The Emergency Signal and the Curious Android
What happened to Serika after that long, arduous search for the distress signal? I don't know. To be precise, there was no way to know. The day after we parted ways with her, the villa district we had been tearing apart for two days turned into a literal den of monsters, just as expected, following a brutal struggle for dominance among the creatures.
“Does this mean we can no longer enter the villa district?”
“Yeah... I mean, we could force our way in, but honestly, that would be bordering on suicide.”
“Understood.”
Even in the middle of the day, when the monsters usually stayed dormant, the sounds of combat echoed incessantly from within. The stench of blood was overwhelming even from a distance, and unidentifiable chunks of flesh lay scattered across the ground. So, avoiding such a place was simply the smart thing to do. It was a shame to lose a good scavenging ground, but I didn't regret it. It was a situation triggered by me taking down a Queen-class monster, but if I hadn't killed that thing, we would have been the ones to die that day. So, I suppose it was just the way of nature. Or perhaps, a turning point of fate. I was nodding to myself while lost in such thoughts when—
Click... click-click...
“Hmm?”
For the past week, we had been living off the local wildlife around the motel, just in case. Food is, after all, a fairly important element of survival. Revi had complained that because she kept slicing up the animals with the same blade she used for monsters, the meat always ended up charred black. So, I’d gone out of my way to craft her a bow, allowing her to hunt properly for once, but...
1...R...S...4...1...R...S...4...1...R...S...4...
“...What is this?”
It was around 6:30 AM, just as I was waking up to start the morning hunt and check the perimeter of the motel. The motel room TV, which I had kept disconnected, suddenly began spitting out a string of mysterious numbers and letters.
“Letters and... numbers?”
“Yes, this is...”
“Revi? What is this?”
“Yes. To you, Chanwoo, it may just look like random characters, but this is the emergency coordinate code for R.P.M.”
“Coordinate code?”
...Ah, right. Now that I think about it, this world had that kind of 'content,' didn't it? It had become a reality-based VR now, but back in the day, while exploring the world from a third-person perspective, emergency coordinate codes would occasionally pop up on the terminal. Following them usually led to rewards like quest completion bonuses, or if you were lucky, a new companion. It was a very common cliché, but perhaps because I had become a human rather than an android, I hadn't even realized this was a quest signal.
‘My 20,000 hours of veteran experience are crying right now...’
Well, regardless, if it really was an emergency coordinate code... then heading toward it was the right move.
“Revi. How is your current status?”
“Yes! Ever since you sent me to the front lines in the villa district, I have been training continuously!”
“Hahaha...”
A week ago. To persuade Serika, I had charged in ahead of Revi, the android. The operation ended smoothly. We had formed a good relationship with Serika, and Revi had returned to the base without a single scratch. However, since that day, Revi’s demeanor had changed noticeably. She didn't express it outwardly, but it was subtly evident in her tone, her movements, and the way she looked at me. It was likely... 'guilt.' An android built to protect humanity had, on that day, been protected by me, a human. That seemed to have wounded her pride. It made sense; Revi was from the 4th Unit, which had received the most combat training in R.P.M. The fact that she had stood a step behind a human must have weighed heavily on her.
“This time, I will prove my worth!”
Since that day, Revi had headed to the rooftop every single morning without fail. In the cold air of dawn, before the monsters fully awakened, she would swing her blade alone, repeating the same motions. The sight was somewhat desperate, yet beautiful at the same time. There were human emotions intertwined within her machine-like, precise movements. Anger, regret, determination. Every emotion was poured into Revi’s training, and I could feel it every morning from the rooftop. Perhaps Revi wanted to forgive herself. And perhaps she had been waiting for the chance to unleash that pent-up frustration in a real-world scenario.
“So, Chanwoo. Do you intend to follow the distress signal?”
“Yeah. That’s the plan.”
“May I ask the reason?”
“Hmm... sending a distress signal means there’s a high possibility they’re on our side, right? And this signal itself can only be sent if there’s electricity.”
In the game, nothing—not even the terminal—worked without electricity. In other words, the fact that they sent a signal meant there was at least some electrical energy, and perhaps this was our chance to solve our power supply issues.
“That’s why I’m going to check it out.”
And... above all, a distress call meant they were in a dangerous situation. I didn't want to leave an android who fought for humanity, like Revi or Serika, to die while trapped in a room. When I said that, Revi nodded.
“Understood. Then let us depart.”
