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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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How did things end up like this?
I laid in bed, pondering deeply. Even as I did, I couldn’t stop my gaze from drifting to the side. It was an almost involuntary, instinctive movement.
Where my gaze landed was Catherine. The sight of her in a very thin tank top and dolphin shorts was quite striking.
It was a very impolite act, but unless someone held a gun to my head and threatened me to look elsewhere, it was a sight I couldn’t help but take in.
Despite my gaze, Catherine continued organizing her belongings without a care.
“This goes here… Put the dishes together.”
Since two physically separate spaces had merged into one, there were also two sinks. My honest opinion was that we could each use a different sink, but if she wanted to do it this way, I didn’t feel the need to stop her.
…
But wait, wouldn’t this violate city building codes? I asked Catherine about it.
Then,
“I took care of it.”
“How?”
“Well.”
“…”
The subtle hints of violence and credits I sensed in Catherine’s “well” were surely just my imagination.
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In the end, as usual, I had no choice but to accept everything with a resigned heart. Things would work out somehow. Half in denial, half accepting reality, I observed Catherine.
Perhaps dissatisfied with my passivity, Eve walked purposefully toward Catherine.
“Are you an animal?”
“Huh?”
A question without brakes.
“Wearing proper attire is registered as a basic requirement for ‘humans.’ However, the human ‘Catherine’ does not meet this requirement.”
“So what? I’m in my own house.”
Half of it is my house too…
Catherine stretched. She showed no sign of embarrassment.
However, even while talking to Eve, she subtly glanced at me. As I watched, our eyes met. I quickly closed my eyes as if meditating.
But with such a small house, I couldn’t avoid their gazes. I calmly counted prime numbers in my head to soothe myself.
Catherine continued speaking to Eve.
“Look, there’s only one person to see me anyway. Besides, it’s comfortable.”
“….”
After a brief silence, Eve replied.
“…I partially agree.”
Eve… Eve…
Witnessing the spectacle of a super AI being persuaded by a human driven by mere emotions, I swallowed hard. I thought if things went wrong, everyone might end up in skimpy clothing, and I’d again be at a loss where to put my eyes.
Just as I was about to summon the “Confucian scholar” within me,
“Hey, that’s not right.”
Andrea, who was lying on the sofa watching a holographic broadcast, spoke up, pushing back her red hair with one hand.
The sight of a famous celebrity lounging on the sofa felt equally bizarre.
However, despite her relaxed posture, her face was fully made-up, and she was dressed in neat, outdoor clothes.
If she had moved into Bill’s old place, it meant she lived right next door. Why she was so dressed up was a mystery.
Andrea took a sip of the cola on the table and continued.
“Too casual attire can backfire. You have to dress properly.”
“I also partially agree.”
“So you too, instead of a maid outfit─”
Hmm.
What on earth were the three of them discussing? I was listening, but I couldn’t understand.
…
Anyway, it was good that they were getting along. This was a relief.
I hadn’t expected a fight, but it would be a lie to say I hadn’t worried at all.
Not wanting to disturb the peaceful atmosphere, I slowly moved to my old computer.
I’d play some games for now.
I turned on the computer and launched the game.
Come to think of it… I logged off after the last raid without distributing the items, didn’t I?
I’d better hurry and distribute the items before any problems arose.
My character appeared on the monitor.
[ RealMageHere(Warrior) ]
Since I had logged off inside the instance dungeon, the surrounding area was inevitably depicted as the town.
And.
[ P2034871140(Warrior): …Guild Master? ]
[ SleepComesForTheGrap(Rogue): He appeared!! Hang him! ]
[ P77648(Warrior): ItemsGiveItemsGiveItemsGiveItemsGiveItemsGiveItemsGive ]
I considered logging off again. Of course, I wasn’t so devoid of conscience as to actually log off.
I was just very flustered, having never imagined they would still be waiting for my character.
All sorts of accusations followed through emotes and chat.
Since PK was impossible inside the town, there was no violence, but they subjected me to every other form of malicious behavior.
It felt similar to the orc riots that occasionally occurred in the lower districts.
I calmly typed in the chat.
[ RealMageHere(Warrior): Everyone, calm down! ]
Just what were these items that were driving people so crazy? The atmosphere was incredibly heated.
