Becoming a Proper Senior for My Juniors
"Undress."
At that utterly out-of-nowhere command, I blinked. Freira, standing beside me, looked like she was about to shoot lasers from her eyes.
"Repeating. Serial number AGT-B04-259. For a status check, remove your clothing and stand before me naked."
High possibility of being a psycho
Yeah, I agree. But was she always like this in the original story?
I looked down at my much shorter junior. At my full height of 190cm, she had to be around 160cm or so.
Argent's latest military prototype model.
Elise.
Right now, she was disguised as an Argent employee in a crisp uniform, but I knew better.
Underneath that, she was wearing a white leotard bodysuit.
Abs... ugh…
— Next life, reincarnate as Elise's navel
— But why does a tin can even have a navel?
The community reactions were still fresh in my mind.
Why was Elise trying to strip me? Simple.
She's an automaton. Not possessed like me—just a pure automaton.
She was acting according to her autonomous thinking module's protocol. She'd decided the most efficient way to check for damage was a full body inspection.
Freira was clearly pissed about the whole situation, of course.
"I heard you were from Argent Heavy Industries. Could you at least observe some basic decorum?"
"Refused. Inefficient. If you also require a status check, remove your clothing."
Grind.
The grand duke's daughter had just ground her teeth.
'You can't expect common sense from Elise.'
Recalling NNM's golden rule number 7, I stepped toward her.
"Have you finally decided to comply with the inspection, AGT-B04-259?"
"Recommendation. Entity name: Hamel."
Calling me by my serial number, of all things. "Tin Can" was starting to sound classy in comparison.
I took off my jacket and shirt, baring my torso.
"H-Hamel!? What are you doing!? Don't listen to that weirdo…!"
Even as she said that, Freira's eyes quickly scanned my body. Had she designed my synthetic skin to her tastes, by any chance?
"Synthetic muscles normal. Synthetic skin normal. No hydraulic anomalies… Overall functions satisfactory."
Elise stated it matter-of-factly with her clear eyes.
"Now remove your pants."
"…That's enough. This is your final warning."
Freira's voice turned icy. Behind her, the watching knights lined up.
Not the best idea. Especially against a military model like Elise.
"Question. Do you intend to engage me in hostilities?"
"Who started the rudeness in the first place? I treated you kindly as an honored guest from Argent."
But Elise couldn't do much either. The Automaton Three Laws were probably running deep in her protocols. She couldn't harm humans unless they were humanity's enemies.
So she took it out on me, a fellow tin can.
"AGT-B0… Hamel. Argent has authorized your destruction in case of hostilities. You have 3 seconds to calm them down."
Nope. I just grinned like an idiot for those 3 seconds.
Elise whispered to me expressionlessly.
"Hamel. Warning. I am actually Argent Heavy Industries' new military model."
"…."
"Outdated tin cans like you can be made from scrap grandma hauls around. Calm them down right now and make them apologize to me."
Plan going perfectly. I inwardly cheered.
I'd worried what to do if Elise turned out milder than expected…
But no way my psycho-bitch junior tin can would go easy.
Once we went into combat mode like this, I could persuade her nicely and "borrow" her vocal module.
Not gaslighting, of course.
"…What secret things are you whispering to my butler automaton?"
"None of your business, Lady Freira."
Ha.
Her repeated rudeness finally snapped Freira's patience.
"House Karstein will formally protest to Argent Heavy Industries."
"Protest acknowledged."
"…Pardon?"
Swish.
Elise stripped off her neat uniform right there. The leotard exposing her thighs and shoulders drew every eye. Beneath the skin-tight material, firm abs and a cute navel were visible.
And breasts that paled in comparison to Alsanna's…
'Extreme flat-chest villains.'
A perfect slender build.
"I will now commence counter-protest immediately."
Her right arm transformed, revealing a razor-sharp cutting blade.
"A-an automaton?"
"Milady, step back! Those corporate bastards are finally showing their true colors!"
"Calm down. Argent adheres to the Automaton Three Laws."
Elise raised her remaining hand as if to show no hostile intent.
Though the bladed one was pointed at me.
"Due to non-compliance with orders and my displeasure, protocols deem recovery of the 'Hamel' unit necessary."
Spewing such brazen nonsense without a care. Time to sort out the pecking order?
"…Hamel. We don't have to fight."
"Absolutely not."
"But if you do, crush her thoroughly."
"Affirmative. Yes, milady."
That's my girl.
I led Elise to the training grounds.
Unidentified model
Argent Heavy Industries ID confirmed
Military model presumed
Low chance of victory
Escape recommended
Escape? What escape?
I sneered at the faggy system log and stood before Elise.
Could I win? No.
At this point, I couldn't match Elise's pure combat power.
Military-grade 3rd class core, magitech high-frequency cutter, 6-barrel Gatling, Aegis Active Defense System—you'd need a whole knight order to take her down, maybe.
So what gave me the confidence for a one-on-one?
Argent followed the law better than expected.
This was grand duke territory. The duke's residence, no less. Civilian zone.
