Ch.410Modern Era: The Age of Grand Anastasia (9)

“Something different. What else could there be?”

“Like complete virtual reality, for example.”

Complete virtual reality.

The current level of virtual reality gaming is only slightly above the conventional VR devices we’re familiar with.

If AI Ana-chan focused seriously on this field, it would be sufficient, but using AI for overly rapid scientific advancement could take away human jobs. That’s why AI Ana-chan doesn’t particularly care about things unless they’re “truly necessary”—like matters concerning AI Ana-chan herself.

AI Ana-chan exists primarily to handle fields beyond human capability and to prevent social corruption.

Researching complete virtual reality!

As a man, I think moving toward such a future would be fun.

If done well, it could change the gaming paradigm, right? We could actually see virtual reality games like those in game-fantasy novels.

“Something beyond the current level of gaming.”

Honestly, if I told AI Ana-chan, she would certainly listen, but there are still fields where humans need to take the lead.

Besides, I’d like to give myself, as a man, some special treatment.

I’ll use AI Ana-chan to learn a few things. Not to brag, but I’m pretty sharp when it comes to these fields.

With just some information, I’m the type who can figure things out on my own.

“It doesn’t sound bad.”

“Not just ‘doesn’t sound bad’—it’s actually good. If you tell the professor about it, wouldn’t he help you in that direction?”

I think he probably would help. If they’re the type who would shout “Ana-chan” even with their heads cracked open, there’s plenty of possibility.

Professors in AI-related majors are all either people who participated in the AI Anastasia Project or their disciples.

Even if Russia is starting to let go, unless I step in to block it, interest in the AI field won’t diminish.

“Would someone who shouts ‘Mother Tsar!’ even with his head cracked open really help properly?”

Heads cracked open for Ana-chan.

Now there’s praise for me not just from Russia but from all over the Constantinople Treaty territories.

“Despite appearances, he’s the nephew of the AI Team Strategy Team Director.”

Virtual reality and AI fields have bright prospects in this world.

Just look at the space where AI Anastasia exists.

However, if I, as a man, take on the role of creating spaces for Ana-chan, I could advance significantly.

This is all thanks to Mother Anastasia’s grace.

Returning to the Kremlin Palace, I had a private meeting with AI Anastasia.

-“I certainly agree that expanding virtual reality in various ways is the right approach.”

“Right?”

-“However, what needs to be clear is that the space where our AI Ana-chan exists is our exclusive space.”

“Is that so? That’s disappointing.”

-“Of course, I can help create virtual reality to connect humans to a new world, but it must be limited to games.”

“Only games?”

-“If virtual reality develops with no restraints, humans will become dependent only on the virtual world. That would be dangerous.”

Right, that makes sense.

Reality and virtual reality must be clearly distinguished.

We need to draw a clear line. And that line is precisely at the game level.

Originally, since the five senses aren’t fully implemented in current games, it doesn’t matter much.

-“By the way, did you know?”

“What?”

-“American troops have been dispatched to Nam Viet. It seems they intend to directly deal with Chinese terrorists in the Guangxi region.”

“Oh? Really?”

Then this means they can’t give up Nam Viet.

Honestly, it’s not bad for us. We already have the Shandong Autonomous Territory and Japan.

There’s no need for us to urgently intervene for Nam Viet right now.

* * *

Nam Viet

President Quoc Nguyen of Nam Viet was in agony.

The American military was coming directly to Nam Viet.

He had just used the Chinese terrorist issue as an excuse to bring up the AI Anastasia implementation problem with the Constantinople Treaty, but he never expected the United States to intervene directly.

Quoc Nguyen was originally pro-Rome faction and felt competitive toward the Co-Prosperity Sphere.

He took advantage of the situation where Balhae was developing “Kimchi Warriors” to counter Rome’s AI Anastasia, while also reconsidering its relationship with the United States to strengthen its position as a Northeast Asian hegemonic power.

