A Lesson Learned with Ribs (4)
A Lesson Learned with Ribs (4)
In Korea, my eternal homeland, there was a proverb about how "ah" and "uh" are different.
The proverb could also mean "be careful with similar words."
But usually, it was interpreted as "even when words are the same, their meaning changes depending on the speaker's attitude."
To give a simple example.
A friend you saw all the time suddenly tacked your surname onto your first name.
A worker touched by a kind customer's manners said "thank you kindly" instead of just "thanks."
Someone answered a question with a confused "huh?" instead of a crisp "yes."
Examples like those were everywhere.
I briefly recalled what Eve had said just before the TV screen went dark.
'I will see you right away.'
.......
Normally, the conversation would have ended with a simple "understood."
The fact that Eve had deliberately added that she would see me right away gave me an indescribable feeling.
Of course, if I considered that Eve's base language system was English, my whole dilemma might have been pointless worrying.
Anyway, that was how I felt.
I sprang up from the sofa that seemed determined to swallow my body whole.
I didn't mean to run.
It was just, um....
I just thought it wouldn't hurt to check the escape routes.
I slowly surveyed the room.
I didn't examine every nook and cranny meticulously, but I didn't glance so carelessly that I'd miss what was there either.
Come to think of it, this floor was also a space created by remodeling an existing residential area.
Which meant there should normally be an "emergency exit" leading to the stairwell.
Was it that I just couldn't find it?
"......."
There wasn't one.
Absolutely nothing in sight.
...Nah, can't be.
This time I strode quickly toward the front door.
The iron door I had used when I entered here came into view.
When I'd come in, it hadn't seemed strange at all....
But looking at it now, it seemed excessively sturdy for some reason.
And what should I make of the surveillance camera installed only on the front door?
I didn't know.
I didn't want to know either.
I kept my demeanor as natural as possible.
I wasn't actually running away, but there was no point in inviting unnecessary misunderstandings.
.......
Wait.
"Huh."
Was I seeing things?
I briefly rubbed my eyes.
Yeah, things had been exhausting lately.
Hallucinations weren't that strange.
I lightly slapped my own cheeks, pulling my hazy mind back into focus.
Then I stared at the "front door" standing solidly before me.
"......."
It hadn't changed.
Why was there no doorknob.
I couldn't hide my bewilderment.
32. The Lesson Learned from My Ribs (4)
Come to think of it, I remembered that Eve had opened the front door for me when I entered.
I scrutinized the area around the front door.
There was no visible button to open it, and even when I activated my vision interface, there were zero linked signal connections.
Wasn't that a fire code violation?
.......
But then again, normal fire codes probably didn't exist in Neon City, so there wouldn't be any problem.
Moreover, this was a capital-omnipotent society where any problem could be resolved with credits.
I dismissed my pointless worries.
A (steel) front door with no handle.
Of course, it wasn't truly impossible to leave.
If I asked Eve, she could easily open it, and if things went south, I could always use the secret technique "Diving Without a Parachute" through the window—something I'd done before from an airship.
But I was only human, so it still weighed on my mind.
It was a good chance to understand firsthand what a victim kidnapped by scavengers must feel like.
The surveillance camera emitted a soft mechanical whir.
Its lens shifted, fixing its gaze on me.
Only one entity could be watching me through that lens: Eve, most likely.
I turned my steps around as if nothing was wrong and walked deeper into the 14th floor.
With deliberate calm, I lay down on the sofa prepared in the living room.
I maintained a poker face and coldly thought.
"......."
Was this not completely fucked─.
I shook my head to erase the ominous thought.
It couldn't be real confinement. It was highly likely the structure had been designed this way for security reasons.
I rationalized it to myself that way for the sake of my peaceful mental health.
Anyway.
One thing was clear: this space had been created with me in mind.
Just looking at that corner over there made it obvious.
An old-model computer for the classic game I played was set up in one corner.
And the rest?
High-end facilities designed for someone who hated going outside (or for various unspeakable reasons) were fully provided.
There was an indoor swimming pool with artificial sun lighting, and a personal theater stacked with numerous stereo sound systems.
The holographic picture frames hanging in the empty space were a mess, as if a child had been playing pranks.
But after scanning them with my vision interface, I confirmed that their prices were followed by countless zeros.
From now on, every time I looked at those pictures, I felt like my back would automatically bow at a 15-degree angle.
It definitely hadn't been like this before....
