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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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While I, failing to uphold the duties of an ‘I’, was gallivanting outside, the NetSpace, unable to bear even a moment’s peace, had erupted in a frenzy, chasing a new hot topic. Everyone was surfing the waves of this breaking issue.
[Singer ‘A’, embroiled in a fatal scandal]
[Breaking News: Famous Singer’s Question about ‘Bigamy’]
[Agency Representative: “We will take strong action against these rumors”]
The Net News reported, and comments followed:
[lol who would believe this?]
(Image of a choked frog)
Loved you forever…
lol real lmao there’s no way it’s real lol…l..
What the f***, so many ridiculous posts just because of one singer’s scandal.
ㄴ Do you even know what love is? (OP)
ㄴ What you’re doing isn’t love, sir…
ㄴ … (OP)
[lol Like if you support ‘that singer’ lol]
How can the scandal be about a bigamy question post lol If it were me, I’d probably disappear and redebut lol
Hasn’t it been confirmed whether it’s true or not?
ㄴ lol not my problem lol (OP)
ㄴ Ugh, Net gremlin.
[Just listened to her song for the first time]
The song is good tbh
But isn’t this a non-issue?
Another female singer lives with 5 men.
I heard it was a post about polygyny, not just bigamy.
ㄴ Ah lol, then that’s understandable (OP)
Net forums were also abuzz. Given Andrea’s fame, all sorts of people inhabiting the cyberpunk world had gathered to dissect, analyze, savor, and relish the story.
I browsed through a few more posts, but most of them echoed the same sentiment.
I closed the visual interface, turned off the screen, and looked at Andrea. Until that moment, she had been bouncing lightly, testing the resilience of the bed. But as my gaze met hers, she straightened up, placing her hands neatly on her lap, feigning composure.
The bed is quite soft. I addressed Andrea, “So…”
“…Yeah,” she responded, cautiously looking at me, waiting for my question like a prisoner awaiting sentencing.
In a listless voice, I asked, “…How did this even happen?”
Since things had already escalated to this point, I wanted to understand how far things had progressed without my knowledge.
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Andrea bowed her head deeply, her long, side-tied hair reaching the floor. It seemed like an apology, or perhaps she was just too embarrassed to look up. When she finally raised her face, a deep blush colored her cheeks, but judging by the emotion in her eyes, it seemed more like the former.
“Well, you see…” she began, pausing frequently, her whole body radiating anxiety.
“Want me to get you something to drink?” I offered.
“…No, I’m okay,” she declined.
She really didn’t have to be so apologetic. Andrea took another deep breath, inhaling and exhaling. Perhaps the fresh air, even the polluted air of Neon City, had a calming effect. With a slightly improved complexion, she continued, “…I did post the question.”
Andrea’s explanation went as follows: She had posted the question out of pure curiosity. A malicious sasaeng fan had then hacked and leaked the information. Normally, a scandal without clear evidence would quickly die down. However…
“You’re saying they got a picture of us together?” I asked.
“……Yeah,” she mumbled, shrinking down as if wanting to disappear into the floor. Her face, which had been progressively reddening throughout her explanation, had now turned as crimson as an apple.
“…That’s why I’m asking. Could you please appear on the NCB24 broadcast with me…?” she pleaded.
“Um…” I hesitated.
“You’ll do it?” she asked hopefully.
“No,” I replied. It was just a verbal tic. I was starting to grasp the situation.
The photo was probably taken… when we went out to eat after the concert? Or maybe when we were driving around looking for Maya? Honestly, the possibilities were endless. In a cyberpunk world, security camera data could easily be leaked through hacking. That was highly probable.
As I pondered this, Andrea pleaded again, filled with remorse, “…I’m really asking just this once.”
“…….” I considered my options.
Should I appear on the broadcast and confidently deny the rumors, putting an end to the scandal? Or should I simply ignore it and let time wash it away?
I looked up at Andrea. Her expression conveyed genuine remorse. This was the first time I’d seen her apologize like this. In fact, she had never done anything that warranted an apology before. Seeing her like this made me question my own hesitation.
Andrea had always helped me. When rescuing Maya, and even with the outlandish request of kidnapping the vice chairman of a megacorp, she agreed without hesitation. Refusing her request now would mean we were no longer friends.
