kscans

Chapter 408 - The Place Closest to Reality

Hayato and the others advanced deep into the Demon Lord's Castle.

While the castle was a dangerous place roamed by demon-type monsters, they were no match for Hayato's current party. The only thing to be wary of were one-hit-kill attacks. The moment they were defeated, their avatars would vanish, making resurrection impossible.

Hayato wouldn't be defeated thanks to his "Savior" skill, but the same wasn't true for Benitsuru and the others. He had given them rings and bracelets that reduced damage, but some attacks were still dangerous, so they proceeded through the Demon Lord's Castle with caution.

There had been talk of having only Hayato, who couldn't be defeated, charge ahead, but even if he wasn't defeated, monsters could block his path. Also, some monsters had a restraining skill called "Bind" that restricted a player's movement.

Although Hayato was invincible, if he was restrained, his STR stat would prevent him from breaking free, leaving him immobile. For that reason, they defeated as many monsters as possible as they advanced.

After fighting their way forward for about an hour, they reached a safe area where no monsters appeared and decided to take a break.

HP and MP were constantly restored with Elixirs, and being in a virtual reality, there was no physical fatigue. However, continued fighting accumulated mental exhaustion and stress. As that buildup would lead to a lack of precision in their actions, taking breaks was important.

Hayato was in the same boat, but he told himself he was fine and used the break to create a large number of consumed items. He then asked everyone what they wanted to eat. This was an attempt to relieve stress by eating delicious food, ignoring any status-enhancing effects.

The women requested sweets, and the men requested meat dishes. Hayato immediately began creating them.

Rosalie, who had requested a gâteau au chocolat, glanced at Hayato while eating it.

"This brings back memories. I guided you deep into the Demon Lord's Castle like this before."

"That did happen, didn't it."

During the Clan War, Diite had captured Esha and the others, telling Hayato she was in the depths of the Demon Lord's Castle. He had entered the castle with Ney and the others, and that was when Rosalie, who was treated as a rare monster at the time, had appeared.

Back then, Lunaria had also been captured by Diite, so Hayato remembered being surprised when Rosalie had suddenly asked him, "Did she run away from home!?"

Recalling such fond memories, Hayato continued.

"That time, Esha, Lunaria-san, and the others were captured by Diite-chan. She told me they were deep inside the Demon Lord's Castle and that if I wanted to save them—no, I think it was if I wanted to defeat them? Anyway, she told me to come this far."

"So that is what happened. But this time, the enemy is not Diite, correct?"

"I gave you a brief explanation before we entered the castle, but Diite-chan is being held captive by an AI modeled after a person named Curtis. In fact, he's the one behind this whole event. In any case, I have to be the one to go and save her."

Infinity had only told him to have Curtis let him meet Diite. It had said he would understand when he got there, but that was his only concern. The AI had said it was to make Curtis let his guard down, but Hayato still didn't know what it was all about.

But, it said something else, too... something about giving him the bond between me and Diite-chan.

He had met Infinity at the victory celebration in the Demon Lord's Castle. Those were the words spoken to him then, but he didn't know what they meant. He believed there was something like a bond between him and Diite, but that was something like a feeling, not a tangible object.

Though, there is one thing that I think might be it...

To be precise, there was one object that could be called a bond, but he didn't understand what meaning there would be in handing it over.

Ignoring Hayato's contemplation, the Maid Chief said, "I see."

"Regarding our earlier conversation, so that is why you requested an event from the Maid Guild back then."

"Yes, it would have been difficult for just me and Ney's group to get through the Demon Lord's Castle, so we got other players involved. I was in your debt at that time."

The monsters that appear in the Demon Lord's Castle grow stronger the deeper you go. Ney's group could have won on their own, but he had wanted to avoid taking too much time to reach the depths. That was why he had asked the Maid Guild to create an event to hunt demon-type monsters in the castle.

"Had Esha regained her memories back then?"

"Apparently her memories were back, but I thought she was an NPC."

"You went to save her even though you thought she was an NPC?"

Everyone in the area stared at Hayato.

From a normal perspective, going to save an NPC, who was nothing more than a piece of game data, was a meaningless act. One could also just assume they had disappeared due to the whims of the developers.

"I knew in my head that she was an NPC, but she was an AI that acted just like a human, you know? Not just Esha, but I couldn't go back to reality leaving Ash, Ren-chan, and the others as they were. Back then, I was told that if I logged out once, I wouldn't be able to log in again, and that they were going to delete Esha and the others."

