December 24, 2025
Floor 76: Arc Sophia
Christmas Eve. I figured it would be another day, another trip down the stairs from my room into Agil's shop, where upon reaching the last step, I noticed Klien and company immediately. He spotted me in the same amount of time and motions me over.
Klein- Oh, Kazzu! Nice timing. We were just talking about Sinon.
Sinon? What were they talking about her for?
"Ok? What about her?"
Klien- I was just getting to that. So Sinon, have you been able to remember anything? Cause I could always ask one of my friend's guilds to gather data on what happened to you...
I looked over to his left to see Sinon with her arms crossed and looking down at the table. I figured something was wrong but perhaps having this talk could lead me to what the problem was.
Well there goes my Christmas shopping plans for now. Since I'm here, might as well join the conversation.
"Really? I was actually hoping to talk and ask a few things about her. That's ok, right, Sinon?"
Sinon glanced at me for only a few seconds before lowering her head back down.
Sinon- Sure.
Deciding to take her consent before she changed her mind, I took a seat and addressed the crowd.
"Ok. Well, first of all, I think we are all aware that Sinon isn't a Sword Art Online player."
Klein- I still can't believe that anyone could come into Sword Art Online from the outside...
Lisbeth- I knew she must've had some kinda story like that after the entrance she made...
Yui- I think it was one of the errors caused by the Cardinal System. I believe the network identified her as wearing NerveGear and mistook her for a Sword Art Online player.
"But even that were true, that should be impossible. The Cardinal System is only programmed in this game. The fact that it pulled a player from a different programming system and pulled her into its own goes to show that the Cardinal System could be operating on its own. Like an Artificial Intelligence."
Ashtry- Isn't that what you programmed it to be?
"No. It was only meant to monitor player progress and hand out quests and new events. It wasn't an Artificial Intelligence program like Yui or Strea."
Klein- Hold on, hold on. The Cardinal System? What's that? I've never heard about it before.
"You really want me to go into the specifics of what the Cardinal System is?"
The entire table leaned forward interested and a bead of sweat dropped down my head.
Who would've thought...
"Ok... well, the Cardinal System serves as the primary driving and management force of the game. Designed to not require outside maintenance, the Cardinal System autonomously manages the entirety of Sword Art Online, including the operation of non-player characters, the balancing of items and currency, the monitoring of the mental state of players, and the generation of new quests, via a countless number of lower program bundles under its command. The Cardinal System has a number of monitoring systems, designed to either detect bugs, or to keep track of the mental health of the players. Cardinal even has a sub-program that continuously checks the main process for errors and corrects them. So, the fact that Sinon is here from another game proves that the error in the system was enough to crash the Cardinal System. And that terrifies me."
Agil- That's some pretty bad luck. Of all things to find yourself right in the middle of a game like this...
Asuna- Don't worry, though, Sinonon! We're definitely going to clear this game!
"Sinonon?"
Ashtry- Since when have you started calling her that?
Kirito- Asuna's right, though. We have to clear this game, and we have to do it fast!
"Agreed. More errors could occur which could lead to even more people getting pulled into Sword Art Online from different games or worse."
Asuna- You don't need to worry about anything, though, Sinonon. Just wait here in this town and leave the rest to us.
Ashtry- Or if she wanted, she could try to level herself up to help us out.
Sinon- So what you're saying Asuna... is if we clear the game, all our problems are solved?
Klein- I guess you could put it that way, considering beating Heathcliff on the 75th floor didn't do jack shit.
Sinon- In that case, I want to help. That's fine, right?
Lisbeth- Whoa there! Hold on now...
Agil- Are you serious?!
Asuna- But it's so dangerous...
Sinon- I know that. But I still want to help. I'm no good to anyone twiddling my thumbs around here. I want to be involved. I want to get stronger. Strong enough to clear a game like this one...I couldn't help but respect her admiration to become stronger. To be thrown into a world programmed to kill you without any knowledge of said world and still finding the desire to beat it. That's a level of strength I looked up to.
Silica- But you've only just arrived in Sword Art Online! Wouldn't it be too hard to battle on this floor with your level and skills?
"Sorry if this is rude... but weren't you to under leveled to go to the Hill of Memories by yourself to revive Pina, Silica?"
Silica- W-Well... yea but...
"And Lisbeth, didn't you admit to roaming into a high leveled area to retrieve the material required to forge Kirito's sword and my gauntlets despite being lower leveled yourself?"
Lisbeth- That's... true...
"Sinon might be new and a little green, but I think she has the potential if she works hard enough. Your level's not a limitation as long as you're motivated."
I stand up from my chair and look at Sinon, who looks up at me with a look of small shock and intrigue.
"I'll try to find the time between missions to give Sinon some training. With some time and a lot of leveling, she could be a great asset to the Aincrad Assault Army."
Ashtry- That's my boy.
Sinon- Kazzu...
Leafa- Well, if Kazzu says Sinon's got potential, then it must be true.
Asuna- Are you sure you're going to be ok, Sinonon?
Sinon- I'll be just fine, Asuna.
She smiled as she turned her head to meet my eyes once again.
Sinon- After all... Kazzu promised he would look after me.
Leafa raises an eyebrow at me, as if she was accusing me.
Leafa- Do you usually go around making promises like that at the drop of a hat?
"What does it matter if I do? I'm here to protect players, not stand by and let them die."
Ashtry gives me a suggestive smirk and nudges my stomach.
Ashtry- Are you sure that's all you want to do with Sinon?
"Would you stop? I said I would help her level and grow stronger. Why are you all taking it out of context?"
Lisbeth- Well, regardless of what Kazzu said or meant, a new Assault Army member is always welcome. I'm looking forward to working with you, Sinon.
Sinon- And I'm looking forward to working with all of you too.
She smiles at me again and shoots a wink in my direction.
Sinon- Especially you Kazzu...
A slight blush crawls onto my face and Ashtry continues to nudge my stomach. I chuckle and brush her off before nodding at Sinon.
"I can't wait to see just how strong you can get... Sinonon..."
The table shares a laugh at my use of Asuna's nickname for Sinon. As I laugh with them, I look back at Sinon.
I didn't learn a whole lot more about Sinon except for her desire to become stronger. It's not much but it's progress. Now it begs the question: What's the real reason she wants to grow stronger? Is it mainly to escape this game or...
Something personal...?