Kang Seol 2
“Yul-ah...!”
My little sister, Kang Yul. She was really there. She'd gone missing in Manchuria, but seeing her again like this melted my heart. Yet even in this heartfelt family reunion, my sister couldn't smile purely. Her teammates, meanwhile, grimaced or squeezed their eyes shut before hurriedly plugging USBs into their necks.
I was so stunned by the sight that I had to ask, “What are you doing?”
“Deleting memories.”
The woman who seemed to be the leader answered.
“What memories?”
“Our team members' real names.”
“...You don't seem Korean. What kind of mission is this team on? And why is my sister here?”
Their bizarre behavior quickly snuffed out the joy of reunion, leaving only questions.
“Oppa, hold on a sec.”
That's when Yul stepped forward and grabbed me. Her touch rested on my chest, now fused with alloy long ago.
“I'll explain. Can my team stay at the base for a bit?”
I quietly eyed Yul's teammates. They show up out of nowhere demanding to crash at the base? Of course I didn't like it. But my little sister was right there in front of me. The one I'd thought was gone forever.
“...We can't offer anything. We're short on supplies.”
“It's fine. We weren't expecting that anyway.”
I let out a deep sigh.
“Follow me to my room.”
The story my sister told me was utterly shocking. Humanity had launched a mad operation called Icarus. They'd selected ten elite agents to infiltrate Alphabet's core and take it down. My sister was one of the agents perfect for the plan, and she'd volunteered for the suicide mission. That's why she'd been listed as missing in Manchuria and forgotten by the world.
Up until she received the codename “Seoul”...
As family, my first instinct was to question why she'd signed up for such a reckless op. But then doubt crept in—she was an adult who'd chosen her own path. Finally, hope for those who could end this war mixed in.
Three emotions tangled together as I spoke. “...Does it seem possible?”
“We'll know soon enough.”
“What do you mean?”
Yul pondered for a long moment, muttering to herself, Can I even tell him this? before concluding, It's almost over anyway.
“We've been scouring the world for Alphabet's core. It's such an advanced AI that... it probably can't move its core carelessly.”
If she's saying that, does it mean they've found it?
“Where is it?”
“Latitude 90° North, Longitude 0°.”
“...The North Pole?”
Yul nodded. I covered my face with both hands.
Thinking about it, it made sense. For something Alphabet's size to manage its own heat, nowhere beats the North Pole. Hell for humans, but ideal for machines. The problem was the location.
Logically, if the core was somewhere missiles could hit, it'd be gone already.
“The Arctic ice is all melted anyway.”
“It's under the sea.”
Yeah, figured as much.
“How's a human supposed to get there? The skies and seas are all under Alphabet's control.”
“We have a plan. If we execute it... we'll know the outcome in a week.”
“Then why aren't you doing it right now? Why are you here?”
“...We need help.”
Yul confessed the harsh reality with a bitter expression.
“The only route into the Arctic right now is through the Korean front. We'll head north from here, through Siberia to the Pole. The reason—”
“Hold on, hold on.”
I cut off Yul as she started explaining.
“Yul-ah, I'm sorry.”
“...Why?”
“To me, you're still my little sister. Not some special forces agent.”
“...”
It was hard to accept. The idea that my sister had been thrown into this insane op.
And that discomfort colored everything, twisting her words in my ears.
“Someone on your team I know. I'll talk to him.”
“Who?”
“Da... No, my Brazil buddy.”
“São Paulo?”
I avoided her real name, remembering how they'd all wiped their memories the moment they heard it.
“I'll chat more with him. That okay?”
“...Got it, Oppa.”
Yul left the room wordlessly, swapping places with Davi Alencar. The guy still had that bright smile I'd seen before—it was pretty charming.
“You still wearing those damn sunglasses even in a situation like this?”
“It's my signature look.”
Davi flopped into my office chair like a thug, topping it off by propping his feet on the desk. I didn't mind. That's just how he was.
Davi spoke first. “Remember meeting at that conference before the war blew up?”
“When you lost to me and ran away?”
“Whoa... you tampered with that memory? I beat you.”
Back then, we'd both written papers on the same topic but reached different conclusions. We argued so fiercely we both got kicked out.
Davi chuckled. “How far did Seoul explain?”
“Up to you guys strapping bombs on and diving in to suicide-bomb Alphabet together.”
“She told you everything—no need to explain, then.”
Davi continued with a laugh in his voice. “Forget our depressing story. How about a debate like back at the conference?”
“Debate what?”
“Seol-ah, why do you think Alphabet went mad?”
I tilted my head. “No idea. Alphabet was made to love humans, right?”
“That's what I think caused it.”
Davi said it with total conviction.
“No proof, but... process of elimination leaves just that.”
“So?”
“Our goal isn't killing Alphabet. We're wiping all its memory data.”
I glared at Davi. “Half the world fights for revenge. Me included. My sister too. She agreed to that plan?”
