12 – Having Emotions for a Robot (1)
“How do I look?”
“…Do I have to wear the hood later?”
Even though I chose the face according to my taste.
What should I do if wearing a hood still makes my presence so noticeable?
Moreover, the leggings that reveal the outline of my hips and the slender waist…
No, I can’t.
I couldn’t let others see it with the same eyes as me.
“According to the analysis, it seems that Mr. Taehyuk is satisfied with my clothing, but why do you want me to cover my body?”
“…Look up, Ilia.”
“I detected an increase in excitement.”
Are you teasing me?
While suppressing my fiery face, I forced a dry cough.
If I had known it would be this difficult –
“I will repeat once again, I am always ready.”
“Don’t push me.”
“Do you dislike my appearance?”
…The eyes are close.
Knowing that it’s a visual sensor,
and being aware that its body is composed of artificial skin and reinforced materials.
Just as my comrades mentioned, it’s nothing more than a machine.
“I took this action considering our relationship with Taehyuk,
but if you dislike it, I’ll stop.”
Hearing those words made my heart beat even faster.
Was it because of the newly added rules?
And is it enough to make him more actively seduce me?
Could the choice of clothing be related to that?
“Taehyuk.”
Without zipping up the hoodie, a glimpse of fair skin showed through the slightly lowered opening.
The fingers gently holding my hand radiated warmth.
“Excessive patience can burden the mind.”
Words, one after another, whispered from the open mouth, pulling me in.
The fabric, different from my clothes, felt soft against my skin.
The slightly thick yet fluffy new clothes were warmed by his body temperature.
“I am ready to comply with your demands.”
Was the gently approaching leg merely an extension of an attempt to close the distance?
Or was it a clear outcome from explicit intentions?
“…Then, let me ask for one thing.”
“Yes.”
“For now, would you mind stepping back a bit?”
“This TaeHyuk -“
“No, really. It’s about what we discussed yesterday.”
It might have been just trying on clothes,
making sure the armor fit the body.
But what was happening now was something far beyond that.
It could easily cross the line,
and I might end up not being able to see Ilia as before.
“Yeah. Let’s just check if the bulletproof vest and helmet look good.”
“…Understood.”
Moving was uncomfortable.
Even though I hadn’t been moving my body hastily, I couldn’t help but feel my breath getting rough for no apparent reason.
I was deceiving myself, just as he said.
But,
it wasn’t just for Ilia.
– Click.
I locked the belt and tightened it around my body with my own hands.
The more expensive ones might fit with just a button press –
but the more complex ones had a higher risk of malfunction.
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“I’m going crazy.”
It fits my body perfectly.
That’s probably the right way.
Ironically, it was making me uncomfortable.
Even if it’s a bulletproof vest for women, it’s awkward when the chest part stands out like this.
“Do you want to try moving once?”
I gently turned my body,
and Ilyria, who also rotated her arms at different angles, nodded at me.
“Everything seems fine.”
But that appearance.
The curves of the body that couldn’t be hidden even though I was wearing a bulletproof vest,
And the color of the waist, smoothly revealed,
“Sigh…”
“I’ve detected an increase in excitement levels.”
“Stop it.”
It was driving me crazy.
I should have gone for a more moderate or slightly offbeat look, according to my taste.
“…Put on the helmet quickly and let’s finish.”
“If you’re tired, you can take a break for a while -“
Deep.
The helmet snugly fitted over his face, concealing it completely.
Simultaneously, a voice was audible only as a murmuring sound.
His eyes did not lower any more than necessary.
Looking at his figure, it was evident that it would become more challenging.
[Synchronization complete.]
“Can you hear me well?”
“…Yes. Seems like there’s no issue.”
He untied the bulletproof vest that seemed to have completed the inspection.
As each belt was undone, it seemed to burst out like unraveling, probably due to the ‘chest part’ gradually revealing its presence.
“You’ve worked hard. Well then, let’s prepare for the afternoon outing.”
– Toot.
Accompanied by the fallen armor, a thick and warm air rushed in.
Barely taking his eyes off the clothes that became more rigid and fluffy, he looked away.
His gaze naturally turned towards Ilia’s face,
“…”
Without a word, she tidied herself, letting her hair sway.
In the air that gently blew, a faint scent of perfume was mixed.
Certainly something one could commonly smell anywhere.
Why does it feel so subtle and pleasantly different?
I sensed the rise of excitement several times,
“Are you really okay?”
I wasn’t.
So, slowly heading to the bathroom, I closed the door.
… Illya was excessively provocative,
and also proactive.
***
After some wind subsided, the city where the sand settled began to show its outline.
When the yellow disappears, gray remains.
In the intensely cold winter, we could at least hope for a shining city.
“Taehyuk, about the morning -“
“Let’s focus on securing the first request, Illya.”
I forcefully cut off the guy trying to ask a question.
Barely shaking off self-disgust, it seemed like my sanity wouldn’t last.
“All right.
Then I’ll ask.
What are we going to do today?”
“We’re going to bid on a public contract.
Heading towards the commercial district inside the city – we need to move by vehicle.”
When the weather clears up, I always headed to the city unless a designated request came in advance.
Of course, the side that receives the assignment pays well, but it doesn’t happen often.
Moreover, they were also the ones who refused excessively dangerous tasks.
“Is the timer and vehicle information displayed on the screen our means of transportation?”
“That’s right.”
As a mercenary who had risen in rank, the vehicles provided had a considerable number of options added by default.
It would be compensation based on the gradually increasing commission rate as everyone’s rank went up.
