"Umm... Sensei... right?"
"What art thou saying? Is it not obvious, Shizuka?"
"You're really getting into character, huh~? I like it, I like it! It's been a while, Sensei! I'm Elsa, remember?"
"Of course. Thou art the Ayakashi who loves music deeply."
"Everything about you is the exact opposite of the real thing, though..."
"It seems that in this world, I have been sealed within this vessel. There is nothing to be done about it."
Incidentally, Rosalia had already fled the scene under the pretext of gathering intelligence. Left behind, Shana addressed Nyangoro.
"No, but seriously... hearing your voice coming from that appearance? The dissonance is off the charts..."
"Excuse me, Hachiman-kun? Exactly where are you looking while you say that? That is sexual harassment. I will sue you."
"Don't suddenly snap back to your real self right there..."
"Silence! This is a reward given to me by God! I intend to live here for the rest of my life!"
"Hey, Nyangoro, that's going a bit too far..."
"I jest, Shizuka. But precisely because it is a dream, is it not fine to enjoy it to the fullest?"
"Your jokes don't sound like jokes, you know..."
"You are noisy. Do you have a complaint regarding my smooth, fluffy chest? I'll sue you!"
"Haa..."
Just then, Benkei burst into the room. Out of breath, she spoke to Shana.
"Onii-chan! I was watching videos on my smartphone on the way back, and a new one just got uploaded! And—the person from the rumors is in iiiiit!"
"Hm? A video? Don't tell me it's from just now?"
"That was fast..."
"Why don't we watch it here?"
Nyangoro spoke up, sounding impressed.
"Ho-ho. Can we view it here as well? Very well, Benkei. I request it."
"Aye-aye, sir~! Wait, 'Video Person'! Who are you, exactly?"
Benkei asked the question, wondering why this stranger knew her name.
"Do you not recognize me?"
"No, I'm sorry... I don't have any acquaintances who talk like that..."
"I am right here, am I not, Komachi-san!"
"Wah—! There's only one person who adds '-san' to my name... Could it be... Yukino-san...?"
"Umu! However, currently, I am Nyangoro. You shall call me Sensei!"
"Yukinyangoro-san-Sensei!"
"Well, honestly, even I admit there is a certain dissonance with this form."
"It really is the exact opposite of everything... Sensei."
Benkei observed Nyangoro's figure once again as she spoke.
"So? What of the video?"
"Oops, that's right, that's right. Here it is!"
The scene from earlier was projected onto the monitor mounted on the wall.
"I knew it. Still, that was incredibly fast..."
"Ah, this person uploaded a video recently, too."
"By 'recently,' you mean the one where a certain Sinon declared she would stay by your side for a lifetime, correct?"
"Nya—Nyangoro! That's embarrassing, so don't emphasize that part!"
Sinon protested to Nyangoro, her face turning red.
"The uploader is... Musketeer X? How do you read this?"
"Who knows... Ah, but if it's that person, I might have seen the name in a gathering for female players. I hardly ever go, though," Sinon said.
Shana looked a little surprised.
"With a name like that, it's a female player? Is she strong?"
"Hmm, I wonder. Oh, but she might have been in the finals of the last BoB. Shana, don't you remember?"
"I fought Satellizer right at the start, so I don't know about the other guys."
"Come to think of it, that's right. Well, anyway, she seems to be strong."
"I see. Pito, do you know her?"
"Do you remember every single kind of bread you have ever eaten?"
"In short, you don't remember."
"Yup!"
"Well, whatever. She probably just happened to be there."
Contrary to Shana's dismissal, Musketeer X would continue to be named as the person who inexplicably uploaded videos of Shana faster than anyone else.
"Now then, regarding Ikoma. If there's a man here other than me, assume it's Ikoma."
"What sort of man is this Ikoma?"
"A former comrade. He's working as our exclusive blacksmith now."
"I see, I see!"
"I really can't get used to this, hey..." Shana muttered under his breath, bothered by her speech pattern.
"Well, the appearance is what it is. Just think of the voice as an accidental resemblance. That is just a stranger gyaru... That is just a stranger gyaru..."
"What is the matter?"
"No, it's nothing..."
"Well then, it is time to get to work!"
"O-Oh... I'm counting on you."
