DXD: Table for one - Chapter 3

“What’s up?” Merlin asked casually as he stepped up beside Mikami.

“The door won’t budge!” Mikami grunted, tugging harder. The wooden door didn’t even shake a bit.

Really? Let me give it a shot.” Merlin stepped forward, grabbed the handle, and gave a firm pull.

With a soft creak, the door swung open easily, revealing a familiar cityscape—Menchi’s World.

Mikami blinked.

“Were you trying to go to Menchi’s World?” Merlin wondered as he tried to confirm a theory.

“Yeah,” Mikami replied, confused. “But when I tried, it didn’t open at all.”

He stepped forward, aiming to leave the restaurant... and slammed face-first into something invisible.

“Ow! What the—why can’t I leave?” The salaryman muttered, rubbing his forehead.

“Try opening your own world,” Merlin suggested. He pushed the door shut again with a quiet thud.

Mikami hesitated, then followed the advice. He focused and pulled the door open again. This time, it revealed a busy Tokyo street. Mikami stepped out easily.

Merlin tried to follow him... only to bump into the same invisible wall.

“Huh?” Merlin frowned, rubbing his nose. He turned back toward the counter. “Menchi, you try stepping out.”

Menchi raised an eyebrow but walked toward the door. She pushed it open and casually stepped out into the street, no resistance at all. Then she turned and tried the same with Merlin’s World, opening the door. Same result—no barrier.

Mikami scratched his head. “Okay... this makes no sense. I mean, I’d get it if both of us couldn’t enter her world. But you can, and I can’t?”

“I think I got it,” Merlin said, thinking back through recent conversations. “Menchi gave me permission to enter her world. She literally told me to go to Heaven’s Arena to earn some cash. That might’ve counted.”

He looked toward her. “Menchi, try giving Mikami permission to enter your world.”

“Uh... Mikami, you can enter my world,” she said, a little unsure of herself.

The moment she said it, Mikami stepped forward again—and this time, he passed through the doorway easily, arriving in the city around Heaven’s Arena.

“It worked!” he said, grinning.

“Alright. Mikami, I give you permission to enter my world as well,” Merlin added.

They all stepped back inside the restaurant. Merlin opened a door to the Underworld—but again, Mikami hit a barrier.

“Menchi, try giving him permission again, this time for my world!” Merlin said.

She nodded. “You can enter Merlin’s World too, Mikami.”

That did the trick. The barrier disappeared as if it hadn’t been there, and Mikami stepped into the dirty streets of the Naberius Territory.

It turned out that Menchi had some kind of authority over the restaurant. She could give people permission to enter different worlds—hers, Mikami’s, even the Underworld where Merlin was from. She was the only one who could do that. But she couldn’t stop someone from returning to their own world.

Eventually, Mikami had to return to Tokyo. His lunch break was almost over.

“I’ll come back soon,” he said, already halfway out the door. “I mean, c’mon—it’s a restaurant that leads to different worlds!”

Once he was gone, Menchi turned to Merlin with a more serious expression.

“So, what about you?” she asked. “Are you going back to that place?”

Merlin narrowed his eyes. “Why do you ask?”

“Because that world of yours—it’s obviously not a good place. You’ve been dodging every question we ask about it. Don’t think you can fool a pro hunter with lame excuses.”

She sighed, shaking her head. “And then there’s the purple sky... and your physical strength.”

“What about it?” Merlin asked, raising an eyebrow.

This time, it was Menchi who hesitated.

“Does it have anything to do with that strange aura around your body?” he pressed, interested in more information about it.

“You can see it?” she asked, surprised.

“Just a bit,” he admitted. “Don’t dodge the question this time.”

Menchi let out a breath. “Yeah... pretty much. Even though you have no control over it yet, you have a ton of life energy. That’s what it is. Either you’re ridiculously talented… or you’re not human.”

She was holding something back—Merlin could tell—but he didn’t press further.

“Can you teach me how to use it?” he asked.

Menchi shook her head. “Become a Hunter first.”

“What does being a Hunter have to do with anything?”

