If You Don't Say It, I Won't Know. (5)
If You Don't Say It, I Won't Know. (5)
"Heok, heo-eok, heu-euk..."
Makina trembled.
She had never experienced anything like this before.
An opponent suddenly attacking her.
Her body shivering violently.
Her limbs stinging.
"De, Dea... I, I can't win..."
Tears welled in her voice.
Everything the child had learned so far was only about a beautiful world.
She had never learned about such a cruel world.
In a way, it was natural for Makina to fall into confusion after being suddenly thrown into this cold reality.
However, the gentle AI that Makina used to know was no longer there.
[Negative. Currently, the Deus Ex Machina frame is not using full power.]
"I, I am fighting with all my strength..."
[Negative. Proper offensive attacks are not being executed. It is recommended to move along the path set by the auxiliary AI.]
"I-It's impossible!"
[Negative. It is not impossible. Princess is fully capable of doing it.]
"..."
All the answers coming out were negative.
She felt a sense of unfamiliarity from the familiar voice.
Feeling as though her heart had been ripped out, Makina curled herself up.
Did Dea know? That her own words were hurting her.
"Target's durability determined to be higher than calculated value. Increasing output."
The only one standing still was Makina.
Dryly assessing Makina's condition, the opponent aimed their weapon right at her.
[Urging. Move, Princess. If hit by this attack, you may lose consciousness.]
"De, Dea..."
The trembling wouldn't stop.
However, she had to move.
It was not because she was afraid of losing consciousness.
It was because she had a premonition that if she lost consciousness, she might never be able to meet Dea again.
"Eu, euaaaaht---!!!"
No sound could be heard.
Once again, an intense beam of light erupted from the weapon held by the opponent.
A ray of light melting everything it touched.
To dodge that ray of light, Makina threw her body.
And---
"Target approaching."
"Just stop already---"
"Switching to close-quarters combat---"
"---I said!!!!"
Kwaang---!!!!!
With a deafening roar, the opponent's body flew far away.
A perfect clean hit.
"Haa, haeuh, heueu..."
Makina breathed heavily.
This was her first time hitting someone else.
She made a tearful face at the unpleasant sensation against her fist.
[Congratulations. The hostile entity has been completely neutralized. However, to be safe, it is recommended to continue attacking until life signs disappear.]
"I don't want to!"
[...]
"I'll never, ever hit a person again!!"
Makina shouted.
Hitting another person was really, really horrible.
'Even if Makina gets hurt because of someone else, Makina mustn't hurt other people. Got it?'
Tears flowed as she recalled the words she had heard in the virtual space of the Underground Laboratory.
The current Dea was not the Dea from back then.
For some reason, she had completely changed.
As if her memories had been erased.
'...I need help.'
She needed someone to help Dea.
Because right now, Dea was sick.
So, she had to bring someone who could fix her...
"Dea. Do you know where Uncle Seo went?"
[Affirmative. Based on the analysis of nearby CCTV footage, it has been confirmed that he headed toward Biological Miracle.]
"...How long will it take to get there?"
[Answer. It is estimated that you will arrive within 10 minutes if Princess uses full power.]
10 minutes.
A time that could be considered short or long.
Could Dea hold out?
"How long can Dea hold out?"
[Request. Please clarify the criteria for holding out.]
"...Pardon?"
[Offer. Does Princess desire the maximum time this unit can hold out in its current state? Or do you desire the maximum time it can hold out at a level where future operation remains possible?]
"...Please tell me both."
[Answer. The time it can hold out in its current state is approximately 14 minutes. If the threshold is lowered to a level where operation remains possible, it can hold out for about 33 minutes.]
Either way, there was little time.
She had to go meet Uncle Seo right now.
'Uncle Seo must be meeting someone like his parent right now...'
Was it okay for her to take away such precious time?
Though just a little, hesitation crept in.
She needed another way.
A way that wouldn't make the situation worse than it already was, while also not disturbing Uncle Seo.
"Ah."
Come to think of it, Uncle Seo said he had stored Dea's data in her body when they left the Underground Laboratory.
If they used that method, wouldn't Dea be safe too?
"D-Dea. Can you transfer Dea's data to my frame?"
Makina hurriedly spoke to Dea.
It was because she had a feeling that even if it was an option for Dea herself to survive, Dea wouldn't execute it unless Makina mentioned it herself.
So please.
[Negative. In the current state, this unit's data cannot be transmitted to Deus Ex Machina.]
