Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Incredible AI!
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The air in the room grew heavy.
Not just figuratively—it was literal.
The unique weight carried by martial artists from the Old Martial World was devouring the space itself.
Nangong Haryeong stared him down, arms crossed, her gaze demanding an explanation.
"Ahem, first, I'd like to verify something."
"How did you know? If it's a question like that, I'll be disappointed. Was the reason that important to Meracle?"
"……."
"However—."
She let out a short breath.
A faint vein bulged on her forehead.
Proof that she was angry.
"Word's spreading through the Tai Chi Yin-Yang Sect about Meracle. Baek Yeonhwa of the Yin-Yang Twin Veins succeeded in marriage. Someone beat her in a duel marriage. And that someone is—."
Her lip twitched upward.
But it wasn't a smile.
It looked more like she was forcibly suppressing her rage.
"Meracle's president."
"……."
"Whoa, whoa."
"They sure know how to advertise properly."
Yeah, it was probably just promotion.
Her way of supporting Meracle by spreading the word on the 5th Floor to draw in more customers.
'Ah, this is bad.'
If Nangong Haryeong had come all this way, it meant Azure Wind Dance-Free Peng Sorin might show up next.
The two had this weird rivalry going on.
"I didn't realize you were such an impressive martial artist."
"This isn't as simple as it seems. I didn't intend for this either."
"Oh? Is that so? Here I thought—."
A storm of aura exploded outward in all directions. Kim Yang and Reneah scrambled to grab the scattering papers.
"I thought since I'm the oldest spinster on the duel marriage list, the president was pretending not to know and just letting it slide—!"
"P-Papers! P-President!"
"Uwaaaah! The office is spinning like a washing machine!"
"Baek Yeonhwa that wench is only twenty-three, right? Ahh! I see! So since this Nangong Haryeong is already over thirty—! A total old spinster—!"
"Wait a second! Ah, seriously! Calm down!"
This was a situation that could turn disastrous if not handled right.
As he racked his brain for a way to calm her, Reneah stepped forward.
"We're comrades!"
"Hoo—! Hooo—! What is this young whippersnapper daring to—!"
"I'm on the duel marriage list too! I'm 1,901 years old, so us older folks should get along!"
Whether Reneah genuinely felt a kinship or it was wisdom born of her years, it didn't matter.
It worked, plain and clear.
The aura subsided.
Nangong Haryeong gradually calmed.
Staring at Reneah's bright smile and extended hand, she responded with a strange sense of superiority.
"I'm still in my thirties, sis."
"……."
"No, granny."
Like, who the hell rubs their 1,901 years in my face? No matter how you slice it, I win.
Yeah, this was the marriage market.
It was that ruthless and cruel to women past their prime.
"Sh-She drew her w-weapon! A sword!"
"Block it! We have to block that one for real!"
There had been a bit of a commotion, but they'd finally calmed things down.
"Tch…… I'm trying so hard too."
"I-It'll be okay. Ch-Chocolate. Want some?"
Kim Yang patted the sulking Reneah's back to comfort her.
He left the two alone and turned back to Nangong Haryeong.
He knew she could get a bit violent when excited, but he hadn't expected to see it again so soon.
"Ahem! Anyway, I want to get married before that Peng Sorin wench. Absolutely! Definitely!"
Listen to her emphasize it twice.
"I got it. But was that really the only reason you came? I thought you wanted my help."
"I'm not so lacking in manners as to ask a mere matchmaker to stop a war between clans and corporations."
Fair point.
He'd only made the introduction; he wasn't responsible for whatever came after.
The contract explicitly stated they bore no liability for any legal disputes arising from matches made.
"But I'm curious, though?"
Nangong Haryeong's eyes fell on the black analog phone he'd shown her earlier.
She picked it up and examined it from every angle.
"A phone, right? How's this supposed to stop the conflict?"
"It's not an ordinary phone. It's one with limited functions."
"Hmm? Do you even grasp how big this situation has gotten?"
"Nangong Yeon is stationed on the 6th Floor, isn't he? No casualties yet, but I heard two factories have shut down from the raids."
"……You have a knack for knowing things you're not supposed to."
"I have some close friends."
Fights between corporations, groups, or individuals across floors were common.
But he didn't take them lightly.
They could escalate into inter-floor wars, so the Tower Administration kept constant tabs.
The Hunter Association was closely tied to the Administration.
His friendship with Vice Chairman Yoo Ye-na of the Hunter Association had been a huge help.
"Truth be told, they're the ones who'll resolve it themselves. I'm just bridging the gap. Still, I think there's a high chance of success."
Because he ran a marriage agency.
All he did was create opportunities for like-minded people to meet.
"Bridging the gap. Interesting. Mind if I hear more?"
At Nangong Haryeong's question, he beckoned to Kim Yang right away.
"Kim Yang, let's head out on a business trip."
Under the massive bridge called Albridge.
The martial artists from the Nangong family, having seized the delinquents' tents, were making do with lodging and meals here.
For those raised like royalty in their clan, living by a river reeking of chemicals was an insult to their pride that couldn't just be brushed off.
But they had nowhere else to go.
Returning to the Old Martial World without results wasn't an option.
