20 – After a Simple Task (Part 2)
“It’s 7:30 AM. Taehyuk, it’s time to wake up.”
From Noble mtl dot com
Instead of the noisy sounds and vibrations from the phone and wristwatch,
A woman’s voice gently brushed my eardrums like a whisper.
Slowly waking up the sensation that sank with the hand tapping my body like patting a baby.
“You can go until nine. Let me sleep a bit more…”
“For breakfast and additional preparations, it’s advisable to wake up at this time.”
Was it something said right before falling asleep, with a kiss on the cheek?
Even though it felt like I had slept for a long time, I stretched slowly, feeling the sensation not yet faded from my dry lips.
Beyond the drawn curtains, there was a dense haze of smoke, almost like a faint fog.
“My body feels unusually heavy.”
“Would you like me to give you a massage?”
“…Maybe.”
There seemed to be no particular reason to refuse.
With a body so stiff, it felt impossible to move properly.
Furrowing my brows at the slight pain that I could feel while muscles were being loosened –
I focused on driving out the accumulated weariness from my body.
“Yes, now you can face towards me.”
As if finally setting down a heavy burden from my shoulders,
As if finally shaking off a drenched coat,
When I turned my head, feeling so much lighter.
” – Thank you for your hard work.”
“…You, really.”
Upon the lightly intertwined tongues, there lingered a trace of what had always been lukewarm.
Though Ilya’s face, gently touched by my lips, remained almost expressionless,
My lips were trembling fervently.
The android maintaining composure.
The owner unable to do so.
…It was embarrassing.
With my lips sealed shut, the one who gently greeted me with closed eyelids brushed his hair softly with his hand.
Revealing his face, leaning towards me with his ear slightly exposed, was a gesture I had never seen before.
Even if he claimed to be learning, I had no way of knowing what he was actually studying.
…But the intention was clear.
So that I could like him,
So that I could see him not as a machine but as a woman.
That’s how Ilia was approaching me.
…From the day we put our relationship into words.
“I’ll prepare for the outing while you take a shower.
Shall we also proceed with the maintenance of the firearms?”
“If you have the time, go ahead.
Besides, there are places that do it for free when you visit a weapons store.”
“Understood.”
Slowly removing my jacket and turning towards the shower room’s door before opening it, I glanced back for a moment.
In the same attire as when I was asleep, I just stared blankly at the swaying figure of the body I had embraced.
“…As you mentioned, there’s still time until the agreed-upon meeting.”
Detecting that gaze like a ghost,
I escaped from Ilia, who was trying to bring his hand, reaching for the desk, closer to my body.
I quickly entered the shower room, closed the door, and immediately turned on the water.
Only one footstep remained.
Once this is over, there was no doubt that I would embrace him.
Every night, when it became just the two of us,
he pressed his body against mine, and I didn’t resist.
On the first night, we fell asleep together.
On the second night, he made a request.
Yesterday, we drifted into sleep while kissing.
Tonight, things are bound to explode.
Even if I claimed to have no relationship with women, I could sense it.
I wasn’t oblivious, not a fool,
and above all… any reluctance had long disappeared.
For now, let’s focus on the task.
It was undoubtedly a simple escort mission.
Just pacifying a sensitive client,
pulling the trigger if things took a wrong turn, that kind of request.
Once it’s done, what will become of my relationship with Ilia?
Will the term “comrade” be buried in the past?
***
Fingering what was in my pocket, I took a deep breath.
The sensation of touching something for the first time in my life – just ordinary wrapping paper.
“Have you been tense?”
“No, it’s not that…”
“It’s not about the request.”
Her hand froze at the message.
She tightly clenched the object she had been fiddling with between her index and middle fingers.
“What does that mean…”
“I’ll say it again, I am not a human woman. However, I appreciate your treatment.”
“No, I mean-“
“My visual sensor has a simple X-ray function. If it’s not shielded, I can detect fractures or personal belongings.”
Nothing could be hidden.
Not emotions, not objects.
Was it because I was just an inexperienced rookie who could only be tossed around helplessly, or was it because Illya was special?
Where did this cunningness come from that made every situation advantageous for me?
“…That’s why it’s difficult to do anything as I please.”
In the end, she openly took out the bundle in her fist and transferred it into her coat pocket.
The space where she stored the gun was definitely discreet enough to avoid attention.
“If you found it unpleasant, I apologize.
‘I didn’t mean to do that.’
Suddenly, Ilia offered me an apology.
I wondered if it bothered her that I roughly stuffed it into my pocket.
I withdrew my hand and casually waved it off.
