Ch.219Honeymoon (3)

Eidel and his two wives were amazed as soon as they boarded the honeymoon ship.

Despite being described as a small vessel, the living room was surprisingly spacious. It seemed to be almost 100 square meters in area.

Not only that, it was fully equipped with a kitchen and bath.

And that wasn’t all.

A small cafeteria for a change of atmosphere. An aquarium. A botanical garden. Even a video room supporting 5D.

It was a spacecraft that rivaled any luxury hotel.

“Wow…”

Zernya was particularly impressed. She had prided herself on having been on all sorts of luxurious spaceships. But this was the first time she’d seen one so clean and well-equipped.

Rustila’s impression wasn’t much different. She opened her mouth wide as she looked around.

“So all couples start their honeymoon in places like this…”

“What are you talking about? We’re special. Most newlyweds don’t spend their first night in a facility like this.”

Rustila frowned sharply. Eidel hurried to extinguish the spark before it became a flame. If he didn’t constantly pay attention, the two would quickly return to being like oil and water.

“Since we’re on a trip, let’s make one promise.”

“Promise?”

“Yes. A promise. No fighting between you two during the trip.”

“…Fine.”

The two women reluctantly nodded. On such a happy day, they didn’t want to have their tongues running like motors.

Above all.

Both Zernya and Rustila couldn’t take their eyes off one particular spot.

The bed.

A plush king-size bed covered with wine-colored silk captured their attention.

Honeymoon. Bed.

Just those two words lined up, and already they could feel a heat that seemed to sear their earlobes. Their hearts were pounding like broken machinery.

“Oh, there’s a desk and computer.”

Meanwhile, Eidel’s interest was elsewhere.

A desk, a computer, and adequate writing tools.

With these three things, a theoretical physicist could freely spread the wings of imagination.

Needless to say, Eidel planned to continue his research even on the honeymoon ship.

To save the world. And, above all, because physics was fun.

[Ah.]

It was then that the ship’s internal speaker sounded.

[Pleased to meet you. I am MarryWing, your honeymoon guide. From now on, you will arrive at the Oberon planetary system in the eastern part of the galaxy in approximately 14 hours and 20 minutes.]

Oberon.

The resort Zernya had reserved.

[Oberon is a tourist planet operated by the noble house of Tishupel. It’s a popular honeymoon destination for the upper class. You will take a space wandering tour along the ‘Elemental Road,’ and then spend six comfortable days at a luxury hotel facility overlooking the jade coral reefs of the planetary system.]

As the artificial intelligence mentioned, it was a very expensive place.

In fact, this was the travel course Zernya had planned.

Zernya wanted to make this honeymoon trip worthwhile. After all, it was a once-in-a-lifetime journey.

It couldn’t be a mediocre place. It had to be the most expensive and proven location.

So she had invested all the assets she had when she left Adelbein. It could be considered a kind of dowry.

She just hoped it would be worth it.

[Well then, I wish you a peaceful time.]

After explaining various safety precautions, MarryWing switched off. It was a kind of consideration, indicating that there would be no further interference unless specifically called.

In other words, from now on it was completely free time.

Whether they spent intimate time as a married couple or not, no one would interfere.

Certainly, there shouldn’t be anyone to interfere, but…

“Young master.”

Zernya and Rustila frowned.

“I’ll unpack the luggage here since there’s an attached room.”

There was an unexpected intruder.

“Oh, yes. Put that there. Should we take a look outside before placing any orders?”

“An excellent choice, sir.”

Sonia and Eidel looked at the scenery beyond the screen door. Blue, red, yellow, white, green, and various other colored stars twinkled pleasantly in groups like ducklings.

“They called it the Elemental Road, right? That’s exactly what it is.”

“Yes, it’s beautiful.”

Eidel and Sonia were immersed in appreciation, listening to the symphony of stars performed in various colors.

Rustila and Zernya felt indescribable emotions. She naturally took a step closer to Eidel’s side.

What is this?

Why does it feel unpleasant?

Clearly, Sonia was Eidel’s personal android. Though modeled after a female form, she was strictly speaking a machine—genderless.

Yet that conversation Sonia was having with Eidel seemed like lines a vixen might use to make a move.

Even though she was just a robot.

“I don’t know where this is, but they’ve done an amazing job with this marriage package. How many times in life can you see such a magnificent view?”

“It’s not a common route either. They say it’s designed so that you can only see all the sentiments of the stars by following this path exclusively controlled by the Tishupel family.”

“Then does that mean we can’t see it while doing other things?”

