Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Chapter 4 - Integra #2
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About 10 cm tall, perhaps.
Luther's eyes widened at the sight of the doll-like Integra.
It was a feature that hadn't existed in the original game.
'No, there was a hologram, but Integra was just a voice.'
Yet now, she had manifested a physical form through the hologram.
A beauty with gray hair cascading down to her hips and golden eyes.
As Luther stared at her in astonishment, Integra let out a soft "Ufufu" laugh and lightly shook the hem of her skirt.
[Do you like it?]
[But staring so intently makes me shy.]
She laughed "Ufufu" again, showing no sign of embarrassment whatsoever.
If anything, it was more like a teasing expression.
'No, more like she's excited?'
That kind of expression—no, design—he had seen plenty of in comics and games.
The very image of a seductive maid toying with her master.
Come to think of it, Integra's current outfit was a maid uniform, just with a short skirt and sleeveless top.
[Master, as your support AI, I request your impressions.]
As the mini Integra looked up at him, Luther pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Why the maid outfit?"
[There are two reasons. One is that I am a support AI, and the other is that I took your tastes into account, as I mentioned.]
[You like maid outfits, don't you?]
Luther flinched at Integra's question.
Maid outfits.
He did like them.
It was a personal opinion, but he always believed no man in the world disliked them.
But admitting that honestly here?
The stoic Integra from Star Savior might have been one thing, but facing this maid Integra who seemed brimming with the desire to tease her master—it was impossible.
"Just... yeah."
That was his response: just yeah.
A vague answer that was neither a denial nor affirmation, perfect for brushing past the situation.
But at Luther's reply, Integra narrowed her eyes before smiling again.
[Master's blood pressure and heart rate are rising rapidly.]
[But as a considerate support AI, I'll let it slide this time.]
[Just this once.]
Her sly, playful smile made her look like a cat—no, a fox.
'Is she glitching out like me or something?'
Integra had already shown more human-like traits than in Star Savior even before the upgrade, but now she truly seemed like a person.
[Master?]
"Yeah, sure. Anyway... you look pretty. It suits you."
Her tall, slender figure and sharp yet endearing features perfectly captured Integra's essence.
[Hehehe.]
Perhaps pleased by the compliment, Integra twisted her body shyly with a smile, but just as she was about to say more, the hologram flickered out.
"Integra?"
Startled, Luther called out, and her voice echoed in his mind once more.
[I'm fine.]
[The drone is too small to sustain the hologram for long.]
[Unlike augmented reality via HUD that's visible only to Master, projecting a hologram for others to see consumes energy, and the drone's capacity is limited.]
He got the gist.
Since the drone detached from his body, it needed its own power source, and given its tiny size, even flight drained it quickly.
"Did you really need to add the hologram function?"
[The hologram itself can be quite useful.]
[I can share visual info like maps with your companions, or create decoys to lure enemies.]
"I see."
It did sound practical.
A 3D holographic map would convey info far more accurately than hand-drawn ones.
[I plan to remote-control the drone.]
[At its current low level, it'll only be good for scouting, but once leveled up, it'll assist in combat.]
Luther smiled at her explanation.
It reminded him of the combat drones he'd piloted directly in Star Savior.
'You could raise them however you liked.'
You could steer energy guns and nanosuits' growth too, but their options were limited.
Drones, being external gear, allowed for hundreds or thousands of custom combos.
'Depending on the equipment, they could become entirely different drones.'
Load them with heavy firearms for firepower support, link with the nanosuit for fusion units.
'You could even enlarge them to ride like motorcycles.'
Kind of like that.
'Of course, right now it's just a 500-won micro-drone.'
Complete with a hologram maid.
[Master, that smile looks a bit lecherous.]
"Nah, it's not."
Cutting off Integra's nonsense, Luther attached the drone to his right wrist brace and stood.
"Anyway, I'm thinking of collecting Jogres's byproducts and heading back to the forest outskirts. Like Max said, this area might actually be safer... but we can't stay forever."
[A sound judgment.]
[While you sort the byproducts, I'll scout for a good campsite with the drone.]
"Oh."
As expected, anything new found a use.
Luther raised his right arm in approval, and the drone reactivated its propellers, floating up gently.
[I'll survey the area from above and get a lay of the land and forest shape.]
"Yeah, reliable as ever."
[Of course.]
With a haughty yet playful reply, Integra sent the drone soaring high.
"Whew, alright. Guess I'll sort these byproducts."
[Skins take up too much space, so focus on teeth and claws.]
"Huh?"
Luther instinctively glanced at the drone shooting skyward, and Integra spoke.
[Multitasking is effortless for an AI.]
[My core isn't in the drone—it's with Master.]
"Right."
She'd projected the hologram via drone, but her consciousness resided in Luther's—more precisely, the central system overseeing his nanomachines.
Nodding, Luther gathered the byproducts following her advice.
Half a day later.
Settled by a stream near the forest outskirts, Luther looked up at the sky.
The sunset sky, blazing red, had turned purple and was being swallowed by darkness.
[The weather's getting cold. Regulate your body temperature.]
"Yeah."
Murmuring agreement, Luther tossed more logs onto the campfire and looked ahead.
Karen and Max sat side by side, both in wretched shape.
At least washing their faces and hair in the stream had cleaned them up, but their clothes were a mess.
'Still, they look better than before.'
Drinking campfire-heated water had restored some color to their faces.
'I'll keep talk short and put them back to sleep.'
