You’re lying… you’re lying!<\/p>\n
\u2015\u2015Why, why did Misaki disappear?<\/p>\n
Why–why–! “I’m sure this is a dream!”<\/p>\n
I must be having a bad dream…<\/p>\n
I desperately grabbed the air to collect Misaki’s body that disappeared in the air.<\/p>\n
If I manage to scrape up this dust, won’t it return to normal…? “That’s what I’m curious about.”<\/p>\n
“Master…”<\/p>\n
It seems that Himemi was trying to say something, but I’m not at the point right now.<\/p>\n
Tata-tata-tata-.<\/p>\n
Sorry to keep you waiting, Master. We’ve secured the route. And …….”<\/p>\n
Kaede returns and breaks stealth.<\/p>\n
He stiffened when he saw the strange appearance around him.<\/p>\n
“Kaede! What are you doing! Misaki because you’re late…”<\/p>\n
“Master, that’s no good!”<\/p>\n
Himemi grabbed my shoulder tightly.<\/p>\n
Ha–!<\/p>\n
What are you talking about? It’s not Kaede’s fault, it’s my fault!<\/p>\n
“I’m sorry Kaede, please forgive me…”<\/p>\n
“Ah, erm, don’t bite me…”<\/p>\n
Kaede doesn’t understand why, so she’s dumbfounded at my swordsmanship.<\/p>\n
“It’s just an eight-shot… I’m sorry.”<\/p>\n
“– Kaede-dono, wait a minute.”<\/p>\n
Chushin-kun urges Kaede to lead him to the side of the wall.<\/p>\n
I guess that explains the situation…<\/p>\n
“eh!”<\/p>\n
Kaede let out a single cry of surprise and sat down as if she had lost her back.<\/p>\n
That’s right… if you do this, you’ll lose even Himemi!<\/p>\n
Hurry up and protect Himemi!<\/p>\n
“Eh, Master…”<\/p>\n
Princess hug Himemi who can’t move.<\/p>\n
I don’t know when I will be shot again.<\/p>\n
If you don’t take me to the fence…<\/p>\n
Go to the wall in the direction of 10 o’clock and sit down while holding Himemi.<\/p>\n
At this position, even if the black penguin from earlier respawns, it won’t be in the line of sight.<\/p>\n
Mami came next to him.<\/p>\n
Get off from Sen-chan and sit on my right hand.<\/p>\n
It wrapped around my right arm, which was supporting Himemi’s back.<\/p>\n
After a while, the collapsed maple crawled around to my left hand.<\/p>\n
I lifted Himemi’s leg, placed it on my knee, and wrapped it around my left arm.<\/p>\n
I wonder if the two of you are close to each other…<\/p>\n
Tadaomi-kun also saw it and sat next to Mami, sticking to Sen-chan.<\/p>\n
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”<\/p>\n
I didn’t even know who said those words.<\/p>\n
But those words kept repeating in my head over and over again.<\/p>\n
“Maple”<\/p>\n
Himemi called out to Kaede, but there was no response.<\/p>\n
“Maple”<\/p>\n
\u300c\u2026\u2026\u300d<\/p>\n
“Kaede!”<\/p>\n
Himemi raised her voice and Kaede was startled.<\/p>\n
“Eh, yes?”<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you secure the route?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u300cYeah\u300d<\/p>\n
“Will the door open?”<\/p>\n
“Yeah, leave it half open…there’s the same mark on the door as before, so that’s probably the boss room…”<\/p>\n
“Does that mean it’s open… hmm? What do you mean… it hasn’t been reset yet?”<\/p>\n
“Um, I opened the exit of the boss room, and the red penguin turned its back and fought near the exit.”<\/p>\n
“Huh! We were in a battle, who was the opponent? I wonder what they were fighting…”<\/p>\n
“I don’t know who the opponent is, but it’s like a monster and an AI secretary. I felt like I was in command.”<\/p>\n
“The AI \u200b\u200bsecretary commands the monsters…maybe it’s a battle between the real Eve and the fake Eve…”<\/p>\n
Maybe I’m right.<\/p>\n
“In other words, I wonder if we can help the real Eve and go to the 5th underground level to solve the problem… what do you think? Master”<\/p>\n
