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Chapter 374 ~ Sword Art Online

“Ugh…”

A dull groan escaped Yuuji’s lips as a familiar, splitting headache surged through his mind.

It wasn’t pain in the ordinary sense—no, it was something far more disorienting. A clash of realities. A flood of чужие memories forced into his consciousness, colliding with his own like waves crashing endlessly against a shore that refused to yield.

Even with his complete immunity to mental interference, curses, and psychological afflictions, the aftermath of being forcibly transferred across worlds by the Multiverse Group Chat was never something he could simply ignore.

Years—no, entire lifetimes—of fabricated memories had been engraved into his mind in an instant.

The dizziness lingered. But compared to the first time, this was manageable.

“…Still feels terrible.” 

He muttered under his breath.

Thankfully, this time, his body sank into something impossibly soft.

A large, luxurious bed, its plush mattress cradling him as though it had been crafted solely for his comfort.

A faint warmth brushed against his face.

A thin ray of golden light slipped through a narrow gap in the cream-colored velvet curtains draped elegantly over the windows to his left, casting a gentle glow across the room.

His eyelids fluttered open slowly.

Above him stretched a beautifully crafted canopy ceiling, its intricate design radiating understated elegance. The frame of the bed—an Alaska king-sized piece—stood like a throne, draped in soft fabrics that whispered luxury with every subtle movement.

Yuuji exhaled quietly, his gaze drifting.

The room was vast. Extremely so. Far larger than a typical bedroom. 

Marble floors gleamed beneath the sunlight, polished to a mirror-like sheen. The walls, too, were lined with smooth marble, their pristine surface reflecting the room’s opulence without feeling excessive.

To the far right, a seating area rested in quiet sophistication—cream-colored velvet sofas arranged neatly around a low marble coffee table, as if awaiting guests that never came.

Further ahead stood a modern work desk.

Two high-performance CPU towers hummed faintly beneath it, accompanied by dual large monitors that dominated the workspace. Resting beside them was a peculiar device. 

A helmet. Black, streamlined, and ominously quiet.

Etched onto its surface were the words NerveGear, along with its initials and logo, NVG.

Yuuji’s eyes lingered on it for a moment longer than necessary.

Finally, at the far corner of the room stood a pair of tall, white double doors, their presence both inviting and imposing.

Everything about this place exuded wealth. Yet despite its grandeur, it felt empty.

Yuuji slowly pushed himself upright, one hand coming to his temple as he steadied the remnants of dizziness.

“…Feels like I slept for days.”

His body responded sluggishly, as though awakening from an unnaturally deep slumber.

Then he began to go through everything in his mind. The “memories.”

Like a switch being flipped, information flooded into place, organizing itself within his mind with unnatural precision.

This world. This identity. This life.

He was currently residing in the master bedroom of a massive private estate, one located within one of the most prestigious residential districts in all of Tokyo.

Setagaya. A district known for its tranquility, its affluence, and its near-pristine safety.

A place where the wealthy lived behind high walls and quiet streets.

And within that district, his mansion stood at the very top.

Sprawling grounds. Multiple wings. Expansive interiors that included grand living spaces, a fully equipped modern kitchen, recreational facilities, a private swimming pool, and even a landscaped courtyard that stretched further than most properties could dream of.

A symbol of absolute privilege.

“…And I live here alone.”

A faint, wry smile tugged at his lips.

Of course he did.

His “parents”, figures constructed entirely by the system, had been influential individuals. One, a high-ranking military officer, the other, a leading figure in the medical field within that military.

After retirement, they had turned their influence into immense wealth through strategic investments.

And then, they passed away in a plane accident.

Clean. Simple. Convenient.

“…How thoughtful.”

Yuuji sighed, running a hand through his hair.

Truly an efficient, convenient story. 

There was no one to question him. No one to restrict him. No one to interfere.

The perfect setup for a mission.

But even so…

“…It still leaves a bad taste.”

Because even if the past was fabricated, the emotions tied to those memories were not.

Grief. Loneliness. Loss. They were all real, and he had felt them.

Every single time.

“…Five times now, huh.”

His gaze softened slightly.

At the very least, he had learned how to deal with it.

Not by rejecting it, but by accepting it as a tool.

A tragic backstory was still an asset. Influence. Wealth. Freedom of action. Everything he needed. Everything conveniently handed to him.

And just like him, his “self” in this world had also been active in investments. Stocks. Business ventures. Strategic partnerships.

Highly successful ones.

He already had wealth greater than many adults could ever accumulate in their lives. 

Connections many would yearn for. 

