"-But then, that question was debated on when AmuSphere was developed. The result was a safety device in the form of a limiter setting. Video images with more than a certain level of vibration amplitude are not shown by the AmuSphere."

"- Hey you."

This time I shot Kikuoka a 100% suspicious look and said.

"It seems you have already investigated all the possibilities, right? If you had already picked the brains of the ministry elites, then you don't need me now to debate about this. What are you really trying to do?"

"No no, that's not it. Kirito-kun's way of thinking is really stimulating, it was a huge reference and I also like speaking with you."

"But I do not like to speak with you, and as for sound perception, that should also have a limiter. Therefore, in conclusion - influencing the human heart inside a game is impossible. "Death Gun"-shi's shootings and the two men's heart attack are completely coincidental. Good bye, I'm going back and thank you for your hospitality."

I have a hunch that if this topic continues, it will certainly not result in anything pleasant. So I hurriedly said my thanks and stood up.

However, Kikuoka frantically called to stop me.

"Waaaa- wait, wait. From here on is the real main topic. You can order another cake; just stay with me a little longer please."

"Well, I am relieved that Kirito-kun reached that conclusion. I also thought the same thing that these two deaths were not from being shot from inside a game. Saying this however, I do need a favor -"

Here it comes, I frowned while thinking, and continued to listen.

"Can you log into Gun Gale Online, and contact this "Death Gun" guy?"

He then smiled at me.

To this bureaucrat's innocent smiling face, I used my coldest voice.

"Contact him? Why not just be open about it, Kikuoka-san. Go get shot, you mean, by this "Death Gun"."

"No, well, ahahaha."

"No way! If something actually happens, what should I do? You go get shot and have your heart stopped!"

I stood up once again but Kikuoka grabbed onto my sleeve.

"Earlier, we both agreed that this can't be real. Also, this "Death Gun"-shi has a very strict requirement for his targets."

"...Requirement?"

I asked him and I could not help but sit down again.

"Yes. The two people, "Zekushiido" and "Usujio Tarako", which "Death Gun" shot, were both famous top players. That is, if they are not strong, they won't be shot, probably. For me, even years won't get me that strong. However, for you who even Kayaba-shi acknowledged as the strongest..."

"It's impossible for me too! GGO is not that easy of a game and "Pros" are in it."

"That er, what does "Pro" mean? You said it earlier as well."

Recognizing that I am being sucked into Kikuoka's pace after all, I explained reluctantly.

"...It literally means people who make their income from the game. Gun Gale Online is the only game in all of VRMMO that has a "game coin to real money conversion system"."

"...Really?"

Even for someone like agent Kikuoka, he still didn't know all of the game details as his question seemed to actually be genuine this time.

"That is, simply, the money earned inside the game can be converted into real money to be returned to you. In truth, it's not the j.a.panese yen, but electronic currency. But because there's nothing that couldn't be bought with it now it's the same thing essentially."

"...But can a VRMMO stay in business by doing that? Company operators and staff are not exactly volunteers right?"

"Of course, it doesn't mean that all the players can make money. It's the same with pac.h.i.n.ko machines and horse races. The monthly fee, if I remember correctly, is 3000 yen and for a VRMMO, this is quite an expensive one. But, the amount that an average player gets on a monthly turn is at best, a tenth of that... in the area of a few hundred yen supposedly. However, perhaps you can say that their gambling nature is high... and on rare occasions, some guy will come out with a bang and find a precious rare item. After disposing of it through of in-game auctions, if they exchange the electronic money from the sale it can amount to anywhere between tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of yen. If you heard about a story like that you will probably get the feeling that 'some day it will happen to me too...' Inside that game is like being inside a huge casino."

"Hmmm, I see..."

"So, a "Pro" is someone who earns money constantly every month. Top players get around 200,000 to 300,000 yen[8] per month supposedly. If you compare that amount with real-world standards it might not seem like such a big deal... but, without luxuries, it's enough to live on. In other words, what it comes down to is that these people are making their income from the monthly fees paid by the players in the volume zone. That's what I meant by what I said earlier, about the top players in GGO being envied more than in other games. It's similar to a government official eating stupidly expensive cakes with taxpayer's money."

"Fufufu, as usual Kirito-kun says things in such a harsh way. I like that part of you."

Without taking notice of Kikuoka's words of feigned ignorance, I interrupted him.

