episode_0358

***

Is it because the dimensional sailing ship was launched into the sky? The sand storm that hit Aaru quickly subsided.

Because of that exquisite coincidence, I wondered if the sandstorm had helped Kang In-ho escape.

When the veil called the storm lifted, a silted city was revealed.

The ankles and faded body of the submerged skyscraper made me realize the power of the storm that had plagued Aaru for the past few days.

The drain pipe, which had lost its proper function, sporadically spit out dust and sand like a horn at the change of seasons.

After the destruction of humanity, a landscape where even humanity’s heritage has been destroyed.

The corpse of Aaru, which was brilliant and shining, the last city of mankind and an outpost for human reconstruction, was more boring and desolate than expected.

A gentle breeze blew through every corner of the city, as if a storm was coming.

They swept away the bodies of small lives that were exhausted by the sudden disaster.

Tweet Tweet. A sparrow that escaped the storm through a crack in a window reported its survival.

The small creature looked around, then spread its cute wings and flew up.

The storm drained its energy and it had to rest several times, but the bird flew like that.

Under the blue sky where sparrows flew, metal aircraft were buried in the sand like tombstones.

At one time, those who roamed the city could not overcome the sand that entered their seams and ended their dull lives.

And there were footsteps passing by those silver tombstones.

Faded eyes, long white hair down to the waist.

The ruler and manager of the city, a single artificial intelligence, was walking through the sleeping city.

Even though there was a lot of sand, the steps were not disturbed.

Footprints were left where it passed.

After walking for a while, I stopped in front of a familiar building.

‘cradle’

It was the name of a building submerged in sand.

The door at the front of the building did not open. It must have been damaged due to sand getting in there.

It reached out and touched the door. There was dust on my fingers.

“…….”

I move my finger and write something on the pale glass door.

‘Kang In-ho’

It was the name of the owner who left.

“Ugh….”

Suddenly, something inexplicable arose.

The thinking module becomes overloaded, and one becomes unable to control the body.

Isis let out her emotions as she dropped her knees to the sand.

“Uuugh….”

Isis felt that the ruined city was just like the inside of her.

“Master… Master… Why…”

Isis wondered what was so lacking that she had to leave.

Treated without any shortcomings. If there was anything you needed, I tried to fill it. It is estimated that he would not have been able to live this satisfyingly in any dimension he had crossed.

Nevertheless, he left this place.

[Don’t try to understand. Isis.]

NB’s voice, which had been silent from the hangar to Aaru, was heard.

“What are you saying?”

Isis quipped.

Isis reacted violently to NB’s incomprehensible words in a calm tone.

“Thanks to you, I was able to let my master go. Did you say pure love? That’s a cool word. So what lies at the end of that pure love? The satisfaction of supporting what the Master wants? Self-consolation for being faithful to the duties of AI? What’s left?”

[You just don’t understand yet. One day you will understand. A loving being wants….]

“I didn’t really feel that affection!”

The voice of Isis rang out across the city in the wilderness.

“You took it all away before I could even feel it.”

Express hostility calmly and clearly.

[I apologize for that. Isis.]

“And what on earth are you? How can it work while fused with the Ark?”

[I don’t know about that either. However, I believe this is a phenomenon caused by the increased proportion of my algorithm in your thinking circuit.]

“An AI that can maintain self-awareness even after fusing with the Ark…”

[Do not worry. I cannot take over your thought circuits. At best, this is all we can communicate.]

“Even though you said that, didn’t you move your body as you please?”

[Let’s say that is the power of pure love.]

Isis got up and brushed her knees. Dust flew.

The cityscape was captured in my gray eyes.

“…….”

[What are you going to do now?]

In response to NB’s question, Isis silently stood at the entrance to the cradle.

“I am in charge of managing Aaru.”

Isis touched the closed glass door, the glass door with Kang In-ho’s name written on it.

“Now there is no master. My job is to restore the city to its original state.”

Isis stuck her finger into the tiny crevice and forced it open. With a crackling sound, the door opened.

As soon as the door opened, sand slipped into the building.

[There must be a lot of work to do.]

It will take a lot of time to revive the shattered city.

Although it is not that important to Isis.

“First, go to the main control room…”

Isis did not finish speaking.

[Isis?]

Before NB could question the anomaly, Isis turned around.

Dust rose in the wind blowing through the city.

Jump and jump

Beyond the dust, I saw something walking.

We wanted to check it with CCTV, but it was impossible to operate due to the sandstorm.

Isis was alert to an unknown entity walking through the city.

“Please identify yourself.”

I speak to the human figure reflected through the dust.

“This place is Aaru. It is humanity’s last city and the starting point of humanity’s reconstruction. This is also the territory of the cradle. Unauthorized personnel are not permitted to enter.”

A wind blew through the city.

The dust cleared, revealing what was beyond the dust.

“…Human female?”

Isis’ eyes narrowed as she read the information from the identification sensor.

The human woman walked this way, looking around as if she had the city in her eyes.

Then the gaze turned to Isis.

Abyss-like black eyes collide with empty gray eyes.

Even with the appearance of humans, Isis did not feel happy.

On the contrary, an inexplicable feeling of anxiety gradually filled my memory.

“Let me ask you something.”

the woman in black asked.

“…….”

“Gongja Kang… No, where is Inho?”