I'll Splurge with Someone Else's Money (1)
I'll Splurge with Someone Else's Money (1)
"Mm~ But..."
From today on, let's stay at a hotel that costs 50 million won per night!
Having decided that, Cha put his clothes back on, tossing aside the ones he'd stripped off.
Scarlet Kim's somehow troubled expression caught my eye, along with my reflection in the living room mirror.
"Why?"
"That's... um..."
Maybe it was frustrating that Scarlet couldn't bring herself to speak up right away.
This time, Clare—who had turned into a silver cat—sat down in front of me.
"You won't even make it past the hotel doorstep dressed like that, you know?"
"Hmm... Is it that bad..."
Well... looking again, yeah, it was pretty rough.
The outfit I had on was the cheapest black tracksuit even Coupang wouldn't touch.
And the shoes were beat-up sneakers to boot.
'Sure, if I checked my Inventory, I'd probably find a few sets of formalwear...'
But wearing medieval fantasy knight garb in the modern world? Nah, that'd be weird.
Not to mention it wasn't even that pretty.
As I was thinking that, I spotted Clare, now snug in Scarlet's arms.
...Why the hell was that damn Holy Sword kneading her chest like a cat in heat?
"Last time it was on Master's wristwatch... right? That's you?"
"That's right. I am the Divine Weapon forged directly by Goddess Pattis-nim herself: the Holy Sword Hauteclere. I've fought alongside Hero-nim for about 80 years."
"Aha... Hmm, somehow it feels like chatting with an AI..."
"That perception isn't wrong. I wasn't born like you humans—I was made. In your terms... I could be called an AGI, a strong artificial general intelligence."
"W-Wait, you know what AGI is...?"
"Of course."
Why was Scarlet making a face like she'd just watched a horror movie over AGI?
She wouldn't even blink at an actual horror flick.
Not wanting to just stare at Clare and Scarlet, I chimed in this time.
"That's impressive?"
"Impressive? I am a Divine Weapon forged directly by the goddess, having vanquished 7,405,926 Demonkind and 72 Demon Kings, so Hero-nim should show me a bit more respect..."
The second Clare started rattling off that long spiel like she'd been waiting for it, I forcibly turned her back into a wristwatch.
She didn't kill all 7.4 million Demonkind and 72 Demon Kings herself, but still acting all high and mighty...
But this time, Scarlet rattled off the long spiel.
"Impressive!!! Clare-nim isn't just some weapon—she's true artificial intelligence in every sense! She can think for herself and even feel emotions!"
"Uh... But AIs exist these days too. ChatGPT, Emni..."
"Hoo, hoo... Calm down... Those are just chatbot-level compared to Clare-nim. They don't think for themselves—they just spit out pre-programmed answers based on algorithms."
"Hmm, if word about Clare gets out, will things get even more annoying than now?"
"...Yes. AGI could solve problems humanity couldn't crack even with Room-temperature ambient-pressure superconductors."
At this point, I shut Clare up by turning her back into cat form.
I naturally asked Clare, who'd climbed up onto my shoulder.
"What do you want to do?"
"Huh?"
"Your future's yours to decide."
"Uh... That's unexpected. I figured Hero-nim would decide for me."
"If you were just some object, there'd be no decision to make."
Clare might be that ditzy goddess's gift to me as a weapon, but she has a personality and ego all her own.
Plus, she's my comrade-in-arms from 80 years of battle and the benefactor who made me who I am today.
I couldn't treat someone like that as mere property forever.
"Coming from Hero-nim, who used to call me a 'herbal Holy Sword' or a 'pervy Holy Sword,' this is hard to get used to."
"Quiet. And you are a pervy Holy Sword."
"That's because Hero-nim brought me into the bedroom. You're the one who made me this way."
"Agh..."
"Aka..."
"Mura... Cut it out. It's not funny."
Enough of that old unfunny routine.
Turning my head forward, I saw Scarlet with sparkling eyes, waiting for Clare's answer.
"Scarlet-nim, if possible, please keep my existence a secret."
"Mm... Got it."
"Hm? Unexpected. I thought you'd push harder."
"Hehe, because Master sees Clare-nim not as a mere weapon, but as an equal being with her own personality."
No other reasons. None needed.
Scarlet added that bit.
Anyway, that wasn't what I meant to talk about.
"Shall we head out?"
As I asked while turning Clare into a wristwatch, Scarlet nodded.
