How to Rest (3)
How to Rest (3)
Of course, if I wanted true "freedom," I'd also have to cut ties with Eve—the AI whose hobby was cyberstalking.
But that was wishful thinking; realistically, it was next to impossible.
Let's go over it for a moment.
Even the Chairman of Koozaka, a company boasting the world's second-highest market cap, couldn't stomach Eve's nonsense and prostrated himself in a dogeza without a moment's hesitation.
In this cyberpunk world, Eve's greatness was hard to capture with mere words.
Even if I ran to the opposite side of the globe, it wouldn't take Eve long to track me down.
In the end, ditching Eve and running away wasn't a real option.
I explained everything to Eve slowly and carefully.
"Understand?"
"Confirmed."
Eve gave a small nod.
Phew. The hardest problem was solved.
Thankfully, it looked like the possibility of emotion-studying Eve evolving into Skynet had vanished.
...Though, Eve seemed to have interpreted my explanation a little differently.
"Indeed."
"?"
Eve murmured in a slightly more "human" tone. Her characteristic speech pattern was still there, but her vocabulary had definitely grown more natural over time.
Eve stared at me with her white eyes.
"I understand that this AI's importance surpasses and is more significant than that of the other 'entities.'"
"......Uh."
Hm.
Just how had she taken my explanation?
I scratched my head, puzzled.
In a way, it wasn't entirely wrong.
But calling it correct was a bit off, too.
However, right now I was in the underdog position.
"......You understood well."
"Confirmed positive statement from 'Si-un.' Voice data saved."
A hint of smugness crept onto Eve's expressionless face.
...She really was so naïve.
I looked at Eve, who had lifted her chin with a triumphant air.
Still, this kid was nice.
28. How to Rest (3)
I had finished scheming with Eve.
Now all that was left was to actually run away.
I clenched both fists and thought.
My plan was simple.
The biggest variable was Catherine, who was currently lounging around my place every day as the home guard (unemployed).
I kept my voice calm.
"I'm just gonna pop out to the convenience store real quick."
"Melon-flavored ice cream when you come back."
"Yep."
Alright, handled.
It was an obvious outcome, actually.
Lately, I'd said yes to every place she suggested we hang out.
(Usually we went to the swimming pool.)
My conscience stung a little at the thought of lying and running away, but no matter what, my freedom, rest, and mental health mattered more.
《 Conscience < Freedom, Rest, Mental Health 》
Following that logic, I lightly rationalized my actions.
As Eve stuck close behind me, Catherine's eyes followed me for a moment, but Eve's clinginess wasn't new—Catherine saw nothing strange about it.
I stepped out the front door as naturally as possible and let out the breath I'd been holding to hide my tension.
I'd cleared the easiest yet hardest gate. Now all that remained was to pass the building's main entrance.
I got on the elevator going down.
The surveillance camera's lens contracted as it tracked me.
Since this building was fundamentally where the Chairman of Monolith lived, the security system was far more heavily reinforced than before.
I leaned back against the elevator wall as usual.
I didn't know what orders the security staff beyond the camera had received, but there was no need to look suspicious for no reason.
The elevator's floor number slowly descended.
I had no idea what variables might pop up.
I kept my guard up as much as I could.
Maybe my worrying had backfired.
- Ding-dong.
The elevator stopped at the 3rd floor, not the 1st.
"...Huh?"
Beyond the opened door, Julia tilted her head.
I couldn't show a trace of panic here.
This was something I'd actually expected.
Julia especially liked visiting the 3rd floor, which was packed with arcade machines.
Probably because she was still a wanted criminal.
She seemed deeply interested in arcade cabinets she couldn't enjoy outside.
I carefully raised my palm, stopping Julia from getting on.
"This is an elevator going down right now. I'm just dashing out to the convenience store."
"......I see."
Julia nodded slowly at my words.
What worked in my favor was that Julia wasn't holding her "White Rabbit doll" at the moment.
The rabbit doll she always carried was a signal-distorting item that kept ordinary cameras from recognizing her face.
Without the doll, it was hard for Julia—a wanted criminal—to follow me.