His eyes shifted back toward the NerveGear.

“…Well, it’s not like I’ll get to enjoy any of this.”

He exhaled, leaning back slightly. 

Still, this mansion would serve a purpose.

A safe haven. A place where his real body would remain protected while his consciousness dove into the digital abyss.

And more importantly, a place where they could stay.

With a small flick of his hand, space rippled.

Golden light shimmered into existence above the bed, forming a familiar ripple of distortion in space.

Then from within it, four small figures leapt out.

“Master~!”

Alice and Est launched themselves toward him without hesitation, their small bodies colliding into his chest as they wrapped their arms around him tightly.

Yuuji chuckled softly, patting their heads.

Aria sat nearby, her sharp gaze already scanning the unfamiliar environment with quiet vigilance.

Ophis, on the other hand, tilted her head slightly—

Observing not the room, but the world itself.

“…No magic.” 

She murmured faintly.

A world devoid of ambient mana. Silent and still.

To her, that absence was… comforting.

Still, it was more comfortable within her abode in Yuuji’s [King’s Treasury].

Yuuji smiled faintly at their reactions.

“Alright, let’s get settled. I’ll also be summoning Semiramis.”

“Yes~!” 

Alice obediently separated herself from Yuuji and began looking around as well, along with Aria and Ophis. While Est was a bit more hesitant and stayed seated, keeping her gaze at Yuuji as he stepped down from the bed. 

“Come, Semiramis.”

His eyes glowed with golden, white light. 

Light erupted around him as a powerful presence descended into the room.

And from that brilliance, a figure appeared.

A woman clad in an elegant black dress adorned with golden accents. Her presence alone elevated the atmosphere.

Graceful. Regal. Dangerous.

“Master~”

Her voice flowed like silk, rich with allure and authority. Yet she spoke with a coyness of a girl in love.

Her eyes gleamed as they settled on him.

“…You’ve summoned me once more.”

A faint smile curved Yuuji’s lips.

“Of course.”

She paused. Then, her expression shifted—just slightly.

“…Ah.”

A connection, reestablished.

Her Noble Phantasm. Far above the mansion. Hidden from the world. A colossal structure now floated silently in the sky.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

“How generous of you, my Master.”

She bowed slightly, amused.

Yuuji shook his head.

“A queen should have her castle.”

Her smile deepened.

“Of course. And above all, she needs a lord to stand with and rule by her side~”

Yuuji smiled softly.

“Alright, I’ll explain to you the situation first, and I would need your help.” 

“Of course, my master.” 

And so, he explained. The mission. The game. The risks. His role within it. And what he wished her role would be. 

Semiramis listened without interruption.

Then, softly spoke.

“Fufu… as you command.”

Her eyes glimmered.

“…Though I will miss you.”

Yuuji stepped closer, gently cupping her cheek and caressed her cheeks softly. And the proud queen of Assyria leaned to his touch, her eyes closing with comfort. 

“I’ll be back before you know it.”

“I will take your words as a promise.”

He nodded.

“Take care of everything here. And them.”

A glance toward the others.

“Of course, my lord.”

Satisfied, Yuuji glanced to the desk.

“Thank you. Then, go ahead and familiarize yourself with the mansion. I have a few things to research to prepare for the game tomorrow. ”

Semiramis nodded and lead the four little girls out of the room to explore the mansion. 

The massive doors closing behind them. 

Yuuji sat down.

The computer flickered to life.

Then, he raised his phone slightly.

“Ai.”

A cheerful voice responded instantly.

“Yes, master~!”

A small digital girl appeared on the screen. Bright and lively.

“You can transfer now.”

“Okay!”

In the next moment, her form dissolved, breaking apart into countless streams of shimmering data, before swiftly converging once more, reforming seamlessly upon the wide monitor before him as though she had merely stepped through an unseen doorway.

The tiny figure blinked, stretched her arms overhead, and glanced around her new environment with an appraising look, her lips pursing slightly before she let out a small, thoughtful hum.

“Hm~ It’s a bit cramped, but still workable!” 

She declared with a hint of playful dissatisfaction, as if she were trying to convince herself more than anything else.

Yuuji couldn’t help but smile faintly at her reaction, his gaze drifting toward the sleek setup before him as he leaned back slightly in his chair, one hand resting casually against the armrest. 

According to the memories implanted within him, this computer represented the absolute pinnacle of what this world could offer. An elite, high-end machine equipped with cutting-edge processing power, vast reserves of memory, and the capability to run even the most demanding programs and games without the slightest hint of lag or strain.

To anyone else, it would have been nothing short of a dream.

