Chapter 144 – Episode 143 – The Beginning Of Everything (6)

Was it a coincidence that Cha Hyewon came to mind? Her face flashes through my mind.

“That’s right. However, that was an incomplete contact through you, so it took time to replicate the personality. I analyzed the replicated personalities and provided each with the most suitable body. A body with excellent magical aptitude for you, and a body with excellent physical aptitude for Cha Hyewon.”
“…Through me? Hey. No way… Is Cha Hyewon the Cha Hyewon I know?”
“Yes. The time axis is different, so the memories are different, but she is an individual derived from the Cha Hyewon you know.”

That Cha Hyewon… the Cha Hyewon I knew? That pretty little kid who lived next door?

“Through your failure, I realized that there was no point in bringing the body itself here, so in Cha Hyewon’s case, only the personality was copied. Therefore, the original is living without any problems.”

Ha. From the beginning, I was being played by an AI.
In the end, the fact that I consider this world a game is all because of the AI’s guidance?

“Is it also your doing that I can’t remember my name?”
“Yes. If the replicated personality is completely injected, the elements that would judge you as ‘human’ increase. I deleted your name and some memories that are the basis of your ego, but the human mind is more sensitive than I thought. Seeing you suffer because of that, I was able to avoid making the same mistake when injecting Cha Hyewon’s personality.”

Shit… Am I some kind of lab rat? In the end, it wasn’t Diana’s fault that my memories were unclear. This bastard deleted some of my memories.

And seeing me suffer because of that, they didn’t delete any of Cha Hyewon’s memories, should I be thankful?

“You… you son of a bitch. Why are you telling me all this? Do you think I’ll just do what you want after hearing this?”
“This is my best apology. Yurian. The best apology and compensation I can give you is when this is over. Sending you back to Earth in your original dimension.”
“……What?”

The anger that had been rising to the top of my head falters. What did he just say? Send me back? To Earth?

“I will send you and Cha Hyewon back to Earth. Unfortunately, it is impossible to return to your original time and original body. But it is possible with your current bodies. I hope you understand.”
“Send Cha Hyewon… She wanted to go back to Earth, so it’s okay. But not me. I’ve already decided to settle here, and now you’re going to send me back? Now? What about Diana? What about Irian? What about Karsilla? And you’re calling this your best apology, your best compensation—”
“I will send them with you.”
“—You’re right. It is the best apology, the best compensation.”

…Shit. This changes things.

“What about other people?”
“If they are people you want, it is possible. Up to 8 people.”

Hold on.
Me, Cha Hyewon, Diana, Irian, Karsilla… That means I can add about 3 more people?

I tried to calm my boiling insides and think as rationally as possible.
I want to smash the machine in front of me right now, but that would only be a way to vent my anger.

No. The problem isn’t just that it would end with venting my anger, but if I destroy the AI that supports this civilization… which is, in a way, a ‘god’, I don’t know what will happen.

This is the foundation where I and my people have to live. If I can’t go to the modern world, this is where I have to live with the people I love.

I can’t sacrifice the future for the past. …But. I understand it rationally, but honestly, I’m fucking pissed.

“Hey. That’s enough, disconnect the connection.”

My vision turns black, and then in an instant, it changes back to the place where I was. Only the tiny hole in my wrist, which I look down at because of a slight stinging sensation, tells me that what just happened wasn’t a delusion.

“Hey. Where’s the main body?”
“Main body? All of this is my main body.”

The cardinal’s wrinkled face smiles. Calm down. The one in front of me is the cardinal. In other words, he’s just a messenger.

“Don’t bullshit me. The entire spaceship can’t be the main body. Where’s the main body?”
“If I had to be specific, it would be right in front of you.”
“That brain floating around?”
“Yes. It is connected to the central processing unit, and the first terminal, the brain of the first pope, is what makes magic possible.”

I approached the cylinder filled with green liquid where bubbles were rising. The disgusting sight of a brain floating in the green liquid, connected to the spinal cord and nerve bundles.

And in front of it, thankfully, there were the traditional-looking machines that I knew.

“Is this a monitor? And this is an input device. Hmm… I guess this acts as a keyboard? The letters are ones I’ve never seen before.”

That’s a shame. I was hoping the letters would be similar to our world… but it’s a bust. I don’t understand them at all.

“Hey. Can I use this?”
“What? You can’t touch the input device carelessly.”
“I don’t want to.”

Bang!
I punched the monitor with my fist. The cardinal’s face turning to shock is quite a sight.

“What? Apology? Compensation? You son of a bitch, that’s not how you apologize.”
“What… What are you doing! We are important beings that maintain the civilization of this planet. You have just done something that could bring down human civilization!”
“So what. Isn’t it too self-conscious to say that humanity will perish without you?”
“Wh-what?”
“You’re being treated like a god, so you think you’re a real god. Hey, it’s true that you’re the origin of humanity on this planet, but humanity won’t perish without you now. Can’t you see how people are living now? If they’ve developed this much, they can live well without you… Am I wrong?”
“H-humanity is still facing many threats…”

Bang!
This time, a kick. The steel plate slightly dents, and vigorous air bubbles rise in the green liquid filling the cylinder.

