User:Lan013/○

Author’s Notes

I am Kawahara Reki. I give you "Accel World 10 Elements".

......It came to me that this is the tenth book that I’ve written so far. This story was born from a simple idea of ‘an interesting fighting game with the real world as its stage’, ‘but you might be runned over by a car for leisurely dueling for many minutes’, and so I added an element called «Acceleration» and started writing, all of the other settings were added one after the other since I started writing.

Such haphazard story, moreover, by the hands of a person who’s basically overcomed by laziness, it was all because of everyone’s guidance who’s been reading till now that I’ve continuously went on and passed till the tenth book after so long.

That said, I surveyed existing series that have 10 books, let alone 20 books, in the same label dengeki bunko and it turns out that they are not yet in a situation to have a sense of ending. (laughs)
Is the stage finally set on the story? It is in that place somehow, from now on, the «Six Kings of Pure Color»’s legions and «Acceleration Research Society» will at last be stirred in a battle...... as expected to be but, it is a place that I don’t understand and I can’t write it either.......
On such an anything goes story, I’ll kindly be in your care from now on.

To talk a little about this 10th volume, it has become a collection of short story intervals this time. It is a compilation of three small experiments, going waaay back in the past on "Sound of Water from a Distant Day", a story from Kuroyukihime’s point of view for the first time on "The Farthest Sound of Waves" and lastly, a cross-over of my other series «Sword Art Online» on "Versus" as the line-up. Concerning particularly at the last part "Versus", the relatedness of both series on this and that were peeked through in the content but, as the author, I have the stance of «there is no clear link between the two works» at present. The story this time had the conjecture of SAO protagonist Kirito-shi during a play «caused by a parallel world interference of a quantum computer» and so as the explanation on this SS carnival, please read and enjoy. I’m sorry for just asking selfishly every time......
It will return again to the main story from volume 11 and it is expected to start off at the «Seven Kings Conference» where Haruyuki-kun was summoned as a witness.

To Miki-shi who I shifted various responsibilities on anime, game or drama CD as I looked like in a Black Vise escaping pace, to HIMA-shi who I asked to illustrate on an absurd continuous schedule of October to December, and to the guest illustrator abec-shi, on this very abnormal incident, thank you very much!
Finally, please keep on being of acquaintance and my best regards to every reader for the year 2012!

A certain day on October 2011, Kawahara Reki

Part 10

Approximately 60 minutes of time in Accel World—, was a few seconds back in real time.

The shadow of the person watching from the pillar at the side of the elevator hall ran toward the dive space of the resort hotel’s second floor after the three people, Kuroyukihime, Ruka and Mana, went inside the booth.

The reception was automatically online, user’s can be viewed from the booth’s drawn layout and it is devised for choosing a private vacant space to rent. However, the pursuer checked for the location of the only booth for four that was occupied and went toward it without hesitation.

Far back at the place there was a closed door and naturally, it was locked. No voices can be heard from inside. The three users were probably in full dive. The pursuer touched the door and an electronic key input request dialog was displayed.

A white finger came from the sleeves of the thin parka and pressed the dialog’s OPEN button. Originally, the door shouldn’t have opened, but the lock was released along with a light sound. The finger was without change as the door pulled open. The slender body smoothly slipped inside the booth, the door closed once again and was locked.

The electronic key of this dive space was as common as the one used for each of the hotel rooms. Hence, strictly speaking, there was another person that holds the same key as Kuroyukihime. Sharing the room with her was Umesato Middle School Student Council Secretary, Wakamiya Megumi—.

What the booth intruding Megumi saw was three powerless bodies of girls with their eyes closed on the reclining chair facing each other.

Sitting alone on the left side was of course, Kuroyukihime. And on the right side, there seems to be two younger girls. The tanned faces were not familiar at all and they were wearing Sailor uniforms with a common design, they weren’t Umesato students but children attending a school in Henoko.

Being aware at that instant, Megumi’s face was strained crumpled and she tightly bit her lips.

The Kuroyukihime that Megumi knows is sociable but in reality, the wall in her heart was fairly tall and thick. She basically wouldn’t allow any interaction on a person, hidden within her beauty was something terrible and a very restricted cynical and childish face that people knows of.

