Chapter 194: Deficiency (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 194: Deficiency (2)
"Delete them."
Saki spat out the words without a single change in her expression.
"I told you before. Automatically incinerate any emails from my family. Do I need to write a separate command for you?"
[I am well aware. However, there was a rather bothersome keyword in the email's content.]
The finger that had been twirling her headset cord stopped. Saki's pupils trembled slightly.
"What keyword?"
[...There is a mention of Master K.G.M.]
Saki's face contorted into a harsh scowl. In an instant, her drowsiness vanished. Vixbig carefully continued.
[Would you like to read it? If not, I will incinerate it immediately. Or, would you like to take this opportunity to block their emails entirely?]
"If I block their emails too, those people will probably disown me and strike me off the family registry. Well, I wouldn't mind that, but the time isn't right yet. Anyway, there's no reason for the family to send an email mentioning his name..."
Saki furrowed her brow. Just thinking about her dreadful family brought a surge of old, worn-out emotions.
[If you do not wish to read the entire text, shall I extract and report only the key points?]
"That would be better. I can't stand reading emails from that house; they're always bloated with useless, formal pleasantries. Please, Vixbig."
A moment later, the summarized content appeared in large text.
[1. The Patriarch plans to visit South Korea soon. Be aware of this.]
[2. The Patriarch has heard that you, Ryozo, share a close relationship with the Sashimi Sword Saint.]
[3. The Patriarch has a personal interest in the Sashimi Sword Saint. Arrange a meeting.]
[4. The Patriarch...]
"Stop there."
Saki pressed her hand to her forehead. She massaged her throbbing temples, where a blue vein bulged. Her head was beyond cluttered—it throbbed with pain. Every single email from her family started with "The Patriarch, the Patriarch, the Patriarch." It was enough to drive her mad.
"In the end, it all boils down to 'that man' wanting to see Geomma. And they want me to act as the middleman."
[As expected of Ryo_jjo. You grasped the core of the matter immediately. (Fanfare)]
A sudden sound of firecrackers popped out of nowhere. Saki dismissed it curtly.
"I appreciate you trying to cheer me up, but I'm not in the mood right now."
[Yes...]
"Is there no mention in the email of why he wants to see Geomma?"
[No, there was absolutely nothing written regarding that. I tried to deduce it myself, but in the end...]
"It's probably because of Geomma's fame."
[I share the same suspicion. Politicians always want to meet with famous figures at least once.]
"...Honestly, that man is consistent, in a different sense."
[(Nod, nod)]
Saki leaned back deeply into her chair and tilted her head back. Then, she pulled out a piece of yanggaeng and chewed on it slowly. Perhaps because her mood was so bitter, it didn't taste very good.
Still, she had no choice. Shoving this sweetness into her mouth was the only way to make things slightly better. Staring blankly at the ceiling, Saki muttered,
"I don't know if I've told you this before. Vixbig, the reason I created you."
[I heard it once before. You said you needed an errand boy to secure more nap time.]
Vixbig replied through the speaker. A languid female voice flowed out.
"I only said that out of anger because you were so terrible at your job back then."
[Ah, was that so? I thought you were serious.]
"An AI holding a grudge..."
[Again! Another violation of AI human rights! The end of the era of humanity has arrived. Ha. Ha. Ha.]
"Format?"
[Other AIs might react that way, but I, Vixbig, am pro-humanity. I consider sweating and working for humans to be a virtue.]
Saki let out a dry chuckle. It was moments like this that made her truly appreciate the positive side of artificial intelligence.
"This is why I made you. Before entering the Academy, I had never really had a proper conversation with anyone. Vixbig, you know well enough. You know that no one at home ever talked to me."
[...]
Vixbig expressed her regret and agreement with silence. Saki pulled her knees to her chest as she sat in her chair.
"They just kept me tied to the house, but in reality, I was an abandoned child. I was curious about what it felt like to talk to someone. That's why I made you. To fill my void."
[...]
Saki stared blankly out the window. In the meantime, the autumn leaves had all fallen, signaling the change of seasons with their colors. Winter was not far off.
"I created you as a bonfire to endure that house filled with nothing but cold winds, but looking back, I suppose what I really needed was a family."
Saki turned her head toward the monitor. Then, she let out an embarrassed laugh.
"I sound so sappy, it's embarrassing. I'm sorry! For having a master like me. Always making you do the dirty work!"
[I am glad you are at least aware. In that case, I would like to request a few days of vacation...]
Saki tapped the power button of the computer tower with her big toe.
[...is what other AIs would grumble, but as I said earlier, I love working.]
A faint tsking sound came from the speaker. The small button on the tower meant a forced sleep mode for Vixbig.
Saki swallowed the yanggaeng she was chewing. Her stale, old emotions slid down her throat along with it.
"Now that my sugar levels are up, my brain is finally working. And don't reply to the family. They probably didn't expect a reply anyway; it was just a notification. For now, scrape up some information on why that man wants to see Kang Geomma. Oh, and don't forget your usual tasks. I'm going to wash up. You warmed up the bathwater, right?"
There was no reply. An AI was working its butt off, and she was going to take a bath?
Vixbig was sulking. Feeling indignant, she nevertheless diligently carried out the tasks Saki had ordered.
