Chapter 69
The day after the second round of job aptitude tests wrapped up, Seyoung took stock of the atmosphere in the warden training camp. After a period of screening and sorting, they'd soon be deployed across the city to take on real duties.
In the cafeteria, the exercise yard, the barracks—anywhere two or more women gathered, the conversation inevitably turned to the exam. It was just like a high school classroom right after finals.
"How'd you do?"
"How'd I do? Tanked it."
The classic lines were coming out verbatim.
"What the hell were those last essay questions... I blanked on four 'cause I didn't know the names."
Predictably, there were complaints about the problems too. Familiar sights, but if you wanted to gauge how heavily this weighed on their minds, it was heavier than any exam they'd faced in their lives. The results would dictate how comfortable and prosperous their lives in the city would be—and in some cases, even determine their social status.
Reactions varied wildly, of course. Those who thought they'd aced it. Those convinced they'd bombed. The comforters. The fake comforters smirking inside. The ones shrugging it off with a "life goes on" attitude. Those already eyeing the next test. Those prepping appeals for a retake. Every type imaginable. But mostly, gloom and pessimism prevailed. High hopes breed high anxiety—and most of these women had pinned their dreams on landing a spot in the security force.
Naturally, that meant they shot envious glances at Seyoung.
"Lucky her."
"Security force is a given, and probably management track too, right?"
Everyone knows there's always an inside track for top jobs at big companies. But few gigs flaunted their shoo-ins so openly. Seyoung was the only one in camp with private quarters, personally visited by the city manager himself, complete with a bodyguard escort. Anyone could see she was pre-approved.
Unsurprisingly, the gossip about her was endless. It had only intensified since the aptitude test ended.
"At least she passed the civil service exam."
Some were willing to give credit where due. And they had reason: Seyoung might be the shelter's sole remaining civil service qualifier—possibly the last in all of Korea—and she'd passed at a ridiculously young age. Proving the point, right after the exam, she'd been whisked away somewhere.
A small cafe not far from the camp. It had been a hit with construction workers during the city's buildout, thanks to iced Americanos for just 2,000 won. Meant for regular residents post-completion, but the unprecedented disaster had killed those plans. Until today, when it welcomed its first true resident customer.
"This is our second time meeting."
"I've seen and heard about you plenty, Miss Seyoung."
Rose extended her hand first, and Seyoung smiled as she shook it. Rose's hand was astonishingly soft, radiating a warmth that made you reluctant to let go. They sat near the entrance.
For Seyoung, it had been ages since she'd set foot in a cafe. The plush sofa and cozy ambiance alone filled her with inexpressible satisfaction. Things she'd once taken for granted now sparked big and small joys.
"Allow me to introduce myself properly. I'm Rose, the shelter's security management AI."
"Former prison warden, Lee Seyoung."
Rose sat ramrod straight, like a spine fairy had possessed her, gazing steadily at Seyoung.
"That body... you're an android, right?"
"Correct."
"Fascinating. First time seeing a second-gen up close."
Second-gen androids had wide applications. Affluent, harmonious couples used them as housekeepers, secretaries, or caregivers. Even fundamentalist religions employed them to harness female labor without doctrinal conflicts.
"Order whatever you like."
Rose held up the menu.
"...or so I'd love to say, but this place was half-destroyed in the infection outbreak and only just repaired. Options are limited, I'm afraid."
A housekeeping robot waiting in the kitchen brought over a tray and set it on the table. Humanoid in the standard sense, its bulky plastic frame somehow looked cute draped in a chef's toque and apron.
Seyoung's eyes locked onto the tray. Camp meals covered two squares a day, but they were strictly nutritional—lucky rations at best. They couldn't satisfy humanity's primal craving for sweetness. Every Korean guy knows the agony of five weeks sugar-free during service. And Seyoung hadn't touched a grain of sugar since getting locked in the Offshore Prison.
Gulp.
