Chapter 87: Liberating SAO—Interested in Becoming the Pleasure God's Chosen?

[Detected: Current Profession - God. New feature available. Do you wish to fuse the SAO game world using the Virtual World Seed?]

[Fusion will modify the world structure. Please proceed with caution.]

As soon as Shirakawa acquired both the seed and admin rights over SAO, his cheat system displayed a new prompt.

It was somewhat unexpected.

Using the seed to construct a subspace had been the plan all along. Now that the proficiency panel confirmed it was possible, he calmed his excitement.

He didn't choose to modify the world right away—

After all, there were still players inside SAO.

Facing Kayaba's earlier question, Shirakawa didn't hide anything. In a relaxed tone, he said:

"It's simple."

"I want to turn this virtual world, where consciousness can reside—into a real, existing subspace."

"..."

Kayaba Akihiko had originally thought that his dream of building a real fantasy world was already bold enough. But he hadn't expected—

The clearly high-school-aged Shirakawa in front of him...

Was even bolder than him?

Subspace was a field he had never dabbled in, so he didn't comment. Instead, he asked, "What are you planning to do with the players?"

"I'll return them to the real world."

Now that Shirakawa had full control of the GM account, as long as he lifted the logout restrictions on the AR recording devices, all players' consciousnesses could return to reality.

To modify the game, he'd have to force everyone offline.

After all... subspace was like a turbulent ocean of the spirit. Those with weak wills could suffer mental collapse unless they were Chosen.

Shirakawa didn't forget the deal he made with Kayaba. Looking out at the vast SAO world, he said seriously, "Your soul—"

"—will remain in the subspace."

"I'll go to another world and ask a goddess to reincarnate you into a real alternate world. That will fulfill our agreement."

"I'm... honestly kind of excited for it now."

The usually stern expression on Kayaba Akihiko's face finally showed a faint smile. He now understood the true nature of the intruder. His figure faded away.

He didn't believe Shirakawa would break their deal.

Especially since he still retained his GM account. While most permissions had already been transferred, getting to witness the transformation of the world with his own eyes—

That alone...

Was already satisfying enough.

With GM permissions in hand, Shirakawa was now the god of the SAO world. He began with some simple adjustments to the system—like the logout settings.

He modified the logout conditions.

Originally, players had to clear all of Aincrad. Now, he changed it so players could log out freely at any time. But he didn't force everyone offline immediately.

After all, he still had things to discuss with Asuna, Mito, and the others. Using the player locator function, he teleported without hesitation.

When he reappeared, he stood before the gathered players on the 2nd Floor of Aincrad. Most still didn't know what had happened or what was going on.

But Asuna and Shinobu Kocho—

Both members of the chat group who understood Shirakawa's strength—remained completely calm. They were only curious where Shirakawa had gone.

At last, they saw that familiar figure ahead.

Asuna walked over. Since the temple on the second floor had been blown apart, she figured the boss had already been cleared. She asked about what came next.

"Shirakawa-kun, what happens now?"

"What happens next..."

Looking at Asuna's serious expression, Shirakawa's gaze carried a trace of amusement. He asked with a smile, "Why don't you check your character panel?"

"What do you mean?"

Still unaware of what had happened, Asuna followed Shirakawa's suggestion and opened her player menu.

Her level had gone up.

That came from the experience gained from killing mobs before entering the 2nd-floor temple. Nothing unusual there. But then she glanced at the settings tab—

And felt a strange sense of anticipation.

[Logout]

Seeing the logout button now available in the settings, Asuna froze in shock. Her heart skipped a beat, joy welling up from deep within.

She slowly lifted her head—

And looked at Shirakawa with disbelief. She had glimpsed his figure standing on the stairs before the explosion—but it had vanished before she could process it.

And now, in such a short time...

Asuna could hardly imagine what he had accomplished. She wanted to ask, but when she saw his calm expression—

She swallowed her words.

Then she turned to address the gathered players: "Everyone—Shirakawa-kun has already... solved the issue preventing us from logging out."

"We no longer need to continue the raid. We're free to leave the game now!"

"..."

The players stared at each other in stunned silence. Most hadn't reacted yet. But once they opened their own menus—

The truth was right there.

After being trapped in the SAO game world for so long, most of them had become numb. The only way out had been to beat the game.

And during that time—

Countless players had died, keeping them in constant tension and fear.

Now, Shirakawa, who possessed power far beyond the game's creator, had actually freed them. Their previously dull and anxious eyes—

Were now full of gratitude.

Some even shouted with excitement and immediately offered their thanks: "Big bro! Give me your contact info—let me treat you to a meal when we're back in the real world!"

"A meal?"

"After we eat, let's go drinking! My family runs a bar—we'll throw a party there to celebrate Shirakawa-bro getting us out of the game!!"

"Um..."

"Shirakawa-senpai, can I have your contact info too?"

Now that logging out was possible, the players were overwhelmed with emotion. Some of the girls, confident in their looks, even tried to exchange contact details.

[Reputation Points +1]

A nice little bonus. Since remaking the subspace would require the players to leave anyway, Shirakawa simply nodded at their thankful expressions.

He accepted their thanks—and said casually, "It was no trouble. If you don't have anything else going on, feel free to spread the word to the other players."

"We'll get right on it!"

After giving the players a quick explanation and encouraging them to leave—shirakawa turned toward Mito, Shigemura Yuuna, and the others who still looked overjoyed and asked directly, "What are your plans?"

"Once you leave the SAO world, you won't be able to log back in."

"As a game, Sword Art Online is indeed amazing... but the cost of death here is too real—your real body dies too."

As a game lover, Mito gently shook her head.

She didn't give a direct answer right away. Her gaze swept past Shinobu Kocho, then settled on Shirakawa. "Shirakawa-kun... you're not from our world, are you?"

"..."

Her words made Sachi and Shigemura Yuuna's expressions change. Weren't they all just players who logged into SAO?

But—

They hadn't expected Shirakawa to not deny it. He just nodded slightly, and without staying at the temple entrance—

He used his GM authority and transferred the raid group to the top of the tower. Smiling, Shirakawa nodded and said, "Your intuition is sharp. I came to the SAO world—"

"Not just to help Asuna..."

"..."

As he spoke, Shirakawa turned his gaze to Asuna, Sachi, and Shigemura Yuuna. If three more Chosen of the God of Pleasure joined—

He wouldn't mind at all.

"I also want the virtual world of SAO. So—are you interested in staying as divine followers of a god? Or would you rather return to your ordinary lives?"