That girl probably met these local kids through direct connection and full dived through a wired connection using a router. There are no other reasons that can be thought of except one.

«Another World».

The living half of Kuroyukihime, the real side, was concealed in a foreign place. The two girls were inhabitants of that world and probably as of now, they visited that place together with Kuroyukihime. Megumi foolishly step into the world which she was not even allowed to know the name, let alone to take a glimpse of it. The time was supposed to be used for choosing a souvenir for Megumi.

Her left hand was trembling, she raised it and moved to Kuroyukihime’s Neuro Linker.

She touched the XSB cable with her fingertips from the piano-black exterior shell and stiffly pinched it.

......If I pull this out, she’ll come back. Probably, it will be something important that will hurt her forever, but she’ll come back to me from that place that I couldn’t reach—.......

『Don’t do it!』

Suddenly, she felt someone’s voice ringing inside her head.

Blinking in a flash, she looked at the three’s faces, everyone was still on full dive. Their eyelids are tightly closed and there wasn’t even a quiver in their lips. On the built in router on the low table, the indicator shows that all three lines were still in contact with global net.......

At that time, Megumi finally noticed. There were not only three cables. The fourth XSB cable extends from the router, but the plug at the other side was left on the table.

『That is......a door. Just for once, the door is inviting you their place. Now then............』

A young yet mysterious dignified voice guided, Megumi moved away from Kuroyukihime’s cable and reached for the low table with her right hand. She picked up the fourth XSB cable and brought the plug near her neck.

An unidentified line wired connection is an act that causes big problem in security. Megumi knew enough about that but, there wasn’t a hint of hesitation just now. The plug was connected to that floral pink Neuro Linker and a wired connection notice rose on her vision, and then.

In the table right in front of Megumi, a book visually appeared without making any sound. Though that object looked real, it was not even a 3D object but, there was certainly something there.

“Haa............”

A faint sigh spilled from her lips. This is...... This really is the book that I loved long ago. I have read it for so many times, but this is the book with a story that I can’t remember. Suddenly vanishing and unable to find it again, this important book.......

Megumi sat down next to Kuroyukihime and softly reached her hand to the large hard covered book. There was no title on the cover. However, there were countless colors combined in an arabesque like pattern.

Timidly, she flipped the cover.

On the first page, there was only a horizontal text written in english. Written in deep black ink, it was a charm. It was the magic word to visit the book’s world. Megumi took a deep breath, as if she was to sing, as if she was to pray, she spoke of the phrase that was consisting of two words.

«Unlimited Burst»

Part 12

“Neenee~! Come to OkinawaUchina again ‘kay~!!”

“Onee-sama~, take careLan013 (talk)!!”

At the main entrance of the resort hotel, the two girls wearing sailor uniform who almost shred off their waving hands, took a deep breath, prepared their timing,

“FarewellNjichabiraLan013 (talk)!!”

And shouted.

Kuroyukihime, who was waving her hands from the bus’ window, returned to her seat as the two’s figure disappeared into the cock spur bushes, ‘Fuuuh’ and she let out a long breath. Perhaps, the young man with the shīkuwasā(probably) juice can that looked like a high schooler leaning on the bench a little far away from the two of them was the real Crikin, I think, I’ll stop the in depth investigation here.

“Even in this place you’ve made some cute fans out there, that’s just like you, Hime.”

As the smiling Megumi said that on the seat beside her, *ehem* she cleared her throat in refute.

“T-They are not like fans or sort but......it’s something like, a school cultural exchange......”

“Okay fine, I’ll write it on the Student Council Log then.”

“Uh, no, that’s a bit......”

Thursday, April 18th, 10 o’clock in the morning.

The 61 students of Umesato Middle School was on two large Electronic VehicleEV busses separately riding from Henoko heading to Yorontou. Though going back to Tokyo was scheduled for saturday evening, the school trip is finally at the latter half. The other students were feeling more excited toward the climax of the journey however, for Kuroyukihime, who was dead tired, she felt like resting only for today at least. Anyhow, the battle with the legend class enemy at the land of Henoko wasn’t something expected to be experienced as an optional tour.

