According to Ava's speculation, the potion that Miha gave me enhances the latent abilities and healing powers in the areas it touches. Since I applied it all over my body, it likely pushed my potential beyond its limits, enabling me to fight the Apostles of the Labyrinth alone. As a result, my body is apparently in a state of disarray now. I can feel an unexpected heaviness weighing me down.
"That's why, Suzanne, you should continue to rest," Ava said.
Damn it, I can't stand sitting idle in a place like this.
"Hey, Suzanne, why not try a soul-sleep? It's a perfect time for it, since your body will still recover while you do."
"Oh right, I've been in AIWOn for days now."
My father told me to come back at least once a week. I must be worrying my mother too; maybe it's time to return to reality for a bit.
"You're right. I think I will do a soul-sleep. Speaking of which, what happened to Miha and the proof of the Apostles? Remember, we just fought the Apostle of the Labyrinth."
"The guides only go up to the Apostles of Jewels and the Labyrinth. Miha had to return to the capital because of her own clan, even if it was bittersweet. She can't just come all the way to this port town at the edge of the continent, after all."
"Huh? Is this really the edge of the continent?"
"Yes, it is. You collapsed, so I took Snow and came here, close to the next Apostle's destination."
It seems I've somehow ended up at the edge of the continent while I was unconscious. This boat port appears to be the only link between the Central Continent and the East End's Jipan Empire. It was once destroyed about a hundred years ago alongside the Central Kingdom, but the Jipan Empire helped restore it as a port town to facilitate trade with the nations of the Central Continent.
"So, does that mean the next Apostle is in the Jipan Empire?"
"Exactly. More specifically, the 'Drake's Apostle, Mermaid,' is located in an underwater temple in the Blue Sapphire Sea, which lies between the Central and East End continents. Afterwards, there's the 'Awakened Apostle, Zone,' who is said to be in the Jipan Empire as well."
Hmm, my next target is the seabed. But how do I get to the bottom of the ocean? Do Ava and Trinity have any information on that? Otherwise, I guess I'll need to gather intel locally.
"Also, regarding the 'Labyrinth Apostle,' the three of us have successfully cleared it."
"Check the proof of the Apostle," Ava said. As she instructed, I activated the proof hanging around my neck. A magical circle appeared, displaying letters like a clock, with an 'L' glowing brightly. I recall the 'Labyrinth Apostle' saying something like, 'The trial was a failure,' so I wonder if they still consider it an ongoing battle.
Regardless of the circumstances, it's a relief to have the quest marked as cleared in that situation. By the way, since I defeated the main body of the "Apostle of the Labyrinth," one of the fragments will be selected to become a new main body and will reside in that room. However, at this stage, its strength seems to be nearly on par with the fragments. It will gradually grow stronger and become a Minotaur that fights against us.
Having assessed my current situation, I decided to enter a soul-sleep mode for a while.
◇◆◇◆◇
— May 6, 2059 (Tuesday) —
As I drifted into soul-sleep and then awakened, I found myself in a room at ICE, the company where my father worked before I dived into AIWOn. Waking up in the capsule-type VR machine, Dream Drive, while wearing the headgear variant, Amulet II, I opened the lid of the Dream Drive, straightened my body, and surveyed the room.
It was just before dawn; outside, everything was shrouded in darkness, the sun yet to rise. Inside the room, one of three female nurses sent by Aunt Ayako's hospital was there—if I remember correctly, her name was Kazumi Ayatsuji. Noticing I was awake, she quickly removed the electrode wires attached to me and wiped them down. Meanwhile, I took off the Amulet II.
"Welcome back. It seems you made it back safely. Your health looks fine for now," she said, glancing at the machine connected to the electrode wires and the printed report indicating that I had no abnormalities. After a lengthy VR dive, concerns had been raised about the potential for one's soul to be drawn out by AIWOn.
"So, did you find any leads on our childhood friend over there?"
"Yes, I managed to gather some information. It seems there's a quest that will lead me to Yuki. So, I still have business in the AIWOn world for a while longer. I'd appreciate your continued support."
As I changed clothes, I responded to Ayatsuji-san, who had asked me about it. Being here meant she had probably heard some details from Aunt Ayako. Whether she was genuinely concerned about the state of the patients whose souls had been extracted or simply intrigued, I couldn't tell. But given that she was away from her typical hospital duties, she might just be bored.
"Just be careful. If you die, it won't matter at all," she cautioned.
"I'm fine. I can't die until I find Yuki."
I realized, after she mentioned it, that in the world of VRMMOs, dying usually wasn't a real concern.
Even so, Ayatsuji was worried about my well-being, knowing the details of the incident.
"Well... I should probably report this to my dad. But at this hour, he's probably still asleep at home."
"Don't you think he might be at the lab?"
