Ch.409Modern Era: The Age of Grand Anastasia (8)

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After returning, there’s been something bothering me.

“Wow! She’s truly the Mother Tsar!”

“Ohhh! So this is what a living goddess looks like!”

It’s enough to drive me crazy.

Those damn people keep looking at me strangely. You know that look when someone’s staring at some rare animal? What’s worse, unlike in the past, the internet is well-developed here. With the internet’s reach, my appearance has been uploaded as photos on all kinds of websites.

This is really something.

Honestly, I feel like I’m being treated like a celebrity.

I’ve even reached first place in the idol rankings on the Balhae Federation website.

And while college student Ana-chan disguises herself as Irina with a changed appearance, I feel like she might get caught eventually.

I need to think differently about this.

“Don’t I have too many fans? I think we need to set some limits.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Maria III, who was helping me dress, tilted her head.

Seriously, without the hairpin, I couldn’t tell them apart. They look too similar.

“I look strange right now.”

“Your Majesty, you’re always beautiful.”

I know I’m beautiful.

Really, that’s exactly the problem I’m talking about.

“No matter how you look at it, going out in my natural appearance just doesn’t feel right.”

“Do you have any good solutions in mind?”

“What about becoming a VTuber?”

“I don’t think that would make any difference.”

“Tch.”

“Rather than such trivial matters, there’s talk about implementing it within Balhae as well.”

Trivial? That’s harsh.

Yes. Opinions about reintroducing AI Anastasia within Balhae have been surging again.

Unlike before, it’s really gaining momentum.

The side advocating for AI systems has started to dominate, and people are talking about the benefits of implementing AI systems.

“Right. That much should be done.”

This is how we can take advantage of the current situation where Balhae is recognizing its mistakes regarding the Rome Treaty and cautiously watching us.

We’re not directly forcing them to do anything.

We’re just exporting AI systems at Japan’s request.

Although they’re bound by the Co-Prosperity Sphere, unlike us, it’s a looser form of alliance without a unified government.

Japan is trying to take the lead by introducing AI systems.

This alone puts significant pressure on Balhae.

Why? Because Japan has been the country most obsessed with me within the Co-Prosperity Sphere from the beginning.

Just look at the numerous figurines Japan produces.

“Heh heh. Japanese Mother Tsar figurines are insane.”

“Have you seen the World War II form figurine? It’s amazing. Even my daughter loves it.”

Most Russian citizens are buying figurines from West Japan.

Because of this, the Japanese figurine business that started with Ana-chan figurines has become even more enormous than in the original history.

With the animation business also thriving, and true to their reputation as a sexually advanced nation, they’re also producing adult content.

It’s quite strange that their main products are figurines and animation.

Seeing that they remain a sexually advanced nation even after the country was split in half, I guess that’s just how modern Japan is, both in the original history and now.

Personally, even I think Japan is the foundation of the otaku industry. After all, Russian markets are importing Japanese figurines.

“By the way, the Imperial Guard all have figurines too.”

These crazy people. They’re not normal.

Honestly, after all this time, you’d think they’d get over it, but unfortunately not.

It feels like I’m being made fun of.

Seeing how they still adore me after all these years, it’s clear that Russians have definitely become mama’s boys.

“I have my own figurine too.”

To be honest, I can’t resist figurines either.

After all, my figurine is proof of how famous I’ve become.

That alone makes me feel good.

“So I was thinking, what about trying something new?”

“Something new?”

Yes. I like new things. I wonder what Maria has in mind.

“Installing Mini Ana-chan in figurines.”

Installing Mini Ana-chan in figurines. Oh, this sounds appealing.

Why does this feel like it could be fun? It would be interesting to have Mini Ana-chans toddling around helping with daily life.

“Oh. Creating Mini Ana-chans. That’s interesting.”

Imagining it, it doesn’t seem like a bad idea.

Current robotics technology is quite advanced. What if we put emotionally rich Ana-chan series in them?

Ana-chan AI is different from typical AIs because it’s emotionally rich.

It started as my personality uploaded to the cloud. The Mini Ana-chan series, which the main AI Anastasia split off and released, has naturally developed emotions by collecting all knowledge in virtual space in this information age.

In other words, it’s top-tier among AIs.

It even has the ability to update itself.

Having such an AI in small Anastasia figurines wouldn’t be bad.

“Planning this with West Japan would be good.”

It could be useful when you can’t properly use a PC or in similar situations.

West Japan. The United States of Japan is rearming unlike Japan in the original world, but it’s milder.

Perhaps it’s the influence of their national father, Renya Mutaguchi.

“But wouldn’t some people damage the figurines?”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

Even though Mini Ana-chans could abandon the Tasha OS and escape if they wanted to, there are many weirdos in the world.

They might catch Mini Ana-chans walking around and pull off their arms and legs.

Of course, I wonder how many people would dare to mess with my deified AI, but there are anti-cyber groups too.

“But I don’t think that’s something to worry about. Even when people tried to feed viruses to Mini Anastasia in the existing OS, Mini Anastasia detected it immediately. She handles cyber issues well. If necessary, couldn’t she just abandon the figurine and return to data form?”

“True, Mini Ana-chan can discern people, so there shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Technically, installing OS in figurines is possible right now.”

It’s not technically impossible.

Originally, the Mini Anastasia OS, Tasha, is just a catalyst for deploying Mini Ana-chan, and it doesn’t solely run Mini Ana-chan with a dedicated OS.

“The problem is that they can’t move.”

That’s right. Moving figurines. That’s important.

“I think we can solve that by combining our robotics technology with Japanese figurines. And make them from materials so durable that human strength can’t damage them. Also, price them high enough that people would regret breaking them.”

