-1675- Settle all of it

In this moment, it was as if everything in the world had become insignificant. The young man and woman gazed at each other, one's eyes filled with relief, while the other's held shock, disbelief, and overwhelming joy, so intense it brought tears.

Asuna huddled in the corner, staring at Rozen in disbelief. Rozen instinctively began walking towards her.

Meanwhile, one person had already run toward Rozen.

It wasn't Asuna, nor was it Sugo Nobuyuki; it was Yui.

"Papa! Papa!"

Yui cried as she threw herself into Rozen's arms.

"Yui."

Rozen knelt down, opened his arms, and held Yui tightly as she rushed to him.

The familiar yet long-awaited sensation filled Rozen, and his heart overflowed with tenderness.

"Papa! Papa! Papa!"

Yui clung to Rozen, calling out joyfully while tears streamed down her face as she sobbed aloud.

In that instant, all the confusion, grievances, and fears that she had endured burst out.

Although for Yui, it had only been two months since she last saw Rozen, those two months had been the most helpless, powerless, and saddening period of her life.

Yui had been uncertain whether she would ever see Rozen again, and she was even more uncertain if Asuna could escape from this world, free from the torment inflicted by the demon, and reunite with Rozen.

In this world, Yui had lost many of her permissions and powers, making it impossible for her to help Asuna escape. Watching helplessly as Asuna was imprisoned by Sugo Nobuyuki, Yui suffered more than in her two years in SAO, when she had nearly lost her mind and broken down.

It's said that one only truly appreciates something after losing it. Yui, who had once never known a father or a mother, was able to endure everything. But after experiencing that unforgettable, beautiful time with Rozen and Asuna, Yui realized how rare and precious it was. Losing it left her both terrified and fearful.

Thus, Yui had taken on the role of Asuna's companion, always by her side, comforting her and easing her loneliness, giving her hope while suppressing her own unease, never showing her feelings.

Now, Yui could finally let it all out.

In front of the young man she called "Papa," Yui felt as if she'd found her anchor. All her worries surfaced, and she burst into tears, her tears streaming down uncontrollably.

Watching Yui like this, Rozen could feel how much she had suffered during this time.

He held the girl in his arms tightly, soothing her gently.

"There, there, don't cry anymore, or you won't be pretty anymore."

Just like comforting a true child, Rozen held Yui and wiped away her tears as they continued to flow down her face.

"I'm sorry for what you went through." Rozen kissed Yui's forehead and said, "From now on, leave it to Papa."

"Mm!" Yui nodded vigorously, burying her face in Rozen's chest and inhaling his scent, finally smiling.

Although her face was still stained with tears, that smile was undoubtedly beautiful.

Naturally, there was another person here.

Rozen lifted his head and looked forward.

There, Asuna was covering her mouth, seemingly trying not to let her sobs escape, only watching Rozen, her tears streaming down uncontrollably.

Rozen had never seen Asuna look so vulnerable and delicate.

Thinking of the past, when she fought fearlessly with her rapier even at the cost of her life, or when she staked everything on advancing through the front lines for the hope of freedom, Rozen's heart was filled with a powerful emotion seeing the fairy queen now shedding tears just from his presence.

So…

"It's been so long; aren't you going to come over and give me a hug?"

Rozen smiled at Asuna.

He smiled like he used to, lazily and casually.

Seeing that smile, Asuna finally seemed certain that the person in front of her was truly Rozen, and her tear ducts burst entirely.

"Mm…!"

With a choked sob, Asuna could no longer hold back and rushed into Rozen's embrace.

"I knew it… I knew…"

Asuna wept without restraint.

"I knew you would come…"

In response, Rozen held Asuna tightly, holding Yui even tighter, as if embracing two precious treasures, feeling deeply at peace.

In that second, the two most important people to Rozen in this world were finally back in his arms.

"Don't worry."

Rozen whispered to the two girls in his arms.

"Since I'm here, everything is over."

These words reached their ears, making them feel that all the waiting and endurance over the past two months had been worthwhile.

The two nodded, pressing their tear-streaked faces against Rozen's cheeks, smiling through their tears.

"Gu!"

"Gu!"

At some point, Saichou and Hanachou flew up again, circling above Rozen, Asuna, and Yui, chirping in delight.

The phosphorescent glow from the two rainbow butterflies covered the three of them, looking incomparably warm and beautiful.

"So, you two little guys are here too."

Rozen looked at Saichou and Hanachou, also smiling.

The companions who had stayed with him in SAO were now all back by his side, filling him with joy.

Unfortunately, not everything here was beautiful.

"Why… why…!?"

Sugo Nobuyuki staggered to his feet, clutching one side of his face, looking at Rozen, who was holding Asuna and Yui, with a twisted expression of disbelief.

"Why are you here…!?"

It was impossible.

Only someone with administrator privileges should be able to open the gate to this place. How could Rozen be here?

"You're not supposed to be here! You're not!"

Sugo rejected this reality.

However…

"Bang—!"

A fairy sword suddenly swept over as if it were a flying sword. Rozen threw it from his hand, sword and sheath together, smashing into Sugo's other cheek, sending him flying again.

"Argh!"

Sugo crashed into the opposite railing, his cries filled not with pain but with frustration and discomfort.

"I'm not supposed to be here?"

Rozen extended his hand, catching the fairy sword as it flew back, looking at Sugo with an indifferent expression.

"The one who shouldn't be here is you."

In the lives of Rozen, Asuna, and Yui, there was no place for Sugo Nobuyuki.

"I used to think you were just a low-level minion working for someone else, with a hidden mastermind behind this incident, but it seems I overestimated things this time."

Rozen declared with a tone colder than ever before.

"In that case, let's settle this once and for all."

"A new grudge and old hatred."

"Between you and me."

"As well as between Asuna, Yui, and my familiars."

"We'll settle all of it together."