“Oh, yeah… but… it’s enough.”<\/p>\n
“Why is it, Master?”<\/p>\n
Why, Himmemi? You can’t move, and even if I carry you in my arms, you’ll end up like Misaki if you get hit by even one bullet.<\/p>\n
“I will stay here”<\/p>\n
“I can’t leave you alone!”<\/p>\n
“It’s okay, if you’re here, the line of fire won’t pass.”<\/p>\n
“No, that’s enough. Misaki won’t come back no matter what I do.”<\/p>\n
“Master… Mami, no, what about Hikari-chan?”<\/p>\n
\u300c\u2026\u2026\u300d<\/p>\n
“Hikari-chan is a human, isn’t she? Are you abandoning her…”<\/p>\n
“\u2026\u2026that is”<\/p>\n
“Master, there are still many people to save, right?”<\/p>\n
“For me… the load was originally too heavy.”<\/p>\n
“It’s not like that, it’s thanks to Master that I’ve been able to come this far.”<\/p>\n
“But I can’t go on anymore, Himemi, I…”<\/p>\n
\u300cYes\u300d<\/p>\n
“I’m a coward, but… I definitely don’t want to lose you!”<\/p>\n
“Master…”<\/p>\n
Himemi hugged my neck and gently stroked my head.<\/p>\n
‘Thank you, Master. I’m glad you think so highly of me.”<\/p>\n
I don’t know why, even though it’s an AI, Himemi smells like a real girl.<\/p>\n
Even though I’m wearing protective gear, I can feel the soft touch.<\/p>\n
I’m sure my brain feels it directly, it’s just an illusion.<\/p>\n
No, wait, whether it’s transmitted indirectly from the sensory organs or transmitted directly to the brain…<\/p>\n
Whatever the difference in value, it will surely be the same.<\/p>\n
Himemi’s gentle and soft hand comfortably touches my hair and scalp.<\/p>\n
I feel nostalgic for some reason, no… no, no.<\/p>\n
This might be the comfort I was looking for in my subconscious…<\/p>\n
The mind naturally calms down.<\/p>\n
Something warm gradually spreads in my chest.<\/p>\n
“Papa, it’s okay. Mami is okay. I’m with you, I’m here.”<\/p>\n
\u2015\u2015Ouch, Mami’s words pierce my chest.<\/p>\n
“Are you sure, Master? Let Mami say this?”<\/p>\n
“No, no… I know, I know it’s no good at this rate…”<\/p>\n
“Master is just a little weaker after losing Misaki.”<\/p>\n
“I’m sorry Himemi… I don’t have the courage…”<\/p>\n
“It’s okay. Master can stand up again. Any number of times. Master is that kind of person.”<\/p>\n
“Himemi…”<\/p>\n
“I know. I can definitely stand up and fight again.”<\/p>\n
“… don’t overestimate me so much.”<\/p>\n
“I’ve said it before. My most important person, my one and only existence, is Master.”<\/p>\n
“\u2026\u2026Oh”<\/p>\n
“That’s why I believe, Master, will stand up and save Mami. Me, Kaede, and Loyalist. Until then, I’ll be waiting here.”<\/p>\n
I know it’s a relief.<\/p>\n
Waiting here, I don’t think Himemi will be saved.<\/p>\n
Even so, Himemi told me to go.<\/p>\n
“Aren’t you scared… Himemi, all alone?”<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to say that I am an AI, but it is a lie.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u300c\u2026\u2026\u300d<\/p>\n
“I’m really scared. I’m lonely, and I don’t want to be separated from my master.”<\/p>\n
“Then…”<\/p>\n
“But do you think I would be happy for you to abandon Mami for me?”<\/p>\n
“… no… I don’t think so”<\/p>\n
“Yes! Master, you like me, right?”<\/p>\n
“Oh… that’s right, I like it.”<\/p>\n
Yes, I can honestly admit that, I really like you.<\/p>\n
I don’t care about AI or humans, I just like it, that’s fine.<\/p>\n
“Then you do what pleases me, right?”<\/p>\n
“I understand, Himemi.”<\/p>\n
“yes?”<\/p>\n
“If you’re happy – I’ll beat them all and come back to help you!”<\/p>\n
Yes!\u3000That’s why I love my master!”<\/p>\n
