03x47 - New World

[bunniefuu]

Alice is missing?

Yes. I've been worried
that she may be doing too much.

But every time I ask,
"Are you tired? Do you need to rest?"

she just smiles and shakes her head.

I'll head over there for now.

Then we'll be better able to take action
as soon as we hear from her.

It can't be.

Alice!

Large package for you.

From Rath?

What could it be?

Would you kindly stop making a such a scene
and pull me out of here?

Kirito?

New World

Alice, why would you do this?

I am sorry for escaping like that.

But I was desperate to speak
with you alone, face-to-face,

not in your virtual form,
but as someone with a real body.

Kirito...

I am angry with you.

Why didn't you tell me that day?

That it might be our final farewell?

If only you'd told me that
at the World's End Altar, I...

I...

I would not have fled on my own!

I am a knight!

Someone whose destiny is to fight! So...

why did you choose to face
such a dreadful foe all alone,

and why didn't you want me by your side?

Who am I, Alice Synthesis Thirty,
in your eyes?

What am I to you?

You're...

my hope.

And not just my hope, either.

For all those scores of people who lived
and d*ed in that world, too,

you're our irreplaceable hope.

That's why I couldn't bear to lose you.

That hope...

I wanted to link it to the future.

The future...

What exactly will the future look like?

After I've endured the endless loneliness
of living in the chaos of the real world,

inside this unwieldy steel-element body,
what could possibly be awaiting me?

Sorry. Even I don't know that yet, but...

you being here will change the world.
You're the one who will change it.

And when all is said and done, Cardinal's,
Administrator's, Bercouli's, Eldrie's...

and Eugeo's hopes will finally be rewarded.
I have no doubt of that.

We must let Dr. Rinko know.

It wouldn't do to make her worry so much.

Yeah, good idea.

Yes.

She's much calmer now.

Yes. I understand.

Bye, then.

Don't worry, she wasn't mad.

Actually, she said she felt bad for you.

And she said that you
can spend the night here.

R-Really?

Yeah.

In that case, I'd like you
to show me around this house first.

I've never seen any traditional buildings
in the real world before!

Sure... no problem.

But... it's just a family home,
so it's not like there's a lot to see.

That's right.

I know where to take you.

Is this...

a training hall?

Yeah. Over here, we call it a dojo, though.

Dojo.

This is a wooden training sword, right?

It's so different
from the ones in the Underworld.

What?

Isn't it obvious?

What else would one do in a training hall?

But Alice...

in that body, you're...

No need to hold back.

Well, this brings back memories.

Of that day when I first crossed swords with you
in the garden on the cathedral's eightieth floor.

You really clobbered me that day.

It won't happen again today.

I win, right?

And the winning move was the secret skill,
Steel Headbutt.

I've never heard of that move.

I just created it.

Kirito. I'll be fine now.

I know I can live in this world.

As long as I can wield a sword,
wherever I may be, I will be myself.

I've just realized...

that my battle isn't over yet.

And neither is yours.

So I will look forward, and only forward,
and keep moving ahead.

So then, Big Brother fell, and...

Really? So even Kirito was once like that.

Seriously, Kazuto could be
such a handful back then!

Kazuto, we have a lot to talk about,

but first I want to hear you say
what needs to be said.

Dad, Mom. I'm really sorry
that I made you worry yet again.

We're used to it by now.

And didn't you accomplish
something really important this time?

When a person agrees to take on an article— a job,
they have to see it through to the end, no matter what.

Mom, you're making it personal.

That might be your mother's take on it,

but you have no idea how much stress
she was under while you were missing.

I get that it was a crucial mission,
and you got it done,

but that doesn't mean you can just forget.

Kazuto, what is your duty?

Being a high school student.

That's right.

And so it should be clear where you should
be putting all of your effort right now.

To study, and to get into college.

It's already the summer
of your junior year.

Your mother mentioned that you
were looking to study abroad in America.

Have you made any progress?

Well, about that...

Sorry. I want to change my focus.

Please explain.

I want to enter the electrical engineering
department at a Japanese university,

preferably the Toto
Institute of Technology.

After that, I'd like to work at Rath...

No, I mean the Oceanic Resource Exploration
& Research Institution.

Father.

"Father"?

My own father never forgave me
for choosing to become a knight.

But by making my own beliefs clear
through my actions,

I am convinced that in the end,
he came to understand that choice.

