-1616- Which race?

A heavy-hearted dinner came to an end, with everyone seemingly burdened by their own thoughts.

"Well, I'm heading up," Rozen said in a composed tone before heading straight back to his room. He didn't look like someone about to tackle something major, but more like someone planning to play a game.

In fact, Rozen "was" planning to play a game.

Though there was a mission involved, Rozen was actually looking forward to exploring ALO itself.

"A game that can be compared to SAO, and might even be running on SAO's server..."

Such a game couldn't help but spark Rozen's curiosity and interest.

Since that was the case, it made perfect sense for him to give it a try.

Soon, the game software arrived by mail at the Kirigaya household, and Rozen was the one to sign for it.

In his room, Rozen picked up his old gaming headset—NerveGear—which he hadn't touched in a long time.

"I didn't expect Mom and Suguha to hold on to this," he murmured with some emotion.

When Rozen first got this gaming device, it was the most advanced model on the market and was incredibly fashionable.

But now, the deep-blue casing was worn, with peeling paint and some noticeable damage.

This was the very device that had imprisoned Rozen for two long years.

After using the power of Miracle to escape that world, the headset had been left on his hospital bed, only to be retrieved by Kirigaya Midori and Suguha. Now, it was back in Rozen's hands.

Considering how most of the SAO victims and their families felt about this "demonic machine," many had chosen to dispose of it, or it had been recalled and dismantled.

As a result, very few NerveGear units remained in the world.

And now, Rozen was preparing to use one again.

"Let's hope this long-awaited game doesn't disappoint me," he muttered.

He unpacked the recently delivered game, pulling out a box labeled ALfheim Online.

Opening the box, Rozen took out the ROM card, switched on the NerveGear, and inserted the card into the slot.

"Beep beep!"

The indicator lights on the headset flashed momentarily before dimming. From this moment on, the device was ready to connect to ALO.

"Let's do this."

Just as Rozen was about to put the headset on, there was a knock on his door.

"Aoka-nii-san, are you still in there?"

The voice of a young girl came from the other side.

"Suguha?" Rozen blinked and then called out, "Yeah, I'm here. Come in."

The door opened immediately.

Kirigaya Suguha, dressed in casual sportswear, walked in and saw Rozen holding the headset but not yet logged into the game. She seemed to let out a small sigh of relief.

"Still worried?" Rozen asked with a helpless smile.

"Of course, Aoka-nii-san! You just got back, and now you're rushing to play games again. If I were Mom, I'd be upset too," Suguha grumbled as she approached him. "Why not stay at home and behave for a few days? You could wait until Mom goes out before playing."

The parents of the Kirigaya household were rarely home. Their father, Kirigaya Minetaka, was often on business trips abroad, and their mother, Midori, frequently worked late or traveled for work. As a result, the kids were often left on their own.

Since Rozen had only just returned, Midori had been staying home for the past few days, wanting to spend time with everyone. Even their father had promised to come back soon. Otherwise, not seeing their parents for extended periods was normal.

If Rozen waited until Midori left again, there wouldn't be as much fuss.

Alternatively, he could wait until Midori's anxiety over gaming and her concern for them lessened, and then bring it up.

But Rozen insisted on doing it now.

"I don't want to play in secret. If something goes wrong again, and Mom doesn't know what's happening, she'll have a meltdown," Rozen shrugged.

That was why he chose not to hide anything and decided to be upfront about it.

Hearing this, Suguha's expression shifted, and she spoke in a low, emotional voice.

"If something happens to you again, I'll have a meltdown too..."

Her voice was tinged with sorrow, as if she was on the verge of tears.

"Hey, don't worry. Nothing's going to happen," Rozen said, patting Suguha's head to comfort her.

"You promise?"

Suguha wiped the corners of her eyes and stared at him intently.

"Yeah, I promise."

Rozen smiled warmly, and seeing his genuine smile, Suguha's anxiety seemed to ease.

Her eyes drifted toward the open game box on the side.

After a brief hesitation, she asked, "Aoka-nii-san, are you going to log into ALO now?"

"Yeah," Rozen nodded. "I'm all set to start."

"So..." Suguha's eyes sparkled with interest. "Which race are you going to pick?"

"Why do you ask?" Rozen tilted his head. "Since when do you care about this stuff?"

"What do you mean by that?" Suguha puffed her cheeks. "It's only natural for me to be curious. I mean, the game could still be dangerous, right? Can't I at least ask?"

"Okay, okay. I was planning to go with the Cait Sith race," Rozen said with a laugh.

After learning about the characteristics of the nine races, Rozen had immediately decided.

The Cait Sith race could tame magical beasts, had excellent agility, and boasted superior vision—qualities that matched Rozen's playstyle perfectly.

However...

"Cait Sith is usually more popular with girls since it's easy to play. For a skilled gamer like you, Aoka-nii-san, you'd be better off with something like the Sylph race," Suguha suggested without hesitation.

"Uh..."

Rozen gave Suguha a puzzled look.

But she continued enthusiastically, "The Sylph race specializes in flight, has speed bonuses, and can regenerate magic. They're great for long battles and endurance. Plus, they're one of the most popular races among the nine! I think the Sylph race would suit you better. No, it's the only option!"

Before Rozen could react, Suguha had already leaned in close, her aura overwhelming him.

Her face was now only inches away from his, leaving Rozen speechless.

What's gotten into her?