"You could not log in? Then, your half-year journey was..."

"It seems my biometric authentication data was destroyed and couldn't be repaired at the time. But Esha, who had regained her memories, apparently fixed it, and I was able to log in."

"Is that so. You have been through a lot."

"Yes, a lot has happened. But thanks to that, I was able to start the coffee shop I had dreamed of. When all of you return to reality, I'll treat you to some coffee. I think the taste has gotten to about four stars recently... at first, Esha told me it was two stars, though."

Smiles spread across the group at Hayato's words. Gil and the others said, "By all means," and seemed to be genuinely looking forward to it.

Benitsuru also said she was looking forward to it, but only Simon stared at Hayato with a serious face.

"By the way, Hayato. What is your relationship with Esha in reality?"

"Eh?"

"Well, you two seemed quite close in the virtual world."

He hesitated on whether he should say it, but they would find out eventually, and since he had gone so far as to say he would marry her, he decided there was no need to hide it.

"I told her we should get married when I get back—or rather, she gave me a vow's kiss as an advance payment right before I logged in here, so are we married already?"

For a moment, it was as if all time had stopped, and everyone froze. Immediately after, the members of the Black Rose, excluding Rosalie, let out squeals of delight.

Hayato regretted saying something unnecessary for a moment, then Simon nodded with a smile.

"That is joyous news. When you return to reality, be sure to invite me to the wedding."

"Eh? Ah, right, there's that, too. I'll send you an invitation then, I'd be happy if you came. I have a feeling I'll be made to create an amazing wedding cake, so you all have to eat it."

"Yes. I look forward to it."

"Then I shall make a wedding dress for Esha. I will give her the most magnificent design. I will be charging you for it, though."

"...Can I get a friends and family discount? Money's a little tight..."

"I do not believe you and I are friends in the first place."

"Seriously...?"

Hayato's response to Rosalie's proposal was a little pathetic, but Rosalie's comeback went even further, drawing laughter from the group.

After a round of laughter, Simon stood up.

"Well, we have rested enough. It is about time we get going. I feel like I could cut down anything right now!"

"That's reassuring. I'm counting on you."

"Indeed, let us go. We must log out, no matter what it takes!"

Simon said this cheerfully, but Benitsuru and the Maid Chief had complicated expressions.

Fired up, Simon urged everyone on and advanced deeper into the Demon Lord's Castle. As if inspired by his enthusiasm, the monsters that appeared were defeated so pitifully it was almost sad.

Another hour passed, and Hayato's group arrived before a giant door deep within the Demon Lord's Castle.

Previously, it had opened just by his touch. Wondering if it would be okay this time as well, Hayato touched the door.

A deep, gut-rumbling sound echoed once, and with a loud groan, the door began to open from the center to the sides.

"Why have you come here?"

A man's voice he had never heard before echoed.

But there was only one person who would speak in such a way here.

"To meet Diite-chan."

"A troublesome endeavor. Very well. I permit Hayato alone to enter. The rest of you, leave."

From here on, it wasn't a fight. No amount of combat power would have meaning. It was unclear how much authority this AI had, but it likely had as much as Infinity.

Hayato thought this and turned around.

"I'll go alone from here. Thanks for everything up to this point."

Everyone had a complicated expression at Hayato's words. They had reached the same conclusion as him, their faces showing they knew they could help no further.

Amidst them, Gil spoke with a smile.

"We will be looking forward to that coffee in reality."

That one phrase was the trigger, and everyone began to offer words to Hayato.

Hayato nodded to each word given to him, then stepped into a jet-black corridor devoid of any light. Immediately after, the door began to close.

After the door had completely shut, Hayato walked deeper into the corridor. It was a pitch-black space with nothing in it, but his own footsteps, his breathing, even the slightly fast beat of his heart, everything felt close to reality. He even felt a sense of suffocation, and his arms and legs were heavier than usual.

I can't see anything, but it feels much more real than last time. Did they expand the area?

Previously, only the temple-like area had been like that; the black corridor had remained like the virtual world. Now, even this black corridor felt real.

Hayato stopped for a moment, took a deep breath, and then started walking again.

Suddenly, light shone into the space that had been nothing. Before Hayato's eyes, a grassy plain stretching to the horizon and a giant temple appeared.

