-1683- Marry you off to me..

As Asuna said, it's true that the hardship isn't just experienced by her alone.

Not to mention, within this hospital, there are at least dozens of players who woke up from ALO just half a month ago.

Like Asuna, they are still undergoing rehabilitation, but they haven't recovered as quickly as she has. They still rely on crutches and the care of doctors and nurses.

If not for the fact that the memories from the ALO experiment no longer exist, it would still be questionable whether they could properly rehabilitate.

Besides that, as mentioned before, all industries and people related to full-dive technology have been affected, and more or less, everyone is facing difficulties.

Take Suguha, for example. After the ALO incident was exposed, the world announced the game's shutdown and no longer operates. She's also been struggling.

For someone like Suguha, who had fallen in love with the feeling of flying freely in ALO, the end of the game, which was the only one offering the flight element, was a huge blow.

Just thinking that she won't be able to fly again from now on, Suguha had been in a state of depression for quite some time, no matter how much Rozen or Kirito tried to console her.

Moreover, upon learning that the mission involving the World Tree was a scam, with no sky cities or Alfs, and everything had just been a golden birdcage trapping Asuna and an evil experimental ground for three hundred players, Suguha felt even more devastated. The efforts of players trying to reincarnate as Alfs for an entire year had all been in vain. Even the ALO players posted angry comments online, making Suguha's emotional blow all the more evident.

If not for the mysterious nature of the concept, Rozen would have seriously considered taking Suguha to fly freely or even giving her a pair of wings to let her soar.

As a master alchemist and a highly skilled magus and sorcerer, Rozen could easily do such a thing.

Besides ALO, other VRMMOs also suffered devastating impacts. One by one, they shut down, and the once-celebrated full-dive technology became akin to a forbidden art of a devilish professor, sparking voices calling for its complete ban.

However, completely banning the application of full-dive technology in society is impossible.

Everything has two sides, and science is no different. If it has a negative side, there must be a positive side.

Now, full-dive technology is widespread and applied in various fields.

For example, it can be used for the treatment of psychiatric patients or those unable to move freely.

It can also be used for simulated military drills.

Additionally, it can promote the development of various industries.

Such technology cannot be completely eradicated.

As a result, various figures and sectors have raised topics and engaged in professional discussions and debates about the future of full-dive technology, filling recent news and networks with related reports.

Meanwhile, the government is still working on finding solutions for the players who returned from SAO and ALO, such as citizens who have been unemployed for two years or students who missed two years of education. These issues need to be resolved.

As for the companies associated with full-dive technology, needless to say, even if they manage to stay afloat, their stock prices have plummeted significantly. Especially RECT, which is on the verge of collapse, merely surviving.

Thanks to all this...

"How's your dad doing?" Rozen asked as he assisted Asuna in walking.

"I heard he resigned as CEO and has entered semi-retirement. Is that true?"

This news had been circulating online, so it was no secret.

Moreover, Rozen had already seen Yuuki Shouzou multiple times in the hospital, so such things couldn't be kept under wraps.

However, Asuna seemed quite relieved.

"Although he's already stepped down from the CEO position, and after learning that his trusted friend Sugo Nobuyuki had been secretly doing such terrible things behind his back, he felt very guilty and depressed, but he seems to be doing much better recently."

Asuna said.

Rozen agreed with her.

"Compared to when we met half a month ago, your dad seems to have aged a few years. He must have been stressed by the company and Sugo's actions, but now that you've woken up and he's stepped down, I think he'll feel much lighter. He should recover better in a while."

Rozen thought.

Rozen didn't hold any ill feelings toward Yuuki Shouzou.

Even though Rozen had some criticisms regarding his education methods, especially how he confined Asuna's life, he didn't harbor any real resentment. At least Yuuki Shouzou loved Asuna, and Rozen could see that. The matters involving Sugo Nobuyuki were entirely unrelated to Yuuki Shouzou, so Rozen had no reason to be upset with him.

So, if Yuuki Shouzou lost his job, it wouldn't be fatal. With his wealth and experience, it wouldn't deal a deadly blow to him.

If worse came to worst, Rozen could lend a hand.

After resolving the ALO incident and leaving the matter for the government to handle, Rozen seemed to be receiving increasing attention from higher-ups, and even Kikuoka Seijirou recently started to show an interest in befriending Rozen.

Even though Rozen knew Kikuoka's ulterior motives—trying to learn more about Rozen's secrets—Rozen had a firm grip on the reins, ensuring that the government, as well as Kikuoka, were eager to assist him while being completely at his mercy.

With that, helping Yuuki Shouzou would be easy.

"Your mom, on the other hand, seems to have some issues with me, huh?"

Rozen said with a smile.

During this time, Rozen had met Asuna's mother multiple times, along with her father. However, Asuna's mother never seemed to like him very much.

"My mom has always been supportive of Sugo and hoped that I would marry into a prestigious family and become a high-status social elite. She's more practical and realistic than my dad. So, she probably doesn't think very highly of you compared to my dad and my brother."

Asuna said with a helpless expression.

This was why Asuna's mother didn't give Rozen a pleasant expression.

"...Because your dad promised to marry you off to me, huh?"

Rozen's words exposed the whole situation, causing Asuna's face to turn bright red.