-1637- The helpless Sugo

In the past, during his time in SAO, Rozen once obtained administrator privileges.

That opportunity came when Yui ventured into the underground of the Black Iron Palace on the 1st floor of Aincrad.

At that time, Rozen encountered a black stone located deep within a labyrinth, guarded by a powerful monster known as the "Fatel Scythe."

Yui explained that the stone was an administrative device, set up to allow GMs to access the system in emergencies, enabling management through an administrator account.

Realizing this, Rozen knew he couldn't pass up such a rare chance.

Initially, Rozen intended to use the administrator account within the device to remove the logout restriction and free all the players from the game. However, only Kayaba Akihiko's highest-level administrator privileges could perform such a task—ordinary admin rights were insufficient.

So, Rozen instead used the administrator privileges to grant Asuna, Kirito, and others an immortality attribute, ensuring that their HP would be protected by the system and would not drop to zero, preventing any further harm.

This was the contingency plan Rozen had prepared in SAO, which is why he didn't worry excessively about Asuna, Kirito, and the others, fearing they might die.

As for himself, Rozen did not apply the immortality attribute to his own avatar, concerned that Kayaba's excessive attention might lead to his actions being discovered.

Unfortunately, Rozen did not anticipate that Kayaba would clear the game just as he was leaving that world.

As a result, the contingency plan Rozen had put in place became obsolete.

However, at the moment the game was cleared, Sugou Nobuyuki, the head of the FullDive Technology Research Department at RECT, made his move.

While Sugou was unable to manipulate the SAO servers directly—since only Kayaba Akihiko could do that—he exploited the network routers. At the moment when players were being freed from SAO, he managed to abduct some of them and transfer them into this new world—ALO.

Asuna didn't yet understand why Sugou had done this.

But she knew that Sugou harbored vile intentions toward her, and if she remained trapped in his world, a terrible fate awaited.

Kayaba Akihiko had also noticed this just before SAO collapsed.

To reward Rozen for clearing the game, Kayaba used his administrator privileges to upgrade Asuna's immortality attribute to the highest level, making it impossible for anyone other than himself to remove it.

As a result, Sugou Nobuyuki found himself utterly unable to touch Asuna.

"Damn it...! Damn it...! Damn it...!"

Sugou howled in frustration as he slammed against the railing.

"You again...! You're always in my way, Kayaba Akihiko!"

Sugou's voice was filled with bitterness, resentment, and hatred.

Watching him, Asuna's eyes were full of disgust.

"This is the result of your own actions," Asuna said coldly. "This world is nothing more than something you stole—it never truly belonged to you."

By exploiting the SAO servers, Sugou was able to create a game with ALO's level of precision and complexity, allowing him to transfer SAO players into this world.

But at the same time, administrator privileges from SAO carried over into this world as well.

Because of this, Asuna's immortality attribute remained active, and Kayaba Akihiko's administrator account retained the highest-level authority. No matter how high Sugou's privileges were, they could never surpass those of the world's original creator—Kayaba Akihiko.

Thus, Sugou could only imprison Asuna but could not lay a finger on her. Even the items registered under Asuna's ownership were beyond his control.

For example, Asuna's clothes.

And the belongings she had brought from the SAO world.

Sugou was unable to touch any of it.

What Sugou didn't realize, however, was that Rozen had also contributed to making Asuna untouchable—alongside Kayaba Akihiko's efforts.

The methods employed by the two most powerful individuals in that world protected Asuna, leaving Sugou, the petty villain, utterly helpless.

Asuna gazed at Sugou with not only disgust but also a hint of pity and sympathy.

In the end, he was nothing more than an insignificant figure—a far cry from Kayaba Akihiko, and even further from the man Asuna loved.

"Just you wait...! One day...!"

Sugou staggered to his feet, cursing as he left the room.

This was the reality of Sugou's existence in this world—each time he arrived, full of arrogance, only to slink away in disgrace.

Asuna no longer spared him a glance.

He wasn't worth her attention.

Instead...

"Rozen..."

Asuna whispered his name, her voice filled with longing and affection.

Then...

"Don't worry, Mama."

A voice emerged beside Asuna.

"Papa will definitely come and rescue you."

The one who spoke was a young girl.

With long, glossy black hair cascading down to her waist, she wore a white dress, exuding an unparalleled cuteness.

This girl was none other than Yui, the daughter whom Rozen and Asuna had encountered in SAO.

"Gu!"

"Gu!"

Two adorable cries echoed as well.

The sounds came from two glowing butterflies fluttering above Yui's head.

They were Rozen's familiars from SAO—Saichou and Hanachou.

"Yui!"

Asuna embraced Yui, along with the two butterflies.

"Mama."

Yui snuggled into Asuna's arms, a look of comfort spreading across her face.

"Gu!"

"Gu!"

Saichou and Hanachou danced joyfully above their heads.

The reason this little family was together here was that, in his final moments, Kayaba Akihiko had designated Yui, along with the two rainbow flower butterflies, as Asuna's possessions. This allowed them to transfer along with her into ALO.

Normally, they could cancel their physical forms and remain stored in Asuna's inventory.

But whenever Sugou wasn't around, Yui, Saichou, and Hanachou would emerge to keep Asuna company.

This was why Asuna had been able to endure her captivity.

With Yui and the two familiars by her side, she wasn't overwhelmed by loneliness, confusion, or despair.

What Asuna didn't realize, however, was that this bond with Yui and the two rainbow flower butterflies was the reason her subconscious rejected Rozen's call to awaken in the real world.

If Asuna were to wake up, Yui, Saichou, and Hanachou would remain trapped in this world, losing the protection of her immortality attribute. In the end, they would be treated as bugs by the system and deleted by Sugou.

"Yui-chan," Asuna whispered. "What do you think Rozen is doing right now?"

Asuna asked this question every day.

And Yui always gave the same answer.

"Papa is definitely trying to find a way to reach you, Mama." Yui smiled sweetly, hugging Asuna tightly. "You just have to believe in him."

"Gu!"

"Gu!"

Saichou and Hanachou chirped in agreement.

Hearing her daughter and familiars, hope reignited in Asuna's heart.

Gazing at the endless sky and vast land before her, Asuna murmured softly:

"I miss you... I miss you so much..."

The imprisoned queen continued to wait for her prince's arrival.

No matter how long it took, she would never give up.