The Reason for Coming (2)
The Reason for Coming (2)
《Neon City City Law Consultation Bulletin Board》
[Inquiry Regarding Marriage] (Answered)
This is a question.
It's not for me, I'm asking because someone near me might do it.
Is polygyny possible in Neon City?
ㅡ (Respondent) To give you the bottom line first, it is possible. If you look into it, the city has even put out slogans via hologram advertisements guaranteeing freedom of religion and systems. That's because the former city mayor.... (omitted)
ㅡ However, in order to legally marry multiple partners, you must pay a 'plural marriage tax' to the city. The reason why the majority of citizens don't know plural marriage is possible lies right here.
ㅡ Compared to the standard marriage tax, you'd have to pay anywhere from 5 to 100 times the credits in taxes depending on the number of marriages.
ㅡ Therefore, if the questioner is also considering marrying several people, we recommend contacting our office to receive a detailed paid consultation on legal tax-saving procedures. Thank you.
└ (Questioner)I said it's not me.
A luxury van moved along the road.
The elf woman in the back seat—Andrea—let out an irritated complaint.
"Ugh, seriously. I said it's not me."
"...Is something the matter?"
At that voice, the female manager who was driving glanced into the back seat through the vehicle's 'holographic rearview mirror'.
Andrea waved her hand without taking her eyes off her vision interface.
"Nah, just talking to myself."
That was what Andrea said, but anyone could see she was plainly in a bad mood.
Seeing Andrea like that, the manager refocused on driving.
Based on her long experience as a manager, she figured that in a situation like this, one wrong word to Andrea (her employer) could mean getting chewed out before they even arrived.
Of course, the fact that she was still an actively working 'professional mercenary' also helped keep the manager silent.
Anyway.
Andrea paid no mind to her manager's survival instincts and reread the answer attached to the question.
Andrea thought calmly.
'...Anyway, so it is possible. The fact that the tax depends on the number means multiple partners are allowed too.'
Having thought that far, Andrea shook her head and denied her own thoughts.
"No, what am I even thinking."
Her long red hair, tied into twin tails, scattered across the back seat with the motion.
Would she have known her manager was looking at her like she was a crazy bitch?
Even so, Andrea's gaze stayed fixed on her vision interface.
'......Why did this bitch send that kind of message to mess with my head.'
Andrea manipulated her vision interface and pulled up the message that had come earlier one more time.
Sender: 'Neon City's Top Freelancer'
- I've made up my mind.
- If it won't work alone, multiple people should be fine too.
When she read that far, she wondered what random bullshit she was spouting all of a sudden.
- So, here's the thing.
- Is plural marriage legal in Neon City?
And after reading the last message, she couldn't help but spit out the coffee she was drinking—uncouth as it was.
Because just from the contents, she could tell exactly what the sender, Catherine, was thinking.
Andrea turned off her vision interface with an irritated touch; the message screen blinked out.
At that movement, the manager, who had been sneaking glances behind her, turned her eyes back to the road.
The reason Catherine had messaged Andrea was obvious. Andrea, who had spent plenty of time with her, could read between the lines.
I'm going to do this.
What are you going to do?
That was roughly what Catherine was implying.
'...When I'd already given up, what the hell.'
That was why—even though she didn't need to move, she'd gone to the upper layer, far from 'him'.
She had counseled Catherine via hologram calls, hoping the two of them would get together.
"......."
Yet this was the result.
Andrea felt a headache coming on.
Her gaze drifted toward the window.
The massive city buildings were swallowed by the clouds. Glowing hologram billboards swam through the gaps, and all the scenery blurred past, unable to keep up with the car's speed.
'......Then.'
Andrea thought.
'Does it mean I don't have to give up either?'
It was just when Andrea's thoughts reached that point.
"Hmm—."
A hum escaped Andrea without her realizing it. That pleasant nasal sound expressed her mood for her.
At the humming, the manager let out a sigh of relief and focused on driving.
'Looks like her mood got a little better. For real, her nickname was 'Devil,' right? Whoever came up with it, they really nailed it.'
The manager sped the van up.
Normally, she was an employer who took good care of you. But when her moods swung like this, she really wanted to quit on the spot.
17. The Reason They Came (2)
This is my personal impression.
In that moment, the world felt like it went 'Cheoreong!' and shook.
The reason was, obviously, the shocking statement Catherine made.
'......I'm going to live here with you too.'
I'd planned to just endure and listen no matter what she said.
But before I knew it, a question slipped out of my mouth.
"Excuse me?"
If you ask me why I spoke so formally... I don't know.
When people face a reality they can't handle, they inevitably fall into confusion.
Had I thought I misheard her?
Catherine spoke to me once more.
"I said I'm going to live with you too."
The moisture that had pooled in her eyes was gone at some point.
Her clear golden irises reflected the light and stared directly at me as she asked.
"......."
I couldn't answer right away and agonized.
For my part, of course I'd be welcoming— but no. Refusing first was the right thing to do.
"Where I came from, there's a saying, 'men and women shouldn't sit together after the age of seven,' and what it means is—."
"You're from the same garbage landfill as me, what bullshit."