Yet to Ai, who was accustomed to operating within the near-absurd computational environment of his MGCX supercomputer, this must have felt suffocatingly small, like trading a boundless digital empire for a confined, modest living space.

‘It must feel like moving from a mega mansion into a tiny 1LDK.’

Yuuji let out a soft, amused breath at that, shaking his head slightly before his expression settled back into calm focus.

“It’ll do for now.” 

He said calmly, his tone carrying quiet authority as his eyes sharpened just a fraction. 

“Can you connect to the internet? I want everything you can find on Sword Art Online.”

Ai immediately perked up at the instruction, her earlier complaints vanishing as she saluted energetically with a bright, eager smile.

“Yes, master~!”

The moment the words left her lips, the monitor came alive in a blur of motion, windows opening and closing in rapid succession as streams of data cascaded across the screen like torrents of light, far too fast for any normal human to follow. 

Within mere seconds, information began to take shape, organized, categorized, refined with inhuman efficiency, as Ai navigated networks, databases, and countless online platforms with effortless precision.

“Sword Art Online…” 

Yuuji murmured under his breath, his eyes narrowing slightly as he absorbed the compiled data.

The world’s first true VRMMORPG, hailed as the most anticipated game in history. A revolutionary leap that promised not merely entertainment, but an entirely new way of experiencing reality itself.

A full-dive system, technology capable of intercepting all five human senses and translating them into digital signals, allowing a person’s consciousness to fully immerse within a constructed world so vivid, so complete, that the boundary between illusion and reality all but ceased to exist.

Sight. Sound. Touch. Taste. Even smell.

Nothing was left behind.

“This isn’t just a game…” 

He muttered softly, his voice tinged with quiet awe as he leaned back, fingers lightly tapping against the desk in thought.

Its applications stretched far beyond gaming. Military training that could simulate real battlefields without casualties. Urban planning conducted within perfect virtual replicas. Medical rehabilitation and therapy carried out in controlled, adaptable environments. Its potential was, quite simply, limitless.

It was no wonder the entire world had fixed its attention upon this project, even those with no interest in games recognizing it as a gateway to a new era.

At the center of it all stood ARGUS, the corporation publicly credited with bringing this revolutionary technology to life.

Yet as Ai delved deeper, piercing through layers of corporate structure and public-facing narratives, another name surfaced, one that overshadowed all others; Kayaba Akihiko.

Yuuji’s gaze lingered on that name, a faint, contemplative look crossing his face as he exhaled softly.

“…So you’re the one.”

There was a trace of admiration in his voice.

Because to create something of this magnitude required more than intelligence, it demanded vision, obsession, and a will that bordered on madness.

For a brief moment, he considered the possibility of seeking the man out after everything was over, of understanding him, learning from him, perhaps even bringing this technology back to his own world for the sake of those waiting there.

Though that thought remained tempered by the knowledge of what was to come.

“Ah! Master!” 

Ai’s cheerful voice broke through his thoughts, drawing his attention back to the screen. 

“You already have Sword Art Online installed!”

Yuuji blinked once before a memory surfaced, slotting neatly into place as realization dawned.

“…Ah. That’s right.”

In this world, he wasn’t merely wealthy, he was deeply embedded within the very structure that birthed this game, one of the largest stakeholders in ARGUS itself, a position that naturally granted him privileges few others could even dream of.

The company’s president had personally ensured he received a copy of the game despite its extremely limited release, a gesture that now felt less like generosity and more like inevitability given the unseen hand guiding his circumstances.

“…Convenient.” 

He muttered quietly, his gaze drifting briefly toward the NerveGear resting on the desk, its silent presence carrying an unspoken weight.

‘I’ll sell all my shares tomorrow.’ 

He decided without hesitation, his expression calm, almost detached.

Because he alone knew the truth.

That Sword Art Online would not usher in the bright future the world envisioned—but instead descend into a nightmare.

A prison. A death game.

Selling at its peak, just before launch, would allow him to walk away unscathed, even profit from the inevitable collapse that would follow. Cold, perhaps, but practical.

Turning back to the screen, he continued his research, absorbing every fragment of information available. Mechanics, system limitations, scattered reports from beta testers who spoke with excitement and wonder, completely unaware of the fate awaiting them.

Until suddenly—

A soft chime broke through the steady rhythm of data processing.

A message notification.

“…Hm?”

Yuuji reached for his phone casually, but the moment his eyes landed on the sender, his movements slowed, his gaze sharpening ever so slightly as another memory rose to the forefront of his mind with striking clarity.

Yuuki Shouzou