When Himemi said that, my feelings were uplifted.<\/p>\n
I feel like I’m definitely going to do it.<\/p>\n
I’m sure this is what it feels like to be encouraged by your beloved lover.<\/p>\n
Even if I turn everything into an enemy, I feel like I can win if it’s me now.<\/p>\n
“I’ll do it! I’ll do it Himemi!”<\/p>\n
“Yes!”<\/p>\n
His whole body was filled with strength, and he gently lowered Himemi, who was holding him, to the side of the wall.<\/p>\n
Walk to the edge of the hole in the center of the roof and peer inside.<\/p>\n
It’s a square hole about 3 meters long and 3 meters wide.<\/p>\n
The inner staircase is missing.<\/p>\n
I see, this was the roof exit.<\/p>\n
The inside is made of concrete, and there is an internal staircase leading to the second floor.<\/p>\n
There is a large framed window at 6 o’clock, so it’s never dark.<\/p>\n
“Kaede, I’m sorry, but could you please check the safety downstairs?”<\/p>\n
“Ah, yes master, of course it’s thunder”<\/p>\n
The maple hangs on the edge of the hole and easily jumps down from a height of about 3 meters.<\/p>\n
I take out the rope from the item box.<\/p>\n
After waiting for a while, I heard Kaede’s voice.<\/p>\n
“Master, I’ve seen up to the first floor, but there are no Buster Penguins here.”<\/p>\n
“Okay, I’m going to put Himemi down now. Please support me from below.”<\/p>\n
“Yes, master”<\/p>\n
Go to Himemi and wrap the rope around your body.<\/p>\n
“Himemi, I think it’s safer inside the building, so let’s get down, okay?”<\/p>\n
“Yes Master, thank you.”<\/p>\n
“Tadaomi-kun, please help me.”<\/p>\n
“Gyoi.”<\/p>\n
Tadaomi-kun and I slowly lower Himemi down with a rope.<\/p>\n
When my feet touched the floor of the third floor, Kaede supported me to stand.<\/p>\n
\u201cKaede, can you move Himemi out of the window?\u201d<\/p>\n
“Yes Master, I’ll try it.”<\/p>\n
Kaede grabbed Himemi’s waist and dragged her around.<\/p>\n
She’s shorter and smaller than Himemi, so that’s probably why she’s more stable.<\/p>\n
I managed to move it to the wall and make it sit down.<\/p>\n
“Thank you, Kaede.”<\/p>\n
“Honah, Himemi-chan, I’ll be here for a while, wait for me.”<\/p>\n
“Yeah, Master, please.”<\/p>\n
“Of course. Don’t miss this chance.”<\/p>\n
Kaede purposely made a more mean smile than usual.<\/p>\n
“-What kind of chance is this?”<\/p>\n
Himemi made a rare, carefree smile.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“Hey, are you okay?”<\/p>\n
“Yes, no problem. I’ll go back.”<\/p>\n
Kaede grabbed the rope.<\/p>\n
“Honah, please lift me up.”<\/p>\n
Tadaomi-kun and I pull up the rope together.<\/p>\n
Kaede felt lighter than I thought.<\/p>\n
In the middle of pulling up, Kaede climbed the rope by herself and appeared on the roof.<\/p>\n
I peer into the hole again and check Himemi’s face.<\/p>\n
“Himemi, I’ll come back after defeating all of them–”<\/p>\n
\u300cYes, master\u300d<\/p>\n
Himemi made a smile that would blow away my worries.<\/p>\n
But on the contrary, it shook my heart with sadness.<\/p>\n
“Let’s go, everyone!”<\/p>\n
“Yes, Master, let’s go!”<\/p>\n
“Yes Papa”<\/p>\n
“Gyoi.”<\/p>\n
“Kaede is the first, then loyal retainer, Mami, and I line up in that order.”<\/p>\n
The column, which had become four people, felt awfully lonely.<\/p>\n
With Kaede in stealth at the front, we stepped away from each other and went down the inner stairs in a row.<\/p>\n
Kaede suddenly stopped and ran towards me.<\/p>\n
“I’m sorry, Master. I forgot to say something important.”<\/p>\n
Come to think of it, when I came back, I feel like Kaede was about to say something.<\/p>\n