Kirito...

I mean Kazuto, is someone
who can follow the path he believes in.

And that's because, despite being
an ordinary student in this world,

in that other world he was, without
question, the most powerful swordsman of all.

Because he's a hero who fought gallantly
to protect an untold number of residents.

Alice.

Ms. Alice.

His mother and I already know that.

Kazuto's already a hero in this world, too.

Isn't that right, Black Swordsman?

Kazuto.

To choose your path, study, take exams,
advance to college, and then get a job,

all of those things are
just part of a process.

But at the same time,
they're also the fruits of your labor.

Even if you feel lost or uncertain
at times, try to live with no regrets.

I promise to do that.

Thanks, Dad, Mom.

Kirito.

Please wake up, Kirito.

A-Alice...

Please lower your voice.

Y-Yeah, it's just that, this is kind
of inappropriate, or should I say...

P-Please don't look at me.

So, what happened this late?

About five minutes ago,

I received an alarming communication
through the remote messaging art...

or rather,
it came to me over the "network."

An email? From whom?

There was no name in the sender line.

As for the content...

rather than hear me read it,
it'd be better for you to see for yourself.

This is...

Yui, are you awake?

Good morning, Daddy.

Sorry to wake you up, Yui.

Can you take a look at this?

These are the names of the floors
in the Central Cathedral, right?

Yes.

Yes, Training Hall #2 is on the fifty-second
floor, Media Storage is on the sixty-eighth floor,

the senate is on the ninety-sixth floor,

and the Geographical Records Room
is on the fifty-eighth floor.

Is this...

...an IP address?

Yes.

I think that the white tower to be climbed
refers to the address in the second line.

And when you've climbed to the top,
you reach "yon world."

Which means the server
this address is pointing to is...

I-I see!

Alice, this connects to that world.

It's the path to the Underworld!

Connects... path.

Does that mean that I can go—
I mean, return home? To that world...

To my world?

Yeah.

By the way, Alice,
when we do go back to the Underworld,

um, is it okay if we bring Asuna along,
too?

I suppose not.

If there's an unexpected emergency,
we'll need as many fighters as we can get.

This is it.

Most likely, he's involved in this.

Yes. Probably.

Yui. Did you find out
anything about that address?

I got as far as the server's relay point,

but it has such a robust firewall
that I can't dig any deeper.

I see. Thanks.

Well, we're heading out.

We won't be in any danger this time...

I think.

If something happens,
I'll come to save you right away!

I'm counting on you. All right,
see you later.

Remember, it's been 200 years.

There's no telling what's become of the
Human Empire and the land of darkness.

Be on your guard.

Administrator ruled over the Human Empire
for three hundred years, didn't she?

It hasn't been as long.

I bet it hasn't changed that much.

Once we're back,
let's go wake up Selka first, okay?

Thank you, Kirito, Asuna.

Are you ready?

All right, here we go.

Right!

Wh-What is this?

Outer space?

Kirito...

look there.

What's that?

Star World Year 582

O World! Underworld where I was born
and which I love! Can you hear me?

I have returned.

I... am here!

Integrity Pilot Stica Schtrinen

Laura! Laura, are you all right?

I'm fine, Sti.

I'm safe. But this one...

Integrity Pilot Laurannei Arabel

...can't fly anymore.

You have no choice but to abandon ship.

The thrusters on your outfit should
be enough to get you back to Cardina.

Not happening!

I can't do that!

I can't just abandon her and flee!

No. No, you can't.

Mythic Spacebeast The Abyssal Horror

Then let's fight to the end.

Roger that!

Is that... a human?

Don't tell me he's going
to fight with swords?

Release Recollection.

Release Recollection!

D-Did they k*ll it?

A monster like that?

No, not yet!

No! Don't let it get away!

We have to burn all of them up!

I know this swordswoman... no, this knight.

Me, too.

Lady... Alice?

Release Recollection.

Amazing.

Sti, I know him. I know who that person is.

Yes, Laura. So do I. So do I!

This is where the story ends.

But the battle continues for Kirito,
Asuna, Leafa, Sinon and the others,
as well as for Alice.

They will next take up their swords
on the final, greatest battle of all,
the "Inter-Intelligence w*r,"

but as of this moment,
every possibility is but a faint flicker,
wavering beyond a fluctuating light.