Kayaba Akihiko: Who the Hell Designed This Bullshit? Oh, It Was Me. Never Mind. / Kiriko: Asuna, I'll Never Turn into a Scumbag Like Radagon!

She felt a little nauseated.

Naoi did not know much about video games either. The reason she had gotten into that accident was, in a way, not much different from Asuna's "curiosity."

"What a shame. These Popularity Points aren't mine."

Asuna was actually connected to that accident in some way, so she had received a portion of the Popularity Points.

But even that tiny share amounted to several thousand points.

One could imagine how much popularity she could have received from this wave if she had been Leafa.

If she had been the producer, she would have soared straight into the sky.

Unfortunately, she could not be the director on her side.

Naoi had a bit of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Subjectively, she wanted to help too.

But whenever she thought of virtual worlds, of putting on a helmet and entering that kind of world again, Naoi felt an unbearable urge to vomit.

"I... don't know."

Naoi lowered her head.

"I'm terribly sorry, but right now, I'm afraid you're the only one who can save the others..."

Mr. Miyazaki stood up, then dropped to his knees and bowed deeply to Naoi in apology.

"I... but..."

Naoi seemed hesitant.

Only then did the image on the stage gradually fade away.

Kiriko and Asuna's scene appeared on the screen instead.

After briefly showing the situation in the real world, the stage footage swiftly shifted to the present.

At that moment, the new operation had already begun. Asuna, Kiriko, Mito, and Heathcliff had all obtained their keys, passed through Front Town, and reached the outskirts of the academy.

The other members of the Strategy Group were currently on the bridge at Front Town, pretending to launch an assault on the town...

Kayaba Akihiko: Who Designed This Goddamn Trap? Oh, Me? Never Mind Then

After