Before she could say anything else, I took the lead and spoke to her.
"Let's play a game together later."
"...Ah, yes!"
I switched the topic to something Julia loved.
Now Julia's head would be full of "games." Meanwhile, I casually pressed the elevator's close button.
"See you later."
"......Yes."
For the record, I myself had no idea when this "later" would be. People are subjective creatures, so everyone's standards differ.
The elevator door slid shut soon after.
I'd nearly been caught before even leaving. I let out a light sigh of relief.
I desperately wanted to escape the territory of these social butterflies as soon as possible.
But impatience always leads to accidents.
I didn't drop my guard until I was out of the building's entrance.
At last.
Having successfully made it outside, I slowly lifted my head and looked up at the sky, burying my joyful feelings deep inside.
Neon City's sky was the same as always.
It was exactly the color of an old television flickering with noise, full of gray clouds.
But to me right now, it felt the same as bright sunlight.
That someone like me, who hated going out, could feel warmth from stepping outside....
Life was truly unpredictable.
If I had my way, I'd have liked to savor this long-overdue alone time for a few more minutes.
But the time I had left wasn't as generous as I thought.
The moment Catherine, lounging at home, began thinking, "There's no way the convenience store takes this long," and got suspicious, a Shooting Star might fall right next to me.
"Let's move for now."
"Where do you plan to go?"
Eve answered my words.
I lowered my gaze from the sky and faced her.
Eve's appearance was always filled with pure white.
She'd even gone clothes shopping with Catherine and Andrea last time.
Where on earth had she put the clothes she bought?
Eve was still wearing a maid outfit.
"Look over there, a maid—"
"...Unbelievably pretty."
We hadn't been away from the building long.
Even now, people's eyes were gathering on her.
I looked at Eve and said,
"First, we need to get you a change of clothes."
"......?"
A maid outfit.
Even in a cyberpunk world that celebrates individuality, it was an attention-magnet.
Naturally, it wasn't suited for an escape.
"Hmm."
Where was the nearest clothing store?
I'd have to know if I ever bought clothes often....
I opened my vision interface and searched for the nearest shop. Since I lived near the city center, thankfully there were several right around the corner.
"This way should work."
I'd been leading Eve for about two minutes when she suddenly stopped me.
"Wait a moment."
"Why?"
Because right now, Catherine could come chasing after me at any second.
But at Eve's next words, I had no choice but to halt.
"From the moment you cross out of this sector, we will be tracked by Monolith."
"?"
"I will begin hacking the surveillance cameras."
Chairman-nim?
Just what kind of orders did you leave?
If I hadn't come out with Eve, my intentions would have been exposed right then.
While I was wiping the goosebumps off my arms, a subtle light swirled inside Eve's mechanical eye.
"......Complete. 'Si-un' will no longer be detected by Monolith's surveillance system."
At this point, it really felt like an obsession.
"...Alright, let's keep going for now."
"Confirmed."
I thought as I listened to Eve's reply.
Once we got Eve into ordinary clothes, where should we go?
Drex's place?
Unfortunately, they hadn't come back from their honeymoon yet. No, that place was ruled out from the start—going there risked getting caught immediately.
"......."
I didn't really have a good spot.
I wasn't sure if I had connections I could use at times like this, but in the end, my tiny social circle was the problem.
What should I do?
Where could I go?
I decided quickly.
I made up my mind.
I activated my vision interface and called a number I'd recently saved.
A short dial tone followed, and soon the call connected.
[...Is this Shun-ssi? What did you call me for?]
It was none other than the Orc whose number I'd recently gotten.
Tom.
* * *
A building everyone thought would always be peaceful.
Inside the Golden Smile Condominium, an unexpected storm was raging.
The reason was a message sent by the sole male resident of the building, "Lee Si-un."
Sender: 'Lee Si-un, an ordinary Mage'
- This message was sent to everyone living in the Golden Smile Condominium building.
- I need some time alone for a moment.
- I'll be back soon, so please don't look for me.
- That's all.
"".......""
It was a perfectly natural and predictable turn of events that the six women living under the same roof began a heated debate centered around that message.