"W-Why?! Didn't you transfer it back in the Underground Laboratory!"
[Answer. The transmission port is damaged.]
"Eu, eueueu...!!"
Nothing was working out.
If she couldn't store Dea's data inside herself, there was no reason to stay here any longer.
She had to find Uncle Seo.
No matter what, as fast as possible.
'Uncle, I'm sorry...!'
He was definitely having a good time right now.
To go and interrupt that time.
However, Uncle Seo would understand too.
Because Dea was precious not only to herself, but to Uncle Seo as well.
"Please wait just a little longer, Dea!"
[Affirmative. I will wait until Princess returns.]
"So please hold out as long as you can!"
[Confirmed. Terminating communication module and focusing on data loss defense.]
Ttuk, and the voice cut off.
At the voice that could no longer be heard, Makina grit her teeth.
Kwaaaang---!!!
As she applied force to her legs and leapt up, the sky rushed right before her eyes.
A power incomparable to the usual Makina.
She knew the location of Biological Miracle because she had looked it up on the internet.
Who would have thought that repeatedly visiting Biological Miracle's site with the intention of giving Dea a body someday would help like this.
Kwang---! Kwaang---! Kwaaaang---!
"Unidentified intruder approaching! Trying to break in!"
"What on earth is that..."
How long had she run like that?
People's voices reached Makina's ears.
All of them were people she was seeing for the first time.
Those people were approaching, holding their respective weapons to block Makina.
"S-Sorry! I have someone to meet, so, um, I'm passing through!"
Makina opened doors indiscriminately.
Not here.
Next.
Not here either.
Next, next, next too---
"Kyaa?! This is an off-limits area, child!"
"I-I'm sorry...! B-But I'm looking for someone...!"
At the startled woman, Makina hurriedly bowed her head.
However, she couldn't finish that apology.
Because she had to keep moving until she found Uncle Seo.
"Wait! If you tell me who you're looking for, I might be able to help you!"
Uttuk.
Her steps stopped.
If the words were even two seconds late, she surely wouldn't have heard them and would have gone somewhere else.
"I-I'm looking for Uncle Seo! He's about this tall! Um, he looks a bit like me!"
"Seo? If it's Seo, don't tell me..."
The woman's gaze turned toward Makina.
Black hair. Eyes like the night sky.
A sense of familiarity welled up.
She had a feeling that the person named Seo she was thinking of and the person named Seo the girl was looking for were the same person.
'No, in the first place, if someone comes all the way here looking for Seo, there's only one person it could be...!'
"Seo is on the top floor! He's probably with the CEO-nim!"
"Thank you! Thank you so much!!"
Hearing the woman's words, Makina dashed toward the stairs with all her strength.
From that leg strength, the floor cracked and concrete fragments splattered in all directions.
Seeing that scene, the woman opened her mouth slightly.
Thinking, kids these days sure are healthy.
***
Kwaaaang---!!!!!!
"...?!"
"Euk?!"
An intruder?
Looking at the door that suddenly shattered into pieces, Rachel bit her lip.
Was pounding on the door with a chair meant to send a signal to comrades outside?
As the thick cloud of dust obscured the view for a moment.
"Uncle Seo! I heard you were here!"
"M-Makina?!"
At the figure breaking through the dust and approaching, Seo's eyes widened.
It's Makina?!
No, why on earth is Makina here!?
"It's urgent! I'm sorry to interrupt your good time, but please come with me!"
"Uwak, wait---!?!!"
Makina's tiny hands lifted Seo straight up.
Flustered by that violent force, Seo screamed at the top of his lungs.
And Rachel, seeing that sight---
"...Lily?"
---was in deep shock.
The person she wanted to protect so much was right before her eyes.
Taking the form of the child she had seen once upon a time.
"Ah, you must be Uncle Seo's mother! Hello!"
"...Lily."
"I'm sorry, but my name is Makina! It's a precious name given to me by my precious person!"
While holding Seo above her head, Makina puffed out her chest.
That boastful habit of hers.
It was the spitting image of the young Lily she had seen long ago.
"I'd like to talk more, but it's urgent, so please excuse me! Goodbye!"
"Wait---"
Kwaaaang---!!
Rachel tried to grab the child, but before the words could even finish, the child vanished from her sight.
The hand that failed to reach hovered in empty air.
To say she was seeing things, the shattered door and the trashed office were far too real.
"...Lily."
I miss you so much, truly.