The fight with Hellwright had turned into one-sided ambushes on their end, with some gains but nothing substantial.
Considering the corporation's size, it was meaningless.
"Sigh, how can we face the family head like this?"
Nangong Yeon stood with his hands behind his back, facing the river.
The other martial artists beside him all wore grim expressions.
"The problem is they're learning our swordsmanship."
"Should've gone all-out in the first ambush—."
"And they fight in these bizarre ways we don't understand. It's disorienting."
"Did you see yesterday? I cut off his arm, and the severed arm flew up and hit me."
"What kind of freakish……."
If it came to a head-on clash, they could win for sure.
Even with augmented bodies, full-scale war favored them heavily.
But the enemy kept countering in unexpected ways.
No need to mention conducting electricity through sprinkler water.
Drone suicide attacks, smart bullets that curved around cover.
They'd even been tricked by simulation backgrounds into thinking they were the ones attacking.
'Is the gap really this wide?'
The difference between knowledge and ignorance.
Those with knowledge toyed with the ignorant effortlessly.
No fatalities, but plenty of injuries and plummeting morale. They'd planned another raid on Hellwright's factory today, but defeat already felt inevitable.
Like the river flowing before them, the current was set if things continued.
"The situation looks grim."
At the familiar voice, Nangong Yeon whipped his head around. The others did too.
Everyone's faces lit up uncontrollably.
"Big Sis!"
"We pay respects to the Heartless Sword Fairy!"
"We pay respects to the Heartless Sword Fairy!"
Their hearts pounded as they greeted Nangong Haryeong with clasped fists.
With Nangong Haryeong, it was possible.
Her overwhelming might.
If she, who was too strong for even marriage, joined the fray, they could avenge themselves against those damned Cyber City fixers and busters.
But.
"You know what you're hoping for, but what good would it do if I helped?"
Arms crossed, she clicked her tongue.
"Pathetic men. All the ones tarnishing the Nangong name are gathered here."
At her words, they all bowed their heads.
It was humiliating and shameful, but since she was right, it stung even more.
"A wise person doesn't hand you fish but teaches you to fish."
As Nangong Haryeong stepped aside, there stood Kim Yang, the beastkin employee in a black mask.
"That's—."
"Meracle staff. They feel responsible and brought a solution."
"A solution?"
Kim Yang stepped forward and held out the black analog phone.
Manual buttons, no touch screen.
Heavy, but with a notably large screen.
"This is—."
"……."
Kim Yang said nothing.
She just stared blankly.
She'd stand like that forever if left alone, so Nangong Haryeong, watching from the side, gave a simple explanation.
"It's a phone with built-in AI, apparently."
"Pardon? AI? Isn't that the nonsense the 6th Floor folks spout about it being all-powerful?"
Nangong Yeon felt like tossing it away. Unfazed by his reaction, Haryeong finished.
"To use AI, you need 6th Floor citizenship. But this is special. Something about an embedded server? Not connected to anything—it's standalone AI."
"Sis, do you even get what you're saying? I have no clue……."
"I've picked up a few things wandering around. Simply put, you ask what you don't know, and it answers."
Ask what you don't know, and it answers?
"Magic like that exists?"
"It does, so try it."
Nangong Haryeong nodded toward it, and Kim Yang approached to demonstrate usage.
Not a word spoken. Just pressing buttons to type words.
"……."
A look asking if he got it.
Nangong Yeon nodded awkwardly.
"P-Press this?"
Nod.
"Oh, answers might be slow sometimes. And it doesn't know everything, so keep that in mind."
"If it knew everything, that'd be creepy."
Kim Yang bowed curtly, indicating nothing more to explain, then left with Nangong Haryeong.
"Hmm."
He stared down at the black phone.
Nangong Yeon couldn't shake his suspicions.
The other martial artists watched skeptically too.
Suddenly feeling hunger pangs, Nangong Yeon sighed in regret.
"Darn, should've borrowed some emergency cash from Sis."
They hadn't expected the fight to drag on, so money was running low.
Poor exchange rates had even left them homeless on the streets at times.
Gulp.
Swallowing, Nangong Yeon tentatively pressed the keys deliberately.
"Buffet?"
"As much as I want?"
Such a dreamlike place existed?
Nangong Yeon eyed the screen dubiously and asked again.
"……."
A high-rise in Cyber City.
Jessica's room overlooked the city's stunning skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows.
Perched on the bed, she stared down at the black phone in her hands.
Kim Yang had given it to her, saying it would let her chat with Nangong Yeon.
And sure enough, he'd messaged, thinking it was built-in AI.
She'd told the hungry man about a cheap eatery near Albridge.
Was he eating well?
No idea, but—.
'Is this really okay?'
Jessica kept second-guessing herself.
Was it right to deceive him like this?
No matter how much she changed her body to cybernetics, her heart remained.
Some wanted to erase their humanity, but Jessica was the opposite.
So she felt pangs of conscience.
Worried if he'd eaten safely, she clutched the phone endlessly.
Bzzz!
A reply came.
"……."
A strange mix of pride and guilt welled up inside her.
Feeling both at once, Jessica replied immediately.