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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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The Neon City landscape was the same as always. Everywhere was dazzling, filled with the ever-brilliant glow of holograms. I stood amidst the urban forest and turned my gaze to the holographic billboards floating in the air.
《Innovation: The World’s Best Products.》
Along with the advertising slogan, which I couldn’t quite decipher, appeared Andrea’s giant face. Beneath her hologram, the Monolith corporate logo slowly rotated.
It was undeniable that the live broadcast we had appeared on had ended in utter chaos. Furthermore, due to the sudden (Eve’s) hacking, the broadcast hadn’t even concluded properly.
I had naturally assumed the NetSpace would be buzzing with talk about us. I had roughly imagined something like, ‘Losing faith is akin to death…! The news of Andrea’s bigamy means the other man must die…!’
However, thankfully, my predictions were wonderfully off the mark.
The reason was simple.
Thanks to the appearance of the “Chairman of Monolith,” the head of the megacorps that ruled cyberpunk, the world’s largest corporation, with the highest market capitalization.
That was probably it. Most people watching the live broadcast would have hurriedly withdrawn from the forums as soon as the Chairman of Monolith appeared, posting things like, ‘Mmmph! I didn’t say anything!’
It was obvious, even without seeing it. No one in NetSpace would want to be on the bad side of a megacorp (Monolith) with a dedicated legal team constantly on standby.
Of course, that didn’t mean there weren’t any clueless individuals. In Neon City, home to all kinds of people, there were also a considerable number of fools, and many who craved attention, looking only ahead without considering the consequences.
Those who believed they could escape through death if sued weren’t afraid to post various opinions about “Andrea” or the “Chairman.”
But their actions didn’t last long. As if some “tremendous AI” was automatically deleting posts on NetSpace, related posts began to disappear rapidly.
Just as a fire without fuel can’t burn for long, an issue without interest fades quickly.
The controversy surrounding Andrea was gradually forgotten, pushed aside by other gossip.
And so, the legendary broadcast of “Rex Nova’s Show Live” disappeared from everyone’s memory.
Incidentally, this is what I mean by other gossip: Andrea’s image vanished from the holographic billboard. The advertisement ended, and the next news item followed.
《NCB24 breaking news. ‘Vince Barbo,’ recently released from prison after serving time for tax evasion and other charges, has been urgently arrested again. The NCPD has not yet announced the charges─.》
As a game setting, Neon City was one of the noisiest cities in this world, filled with incidents and accidents day in and day out.
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I tore my gaze away from the billboard and looked at the three women walking with me. One was wearing a maid outfit that clashed with the street atmosphere, and another was so striking she seemed to radiate a golden light. Lastly, there was a woman concealing her face with sunglasses and a mask, her long “elf ears” hidden under a hat.
Regardless of yesterday’s live broadcast, it was an unavoidable disguise for a celebrity.
“Hmm?”
Andrea, noticing my gaze, looked at me. Her red eyes, visible above her slightly lowered sunglasses, stared straight at me.
“Ah, this.”
Her large eyes crinkled into crescents.
“You saw it last time, right? The same mask.”
Even with most of her face covered, her smile was evident.
I was just curious because the face on the billboard was right next to me.
I cleared my throat awkwardly.
“Ahem, so where are we going?”
I was asking whether we were heading to the Banta Market for the antique shop or to a clothing store to get rid of Eve’s maid outfit.
The three of them whispered amongst themselves for a moment. After a brief discussion, Andrea nodded and continued.
“Let’s go somewhere close first.”
With that, Andrea led the way.
To get to the Banta Market from here, we would have to travel to Little Shinjuku, which would take considerable time even by monorail. So, it was a reasonable choice.
We followed Andrea. My home, the Golden Smile Condominium, was located in the mid-level business district. It was very close to Center Plaza, the central business district, so there was a sizable shopping area.
While Andrea and I, with our masked faces, didn’t attract attention, Eve and Catherine, both objectively beautiful, drew glances from those around us. Especially Eve, likely because of her maid outfit.
Anyway…
“…Hmm, was it here?”
The clothing store Andrea found was neither particularly large nor particularly small. Honestly, I wondered why she had specifically chosen this place.
As if sensing my expression, Andrea briefly explained.
“If we go to a name-brand store, they only sell that brand, and if we go to a small boutique, there won’t be much selection.”
We entered the clothing store.
“Welcome!”
A neatly dressed female employee greeted us.
Catherine and Eve, who had little or no experience in clothing stores, seemed busy looking around at the clothes.
Once again, Andrea took the lead and spoke to the employee.
“Ah, I’m fine. Please help these two find something nice.”
“…Hey, I wasn’t planning on buying anything.”
“It’s good to buy something while we’re here.”
Saying so, she gently pushed Catherine and Eve towards the employee.
It was natural for the employee to let out a short gasp of admiration after taking in their appearances.
“Oh my, with these two, I’ll be happy to help. I won’t charge for the fashion consultation… so could you perhaps give us a shout-out on social media later?”
“That’s a bit… no.”
“Come on, don’t be like that─.”
Leaving the clinging employee behind, Andrea approached me.