“No, I’m not upset.
So – “
“I’m sorry.”
My outstretched hand was grabbed by his.
Behind the helmet, his face was directed towards me.
Not through a message but in words, he admitted his mistake to me.
“…Of course, I know I’m a god.
I’ve become a bit more liberated in my actions, and I don’t particularly interfere with what you do.
I appreciate that you like me and value me.
But sometimes, it’s a bit too much – I wish you could tone it down a bit.”
“I will follow your command.”
Watching the blue light seeping through the visor in silence,
I pulled my lips apart.
Rather than a command… a request.
Didn’t I say that? I will treat you as Ilia.
There was nothing uncomfortable about what he had done to me.
Just a moment ago, my face turned red merely at the fact that I was caught, not out of anger.
“Are you referring to a request in the literal sense?
Or is it a word you’re using to replace the discomfort of the term ‘order’?”
“Literal meaning.”
Giving a gentle pat as if caressing the head behind the helmet,
I turned my gaze towards the soldiers who had descended to the front.
“It seems our client has arrived, Ilia. Shall we proceed?”
‘Yes. Understood.’
Perhaps he had something to ponder.
The one who had been momentarily frozen soon sent a message.
After confirming it, I slowly lifted my helmet and approached the man surrounded by personnel in reinforced exoskeletons.
“Are you Director Kang Gyuhwan?”
As soon as I spoke, large figures blocked my way.
They were well-armed, and their armored plates were properly secured, showing a firm readiness.
…Bringing additional arms was the correct answer.
[Please present your identification.]
The modified voice was so low that it almost blended into the floor, not easily understandable.
At a glance, the armor glowed with a color akin to a purplish liquid, for lack of a better description.
The sophisticated design of the bulletproof vest looked much better than those half-baked ones from Testudo.
As I took out my identification card from my phone, the two who had been glancing at it opened the way for me.
It felt as if steel doors were sliding open on both sides, to be precise.
At least the appearance was up to par.
“Excuse me. I’m Director Kang Kyuhwan. You must be the bounty hunters.
…Certainly, seeing the unmistakable Western vibe – “
As expected, the client, who seemed quite tense, forced an awkward smile at me.
He looked ordinary, probably someone who, like me, hadn’t undergone body modifications.
He didn’t seem to be mocking or disappointed.
As I carefully observed his eyebrows arching, it seemed like some tension had eased.
The problem was that he seemed relieved, calling it a Western vibe just by looking at my outfit.
“Everyone talks about it like that. Specifically, which aspects are like that?”
“Oh, well, the coat, for example. Or the double-barreled shotgun on the back.
I also heard you carry a 6-shot revolver.”
…I chose it because it’s unbeatable in tight spaces or even in open ones.
It’s even good for a quick draw in a fight.
Slowly, I was becoming the embodiment of that darn nickname Matthew stuck to me.
“So, shall we get straight to business?”
Suppressing a sigh that almost came out, I nodded, and at the same time, Illya joined me on my side.
“Ah, this person -“
“I am the android I mentioned earlier.
◈ -“
“Number 125. Nice to meet you.”
I tried to address him by name.
The one who greeted me first finished his greeting by mentioning his old number and slightly nodding his head.
“125… 125 – It feels like something I should remember.”
I had given him the name Ilia, so why did he introduce himself like that?
I wanted to ask, but this time, he didn’t even reply to me in writing.
…Surely, he isn’t malfunctioning.
From Noble mtl dot com
“Well, anyway. Mr. Taehyuk, and 125. I’m very pleased to be working together today.
Now, I’d like to explain the schedule, so please listen carefully.”
After a slightly trembling handshake, I saw it was directed towards Ilia.
However, instead of clasping the outstretched hand, Ilia finished the greeting by bowing his waist close to vertical.
“Um, it seems he’s not one for physical contact, huh? hahahaha.
Well, being a combat android, it’s to be expected, I suppose.”
If the combat defense protocol remained, perhaps such behavior might be understandable,
but his excessively rigid demeanor felt oddly strange.
While it might be called mechanical, it didn’t seem Ilia-like.
With a perplexed feeling, I accepted the paper that was handed to me.
This time, Iliya politely accepted it.
“Well, the schedule is confidential, so please make sure to familiarize yourself with it and return it to me or dispose of it here.
Now, I will briefly explain the meeting I will be attending.”
…I could ask Iliya about the attitude issue later. For now, I needed to focus on the work.
Damn it, I said I would focus on the work, but I keep worrying about that guy.
***
“So it was Kiu after all.”
Until the end of the meeting, nothing happened at all.
