-1602- The mystery

"....."

Weak breathing gently rose and fell from the lips of the pale-faced girl.

"Beep— beep— beep—"

The sound of heart monitors and other instruments filled the hospital room, all connected to the girl's body.

Rozen approached the girl and sat beside her, staring at her in silence for a long time.

After a while...

"I'm sorry, I'm late."

Rozen spoke as if conversing with Asuna.

"I should have come earlier, but for my own matters, and for many other reasons, I delayed until now."

Rozen began to speak.

"I know, if it were you, you'd be crying and smiling at the same time, telling me— 'Don't worry, I knew you'd come.'"

That was the girl's kindness, a kindness she had never known she had.

"Even though I'm just an idiot obsessed with clearing and research, completely clueless about romance, you still chose to live with me, becoming Yui's mother. I really don't understand what you saw in me."

Rozen continued, as if pouring out all the words he'd hidden in his heart.

"Maybe, when we first met on the first floor of Aincrad, you should have just stabbed me with your sword. That would have been more straightforward."

Thinking back to that time, and recalling his former self, Rozen could only smile bitterly.

But...

"Now, I've become greedy. I really want to go on another date with you, even if there's no longer that forest on the 22nd floor, or the beautiful scenery. It wouldn't matter."

As he spoke, Rozen reached out his hand, gently brushing Asuna's cheek, stroking her long chestnut hair, before finally taking her hand and holding it tightly.

"Now, let me bring you back."

With that, Rozen extended his other hand, placing it on the helmet-like device Asuna was wearing.

Inside him, the overwhelming mana far surpassing the ley lines began to surge.

Although Rozen didn't know why Asuna had not awakened even after SAO had been cleared, with his current abilities, waking her was undoubtedly simple.

For instance, Rozen could use magic or jutsu to directly summon back Asuna's spirit or soul, allowing her to wake up.

Alternatively, Rozen could deploy a defensive spell around Asuna's brain, then cut off the power. Even though the NerveGear would immediately fry the user's brain like a microwave when the power was cut or the connection severed, Asuna would be perfectly safe under the protection of the defensive spell, waking up unharmed.

Moreover, even if something tragic did happen to Asuna, Rozen could carve revival runes on her, or even use the Taizan Fukun Ritual to resurrect her, bringing her back to life.

In short, Rozen had plenty of ways to save Asuna.

In fact, even Rozen in the past—when he couldn't even summon an upper-level familiar—could have used magic to save Asuna.

To the people of this world, breaking through the NerveGear might seem extremely difficult, but to Rozen, it was just a microwave sitting on someone's head. As long as he used Magic Defence to protect the brain and then cut the power, he could easily save anyone.

The only reason Rozen couldn't escape SAO before was that he, too, had been trapped inside.

The NerveGear blocked signals from the brain to the body, completely severing the connection with the real world once linked, and only receiving virtual sensory information.

This function was necessary for freely moving in the virtual space.

Otherwise, if commands from the brain to the body in the real world were still active, users fully immersed in the virtual world would act out those movements in reality, making it impossible to enjoy the game while lying peacefully indoors.

Because the NerveGear intercepted the commands from the brainstem to the body and converted them into digital signals to control the virtual avatar, players were able to run, fight, and explore freely in the game.

Under these circumstances, Rozen—also trapped in the game—was unable to use magic to protect his brain, cut off the power, or disconnect the network. As a result, he could only remain in the game.

Now, however, Rozen was outside. Saving a fully immersed player like Asuna was a simple task.

"Buzz..."

A faint buzzing sound accompanied Rozen as he first placed a magical barrier around Asuna's head, then inscribed several runes on her arm.

The runes sank into Asuna's body, filling her with vitality, as if restoring her frail body that had deteriorated after two years of immobility, and gradually breathing life back into her.

Then, Rozen pressed a finger to Asuna's forehead and closed his eyes, inscribing another rune.

This rune was one of purification, capable of cleansing the spirit and awakening a dormant soul.

Guided by this rune, the slumbering spirit would be awakened, purifying both body and mind.

Rozen intended to use this rune to call back Asuna's consciousness and bring her back.

However...

"Hm?"

Rozen suddenly opened his eyes in surprise.

He felt it.

"She... rejected it?"

Yes.

Asuna had rejected it.

For some reason, Asuna seemed to sense that she was about to be awakened, and subconsciously resisted the rune's guidance, refusing to wake up.

"What's going on?"

Rozen furrowed his brow deeply.

Rozen hadn't expected Asuna to refuse to wake up.

This caught him off guard.

But on the other hand, it also put him at ease.

"If Asuna's subconscious is resisting awakening, that means she's not in any immediate danger, but rather, there's something she has to do while in this state."

If that was the case, then at least it confirmed that Asuna wasn't facing a critical issue at the moment.

Or perhaps...

"Even if she's facing something serious, it's something she must confront herself...?"

Rozen pondered this thoughtfully.

"There's clearly something going on that I'm unaware of."

What was Asuna's current state?

Was her soul still imprisoned somewhere?

Was it SAO?

Or...

Rozen silently contemplated.

After a long time, Rozen let out a breath.

Regardless, there was one thing he had to do.

"The mystery of the three hundred players, including Asuna, who remain asleep..."

This mystery had to be solved.

Otherwise, Asuna might never wake up.

And that was the first thing Rozen had to do upon returning to this world.

To bring Asuna back.

With this in mind, Rozen raised his gaze and once again looked at Asuna's face.

"Wait for me..."

Leaving these words behind, Rozen stood up and left the hospital room.

In the white room, Asuna continued to sleep quietly, alone.

On her face, a tear had unknowingly formed, gently rolling down.