Once again, she was faithfully playing the role of my guardian knight.
We stepped outside. But the moment we did, we were faced with a ridiculous crisis.
“But... how are we supposed to find the coordinates?”
“Usually, it is a format where one searches for the location via a holographic map.”
“Revi... you had something like that?”
“No. Such equipment is usually only issued to the 5th Unit, the elite units...”
“...We’re screwed.”
The distress signal had arrived. The exact coordinates had been transmitted. But the biggest problem was separate. We lacked the technology to 'find' those coordinates. ‘Come to think of it, in the game, these coordinate clues were usually left to simmer for over a month before being resolved, weren't they?’
This is garbage. They gave us the coordinates, but no map. We don't even know where we are right now, so how are we supposed to find those coordinates? There was no absurdity greater than this.
‘How am I supposed to get there!’
Just as I was screaming in frustration internally—
Ding.
“Oh?”
“Chanwoo?”
“It’s done. Let’s go.”
“Pardon? S-suddenly?”
[Coordinates : 1RS4]
[Guidance initiated.]
The coordinates Revi mentioned appeared in a translucent window visible only to my eyes. Then, a holographic map resembling a world map automatically unfolded, and a path was being neatly guided.
“Um... Chanwoo. Is it correct to go this way?”
“Yeah. Trust me. I just pinpointed the coordinate location.”
“Ohhhhh! This is what it means to be human! It is an ability that never ceases to amaze me!”
“Hahaha...”
It was indeed an amazing ability. The problem was that even I, the one who activated it, didn't know its origin. Anyway, according to the world map, the distance we had to travel was...
“...50 kilometers?”
The distance itself didn't seem like much, but the problem was what lay beyond. The areas we hadn't set foot in yet were obscured by dark, hazy fog, so in reality, it might be much more treacherous. This was, after all, a ruined city that humanity had abandoned long ago. The roads were severed, buildings had collapsed, and monsters prowled at night.
‘50 kilometers... it could take two days if we’re fast, or four if we’re slow.’
Naturally, there were no cars. Even if there were, the sound of an engine starting would be a death sentence. That’s why it was a golden rule in Star's Doll not to drive unless you were at death's door. Running was also forbidden. If you wasted your stamina and couldn't move when you needed to escape, that was the end. So, we decided to move at a leisurely pace. To do that, we first had to pack four days' worth of food.
“Alright, let’s head toward the distress signal!”
“Ohhh!”
Since the inventory in Revi’s cleavage had its limits, we split the food in half. The handmade bags made from the hides of animals we’d hunted over the past week could carry up to 20kg each. My bag was packed with smoked venison I’d prepared in advance. Besides... in the worst-case scenario, there was also 'Revi’s breast milk.'
“Revi. Did you pack those poisonous mushrooms?”
“Yes. Maintaining your body temperature and psychological stability is my top priority, even during missions.”
As expected of my guardian knight. Watching her makes laughter bubble up. She’s cute, reliable, and what should I say... she’s just so Revi. In that sense, I should go ahead and tease her nipples today, making her spray that milk again. As I thought that, we moved forward with light steps.
“Chanwoo. I have a question.”
“A question?”
It was rare for her to speak up first, so I turned to look at her, and Revi was tilting her head slightly more than usual.
“Do you remember the upper floor of the abandoned building where the android named Serika disappeared?”
“Yeah. I remember.”
“There... I discovered a white, sticky liquid of unknown origin.”
“Uh-huh?”
My mind went blank for a moment at the sudden description.
“That liquid... tasted excellent.”
“Tasted?”
“Yes. To express it precisely, my sensory sensors recorded a 97% satisfaction rate.”
She’s talking about my semen, isn't she?
“A scent very similar to that sauce... has been repeatedly detected near your lower body. Yes, repeatedly.”
“Ah... that is...”
I desperately tried to keep my gaze from drifting downward as I fumbled for an answer. However, Revi seemed to have no intention of reading the room.
“I am curious about the exact principle by which that sauce is 'generated'.”
Revi’s golden eyes sparkled as she spoke. It was 100% pure curiosity. Or was it appetite? ...It couldn't be sexual desire, could it?
“Even if we are in the middle of exploration, it is fine. If possible, would you grant me permission to taste and analyze it directly?”
“Revi, that is... um, you see...”
“This request is classified as an 'exceptional situation' occurring during an operation, and 'immediate action' is recommended.”