CHAPTER 33.2 - Doubt

"I want to ask you one question" Kouki looks at her "What if you face the game master, what will you do?"

"The game master?" Asuna started thinking and asking herself "What am I going to do? Hmm.." Asuna look at him and there is something pop in on her mind "D-Don't tell me.." Asuna slightly stepped back at him and quickly pulled out her rapier from its scabbard and pointed it to Kouki who was shocked

"W-What?" He was about to step forward to ask her

"Stop!" Asuna look furious from the very first time she saw him, he seems very suspicious but now she thinks that he is hiding something

"O-Okay?" Kouki stop moving and raised his hand in the air

"Now answer me. Are you Akihiko Kayaba?" Asuna tightens her grip on her farner

"Me? Akihiko Kayaba?" Kouki pointed to himself and his face become more confused "So you are thinking that I'm him?" And he laughs

"Stop laughing!" Asuna feels insulted so she equipped her dagger and throws it at Kouki but he moved fast so he avoided it quickly "What!" So she dash and was about to charge him a linear but he quickly throws his dagger on Asuna's hand so she let go of her rapier

"I'm not the person that trapped you here" Kouki smiled but Asuna was not convinced "Remember the day that the game master officially announced that this SAO was a death game?"

Asuna suddenly remembered what happened that day when her nightmare began, she was surprised that the log-out option was not there anymore and as the Town bells from the first-floor central town started ringing at that moment all the players were forcefully teleported to the Town of Beginnings. On the virtual screens in the sky, there was a system announcement that drew everyone's attention. Suddenly, a giant, robed, faceless figure appeared, identifying himself as Kayaba Akihiko, the creator of the game and the only person with control over the game. Addressing the problem of the missing log out option, he announced to the players that he had [purposely removed it from the game as another one of its features and thus, trapping them in the game.

While all the players were alarmed by his announcement, the game master continued, revealing that attempts to forcibly remove the nerve gear would result in its transmitters dealing lethal thermal damage to the player's brain. Because of that Asuna who was standing in front of Kouki started shaking remembering the scream of the players that day when in the sky the actual picture about the side of the SAO was flashing the player's dead body. Asuna looks back at the past again.

Akihiko declared that despite him having informed the outside world of the situation beforehand, friends and family members of some players had already ignored the warning, causing the death of two hundred thirteen players. Akihiko also told them that he had also removed the revival system in the game. Therefore, when a player died in-game, their game avatar would be forever lost, and, at the same time, the nerve gear would fry the player's brain, thus killing them. He told them that the only way to escape the game was to complete it, which meant clearing all one hundred floors of aincrad and their bosses, much to the player's shock.

Asuna in reality covered her ears and started crying "S-Stop.."

"Remember the hand mirror gift that he left?" Kouki said looking at Asuna still shaking and another flashback came

As Akihiko finished his announcement, he left a hand mirror in everyone's inventory, which they lookout. At that moment, a huge blinding light changed the players to their true appearances, sharply dropping the number of female players by revealing that many male players were masquerading as female characters, though some female players were also masquerading as males. Afterward, Akihiko revealed that his only goal was to create the game and intervene in it and he vanished after his tutorial was finished.

"Even the game master was not excepted with that mirror so his faced was his true appearance.." Kouki continues "If I'm not mistaken he was about twenty-eight years old.." Because of that Asuna looks at him "Now I'm asking you do I look like I'm in my twenties?" Kouki laugh trying to change the atmosphere

Asuna stared at him intently, Kouki looks seventeen years old, if he was saying the truth there is no way that he is Akihiko Kayaba. Kouki started walking to approach her and bend his knee and offer his hand to Asuna "Come on, get up. You have a floor battle later right?" He smiled

Asuna has still had a doubt but she still accepts his hand and get up, the fact that he is not the game master was a relief to her but still, she needs to not trust him

"I'm fine if you feel uneasy because of me but at least trust me this time," Kouki said and help her stand up "What will happen if the clearing group is wiped out, right?" Kouki shrugged, the waitress came with a two plate of dessert and put it down on the table located in the center of the gazebo

"What is this?" Asuna take a seat and look at the dessert "It looks delicious" Asuna's hazel eyes shone looking at the dessert

"It's Lemon tart" Kouki look at the waitress "Thank you" and the waitress left

"Hmmm.. This is good" Asuna was amazing after having a bite of the tart "For sure it has a buff effect"

"You are familiar now in the buff" Kouki smiled and started eating

"I'm still amazed when I eat, almost no difference in the taste of food here in the real world," Asuna said and take a bite again of her lemon tart "Anyway what buff we will get in this lemon tart? Is it the same that can be used on finding relics?"

"The one that you referring to was the blueberry tart but this one was very different, you can use it during floor battle but it has a limited time to use so use it wisely"

"What kind of buff I can get?" Asuna said

"Secret Hahah" Kouki laughed and Asuna pouted in response "You will find out during battle, it will automatically be activated when you enter the Boss chamber" Asuna check her status but she can't see anything changed so she convinces that it will activate when she entered the Boss chamber. They eat the tart quickly and when they have done Asuna started throwing questions

"Maybe we should tell this to others" Asuna pointed to her plate that now is empty "To help other players as well too"

"That's a good idea however the tart that you've got was one of one"

"One of one? But you've eaten lemon tart too?" Asuna was confused

"Ohh sorry I didn't tell you but I order different, I don't need that buff because I can't join the battle but I can help clear the floor by doing this" Kouki smile

"Thank you Kouki-Kun for helping us, especially me, I owe you a lot" Asuna gives him a sweet smile that makes him blush

"Hehe no problem" Kouki averted his eyes "If you're done let's leave, they are waiting for us outside" When they left the room they are greeted by Lisbeth

"Asuna!!" Lisbeth quickly run towards Asuna and hugged her "I received a message from Kouki that you are recruiting players to clear the floor, I'm here to help you"