“what?”<\/p>\n
“Umm, there’s a duck squad on the second floor of a two-story building about three o’clock from here.”<\/p>\n
“Huh! Captain Duck was there!”<\/p>\n
“Yes, when I secured the route and came back, there was some noise, so when I went to see it, it was surrounded.”<\/p>\n
“Eh, siege, I have to go help immediately!”<\/p>\n
“Ah, it’s all right now! The red penguins that were besieging have all been wiped out.”<\/p>\n
“Well, that’s good. Let’s go there first. Please guide me.”<\/p>\n
Himemi was relieved from the bottom of her heart.<\/p>\n
“Yes, master”<\/p>\n
The route to the entrance of the boss room was a place that deviated slightly.<\/p>\n
However, it was not a big loss, and the building in question was found immediately.<\/p>\n
The building was two stories high, and there were many bullet holes in the walls.<\/p>\n
The entrance is in the direction of 3 o’clock, and it’s in a position where it can be seen from the five-story building that seems to be the main base in the center, so I’ll have Kaede scout it first.<\/p>\n
As I waited, Kaede returned in a few minutes.<\/p>\n
“Master this”<\/p>\n
Kaede handed over Lilith, the pet squirrel of the Duck Captain.<\/p>\n
Lilith had a message addressed to Yotaro.<\/p>\n
When I pick it up, it reacts and projects a recorded message.<\/p>\n
\u201cYoitaro-san, thanks to Kaede-chan, we were able to avoid annihilation.<\/p>\n
But myself and Rihanna couldn’t walk.<\/p>\n
Rebecca and Sakura hold me, and the four of us escape from here.<\/p>\n
The door you came in seems to have disappeared, so evacuate to the building closest to the boss room.<\/p>\n
Just in case, I’ll put a duck mark on the building.\u300f<\/p>\n
That was all that was recorded.<\/p>\n
It seems Captain Duck didn’t even ask for help.<\/p>\n
Put Lilith in the item box.<\/p>\n
Since we can’t communicate, it’s probably impossible to get Lilith to guide us to the duck squad that has moved.<\/p>\n
“Kaede, let’s go. Look for the duck mark in the building near the entrance of the boss room. I’ll follow you about three meters away.”<\/p>\n
“Yes, master”<\/p>\n
On the way, move while avoiding the sight of the vigilant black penguins.<\/p>\n
There may also be sky surveillance, so move while paying attention to the sky.<\/p>\n
I soon found a building with a duck mark carved on the six o’clock wall.<\/p>\n
The number 2F is also engraved, so head to the second floor from the outside stairs.<\/p>\n
The door on the second floor was broken and half open, so I let Kaede go first in stealth mode.<\/p>\n
We waited a bit on the landing outside the door.<\/p>\n
“Master, it’s okay, it’s the duck squad.”<\/p>\n
Kaede, who quickly released her stealth, poked her head out of the door.<\/p>\n
When I went inside, the duck captain and three AIs were sitting by the wall in the direction of 3 o’clock.<\/p>\n
“Yotaro-san, I hope you’re safe.”<\/p>\n
“Captain Duck…”<\/p>\n
The reason I stopped speaking halfway through was because Captain Duck was full of holes more than I expected.<\/p>\n
“The number of people is decreasing for some reason… it’s full of holes.”<\/p>\n
Captain Duck said with a deliberate smile.<\/p>\n
I sat down in front of Captain Duck.<\/p>\n
“Yes, I lost Misaki. Himemi was also stuck, so I hid her in a building.”<\/p>\n
“Is that so… Misaki-chan… I’m sorry.”<\/p>\n
“Is this the entire duck team?”<\/p>\n
“Yes, right now… Katie was in the boss room on the 3rd floor… Olivia, Amaterasu, and Avril were killed in the battle here.”<\/p>\n
“Not much… Katie must have respawned.”<\/p>\n