"Yes! Let's go to Hwagae Department Store first."
"That place with everything except what's missing..."
"Ahaha, yes. Shall we try pulling out one of Changseong's pillars?"
"Haha, sure."
And so, I arrived in front of the largest department store in our Republic of Korea.
I had to crane my neck way up just to glimpse the towering ceiling.
Countless people bustling around with beaming smiles, shopping bags dangling from their arms...
Looking at it cynically, it felt like a slice of capitalism preaching consumption as virtue.
Looking on the bright side, it was the picture of modern peace and prosperity.
'Always amazes me, but the population density here is insane...'
Thanks to that, Clare's weary voice echoed in my head.
Can't be helped... Humanity on that side was on the brink of total extinction...
As I chatted with Clare like that while waiting.
Finally, Scarlet pulled up after parking.
"Sorry, the parking lot was packed..."
"Hm? Didn't you go to the VIP section?"
"I did. But underground parking lots are always like that."
"Fair enough."
Speaking of parking lots... cars...
I'm a Hero, sure, but before that, I'm a guy.
Clothes? Whatever. But the roar of a revving engine gets my heart racing every time.
Drawn by that pure thrill in my chest, I walked ahead of Scarlet.
"Master, where to...?"
"Gonna check out the cars first."
"Hehehe, yes. Then let's head to the VIP area. I made a call, so someone should be waiting."
"As expected of the Republic of Korea. With money, it's the most convenient place on earth."
As we talked, a female employee in a crisp uniform approached from somewhere.
Her neat, demure vibe suggested she was staff dedicated solely to VIP service.
"Welcome, customer-nim. I'll guide you to the VIP area from here."
The issue was that she greeted Scarlet, not me.
Well, not really an issue.
I was in black tracksuit, hardly matching a glamorous blonde beauty in a dress.
Of course, Scarlet smoothly redirected the employee's gaze to me.
"Looks like there's been a mix-up. The VIP is this gentleman, not me."
"Ah, my apologies. I didn't realize. Please accept my sincere apologies once more."
"It's fine. By the way, can you view cars at this department store?"
Buying a car at a department store was my idea, but it still felt novel.
But Hwagae Department Store—the nation's biggest, with everything except what's missing.
And we were headed to the exclusive VIP area no one else could enter, so I had high hopes...
"Of course. Our VIP section features top-lineups from domestic brands and famous overseas ones alike. Test drives and rides are available too."
"Let's go right now."
"I'll guide you immediately."
Following the female employee, I soon arrived at that infamous [No Entry Except Authorized Personnel] zone.
The noisy chatter faded into the distance down the corridor, leaving just one elevator.
'Whoa, only one floor?'
'Oh... It's a real VIP zone, alright.'
And the speed—insanely fast.
From the first-floor lobby to the top floor, not even 10 seconds.
—Ding~
"We've arrived, customer-nim. Do you have any specific brand in mind?"
"Nope, planning to browse and decide."
"Understood. Domestic brands or overseas—which store would you like first?"
"Hmm... Overseas first."
"Got it. Right this way."
According to Scarlet's whisper, VIPs usually don't get asked this much one by one.
So the reason she's asking me is simply because I'm a total newbie.
As I exchanged whispers with Scarlet and compared the female employee's ass with Scarlet's.
Finally, a lineup of Supercars gleamed before us, their polish rivaling the Holy Sword's radiance.
"Ooh..."
"The vehicles you see here are all powered by internal combustion engines, not electric."
In the 2090s, with Room-temperature ambient-pressure superconductors commercialized.
Most cars ran on electricity now, but combustion-engine ones still existed.
Not as everyday transport, but as luxury accessories like watches or necklaces.
Hence, even a quick glance at the price tags showed 2 billion, 3 billion won and up, easily.
"Since you don't have a specific brand or model in mind, I'll accompany you and explain the products."
Wishful thinking or not, her eyes seemed to say: If you want, you can ride the car... or me.
But right now, I was practically a sage in self-control.
I wrapped my arm around Scarlet's waist demonstratively and replied to the female employee.
"No need. I'll browse leisurely and call you if something catches my eye."
"Yes, customer-nim. Call anytime."
Turning from the departing female employee, I looked at Scarlet.
"Shall we?"
"Yes, customer-nim. I'll escort you from here. If you wish, you can ride not just the car, but me too."
"Hahaha."
Alright... time to really show off with someone else's money...