章 1807: -1787- Give me an answer
"Mom…"
As Kyoko finally spoke, Asuna almost instinctively prepared to respond.
However, Kyoko frowned and looked at Asuna.
"I'm not asking you. Interrupting at this moment is not polite, Asuna."
Kyoko's tone was extremely stern.
"…!"
Asuna immediately fell silent.
It couldn't be helped; this was indeed Asuna overreacting.
However, from Asuna's attitude, it was clear just how much she was afraid of her mother, dreading that she might actually hurt Rozen.
Rozen simply patted Asuna's hand and spoke with a calm demeanor.
"At the moment, yes, that program belongs to me."
There was no need to hide this.
For most people, it might be a secret, but for large corporations and families, it was a different matter.
After all, even though Rozen's program was released and managed by the government, it was still officially under his name. Anyone attempting to purchase the licensing rights or pay royalties for its usage would naturally know Rozen's name when signing the contract.
As a result, in high society, Rozen's existence was not much of a secret. Many people knew about it, though some remained skeptical.
Who would believe that someone as young as Rozen could develop such a revolutionary program?
Moreover, since the system of that program was eerily similar to SAO's, it reinforced the belief that it wasn't originally Rozen's creation.
But Rozen had already openly stated that he obtained it from someone else. He was simply using it to make money, which led others to associate it with his connection to Kayaba Akihiko. The thought that this might have been a parting gift from Kayaba crossed many minds.
Because of this, some even suspected that Rozen might have had a personal relationship with Kayaba and played a role in the SAO incident. Combined with Rozen's inexplicable disappearance for a few months, the suspicions only deepened.
Rozen, however, never bothered to clarify.
After all, suspicions were just suspicions. Without evidence, what could anyone do?
Thus, in the eyes of many, Rozen remained an enigma.
Of course, in the eyes of the Yuuki family, they didn't suspect Rozen.
After all, Rozen had connections with government officials. If he truly had any suspicious ties, the government certainly wouldn't be working with him so openly, let alone managing his program on his behalf, right?
That was what the Yuuki family thought.
Unfortunately, they didn't know that the government wasn't entirely without suspicion of Rozen. Rather, Rozen was so enigmatic to them that they hesitated to act rashly. Coupled with Rozen deliberately deepening the mystery surrounding himself, they were wary and unsure of how to approach him.
Kikuoka Seijirou had even mentioned that there were factions within the government advocating for action against Rozen, but more cautious voices suppressed these suggestions, creating a delicate balance that allowed Rozen to use them so freely.
This was all a part of Rozen's strategy, as he had anticipated this outcome long ago.
Once again, Rozen's relationship with the government was one of mutual cooperation, mutual exploitation, and constant negotiation. They were neither allies nor enemies—just rivals playing a high-stakes game.
Kyoko knew nothing of this but instead spoke from her own perspective.
"Regardless of how it came to be, since you possess that program, considering its market value, you could easily establish a company. By collaborating directly with major players in the fully immersive technology market, there would be no need to go through the government as a middleman. Why haven't you done that?"
Kyoko raised this question.
It was obvious that this was something she had long been curious about.
No, not just Kyoko. From the expressions of Shouzou and Kouichirou, it was clear that they, too, were intrigued.
As Kyoko mentioned, possessing such a valuable program—one capable of reshaping markets and society—meant that with proper planning, Rozen could build a vast commercial empire.
While Rozen was indeed making a fortune, in the end, he was merely seen as a nouveau riche, failing to fully utilize the program's potential. He remained a regular high school student with no prominent background.
"I've reviewed your academic records," Kyoko said. "Your grades have always been exceptional, unmatched by anyone. You've been a prodigy, highly regarded since childhood. In middle school, you even applied for homeschooling and received approval from the school, which proves your intelligence. You're not short-sighted, so you must understand the program's value. With your abilities, you could achieve great things. Why, then, have you chosen to remain content with just making money?"
Kyoko's tone had turned into something of an interrogation.
Rozen naturally understood why Kyoko was asking this.
To Rozen, Kyoko epitomized the classic societal archetype.
As a university professor, Kyoko, though somewhat self-important, wasn't someone who looked down on others arbitrarily.
To her, what mattered was a person's credentials.
Yes, credentials—not ability.
Kyoko knew that the world was vast, and many people were talented. But knowing how to use that talent to create value was another matter entirely.
In other words, Kyoko valued achievements and results, as well as the process of accumulating those results, which explained her strictness with her children. This mindset also underpinned her own success as a university professor.
Having talent merely meant possessing the foundation for success, not guaranteeing it. If one failed to utilize their talent properly, it was equivalent to wasting it.
Because of this, Kyoko was strict with both Asuna and Kouichirou. Since her children were gifted, failing to let their talents flourish would mean failing as a parent.
While this intention was good, her methods weren't necessarily correct.
No, rather, her methods were too "correct," to the point of overlooking the individuals involved.
For instance, Kyoko believed it was necessary to make friends but not as a priority. Academics came first, and everything else could be set aside; otherwise, one risked losing focus.
Moreover, she felt her children should only associate with "worthwhile" friends—those who were equally outstanding. Otherwise, the relationship would either not last or would only lead to being exploited, offering no mutual benefit.
In short, Kyoko was an exceedingly strict parent, prioritizing her children's growth and future over everything else.
Given this, it was incomprehensible to her that Rozen, despite his abilities, had not used The Seed to ascend into high society. Instead, he had chosen to simply earn money quietly.
"If you had achieved more by now, I wouldn't be so concerned about what kind of future Asuna would have if she married you," Kyoko said, fixing her gaze on Rozen.
"Since you're here today, why don't you give me an answer?"
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