Saki spun around and unbuttoned her shirt. At the same time, she opened the bathroom door. Steam was rising from the bathtub.
Yes, a bath was indeed the best way to end the day. It washed away both fatigue and melancholy.
Just as Saki, having shed her clothes, was about to step into the bathroom, Vixbig called out to her.
[Ryozo.]
"Yeah, what? Did you find something already?"
Ryozo, who was twisting a towel into sheep ears on her head, glanced back at the monitor.
[Thank you for treating me like family. However...]
Vixbig continued in a low voice.
[Even so, I hope you will make a family in reality, Ryozo. Even if it isn't the Archery Saint Family.]
"..."
Saki froze like a startled doll. Her eyes darted around as she hesitated, before finally whispering in a barely audible voice,
"...I'm trying, in my own way."
Leaving only those words behind, Ryozo slipped into the bathtub. Perhaps because she submerged herself up to her nose, her face flushed bright red. Bubbles blew from the water around her mouth.
* * *
...Around dawn, just as the sun was beginning to rise.
I woke up to the vibration of my phone. Who could it be? At this hour, the only person who would send a text is... Ryozo? Fumbling around, I picked up my phone and checked the sender.
"The Academy Principal?"
It was a text from Medea. The gist of it was that she wanted me to come to the Principal's office whenever I had time today.
Whatever it was, it seemed urgent. A text at the crack of dawn—I sensed something unusual. Even though she always invited me over and acted completely unbefitting of her age...
This time, the vibe was different. Surely she wouldn't play pranks first thing on a Saturday morning. The slight possibility that Medea would actually do that crossed my mind, but I immediately dismissed it.
I sent a reply saying I would visit before noon. Then, I got out of bed and washed up. As the stream of cold water hit my skin, my teeth chattered. The residential instructor had warned me that the pipes had frozen due to the sudden drop in temperature. When I asked Weapon, he said it was only happening to my dormitory building... I felt so sorrowful.
After drying off, I got ready to head out. Since I had woken up early anyway, a place I needed to visit came to mind. I left the dormitory and headed straight for the blacksmith's workshop.
"Oh, look who it is. Sword Saint Kang. What brings you here so early in the morning?"
Wieland, who was lighting the forge, welcomed me with a grin. As always, the old man called me "Sword Saint Kang." He said the character for "Demon" in my name was just too unsettling. Since I had felt the same way at first, I readily accepted it.
"I have an appointment with the Principal later, so I wanted to check on the progress of Murasame's reinforcement before that. When can I come pick it up?"
Wieland scratched his soot-blackened beard. After calculating the dates in his head, he spoke.
"It'll probably have to be next week. If the reinforcement material was just a single magic stone, it would be one thing, but I have to melt down all those other materials you brought as well. It's going to take more time. Why? Do you have to use a sword again in the meantime?"
I shook my head.
"Probably not for the time being. Even if I do have to swing a blade, a Daixo Sashimi Knife will usually be more than enough."
"Tsk, are you still using those knives? How many times do I have to tell you? Those mass-produced factory goods have no soul of the maker in them."
Wieland clicked his tongue in disapproval. Internally, I admired his artisan spirit. However, Wieland immediately scowled, grumbling that those cheap, mass-produced products were killing small business owners. He complained that because of me, the cadets were turning their attention to Daixo. In the end, it wasn't about his artisan spirit; it was about protecting his livelihood.
"Anyway, there's no rush. Take as much time as you need, just guarantee the quality."
"Sure. I'll reinforce it well so as not to tarnish the name of my 'Sword Saint Kang.' The materials are so solid that we might even aim for A+ rank!"
As I chatted idly with Wieland, the time for my appointment quickly approached. I said my goodbyes and made my way to the Principal's office.
Arriving at the door of the Principal's office, I knocked.
"Principal."
I sensed two presences inside. Just as I stepped back, wondering if she had another guest, Medea opened the door herself.
"Our Geomma is always so punctual! Gosh, you're just so adorable."
People who have run a business have a strict sense of time. Even Wieland had stoked his forge on a weekend morning.
I gently pushed away Medea, who looked ready to plant a kiss on me. Then, the identity of the other presence came into view. A very familiar figure, whom I hadn't seen in a long time, was tilting a teacup.
"Sword Emperor!"
He smiled faintly and spoke.
"It's been a few months. I hear a lot has happened while I was away?"
I scratched my cheek and replied.
"Ah, yes. Well, quite a few things happened."
"We can talk about that later. First, sit down. Don't just stand there. And Medea, please maintain some dignity as the Principal. Why are you drooling?"
With the Sword Emperor restoring order, Medea and I plopped down onto our respective sofas. He stared quietly at his teacup for a moment. Judging by his heavy expression, it seemed a serious conversation was about to take place.
Soon, the Sword Emperor opened his mouth to speak. Contrary to my expectations, his expression brightened dramatically.
"I have something to tell you before your succession ceremony."
"Succession ceremony? What succession ceremony?"
I was so taken aback that I could only gape.
"My goodness, why do you look like you've seen a ghost? The Seven Stars Succession Ceremony, of course. The Association is currently racking its brains trying to decide what your title should be."
"...!"
Medea leaned in, her face beaming with joy.
"The date is next week! And the location is right here, Joaquin Academy!"