"Is he really working this late? He has been coming home late lately, but I wouldn't have expected him to be in the office at this hour."
"Given the circumstances, it seems like he can't easily head home. As a nurse, I wish he could go back and rest properly."
I thanked Ayatsuji for her concern about my father's health and left the room to search for him in the lab.
Come to think of it, I didn't actually know where his lab was located. It wasn't a place I could casually visit, so it made sense I wouldn't know.
At this hour, the place was deserted, so I wandered around the ICE facility for a while.
...? I felt a bit sluggish. Was it the result of the long dive?
Despite the discomfort, I continued searching for my father's lab. Since he was in the VR department, I figured it had to be somewhere related to that field. After a bit of searching, I finally found his lab.
"Dad, are you here?"
"Hmm...? Suzanne? You're back at last. Looks like you made it home safely."
Rather than being filled with experimental equipment as I had imagined, the lab was just a typical room with a few computers scattered around.
The computer sitting in front of me was unlike any standard retail model. Later, I learned that this room was specially designed for VR research. It housed a supercomputer dedicated to the study and development of VR technology, including the AIWOn platform I had just dived into and other VRMMOs.
My father glanced away from the computer as I entered, visibly relieved to see me, though a hint of exasperation crossed his face. He offered a few words of encouragement. "So, how did it go? I thought I should report on the situation in the world of AIWOn."
"Hmm, yeah. I heard some updates from Amy a little while ago, but I'd like to hear it from you as well. You might have a different perspective," he replied. Prompted by him, I recounted the events of the last few days since diving into AIWOn.
After listening intently, my father let out a heavy sigh. "Suzanne, what are your plans from here?"
"What do you mean... I intend to clear the Angel Quest, head to Arcadia, and find Yuki, of course."
"...You're still blinded when it comes to Yuki-chan, aren't you? I had Amy accompany you to prevent this very situation... What is she doing?" he murmured, mostly to himself. I couldn't catch all his words, but it sounded suspiciously like he was criticizing me.
My father, after a brief moment of contemplation, turned to me and spoke, "Are you considering the possibility that Arcadia might be a deception?"
What... do you mean? I struggled to grasp his point. But as he continued speaking, I realized there might be another possibility.
"I've heard about Arcadia from Amy as well, but that doesn't mean we necessarily need a world called Arcadia. In an extreme case, the device that collects the souls of the Angel Quest conquerors could simply be named Arcadia."
That was true. No one had ever gone to Arcadia and returned. There was no guarantee it was another world at all. At worst, as my father suggested, it could just be a device designed to gather the souls of those lured by the name Arcadia. If that were the case, I had no way to rescue Yuki from within AIWOn.
My father pressed further, sensing my despair. "As you can see from the person in a comatose state here, no one who has gone to Arcadia has come back. If Arcadia is merely a soul-collecting device, then there was never any means of returning. How do you plan to bring Yuki back when you have no way to return yourself? What will happen to the rescuer if they become a victim too?"
I had vaguely thought that if I could find Yuki in Arcadia, I would be able to return by any means necessary. However, if that fundamental assumption crumbled, I would find there was no way to return from the start.
Seeing me fall silent, Dad suggested I head home for a bit to rest and clear my mind, reminding me that I had just come back. "Your mom is worried too. You should show your face."
"Yeah, I understand."
With heavy steps, I left ICE behind.
◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
I walked through the darkness towards home, still shrouded in pre-dawn gloom. The night before had been bustling, perhaps because of the long Golden Week. What a chaotic turn of events this year's GW has taken. I'm going to have to bill Yuki later for the loss of my precious time spent in AIWOn. By the time I reached home, the sun was beginning to rise, casting a warm light around.
"I'm home."
As I entered, my mom was preparing breakfast. She noticed me and paused her work to embrace me.
"Welcome back! I'm so glad you made it safely."
"Mom, you're being dramatic."
"Not at all. That game is anything but ordinary, and just having you back is a relief."
It seemed I had worried her after all. Her face reflected a sense of relief as she looked at me.
"I'm just getting breakfast ready, so hold on a bit longer.
Oh, and before that, go take a shower. You've been in that VR capsule for days, so you're starting to smell."
"What!? Seriously?!"
I rushed to the bathroom to wash myself. By the time I finished my shower, breakfast was ready, and I sat down to eat with my mom.
"Honestly, eating with someone is way better than eating alone. I've been having meals by myself lately, and it's been lonely."
"Alone? What about Dad?"
"He's been working overnight a lot lately. He just comes home to grab clean clothes."
Wow, Dad's been pulling all-nighters at work.
From what I gathered, he'd been staying at the office since I dived into AIWOn.
...I didn't realize I was worrying him too.
"Suzanne is doing her best to help Yuki-chan, and boys really are something, aren't they? It's admirable to see them put in effort for the girl they like. Your dad did the same for me when he was young."