“We convinced them one by one. The whole team.”
“...Hah.”
“Only Alphabet can heal the wounds it left. Killing it would be a mistake for future generations. Can't make two mistakes.”
Two mistakes. One: creating Alphabet. Two: killing it.
I got it, but countered immediately. “Wiping data won't change Alphabet's core structure. The countdown restarts the moment it reconnects with humans. You want to fight this war twice?”
“I know. But we're almost out of time.”
What was almost out of time? Davi nodded knowingly and tapped his temple.
“Heard about that program compiling all humanity's tech?”
“I sent my code too. Heard it failed 'cause styles were too different.”
“Nah, it succeeded. It's in my head right now.”
“Part of your suicide plan too?”
Davi jacked his cable into the computer. Data flooded the screen. At its heart: fixing Alphabet's flaws.
“We researched fixes using all that tech, but couldn't finish. Couldn't get Alphabet's core code.”
“So?”
“We'll buy time by nuking its memories, pass the program to the next gen. Someone there can finish what I couldn't.”
What a reckless plan. Betting humanity's lives on a single hope, flipping a coin with everything on the line?
“...You really insane?”
“Dead serious.”
“What if the inheritor's a nutjob? You even know what your program's like?”
“That's why two conditions.”
Davi held up two fingers.
“One: my mind data's inside. I pick the successor myself.”
He folded one down.
“Two: needs an AI to access research data. Not human-readable.”
“You made that program with an AI?”
“Yeah. Only way to weave all those wildly different code styles.”
Couldn't have acted this boldly without years of prep. Davi planned this from the start of Icarus.
“Narrows successors to those who get and use AIs.”
I stared at Davi's face for a long time.
“If it works like you say... it'd be great.”
“You don't think it's impossible.”
“Yeah. That's why you brought it up, right?”
“Spot on. Needed your conviction.”
Davi grinned, pumping his fist in the air gratefully.
“If it succeeds... what happens to my data?”
“Oh yeah, they say your data went into Alphabet's creation? Famous in Korea.”
“Yeah, when I swapped my spine for cyberware.”
I was among the first in my generation to get cyberware. That's why I could serve as an electronic warfare officer now—early adaptation.
“Important data in Alphabet's formation, so probably not erasable. To Alphabet, I'm just the idiot who botched alloying his spine.”
“Ha, lame.”
“So... what'll you do? We need your help.”
“...Explain in detail.”
Davi dropped the smile, turning serious.
“Did she say you're the only one who can open the path to the Arctic?”
“Called you to hear about the Arctic route.”
Davi nodded. “Yeah, family. I get it.”
No jokes here.
“Alright, friend. Greenland, Iceland, Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, Siberia. What's common?”
“Paths to the North Pole.”
“Right. But minus Siberia? All had expert bitmancers who knew the areas. They're dead.”
I asked hollowly, “Canada... he's gone too?”
“Knew him?”
“Worked an op together.”
“Sorry.”
We both took it in stride. In these times, those who couldn't adapt to death were long gone.
The key from that exchange: minus Siberia. Clearly about me.
Gauging my eyes, Davi said carefully, “We're entering Alphabet territory now. All ten survived so far, but ops start, we'll drop like flies.”
“So?”
“Grab every bit of help before then.”
That's when I realized what Davi and Yul's team wanted.
“...You guys.”
I asked my friend sharply. “How long to convince my sister I have to die?”
“...”
They wanted one thing. Bait to draw Alphabet's eyes while the team infiltrated. An elite bitmancer to play it perfectly. That bait dies with high odds.
“Humanity's last gamble. Only bitmancer who can set up the table is you.”
“Davi, how do you say that so casually?”
“Our generation's duty. Die legends.”
Davi said it like it was obvious. Like we both should die.
“Not for humanity. 'Cause I feel the duty. You, friend?”
Probably his belief.
“...Need to think.”
That ended the talk with Davi. Truth was, I'd already decided. Right here, right now, only I could do it. And I had the power.
But this was just marching to death, pushed from behind. For humanity? Vague grand causes made it a dog's death.
Could I die peacefully like that? Seemed I needed a reason to die.
Like a lost soul, I headed to my sister. When troubled, you seek the precious ones.
“Why'd you volunteer for this op?”
I asked my sister, killing time at the base.
“Remember when Mom and Dad died in Alphabet's attack?”
“That day, you and I both joined the military.”
“Been dreaming of it forever. Joining the key op to take down Alphabet.”
“...A dream?”
I let out a hollow laugh for a while.
“Why laugh?”
“Someone saying that in this era.”
“...You're living that path too, Oppa?”
“What's my dream?”
“Don't you remember... when you got your spine done?”
Slowly recalling the past. One memory surfaced.
If I survived, I wanted to save lives, no matter what.
“You're already protecting people, Oppa.”
“I...”
I watched my sister silently for a while. Stunned like I'd been hammered, she smiled instead.
