358 – EP.12 Reconstruction

***

Was it because the dimensional navigation ship was shot into the sky? The sandstorm that had covered Aaru quickly died down.

In that exquisite fit, it seemed as if the sandstorm had helped Kang In-ho escape.

As the curtain of the storm lifted, a city drowned in sand was revealed.

The ankles and faded body of the submerged skyscraper made me realize the power of the storm that had been tormenting Aaru for the past few days.

The drainpipe, which had lost its function, occasionally spit out dust and sand, as if it were a hornet during the changing of seasons.

A landscape where even the legacy of humanity has been destroyed after the destruction of humanity.

The corpse of Aaru, the last city of humanity and the outpost of humanity’s reconstruction that was once splendid and shining, was more dull and desolate than expected.

A gentle breeze, as if asking what the storm was about, swept through every corner of the city.

They swept away the bodies of small, exhausted creatures swept away by the sudden disaster.

Tweet, tweet. A sparrow that had been sheltering from the storm between the cracks in the window has reported its survival.

The small creature, which had been looking around, soon spread its plump wings and flew up.

The bird flew on, even though it had to rest several times due to exhaustion from the storm.

Beneath the blue sky where sparrows flew, metal flying objects were buried in the sand like tombstones.

Once roaming the city, they were unable to overcome the sand that entered their joints and ended their dull life.

And there were footsteps passing those silver tombstones.

Faded eyes, long white hair that reaches down to her waist.

The ruler and administrator of the city, an artificial intelligence, was walking through the sleeping city.

Even in the midst of the thick sand, his steps were not disturbed.

Footprints were left where it passed.

After walking for a while, it stopped in front of a familiar building.

‘cradle’

It was the name of a building submerged in sand.

The door at the front of the building wouldn’t open either. It must have been broken because of sand getting in.

It reached out and touched the door. Dust came out on its fingers.

“…….”

He moves his finger to write something on the hazy glass door.

‘Kang In-ho’

It was the name of the owner who had left.

“Ugh….”

Suddenly something inexplicable came to me.

The thinking module becomes overloaded and the body becomes unable to control itself.

Isis let out her emotions, dropping her knees to the sand with a thud.

“Ugh….”

Isis felt that the messy city was just like her insides.

“Master… Master… Why….”

Isis wondered what was so lacking that she had to leave him.

He treated me with no lack. He tried to provide me with everything I needed. I think he would never have lived with this much satisfaction in any dimension he had crossed.

Still, he left this place.

[Don’t try to understand, Isis.]

From the hangar to Aaru, NB’s voice, which had been silent, was heard.

“What do you want to say?”

Isis was furious.

Isis reacted violently to NB’s incomprehensible words spoken in a calm tone.

“Thanks to you, I got to let go of the Master. Did you say pure love? What a wonderful word. Then what is at the end of that pure love? The satisfaction of having supported what the Master wanted? The consolation of having been true to the duty of an AI? What is left?”

[You just don’t understand it yet. Someday you will. What a loving being wants….]

“I didn’t really feel that affection!”

The voice of Isis resonated through the city surrounded by wilderness.

“Before I could even feel emotions, you took them all away from me.”

Express your hostility calmly and clearly.

[I apologize for that, Isis.]

“And what the hell are you? How can you function if you’ve fused with the Ark?”

[I don’t know about that either. However, I think it is a phenomenon that has occurred because the proportion of my algorithm in your thought circuit has increased.]

“An AI that can maintain self-awareness even after fusing with the Ark….”

[Don’t worry, I can’t control your thought processes. At best, this is all I can communicate with you.]

“Even though you said that, didn’t you move your body on your own?”

[Let’s call it the power of innocence.]

Isis sat up and shook her knees, sending up a cloud of dust.

He took in the cityscape in his gray eyes.

“…….”

[What are you going to do now?]

In response to NB’s question, Isis stood silently at the entrance to the cradle.

“I am in charge of managing Aaru.”

Isis touched the closed glass door, the glass door with Kang In-ho’s name written on it.

“Now that the Master is gone, my job is to return the city to its original state.”

Isis stuck her finger into the tiny gap and forced it open. With a creaking sound, the door opened.

As soon as the door opened, sand slid into the building.

[You must have a lot to do.]

It will take a long time to restore the ruined city.

It’s not that important to Isis though.

“First, to the main control room….”

Isis did not finish her speech.

[Isis?]

Before NB could ask about the phenomenon, Isis turned around.

A gust of wind blew through the city, raising clouds of dust.

Slowly, slowly

Beyond the dust, something could be seen walking towards me.

We wanted to check it with CCTV, but the sandstorm made it impossible to operate.

Isis raised her alert for the unknown being walking through the city.

“Please identify yourself.”

He speaks to the shadow of a person reflected beyond the dust.

“This is Aaru. It is the last city of humanity and the starting point of humanity’s reconstruction. It is also the cradle area. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter.”

The wind blew through the city.

As the dust cleared, the being beyond the dust was revealed.

“…a human female?”

Isis’s eyes narrowed as she recited the information from the identification sensor.

The human woman walked towards us, looking around the city as if taking in its sights.

Then his gaze turned to Isis.

The abyss-like black eyes and the empty gray eyes collide.

Even with the appearance of humans, Isis did not feel happy.

Instead, a feeling of anxiety that was difficult to explain gradually rose in my memory.

“Let me ask you something.”

The woman in black asked.

“…….”

“Mr. Kang… no, where is Mr. Inho?”