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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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Of course, if I had wanted true ‘freedom,’ it would have been right to also get away from the artificial intelligence, Eve, whose hobby was cyberstalking.
But that was just my wish, and in reality, it was close to an impossible thing.
Let’s think about it once.
Even the chairman of Ko-ozaka, a corporation that boasted the second-highest market capitalization in the world, could not handle Eve’s existence and had bowed his head in apology without hesitation.
In the cyberpunk world, Eve’s greatness was difficult to describe with just words.
Even if I were to run away to the other side of the globe, it would not take long for Eve to track me.
In the end, the choice of leaving Eve behind itself was no different from nonsense.
I slowly and deliberately explained to Eve.
“You understand, right?”
“Acknowledged.”
Eve nodded her head slightly.
‘Whew, the most difficult problem is solved.’
Thankfully, it seemed the route of Eve, who had studied emotions, evolving into Skynet had disappeared.
…However, it seemed Eve had understood my explanation a little differently.
“I see.”
“?”
Eve muttered in a more ‘human-like’ tone. Her peculiar way of speaking was still there, but her vocabulary was certainly becoming more and more natural over time.
Eve watched me with her white eyes.
“I understand it as the importance of this AI being superior to, and more important than, the other ‘individuals’.”
“……Uh.”
Hmm.
‘How on earth did she hear my explanation.’
I scratched my head in puzzlement.
In a way, it wasn’t a wrong conclusion.
But it was a bit much to say it was right.
But right now, I was in the position of ‘the subordinate.’
“……You understood well.”
“’Shiun’s’ positive remark has been confirmed, voice data has been saved.”
A slight ‘pride’ appeared on Eve’s expressionless face.
‘…How truly naive.’
I looked at Eve, who had lifted her chin in a triumphant posture.
‘Still, she’s a good kid.’
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Now that I had finished plotting with Eve.
From now on, it was truly just running away from home.
I thought, clenching my two fists.
My plan was simple.
First of all, Catherine, who was lazing around at home every day and playing the role of a home security guard (unemployed), was a variable.
I calmly cleared my throat.
“I’m just going to the convenience store out front for a bit.”
“Get me some melon-flavored ice cream on your way back.”
“Yep.”
‘Good, solved.’
In fact, it was a natural result.
I had recently agreed to all her suggestions to go out and play (usually, we go to the swimming pool.).
My conscience pricked a little at the thought of lying and running away, but no matter what, my freedom, rest, and mental health were more important.
《 Conscience Less than Freedom, Rest, Mental Health 》
Following this logic, I lightly rationalized my actions.
As Eve followed behind me, Catherine’s gaze did follow me for a moment.
But it wasn’t the first or second day that Eve had been following me around. Catherine did not think Eve’s actions were strange.
I went out the front door as naturally as possible.
I let out the breath I had been holding to hide my nervousness.
I had passed the easiest, but also the most difficult, gateway. Now all that was left was to actually pass through the entrance of the building.
I got on the elevator.
The lens of the surveillance camera contracted as it looked at me.
Basically, since this was a building where the chairman of Monolith resided, the building’s security system had become much tighter than before.
I leaned my back against the inside of the elevator as usual.
I couldn’t know what orders the security staff on the other side of the surveillance camera had received, but there was no need to look unnecessarily suspicious.
The floor number of the elevator slowly went down.
I didn’t know what kind of variable might arise.
I did my best not to let go of the string of tension.
Was my worry a poison?
Ding-dong.
The elevator stopped not on the 1st floor, but on the 3rd.
“…Huh?”
Beyond the open elevator door, Julia tilted her head.
‘I must absolutely not show any signs of being flustered here.’
For the record, this was something I had expected.
Julia particularly preferred to visit the 3rd floor, which was equipped with many arcade machines.
Perhaps because she was still a wanted criminal.
She seemed to have a lot of interest in the arcade machines that she couldn’t enjoy outside.
I cautiously raised my palm.
I stopped Julia from getting on.
“This is a down elevator. I’m just going to the convenience store for a bit.”
“……I see.”
At my words, Julia slowly nodded her head.
What was a good thing for me was the part that Julia was not holding the ‘white rabbit doll’ right now.
The rabbit doll she always carried was an object that distorted signals. It prevented a normal camera from recognizing her face.
As long as she didn’t have the doll now, it would be a difficult thing for Julia, who had the status of a wanted criminal, to follow me.
