Ch.264Unforgettable Memory (3)

I gave Sonia my account number.

It was the account she used to use before. She must not have spent a single penny until she lost her memories, because the money hadn’t decreased at all—it had actually grown with interest.

Anyway, I left that amount untouched and added extra compensation.

It wasn’t a small amount by any means. I added payment for saving my life during the battle with Phosphorus.

Sonia’s expression soured when she saw the bank account.

“Is this the additional compensation?”

“Yes.”

“Eidel, I haven’t properly worked yet.”

“It’s compensation for being exclusively attached to me without a moment’s rest.”

Sonia shook her head quickly.

“I’m an android. I don’t need to be paid for labor. You seem to be short on funds, so you shouldn’t do this.”

“Then think of it as a dignity maintenance fee. If you need anything, don’t ask—just buy it. We can afford that much.”

“…Understood.”

And for several days, Sonia didn’t spend a single penny.

Unable to stand it anymore, I asked her.

“Why aren’t you spending any money?”

“Actually, it’s because it’s your asset. If you’ve entrusted me with fund management, I judged that preserving the principal is the best I can do for you.”

“I told you to use it for maintaining your dignity.”

“I’m sorry. Even though you said dignity maintenance, I honestly don’t know what that means.”

Sonia bowed her head respectfully.

Ordinary clothes and plain dialogue.

Something feels off.

If she were the original Sonia, she would have been excited about being able to buy a new maid outfit.

“Sigh.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Should we access the dressing room?”

“Are you going to pick out clothes for me?”

“I can’t keep dressing you in ready-made clothes forever.”

“…I see. I understand. By dignity maintenance fee, you meant I should maintain a minimum level of adornment as your exclusive attendant.”

That’s not entirely wrong.

I took Sonia to the dressing room located inside the laboratory. When I linked my account at the check-in site, the scenery changed.

[Welcome to the Augmented Reality Dressing Room. You can try on and purchase clothing on the spot.]

A shopping cart appeared before my eyes like a status window.

When I touched the cart, my linked bank account information and recommended clothes appeared. Perhaps because I was registered as a newlywed husband, there were even some baby clothes among the recommendations.

Sonia looked around the empty space like a child visiting an amusement park for the first time, then asked me.

“Which store would be good?”

“Go wherever you like.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to go somewhere that sells clothes similar to what I’m wearing now?”

The clothes Sonia was currently wearing were ordinary office attire reminiscent of a secretary.

“Those kinds of clothes are certainly the most practical.”

“Then I’ll buy a few sets from over here.”

“What about casual clothes?”

“Since I’m not human, a uniform is sufficient. This is an expense coming from the dignity maintenance fee after all. I believe casual clothes have nothing to do with dignity.”

“But clothes have their time and place. Are you going to follow me in that stiff outfit even when I go to parties with friends?”

Sonia hesitated for a moment.

“…Indeed, that could be the case. However, purchasing such clothes during this time of war could lead to financial burden.”

“I told you we have enough. Besides, the war will end soon.”

“It’s dangerous to be so certain.”

“I have to be certain. If it doesn’t end, we’re all finished.”

“…Give me a moment to think.”

After a few seconds of contemplation, Sonia nodded.

“I’ll buy one set.”

“Good thinking.”

I wondered if something might happen, but there was no surprise. There was a store selling maid outfits nearby, but Sonia didn’t even glance at it and chose ordinary casual wear instead.

The top was a flowing white blouse with an off-shoulder design and frills at the edges.

The bottom was a solid-colored tennis skirt with a small ribbon decoration at the waistband.

Frills and ribbons.

A familiar combination.

But unlike a maid outfit, the design wasn’t excessive, so it was better to think of it as a coincidence.

We completed the payment and exited the augmented reality.

“At least wear casual clothes on holidays.”

“I will follow your orders.”

As today happened to be a holiday, Sonia decided to change into her new clothes right away. She suddenly pulled off her top right in front of me.

“…What are you doing here?”

“I’m changing clothes.”

“Couldn’t you do that somewhere else?”

“Are you embarrassed?”

“Aren’t you embarrassed?”

“I’m fine because I’m an android. I don’t have any modules related to sexuality, so I think it’s decent in appearance.”

“…”

“I understand. I’ll go change elsewhere.”

How should I describe this feeling? It felt like buying the latest graphics card only to use it for playing pinball.