"...That's true."
"And even if there is a saying like that, what about her? Eve, was it? The one in the back?"
"......"
Then I had nothing to say again.
The 'Confucian Scholar-Official' inside me tried to rise up but sank.
In fact, Catherine was right.
I was already a person who had slept in the same bed as Eve. Of course, we literally only slept.
I thought of another excuse.
"The room is too small, so three people living together would be difficult—."
"No, there are ways. And what's wrong with being a little more snug together."
"......."
Is that so?
No, get a grip.
The three of us living together like this? There's no way my sanity could hold out.
I brought out the option I had saved as my absolute last resort.
"First, we should ask Eve too, right?"
Yes. The last one I trusted was Eve—.
"It's fine."
But Eve's immediate answer came.
Hearing that, the smile on Catherine's face deepened as she brightly laughed and said.
"She says it's fine?"
"...Yeah."
...Now that things had come to this, I had no choice but to cultivate superhuman patience.
Catherine, who only walked around the house in dolphin shorts. Eve, who felt competitive with her and started taking off her maid outfit. Just imagining it made my head spin already.
Right after we talked to that point, Catherine went outside for a moment.
Partially because she had to pack her things, and also because she said there was something she needed to look into.
"......."
It felt like a storm had passed.
I moved my heavy body and plopped down onto the bed, sinking in. My body sank deeply into the mattress. I'd felt it since the last time I slept, but the mattress's springiness was needlessly incredible.
"Hey."
"Hm?"
Eve asked me as I was enjoying the springiness of the bed.
It was after she had carefully approached me. That gait, uncharacteristic of the usual Eve, looked almost hesitant.
I hadn't realized it when she didn't have a physical body, but Eve's emotional expressions were way more pronounced than I'd thought. Or not? Come to think of it, her emotional expressions were pretty strong even when she didn't have a body.
Anyway, I looked at Eve.
Eve briefly clutched the hem of her skirt. It looked like a reflex action she did without realizing it herself.
Eve slowly opened her mouth.
"...Thank you."
"?"
I tilted my head to the left. I didn't think she meant thank you for allowing Catherine to live together.
Seeing me failing to grasp the situation, Eve continued speaking.
"This entity is an artificial intelligence. Nevertheless, this is a thank-you for asking 'me' for my opinion."
"Ah."
Why say thanks for something like that.
I waved my hand dismissively.
"That's a given, what do you mean."
"......."
"And how many times have I received your help, Eve. You don't have to say thanks."
At my words, Eve looked down at the floor. Maybe it was just my imagination, but it somehow looked like a blush appeared on her cheeks.
I didn't know what Eve was thinking. What kind of worries a super AI with incredible performance had, what kind of inner turmoil she had about her sense of identity. I couldn't know.
But at least I could offer comfort.
I playfully asked Eve, who was sunk in silence, with the aim of lightening the mood.
"Now that I think about it, you said so earlier, right?"
"......."
"That if the raid succeeded, you'd like me to claim a reward."
At my words, Eve lifted her head. Her white gaze, which had felt so transparent, stared intently at me.
"Then."
Eve slowly raised her arms and spoke.
"I wish to be held."
.......
That statement reminded me of another meaning, but it wasn't like my translation module was broken, so I heard it exactly as the action implied.
"...What's so hard about that."
I answered nonchalantly. Of course, I wasn't really nonchalant about it.
Honestly, any guy would be the same.
Be it her body temperature, her touch, or her size—they were all things I couldn't handle.
Gulp, I swallowed dryly. But I couldn't refuse a request from Eve, who had helped me so much up until now, for a reason like that. If I did that, it'd be more fitting for me to go to a bioware surgery clinic, remove the 'male' label, and switch class to 'genderfluid'.
If the only reason was that I was embarrassed, that was even less of an excuse.
"Here."
I opened my arms just like Eve did.
Slowly, Eve approached me. Her steps looked very slow, but step by step, she was definitely drawing closer to me.
Time passed like gold dust.
Eve's artificial intelligence chest slowly approached—.
It was then.
- Ding-dong.
"Coming!"
Someone had come to visit.
* * *
It was someone I'd never seen before.
He wore a high-quality suit, and the sharp gaze visible over his black sunglasses was striking.
He composed his voice and spoke.
"I was sent by Kozaka William-nim. He considered sending a message, but decided to come in person as it might have been rude."
"Hmm."
"I will deliver his words. 《The 'specially crafted outfit' we discussed back then is fully prepared. There are also things to talk about, so let's meet once.》 That is all."
Ah.
Now that he mentioned it, that was right.
Back when I took care of the ninjas in the sewers, when I said my clothes might get dirty, Kozaka William had said he'd get me new clothes.
Honestly, I thought half of it was a joke. I didn't know he'd take it seriously and actually get them for me.
But I couldn't help hiding my happy feelings. I forced my unconsciously rising lips into a blank expression.
It wasn't for any other reason. It was because I felt an intense presence behind me.
Unless another person had appeared behind me, the identity of that presence was just one person. It could only be 'Eve'.
"......."
For now, it wasn't my fault.