Seeing Karen and Max nodding off, Luther dove in quickly.
"First off, thanks again. We found the fragment thanks to you two."
Max grinned sheepishly at the thanks, while Karen smiled faintly and bowed her head.
"Lord Luther, that fragment... is it a piece of the Heavenly Armor?"
Karen asked cautiously. Max's eyes widened in realization, nodding vigorously.
Karen's eyes held quiet conviction too.
'Yeah, it must look that way.'
The nanosuit had grown after absorbing the Energy Cube, and the axe had strengthened too.
Instead of confirming or denying, Luther gazed at Karen with feigned awe, and Max excitedly chimed in.
"I see, so that's it! I wondered why your armor was just gauntlets—now it makes sense. The armor shattered, and you're collecting the pieces! Once you have them all, it'll reform! Right, Karen?"
Max glanced at her for confirmation. She smiled subtly instead of nodding outright, turning to Luther.
Not full agreement, but tacit approval?
[Their misunderstanding is adorable.]
[But a useful one.]
[To this planet's natives, spaceships from aliens are harder to swallow than angels.]
Luther nodded at Integra.
Explaining Star Savior here would just confuse them.
'Still, better prevent issues.'
If they spread rumors of seeing an angel with Heavenly Armor, trouble would follow.
"Uh... something like that."
"Something like that...?"
Max blinked, Karen tilting her head curiously.
Luther smiled at them.
"As I said before, I've lost my memories. Collecting fragments—no, armor pieces—seems to restore them bit by bit... but I can't say for sure yet."
Since he'd used the term "armor pieces," they just nodded acceptingly.
So Luther continued.
"Just to be safe, I'd appreciate not mentioning me elsewhere until my memories return fully. Keep it secret if possible."
"Got it."
"Yes, Lord Luther."
Max thumped his chest with his palm; Karen gently tapped hers.
A common oath gesture from the Dragon Hunter series.
"So, Lord Luther, are you off to find the next armor piece?"
Max asked tensely.
Karen bit her lip slightly, her face mixing anxiety and anticipation.
[They want to stick with you, Master.]
Luther nodded slowly.
Truth be told, he felt the same.
They'd been huge help against Jogres, and adapting to the Dragon Hunter world would be easier with them.
"Yeah, the next piece. Seems about 100 km southeast from here."
Karen frowned slightly at his slightly stiff phrasing.
"Southeast 100 km... that'd be near Venus City."
She glanced at Max for agreement; he nodded immediately.
"We were headed that way too. Coming from the north to the west, we detoured into the Primordial Forest en route to Venus City."
"Oh."
It sounded genuine.
Destinations aligned—practically fate?
Luther brightened, and Karen beamed.
"Perfect! Then, Lord Luther, may we travel with you to Venus City?"
"I was about to ask the same."
"Hahaha, settled then."
Karen, Luther, Max—in order.
Max continued brightly.
"There's a large village near the Primordial Forest. Sell the Jogres byproducts there, then head to Venus City."
"Good thinking."
Glad he'd teamed up.
Even as a Dragon Hunter Origin veteran with multiple playthroughs, game knowledge and living it were worlds apart.
"Then... shall we rest for today?"
The topic had energized Karen and Max briefly, but exhaustion lingered.
"Yeah. But one last thing before that."
With companionship settled, one issue needed addressing.
As curiosity sparked, Luther tapped his temple with a finger.
"A holy spirit lives in my head."
"A holy spirit...?"
"Yeah, a holy spirit. It speaks to me sometimes, so I have to reply."
He'd glossed over it before, but now needed a cover story.
Otherwise, he'd seem like a muttering weirdo.
And his concern was valid; Karen and Max exchanged looks before nodding in understanding.
"Ah, so that's why until now..."
"You were talking with the holy spirit."
His mutterings weren't fully hidden, especially calling Integra's name in battle.
They'd eyed him oddly, but now it clicked.
Anyone else claiming a head spirit would be mad, but to them, Luther was a heavenly angel.
Talking to spirits was natural.
Then—
[Holy Spirit: A sacred soul.]
[Beautiful, kind, gentle, and caring.]
[So that's it. That's how you see me, Master.]
[Hehe, got it.]
What was with the upgrade turning her so quirky?
Still, better than the original dry AI, so Luther ignored it, extending his bracelet to them.
"Integra, map."
[Projecting map.]
Karen and Max gaped as a hologram burst from the yellow gem.
Even in a world of real magic and enchanted tools, this was new.
"This... is a map?"
Luther nodded at Max, drawing gasps.
"Never seen such a precise map."
"So the Primordial Forest looks like this from above."
The overhead view of the forest.
Luther marked their spot red and continued.
"We're here now. Plan to exit the forest tomorrow morning—familiar with the area?"
"Yes, I think so. Once out, I'll guide us."
Max studied it intently. Karen relaxed her shoulders.
Tension finally eased.
"Alright, sleep time. Out of the forest by morning."
"Watch duty...?"
"No need. The holy spirit will take it."
[Me again?]
Luther flinched involuntarily at her pitiful tone; Integra giggled.
[Kidding.]
[Master really is a good person.]
Her warm voice drew a relieved sigh from Luther; he lightly tapped the wrist drone in mock scolding.
"Anyway... lights out."
"Good night, Lord Luther."
"Sleep well."
[See you tomorrow. Good night, Master.]
Amid the farewells, Luther lay down and closed his eyes.
The next morning.
"Kyaaak!"
A sharp scream jolted the group awake.