Until just recently, everyone had seemed to be trying to drag me outside with a "please just go out!" kind of vibe.
Maybe it was just my imagination, but now I intensely felt a determination to keep me inside instead.
Anyway, trivialities aside.
I slowly rubbed my face, trying to relieve the tension─.
"Is the sofa comfortable?"
Eve's voice came from behind.
I'd been lost in thought for too long.
I swallowed dryly.
I turned around as calmly as possible.
"Oh, you're here?"
"That is correct."
Two enormous shadows loomed over my head. The pressure was overwhelming.
"The sofa is an item purchased with the help of the entity 'Taylor Blackstar.' It is a high-end lineup product manufactured by 'Tumba,' a subsidiary of 'Black Monolith Corporation,' which I mentioned last time as well."
Eve extended her slender, soft fingers and gently pressed the sofa cushion.
"I configured the settings to match 'Si-un's' height and weight."
Eve's white pupils gazed down at me, as if waiting for an answer.
Ah, I hadn't answered her question from earlier.
I sank deeper into the sofa as I replied.
"It really is insanely comfortable."
I quickly read Eve's expression as I said that.
Now that it was just the two of us, the pressure was actually worse.
But whether she knew what was on my mind or not, Eve maintained her usual expressionless face. She clasped her hands together in front of her and looked down at me with demure posture.
.......
Nothing, huh?
Only then did I relax.
Well, I supposed that was to be expected.
I sheepishly scratched my head.
Expecting the situation I'd been worried about (hoping for) to happen immediately just because we were alone was arrogant.
Even if things didn't go further, I thought I'd at least get grabbed by the collar and kissed....
Let's reflect, Si-un.
'Of course the man has to lead first─!!'
Quiet.
I chased the lewd demon shouting inside me out of my mind and composed myself.
In fact, thinking about it rationally, my rib fracture was still very recent.
My whole train of thought was even more disrespectful to them, considering they were being considerate of me.
I needed to get a grip.
I spoke to Eve in a calm tone.
"You're not going to keep standing until I tell you to sit, are you?"
"That is correct."
"...Please sit down."
At my words, Eve nodded, then carefully approached and sat beside me.
As I studied Eve's profile, a thought struck me.
Come to think of it, being together with Eve's prosthetic body like this had become incredibly natural, to the point where it didn't feel strange at all.
At first, she was an artificial intelligence I brought along just out of sympathy.
And now that same AI was watching over me, kissing me, breaking my ribs.
No one could have predicted things would end up like this.
.......
Honestly, it also seemed like Eve had somewhat anticipated this flow of events from back then....
Anyway, it was a strange feeling.
Eve, noticing my gaze, turned her head toward me.
Her white pupils met mine.
My mechanical eye instinctively zoomed in. On her flawless, pure white skin, I saw fine downy hairs standing slightly on end.
They said they'd implemented all human functions, but I hadn't realized they'd implemented even such minute details.
And then there was the matter of her overwhelming presence.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"It's nothing."
Without revealing anything, I turned my head and looked away.
If there was nothing special, then fine.
I turned on the massive TV screen.
* * *
In truth, there was an unavoidable reason why Eve didn't grab Lee Si-woon by the collar and headbutt (kiss) him the moment she came up to the 14th floor.
It was because of a "principle" Eve had agreed upon with Lee Si-woon's cohabitants before coming up to the 14th floor.
"Then we're all in agreement. Absolutely no touching him first."
"That is correct."
The agreement was that they would not lay a hand on Lee Si-woon until Lee Si-woon first laid a hand on them.
"...We didn't know that everyone would forget how fragile his body is, like glass, and go berserk."
"......That's right."
It was the lesson learned from Lee Si-woon's ribs.
"If Si-un touches us first, it's fine, right?"
"Fufu."
"......I should ask Dr. Tera to increase my prosthetic body's chest size a bit more too."
Not a single woman opposed.
Because at the time, everyone's eyes had been blinded by the kiss.
In other words, a contest decided by who succeeded in seducing him first.
Like that.
So, a war without guns had begun...!
* * *
"......What's with your outfit?"
"It is an ordinary outfit that citizens prefer."
Who goes around wearing a bunny girl suit?
.......
Was that allowed indoors?
I didn't know.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, testing the limits of my patience.
I had never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would end up appreciating the bunny girl suit Eve had set aside that time, like this.
It was a day somewhere in autumn.