“Okay, I’ll help you,” I told her. I sensed Eve’s surprise behind me. Knowing my aversion to going out, she probably expected me to refuse.
But having already received her help, refusing her request was something even the Confucian scholar within me couldn’t condone.
Relieved, Andrea rushed towards me, exclaiming, “Thank you!”
Wait. Her chest…
Overwhelmed by its ample touch, I lost my composure, my hands flailing uselessly in the air.
This eternal moment, feeling like I was floating in the clouds, was abruptly interrupted by a third party.
“…….”
A cold, artificial hand separated Andrea and me.
“Ah…” Andrea said, seemingly realizing her actions. She began to laugh sheepishly, “…I got carried away.” Her face was even redder than when she had been pleading with me.
I still hadn’t recovered. Even a “mage” like me wasn’t completely immune to the allure of a woman’s chest.
Still… its awe-inspiring size, and the completely unexpected timing… all of it combined left me momentarily flustered.
Then, I was swept away by another force.
“Oof!”
I nearly got whiplash. Someone had pulled me into a hug from the side. I tried to look around to assess the situation, but whoever was holding me so tightly prevented me from moving my neck even slightly.
I rolled my eyes to see. The chest area of a familiar white maid uniform was right in front of my face. I calmly assessed the situation. To summarize, it appeared that Eve was holding my head and burying it in her (large) breasts.
“…….”
A voice came from above my head. It was Eve, of course.
“This is the compensation you didn’t receive last time,” she stated, tightening her grip.
While I could have broken free, I pretended to be helpless, succumbing to the sensation. As a man, it was unavoidable. I had expected her prosthetic body to be firm, but… it was softer than the bed. At this rate, it would be hard to compare with Andrea’s.
After a while, Eve released me. I looked at her expressionless face. Maybe it was because of her lack of expression, but somehow, I felt like she was very satisfied.
I shook my head, trying to regain my composure. Andrea, who had been smiling contentedly just moments ago, was now watching us with a somewhat dissatisfied expression.
I felt strangely embarrassed. Trying to shake off the feeling, I said to Andrea, “Anyway, since it’s decided, we just need to prepare.” The sensation of their chests still lingered on my cheeks.
“When do we need to be ready?” I asked.
“Tomorrow,” Andrea answered with a smile.
“Huh?”
“Without any companions,” she added, shrugging as if there was no helping it. “That’s the broadcasting station’s rule.”
Although a smile remained on her face, it seemed more mechanical than before.
At Andrea’s words about not having companions, Eve flinched.
“As an AI, I can circumvent general regulations─” she began.
“It’s an internal rule of the broadcasting station, so it’s unrelated to city law,” Andrea interrupted.
“…….”
Eve looked at me with pleading eyes, but I turned my head, avoiding her gaze. I didn’t want to do this to her, but it was necessary to prevent the violent incident of a beautiful woman in a maid outfit following me around the broadcasting station.
…Later, I should buy her some other clothes… besides the maid outfit.
Seeing my reaction, Eve fell silent for a moment before saying, “Understood.” She slowly moved to a corner, sat down, and closed her eyes.
“Then I will support you like this,” she said.
[Then I will support you like this.]
Eve’s voice echoed in my head simultaneously. Ah, so that’s how she’ll do it. This works for me.
As I was nodding to myself, I heard Andrea’s puzzled voice.
“…Is it just me, or did I hear a strange voice?”
[It is not strange.]
“……Again.” It seemed Eve had configured it so Andrea could also hear her voice.
Considering how easily she hacked the city’s neural network, transmitting her voice to Andrea through signals probably wasn’t difficult. She was probably being considerate of Andrea, who might feel left out if Eve and I were having a private conversation.
[I ask if you are a fool?]
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.
[The vocal output and data are identical to ‘my’ voice you have heard before. I am referring to your description of it as ‘strange’.]
“…Well, it’s easy to misunderstand when you suddenly hear a voice in your head,” Andrea retorted.
[Hee hee hee.]
“Huh?”
[That was laughter of derision.]
…….
She really was being considerate.
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Eve’s potential threat still scares me.