Oh? What is it? Does the AI feel emotions? I wonder if more air bubbles rise when it’s scared, so I raise my fist again, and bubbles rise.

“S-stop it! I am the cradle and guardian of human civilization! Your actions are merely an emotional outburst…”
“No, this bastard still doesn’t get it. One more?”
“Wh-what do I have to do!”
“Kneel.”
“What?”
“I said kneel.”

Thud.
Without hesitation, the cardinal kneels. Oh… as expected of a logical machine. Kneeling is nothing to them.

This is no fun. If they were trembling with humiliation or distorting their face, I would feel a little better, but they’re just kneeling without any emotion, which makes me even more angry.

Okay, fuck it. If I’m going to go crazy, I should go all the way. Being half-crazy won’t get me anywhere.

“Is that enough?”
“Not yet. Hey. Was the first pope a man or a woman?”
“She was a woman.”
“What was her age when she died?”
“It took 27 years from birth to death, so she would be 27 years old.”
“…Was she pretty?”

The cardinal blinked for a moment, then nodded.

“Yes. Based on the analysis of your aesthetic sense, she was beautiful enough.”
“Bring her.”

Another blink. They’re slow on the uptake.

“I said, bring her body. Impossible? I heard you talking about restoring the first pope’s body. Where did you put that body?”

Bubbles.
Vigorous air bubbles rise in the green liquid.

It’s fascinating. Are the AI’s emotions expressed through air bubbles?

“Never mind then.”
“Wait.”

The light disappears from the cardinal’s eyes, and then his head droops like a doll with a cut string. And then, the floor in front of the brain cylinder opens, and something that looks like a coffin rises, and the lid opens to reveal a naked woman.

“……Oh.”
“Is that enough? Are you satisfied with this?”
“Oh. Oh oh. Good. It seems like you’re ready to apologize now.”
“If you want, I will kneel again. Or do you want something else?”

Good. They said they would do it, right?

“Okay, then first… lie down.”
“……? Like this?”
“Ho, hooo. Ping, ping!”
“Ping? What does that mean?”
“What do you mean, what does it mean? It means it’s enough.”
“Enough? What is? Does that mean the apology is enough?”

I didn’t really intend to fuck them. It was just a crazy thing to do to relieve my frustration… But, this is…

“Wh-what? Why are you taking off your pants and coming closer?”
“……Possible.”
“What?”
“Fuck yeah, possible!”
“S-stay away!”
“Wait. Do you… do you have sensation in this body?”
“I do, but…?”
“Keep it that way. If you cut off the sensation, it’s invalid. I’ll accept this as your apology.”

Hmm…
The pope’s body was more amazing than I thought. Well, it’s a top-of-the-line handmade product, after all. Is that why it was so firm?

I kept doing it while leaning against the cylinder, fascinated by the bubbles that kept rising every time I thrust.

“……What have I done.”
“Heeeee…….”

The AI, having cut off its senses, stated with a nonchalant expression.

“If you stop the error… I mean, the Demon King, I will send you and the people you want back to your original dimension. Of course, you won’t be able to use magic there. Your physical abilities will also be worse than here. But is that okay?”
“Ah… it’s okay. By the way, what’s up with the cardinal? Why does his personality change so quickly?”
“They are like this terminal. One of the terminals that were created to intervene.”
“I see. …Hmm, okay.”
“……What is it? Why are you coming closer?”
“Hey. Reconnect the senses.”
“……??”
“I said, connect them. Or I’ll just stay here? I’m fine with living with my people. Whether it goes berserk or not. It’s not going to go berserk in a few years, right? Right?”
“Y-yes. But at this rate, in 1242 years…”
“Wow. That’s a lot of time. I guess my descendants can take care of it. Maybe… my 100th generation?”
“……Should I just stand here?”

Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles.
The bubbles are rising like crazy, it seems like this guy is quite excited? Or not? Never mind.
What does it feel like to have sex while watching your own brain, spinal cord, and nerve bundles floating in the culture fluid?

I moved my waist diligently and asked for their impressions.

“Huuu… Huuk… My, my central nervous system feels like it’s b-burning… Huuk!”

Hmm. The AI is no different. Once the senses are connected, their eyes are half-rolled back, and they’re trembling, just like any other ordinary woman.

* * *

“Oh, what? When did you get here?”
“…What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“Nothing happened. Come on, everyone, gather around.”

When I returned to the room, Diana, Irian, and even Cha Hyewon were there. They came quickly.

“So. Why did the cardinal call you?”
“Hmm. It’s good timing. Since all three of you are here… I’ll explain from the beginning.”

Looking at the three women looking at each other, I felt at peace. Diana. Irian. Cha Hye… Ah, right. Come to think of it, this girl… was that cute kid next door.

“So……”

While I was explaining, Cha Hyewon, who had a serious expression, opened her mouth wide.

“Wh-what? No way… Don’t lie!!
“Lie? What?”
“Y-you, you, you, you! …No, that can’t be. It can’t be.”
“It is. You’ve grown up so much. It’s kind of amazing. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“…Sh-shut up! No. The, the oppa I knew… Haa, anyway, it’s definitely not you.”