Chapter 010- Meeting the real Protagonist

"Even though the main reason I am trapping people inside the game because of my selfish reason, I promise that it will bring the company immense benefit."

"Also, right after the start of this game, I will take all the blames to myself and not let you or the company get any kind of backlash. So, please do consider my request." Akihiko Kayaba said in a pleading manner.

Rifat stayed eerily quite for a few minute before he gave out a long heavy sigh as he said with a righteous tone, "Though it is hard for me to sacrifice other people but if it can make the perfect virtual technology that would change the whole era, then so be it. Even though they will die, they will always be remembered as a martyr who sacrificed their life for the greater good of the future of the japan."

"Having said that, I plan to keep that death toll as low as possible. So, don't try to put any impossible task inside the game which will make them die unnecessarily."

"Thank you, Rifat sama for giving me the chance to make me realize my dream so soon. I will not let you down and keep your words in mind. Form the speed our research is going, we should be able to make a breakthrough in VR technology within 2 years. Then we can release the game and after doing some experimentation, I should be able to present you with the program in 1-2 years of time." Akihiko Kayaba expressed his joy as his loyalty toward Rifat increased by a lot.

Now, even without the system, the chance of Akihiko betraying Rifat is close to zero.

'Well, now that the problem of scapegoat is solved, all that is left is to wait for the SAO game to be released. Even though cheating is impossible, I can ask Kayaba to create some hidden occupation inside the game without breaking the game balance. That way, it will be easier to stay ahead of others inside the game.'

---Time Skip---

It has been months since his last talk with Akihiko Kayaba. Everything has been going well so far. Besides his daily training with the instructors, Rifat has been using his leisurely time to meet up with all the important characters of SAO.

During this period, he not only strengthened his bond with Asuna, Suguha and Shino, he also managed to get acquainted with his other chosen waifus such as Tozawa Misumi, Konno Yuuki and Ayano Keiko.

Tozawa Misumi was introduced by Asuna. Asuna and Misumi both studies in the same school. So, during one time when Rifat was hanging out with Asuna, she introduced him to her. Since then, Rifat has been keeping daily contact with her.

Meeting with Konno Yuuki was quite coincidental. One day, Rifat was looking at all of the properties left behind by his parents and found out few hospitals among them. On a whim, he decided to visit one of the hospitals to see its condition and by a random turn of events Rifat somehow managed meet with Konno Yuuki.

Konno Yuuki has a terminal illness. Even though her parents knows that she can't be cured, they still tried their best to keep her alive as long as possible by admitting her into one of the best medical facilities in the country.

After getting acquainted with her and her parents, Rifat left behind a sub system for her. Even though the modern medicine can't cure her terminal illness, the system can. Though the rewards of the system are totally random, it usually gives the host a reward that he/she desires or needs the most.

So, Rifat can only hope that by completing more and more mission, someday she will be able to totally cure her disease. In order to make it easy for her to complete the missions, Rifat also made sure to release easy missions that doesn't need too much effort. As for the rest, he can only hope for the best as he doesn't have any kind of control over the rewards she gets from the system.

Ayano Keiko was introduced to Rifat when he went to her school to donate in there. It was quite easy for him to get to know her and exchange phone number. Since then, he has been in touch with her as well.

Right now, Rifat is going to Suguha's house to meet her. After getting to know her for a few months, she really opened up to Rifat. This time he was going to her house to practice kendo with her.

After a few months of training in kendo, Rifat quickly managed to get better than her even though she has been training in it for years. The main reason for this is because of the rewards he gets from the system.

Now Rifat already distributed subsystems to most of the plot characters that he plans to recruit in his guild in SAO. So, every time someone completes a mission, Rifat also gets a reward. Since the rewards are closely related to host's desire and need, every time he starts to learn something, it doesn't take long for Rifat to totally master it.

After Rifat defeated Suguha once, she began to constantly challenge Rifat. But every time she does that, she began to realize that the gap between her and Rifat is going farther and farther no matter how much she practices.

When she finally recognized Rifat's superiority in kendo, Suguha decided to invite him to her house in order to practice and tech her during his leisure time. Rifat of course agreed to this without any kind of hesitation since this is a great way to get close to Suguha, her family as well as the real protagonist of the SAO.

"Yo, Kazuto! What's up?" As Rifat entered their house, he found Kazuto Kirigaya/Kirito and greeted him.

"I'm fine. What about you? Did you come to practice kendo with Suguha?" Kazuto replied

"I'm doing good and yes I came to practice kendo with her. So will you be joining with us today? You know, you do have the potential to be a kendo grandmaster if you do take it seriously." Rifat said.

Even though Kazuto is a loner, Rifat somehow managed to befriend him. Since then, he has been urging him to practice kendo so that he can become a good helper for him in SAO.

"Nah! I'm quite tired after playing games all night yesterday. So, I have no energy to practice kendo with you guys. Suguha is in the courtyard waiting for you." Kazuto replied with a lazy tone.

'Sigh! He is really lazy. I should release some missions later to make him get out of this habit. Anyway, let's meet up with Suguha.'

Rifat went to the courtyard as he saw her practicing kendo. Noticing him coming, she stopped her practice and came to greet him as she handed him a bamboo sword.

"Let me see how far you have improved recently." Rifat stood in a relaxed posture while holding the bamboo sword as he taunted Suguha to come for him.

After a few rounds of sword exchange, Rifat said to her, "Good. It seems you haven't been slacking off. But there is still many flaws in your swordsmanship."

"Let me teach you." Saying that, Rifat directly hugged her from behind as he showed her the correct postures one by one. Even though Suguha was quite shy about direct contact with other, she didn't say anything as she concentrate on Rifat's teaching.

This kind touch between them is not a first time. At first, Suguha was uncomfortable but after it happened it few times, she is now quite used to it.