“…The driver of this vehicle is-“
“Artificial intelligence. There won’t be any contact with humans until we reach the city.”
At that moment, a black jeep appeared at the end of the foggy road.
The front bumper was heavily modified, and iron bars were attached to the windows.
A medium machine gun was mounted on the roof.
The sight of the long barrel connected to the ammunition belt reminded me of the old days.
“Isn’t it brutal?”
The more brutal, the better.
This neighborhood is not normal.
[Please verify the identities of the passengers.]
The vehicle in front of us immediately displayed a hologram window.
After unlocking my phone and entering the password, I entered the code that appeared –
[This is Tae Hyuk, and Il Ri Ah.]
[Two passengers. Identities have been verified.]
[Unlocking the inquiry.]
The sound of air escaping for a brief moment echoed.
After glancing around once –
“Take the passenger seat.”
“I have a driving system installed.”
“You’re not officially registered as a mercenary yet, so that’s why. Today, ride shotgun.”
“I can analyze security vulnerabilities.”
…Were they stubborn?
It felt a bit awkward that they hadn’t followed my orders at once since we met.
“I don’t want to unnecessarily ruin my credit. Hurry up and get in.”
“…Thank you.”
Pressing the button once, the thick door began to open slowly.
The mention of being able to protect against heavy weapons didn’t sound like an empty statement.
I slid my body through the created gap, pressed the button inside.
And turning to the side –
“Can I assist you?”
…Perhaps reducing the chest size was the right choice after all.
Or was it the result of covering even the cleavage with the body armor.
Even though a sigh escaped, it felt a bit satisfying as blood rushed a little.
Pressing the number 2 button located between the driver’s seat and the passenger seat, the slightly wider door finally opened to let Iria in.
“Thank you.”
“What should I do with you…”
“There is no problem with Taehyuk’s preferences.”
“It’s just that the design of the door doesn’t suit my body.”
Straightening his wrinkled clothes, he immediately searched for the seatbelt and fastened it tightly.
That was when it happened.
The peak hidden behind the grass was split into two.
“…Let’s go.”
I didn’t want to say anything more.
If I dared to fix it, I would undoubtedly end up in a more difficult situation.
I turned my head and brought my finger to the engine button to start the ignition.
“I detected an increase in excitement level.”
“Please, stop.”
That damn increase in excitement level felt like it was trying to kill me.
If other people had heard this, it would have already become a laughing matter.
I was truly grateful that there were only the two of us.
[Welcome, Mr. Taehyuk.]
“The destination is Incheon City, the first commercial district.”
“We have confirmed the wearing of the seatbelt. Autonomous driving will begin.”
Placing my hands on the steering wheel, the car gradually accelerated as soon as I did.
The characteristic, quiet hum of the electric car lightly swept through my ears.
“What kind of place is the commercial district?”
“Just as the word ‘commercial’ suggests, it sells various things.
All kinds of implants are there—arms, legs, eyeballs, organs… stuff like that.
Also, there are weapons, robots, food… even people in the black market.”
“Are you referring to humans?”
“If it makes money, anything can be sold. Unofficially, of course.”
I replied to his words, feeling the smooth movement on the empty road.
There were occasional scrap metals here and there, but they were easily overcome with a small clunk.
“I’ve detected numerous hostiles ahead.”
Iliya suddenly spoke.
A red circle appeared on the HUD of the helmet, and that area was magnified.
People with cloths covering their faces seemed to be wandering around with weapons in hand.
One of them reached out.
Simultaneously,
“We’ve detected hostile individuals ahead.”
“Preparing for engagement.”
A black panel emerged from the bottom of the vehicle’s front windshield, revealing a hologram that displayed the front area.
On the right, a small screen opened, perhaps a camera attached to the heavy machine gun.
“I’ve connected it to the shooting system. Currently, priority is given to the vehicle’s AI.”
They moved without even being ordered to.
The eyes, now glowing red, seemed slightly eerie.
“Don’t worry. As long as I’m sane, I won’t think of stopping this car.”
Judging by the condition of the vehicle, it was obvious it would retreat on its own.
There wouldn’t be many fools daring to attack an heavily armed vehicle like that.
“I pulled the trigger.”
“What?”
“I will synchronize my view with Tae-hyuk’s HUD.”
The messy screens in front of my eyes disappeared cleanly, and the situation started to come into view at a glance.
Crazy guys, trying to barricade?
“The vehicle’s AI is recommending withdrawal along with counter-shooting.”
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“…Prepare for combat.”
Guys trying to block the road by pushing scrap cars began to appear.
By now, you should be able to vaguely see the outline.
Brave guys, it seems.
“The vehicle intends to break through as it is.”
“Switch to manual mode.”
If they pushed the barricade as it is, the car would undoubtedly get scratched.
Then it was painfully obvious where that money would be wasted, like looking at an unlit fire.
Damn those bastards putting narratives even into artificial intelligence.
As the steering wheel extended toward me, the speed of the accelerating car instantly felt diminishing.
Pressing the brake, I discreetly pulled out the revolver from my pocket and gently placed it beside my right leg.
“Illia, what’s the status of the shooting system?”
“Permission from Lord Taehyuk is required.”
Bullets began hitting the vehicle one by one.
The sound of them bouncing off was cheerful, but I had no intention of enjoying it indefinitely.
“Initiate defensive shooting.”
As the words finished, the car began shaking heavily.
Heavy casings started banging against the ceiling.
…But, the real beginning was now.
“Damn those looters.”
We had to break through the blocked road.