If you ask me if it was worth 50 million won, I just stood here yawning occasionally throughout the day.
The escort troops seemed to have relaxed to some extent, casually adjusting their guns or whispering among themselves.
Glancing at me from time to time.
I didn’t really care about the content.
I only had a sense that the time to use the item in the pocket of my chest was approaching, as the outside grew darker.
Iliya still didn’t say or text anything.
Just holding the newly purchased submachine gun in a ready position, occasionally turning her head.
It was good that things had calmed down to some extent thanks to the synchronization with the surrounding surveillance cameras.
“Oh, I made you wait. Did anything… happen?”
Occasionally, people in suits came out of the conference room, packing their belongings.
Some of them sparkled because they had completely replaced their facial parts with reinforced alloys.
Someone had a full-face respirator firmly attached to the mouth and jaw.
Compared to them, my client seemed too ordinary.
It felt like dealing with an ordinary office worker from before the war.
…Considering that Gemini Arms’ director was involved, maybe not entirely.
[No abnormalities in security.]
“Ah, alright then. Let’s get out of here now.
I appreciate your assistance until the end.”
I didn’t bother asking if the money was worth it.
The more the pay, the better, no need to create unnecessary trouble.
Seeing that Ilia, who still didn’t speak, nodded as a sign of departure,
he immediately leaned towards me with a casual pat on my side.
“Things ended much more smoothly than I expected. I feel good about it.
Perhaps the opposing side is surprised by the forces I brought into the conference room.”
“Who is this opponent that you prepared for?”
“NoMads. They’ve been gaining quite a notorious reputation recently.”
Their name was on everyone’s lips everywhere I went.
Thinking about it, my head throbbed slightly.
“Do they have a reason to dislike this deal?”
“Well, you’ll find out once you take on the commission.
There’s nothing I can tell you at the moment.”
“Well, I suppose that’s just how work is, isn’t it?”
“Indeed, you were a former mercenary from Mirasis Corp. It’s fortunate that we can communicate well.”
In the moment when her voice brightened compared to when they first started working, Iria raised her hand with a clenched fist.
Everyone froze in their places.
“Two, no, three high-speed vehicles approaching.”
[Notify Gemini Arms security personnel. Unconfirmed – correction, three NoMads vehicles confirmed.]
For a brief moment, Iria was surprised by the distorted voice.
Almost simultaneously, the same message was transmitted from the radio the client was holding.
“Things won’t go so smoothly. No matter.”
The client’s face immediately stiffened, quite a sight to behold.
Perhaps it was due to being too tense. His skin was turning almost white.
“Follow the security team. NoMads couldn’t have suddenly infiltrated the city.
Since they’re coming from the outskirts, they must have forced their way through the commercial district security forces.
That’s why they’re using high-speed vehicles.”
She took the revolver out of her chest and holstered it at her waist.
She loaded bullets into the double barrels on her back and proudly showed it off.
“Leave those guys to us and focus on getting into the vehicles with the security forces.
Hey, you guys. Do you have any body armor?”
One of the five drew a shield stored on their wrist.
A faint smile emerged at the appearance reminiscent of the old Illya.
“Guard the client closely.
We’ll try our best to disperse the firepower on this side.
If possible, let it end on our terms.
Now, move.”
Nodding, they grabbed Director Kang Kyu-hwan without hesitation and shifted their feet.
The sight of them being dragged almost like being pulled to a parking lot was pitiful.
“What, what are you planning to do over there?”
“Don’t worry. Just follow the security personnel instructions.
We’ll pay you the worth.”
They raised their hand for a greeting and glanced at Illya waiting beside.
Outside, some vehicles were already hastily trying to escape.
“How far have they come?”
“Exactly one minute, they will arrive at the main gate.”
Pulling the trigger a few times there would quickly end things.
It wasn’t a chaotic indoor battle,
nor was it something preparing for a large-scale assault.
“It should be much easier than a raid operation. Don’t you think?”
Feeling the surprisingly quiet surroundings, when trying to put on the helmet strapped to the waist.
My hand holding the gun was suddenly grabbed, and what appeared was the face of Ilia.
“…You need to be careful.”
Was it because of the voice that felt a bit tender?
Or perhaps it was due to the faint sweetness felt from the dry lips.
Or maybe, standing in front of me like in the past, it felt like the one running ahead had completely returned to the old days.
…Perhaps, because of the changed relationship now, I ended up imagining that thing in my arms.
“The enemy just now was the last one.”
When I came to my senses, the scent of acrid gunpowder was wafting from the muzzle of the shotgun.
The whole thing was over in an instant.