Ch.193Succession War for the Family Headship (8)

Getting engaged didn’t change much.

Except for being ambushed unexpectedly by reporters who had been lying in wait.

“If you become the head of the Rheinland family, which household will you live in?”

“No comment.”

“Do you plan to yield the family head position to your siblings?”

“No comment.”

“Do you plan to take more wives?”

“That’s my private life, so I’d rather not discuss it.”

People who approach this directly are actually the decent ones.

The paparazzi have also increased significantly. Yesterday, I woke up to find my face on the front page of a newspaper. It was a scene of me eating a parfait with Zernya at a café for information exchange. I’m not even a celebrity, so why?

I also learned something new: people are more interested in my marriage than my achievements.

Honestly, I understand. Research like “some company developed a new technology” only interests those who care about such things. Meanwhile, when wealthy heirs get married, it’s bound to become the talk of the town.

“When are you getting married?”

“I don’t know.”

I’ve been asked this question three times just this morning. It’s exhausting beyond this point. I tried my best to shake off the reporters swarming like zombies and escaped to my laboratory.

“Oh, hello! We’re from the Eastern Newspaper, and we’d like an interview…”

Ah, damn it.

Now there’s really no solution except to seclude myself in the lab. After chasing away the remaining reporters, I locked the door and focused solely on my research.

“Young master, someone from a newspaper is here to interview you.”

“I need to research, so send them away.”

“They say it will only take 10 minutes.”

“Tell them I’m in the middle of an important experiment and can’t be disturbed.”

“They say they can wait all day.”

“Tell them it’s a week-long experiment.”

“If you continue like this, your reputation will suffer.”

I snickered.

“Let it suffer.”

“But the elders of the council will evaluate your reputation as well.”

“Sincerity and future potential are more important than reputation.”

I didn’t have time to mess around with reporters in the first place. And not just because of the thesis results I needed for the family head selection.

The reinvasion of the Darwin forces.

The timing of the ‘Queen’s’ attack is uncertain. It seems likely to happen next year, or as early as next semester. I needed to finish my crystal research before then.

If I fail, I’ll lose Seti, Mezulen Hueritia, Rustila Kersil, James Hedelton, and Edward Meyer here. The south will be thoroughly destroyed. The Rheinland and Hueritia families will likely be annihilated.

Obviously, this was a catastrophe that needed to be prevented.

In that sense, it was good to see Rustila Kersil working so diligently.

I had certainly expected Rustila to be depressed. But she was churning out crystals needed for trap production as if possessed by some foreign spirit.

“Wow, perfect processing.”

“With this level of contribution, she’ll easily get second authorship.”

“Of course.”

We didn’t dare speak to Rustila.

She wasn’t the only one. The graphics card… I mean, Erica was also inexplicably enthusiastic.

That’s when it happened.

“Young master, Zernya von und zu Trisha Adelbein is here to see you.”

With Sonia’s words, Rustila’s frantically moving arms stopped. Her gaze turned toward me. After thinking for a moment, I spoke.

“Tell her I can’t see her right now.”

“…But she’s your fiancée.”

“I’m in the middle of research. She’ll understand.”

“If she says it’s urgent, should I give her some kind of answer?”

“By email.”

“Understood.”

Thus, I left all issues outside the lab to Sonia. She successfully persuaded Zernya to leave.

“Phew.”

Rustila sighed.

In the following weeks, Zernya came to visit several times, but I refused them all. I probably saw Rustila’s face more often than I met with my fiancée.

And so two uneventful months passed.

Finally, the day of the presentation for the family head selection was approaching.

***

“Young Master Eidel has been holed up in his laboratory.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. He consistently ignores all the reporters we send.”

Tap, tap. Brian, who had been drumming his fingers on the desk, shook his head.

“He really is a smart one.”

For someone so cautious to have lived as a wastrel until now doesn’t make sense. A person’s nature doesn’t change easily. Well, unless they’re possessed by some foreign spirit.

“Erica.”

“Yes, young master.”

“Do you think I’m a heartless person?”

Erica bowed her head deeply.

“I have never thought such a thing, my lord!”

She trembled.

Click, click.

The crisp sound echoed far. Erica slowly raised her head. Brian was trimming his nails with a chillingly calm expression.

The cut nails bounced and fell onto the desk. Erica felt as if her own neck was falling. It was an inexplicable fear.