Atop the tray, a cappuccino steamed with a milk-foam smile. Saliva flooded her mouth. She tried to stay composed, but Rose's electronic eyes caught it all—Seyoung's cute nostrils subtly flaring, greedily inhaling the aroma.
Click.
Rose lifted the lid on a side plate. Inside: three small treats. Croffle drenched in maple syrup. Three macarons. Three tarts. No profile data on her tastes, so Rose had gone with Korea's pre-apocalypse SNS trifecta for max traffic.
Rose noted Seyoung's eyes widening 20%, nostrils 30% more. Too sweet a combo? Nah—past meetings with inmate reps proved otherwise. Their brains screamed 'Gimme something sweet!' nonstop. For them, sweet and sticky was the way to go.
"Enjoy as much as you like. We've got time—you can eat first, then talk."
Seyoung's trembling eyes and hands went for the coffee mug first. Slurp.
"Haaah..."
The sweet coffee hit her tongue, and her brain seemed to wiggle in response. Next, her gaze fixated on the croffle. Its buttery, perfectly baked savoriness mingled with the maple syrup's sweetness, wafting up temptingly. One bite, and heaven unfolded in her mouth. Her tongue wired the bliss straight to her cortex.
Rose observed with unabashed fascination—bordering on rude. Sensory interplay, especially taste and smell in the mouth, was a keen interest of hers. Even with a human-like body, she couldn't indulge like one. She studied Seyoung's raw, human reactions closely—for the day she might experience them herself.
Once the coffee and croffle were half-gone, Seyoung dabbed her mouth with a napkin and gave an awkward smile.
"You already know, but regardless of aptitude test results, certain positions are pre-assigned. You're one of them."
"Yes."
Seyoung nodded.
"Personally, I'm impressed with you, Miss Seyoung. Your school records, college grades, boss evaluations—quite striking."
"Thank you."
Seyoung was genuinely thrilled. Rose wasn't the type for empty flattery. It wasn't just tongue-tip sweetness; validation for her efforts starved her too. Today, her brain was sparking chemical fireworks, on the verge of overload.
"You'll receive the highest rank among residents, excluding the Manager. Similar to your warden days. No spilling before the official announcement."
"Of course."
No one was that clueless.
"Still, it's a bit daunting. I've never managed large groups. Plenty here were heads of facilities with hundreds."
Seyoung confessed honestly.
"No need to worry. Inmate numbers are high, but security exceeds ADX Florence. No human rights laws here, either. We'll provide perfect force and surveillance support."
Seyoung relaxed at Rose's confident tone.
"In a way, you could call yourself the Manager's right hand."
"Me?"
Seyoung's wide eyes screamed, 'Aren't you lot the right hands?'
Rose chuckled at the obvious gesture.
"Humans prefer human hands. Manager's philosophy. We AIs outrank you in authority, but for face-to-face, you'll be like a salaried CEO."
Artemis, Chloro, Rose, Kids—the board that could oust that CEO anytime.
"I called you here on the Manager's orders—to chat, since we'll work together often."
"With residents like these, incidents won't stop, huh."
Inevitably, Seyoung as resident rep and Rose as security chief would interact daily. After light talk on a few issues, silence fell. Rose's gaze drifted to the cooling treats.
"Smells good."
Rose sniffed. Seyoung chuckled lightly at the unladylike move, then caught herself.
"Even second-gens can't eat?"
"Drinking, to an extent. I'm a sex model, after all. Pure liquids, even semi-solids like semen—no problem."
Seyoung nearly spat her coffee. Rose was sharp and refined, but lacked that feminine bashfulness.
"What's wrong?"
Rose tilted her head cutely, puzzled. Seyoung mustered an awkward smile.
"Before duties, let's talk everyday stuff first."
Seyoung said with a laugh. Their chat stretched far beyond the planned time. Seyoung and Rose clicked perfectly, parting not with a handshake, but an embrace—as friends.