Before any other words could come out, I took the initiative and said to Julia.
“Let’s play a game together later.”
“…Ah, yes!”
I changed the topic of conversation to something Julia liked.
Now Julia’s head would be filled with ‘games.’ In that gap, I easily pressed the close button of the elevator.
“See you later.”
“……Yes.”
For the record, I also didn’t know when the ‘later’ I was talking about would be. Because people are subjective creatures, everyone’s standards are different.
Soon, the elevator door closed again.
‘If I had made a mistake, I would have been caught before I even left.’
I let out a light breath.
‘I want to get out of this extrovert’s territory as soon as possible.’
But impatience always brings accidents. I did not relax my tension until I had left the entrance of the building.
Before long.
I, who had successfully come outside, slowly lifted my head and looked up at the sky. I didn’t show my happy feelings and held them in.
The sky of Neon City was the same as usual.
It was the same color as an old television with flickering noise. It was full of gray-stained clouds.
But to me now, it felt the same as the bright sunlight.
To think that I, who hated going out, would feel warmth from going out….
Life is truly an unpredictable thing.
If I had my way, I wanted to savor the time alone I had for the first time in a long while for at least a few more minutes.
But the time I had left was not that long.
Catherine, who had been lazing around at home.
‘There’s no way a convenience store would take this long.’
The moment she became suspicious, a meteor might fall near me.
“Let’s move for now.”
“Where do you plan to go?”
Eve reacted to my words.
I lowered my head from looking at the sky.
I met the eyes of Eve, who was looking at me.
Eve’s appearance was always full of pure white.
And she must have even gone to a clothing store with Catherine and Andrea last time.
Where she had put all the clothes she had bought then.
Eve was still wearing a ‘maid outfit.’
“Look over there, a mai—.”
“…Unbelievably pretty.”
Not much time had passed since we had left the building.
But even at this very moment, people’s gazes were gathering.
I said, looking at Eve.
“First, we have to go change your clothes.”
“……?”
A maid outfit.
Even in the cyberpunk world, which values a person’s individuality, it was an attire that drew attention.
Naturally, it was not suitable for an escape.
“Hmm.”
‘Where was the nearest clothing store?’
‘I would know if I had to buy clothes often….’
I opened my visual interface and searched for the nearest clothing store. Since we lived near the city center, thankfully, there were several right nearby.
“We can go this way.”
It was when I had been leading Eve and had walked for about 2 minutes.
Eve suddenly stopped me.
“Awaiting for a moment.”
“Why.”
Even at this very moment, I didn’t know when Catherine might chase after us.
However, at Eve’s subsequent words, I had no choice but to stop my steps.
“From the moment we cross this sector, we will be tracked by Monolith.”
“?”
“Beginning the hacking of the surveillance cameras.”
‘Chairman?’
‘What on earth kind of order did you leave?’
If I hadn’t come out with Eve, my purpose would have been found out at this point.
While I was wiping away the goosebumps. A faint light swirled in Eve’s mechanical eyes.
“……Complete. ‘Shiun’ will no longer be detected by Monolith’s surveillance system.”
‘At this point, it really feels like an obsession.’
“…Alright, let’s just keep going.”
“Acknowledged.”
I thought as I listened to Eve’s answer.
‘After changing Eve’s attire to something normal, where should we go?’
Drek’s house?
Unfortunately, they hadn’t returned from their honeymoon yet. No, in the first place, if we went there, the risk of being caught was high, so that was out.
“……”
There was no suitable place.
I didn’t know if I had any connections I could use at a time like this, but in the end, my narrow circle of connections was the problem.
‘What should I do?’
‘Where should I go?’
I made a quick decision.
I decided.
I launched my visual interface and made a call to a number I had recently registered.
A short ringing tone followed. Soon, the call was connected.
[…Is this Mr. Shun? What did you call for?]
It was none other than the orc whose number I had recently gotten.
It was Tom.
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The building that had always seemed peaceful.
Inside the Gold Smile Condominium, an unexpected storm was brewing.
The reason was because of a message sent by the only man living in the building, ‘Lee Shiun.’
Sender: ‘Lee Shiun, an ordinary mage’
– This message has been sent to everyone living in the Gold Smile Condominium building.
– I need some time alone for a bit.
– I’ll be back soon, so please don’t look for me.
– That is all.
““……””
It was a very natural and obvious thing that the 6 women living in the same building had started a big discussion with that message in the middle.
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