Nyangoro hadn't forgotten the reason she came here. Speaking abruptly, she questioned Sinon and Pitohui.
"When is the BoB being held?"
"In three days."
"I see. And who among our comrades is participating?"
"Sinon and me, I guess!"
"Then that means everyone other than you two are pieces we can use!"
Next, Nyangoro asked Shana where the BoB broadcast could be viewed within the game.
"There's a broadcast in the large tavern in the center of the city, and in the four taverns to the north, south, east, and west."
"Five locations... Hmph. Is it possible to record video within the game?"
"Yeah. However, unless it's a case like earlier, keeping a camera rolling in a place like that would look pretty unnatural."
"Hmph... Indeed. I suppose we must make do with photographs..."
Just then, a communication came in from Rosalia to Shana.
"Yo, what's up, Rosalia?"
"About that... There is an interview request for Shana. It seems they saw me in the video, figured I was Shana's associate, and called out to me."
Hearing this, Shana looked blank.
"Interview? For me?"
"Yes. Something about a 'Pre-2nd BoB Special Feature.' Apparently, they want to hear from the finalists of the previous tournament."
"I see. So, who is the interview with?"
"It's MMO Today. A pair, a man and a woman..."
Hearing that name, Shana started. He asked Rosalia quickly.
"Wait. Did you say MMO Today?"
"Yes. A duo called Thinker-san and Yulier-san..."
"Bring them here immediately."
"To the base? ...Understood."
Shana turned to Shizuka, his voice bouncing with excitement.
"Hey, Shizu. MMO Today applied for an interview with me. Thinker-san and Yulier-san are apparently coming here right now."
"Eh? Really? Wow, that takes me back."
"If it's those two, it's no problem if we reveal our identities, right?"
"Yeah, I think it should be fine."
"What is MMO Today?"
"Ah, I wanted to ask that too."
Pitohui and Sinon spoke simultaneously.
" MMO Today is the largest website in Japan for MMO news and strategy guides. Incidentally, Thinker-san is the administrator there."
"Heeeh~, so something like that exists."
"So, you're acquaintances with those two."
"Yeah. We met inside SAO."
"I see. A touching reunion, then."
"Yeah. I'm really looking forward to it."
Guided by Rosalia, Thinker and Yulier timidly entered the base.
"I have brought them, Shana."
"Nice to meet you. I am the administrator of MMO Today, my name is Thinker. And this is Yulier, who assists me. Thank you for inviting us to your base despite the sudden request."
"No, no. It's been a long time for me as well, Thinker-san, Yulier-san."
The two looked blankly at Shana's words.
"Umm, excuse me, but did we meet in another game previously? No, but for you to know Yulier as well... This is the first time she has accompanied me on an interview..."
"Haha. You two used to play the same game, didn't you?"
"The same game...? Wait, are you perhaps a member of the Aincrad Liberation Army?"
"Eh? Ah, right. I guess it's natural you'd think that."
"Well then, let's introduce ourselves properly. Shana."
"Eh? You too? Umm, Shizuka-san... right?"
"Yes!"
Shana and Shizuka exchanged a glance, then introduced themselves to Thinker and Yulier with a playful spirit.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself. Knights of the Blood, Strategist, Hachiman."
"Likewise. Knights of the Blood, Vice Commander, Asuna."
"H-Hachiman-san and Asuna-san!?"
"Yes, well, that's how it is."
"Yulier-san, it's been a while!"
"A-Asuna-san!"
Suddenly, Yulier hugged Asuna with tears in her eyes.
"Thank goodness... You really were safe..."
"Of course!"
"Hachiman-san. The ones who cleared the game... it really was you two, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, well, more or less. It was by a paper-thin margin, though."
"Thank goodness... I was convinced you were safe, but finally, I can meet you directly and say thank you. Thank you so much for saving us."
Saying this, Thinker bowed deeply to Hachiman.
Just then, M contacted Pitohui.
"Hey, M, we're at a good part right now... Ugh, seriously? It's that time already? Fine, I'll be right there, so wait outside."
"Pito, work?"
"Yeah. Even though it's light today, there are still a few jobs I can't skip."
"I see. Good luck."
Shana patted Pitohui's head.
"Yup! I'm off then!"
"Ah, wait a second, Pito."