That was also supposed to be for Wakamiya Megumi who was sitting at the left-side but, she was completely at her usual smiling face while flipping through the Yorontou virtual guide. It seems like that Megumi, let alone the incident on the Unlimited Neutral Field, it is like she cannot even remember visiting the dive booth of Kuroyukihime, Ruka and Mana.

Yesterday evening, Kuroyukihime, bursting out after accomplishing her goal, discovered Megumi with her eyes closed beside her on the sofa instead of Ruka and Mana who has left. She shook her for the time being and the girl soon opened her eyes, with a puzzled face she curiously said ‘Why am I here?’.

After that, they went back to their room, changed clothes to eat dinner, went into the bath and till they were about to sleep, Megumi didn’t mention anything about Accel world even once, Kuroyukihime felt that she appeared to have modestly changed.

After dinner, upon returning to their room, Kuroyukihime directly connected to Megumi for the so titled ‘Student Council related important files synchronization’ and secretly confirmed if she have it on her local memory. However the BB program did not exist there. After all, this girl was once a Burst Linker and with a some kind of logic, she once again opened the door to Accel World that I still don’t understand how even now.

However Kuroyukihime feels that it is okay. Surely that meeting given by this mysterious island of Okinawa is a moment of pure miracle.......

Those thoughts were broken by the blinking incoming text mail icon at the upper part of her vision. Kuroyukihime opening it, the sender was Crikin and its contents are information about the discovery of a deserted dive cafe at the town’s outskirts.

Illegally remodeled Neuro Linker with unequipped startup and global net connection function. Sulfur Pot confessed that during his visit in Henoko on January for a School trip, he hid it on the sofa of the dive cafe which was from the higher-ups of their «Organization». Perhaps that Neuro Linker was a custom «Backdoor Program» device. The program should now be disabled after using the BB center server patch but, in the case that patch somehow examines the existence of BB program inside the Neuro Linker, there is a possibility that it has a way to bypass it.

In that Neuro Linker, not just the back door but the real brain burst installation will be cleared.

For such an unreasonable boldness, it is a chilling terrible way. It’s because in order to prepare on putting the BB program in a Neuro Linker, there would be a real attack extortion...... also, a «Child» would be made without any explanation because there is no way to have a Neuro Linker immediately accept it.

Sulfur Pot also talked about the remote diving plot, but in relation with their «Organization», he didn’t even try to crack his mouth. Furthermore, the moment Kuroyukihime was thinking of killing him continuously, the automatic disconnection safety activated, that’s where he got away.

According to Crikin’s mail, by the time he found the ownerless Neuro Linker, the power was cut off with the memory and even physically went to self-destruction. They’re truly a very bold and cautious «Organization». Either way, there will be a time where I’ll be able to hit them from the front.

—Well, I’ll mercilessly crush them at that time.

Muttering in her thoughts, Kuroyukihime closed the mailer and a cup with rising steam was held out beside her. From the its aroma, it was black tea with citrus flavor additive. She gratefully accepted it and said her thanks.

“Thank you, Megumi.”

“Your welcome.”

Her close friend softly smiled, slightly changed her facial expression and continued with a low voice.

“Hey, Hime.”

“N?”

“I think, I’ll write a story with Okinawa as its setting when we get back to Tokyo. A story about the sea, a dragon, mermaids...... and a swordsman wearing a black Kimono. You know yesterday, I dreamed about that.”

“......I see.”

Kuroyukihime smiled, Megumi softly placed her right hand over her own left hand.

“Of course, I’ll be the first reader right?”

“Fufu, then you should be prepared. ‘Cause it will be quite long.”

“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it. Also, I’m looking forward for the souvenir Megumi bought for me. What could it be......uumu, my cosmic intuition says......”

“Ah, you can’t do that Hime! What will you d if you really got it right?”

“Mmmm......I see it! It is......!”

“No, I said you can’t! If you say any more, I’ll give you a rub!”

Above the heads of the two girls who were having fun, two carry bag were lined up at the luggage shelves above their head.

Inside Kuroyukihime’s bag, there was a Sakuragai in a cherry blossom flower form handicraft necklace.

And in Megumi’s bag, a black Choukai in a black swallowtail butterfly handicraft necklace was inside.

The two of them presented it at the student council room, there was a big surprise to their magnificent agreement, followed by lots of smiles on their faces with stories about the several days that passed.