Ch.281The Switch (1)

The Department of Defense can’t focus solely on me.

What I needed to do before the surprise inspection was clear. First, create a dummy of Sonia, and second, deceive the government in the meantime.

I might seem like a villain for deceiving the nation, but what can I do? Sonia’s safety is my safety.

The problem was how to accompany Sonia while fooling the government’s watchful eyes.

Surprisingly, the solution was simple.

“Wow, it really suits you.”

Sonia let out a soulless exclamation.

“Young master, you can turn around now.”

“…Wow.”

Ireh stood before me in a maid outfit.

She had made her eyes completely white with contact lenses and temporarily dyed her hair from black to a slightly navy blue.

Identical.

There were two Sonias.

Ireh trembled her lips slightly and gripped the hem of her skirt tightly.

“…Do I really have to do this?”

“You only need to do this until my dummy is made. It’s a method we can’t use for more than a month anyway.”

“…”

Ireh silently bowed her head.

Zernya exclaimed in admiration.

“They really look alike. If Sonia were a real person, they could pass as sisters without any awkwardness.”

“Speaking of which, Miss Zernya, aren’t you identical to Miss Seti except for your eye color?”

“That’s because we’re distant relatives.”

“No, Sonia. I can tell Zernya and Seti apart. Seti is taller.”

“Shut up, Rustila.”

“I’m just stating facts. Did I hurt your feelings?”

Leaving Rustila and Zernya to start fighting again, I looked Ireh over and tried to comfort her.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. This much is…”

Ireh answered with a shrinking voice, her face bright red.

“We went into the Adelbein main house with you in this disguise before. It’s not your first time, so it’s okay. This level of embarrassment is nothing compared to when I was being harassed by the Outer Gods, n-nothing at a-all, ack…”

She even bit her tongue.

She must be extremely embarrassed.

***

While Ireh disguised herself as Sonia, Sonia also disguised herself as Ireh. Sonia’s makeup skills were so excellent that it was easy to confuse the two.

And one more thing.

To thoroughly deceive outsiders, we decided to call Sonia “Ireh” and Ireh “Sonia” when outside. Naturally, their roles were also reversed.

Ireh would pour coffee, and Sonia would read papers.

They were essentially acting as each other.

Yes, it’s quite complicated. Without keeping your wits about you, it’s hard to tell who is who.

Perhaps because of that?

The next day.

As soon as I arrived at work, I made a small mistake.

“Sonia, did you see that paper?”

“Master, I’m not in a position to be reading papers.”

“…Ah, right.”

Right now, Ireh is acting as Sonia. But she still needs to continue her studies, so she studies when no one is watching. Seeing that, I inevitably became confused.

Rustle, rustle.

Sonia turned the pages of her book and said.

“It’s because you’re not used to it yet. The mistakes will decrease as time passes.”

“What book are you reading, Miss Ireh?”

“This? It’s a novel called ‘Do Androids Dream of New Brides?’ It’s about love between artificial intelligence and humans. Quite interesting.”

Seeing someone with Ireh’s appearance reading such a book creates a strong dissonance.

“And Sonia, don’t you call Eidel ‘young master’ rather than ‘master’?”

“…That’s right, I did. Young master.”

“Be careful not to use different titles consciously. That kind of word is only for the bedroom.”

“Ah, wait! Such obscene talk…!”

“Shh.”

The sound of heavy footsteps was heard from beyond the door.

We held our breath and only moved our eyes.

The footsteps gradually faded away.

Fortunately, it was just someone passing by.

“It’s fortunate this is Eidel’s private lab. If someone else had heard, it might have raised unnecessary suspicion. Don’t say such things so openly, no matter what.”

“…Understood.”

Ireh nodded and muttered. She stopped brewing coffee and made an “oh” sound.

“We’re out of syrup. I’ll go downstairs to buy some.”

“Please do.”

Ireh went outside quickly, as if using an assassin’s footwork. It was definitely not the kind of movement Sonia would make.

No, that might actually be better.

The Department of Defense would need to see that level of skill to mistake Ireh for Sonia.

As I was nodding to myself, Sonia stood up. She looked outside once, then suddenly closed the door.

“Miss Ireh…?”

“Shh, young master.”

Sonia, wearing Ireh’s disguise, grinned.

“Honestly, wouldn’t it be okay?”

“What would?”