Not bad. That idea.

Moreover, Mini Ana-chans themselves are entities that can be uploaded to servers.

Of course, developing this with current technology would take quite some time.

Can’t be helped. Let’s tell AI Ana-chan to develop her brain faster.

“AI Anastasia? Let’s quickly acquire more knowledge and develop figurine Mini Ana-chans. How long do you think it will take?”

Let’s advance the tech quickly. My plan isn’t Nikolai V but launching a spaceship made of Mini Ana-chans around Nikolai VII.

Wouldn’t it be fun to have Mini Ana-chans build a base on the moon?

-“It will take about a year.”

“A year? That shouldn’t be difficult. Then, after taking control of West Japan’s information network, approach the figurine sector.”

A year is a period I can certainly wait for.

Rather, it would be unreasonable for such a thing to come out in less than a year.

-“Understood.”

These things should be done promptly when the opportunity arises.

It’s not just about Mini Ana-chan. If we can put AI in small dolls, it will make AI more accessible to humanity.

Above all, they’ll have a passive skill in their heads to protect humans.

And if this is developed, even male me won’t be able to scream about Kimchi Warriors and creating B-type AI.

Come to think of it, I was supposed to meet that guy at a cafe today, wasn’t I?

# # #

Meeting male me after a long time, his face was all crumpled.

It’s understandable. After all, Balhae’s relationship with Rome has become ambiguous.

“Why the long face?”

“Our country is screwed.”

“What?”

I pretended not to know and kept smiling as I asked.

“No, it’s all messed up. Our relationship with the Rome Treaty.”

The relationship with the Rome Treaty is messed up.

Seeing him talk like that, our male Ana-chan is seriously on that side.

It would be good if my original self were pro-Rome rather than anti-Rome.

After all, the fact that this guy talked about developing B-type AI Anastasia instead of Kimchi Warriors was because of the AI Ana-chan implementation issue.

“It’s fine. They’ve even adjusted the tariffs again.”

What’s the problem when they’re adjusting tariffs?

“Ah, that’s not what I mean.”

Male me ruffled his hair vigorously.

I do understand what he means. It means the relationship isn’t as good as before.

Now it’s a relationship with some distance, compared to the previously very close relationship.

From my perspective, it was somewhat disappointing, but I appreciate that they quickly conceded.

“Well, certainly the relationship might not be as good as before. But I heard you’re considering implementing Anastasia? Then, things will work out somehow.”

Once it’s implemented, what’s the problem?

If it’s just implemented, you can gain a lot.

You can even get space technology! From our perspective, we need more people for space development.

The more people there are for technology research, the better.

Of course, we would never give away core technology. Still, for Balhae, which can’t go to the moon right now, it’s receiving the best possible technology.

So there’s probably a lot they can do with it.

As for the Far Eastern Fleet, we had to deploy it. I didn’t particularly intend to intimidate Balhae, and I’d like them to understand that clearly.

“Being Russian must make life easy.”

“Russian?”

For a moment, my heart skipped a beat.

“Yeah. Envious girl. Damn. Why was I born in Balhae!”

Male me writhed and wailed.

Balhae is much more of a heaven compared to the original history.

Hmm, but hearing my original self call me Russian feels strange.

While it’s true that I am Russian, it feels like my original self is drawing a clear line.

Only then could I be certain.

With male me existing now, I am a completely different person from this guy who was originally male.

I don’t particularly feel the desire to see my original parents.

It’s not that I don’t want to see them at all. How should I put it? I don’t have that intense, poignant longing to meet parents who have passed away.

I just want to see them alive. That’s the extent of it. Looking at it that way, my eyes turn back to this male version of me.

Does this bastard know that his future was protected thanks to me?

If he saw the world strategy, he would know. Well, whatever.

It’s not worth explaining to him that I’m the real Anastasia.

“Hmm, this is quite something.”

I tapped the table with my finger and sighed deeply.

“What? Then, would you rather be born in Balhae where Kimchi Warriors roam around?”

Right. That’s the worst choice for a Russian.

Imagine waking up and seeing not Mini Ana-chan but a strange kimchi anthropomorphic character with cabbage on its head. I’d probably be furious.

How fortunate that they didn’t make it in 3D.

Having such cabbage characters walking around is disgusting.

Hmm, maybe I should ask about his parents just in case?

“By the way, I’m a bit curious about something.”

“What are you talking about after discussing cabbage?”

“Are your parents healthy?”

“Suddenly making jokes about parents.”

Jokes about parents? That’s unfair. I changed history, and I’d feel wronged if they had an accident due to some force majeure.

“No, I’m just curious since you came to study abroad.”

“They were perfectly fine before I left for study abroad. Damn girl.”

“I see.”

I just nodded lifelessly.

Since there was no nuclear war, they’re naturally alive. That’s good.

“More importantly, what should we do now?”

Right. This guy. Your dream is to develop AI.

“Why not try something else? AI Ana-chan won’t reveal core technology unless she does it herself. Even Ana-chan wouldn’t want another entity like herself to emerge.”

Let’s think about this carefully. Ana-chan already exists. Ana-chan emerged to integrate human society.

Even the United States acknowledges this and is only building defenses to prevent Ana-chan from infiltrating. How much could Balhae create?

Perhaps even the Kimchi Warrior is meant to show citizens, “This is all we can make.” Even if they make it well, it would be impossible to compete. Wouldn’t it just upset the Rome Treaty? That’s what people might say.

Even now, Balhae is bowing its head saying, “We’re sorry.” What would happen if they made it?