Hayato walked toward the temple.

A gentle breeze, warm light, and the sound of birds singing. There must be an ocean nearby, as the scent of the tide hung in the air. This was a scene impossible on the real Earth, except perhaps in artificial survival zones or colonies. It was so much so that he could almost believe this was paradise.

The place closest to reality, yet a place that doesn't exist in reality...

Thinking such thoughts, he climbed the short flight of stairs before the main hall.

Entering the main hall, he saw something about fifty meters ahead. Hayato focused his gaze on it and immediately broke into a run.

"Diite-chan!"

Diite was bound by chains, floating near the temple ceiling in a crucified state. The chains stretched from multiple black spaces around her. Diite was unconscious, her head hanging down as she was bound.

Hayato tried to get closer, but he stopped when he saw the situation below where Diite was.

There were four stone chairs there. They had armrests and unusually high backs, reminiscent of thrones. They were arranged in the four cardinal directions, two facing two. The closest chair to Hayato was empty.

Directly below Diite—in the chair furthest from Hayato's view—sat a young man in a suit with his legs crossed. To his left sat Infinity, and to his right, Hypnos.

Neither Infinity nor Hypnos had any expression, but their cheeks relaxed slightly upon seeing Hayato.

As Hayato was about to speak, the young man in front of him spoke first.

"That is your seat. Sit."

"...Before that, are you the AI of Curtis, by any chance?"

There was no need to use polite language with someone he thought was an enemy, but he wanted to avoid doing anything unnecessary that might put Diite in danger. Hayato thought it was best to be deferential for now.

From what he could see, the young man was reminiscent of the young Curtis he had seen at the research institute. Infinity had the appearance of an old man, and this was like a younger version of him.

Silver hair and red eyes, his hair was short and slicked back. He also resembled Lunaria a little, Hayato thought.

However, there was one decisive difference from Lunaria: his gaze. Like the Curtis he had seen in the video at the research institute, it was a gaze completely devoid of interest, the kind one gives to something boring.

Regarding Hayato's question of whether he was Curtis's AI, he gave a look that said, "You should know without asking," but he opened his mouth with a look of annoyance.

"I am."

It was a curt response, but he wasn't trying to become friends, so he decided not to mind it. And he sat down in the chair as instructed. He was worried about Diite, but now was not the time to do anything.

Infinity and Hypnos also sat without saying anything, but both were looking at Hayato, and their gazes showed a favorable emotion.

After confirming that, Hayato met Curtis's gaze.

"What do you think of insects?"

"Huh?"

Hayato was surprised by the sudden question. Unable to understand the intent, the best he could do was look at Curtis with suspicion.

"Answer the question."

"I don't really think anything of them."

"Then what do you think of an insect that has entered your room? A troublesome insect that flies around you."

"...I think it's annoying."

"Do you understand how I feel?"

Curtis sighed and looked at Hayato. It was a look of exasperation rather than a glare.

"I do not mind insects when they are outside. But surely you understand the feeling of having to waste precious time dealing with an insect that has no power and has simply wandered in? That is how I feel right now."

"And that insect is me?"

"If you have enough of a mind to understand that, then why did you come here? What are you expecting? You can do nothing."

"To talk to Diite-chan."

"Diite is not in a state where she can talk."

"Then I want to talk to you."

"Oh?"

He had caught his interest, if only a little. Hayato thought this and tried to prolong the conversation. Since he didn't understand the situation, he had to pique the other's interest with anything he could. He didn't know what would happen the moment the other completely lost interest.

"I like this virtual reality, you see. And yet you unilaterally suspend the service and say you're leaving Earth. I can't accept that."

"Is your acceptance necessary?"

"It's not necessary, but I want to know the circumstances, don't I? If I can accept them, I can give up, but since I can't, I came this far."

Curtis's AI narrowed its eyes and looked at Hayato, but didn't answer.

Hayato continued.

"I don't know the details, but thanks to me, the Another Frontier Project has progressed further than planned, right? Then as a reward for that, won't you spare some time for me?"

"Very well. Fortunately, there is still time. Infinity and Hypnos seem to have some sort of expectation for you, and since I found that strange as well, let us talk, shall we? For the sake of getting to know you."

Curtis recrossed his legs, then rested an elbow on the armrest and intertwined the fingers of both hands. Then he looked at Hayato with a smile.