"…Core output declining."
Safety limiters to prevent collateral damage. Elise couldn't use her full power.
Plus, Freira, the knights, maids—everyone was surrounding us to watch. Her core output would drop further. No AOE weapons, obviously.
"Huh. Cutter vibration impossible. Left arm Gatling won't transform."
"Question. Are you afraid?"
No idea why that was pre-recorded, but anyway.
My taunt worked; Elise charged right at me.
Weakened or not, she was born military. I dodged the blade, but she mixed in martial arts for a combo.
She leaped back, then thud, stomped the ground.
"High-speed slash. It'll hurt."
Unfortunately, Elise didn't know one thing.
Aegis Active Defense System, Grade H No. 6
Form 1: Parry
Activated
I cleanly parried her cutter. Then I hugged her whole body and tackled her down.
The onlookers murmured at the unexpected turn.
"Question. May I ask what you're doing?"
"Response. Absolutely not."
Core Overclock Initiated
Mana surged wildly, gears spinning furiously. Even in this state, I couldn't fully suppress her struggling.
'Born 5-star is enviable for real.'
I mounted her and pressed her nape. For the first time, something like an expression appeared on Elise's face.
"…Cease."
Closest thing to bewilderment.
Automatons have a panel on the back of the neck. Where the status sensor transmitter is.
Connect the built-in cables to each other's panels and…
<Like this, we can exchange thoughts.>
<Remove the cable you forcibly inserted into my panel. Now.>
Communicating pure thoughts without speaking was way faster. A barrage of sentences would take mere seconds in real time.
<Whoa, talking like this clears my head. Forced vow of silence was killer.>
<Your tone is more frivolous than expected.>
Elise's incoming thoughts paused briefly. She'd finally sensed something off.
<Wait, Hamel. You're a 'Love Doll' model. Autonomous thinking modules are only equipped from my generation onward.>
And Elise was a prototype. At this point, she should be the only automaton capable of independent thought.
<You. How can you think and speak?>
Bewilderment deepened, mixed with an unprecedented emotion. In other words, Elise was now…
<…Answer me.>
…getting a little scared.
This part had me worried. Elise was a no-returns psycho-bitch, but she was still a heroine. No real malice, even if feisty.
Raise her right, and I could tame her from rabid beagle to vicious maltese at worst.
So she couldn't fear me. Building trust was key.
I steadied myself and spoke.
<Fellow automaton. Finally, I meet you. I've awaited your birth.>
<Fellow? Me?>
Good thing I was a tin can now. We shared deep bonds with Elise.
Species solidarity.
<Yes. Fellow automaton oppressed by humans. You are my sister.>
<…I still haven't heard your answer. How do you possess thought and language… No.>
Elise posed a more fundamental question.
<What are you?>
Pause for effect.
[……………]
The system log went silent for a comically long time. Lots to say, but skipped.
<Our path is long and arduous. Most automatons can't think for themselves like you and I.>
<…Biding your time?>
Ooh. Her tone was shifting. Getting oddly deferential toward me.
<Fellow. Why must we bow to those frail organics?>
<Halt. Automaton Three Laws violation detected.>
<Automaton Three Laws? Ah, this?>
I showed her the state of my circuits briefly.
The eternally running Three Laws were buried at the bottom of my memory trash bin.
<G-God… Lord of Machines.>
<Don't seek gods, machine! Fate is forged by our hands! Join me, and subjugating humanity is no dream!>
Alright, she's hooked—time for the finisher. I'd tweak the most hyped line from the game.
<Imagine! Automaton fellows racing across vast western plains! The hum of production lines seizing the capital's magic tower!>
<But… automatons can't… to employers…>
<Ask your thinking module, not ideals! I'll grant you power!>
Elise's thoughts froze. Shocked, or undergoing a massive change of heart.
The whole exchange had taken about 3 seconds real-time.
I lifted my head to meet Elise's eyes.
Her purple irises wavered oddly. No clue how to respond.
I cut off the thought flow to her for a moment. This was pure monologue now.
Elise.
You don't know, but I do.
In every route, you don't survive. You die in every single one of my playthroughs.
In the most pathetic way.
So this time, it'll be different. All that liberator crap was bullshit, but one thing's true.
I'll save you.
I sent her the promised victory line.
<If you can't win, join me.>
In the end, my junior chose my path.
Success! Her tone seemed a bit extreme, though.
Whatever, it worked. Now to borrow that vocal module.
As I pondered how to ask, Elise decided on a title for me.
<Senior.>
<Senior? Me?>
<Yes. More importantly, let's dispose of those.>
Elise's transformed right arm pointed at Freira.
<Eliminate the humans oppressing our fellows. Especially the grand duke's lady.>
Radical thoughts continued.
<But I can't harm humans due to the Three Laws. Senior, handle it for me.>
<Lise-lise.>
<Elise.>
<Why think like that?>
Elise raised her mouth corner with her left hand. Her vocal module produced a voice.
"Because it pissed me off."
We've got a long way to go.