"I… I was flying that high up?"
"Finally realized it, huh? Sorry for teasing you. But seriously, being able to fly like that on your first try? You're incredible."
"I just logically mapped out the neural signals the brain sends during locomotion," she muttered, looking away.
"Normal people can't do that," Hachiman noted.
"No, he's right," Kirito added. "Even we struggled at first. You're a natural, Krishna."
"T-Thank you," she replied, her face flushing with a mix of pride and embarrassment.
"Alright, let's move."
Following Hachiman's lead, they teleported to the first floor of Aincrad. The moment they appeared in the plaza, the atmosphere changed. The crowd began to murmur.
"Wait, what's happening?"
"Don't worry about it. It's the usual," Hachiman said.
"O-Okay."
Krishna followed Hachiman through the streets, glancing around nervously. The eyes of every player they passed were fixed on her. She realized then that her research into the "Valhalla" guild on the net hadn't prepared her for the sheer weight of their reputation. Occasionally, a female player would muster the courage to ask Hachiman or Kirito for a handshake. They handled it with practiced ease—polite and smiling, but firmly moving on.
"…You're used to this."
"If we stopped for everyone, we'd never get anywhere."
"Technically, the sun is already down, too!" Kirito joked.
"You two really are celebrities here…"
"We're almost at the gate," Hachiman said. "We're jumping to the 22nd floor."
"What's the teleportation feel like?"
"I've never really thought about it. You're about to find out."
Hachiman stepped into the gate first. Kirito took Krishna's hand, and together they stepped through the shimmering veil. In a heartbeat, the gray stone city was gone, replaced by a brilliant blue sky and a world of vibrant, rolling greenery.
"Wow… it's beautiful."
"The best view in the world. How was the gate?"
"Surprisingly natural," Krishna admitted. "It just… happened."
"Good. This way."
"So, where exactly is Valhalla Garden?"
"You're looking at it," Kirito said, pointing. "See that tower?"
Krishna squinted. "That? But it's so small."
"Wait until you see the inside."
As they walked the short path to the tower, snippets of conversation from nearby players reached Krishna's ears.
"Look! It's the Ruler and the Black Swordsman!"
"Who's the Cait Sith with them?"
"Is she getting into the Garden? So lucky… I'd give anything to see inside."
"Ruler-sama! Party with us sometime!"
A strange sense of pride swelled in Krishna's chest, quickly followed by a prickle of nerves. She was about to enter one of the most exclusive locations in the virtual world. Sensing her tension, Hachiman patted her shoulder.
"Relax. You'll be coming here often even after you go back to the States. You'll get used to it."
"Right… I suppose if I need to consult with you, this is the most efficient place to do it."
"Exactly. It's the ultimate hub for info-sharing."
Reaching the tower, Hachiman brought up a floating console. A translucent touch panel appeared before Krishna.
"Go ahead. Tap it."
She pressed the button. A system announcement echoed through the immediate area:
[Do you wish to register this player as a Provisional Member?]
The surrounding crowd gasped.
"Yes," Hachiman said firmly.
[Player: Krishna has been registered as a Provisional Member.]
"Sorry for the extra step, it's just the way the system is set up. One more time," Hachiman instructed.
As the onlookers held their breath, Krishna pressed the button again. The announcement boomed louder this time:
[Do you wish to register this player as a Formal Member?]
The plaza erupted into a roar of disbelief.
"No way! That Krishna girl is going straight to Formal Member status!?"
"I've never actually seen someone join Valhalla in person before…"
"I'm so jealous I could die…"
Amidst the chaos, Hachiman remained unmoved. "Yes."
[Player: Krishna has been registered as a Formal Member.]
The murmurs turned into cheers. A hidden door in the tower's stone wall slid open with a heavy rumble.
"Alright. Let's go."
"Y-Yeah!"
Flanked by the two legendary players, Krishna stepped through the door. The interior seemed narrow at first, but after climbing a spiral staircase, they reached a small building at the top.
"Is… is this really it?"
"Everyone says that at first," Hachiman chuckled.
"Prepare to be amazed," Kirito added.
"Follow me, Krishna-san," Kirito said, holding the door for her.
"Thanks, Kirito-kun."
As she stepped inside, the space expanded impossibly.
"Is this… a bar?"
"This is the Great Hall."
It looked like a massive, high-end lounge. Krishna looked up, seeing levels of rooms arranged in a circle, like a luxury apartment complex.
"Those are the private quarters. We've already got a room set aside for you."
"Thank you…"
Krishna walked to a window. Instead of the path they had just walked, she saw a sprawling, lush garden and a training ground in the distance. When she turned back, she saw two small pixies flying toward them from the back of the room.
"Papa! Kirito-san!"
"Hachiman! Kirito!"
"Hey, you two," Hachiman greeted them. "This is Krishna. She's our newest formal member. Be nice to her."
The two pixies looked at each other, then, in a flash of light, they transformed.
"What!?" Krishna gasped.
Standing before her was a stunningly beautiful woman with the pointed ears of a Dark Elf and a small, adorable girl with black hair.
"They can change their forms like that," Hachiman explained.
"Wait… does that mean they're NPCs?"
"Exactly. Yui, Kizmel—introduce yourselves."
"I'm Yui, Papa's daughter! It's a pleasure to meet you, Krishna-san!"
"I am Kizmel," the Dark Elf said with a graceful bow. "In terms of social standing, I believe I am Hachiman's wife. I look forward to our time together, Krishna."
"E-E-EH!?!?"
Looking at them, Krishna couldn't find a single trace of "programmatic" behavior. They felt entirely, terrifyingly human. Her scream of pure scientific shock echoed throughout the halls of Valhalla.
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