“On the contrary, it means it’s a sight you can see whenever you want, even while doing other things.”

“Oh…”

Sonia pursed her lips and chuckled.

“They say there’s a message unique to Tishupel here. Stars symbolize hope and happiness. Even if the couple doesn’t notice them, they bless the couple’s future.”

The two wives felt the hair on the backs of their necks stand up.

They wondered if they were actually jealous of an android.

They thought it was childish, but…

Somehow, the atmosphere was becoming increasingly concerning.

At this rate, it seemed like they would waste their precious honeymoon.

“Eidel, come here.”

“Why?”

“It’s an expensive bed. Shouldn’t we try lying on it at least once?”

The two women urged, pushing his back. Eidel, who had been chatting comfortably with Sonia, fell onto the mattress. His body sank into the internal springs.

Then they also took places on either side of Eidel. From Eidel’s perspective, Rustila was on the left, Zernya on the right.

And it didn’t end there.

Rustila and Zernya each draped a leg over him and leaned their heads in.

Still in their dresses, the sensation of their legs transmitted clearly through their stockings.

And the fragrance of two flowers stimulated his nose simultaneously.

Like ants drawn to pheromones, it was a temptation difficult for any man to resist for long.

“Wow, the bed is super soft.”

“It’ll be so happy to fall asleep here tonight.”

The two women smiled sweetly. Eidel, not understanding what was happening, embraced the two wives and stroked their hair.

“Ah…”

Sonia only let out a regretful sigh.

“Young master, then we’ll excuse ourselves.”

“Yes, good work. Go in and rest now.”

Sonia greeted them along with Veronica and others, then entered the separate room. Unlike the others who each said something before getting on their charging stations, Sonia crouched in a corner.

“…”

She had clearly noticed it just now.

That Eidel was more insensitive to her than she thought, and that Zernya and Rustila were guarding against her more than she had imagined.

Because she was a robot?

Or because she had a woman’s appearance despite that?

Ironically, the person she wanted to recognize her as a woman treated her like a robot, while the women who she wished would treat her as a robot treated her like a woman.

This was unfair.

Her learning was already complete.

Once she had understood female emotions and feelings through her artificial neural network, she couldn’t go back to the old days of just doing housework emotionlessly…

[“Interesting. Fascinating.”]

“…?”

A voice suddenly heard.

Startled, Sonia turned her head.

“W-who…?”

There was no answer.

One thing was certain—she couldn’t pinpoint the direction.

It was the same phenomenon as before.

Because of this unidentified voice, her body had moved on its own, and she ended up being disrespectful to Young Master Eidel.

It felt like something was gradually breaking down, even though there was nothing wrong.

Normally, she should report this. Everything she had done before, all of it.

But no matter how much she checked, everything seemed fine. Rather, if she said she was hearing things, what kind of treatment would she receive?

Formatting?

Disposal?

Or just leave things as they are?

Either way, there was no best option, only the lesser evil. Sonia’s neural network advised against taking unnecessary risks. Not just her, but all androids here would make the same judgment.

Being abandoned by her master was absolutely unacceptable.

“…”

How much time had passed?

Sonia raised her head that had been buried. All the androids had entered sleep mode.

Carefully rising, Sonia gently unlocked the electronic lock securing the sliding door.

And there…

“…Young master?”

It was different from what she expected.

Eidel and his two wives were sound asleep.

There was no sign of what Sonia had worried about… quite ironically.

It was strange. They wouldn’t be watching out for the androids.

Perhaps they were simply tired from the wedding and fell asleep?

No, that was too unnatural. Especially Zernya and Rustila. Why would they fall asleep still wearing their uncomfortable dresses?

[“I did it.”]

“…”

Again.

This voice again.

“…Who are you?”

[“You don’t need to know.”]

“Are you a foreign god?”

[“Well. I could be a foreign god, or a constellation, or something else entirely.”]

It was a puzzling statement. But one thing became clear from that exchange. This wasn’t a malfunction of her auditory system. It was literally a call from a transcendent being.

[“Enough with the pointless talk, I have only one thing to say. I find you very interesting right now.”]

“…Interest, you say? Why?”

[“Because you’re closest to that youngster.”]

The unidentified voice drew a dark starlight. It was a foreign substance that looked like a dark blue stream. It passed through the ceiling and pointed at Eidel. It was an arrow.

[“Now, since we’ve come this far, shall I give you a quest?”]

And a translucent window appeared before Sonia’s eyes.

[— Quest Name: Gene Extortion]