She leaned against the counter. “Since you can already see it, I’ll give you the basics. In my world, it’s a secret. Only licensed hunters are allowed to officially learn it. Of course, there are people who learn without permission, but it’s still a law.”

Merlin nodded slowly. That made some sense. A society with supernatural powers would probably want control over who learns them.

“Okay, so… When’s the next Hunter Exam?”

“Unfortunately,” Menchi said with a sigh, “the last one ended a month ago. You’ll have to wait until the end of the year.”

“I see. That’s fine. I’ve got time.” He gave a small shrug. He already got arguably a lifespan of ten thousand years. While his notes say something about an apocalypse coming in a few years—some war with Spirit Gods and Machine Gods—but whatever. He could always leave that world behind if everything turns to shit. As a human who had at least 10000 years to live now, he had all the time in the world.

“Well then, since I need some cash, and you recommended it,” he smiled, “guess I’ll head to that Heaven’s Arena. What can you tell me about it? How much can I earn? Am I strong enough?”

“With your body’s strength?” Menchi tilted her head thoughtfully. “You should be able to reach at least the 200th floor without too much trouble. It’s a combat tower. You fight opponents, win, climb floors, and earn money.”

“How much are we talking?”

“On average, 300 to 400 million Jenny overall, more if you climb slowly. The tower pays better if you don’t rush. Once you reach Floor 100, you even get a private room. The higher you get, the more luxurious these rooms are.”

“300 to 400 million!?” Merlin’s eyes widened.

He was stunned. Mid-grade magic circles on the open market cost around 50 million. This was enough to buy several.

“Yup,” she replied casually.

“What comes after the 200th floor? Is that where things get serious?”

“After Floor 200, the Tower stops paying prize money. Instead, you can bet on your fights—but only through a proxy.”

She leaned on the counter. “The entire format changes. You stay on the 200th floor and aim to get 10 wins with no more than 3 losses. A fourth one and you have to start again. Succeed, and you can challenge a Floor Master.”

“What happens if you win?”

“You become a Floor Master yourself. That comes with a private floor, a title, and the right to compete in the Battle Olympia—a big tournament between Floor Masters. The winner gets the penthouse at the top of the Tower for the next two years.”

“Sounds like a big deal?” Merlin asked, unsure if it actually was.

“It’s overrated,” Menchi said with a shrug. “Good if you want combat experience. But most strong fighters don’t stick around. Only the glory-hungry types care. They are usually weak.”

“Were you a Floor Master?”

“Yeah. It was part of my training after I got my Hunter License.” She grinned proudly.

“I figured.” Merlin nodded. “So... I’m guessing everyone on the 200th Floor uses that life energy thing—Nen?”

“Bingo! Wait... you even know it’s called Nen?”

“I heard you mutter ‘Nen Ability’ earlier when you left with my order,” he replied honestly. “Took a guess.”

“Well, I thought that restaurant system was a Nen Ability at first,” she admitted. “Didn’t feel like one, though. But yeah, the technique to control your life energy is called Nen. And yes—it’s required on the 200th Floor.”

“Why is it required?”

“You wouldn’t have any defense against any fighter… There’s a tradition,” she explained. “Anyone who reaches the 200th floor without having Nen gets an... initiation. Usually in the form of a direct Nen attack.”

Merlin stared. “Okay, and what happens then?”

“If they don’t die, they usually lose a limb or get crippled,” she added with a shrug. “But in exchange, they awaken Nen.”

“Wait—so getting hit by a Nen attack can awaken it?”

He paused, thinking hard, ‘Does that also apply to Touki? It’s also a form of life energy manipulation... Is that why I couldn’t awaken it till now?’

They got pulled out of their discussion by the sudden chime of the doorbell.

———

POV: ?

A... death game? Oh god...

A lone girl walked through the crowded streets, her hood pulled low to hide her face. All around her, people were shouting, panicking, and crying. The chaos in the Town of Beginnings felt overwhelming.

Her brown boots tapped against the stone pavement. Her expression was blank. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

Trapped inside a video game?

