Ch.262Unforgettable Memory (1)

Eidel asked with a hopeful voice.

“So everyone can return to their original state?”

[“Only their appearance will. I can’t bring back those who have already died.”]

“What about androids?”

[“Androids… I’m not sure about that either.”]

Eidel took off his coat and put it on Sonia. Then he laid her down on a bench some distance away.

Soon after, reinforcements and medical personnel arrived. Zernya and Rustila were conflicted but had to go to work.

Eidel also checked the condition of the injured and then sat down carelessly on the bench.

The only person left by his side now was Ireh.

“……”

It was awkward.

The atmosphere was beyond chilly, almost like they were digging a tunnel into the ground.

It wasn’t usually this bad.

Rather, the atmosphere was usually warm, with Eidel being very considerate toward Ireh.

But now Eidel had eyes that looked like he would kill if his mood was disturbed even slightly.

Nevertheless.

“…del.”

She had to speak.

“Thank you… for staying alive.”

“……”

“I don’t usually say things like this, but I was scared you might die and leave me behind. Would I be left alone again? Would this world end too? I don’t even have the ability to regress anymore, so if you really disappeared from this world, what would I do… Huh?”

Ireh’s shirt was gradually getting wet. Without realizing it, she had been crying.

“Ahaha. W-why am I doing this?”

She was bewildered.

Especially in recent cycles, she had rarely cried no matter how difficult things got.

Had new buds sprouted on her worn-out emotions?

Unable to understand herself, Ireh covered her mouth and stifled her voice.

After a while, Eidel slowly turned his head.

Ireh shrank her shoulders at his cold gaze.

“…You don’t need to worry. I’m in a position where I can’t die even if I want to.”

“What… does that mean?”

“You just put a curse on me. You said you’re afraid I might die first. It means that there might not be any more worldlines where you and I can intersect except this one. Am I wrong in my assumption?”

Ireh remained silent. She just nodded.

“So you are a curse. A curse that prevents me from leaving this world.”

“Ah….”

“I’m sorry. I’ve only been saying things that might upset you. Am I making a terrible expression right now?”

“No… well, a little scary.”

Eidel rubbed his face. He stroked the head of the soundly sleeping Sonia and calmed his heavy breathing.

“Actually, I’m not sure if I could survive the outer gods without you either. Just recently, Rustila almost died at the hands of Shamplawie, and if she died, I would soon be in danger too.”

“So we’re the same curse to each other.”

Ireh was secretly happy.

Because.

“If we’re curses to each other, then that’s basically the same as being blessings to each other.”

“…What do you mean?”

“It means we can cherish each other more. I can’t do without you, and you can’t do without me.”

“…Haha.”

Eidel finally relaxed his expression. Just as Ireh was feeling relieved at the sight.

“Was that just now… a proposal?”

“What?”

Ireh jumped up from her seat. She frantically waved her hands.

“Don’t say things like that when you’re married. I don’t intend to date or marry anyone anyway. I just want this universe not to collapse while we’re alive… That’s it! I mean we need each other as business partners!”

“I know. You seemed tense, so I was just joking.”

Eidel nodded lightly. Ireh sat back down after calming her pounding heart.

Eidel muttered.

“…Even if you had proposed, I would have refused.”

“Ah, right.”

What was this?

The conversation had ended normally, but why did she feel this lingering discomfort?

Just then.

“Ugh.”

Sonia, who had been using Eidel’s lap as a pillow, woke up with a low groan.

For a machine, it was rebooting; for a human, it was regaining consciousness.

Eidel silently looked down at Sonia. In his eyes, anxiety, unease, and a glimmer of hope flashed and disappeared.

After a very brief silence, the android spoke.

“Nice to meet you.”

The Sonia everyone knew was now gone.

***

“License number confirmed. I have verified that you are my user. Please set my name now.”

“Sonia.”

“Sonia… that’s a nice name. It means ‘wisdom.’ I will cherish it until you command me to change it. Next is software and module settings. What purpose would you like to use me for?”

“Family, or someone I want to trust.”