"- For those reasons, the time spent and enthusiasm of GGO's high level crowd can't be compared to other MMO players. I, without any intricate knowledge of the details of game mechanics, cannot go in blindly and compete with these people. In the first place, as the name implies, it's a game where gunfights are the main form of combat... I'm not good with projectile weapons. My condolences but you'll have to pick someone else to do your bidding."

"Wait wait, there's really no one else I can rely on. For me, you're the only one because you're the only VRMMO player that I can get into contact with in reality. Besides... if you're saying that professional opponents are a heavy burden and that they get their salary from this game, then it's fine if you treat this as a job as well."

"...What?"

"Paid compensation for collaborative investigation. It may... not be the same amount that top players in GGO earn monthly, it is only this much."

Seeing Kikuoka's gesture of raising 3 fingers - Frankly, I shuddered. If you had that much, the latest 24-core grade CPU in a new machine could be paid for with spare change left over. However, once again, renewed suspicion arose.

"...Don't lead me on, Kikuoka-san. Why does this matter have to be obsessed over this much? This is almost certainly a retrofitted rumor, occult talk that's common to occur on the net, I believe. The two people that got a heart attack, who hadn't shown their figures in game because of it, that kind of fabled story being concocted."

When asked openly, Kikuoka used his slender finger to adjust his gla.s.ses, hiding his expression from me. There was no doubt that he was considering just how much of his answer would be the truth, and how much of it would be deception. What a cunning man.

"- Actually, my superiors are the ones concerned about it."

The high-level official who began to speak returned to his usual smile.

"Full Dive technology's influence on reality is the most notable among the fields at the moment. The impact on society and culture is certainly great, but in the field of biology it has also attracted much controversy. Such as: in which ways can virtual worlds change a human's way of existence? Hypothetically speaking, if there are any signs of danger, and that kind of conclusion was reached, a movement to put regulations on it will come about. In fact, it reached the stage of right before a legislation being pa.s.sed at the time of the SAO incident. But I - or rather, the virtual department, did not consider retreating in front of the flow as the proper course of action for the enjoyment of VRMMO games, and for the sake of your new era of youths too. That is why, before this one incident attracts strange attention, we want to know all the facts before it can be used by the regulation advocates. It would be best if it was merely a hoax but what we want is to be certain of it. - Up until now, however we can."

"...With that understanding of the youths of the VR game generation, your principles, I'll just interpret them as good will. But if you really are concerned about that issue, what about direct hits on the operating company? If you a.n.a.lyze the logs, you should be able to investigate the player who shot "Zekushiido" and "Tarako". Even if the personal information registered in the game is fake, you could still contact the provider from the IP address, and you would find out his real name and address that way."

"- As long as my arms are, even they cannot reach the other side of the Pacific Ocean."

Kikuoka's frown had, this time around, seemed to display an unfeigned weariness.

""Zasker", the company that develops and operates Gun Gale Online... is an unknown organization that we know next to nothing about and they have their server in America. While the in-game player support seems to be fairly solid, let alone the real address, even the phone number and e-mail address are kept private. Good grief, ever since "The Seed" got publicized, it's one of those sort of shady VR worlds that have been sprouting non-stop like weeds."

"...Oh, is that so?"

I interrupted, while shrugging. Only Agil and I knew about the origin of the VRMMO development support package "The Seed". Similarly, the sudden appearance of the floating castle Aincrad in the reborn ALFheim Online was, to the general public, a leftover from the former SAO server that was managed by the currently non-existing RECTO Progress, which is how the matter was settled.

"And well, for that reason, if we're thinking about grasping the truth of the matter, we have no choice but to get into direct contact within the game. Of course, we'll consider even the most remote possibilities, and the utmost of safety measures will be taken. Kirito-kun will, in a room prepared by us, dive into the game, and we will disconnect you right away if there are any abnormalities in the output of the AmuSphere being monitored. I won't ask you to get shot; it's fine as long as you get me an impression from what you see. - You'll do it right?"

Before I had realized it, even my mind was stuck in this situation where I couldn't say no.

I really shouldn't have come to meet him... While seriously regretting the decision, I began to feel a slight amount of interest at the same time.

The ability to interfere with the real world from inside the virtual world... if such a thing really existed, then was it a clue to the world alteration that Kayaba Akihiko was striving for? The incident that began in the winter three years ago, was it still unresolved...?

If that was the case, then the obligation of witnessing the destination of its development would be mine as well.

I shut my eyes tightly, took a deep breath, and spoke.