Her friends…

Her family…

At least in here, she was free from her terrible fiancé.

But now what? What was she supposed to do?

She had only joined this game out of curiosity. Maybe it was a way to escape the pressure, the expectations, the life that never felt like hers.

Her older brother had gotten his hands on a NerveGear thanks to some connections. He was so excited to try out Sword Art Online. The only reason he wasn’t here right now was because of a sudden business trip. He’d planned to dive in today but had to cancel last minute.

And she... she had asked to try it instead. Just for one day.

Please… don’t let him blame himself.

He would. She knew he would. But it was her choice. Her idea.

She had to survive.

Anyone who dies in Aincrad dies for real.

She couldn’t let herself die. If she did, her brother would never forgive himself. She needed to stay alive—no matter what.

Maybe… maybe she could just stay in town. Rent a room and wait. Someone out there would clear the game eventually. She didn’t have to fight. She just had to live.

So many would die...

Her legs moved without thinking. She kept walking, head low, eyes distant, not even noticing where she was going.

Only when she stopped in front of a wall did she snap out of it.

No... it wasn’t a wall. It was a pitch-black glass window.

She stared at it, confused. Had this place always been here?

It didn’t match the rest of the Town of Beginnings. The design was too modern, too clean. A glowing neon sign sat above the door, marked with symbols she didn’t recognize. But the image of a burger on a plate was clear enough. A restaurant?

It felt... out of place.

She looked around. Nothing else looked like this. How had she not noticed it before?

Hesitating, she reached for the door and slowly pushed it open. A soft chime echoed from inside.

It was a restaurant.

The interior was cozy and clean. The wooden floors looked freshly polished. Warm lighting filled the space. Tables were neatly arranged, and booths lined the walls, each with sliding doors for privacy.

There were two people inside.

A woman with turquoise hair stood behind the counter. A white-haired man sat casually on a stool, his ice-blue eyes watching her carefully.

She blinked, surprised. “U-Uh…”

As she stepped inside, the door shut behind her.

Suddenly, pain shot through her head. Bright red warnings popped up in her vision, flashing violently.

* ERROR: System malfunction detected. You have crossed the boundary of Aincrad. Return immediately or face termin-

SYSTEM OVERRIDE: Error corrected. The environment is now sustained by Restaurant System 1.0.

Death Timer: Disabled. *

“Well, that’s new,” the white-haired man muttered with a raised eyebrow.

The turquoise-haired woman quickly moved around the counter and approached her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Are you okay?”

The girl’s head was spinning. That message… What was this place?

“This… this is outside of Aincrad?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “That doesn’t make sense…”

She looked around the restaurant again. Small but clearly maintained with care. Clean floors, good lighting, and a calm atmosphere.

She turned toward the large window she had seen from outside. But now…

Now it showed something completely different.

A cityscape.

A real one. Mid-sized buildings, cars, people walking down the street—and in the distance, the unfamiliar shape of a massive tower rising into the sky.

That wasn’t Aincrad. Neither a place she had ever seen before. That tower was too memorable.

She quickly turned back to the door and opened it again.—

And was greeted by the same dark alley from before. The chaotic streets of the Town of Beginnings are just beyond.

“What…?” she mumbled.

“Are these… some kind of video recordings?” she asked, pointing at the window.

“Nope! Welcome to Menchi’s Place!” the woman said brightly. “The restaurant that connects to different worlds. I’m Menchi, by the way.”

Different worlds?

That was insane.

“Wow, subtle,” the man muttered sarcastically. “Yeah, tell her that right away; I’m sure she’ll believe you.”

He stood up, walked over to the door, and opened it again.

The city on the other side had changed. Now it was a completely different place, with even more people walking the streets. But strangely, none of them came near the restaurant.

In the background, a tall red structure rose into the sky.

Her eyes widened.

“That’s... the Tokyo Tower…”

“You’re from Japan?” she asked quickly, hope rising in her chest. “Please, we need to contact someone! Kayaba Akihiko—he’s trapped us in his game! If anyone tries to remove our NerveGear, we’ll die!”