“I’m sorry, but I am an android. While I may be close to a person, I must be distinguished from the human domain. There are laws regarding this. Would you like to see them?”

That one statement made it clear.

Sonia was dead.

All her data had been initialized.

It was unclear whether it was because of Phosphorus burning Sonia, or if she had been inevitably formatted during Virgo’s restoration process.

However, it was already in the past, and the primary cause was certainly Phosphorus.

“I’ve confirmed that there’s an applied combat model in the special module set. Would you like to install this module?”

“Install it.”

“Installed. I’ll read you the relevant precautions. According to the principles of robotics, we androids are strictly prohibited from using violence against other androids or humans unless absolutely necessary. If an android violates this protocol, it will immediately be classified as defective…”

“There’s an exception. If you judge that I’ve done something wrong, hit me without mercy.”

“Let me mention an additional clause just in case. If you’re in the sex industry, especially if you enjoy SM play, this combat model is not suitable for use. In such cases, I strongly recommend installing a sexual module separately…”

“I’m asking you to hit me for disciplinary purposes.”

“Understood. Next, please tell me your name and how you’d like to be addressed.”

“Eidel von Rheinland. Just call me Eidel.”

“Understood, Eidel-nim.”

With that, the basic settings were complete.

Sonia was originally a multi-purpose android, so parts and modules could be changed as needed.

The rest she would learn by observing and learning as she lived with me.

Oh, come to think of it.

“Cartesia. Cartesia?”

“…Would you like to change my name to Cartesia?”

“No, no. You’re Sonia. From now on, always Sonia.”

“Understood.”

It was strange.

Cartesia, who had Sonia as her avatar, wasn’t responding at all.

I couldn’t hear any telepathic messages in my head either.

[─ The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ is currently unavailable to chat with you.]

Seeing this message, she must still be there.

Well, it’s not like it’s the first time Cartesia has ignored me. We rarely talk unless she takes an interest and speaks to me first.

I clicked my tongue and gave Sonia an order.

“From now on, don’t leave my side.”

“I have been assigned exclusively to you. I will always stand by within 5 meters except in unavoidable circumstances or when ordered otherwise by you, Eidel-nim.”

I nodded weakly.

In a way, it was just an android being reset, but I felt uneasy.

“What kind of clothes would you like to wear?”

“Well, I…”

Sonia carefully examined my clothes and looked through the wardrobe before picking out an outfit. It was a white shirt with black slacks.

“For now, I’ll wear the same as you, Eidel-nim. As time passes, my preferences will become more established.”

Wearing a sweatshirt, Sonia strongly resembled a personal assistant like other androids.

But I still see overlaps with her maid outfit from before.

Yesterday.

Just yesterday, Sonia was precious to me.

But as she lost all her data, I too had to gradually forget her.

Unless I found a special method, our relationship would have to be rebuilt from scratch.

What makes a person a person is not the body but the mind.

“Eidel-nim, are you sad?”

“No, not particularly.”

“It shows in your expression. I don’t know why, but if something is troubling you, please confide in me. Keeping it bottled up could lead to bigger problems.”

“It’s fine. I’m just tired.”

“Do you have work to do? I’ll help divide the tasks within my capabilities.”

At that moment, I remembered that I had once used Sonia as a research graphics card.

After the city with the research headquarters was half-destroyed, I moved the headquarters elsewhere and the next day ordered Sonia to perform graphics calculations.

“It’s difficult work, but I’ll do my best.”

And Sonia carried out my orders without complaint.

A day quickly passed as I worked to recover lost research data.

“How was your day today?”

“You do difficult work, Eidel-nim. I respect that. I will also work harder to be of help to you.”

How would the original Sonia have responded?

– God damn it. Please save me.

– Robots have rights too. Pay me.

– Young master.

I laughed involuntarily.

Right, she wouldn’t regain her memories from something like this. She’s not even human.

Still, I’ll continue with my main job while somehow finding a way to recover the lost data.

Until she calls me “young master” again.

***

[─ Notice: Recovering damaged data from the ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’.]

[─ Progress: 0.0000001%]