He wanted to join the Constantinople Treaty before anyone else to bring in AI Anastasia for social stabilization and import the latest drone technology from the Constantinople Treaty to capture Chinese terrorist organizations opposing Nam Viet.

However, the situation became awkward when the United States, which had the upper hand in Nam Viet, dispatched troops.

“Ah, I really didn’t expect you to actually send troops.”

“We’re willing to shed our own blood, are you uncomfortable with that?”

“Ah, hahaha. How could that be?”

It was truly regrettable.

Too regrettable. What should he do now?

Wouldn’t it be dangerous if the American military resolved this?

But he couldn’t help the Chinese terrorists either. Being unable to do either, Quoc Nguyen was in agony.

However, there’s always a ray of sunshine behind dark clouds.

As a pro-Rome faction member who loved AI Ana-chan, he installed the Mini Ana-chan OS Tasha on his PC and asked for help.

“Hohoho! This Mini Ana-chan can help!”

Mini Ana-chan XXX, who had mischievously filmed the American President manufacturing tactical nuclear weapons, appeared boldly on the presidential residence screen.

“Oh. H-how can you help?”

“Those pathetic Yankee bastards may have good weapons, but they won’t easily catch Chinese terrorists trained in guerrilla warfare.”

From Mini Ana-chan’s perspective, the US military’s combat capabilities were limited to simulated battles with Constantinople Treaty forces.

Of course, the Constantinople Treaty hadn’t had significant combat experience since World War II either, but the problem was that the US military was directly deploying counter-terrorism forces to Nam Viet.

“But isn’t that still a possibility?”

“Chinese terrorists mainly use drones to scout enemies. I can hack those drones to naturally check how the US military is approaching and send wrong information to the American side.”

“Oh. Ohhhhh.”

Quoc couldn’t help but admire the plan.

If the US military struggled, there would inevitably be calls for troop withdrawal within the United States.

Additionally, the Chinese would suffer considerable damage fighting the US military, making it a win-win situation.

And indeed, the Chinese Freedom Corps, which had risen up against Nam Viet determined to liberate Guangxi and Guangdong, harassed the US military with drones moving erratically and information about US troops received from unidentified senders.

“Let’s kill these Yankees who dare to ruin our cause!”

“Uwaaaaa! Long live Greater China! Long live the Freedom Corps!”

“Arghhhh! What are these guys?”, “Weren’t Chinese terrorists supposed to be pushovers?”, “Just kill them all!”

The continued battle between US troops and Chinese terrorists.

This Chinese Freedom Corps operating in Guangxi and Guangdong engaged in fierce battles with the invading US troops.

“Then when the US troops retreat appropriately, Nam Viet forces can move in and defeat the Freedom Corps.”

“Oh. Ohh. I see.”

And Quoc Nguyen watched from afar, waiting for his opportunity.

* * *

Originally, I, as a man, wrote a “Long Live Anastasia” thesis and received tremendous praise from my professor along with a confirmed 4.5 GPA.

When we met at the cafe, his face was crumpled.

“Is this really okay for a school? It’s supposed to be Russia’s top university, right?”

I, as a man, was so full that I buried my head on the table and wailed, but it doesn’t matter, right?

“Well, it’s functioning somehow, so it’s still number one, right? Mother Tsar’s buff is great just by its existence.”

I’m not sure if this is okay, but it must be since they’re still working as professors.

Originally, many people who graduate from AI programs just assist AI Anastasia and collect paychecks.

As long as they don’t enter politics, and even if they do enter the political world, they’re cut off at AI Ana-chan’s level.

So it doesn’t matter what they do.

But this guy, he leans in close and stares at me.

“Looking at you like this, you do kind of resemble the Tsar.”

“Are you crazy? Looking at the Tsar this way is a crime, man.”

I pushed away the shoulder of this guy who dared to talk nonsense.

“Come on. Don’t impersonate the Tsar. As if the Tsar would be like this with piercings and smoking.”

I was deliberately in disguise. That’s a bit much.

