-1698- [ Navigation Pixie ]

"Guild Leader!"

"Guild Leader!"

When Rozen appeared in the guild, not only did his companions immediately shout at him angrily, but the other players also stood up and greeted him enthusiastically.

This alone showed the level of respect Rozen commanded in Crimson Wing.

"Alright, sit down and continue what you're doing."

Rozen waved his hand nonchalantly to the crowd, and they immediately responded with a resounding "Yes," making the scene feel almost ceremonial.

No wonder—Crimson Wing was composed either of former SAO players, who had long been awed by Rozen's skills and deeply admired him, or players who had witnessed his leadership in this past year, driving Crimson Wing to new heights. Many had joined the guild out of sheer reverence, wanting to be a part of this close-knit family.

Within the 20 floors of New Aincrad currently accessible, Crimson Wing under Rozen's leadership had already claimed the boss kills for at least ten floors. Their illustrious reputation spread throughout New ALO, drawing countless players who wished to join. If not for Crimson Wing's stringent recruitment standards—accepting members based purely on skill and not gear or status—the guild might have already rivaled ALO's official races in scale.

Even now, Crimson Wing was the strongest guild in New ALO, capable of holding its own even against an entire race. With numerous elite players, they could even rival the Salamanders, the race reputed to be the strongest.

After all, Crimson Wing wasn't just led by Rozen; it also included the likes of Kirito and Asuna.

In New ALO, Kirito, along with his companions, had all joined Crimson Wing. Even Klein, the former leader of Fuurinkazan, and Agil, a merchant, had signed up. Others like Suguha, Lis, and Silica followed suit, and even Sachi joined. Along with the former SAO beta testers and top-tier players, this incarnation of Crimson Wing was far stronger than its SAO-era counterpart.

None of the nine major races dared to underestimate Crimson Wing, and other guilds viewed them as a benchmark to strive toward. Additionally, maintaining SAO's traditions, Rozen frequently organized public events or giveaways, distributing rare items to lucky players. This made Crimson Wing universally respected and beloved in New ALO.

As the guildmaster, Rozen not only managed these events but also displayed extraordinary power, earning him respect both within and outside the guild.

Thus, at Rozen's casual greeting, the guild members resumed their activities, filling the hall with laughter and chatter once more.

At that moment, a small figure flew out from behind Rozen.

"Good morning, Mama."

The voice belonged to none other than Yui, who flew to Asuna's side.

Yui now appeared as a tiny fairy no taller than a palm, about ten centimeters in height. She wore a pale purple-red dress resembling flower petals, complete with translucent wings, perfectly fitting the image of a fairy.

"Good morning, Yui."

Asuna immediately extended her hand, allowing Yui to perch on her palm. Gazing at Yui sitting there, Asuna's eyes brimmed with love and affection.

Rozen had once considered giving Yui a physical body so she could exist in the real world. However, due to the heightened attention Rozen received from the government and the groundbreaking nature of such technology, he decided against rushing the process. After discussing it with Yui, they agreed to wait a few more years.

For now, Yui's core program resided in Rozen's personal high-performance computer, allowing her to connect seamlessly to virtual worlds, digital spaces, and even mobile devices—a remarkably convenient arrangement.

In New ALO, Yui was categorized as a Navigation Pixie, a program designed to assist players. Most Navigation Pixies simply recited system instructions in a monotonous synthetic voice, devoid of emotion, personality, or individuality. Yui, however, was entirely unique, with her rich emotions, distinct identity, and personalized appearance.

Guild members greeted her warmly.

"Good morning, Yui."

"Morning."

"You're as cute as ever, Yui."

"Letting Rozen be your father feels like such a waste!"

Some greeted her kindly, others spoke casually, and a few even joked around—typical interactions in the guild.

"Good morning, everyone."

Yui responded with polite bows.

Initially, Yui's presence had shocked and amazed the members, but after Rozen and Asuna explained her origins, everyone came to accept her.

Now, Yui had become an indispensable member of the group and the guild's cherished member.

This was evident from the adoring gazes of the guild members as they looked at her.

"Gu!"

"Gu!"

Saichou and Hanachou fluttered about the guild hall, immediately drawing everyone's attention and excited cheers.

If Yui was the guild's darling, then Saichou and Hanachou were its mascots.

"Chirp!"

Even the small dragon, Pina, joined in, joyfully flying up to play with Saichou and Hanachou.

"Don't get too mischievous, Pina!"

Silica quickly called out, cautioning her companion.

The three familiars frolicked in mid-air while the guild members cheered and shouted, creating a lively atmosphere.

"This guild is always so noisy," Lis commented with feigned annoyance.

"Exactly," Suguha agreed, though a smile played on her lips.

"I actually love this kind of atmosphere."

"Yeah, same here."

"As long as everyone's happy, what's the harm?"

Kirito, Klein, and Agil expressed their opinions in succession, their tones filled with fondness.

"I... I like the guild's atmosphere too. It feels like a big family."

Even Sachi, usually quiet, chimed in.

Asuna, however, sighed softly.

"If I had known Crimson Wing was this much fun, I wouldn't have joined Knights of the Blood Oath back then. I should've joined Crimson Wing instead."

She sounded a bit regretful.

"But I did invite you, remember? You're the one who refused," Rozen said, shrugging to emphasize his innocence.

"You could've been more assertive, like saying, 'Just come with me!'"

Asuna puffed out her cheeks and lightly smacked Rozen's shoulder.

"'Come with me'?"

Rozen rolled his eyes at her.

Back then, even if Rozen had said that, Asuna might not have agreed. If anything, she probably would've punched him for it.

After all, the Asuna of that time was full of sharp edges, only softening over time.

Now, though, Asuna was gradually taking on the demeanor of a homemaker—gentle and nurturing, deeply doting on Yui. At home, she often practiced housework and cooking. According to Lis, Asuna had practically mastered all the "skills of a perfect wife" in the past year.

It seemed that before long, Rozen would reap the benefits of her transformation.

No—he already had.

Thinking back to the passionate moments they shared in the real world, Rozen couldn't help but smile.

Over the past year, Rozen had finally given in six months ago on a particular night.

Since then, both he and Asuna, unable to resist the temptation, had indulged in their intimacy numerous times—delighting in secrets only they knew.

Now, Rozen was even considering experimenting with new ways to spice things up.

There was no denying it: Rozen had changed a lot.