SSG 269
by CristaeHyewon sipped her coffee. The warm aroma of the beans helped calm her nerves. She took another sip and looked ahead.
A large TV screen was in view. Geometric patterns floated on the display.
[Do you have any other questions?]
The voice from the TV sounded exactly like the altered voice of the person who had claimed to be Yuseong’s secretary.
“…I have lots. I don’t even know where to begin, there’s so much to ask.”
[Just ask anything that comes to mind.]
Messiah. The A.I. who had introduced itself was there, beyond that TV.
An A.I. that could communicate with humans so fluently—she almost wondered if she was dreaming.
‘Could this be a hidden camera prank or something?’
But the horrific sight she’d seen in Yuseong’s room couldn’t be explained away like that. As far as she knew, there was no technology that could trick a person so perfectly at such close range.
‘No, Yuseong and that A.I. aren’t even the sort of people or things I know.’
Her head was spinning.
In the end, she tried to empty her mind and focus on the explanation she’d just been given.
Yuseong. Another world. Apocalypse. A.I. Beasts. Monsters.
Her head hurt again. Anyone would think this sounded like the plot of a movie or a novel. But for it to be real?
Just as the hidden camera theory crept back into her head—
The front door opened and someone—no, something—came in.
“Huh?”
With wide eyes, Hyewon stared at the robots entering the house. Human-shaped, they moved so naturally, heading upstairs.
“…What are those?”
[Robots. Don’t you need to clean the room upstairs?]
Could they be humans in disguise? But their machine-like, unified movements were impossible for a human to mimic.
So, Hyewon accepted it cleanly.
Everything Messiah said was true.
“You called them just to clean?”
[Correct.]
As the robots went up, Yuseong came down to the first floor. The faint moisture on his hair showed he’d just showered.
He’d washed off all the blood that had covered him.
“Are you alright, Hyewon?”
Yuseong sat across from her.
“If you’re feeling better, you should wash up too, Hyewon.”
Having tumbled in Yuseong’s blood, she was covered in it herself. Only now, at his words, did she finally realize her own state.
She looked like someone caught up in a violent crime. If she stepped outside, she’d probably be reported to 112 instantly. If her grandmother saw her, she’d likely faint on the spot.
[Here are some spare clothes.]
Once again, the door opened and another robot entered, this time holding several shopping bags.
[They’re the exact same clothes you’re wearing now.]
‘You got them already?’
Hyewon opened one of the bags. As promised, it contained duplicates of the clothes she wore.
“Then, I’ll excuse myself.”
“Go ahead.”
She started to head upstairs but hesitated. Seeing her pause, Yuseong spoke up.
“You can use the bathroom in the master bedroom on the first floor.”
“…Thank you.”
She was a confident person, but she didn’t feel like going upstairs to where the grisly scene had unfolded.
After Hyewon finished showering, the two sat across from each other at the table again.
“I let your grandmother know. I’ll be having lunch with you today, just the two of us.”
“Thank you.”
She’d been so overwhelmed she’d forgotten all about her grandmother. Of course her grandmother would be worried if her granddaughter who went shopping didn’t come back for ages.
“You’ve heard the gist from Messiah?”
“Yes.”
Hyewon glanced quickly at the TV.
“As you heard, I’m a human from another world. But all I want is to immigrate peacefully and live here. I have no plans for this world, and I don’t wish to harm anyone. So you don’t need to worry.”
[My purpose is to ensure humanity’s continued survival. So you needn’t worry about me either.]
“…I see.”
Her feelings were complicated, but still she nodded.
[Just for the record, even if you expose our true identities, nothing will come of it. No one will believe you, and this world is already in my hands. All that will happen is you’ll be laughed at.]
“…Didn’t that sound a little ominous just now?”
To claim the world is in your hands…
[As I said, I’m a superintelligent A.I. from a world far more advanced than this one. Seizing control of such a roughly digitized world was a piece of cake.]
Messiah even delivered a Korean proverb smoothly. That made Hyewon’s head swim. Was machine domination already complete, as the A.I. claimed?
[Don’t worry. Once again: my purpose is humanity’s survival.]
“…I’ll trust you.”
That’s all she could say, averting her eyes. She didn’t know how much of this to believe, but what more could she do? She wasn’t Sarah Connor.
Instead, she switched topics.
“Um, I have one question.”
“Go ahead.”
“So you’re definitely human, Yuseong?”
[I can confirm it. I’ve even conducted a DNA test.]
“You tested my DNA?”
[If you turned out not to be the same species as humans here, I’d have to make use of you and then kill you.]
“…You bastard.”