[ P2034871140(Warrior): How dare you commit such an uncivilized act in the name of the Veterans! ]
[ P77648(Warrior): ItemsItemsItemsItemsItemsItemsItems ]
[ SleepComesForTheGrap(Rogue): There’s already a bounty on you on the forums, and we’re tracking you, so give up lol ]
One fortunate thing was that I had a way to resolve this situation.
[ RealMageHere(Warrior): Please call all the other party members! I’ll distribute the dropped items now. ]
The resolution was swift.
[ P77648(Warrior): Give ]
[ SleepComesForTheGrap(Rogue): Some strange person put a bounty on you, but I’ll try to delete the post. Items please… ]
[ P2034871140(Warrior): Haha, I knew I could trust only you, Guild Master. ]
How two-faced… Of course, it was my fault.
I kept my mouth shut and distributed the items.
Since many of that day’s party members weren’t currently online, it took quite a while to distribute all the dropped items.
After that, most people left to check the items’ stats.
In the end, only my character and Warrior2 remained in the town square.
[ P2034871140(Warrior): I really thought you ran off with the dropped items. ]
[ RealMageHere(Warrior): I think I said I had something urgent to attend to and would distribute them later… ]
[ P2034871140(Warrior): …Many people made various speculations, but the most popular opinion was, ‘Who would believe what a Warrior says?’… ]
[ RealMageHere(Warrior): … ]
That was true.
Moreover, considering that most of the players in this game were from the underworld, things could have gotten much more serious.
[ P2034871140(Warrior): It’s only because the items didn’t circulate and you didn’t log in after that that they let it slide. ]
Anyway, I first asked about the part I was curious about.
[ RealMageHere(Warrior): Um… this is a bit awkward to ask, but you could’ve just formed a new party and raided again… ]
[ P2034871140(Warrior): Well, about that… ]
He explained as follows:
For some unknown reason, they couldn’t enter the raid dungeon even after trying to form a new party. It was as if the game administrators were blocking them.
Seeing his message, I turned my head and looked at Eve, who was talking with Catherine and Andrea.
…
I turned my head back to the monitor.
[ RealMageHere(Warrior): That’s really strange;; ]
[ P2034871140(Warrior): Right? ]
I didn’t know why it was blocked, but I had a good idea who was behind it.
Several hackers had tried to hack the server because of this incident, and some people had posted my character’s name on the forums, seeking information.
I didn’t understand why such capable people were investing their time and effort into such a boring classic game. I was playing half out of nostalgia.
[ RealMageHere(Warrior): Anyway, I’m glad it ended peacefully. Let’s try that same raid dungeon again next time. ]
[ P2034871140(Warrior): I don’t think it’ll work this time either. We tried a few times. ]
[ RealMageHere(Warrior): …I want to see for myself if it works or not. ]
Maybe it’ll work if you go with me?
I couldn’t bring myself to type that.
With a brief farewell, Warrior2’s character disappeared.
“…Sigh.”
I had started the game to do some hunting, but after distributing the dropped items to the party members, a lot of time had already passed.
Hunting was out of the question…
Just then, I felt something soft against my back.
“?”
I instinctively tried to turn around to identify the source of the sensation, but the weight pressing against me caused my body to tilt forward first.
“Is this the game you were talking about?”
It was Catherine.
“Yeah.”
“Wow, this is a really old machine. Where did you get it?”
“We got it at an antique shop.”
“…Hmm.”
Catherine’s gaze shifted to Eve’s computer next to mine.
An uncomfortable silence followed.
I couldn’t focus because of the sensation on my back, and Catherine, who seemed somewhat displeased, continued examining the computers.
Andrea and Eve, who had been conversing, were now watching us.
Catherine, breaking the silence, asked me,
“Which antique shop?”
“…The one in the Banta Market. It’s the biggest one there, so it’s easy to find─.”
“Ah, I don’t really know. Could you go with me?”
Huh?
Me?
Why?
Before I could respond with this three-part logic, I met Catherine’s golden eyes.
“…….”
Seeing her eyes again, I felt bad refusing.
No, I should refuse this time. I’d been going out too much lately. I just wanted to relax at home.
But before I could express my refusal, Andrea approached us.
“Oh, is it that fun? Then let’s go buy one for me too.”
No…
I’m absolutely not going─.
Then Eve spoke.
“Concurring with the human ‘Catherine’s’ opinion, this unit recognizes the need to acquire new attire.”
Ah.
Three pairs of eyes, each distinct, stared at me.
And so, ultimately, regardless of my wishes, it was decided that we would all go out together.
I feel like I’m going to have a breakdown.
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