“In this enclosed space, just the two of us pretending to be lovers.”

This is insane.

I should have known when Sonia was reading that romance novel.

“Priscilla also mixes bodies with her master, so why can’t I?”

“Who is Priscilla?!”

“She’s an android in that novel.”

Sonia straddled me with her legs apart.

“Since becoming this body, I haven’t even held hands with you, young master. I won’t ask to go all the way, just a little…”

My mind goes blank.

Being intimate with Sonia, who has become half-human, while Rustila and Zernya are elsewhere is practically one step away from committing adultery.

Moreover.

“Miss Ireh, you shouldn’t do this.”

Right now, Sonia is disguised as Ireh. If even our breaths touch here, I wouldn’t have the face to look at her due to the sense of betrayal.

I desperately continued the act.

“It’s between me and Miss Ireh. We’re just research colleagues. This isn’t good for either of us.”

But Sonia paid no attention and brought her face closer.

“Don’t you know, young master? That I’m not Miss Ireh.”

“…”

“What matters in people is the inside, not the appearance. The same goes for robots. Otherwise, there would be no way to explain why you were so depressed when I lost my memories, young master.”

“That’s not important. This is adultery! It’s troubling when you act like this! I can’t face Rustila and Zernya…”

“Isn’t it fine as long as we don’t get caught?”

“Sonia, you…!”

My words were cut off. Sonia grabbed my chin with both hands and pressed her lips against mine.

A sensation clearly different from silicone. Soft skin was felt along with warm breath.

Sonia slowly wrapped her arms around the back of my head. Even if I tried to push her away, I couldn’t. No joke, her adhesive strength was incredibly powerful.

A sweet floral scent swirled in my head.

“Haah…”

It was after about 20 seconds that Sonia removed her lips.

“Regrettably, this is where we end today. It was a nice sensation. Thank you, young master.”

While I was blankly staring into space, Sonia got off my lap. Just then, Ireh opened the door and came in.

“Huff, huff.”

Ireh was panting. Her face was flushed. She had a bottle of syrup in her hand. After quickly closing the door, she expressed her dissatisfaction.

“Em-embarrassing. It’s so embarrassing I could die…”

“Sonia. Your manner of speech.”

“Ugh… I’m sorry, young master.”

Sonia winked at me behind Ireh’s back.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Ireh didn’t seem to notice at all.

In less than three minutes.

During that time, Sonia had stolen my lips. And then she sat down in her seat as if nothing had happened and continued reading.

A little while later, Professor Feynman came in.

“Student Eidel, do you have time now?”

“Yes, Professor. Are you going on a business trip?”

“The site for the particle accelerator construction has been confirmed. I’m going early to check the work situation and greet other scientists. Would you like to come along?”

“Of course.”

With my graduation thesis at stake, I naturally had to go.

I quickly packed my belongings and loaded them onto the spaceship. It was a suddenly decided business trip, but that was fine. My schedule was flexible since I had already completed my coursework.

“I’ll come along too.”

Ireh and Sonia also boarded the spaceship.

There wasn’t much to do during the journey. I just yawned while thinking about various things. Then I noticed Ireh watching the news on a screen and quietly listened in.

[Next is news from the west. A new cult religion has been rampant recently.]

[They claim to be a group worshipping the Outer Gods and are carrying out terrorism in various places, centered around the eastern Manus planetary system.]

“This is…”

“Young master, look. Some strange people have started moving.”

With people around, we couldn’t talk openly, but both Ireh and I knew the identity of this religious group.

The Dark Holy Spirit Cult, Megnus.

A fanatic group backed by Shterm, the highest-ranking Outer God in the Maxwell system.

Bad luck.

Of all times, these guys had to rise up near where we’re trying to build a particle accelerator.

“The Manus planetary system is in the southwest. The war just ended, and with unstable public authority, strange religious groups might be trying to take advantage.”

Sonia offered a plausible deduction.

Sorry, but that’s wrong.

The Dark Holy Spirit Cult is a group of lunatics who truly worship the Outer Gods.

They’re so firmly bound by their brutal beliefs that they can’t be bought with money or suppressed by Rheinland’s authority.

[This emerging religious group is also known to be associated with local drug cartels, contract killings, kidnappings, and prostitution. We urge special caution to those planning to visit remote areas in the west.]

My sigh deepened.

All I can do is hope that nothing happens.