I am now, I cannot stop it. At worst, Hayato-kun, you could end up wandering space while logged in. Even knowing that possibility, do you still wish to see Diite? If you give up here, no one should blame you. I want you to think about that carefully."

Hayato said nothing, but scoffed and sat down in the chair. Ox, who had come to the coffee shop, had said something similar. His resolve had been made at that point.

"Hayato-kun, it may be strange for me to say this, but she is merely data, and has no soul. She is an existence completely different from a human."

Now he started saying things similar to what Diite had said before. It was like when he had asked them to hand over Esha and the others for research, offering one hundred million for each of them, back when he thought they were just NPCs. Back then, too, he had called them just data.

"Will you stake your entire life for such a thing? It is true that I saw a sliver of a dream in you and Diite. If that dream can come true, I will help you in any way I can. But no matter how much I help, it does not change the fact that this is dangerous. The dreams you have realized, the friends you have met, and your lover, you could lose them all."

"I’m a greedy man."

"Greedy?"

"I have no intention of throwing any of those things away, and I will get Diite-chan and the virtual reality back. Of course, everyone who is logged into the virtual reality here too. I plan to make all my wishes come true. If I have to, I’ll even defeat Curtis’s AI."

It was just a bluff with no basis, but Infinity started laughing.

"A truly… a truly human answer, Hayato-kun. To be unshaken by my attempt to rattle you. It seems I have lost to Hypnos yet again."

Hayato smiled and reached for the headgear.

Just as he was about to put it on, Esha stopped him and peered into his face.

"I won’t be coming to pick you up next time."

Hayato didn't understand what Esha was saying at first, but he quickly remembered.

After the Clan War, Hayato had been unable to log in and return to the virtual reality, but Esha had come to the real world to get him. This time it was the reverse. She was saying she wouldn't come from the real world to get him from the virtual one.

"I'll definitely come back this time. I promise."

"Very well. But, since this might be the last time, there’s something I want to ask."

"Don’t say ‘last time.’"

"When he mentioned a lover earlier, was that me?"

Just now, Infinity had been talking about "losing the dreams you have realized, the friends you have met, and your lover."

Hayato hadn't answered with that particularly in mind, but if this might be the last time, he should probably say it. He looked at Esha.

"Of course. Let’s get married when I get back."

There was no mood, and he was skipping a lot of steps, but since they were already living together, Hayato said it. It was also the result of a great deal of calculation that if he didn't say it now, he didn't know when he would be able to.

He faintly thought that if she rejected him, maybe it would be fine if he didn't come back, but Esha immediately smiled.

"Then I’ll make a reservation."

Saying that, Esha grabbed the front of Hayato's shirt. And she pulled him closer.

From Hayato's perspective, Esha's face drew near, and for a time less than a second, he thought their lips touched, and then they were immediately apart.

What was that just now? And a reservation for what, a venue? Before his thoughts could come together, Esha opened her mouth.

"I’m paying for the vow's kiss in advance. With this, Hayato is mine, so if it comes to it, I will drag you back by force."

"The reservation… was for me?"

Esha smiled and nodded, but her eyes were slightly moist. She was acting as usual, but she must be worried, and Hayato’s chest grew warm.

And yet, even in this situation, she didn't try to stop him. She was respecting his will, and Hayato was grateful to Esha for that.

"Just so you know, if you have a body but don't wake up, I’m taking the coffee shop. I’ll turn it into a cat cafe that only serves chocolate parfaits and melon juice, so you'd better come back, even if you have to risk your life."

"I’ll definitely be back. For what it’s worth, I’ve always been lucky."

"That's right. You just received a kiss from a goddess, so your luck should be at its peak."

"…The Goddess of Annihilation, though."

"Is there a problem?"

"No, to me, it’s like I've received the ultimate blessing. Well then, I’ll be off for a bit."

"Yes. For the wedding, I'll have you make a wedding cake worth three months of our sales, so be prepared. And I expect a real one this time, not a virtual reality cake like before."

"Huh? Not a ring? …Sales!? Can we at least make it three months of net profit—"

Esha ignored Hayato’s proposal with a smile and placed the headgear on him. Finally, she firmly squeezed his right hand with both of hers, then moved away from the chair.

He wanted to continue having these kinds of interactions. Hayato resolved to absolutely return to Esha’s side, then pressed a button on the side of the headgear.

He heard the sound of the open egg-shaped sphere closing, and at the same time, the word "LOGIN" floated up on the headgear’s display.

When he selected it, the status changed to "authenticating," and a few seconds later, the words "authentication successful" were displayed, and an announcement came to Hayato's ears.

"Welcome to the world of Another Frontier Online. Please enjoy this other world, no different from reality, to your heart's content."