-1665- [ Alne ]

Rozen then saw Asuna once more in a hospital in Tokorozawa.

After Rozen put restrictions in place, Asuna's hospital room had become a protected space where only he and her family were allowed entry, ensuring that this time, he could talk with Asuna without being disturbed by anyone.

Under the care and treatment of the specialists sent by the government, Asuna's complexion appeared to be much improved compared to before. She looked nothing like someone who had been lying comatose in a hospital bed for two years; instead, she seemed like a sleeping beauty, captivating anyone who saw her.

Seeing her like this, Rozen was tempted multiple times to forcibly awaken her, or to use his own abilities to locate the mastermind behind her situation and deal with them so Asuna could wake up.

However, in the end, Rozen held himself back.

Not for any other reason but to learn Asuna's true intentions, to understand why she refused to return to reality. Only then could he figure out how to resolve the regrets that lingered.

Acting rashly now could lead to unforeseen consequences.

If he acted without understanding what Asuna was doing, he might cause irreparable harm.

For safety's sake, Rozen knew he had to meet Asuna.

To see the Asuna who was imprisoned in the virtual world.

"Just wait a little longer…"

Rozen murmured softly to the sleeping Asuna before leaving her hospital room and returning to the Kirigaya household.

When Rozen arrived, Suguha had already returned, and Kirito appeared to have finished his call with his friends from SAO. The three of them gathered in the kitchen, preparing lunch together while chatting and filling their stomachs, evoking a feeling of warmth and peace reminiscent of the past.

After that, they each went their separate ways.

Kirito intended to go to the hospital for a follow-up to check on his current health.

Rozen and Suguha naturally returned to their rooms, donned their full-dive gear, and lay on their beds.

Today, the two of them were set to reach Alne, beneath the World Tree.

So…

"Link Start!"

"Link Start!"

In their respective rooms, the voices of the boy and the girl sounded simultaneously.

And so, they returned to the realm of the fairies.

…

ALfheim, Central City, Alne.

This was the heart of ALfheim, the largest city in this world.

Unlike Swilvane, which appeared to be made entirely of emerald, Alne consisted of colossal conical towers that seemed to touch the sky. The streets were lined with large, curving green cylinders that contrasted with the light-gray stone material of the buildings. Each cylinder was roughly the width of a two-story building, winding around and enclosing the central streets of Alne.

These were not buildings but roots.

The roots of the World Tree.

Starting from various points in the city, the twisted roots grew upward, merging together, becoming larger and more numerous until they converged at the apex of Alne's streets, forming an immense tree that defied description in size, stretching straight toward the heavens.

The golden-green trunk, covered with moss and other plants, seemed to fuse with the sky as it ascended, gradually turning a pale blue. Eventually, at a certain height, the trunk was surrounded by white material, making it impossible to see what lay beyond.

The white material, of course, was clouds.

This massive tree pierced the sky, with its branches radiating outward in the distance, almost blending with the blue sky.

Alne was built beneath the roots of this gigantic tree, as if nestling against it, like a sapling shielded by the World Tree, full of life.

Finally, after a long journey, Rozen and Leafa arrived in this city.

"Wow…"

Seeing the scene before her, Leafa's eyes sparkled with awe.

In the streets that had a blend of ancient ruins and advanced medieval fantasy architecture, players mingled with NPCs, moving around in various corners of the city.

Some were burly Gnomes wearing metal armor and wielding massive axes on their shoulders.

Others were Music Pookas, only waist-high compared to the Gnomes, carrying silver harps on their backs.

There were also Dark Imps, with mysterious light-purple skin and black enamel armor.

Of course, there were also Sylphs, Cait Siths, and various other races, all strolling through the streets and chatting happily.

Completely different from Swilvane, which had a uniform green theme among its streets and residents, this place was a melting pot of races, filled with vibrant energy and life not found elsewhere.

"Look! Look at that, nii-san!"

Leafa tugged on Rozen's hand, bouncing with excitement as she pointed at the street, brimming with joy.

"Alright, alright, I see it."

Rozen could only smile helplessly, letting Leafa revel in her excitement beside him.

Although Rozen himself was not too impressed, having traveled to many different worlds and witnessed countless wonders, for Leafa, the sight must have been very exhilarating and uplifting.

What was more, in this place, races that were usually at odds and would either confront or outright attack each other, were here harmoniously together, laughing and talking. This was undoubtedly a novel scene for Leafa, who had only experienced the limited confines of the Sylph territory.

Thus, Rozen completely understood Leafa's excitement.

If not for certain things that needed his attention, Rozen would have loved to wander around and explore Alne's equipment, items, and see how they compared to those in Swilvane.

"Since this is the world's center and a melting pot of the nine major races, there should be a variety of goods and items from all over."

This was definitely stirring Rozen's gamer heart.

It was certain that the goods in Alne would surpass those in other territories and cities.

Because of this, the major races frequently sent trade caravans to Alne, setting up thriving businesses here.

With that in mind, it was only natural that Rozen was eager to look around.

And if even Rozen felt this way, Leafa was no exception.

"Let's go over there and take a look!"

Leafa clung to Rozen's hand, happily dragging him down one of Alne's streets.

"Hold on a bit."

Rozen could only smile wryly, being led by an enthusiastic Leafa.

However, at that moment…

"Huh?"

Rozen's expression changed slightly.

"What's wrong?"

Noticing something amiss, Leafa turned her head to look at Rozen.

But Rozen could no longer respond to Leafa.

Because…

"Papa…"

A faint voice reached Rozen's ears.

"Papa… Papa… Papa…!"

The voice grew increasingly clear around Rozen.

"This voice…!?"

Rozen raised his head sharply, looking toward the sky.

In his eyes, a dazzling light appeared.