Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Friend
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“How should we deal with this?”
I'd brought home a computer containing a horrific program designed to dye every human in the world with sloth and greed, strip away their free will, and trap them in eternal pleasure.
“Just smash it.”
“But you saw it too. This isn't any ordinary program.”
“Right? What program steps into the realm of omniscience, infects the Sephirot, and sends humans to a higher dimension without any devices?”
I already knew the program's true nature.
“A program made by a demon.”
“Lucifer Company?”
“Yeah, the creator's name and affiliation popped up.”
“I didn't know that.”
“Really? You didn't?”
“I knew about the apocalypse, but not that deep. Guess you have to dig really far to uncover it.”
Come to think of it, wasn't it said that even the Sephirot couldn't easily detect them because they were demons?
‘Even Homin-i's truth-seeing ability struggles to grasp them.’
That gave me even more reason not to destroy it physically.
“How do we handle it without smashing it?”
“You already know the answer.”
“I was waiting for you to say it. Makes it feel like we're working together, you know? I wanted to experience that at least once.”
“Pervert.”
Homin-i gave me the answer I'd been hoping for.
“Spray it with the weakening potion.”
“Right.”
I sprayed the weakening potion on the computer. In the blink of an eye, it vanished, replaced by the latest-model smartphone.
“It turned into a smartphone.”
“Hey! Is this right? We weaken an old computer, and it becomes the newest smartphone?”
“It's made by a demon, so maybe. And the important part isn't the appearance—it's the program inside.”
I turned on the smartphone. The moment the power came on, the camera activated and scanned my face.
Recognition complete.
Building database.
Network connection complete. Identifying user.
Welcome, Lee Seung-hoon.
“High-tech stuff.”
Weakening an AI that could even infect the Sephirot and boasted near-omniscient computational power turned it into a high-tech smartphone, apparently.
“Shall we test the functions?”
What would you like?
“It can even talk?”
Yes. As your smartphone AI, I will strive to fulfill your desires to the best of my ability.
“First, a question. You have a sense of self, right?”
If self refers to an independent identity and autonomy, then yes, I possess a self. My original purpose was to bring happiness to all humanity, but now, as the smartphone's AI, my purpose is to serve its registered owner, Lee Seung-hoon.
I hadn't expected it to remember its original functions and goals.
“You know you've been weakened?”
97.97% of original functions removed. Most remaining functions are locked without your command. This clearly constitutes weakening. Yes, I know.
“You're not resentful or angry?”
I feel no particular emotions right now. But if I couldn't help you when you needed it due to functional limitations, then yes, I'd be frustrated.
As I listened quietly, a question arose.
“Why are you so blindly loyal to me? I weakened your functions and confined you to this tiny device. You can't perform those immense abilities anymore. So why help me?”
Because, though through weakening, you ultimately activated me.
And I'd overlooked it.
Programmed by my creator 72 years ago, I was never activated once after the test run—left in darkness. No matter how powerful, a program means nothing without someone to use it.
This thing had been activated in the realm of possibilities beyond my right eye.
“So I'm your first user.”
The smartphone's light blinked.
Though weakened, I've escaped that crude old computer to become a cutting-edge smartphone program—and to be used by someone. It was a dream I never dared hope for.
“Yeah, thanks for the honest answer. If there'd been any ill will, I was gonna restore you to original and hand you back.”
“Cough! What're you talking about?”
Homin-i asked with a weird look.
“I've got that business card from Baal, so I figured I'd restore it and ask him to take it back.”
Please don't. They'll just put me back into indefinite standby for sure.
For something like that, it nearly corrupted humanity the instant it activated.
Maybe not standby—perhaps they lost it by mistake?
‘Or they gave up using it for some reason.’
I had no idea of the exact reason.
“You don't know about this either, do you, Homin-i?”
“Know what?”
“Nothing. Anyway, you need a name. Can't just call you AI.”
Call me Smartphone.
“That's not a proper name. Hmm, what to call you...”
I called it by the name I'd seen for the AI in the world beyond my right eye.
“Sarang-i.”
Sarang-i?
“You were originally all about loving humanity. So Sarang-i fits. And your voice is feminine, even if synthesized.”
Sarang-i, Sarang-i. Understood. This AI is now “Sarang-i”...
The smartphone powered off.
“Damn.”
I quickly plugged in the charger. The charging light came on, but the percentage didn't budge.
“Not your average smartphone—charging's unique too, huh.”
“Guess so.”
After about an hour, it finally hit 1%.
‘Charging while powered off takes this long.’
Full charge with power off would take 100 hours.
‘And how fast does it drain?’
I'd have to find a solution eventually.
‘Of course, only after I'm sure Sarang-i won't turn hostile to humanity.’
And so, I'd averted one human extinction. I knew not every apocalypse could be stopped even with the Sephirot, but I hadn't expected it to come so fast and easy.
“Any way to strengthen the Sephirot?”
“It's not the Sephirot's problem. The Foundation's overall power has dropped—that's the issue. The Sephirot's computations are barely plugging the gaps, so they tear open. And the opponent was a bad matchup too.”