Catherine looked at us with a slightly disgruntled expression, but the employee’s promise to pick out clothes that suited them perfectly was the deciding factor. She reluctantly allowed herself to be led away to one side of the store.
Eve, who had been quietly observing me, naturally followed Catherine and the employee after I gave a small nod.
We had initially come to buy clothes for Eve, but since we were here, I thought it wouldn’t hurt for everyone to get something.
I took a moment to breathe and sighed.
“Phew.”
Then, instead of following the employee, I asked Andrea, who was next to me,
“Are you sure you don’t want to buy anything?”
“I have a closet full of clothes at home.”
Well, it was strange to worry about a celebrity’s wardrobe.
“More importantly…”
“Yeah?”
Suddenly, Andrea’s eyes lit up as she looked at me. She took off her sunglasses and tucked them into her pocket.
“Since we’re here, you have to buy something too.”
“….”
No way.
Did she anticipate this and send Catherine and Eve off with the employee on purpose?
…Andrea, you scary girl.
Overwhelmed by her momentum, I instinctively stepped back. It was a survival instinct.
Andrea approached me even faster than I retreated.
“Let’s take your measurements first.”
“…What measurements? I can just buy something that roughly fits─.”
“No.”
Andrea firmly cut me off. Her gestures seemed incredibly intimidating.
I was sure she was smiling brightly behind her mask as she slowly pressured me.
“…A suit would be nice, or maybe a complete change of style. You’re always so bundled up, so maybe something a little more open this time…”
Her muttering was scary.
Seeing that, I couldn’t help but squeeze my eyes shut, bracing myself for the impending pain and suffering.
Time passed.
The situation at the clothing store could be summarized as follows:
I (forcibly) changed clothes.
‘…This looks good, I’ll take this─.’
‘No, you have to try other things too. Of course, you’re buying this one as well.’
‘?’
I changed into dozens of outfits.
In the meantime, Catherine and Eve appeared in their new clothes and asked for my opinion.
‘How does this look?’
‘How do I look?’
They were feasts for the eyes.
However…
‘Oh, they all look good on you.’
‘Hmm… then try on something else. Since it looks good, buy this one too.’
‘Measuring heart rate…, failed to update maximum value. Proceeding to try on new, more efficient attire.’
‘?’
And so, I also got to appreciate dozens of other outfits.
As a result of this reckless shopping spree, I looked up at the sky.
The red sunset was faintly visible through the city’s shielding, filtering through the clouds. It was already approaching evening.
Personally, I was more tired now than when I infiltrated Ko-ozaka’s headquarters.
I muttered weakly,
“….I can’t go there today.”
By “there,” I meant the black market, the Banta Market.
Just how much shopping did we do…
I turned my head slightly and looked around.
I didn’t know the exact number, but it seemed to be in the dozens.
Catherine, Eve, and Andrea each carried several shopping bags filled with clothes.
Incidentally, the shopping bags Andrea was carrying contained clothes for me.
…
The clothes weren’t cheap, but the credits I received from the Ko-ozaka Chairman had generously filled my account, so the cost wasn’t a major issue.
“That’s why I said let’s just buy a few things.”
Catherine, who said this, also had her hands full of shopping bags.
I stared intently at Catherine.
As if she had a conscience, she subtly avoided my gaze.
“Sigh.”
Letting out a small sigh, I continued,
“Since we have so much luggage, we should call a driverless taxi.”
An SUV-sized one, at that.
I’m tired, so tired…
Suddenly thirsty, I spotted a convenience store selling processed food and drinks on the street.
“I’ll go get something to drink. I’m thirsty.”
“I’ll go too.”
“No, you have a lot of bags.”
I declined Eve’s offer.
I wanted to be alone, even for a little while…
“I’ll be right back, so everyone just rest here for a bit.”
“I want something cold.”
“I was going to buy cold drinks anyway.”
After replying to Catherine, I walked towards the convenience store.
I’ll pretend to pick out some things and take a little break.
With only the three women remaining, Andrea leaned against the street’s high guardrail and spoke,
“…But I’m curious about one thing.”
She put down her shopping bags, crossed her arms, and continued naturally,
“I understand myself, but what do you two see in him? Let’s talk frankly since it’s just the three of us.”
Catherine and Eve turned their heads to look at Andrea at the sudden question. Although it was a lighthearted question, as if she were joking, both intuitively sensed the various worries contained within.
So, without the leisure to joke, Catherine answered,
“…Well, for me, we’ve been together for over 10 years. A lot has happened during that time. Honestly, at first, I thought of him like a younger brother, but now it’s quite different.”
Next, Eve spoke.
“This unit’s existence in this world is ultimately due to Shiun’s choice. I haven’t learned the emotion of ‘love’ yet, but when I observe Shiun directly with this body, I recognize an increase in my heart rate.”
The gazes of the two, having confessed their honest feelings, finally settled on Andrea.
It was a sign that they had spoken, so it was her turn next.
Andrea slowly opened her mouth.
“…Me.”
…
‘…Nothing much happened.’
Andrea inevitably felt outmatched by the two.
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