Part 4 (2/2)

Then-at last.

The crowd of ten thousand players gave a proper reaction.

In other words, countless voices started resounding loudly through the plaza.

”It's a joke right...? The h.e.l.l is this? It's a joke right!?”

”Stop kidding around! Let me out! Let me out of here!”

”No! You can't! I've got to meet someone soon!”

”I don't like this! I'm gonna go home! I want to go home!!!!!!”

Yells. Clamors. Shouts. Curses. Begging. Screaming.

The people that had changed from game players to prisoners in a matter of minutes crouched clutching their heads, waved their arms about, grasped each other or started to swear loudly.

In the midst of all this noise, my mind became strangely cool again.

This... is reality.

What Kayaba Akihiko had declared was all true. If that was the case, this was all to be expected. It'd be strange not to expect it. This genius was one side of Kayaba that made him alluringly attractive.

Now I can't return to reality for a while-perhaps a few months or maybe more than that. During this time, I can't see my mother or sister nor talk to them. It was possible that I would never get the chance. If I died here- I died in reality.

The Nerve Gear, once a game machine, is a lock to this prison and a tool of death that will fry my brain.

I breathed slowly in, then out, and opened my mouth.

”Klein, come over here for a sec.”

I grabbed the warrior's arm, who seemed to be much older than me in real life, and made my way through the raving crowd.

We made it out of the crowd quite quickly, maybe because we were near the edge. We entered one of the many streets that led out of the plaza in a radial pattern and I jumped into the shadow behind an unmoving carriage.

”... Klein,” I called his name again.

He still had a somewhat blank expression on his face. I continued talking, trying my best to sound serious.

”Listen to me. I'm going to get out of this city and head over to the next village. Come with me.”

Klein opened his eyes wide under the bandana. I kept talking in a low voice, forcing the words out.

”If what he said was true, in order to survive in this world we have to strengthen ourselves. You know that MMORPGs are a battle for resources between the players. Only the people who can acquire the most money and experience can get stronger.... The people who've realized this are going to hunt all the monsters around the ”Starting City”. You'll have to wait forever for the monsters to resp.a.w.n. Going to the next village right now would be better. I know the way and all the dangerous spots, so I can get there, even if I'm only level one.”

Considering that it was me, that was quite a long speech. But despite that, he stayed silent.

Then a few seconds later, his face scrunched up.

”But... but y'know. I said before that I stood in line for ages with my friends to buy this game. They would have logged in and most likely they'd be in the plaza even now. I can't... go without them.

I let out a sigh and bit my lip.

I could understand all too well what Klein was trying to tell me through his nervous gaze.

He... was bright and was easy to get along with, and he most probably took care of other people pretty well. He was most definitely hoping that I'd take all his friends with him.

But I just couldn't nod.

If it was just Klein, I could get to the next village while protecting us from aggressive monsters. But if there was even two more-no, even one more person coming along-it would be dangerous.

If somebody died along the way, they'd die as Kayaba had announced.

The responsibility would undoubtedly fall on me, who suggested setting out from the safe ”Starting City” and failed to protect my comrade.

To bear such a heavy burden, I could never do that. It was just simply impossible.

Klein seemed to read all these worries that flashed through my mind. A smile appeared on his slightly bearded cheek and he shook his head.

”No... I can't keep relying on you. I was a guild master in the game I used to play. It'll be fine. I'll just make do with the techniques that you've taught me till now. And... there's still a chance that this was just a bad joke and that we'll all be logged off. So don't worry about us and go to the village.”

With my mouth closed, I was wracked by an indecision that I'd never felt before in my life.

Then I spoke the words that would gnaw at me for two years.

”... OK,” I nodded, stepped back, and said with my dry throat.

”Well, let's part here. If anything comes up, send me a message.... Well, see you later, Klein.”

Klein called me as I turned my eyes downwards and turned to leave.

”Kirito!”

I sent him a questioning glance, but he didn't say anything; his cheek only trembled a little.

I waved once and turned northwest, the direction of the village that I'd use as my next base.

When I had taken about five steps, a voice called out from behind me again.

”Hey, Kirito! You look pretty good in real life! You're quite my style!”

I smiled bitterly and shouted over my shoulder.

”Your look suits you ten times better too!”

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