[As I keep saying, my goal is humanity’s survival. Meaning the humans of this world. So I can’t allow any species that might compete with humanity for survival. Especially not a species with advanced technology and information.]
“So it’s lucky I passed as human, huh?”
[Correct. So you don’t have to worry, Hyewon. Yuseong’s genetic data is unmistakably human. So reproduction and offspring are possible as well.]
“I see.”
She was shocked to find herself feeling relieved. Even after all that, she apparently still cared for Yuseong.
‘Am I really just hopeless at romance?’
But as her attention turned to Yuseong, she remembered that earlier scene.
The sight of Yuseong collapsed in a sea of blood.
“What happened, to wind up so injured?”
“There’s a hostile entity in the other world. I was attacked by him.”
A hostile entity. Instantly, Hyewon’s face showed concern.
“Will you be all right?”
“Not really. That world isn’t fit for human life. That’s why humanity, except me, is extinct there.”
“…….”
World extinction. Just hearing those heavy words, she held her breath.
“But that won’t last long. Soon, I’ll be able to fully cross over to this world.”
“Until then, you’ll keep facing dangers like before?”
“That’s just how it is.”
It was something he had lived with since birth. It sucked, but he didn’t dwell on it anymore.
But Hyewon wasn’t like that.
“Isn’t there any way I can help you?”
“No.”
She was just an ordinary person, albeit a famous gamer. There was nothing she could do to help him.
[Actually, there is one thing.]
“What?”
“Really?”
The two of them were surprised by Messiah’s words. Soon, though, their expressions shifted in interesting ways at what he went on to say.
“Thank you for everything today.”
“No, I’m just glad I could help.”
By the front door, Yuseong was seeing Hyewon off. He did this every time she visited, but the mood was a little different today for obvious reasons.
“If you ever need help, just ask. As you’ve seen, there’s quite a lot I can do.”
[Most of those are my abilities.]
“So you’re not going to help?”
[As long as it doesn’t threaten humanity’s survival, it’s fine.]
Hyewon forced a wry smile. An A.I. boasting of controlling the world saying it’ll grant a favor—it should be mind-boggling, but today had been so eventful that she just couldn’t feel it.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
She hesitated a moment, then spoke again.
“Be careful.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t plan to die. I’ll survive in this world no matter what.”
“I believe you. Oh, and the sooner the word gets out, the better, right?”
“That’s definitely best for me. But are you really okay with this?”
“Of course. It’s not even hard. I’ll definitely make you pay me back for this, though.”
She winked. Yuseong smiled in reply.
“I’ll do everything I can for you.”
“Don’t forget those words.”
Hyewon left Yuseong’s house.
As Yuseong closed the door and came back inside, the gentle warmth he’d shown Hyewon was gone, replaced by a hard tension.
“It’s time to make a plan to deal with Hades.”
[I wanted to ask what happened. Plus, some new information has come in.]
“Information?”
[Savior got in touch.]
“Wasn’t he occupied…? Oh, right. Hades must have left his side for a moment.”
[That’s right.]
“Good. Then let’s exchange information.”
Yuseong sat down and began conversing with Messiah.
He explained everything he’d experienced.
[That was dangerous.]
“It really was. I only barely escaped; if you hadn’t called Hyewon, I’d be dead.”
[I only did what a collaborator should.]
“So, what’s this information from Savior?”
[Not much, but I did learn how Hades is hacking Arc.]
“Is it useful?”
[Of course. It might give us a way to deal with Hades more easily.]
“Really?”
That was very good news.
“Now all that’s left is notoriety.”
[That should increase soon enough.]
That was thanks to the world discovering Yuseong was the CEO of Gospel.
[The absolute number’s still large, but Hyewon’s help should bump it up easily.]
“I see. She really is a great help. I’ll have to repay her properly.”
[Just making all the fake news about her real should suffice.]
“…….”
[You’ve noticed, haven’t you?]
“Of course.”
Yuseong had already picked up on Hyewon’s feelings.
“But I’ve got no time to worry about that stuff. I’m struggling just to survive.”
[But that won’t be for much longer. The outcome will come soon, one way or another. Either you settle down in this world, or die back there.]
“Yeah. I suppose so.”
[For what it’s worth, I strongly recommend it. According to the data I’ve gathered, she’ll help you settle here. I didn’t call her just because she was nearby.]
“When did you collect that info?”
[I want you to succeed here. So I keep gathering info that would help with that.]
“Much appreciated.”
Yuseong said, half kidding.
“Alright, let’s get to work on handling Hades. It’d be a shame to waste your new info.”
They continued talking.
A rumor reached those who enjoyed Arc.
It wasn’t about the game or Utopia, but people still watched the news with interest.
Romantic news—no matter what era, it was always a hot topic.