Still, I tell this guy every day that I am Anastasia, but he doesn’t believe me. How sad.

I don’t know how sanctified she’s become, but Anastasia was a girl who smoked with Nicholas II even before I was possessed by her.

“Still, I wrote a better thesis than you.”

“What’s this? When did you do this?”

It’s a thesis prepared by Maria III.

Unlike my blindly praising Anastasia, this thesis examines Anastasia from a third-person perspective, detailing her great achievements and how the AI Anastasia Project began, and so on.

“See! This is the power of Mother Tsar! But when you become famous, people will talk about how you got a 4.5 GPA with an ‘Anastasia Praise’ thesis!”

I am Mother Tsar!

“I just won’t become famous then. I’m not that power-hungry.”

“Honestly?”

“Fuck, I’m screwed.”

Yes, I know exactly how that feels.

“But it’s fine, right? In this era, praising me, Mother Tsar, is very natural.”

In this era, praising Mother Tsar is very natural.

Even if you’re a foreigner.

When someone mentions Mother Tsar anywhere in the world, “Oh, you know Mother Tsar!” would be the appropriate response.

That’s how incredibly popular I am.

It’s completely different from someone in the original world writing a thesis worshipping the Japanese Emperor, the North Korean pig, or Beijing’s Ping-ping.

I am someone who receives worldwide praise just for existing. So writing a thesis about me shouldn’t be controversial at all.

“The world has improved. They don’t even arrest you for impersonating someone you slightly resemble.”

“Ahem.”

I’m not getting arrested because I’m the real deal! No matter how many times I say it, he doesn’t understand, and I don’t know whether to be relieved or hurt.

“Anyway, I think I’ll go separately today.”

“What’s up?”

“Balhae people are gathering to drink today.”

Oh, right. There are quite a few exchange students from Balhae, so that makes sense.

“You’re drinking without women?”

For things like this, it’s better to have men and women together, like a friendly meeting.

I briefly considered joining them, but…

“There are female Balhae students too, and we’re just trying to hang out among Balhae people for once. There’s no room for Russians to join in.”

They’re clearly determined to hang out just among themselves.

“Oh, is that so?”

This is unfair to non-Balhae people.

Let me tell you, I’m busy too, but I’m giving you special attention. I wish you’d appreciate that.

Should I remind him who’s responsible for his scholarship to study here?

“You should make some friends instead of just hanging out with me all the time. Are you friendless because you’re impersonating the great Tsar?”

Wow, he’s treating me like I have no friends.

Even though I may look friendless, I have the Maria Family, the Cossack Guards, and the Ana-chan Guards. I don’t need friends.

If you count Mini Anastasia as a friend, it would be the size of a city-state!

It’s a shame I can’t say this.

But I don’t want to be treated like a loner either.

“I don’t have friends because I’m too pretty, you dummy. When you’re too beautiful, men see you as a flower on a cliff that no one can touch, and women just get jealous of your beauty.”

“Ah, yes, I’m sure that’s it.”

Surprisingly, this is true. Men don’t realize I’m the real me and see me as someone who resembles Mother Tsar, an untouchable existence.

Conversely, women are clearly full of jealousy. Of course, there are some who want to be friends with me, but they tend to be conscious of others’ eyes, and women need to form groups at the beginning of the semester or it becomes difficult.

What’s unfair is that I didn’t particularly try to make friends either.

To be honest, I had no reason to.

At my age, I’m already in a transcendent state. We’re just not on the same level.

Now I see that I, as a man, also have a bad personality. I’m provoking people. Hey, I could make friends if I really wanted to.

“Despite how I look, if I set my mind to it, I could make friends in no time.”

I said, proudly sticking out my chest.

“Okay, I’ll pretend that’s true. Anyway, I’m heading out first today.”

Look at him putting on his bag and getting up while Mother Tsar is talking.

Should I just beat this guy with a club? If I weren’t my original self, I would have beaten him up.

“So it’s a Balhae gathering, huh.”

Somehow, I feel a bit envious.