She’s become too rigid for a 5th generation android. It’s so bad that even Pina, a 4th generation, seems more human.

“I’ve changed.”

The atmosphere was more relaxed than before. It wasn’t a maid outfit, but it suited her. The fresh, flowing feel contrasted with her navy blue bob cut, giving her a pure impression.

“How do I look?”

“It suits you.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

I smiled bitterly, then my mind went blank.

What am I doing right now?

That’s when Zernya and Rustila arrived.

“Honey, we’re here.”

They hadn’t taken time off. Since I nearly died at Phosphorus’s hands, the two of them had been checking on my health for work purposes.

Rustila stood guard, and Zernya examined me.

“No pain anywhere?”

“No.”

“Commander Naiere is recovering well after surgery. Your mother doesn’t have any problems either. Your father is currently staying with your mother.”

Zernya made small talk while examining me, probably so I wouldn’t get bored. After some casual conversation, Zernya brought up the main topic.

“Honey, are you having a hard time?”

“…With what?”

“Recent events.”

I gestured to Sonia.

While Sonia went out to get tea, I brought out a few chairs. Seti, who had settled in, as well as Rustila and Ireh, all sat down.

[— The effect of ‘Great Triangle (Lv.9)’ is currently being applied.]

[— Due to the interference phenomenon of the ‘God of Wealth and Investment,’ you receive an additional effect of economic output (+10%).]

“Wooooah!”

“Be quiet, Seti.”

“The stocks, the stocks are suddenly soaring! This is crazy!”

I think it would be better if my little sister wasn’t here.

I slowly engaged in conversation, focusing mainly on Zernya and Rustila.

The topic was Sonia.

Zernya continued.

“You seem to be in low spirits lately because of that android.”

“…”

“We know why Sonia became like that. We also know that you’re struggling because of it.”

“Even if she’s a robot, you’ve been together for 20 years.”

Zernya let out a low sigh as if she understood.

“…I became too attached. I thought of her as family, so it’s a bit hard seeing her like this.”

“Eidel. I’ve always seen how much you care for Sonia. I just never expected that child would even confess her love to you…”

At this point, I elaborated on the conversations I had with Sonia. About how she wanted to be my wife, how she would find a way to become human someday—those kinds of things.

Zernya and Ireh were relatively calm, while Rustila and Seti looked shocked.

“Wow, crazy. Now my brother even gets confessions from machines…”

“Could you please be quiet.”

“No, I mean you even get confessions from machines. A leader beloved by both humans and androids. Is this what they call an alpha in animal behavioral science or whatever?”

“Don’t compare people to wolves.”

“You’re definitely a wolf in bed.”

“I am not.”

“At this rate, I think you’ll even seduce foreign gods.”

“I will not!”

Seti and I exchanged a few playful hits.

“I’m confused too, you know. Setting aside the relationship between machine and human, I already have you all.”

“Even if her memories return, you… probably couldn’t refuse.”

“Zernya, Eidel owes his life to that robot. Since husband and wife are one body, Eidel’s debt is also our debt.”

“That’s why I told her. Become human first, then we’ll talk. How dare she, a mere robot…”

Zernya muttered while watching my reaction. I cleared my throat and slightly changed the subject.

“Anyway, Sonia needs to get her memories back. Since she became like that, we’ve lost contact with the background star.”

“So she can’t act as a vessel anymore?”

“Probably not.”

Even after the fight with Phosphorus, we were invaded several times, but Sonia never drew out Callipers. In the worst case, she might have lost her abilities along with her memories.

Rustila and Zernya sighed.

“Eidel, I’ll understand whatever decision you make. I’ve realized that Ireh and I alone can’t protect you perfectly.”

“Foreign god?”

Seti tilted her head.

“Oh, you said there’s a foreign god in my brother’s head. Does that foreign god help you too?”

“It’s a foreign god, but it’s a good kid.”

“Ah. ‘Our dog doesn’t bite’?”

“It does bite, but it doesn’t hurt much.”

“You seduced it.”

“I did not.”

Seti and I exchanged another playful hit.

While Zernya and Rustila chuckled at our sibling show, only Ireh maintained a serious expression, nodding her head.

Ireh soon muttered.

“I just thought of a good topic for a thesis.”

“What did you just say…?”

No, why is this person suddenly like this again.

Making my heart race.