“…”

“For real? First I wander into some multiversal restaurant, and now I meet someone stuck in a video game? What a day,” the white-haired guy muttered under his breath.

Menchi elbowed him sharply in the side.

“Not the time,” she said, shooting him a glare before turning back to the girl. “Sorry about that. To be honest… I’m not sure we can contact anyone for you. This place—this version of Tokyo—it might not even be from your world. We only discovered this restaurant today. It connects to different worlds, but we don’t fully understand how it works yet.”

She looked over her shoulder at the white-haired man.

“You’ve been talking with Mikami more than me. Any idea if he’s from her world?”

“What’s a NerveGear?” The guy replied, tilting his head. “Oh, and the name’s Merlin, by the way.”

“As in… the wizard?”

“Exactly!” he said with a grin. “Now, back to the important part. What’s a NerveGear?”

“You don’t know?” The girl looked at him, surprised. “It’s the latest game console. You need it to play Sword Art Online. It’s the first true full-dive VR system!”

Merlin scratched his cheek thoughtfully. “Hmm… I did talk a bit with Mikami. “He’s from that Tokyo,” he said, pointing out the door toward the busy city streets. “We compared our worlds, especially tech and games. From what I gathered, his version of Japan is still decades—maybe even centuries—away from full-dive virtual reality.”

“I see...” the girl muttered, her voice heavy with disappointment.

“Hey, don’t look so down,” Merlin said, trying to lighten the mood. “I just met the guy today. There’s an easy way to check. We could just step outside and look for a phone booth. Try calling your home or something.”

That made sense.

“Although...” he added, rubbing his chin. “There might be consequences. You’re technically a video game character right now.”

“W-What? No! I’m human!” the girl said, her voice shaky.

“Sure, your real body is human,” Merlin replied. “But right now, the version of you standing here is your in-game avatar.”

He pointed above his head.

She blinked. “There’s nothing there.”

He nodded upward again, and this time she followed his gaze.

Floating text appeared above her:

< Asuna - Lv 1 >

She stared at it, frozen for a moment.

“Do you still want to try?” Merlin asked gently.

Asuna looked from the name above her to his face. Then she nodded. If this place really could connect to her world, maybe she could get the warning out. The sooner the truth about Sword Art Online spread, the more lives they could save.

What if someone at home tried to remove a NerveGear, thinking it was safe? That would kill the player instantly.

“I’ll do it,” she said quietly.

“Okay. Asuna, I give you permission to enter Mikami’s world,” Menchi said from beside her.

Asuna didn’t know why that phrase felt important, but something shifted inside her the moment Menchi said it.

She stepped toward the door, leaning forward to peek out—

But the second her head passed the threshold, a wall of crackling light snapped into place. Her forehead hit it with a dull thud, and bright red alerts filled her vision.

*WARNING* *WARNING* *WARNING*

< You are about to leave Aincrad. Proceeding will result in the death of your original body. Your current form will become permanent, and you will no longer be able to return to Aincrad.

Leave Aincrad? {Yes} {No} >

“K-Killed…?” Asuna whispered.

But... locked to this form? That meant she wouldn’t die—not really. She’d lose her body in the real world but still exist like this?

Her thoughts raced, overwhelmed by the message. Before she could say anything, Merlin stepped forward, reading the popup on the glowing barrier.

“Well, that’s new too,” he said calmly. “It looks like the barrier came from a combination of the restaurant’s system and your game’s system. At least now you’ve got a backup plan in case the game can’t be cleared.”

Asuna clenched her fists. “But people need to know. They need to be warned not to remove the NerveGears! So many people could die if no one tells them!”

“We understand,” Menchi said softly, placing a hand on Asuna’s back and gently rubbing it in slow circles. “But we still don’t know if this is really your world. You might be risking your life for nothing. You could lose your chance to return… forever.”

Merlin nodded. “So here’s an idea. Give me the number to your home or someone you trust. I’ll try calling. I can leave this place freely, and it doesn’t matter who delivers the warning, as long as it gets out.”

Asuna stared at him, stunned by the offer.

It might actually work.