Looking down at the NERvGear helmet in his hands, Seiya Minamoto sighed deeply after hanging up the phone.
Kazuto had just spent several minutes excitedly recommending SAO to him —
talking about the "full-dive experience," the "realistic sword mechanics," and how the monsters and enemies could even help refine one's swordsmanship.
These so-called "selling points" were the very reasons Kazuto was so desperate for Seiya to play.
"That guy really hyped it up to the heavens just to drag me in.
Sure, the game sounds great… but the danger is real too. It's literally a death trap."
The reason Seiya said that so casually was simple — he wasn't originally from this world.
He was a transmigrant, and he already knew exactly what was going to happen.
On the day SAO officially launched, Akihiko Kayaba, the genius but obsessed creator, would trap around 10,000 players inside the game, turning it into a genuine death game.
And anyone who died inside would also die in the real world.
Being someone who already knew the story, Seiya could easily have avoided the entire incident.
He wasn't some all-powerful hero or chosen one — he hadn't gained any supernatural powers after crossing over.
But with his current skills, grades, and family dojo, his future in this peaceful, modern Japan was already secure.
Even if he didn't want a corporate job, he could simply inherit the dojo and live comfortably.
That had been his plan all along — to live quietly and maybe even keep Kazuto from walking into danger.
"Knowing what's going to happen and still walking straight into it? That's just stupid…"
But before Seiya could do anything to change the story, something unexpected happened — a system appeared.
At first, Seiya was thrilled.
He thought that since he'd already hit the jackpot by transmigrating, this "system" would make his life even easier.
But his excitement didn't last long.
The system immediately informed him that it was only partially activated, and its sudden appearance was actually a warning — telling him not to mess with the world too much.
According to the system, he could alter small details of the story but was strongly advised not to interfere with the world's core events.
In simple terms — the world of Sword Art Online existed because of SAO.
If Kazuto (Kirito) didn't enter the game, the very foundation of this reality would destabilize and could collapse entirely.
It would be like if the world of Yu-Gi-Oh existed without cards or duelists — the core concept itself would vanish.
If that happened, the entire world would crumble — and Seiya, being part of it, would vanish along with it.
So, after hearing the system's warning, Seiya wisely decided to back off.
Letting Kazuto enter SAO was dangerous, yes — but it was at least within the world's natural flow.
And as the "main character," Kazuto had an incredibly high survival rate anyway.
If Seiya tried to stop it, however, the world itself could collapse — and that would destroy everyone, including him.
Still, the system didn't just warn him — it also presented a choice.
To fully activate the system, Seiya would have to enter SAO alongside Kazuto and complete a "main activation mission."
The mission wasn't mandatory — Seiya could refuse it and continue living peacefully as an ordinary but talented person.
Whether to accept and awaken the system or reject it and remain normal was entirely up to him.
Naturally, Seiya hesitated for a long time.
After all, SAO was a real death game. Ten thousand entered, but thousands would never return.
He wasn't a protagonist like Kazuto. Worrying about dying was perfectly reasonable.
But after days of thinking it through, he finally made his decision.
"I didn't transmigrate just to live like a salted fish. I might as well go for it."
Besides, SAO was a full-dive game — with his real-world kendo skill, he'd definitely have an edge in battle.
And being close friends with Kazuto, he might not be the main hero, but he'd surely survive as one of the "main party."
After weighing the risks, Seiya decided it was worth it.
"Sure, I could graduate and become some fancy salaryman later...
But that's just another kind of cage. This? This is freedom — a chance to go all out."
With that resolve, Seiya boarded the train home, NERvGear box resting in his lap.
By the time he reached his house and walked up to the dojo's gate, he noticed someone standing in front of it.
Waiting outside the dojo was a cute girl with black, shoulder-length hair, wearing a sailor-style school uniform.
She was standing on her tiptoes, trying to peek inside through the glass.
Seiya couldn't help clearing his throat deliberately.
"Ahem, ahem... I don't remember Suguha being the kind of girl who spies on people's houses.
You're giving off some serious stalker vibes right now… or maybe 'creepy girl' fits better."
Caught completely off guard, Suguha Kirigaya nearly stumbled backward in shock.
But before she could fall, Seiya quickly reached out and caught her, preventing a rather painful meeting between her back and the pavement.
"S-Seiya-nii! You scared me! I—I wasn't doing anything weird, I swear!
I knocked for a long time but no one answered, and when I tried calling, your line was busy!
Mom made some mini cakes, so I thought I'd bring you some to try… that's all!"
Her cheeks flushed pink as she hurriedly waved her hands in front of her, trying to explain herself.
Seeing her panicked reaction, Seiya couldn't help but laugh softly.
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(End of Chapter 2)