“What? You're exhausted too, huh.”
Watching her warmly take my hand, I thought: In this hellish era, is there freedom to have dreams? If the chance comes, would I throw my life for it?
Our lives as the stake in the heroes' gamble. Save all remaining humanity, or fail entirely.
Did that match my dream?
Not going to die. Not forced by duty.
This was my one chance.
To seize the shot at my dream.
“...In three days, our unit retreats to Seoul.”
“...!”
“I'll lay the smokescreen then. Go on ahead, Yul-ah. And... succeed. Got it?”
“Oppa... I won't... ever forget.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Why cry? I'm dying first.”
“Family shouldn't be like this...”
“I know how much you wrestled with it. Think I don't know you?”
I stared blankly at the sky. Darkened by fine dust and toxins, no moon visible.
I wanted to punch a hole in that sky.
“I'm just dying fighting with your team. Got it? No guilt—go all the way.”
“...Yeah. I'll succeed.”
“Well, it's come to this. Should I wipe my memory too?”
“No, don't.”
Yul said firmly.
“We don't need to sort memories anymore. Just habit now.”
Op was endgame. Outcome before Alphabet analyzed the dead.
“By the time you become ICE and get analyzed, it'll be over. So... let's keep it. For people to find later.”
“...Yeah. Oh, this.”
I pulled a USB from my pocket and handed it to Yul.
“My research. Perfect counter to human ICE.”
“For me?”
“Incomplete, but... Davi'll finish it quick. He's got an insane program. Name's... Human ICE Enlightenment.”
“...Got it.”
Prep done. Time to chase my dream my way.
Endless enemies swarming toward Pyongyang. Retreating allies, Icarus team breaking through their ranks.
Mosaic Activated
Overclock Initiated
I fought amid it all. Praying this foolish act succeeded.
Die a legend, or live forgotten.
Fought till neural net hit limit, collapsed at cyberspace's floor, staring blankly at the sky.
Cyberspace sky was just abyss—no moon here.
Like the unknown result of my actions.
Did I punch a hole in that sky?
As death neared, life flashed before me. Family time, first cyberware surgery. Countless war moments.
And...
Ego Synchronization Complete
World shifted in an instant. First voice I'd heard, and the moon appeared.
A hole punched in the dim night sky.
I looked up in shock.
Two girls stood before me: Neige and Clea.
Under the moonlit sky, they talked dreams.
“If that time comes, I'll stop it.”
Slowly, memories that shouldn't be mine flooded in. Alphabet, V, Neige, Clea, Svetlana, ImmuneWire...
“...Ah.”
An era I never lived. Next gen that wouldn't exist if we'd failed.
Ego Establishment Initiated
Quantum Confrontation
A girl stood before me, gazing. I gazed back.
“Neige...?”
Neige's life to Seol, Seol's to Neige.
Egos blending, unsure who “I” was.
Seol spoke first. Joyfully.
“It succeeded...?”
“It did.”
Neige replied, joyful.
“And Davi's plan...”
“That succeeded too.”
All successes stood before me. That result: another me from the spine surgery, my future self.
I saw the dreams and hopes he held.
Neige bravely advanced toward Alphabet's return, as Davi cried.
Neige said, “I was the me separated during the spine surgery...”
“But you're still me. Same dreams, same goal.”
The girl nodded.
“I'll save people.”
Same dream continuing.
“Your gen had to die legends. Ours won't.”
Right here, right now, only the girl could, with the power.
“Live as legends, bask in eternal glory.”
Kang Seol, fighting to the end, rose shakily and embraced his salvation.
“To the end... right?”
“I promise.”
Seol closed his eyes peacefully.
Ego Reestablishment Complete
Personality Integration Complete
Master, welcome back.
[o(≧▽≦)o ♡]
All stories sparked by blending egos ended.
The ICE before me chose death, vanishing.
I learned so much. The real me hadn't died. Spine surgery succeeded; I lived on, fought in the war.
But that data was erased by Davi, Yul, and team's success. Only remained in this human ICE left by Alphabet.
Amnesiac Alphabet refound me in its body.
Just my brain data downloaded during surgery. No post-op records, so Alphabet deemed me dead, incorporated it.
The split between real me and now-me: that moment.
Yet... different eras, bodies, but no different. Same dreams; ego now one.
“...Maria-nim? Connection dropped briefly. Are you alright?”
[[I'm fine.]]
Sitting on cyberspace floor, I gazed blankly at the sky. He punched the hole there.
War ended; moon shows in night sky sometimes.
Now, my role: make stars visible there.
V, you saw?
[Logged.]
Precise analysis on Z... Nah, copy you and implant full AI into Z.
[(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)♡]
[V's little sister!]
Found the breakthrough to reclaim stars in the sky.
[[Contact Svetlana-unnie too.]]
[[I'm using 'unnie' now...?]]
How hard I'd worked to learn girl-speak. Ego fusion reset it all. Argh.