"...I understand. As annoying of a ride as it'll be, if it's just going into the game then I'll go. But I don't know whether or not I will encounter this "Death Gun". In the first place, even his existence is questionable."

"Ahh... about that."

Kikuoka grinned with an innocent face.

"Did I not mention it? During the first shooting incident, one of the players present took an audio log of it which I compressed and brought the data along. It's "Death Gun"-shi's voice and by all means, listen to it."

To the Kikuoka holding out the wireless earphone, I seriously cursed 'that heart of yours should stop' in my thoughts, while glaring at him.

"...thanks for going out of your way to do this."

After putting on the earphones I had received, Kikuoka prodded the screen with his finger. Soon, a low bustling was playing in my head.

Then, the bustling disappeared suddenly and the strained silence that followed was torn by a sharp declaration.

"This is real power, real strength! Foolish people, engrave the fear of this name in your hearts!"

"This gun's name and I: "Death Pistol"... "Death Gun"!"

It was tinged with a somewhat inhuman, metallic sound.

And yet, from behind the cry, I could strongly feel the presence of the living player behind the character. The owner of this voice, rather than just role-playing, seemed to radiate the genuine urge of the desire for slaughter.

References

Cream Puffs The more formal version of -san University of Tokyo (Tokyo Daigaku) considered to be the most prestigious university in j.a.pan j.a.panese Standard Time 5.0 5.1 this is a series of puns in j.a.panese... Basically, 'Usujio' is a type of soy sauce (with 20-30% less salt content, making it ideal for preparing most light and delicate dishes), and 'Tarako' means 'Cod Roe' (as in the fish's eggs). With the other name, 'Hokkai' means 'Northern Sea' (pretty much everyone should understand that 'Hokkai' refers to 'Hokkaido', famous for its seafood), and 'Ikura' means 'Salmon Roe'. Obviously the main joke here is that both characters are named after fish eggs, hence Kazuto/Kirito's comment on them probably being related... urh... because they're named after different species of fish, and so...

a traditional wintertime inuit food from Greenland that is made of auks preserved in the hollowed-out body of a seal. Around 500 auks are put into the seal skin intact, including beaks, feet and feathers, before as much air as possible is removed from the seal skin, which is then sewn up and sealed with grease, with a large rock placed on top to keep the air content low. Over the course of several months, the birds ferment, and are then eaten during the Greenlandic winter, particularly on birthdays and weddings.

Scandivnavian rotten fish 2550 to 3850 US Dollars

Chapter 2.

She checked the watch on her left wrist as she exited the C10 exit of Chiyoda Line's Otemachi Station.

There was more than five minutes left before the agreed time of 3:00 pm. As Yuuki Asuna was about to lower her wrist, her eyes paused casually at the small calendar window in the watch's dial.

Sunday, December 7th, 2025.

It may not be a special anniversary, but within Asuna's chest, the seed of a certain strong emotion had sprouted. As she began to walk along Eitai Street[1], she looked up, facing the main gates of the Imperial Palace and murmured without letting her voice out.

- Soon, it will have been one year...

Left unspoken were the words, "since my return to the real world."

After the floating castle of steel (SAO), to the bird cage in the treetops (ALO), she was subsequently rescued and returned to the real world in mid-January of this year. The fantasy world was gradually becoming a memory, but even so, she still occasionally felt strange about herself living like this in the real world.

The wide walkway paved with stone, the roadside trees shaking in the cold air and pedestrians walking with their faces buried beneath the collars of their coats or m.u.f.flers. Walking slowly in the midst flow of the crowd, was Asuna herself.

Everything around her was not digitally coded 3D objects, but real minerals, plants and creatures.

But how do we interpret what "real" is? If it's just made with atoms and molecules, then it would be the same as virtual polygons. Because those polygons' real ident.i.ty are electrons contained in a server memory element. That is not much of a difference in elementary particles.

Saying that, the only problem probably comes from reversibility. The objects that exist in the real world, whether biological or non-living; if they were destroyed, it was impossible to recover them to the original state. But in the virtual world, then it is easy to regenerate the original object without a single byte of bad information.

...No.

That's not it. In that world in Aincrad, what you lost and what you could not recover really existed. The two years spent in that floating castle, what Asuna touched, felt, obtained and lost were without a doubt all "real".

If that was the case.

"....The differences between the real world and the virtual world... what are they....?"

She unconsciously whispered, and to her question -.

"Just the quant.i.ty of information."