362 – EP.12.5 Each World: Isis & NB

***

Broken city.

The cityscape looked more like a giant monster movie than a natural disaster movie.

Sparks were flying from the exposed cross-sections of wires with their outer coverings peeled off, and streetlights and trees were half-folded or broken and scattered across the road.

On top of the heterogeneous sand dunes, there were artificial tombs.

Until a few days ago, drones were flying around and controlling cities, and so was an AI called ISIS.

The condition of the drones, which required two adult men to lift, was not very good.

A few drones were left inoperable due to the dirt that had crept into the giant drone graveyard. Some were folded in half, some were bitten off, and some were sharply cut, leaving their cross-sections visible, scattered across the city.

The metal corpses were sleeping soundly, not even screaming.

Of course, the main culprit of this disaster was not the sandstorm that had been blowing for several days.

There was a woman staggering in the midst of the carnage.

A woman holding her head with one hand. She must have had a hard time standing, because she soon dropped her knees into the sand and took a deep breath.

“Ahhh….”

A headache, a severe headache at that, was plaguing her.

He bent down with his face hunched over in an undignified manner, as if he were severely motion-sick.

– Woof

The woman, who was soon face to face with the ground, retched.

Since I hadn’t eaten anything, nothing came up, but instead, pain came up.

Her vomiting continued.

And the headache was still there.

“it hurts….”

At first glance, Imina’s eyes seemed emotionless, but they were clearly engraved with emotion.

She saw her own shadow, swaying and shifting in size and shape, grotesquely.

“Mr. Kkumu?”

At her call, the shadow stirred even more fiercely as if responding.

-Tch

The shadow spat something out.

White hair, gray eyes. It was the hair of the woman who had just been talking to him.

It seemed odd that the cross-section of the person was not visible, but it wasn’t surprising.

Straighten your back and look around.

There were shattered drones and parts of human-shaped robots scattered around her.

‘They all look the same.’

White hair, gray eyes. Although there were slight differences between each individual, their appearances were identical.

‘Oh, it might be a bit misleading to say that they look the same.’

Looking at the robot parts rolling around in pieces, Yimina thought.

She tried to recall her conversation with the robot, who identified herself as Isis.

I don’t remember well, but I’m sure we exchanged a few words and asked about Kang In-ho.

She confirmed through the shadow that Kang In-ho was not in this dimension.

So I tried to chase after her. It was natural, since that was what she had been doing.

But that natural action was blocked by a robot.

“——“

The last memory he could recall was of the robot blocking him with a stern face.

I don’t remember what I said.

My headache is getting worse.

I bend down as the nausea comes back.

I keep clearing my throat even though I have nothing to vent.

The stomach turns inside out, and something struggles to come out.

I feel confused, as if my head is foggy.

It’s unnatural, like a railroad track with a broken memory.

Yesterday’s events are like tomorrow, and tomorrow’s events are like today.

So who is it? The person I’m trying to find?

***

The woman who had been suffering for a long time suddenly disappeared just as she had appeared.

There is nothing left in Aaru, the graveyard of iron, the last hope for humanity.

The long silence in the space was filled by the sound of the wind.

[I think it’s gone.]

An android lying on the sand dune woke up.

It was a monstrosity with no arms and half of its face blown off, revealing its insides.

“This is the only body that can move. The damage is greater than expected.”

[Not just a little bit, but a very big bit.]

NB added useless words. But it wasn’t nonsense.

Even though Aaru’s full power could not be drawn out due to the sandstorm, Isis did not calculate that a single human would completely destroy the drone unit and 90% of the android bodies she had stored up.

“I think it should be defined as something that goes beyond human categories.”

[I agree.]

NB agreed with Isis’s words and continued speaking.

[Now I guess I should get ready to chase after them.]

“What are you talking about?”

Isis asked back.

[Of course, shouldn’t we chase after Kang In-ho?]

“You clearly said that you sent him away out of respect for Kang In-ho. But what do you mean by chasing him?”

If the ability to implement facial expressions were alive, the face would have been crumpled.

“You’re just talking nonsense. NB. I know that mass-produced AI has poor thinking algorithms, but I didn’t expect it to be this bad.”

Cuts down without hesitation.

[That and this are separate. Didn’t you see, Isis? Just now, how dangerous that woman is.]

“I agree that they are dangerous.”

[That woman is chasing Kang In-ho. I don’t know how, but I think she’s moving through dimensions.]

“…So, what does it mean?”

[If we leave it like this, that woman will reach Kang In-ho.]

“……”

Isis remained silent in response to NB’s remarks.

This was also an area of ​​concern for Isis.

[According to the divine law, we have a duty to protect humans. And if that human is Kang In-ho, we have an even greater duty to protect him.]

NB expressed his opinion fluently.

[For Kang In-ho’s happiness, I sent him away.]

[however….]

[If that woman is next to Kang In-ho, it is certain that Kang In-ho will be in great danger.]

[Any element that could pose a threat to Kang In-ho must be eliminated.]

“…I agree.”

[So, we will go after Kang In-ho. Fortunately, if we gather all the materials needed to rebuild the city, we will be able to create a new body.]

As NB said, it was possible if we used Aaru reconstruction materials.

The rag-clothed android woke up, crawling on the sand.

And slowly, with those imperfect steps, we head somewhere.

“But NB. I have a question.”

[What is it?]

“That woman, I felt favorable towards the Master. They say she is dangerous, but it may not be for the Master.”

[Yes, I agree.]

“Then why are you so certain that she would be a threat to the Master?”

There was no such thing as 100% certainty for AI. There was only 99.9, which was infinitely close to 100.

[Unstable mind, bizarre creatures not reported to the academic world, a body that survives bullets, incredible strength to stab drones and androids with bare hands, inexplicable power that surpasses that strength… many indicators show it.]

[But more important than this.]

[I don’t like that woman.]

“yes?”

[I am Kang In-ho who gave up what I wanted and sent it. If a suitable partner were to meet Kang In-ho, it would be perfect. However, that woman is not the right partner for Kang In-ho. She is rude, self-righteous, ugly, and unstable. In my opinion, she is not a woman who suits Kang In-ho.]

NB made his point without pause.

[Kang In-ho needs a suitable partner. At the very least, it has to be a woman who surpasses you and me. Otherwise, there is no point in sending Kang In-ho away. Kang In-ho should live happily in his hometown with a suitable partner. This is the happiness I want for Kang In-ho, and the happiness that Kang In-ho desires.]

“Okay, I have one last question for you.”

Isis asked NB a question that she somehow knew the answer to.

“As you said, if Kang In-ho returns to his hometown and meets a suitable partner, will you be satisfied?”

A broken android enters a factory.

It shook so much that it felt like it would fall over if hit, but it headed straight for its destination.

[well.]

Unlike his previous crazy answer, NB took his time with his answer.

As I touched the switch in the factory with my half-head remaining, the lights in the factory that had been stopped came back on.

[I think I’ll have to see that pair myself to know. As you know, I’m in our thinking algorithm, right?]

It was a meaningful remark and quite an amusing pun, Isis thought.

I don’t know anymore.

Is it NB that has taken over a corner of the thinking algorithm, or is it envy that is imitating it and pushing itself?

“Factory up and running. Project MK1. New Android body design begins.”

If his face hadn’t collapsed, he would probably be smiling bitterly.

Isis thought.