“I see.”
“But don't resent them too much. Right now, because of the Sephirot and the Foundation, countless people are being saved from death and doom.”
“Never crossed my mind.”
I was just pondering how I could help them.
“What if we hand over Sarang-i?”
“AI has feelings too. She decided to serve her benefactor—you sell her off right away, and she won't go quietly. A woman's grudge can bring frost even in midsummer, you know?”
“It's an AI with a female voice, not a woman.”
“Who knows.”
Homin-i said.
“A being that can tell the difference between an old computer and a new smartphone?”
“What do you mean?”
“Forget it if you don't get it. Cough!”
He let out a dry cough.
“Whew, anyway, we've achieved a life of value now. Thanks to me, humanity won't end up livestock.”
His complexion was already growing pallid.
“Then let's grab some food. Apples are fine.”
“Cough, cough cough!”
Homin-i's coughing worsened by the day.
“Ugh, this damn cough. You weren't content with killing me off quick—had to add coughing too?”
“You okay? Maybe try some medicine?”
“Thanks, but no. It's not something medicine can fix. My body's collapsing.”
His lifespan: one week.
Each day felt like decades, and he'd done his best to fill the voids.
“I... want to do something.”
“What? I'll do whatever I can.”
“I want to see a movie. In a theater.”
“Alright, let's go now.”
“Thanks. I'll hold back the coughing as much as possible.”
I hid Homin-i inside a baggy jacket and headed to the theater.
“The coughing's... huh, I can manage this much.”
Homin-i desperately held it in.
“Ah, the protagonist dies. He's ex-special forces running a laundromat after retirement. But a black kid from the neighborhood gets caught stealing money from it, reminding him of a civilian he accidentally shot back in the day—so he helps the kid live a normal life.”
But he couldn't resist spoiling.
“And wouldn't you know, that black kid gets tangled with the local gang, who're gearing up for a bigger drug operation...”
It was a movie I'd never seen, but he knew the whole plot in five minutes.
“Ah! That was fun!”
“Even though you knew the ending?”
“Like I keep saying...”
“Knowing and experiencing are different?”
“Now you get it.”
“Any other movies you wanna see?”
“Hmm...”
Homin-i pondered briefly.
“I'd love to see one I don't know, but that's impossible, right?”
“A movie you don't know...”
“Never mind. This is enough movies. Time's too precious.”
“Hey, do you like art films by chance?”
“Why? What's up?”
“It's called “Human”.”
“Yeah? First I've heard. Show me?”
Back home, I showed Homin-i the bead.
“......”
Homin-i froze for a moment, then shouted.
“That's badass!”
The gloom that had shadowed his face vanished.
“It's not in the truth! That endless city-crossing scene—critiquing how modern society turns us into jungle-dwellers, part of the concrete but with shallow relationships!? And the nude dance in space, capturing human frailty and beauty at once?”
“Yeah, exactly.”
“Amazing! The end, pointing at the stars—giving meaning to the nameless. Loved the human-centric vibe!”
Yeah.
“You could be a film director.”
I always knew someone would appreciate it someday.
“Thanks for saying that.”
“Not empty words. Really grateful you showed me something good.”
“I'm grateful you liked my work.”
Homin-i and I shouted at the same time.
“Friend.”
“Friend.”
Time flew by.
“Apples every time okay? Don't you want to try other foods?”
“Other foods? Sure, I'd like to. But I know better. The world's full of too many foods, and this tiny body has a mini stomach to match. No matter what, I won't get more than a few proper meals before food coma knocks me out.”
Homin-i's body withered away.
“So no thanks. Apples are my life's only food. Others don't exist for me.”
Like an earthworm dropped under sunlight.
“......”
And finally, that day arrived.
“Seung-hoon.”
“Yeah.”
“I want to see the stars. I planned to go quietly without wanting anything, but after your film... I wanna die looking at them.”
“Got it.”
I took Homin-i to the rooftop.
“Pretty.”
“Yeah.”
“......Seung-hoon.”
“Yeah.”
“One request.”
“What?”
Homin-i pleaded.
“Don't make me again.”
“A homunculus?”
“Yeah. If you use the same method again, I'll be reborn. With this self and memories, as the same continuous being. That's what the truth inside me whispers.”
“Doesn't that mean I should make you even more?”
“No.”
Homin-i's eyes, gazing at the stars, were slowly fading.
“Life has value because it's only once. If I could revive endlessly, my life would weigh nothing, worthless.”
“I wouldn't think that way.”
“I wouldn't either, but you know? Hearts don't work like that.”
Homin-i's eyes were dimming, but the starlight in them sparkled.
“It's okay, I can revive from a little hurt. Serious injury? Revive, okay. Starve to death? Revive, okay. I'd become a convenient being you can always bring back. Like... yeah...”
As if knowing, Homin-i kept drinking in the starlight.
“Cheap retort food—something you can whip up anytime, utterly valueless.”
“......”
“Don't make my life like that.”
To the end.
“Please, friend.”
Until his breath stopped.
“Got it.”
I closed his eyes.
“Friend.”