“Oh, that’s true. But I’m registered at the pier, so even if I respawn by myself now…”<\/p>\n
“No, it’s probably because Botamochi-san, Tamotsu-san, Yukki-san, and Doubletim-san are also respawning.”<\/p>\n
“–oh, so …… then it’s rather likely that Katie has been saved!”<\/p>\n
Captain Duck’s face brightened for a moment.<\/p>\n
“Yes, it is”<\/p>\n
But it soon gets dark again, and I turn my face down.<\/p>\n
“But the girls who disappeared here…”<\/p>\n
“\u2026\u2026yes”<\/p>\n
The conversation ended there.<\/p>\n
Because we both didn’t want to put it into words.<\/p>\n
After a few moments of silence, Captain Duck looked up.<\/p>\n
“Good Taro-san”<\/p>\n
\u300cYes\u300d<\/p>\n
“What is the difference between humans and these girls…”<\/p>\n
Captain Duck suddenly asked a question.<\/p>\n
I immediately understood the meaning behind the question.<\/p>\n
Because I thought that the sadness that we both carried was the same.<\/p>\n
“…Is there a difference…I don’t think so.”<\/p>\n
Now I really thought so.<\/p>\n
No?\u3000But people have a soul or should I say , but AIs don’t.\u3000Or should I say ……, but AIs don’t have one.”<\/p>\n
Captain Duck seems quite surprised by my words.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026If there is a soul, does it only dwell in humans?\u201d<\/p>\n
“I understand that living things have souls, but digital AI created by humans…”<\/p>\n
“There is such an idea, isn’t there? But don’t souls only live in living things?”<\/p>\n
“Besides living things…?”<\/p>\n
\u201cLook, this is going to be an occult topic, but dolls that grow their hair\u2026 that\u2019s why things may also be inhabited.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes digital data also have a soul?\u201d<\/p>\n
“Yes. Whether it’s made by humans, whether it’s made by God, whether it’s digital, whether it’s physical, I think the soul exists there.”<\/p>\n
“I see…that kind of thing…maybe there is.”<\/p>\n
Captain Duck tilted his head slightly to the side, but didn’t deny it.<\/p>\n
Yes, I think so. I think so. That’s why losing them is such a sad thing. ……”<\/p>\n
“–I see, so that’s why I’m so sad. Then… it’s okay for me to be sad…”<\/p>\n
Captain Duck’s face softened a little.<\/p>\n
“Yes… I think it’s fine. Because it’s actually sad… If it was just digital data, it wouldn’t be so sad.”<\/p>\n
I don’t want to say the last… no, the last.<\/p>\n
I really thought so when I was talking to Himemi.<\/p>\n
It doesn’t matter who made it, as long as it’s an existence that can exchange intentions and emotions.<\/p>\n
It has a soul, it has life.<\/p>\n
However, at the same time, it may have been an excuse to comfort himself.<\/p>\n
“Yes… I’m sure, otherwise, it wouldn’t be so sad.”<\/p>\n
(Author: Jiraiya\/ Edit: Orb)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
You’re lying… you’re lying! \u2015\u2015Why, why did Misaki disappear? Why–why–! “I’m sure this is a dream!” I must be having a bad dream… I desperately grabbed the air to collect Misaki’s body that disappeared in the air. If I manage to scrape up this dust, won’t it return to normal…? “That’s what I’m curious about.” […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":93246,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"swell_btn_cv_data":"","_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/web.xana.net\/?post_type=story&p=88375","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-88375","story","type-story","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","categorys-reborn-as-a-xana-master","en-US"],"yoast_head":"\n