episode_0362

***

Broken city.

The appearance of the city was more suited to a giant monster movie than a natural disaster movie.

Sparks were flying from the cross-sections of the exposed wires where the exterior had been peeled off, and streetlights and trees were half-folded or broken and lying on the road.

On top of the heterogeneous sand dune, there was an artificial tomb.

Until a few days ago, the drones that flew around and managed the city were like that, and so was the AI named ISIS.

The condition of the drones, which could only be lifted by two adult men, was not very good.

There were only a few drones that stopped functioning due to the dirt that came through the joints in the giant drone graveyard. Things that were folded in half, had parts torn off, or were sharply cut to show their cross sections were scattered throughout the city.

The metal corpses did not even scream and were peacefully sleeping.

Naturally, the main cause of this devastation was not the sandstorm that had been blowing for several days.

There was a woman staggering in the center of the carnage.

A woman pressing her head with one hand. She must have had trouble standing, so she dropped her knees to the sand and took a breath.

“Ahh….”

A headache, a severe one at that, was bothering her.

He bowed his back, face undignified, as if he was severely motion sick.

– Wow

The woman, who soon came face to face with the ground, started to gag.

Since I didn’t eat anything, nothing came up, but instead, pain came up.

Her vomiting continued.

And the headache was still there.

“It hurts….”

Lee Mi-na’s eyes, which seemed emotionless at first glance, had emotions clearly etched into them.

She saw her own waving shadow. It was bizarre that it was writhing and changing its size and shape all of a sudden.

“Mr. procrastination?”

The shadow wriggled even more, as if responding fiercely to her call.

-Tsk

The shadow spit out something.

White hair, gray eyes. It was the head of the woman who had been talking to him just a moment ago.

I thought it was strange that the cut edges of the person were not visible, but it was not surprising.

Straighten your back and look around.

Smashed drones and parts of human-shaped robots were scattered around her.

‘They all look the same.’

White hair, gray eyes. Although there were slight differences between the individuals, their appearance was the same.

‘Ah, it might be a bit absurd to say that they look the same.’

Imina thought as she looked at the robot parts falling to pieces and rolling around.

She tried to recall her conversation with the robot, who identified herself as Isis.

I don’t remember much, but we definitely exchanged a few words and asked about Kang In-ho.

She confirmed through the shadow that Kang In-ho was not in this dimension.

So I tried to chase after him. It was a natural thing to do since that was what she had been doing.

But the robot blocked that natural action.

“——”

The last memory I could barely recall was the sight of a robot blocking me with a stern expression.

I don’t remember what I said.

Headache gets worse.

I bow down, feeling nauseous again.

Even though I have nothing to pour out, I keep cackling my neck.

I turn my stomach and try to get something to come out.

I feel confused, like there is fog in my head.

The memory is as unnatural as a broken railroad track.

What happened yesterday feels like tomorrow, and what happens tomorrow feels like today.

So who is it? Who am I trying to find?

***

The woman, who had been in pain for a long time, suddenly disappeared, just as she had appeared.

There was nothing left in Aaru, the tomb of iron and the last hope of mankind.

What filled the long silence of the space was the sound of the wind.

[I think he went.]

An android lying on the sand dunes woke up.

It was a hideous creature without both arms, with half of its face blown off and its insides visible.

“This is the only body that can move. The damage is greater than expected.”

[It’s not a big deal, it’s a very big deal.]

NB added needlessly. But it wasn’t nonsense.

Although Aaru’s full power could not be brought out due to the sandstorm, it was not in Isis’s calculations that the entire drone unit would be defeated by a single human and 90% of the stored android bodies would be destroyed.

“I think it should be defined as something beyond the human category.”

[I agree.]

NB agreed with Isis’ words and continued.

[Now I need to prepare to chase after you.]

“What are you talking about?”

Isis asked back.

[Of course, shouldn’t we go after Kang In-ho?]

“You said it clearly. They said they let Kang In-ho go out of respect. But what do you mean, chasing after me?”

If the function to express facial expressions was alive, the face would have been wrinkled.

“You’re just saying things that don’t make sense. N.B. I know that the thinking algorithm is inferior because it is a mass-produced AI, but I never thought it would be like this.”

They don’t hesitate to put it down.

[That and this are separate. Isis Didn’t you see it too? Just how dangerous that woman is.]

“I agree that it is a dangerous entity.”

[That woman is chasing Kang In-ho. I don’t know what the principle is, but it is believed to be moving through dimensions.]

“…So, what is that?”

[If we leave it like this, that woman will reach Kang In-ho.]

“……”

Isis remained silent in response to NB’s point.

This was because Isis was also concerned.

[By divine law, we have a duty to protect humanity. And if that person is Kang In-ho, he has an even more obligation to protect it.]

NB expressed his opinion fluently.

[For Kang In-ho’s happiness, I let him go.]

[however….]

[If that woman is next to Kang In-ho, it is certain that Kang In-ho will be in great danger.]

[Elements that could pose a threat to Kang In-ho must be eliminated.]

“…I agree.”

[So, we will chase after Kang In-ho. Fortunately, if we gather all the materials to rebuild the city, we will be able to create a new body.]

As NB said, it was possible by using Aaru reconstruction materials.

The tattered android stood up, pawing at the sand.

And slowly, with those imperfect steps, I head somewhere.

“But NB. I have a question.”

[What is?]

“The woman felt friendly toward the Master. They say it’s dangerous, but maybe not for the master.”

[you’re right. I agree.]

“Then why are you confirming that she will be a threat to the Master?”

There is no such thing as 100% certainty in AI. There was only 99.9, which was infinitely close to 100.

[An unstable mind, a bizarre creature that has not been reported to academia, a body that remains intact even after being hit by a bullet, a monstrous strength that stabs drones and androids with bare hands, an inexplicable power that exceeds that monstrous strength… Many indicators show it.]

[But what’s more important than this.]

[I don’t like that woman.]

“Yes?”

[This is Kang In-ho, who gave up what I wanted and sent it to him. If Kang In-ho finds a suitable partner, there will be nothing better. However, that woman is not a suitable match for Kang In-ho. Rude, self-righteous, ugly, and unstable. In my opinion, she is not suitable for Kang In-ho.]

NB continued to convey his thoughts.

[Kang In-ho needs a suitable partner. At least she has to surpass you and me. Otherwise, there is no point in sending Kang In-ho. Kang In-ho must live happily in his hometown with a partner who suits him. This is the happiness I want for Kang In-ho, and this is the happiness Kang In-ho wants.]

“Okay. I have one last question.”

Isis asked NB a question she seemed to know the answer to.

“As you said, will you be satisfied if Kang In-ho returns to his hometown and meets a suitable partner?”

A half-destroyed android entered a factory.

The center of gravity was shaken, as if it would fall if hit, but it headed straight toward its destination.

[well.]

Unlike the frantic answer from earlier, NB took his time in answering.

When I touched the factory switch with half of my head, the lights in the factory that had been stopped started to come on.

[I guess I’ll have to see that pair in person to find out. As you know, don’t I exist in our thinking algorithm?]

Isis thought it was a meaningful statement and quite an interesting play on words.

I don’t know anymore.

Is it NB that occupies a corner of the thinking algorithm, or is it envy that imitates it and motivates itself?

“Factory operation. Project MK1. New Android body design begins.”

If his face hadn’t collapsed, he would probably be smiling bitterly.

Isis thought.