"Hm?"
"Bring M here next time. It should be fine by now."
"Okay! I'll bring him next time!"
"That's all. Go on."
"Yup. See you later, everyone!"
Pitohui logged out. Watching this, Thinker spoke with deep emotion.
"Goodness, rumors really can't be trusted, can they?"
"Rumors?"
"Yes. I had heard that Pitohui was an unmanageable problem child."
"No, that part is correct. She is exactly as the rumors say."
Shana told Thinker flatly.
"Eh? Ah, is that so? As expected, Hachiman-san—no, Shana-san's capacity for tolerance is amazing."
"Well, she's a precious comrade of mine now, too."
"Comrade, is it...? Ah, come to think of it, Valhalla Garden in ALO is your guild, isn't it, Shana-san?" Thinker said, as if remembering something.
"Ah, yes. That's right."
"I thought so... Actually, when I did a light investigation, I thought it was clearly you, and I was convinced you were safe and felt relieved. But ever since being released from SAO, I've been overwhelmed just rebuilding the site, and we have a serious manpower shortage... You know how VRMMOs exploded because of The Seed, right? Because of that, we've only been able to do superficial introductions for every game. Since this tournament was happening, we put ALO on the back burner to focus on covering GGO. That's the situation. I apologize for not coming to ALO immediately to thank you."
"Ah... no, I should be the one apologizing."
"Eh? There is nothing for Shana-san to apologize for..."
"Y-Yeah, I guess..."
(The reason Thinker-san got so busy is entirely my fault. I'm sorry.)
Shana thought this internally but wisely avoided saying it out loud.
At that moment, Nyangoro, who had been silent ever since hearing Thinker was coming, suddenly addressed him.
"Umm, Thinker-san? Do you have a moment?"
"Yes? You are, er..."
"I am the Vice Chief of Valhalla Resort, Yukino. Pleased to meet you. My name here is Nyangoro."
"Ah, you were Yukino-san? I've heard many rumors about you."
Nyangoro bowed slightly at the comment, then cut to the chase.
"Hello. I have a few things I would like to ask you. Is that acceptable?"
"Yes, ask me anything."
"On the day of the tournament, do you have plans to photograph or record the players watching the broadcast inside the game?"
"Eh? Ah, I hadn't thought that far ahead, but..."
"Then, this is a hypothetical question. It seems there are broadcasts in five locations within the game. Assuming we were to plan such a thing, is it possible for you to dispatch personnel to all five locations simultaneously?"
"Ah, yes. That is possible."
"I see..."
Hearing that answer, Nyangoro stared intently into Thinker and Yulier's eyes.
"I will ask you straightforwardly. You two seem to feel a great debt of gratitude toward him. But, can you die for his sake?"
"Eh?"
"Wh-What did you say?"
"Hey, Sensei."
"You, stay silent for a moment."
Nyangoro spoke without averting her gaze from the two of them.
The two looked at each other, then replied.
"We cannot do that, Yukino-san. If we were to die easily, we would be betraying the feelings of Hachiman-san and the others who saved us."
"So instead, when Hachiman-san is in trouble, we will help him with our lives on the line."
"Is that so... I am truly sorry for asking such a rude question so suddenly. I understand clearly now that you cherish Hachiman-kun and the others very much. With that in mind, I have a request. Please, as I mentioned earlier, position personnel at all five locations and record videos of the spectators during the tournament. I beg of you."
Hearing Nyangoro's request, the two looked at each other again, then asked Shana.
"Could it be, Hachiman-san, that you are truly in some kind of trouble?"
"I see. So that's how it is, Sensei. Thinker-san, Yulier-san, actually..."
Shana then explained the situation regarding Laughing Coffin to them.
"What? Members of that Laughing Coffin are here? And executive class?"
"They probably can't do anything right now, but we definitely want to grasp their movements."
"That's exactly it. It might just be for peace of mind, though."
"Understood. We will have our staff film the spectating players and provide that data to you."
"Thank you. This allows for a double check. Shana, you will go around all five broadcast locations and check for any likely players. Afterward, we shall all watch the videos together and check if there is anyone behaving suspiciously."
Thus, with the cooperation of Thinker and Yulier, the surveillance system for the day of the tournament was established.
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