“…Erica.”

“Y-yes, young master.”

“I hope you’ve organized all the projects I’ve worked on into documents, without missing a single one.”

“Of course I have…”

Erica answered in a shrinking voice. Brian glanced at her. It was a chilling look. Erica hastily added:

“I’ve also prepared presentation materials! I’ve edited videos showcasing your efforts! I guarantee there won’t be a single embarrassing part!”

“Thank you. I really can’t do without you, Erica.”

Why?

His expression was similar to usual, but lately it only felt frightening.

Strange. Before, no matter how Brian treated her, she only felt good about it.

The day Brian transferred her copied consciousness to Eidel. Perhaps she had learned this fear since then.

She was with him now, but what would happen in the future? Would she eventually be discarded?

She was afraid. Erica had served Brian for nearly 30 years. She thought they shared affection beyond that of human and machine, but perhaps it was all her own delusion.

It was at that moment that Brian rose from his seat.

“Alright, let’s go.”

The presentation for determining the family head.

It was today.

Brian arrived at the Rheinland main house faster than anyone else. It was to score points for diligence. Just then, some elders who favored him approached to shake hands.

“Brian, I’ve heard from your uncles. You’re doing very well at the hospital.”

“Thank you, great-uncle.”

“No need for thanks. It’s all the result of your own efforts, isn’t it? If you get through today’s presentation well, good results await you.”

“Now, go wait over there.”

Brian walked confidently into the waiting room. He had no doubt he would be the first to arrive. However, there was an unexpected visitor.

“…Third brother?”

“Shh.”

The navy-blue-haired maid android made a gesture to be quiet. It was undoubtedly Sonia. She murmured in a low voice.

“Young Master Eidel is sleeping, so please come in quietly.”

It was true. In the middle of a long sofa, Eidel was sprawled out sleeping like an enlightened immortal. Sonia was providing a lap pillow and stroking his face.

Moreover.

“Hello, Young Master Brian.”

Another android was standing quietly beside them, bowing her head.

Her face was so familiar that Brian lost his composure for a moment.

“…Erica?”

“No. My name is GPU.”

“What?”

“Graphics card. GPU for short. It’s my new name.”

Erica’s consciousness transplanted into separate hardware, the second unit, gave Brian a cold smile and continued.

“Erica, how long do you plan to stay with such a person?”

“You…!”

Brian looked at Erica with displeasure. Erica, filled with indignation, raised her voice and pointed accusingly.

“After serving the master for nearly 30 years, how dare you speak such nonsense! Young master, that android is absolutely not me! I have never harbored such thoughts about you!”

“Are you sure about that?”

“What other absurdity are you trying to—”

“Shh.”

Erica, or rather, the android now known as Eidel’s GPU, put her index finger to her lips. She whispered in a low voice.

“Don’t raise your voice like that. You’ll wake Young Master Eidel.”

“That, that’s a completely insane robot.”

Brian’s frown deepened.

The reunion with the android after a month and a half was truly catastrophic.

Of course, it was within the expected range.

It was natural for the android to feel betrayed after being sold to Eidel for greater benefit.

But what could he do about it?

It’s not even human, just scrap metal at best. No need to maintain trust. Use it and discard it when no longer needed. Then buy a new product.

As natural as trimming hair when it grows too long.

Rather, Brian’s attention was elsewhere.

Eidel.

Why is that guy shamelessly sleeping on such an important day?

It could also be an act or a scheme. It was fortunate that he knew Eidel was not an easy opponent.

Having regained his composure, Brian said:

“Erica. Are you and that android the same Erica, or different Ericas?”

“Absolutely not! I am nothing like that one!”

“Erica, accept reality. Androids cannot love humans. No matter how much you struggle, Brian only sees you as a tin can made of zeros and ones.”

“S-shut up!”

“But that’s incorrect. All of us androids use enhanced qubit or multi-bit technology. Therefore, we are composed of linear combinations of bases 0, 1, 2, or higher…”

“Sonia, would you please be quiet!”

“Ah, the young master is waking up.”

It was a complete mess.

And in the midst of this, Cartrick and Seti arrived.

“W-what’s going on here.”

“Oh.”

Cartrick froze on the spot, while Seti went outside and returned a few minutes later. In her hand was a bag of instant popcorn.