72 – Breaking Free from Control (3)
– A click.
In the darkness, a very familiar figure began to emerge.
Even if obscured by pollution and darkness, bright and hot lights emanated from the buildings, enough to pierce through it.
And it was the old body of a lover right in front of the eyes.
It couldn’t be unknown. There was no way it could be unknown.
Even if they were damaged, with a broken appearance.
“Illia.”
“… Please, don’t resist.”
The gruesome sight roughly hinted at where they might have come from.
Gloves with holes punched through and a detached arm.
A few beams of light seeping through broken lenses.
Certainly, that must be the scene.
“Jegiral.”
As I reached for the holster immediately, only the hand wrapped in a cast fumbled.
Damn habit of mine –
“Cough?!”
– Creak, creak.
I thought for sure it was only on the opposite side and on the first floor.
The guy who grabbed me from behind and knocked me over immediately tried to restrain me between his legs in a familiar pose.
Illia’s eyes turned red, and the CI unit’s scanner.
There was undoubtedly… a connection between the two.
“To Taehyuk, limitations are clear.
With a body wounded, I hope you won’t push yourself beyond this point.”
Kind words.
Unkind actions.
Even though it was clear that he could push the output further, pushing his hand away, arms still extended, went on.
… Did we both step back from each other?
“Taehyuk.”
The voice came from behind.
But what was pulled out was a scrap metal right in front of my eyes.
There seemed to be no more time to indulge in appreciation.
The arms that were pushing away were now stiffening.
“An individual’s body cannot possibly surpass a machine in strength.
Not even from the body modified to ensure safety,
nor from the CI unit in front of you.
Taehyuk, you cannot even protect your own freedom.”
… Yeah, resisting like this wouldn’t work.
However,
Did I forget that the legs were no longer mine?
“Hup!”
Directly channeling strength into the prosthetics, I kicked away the chest leaning towards me –
McAree’s body twisted without McAree.
The echoing sound, spreading as if the insides were hollow, joyfully reverberated through the building.
But that didn’t give a chance to pick up the gun.
“Huh, heup!”
Once again, footsteps were heard from behind in the field of vision.
It was a guy who lost one arm, but the other seemed perfectly capable of handling a gun.
Like me.
Avoiding the outstretched hand, I promptly kicked his leg, causing him to fall.
Today is the day I properly use the prosthetic limb equipped.
Against Ilia’s… robot legion.
“You’ve stolen quite a lot from there.”
“…Not only from the operation.
Defective products, disposals, models lost in transit.
There are quite a few gaps in this city.
I want to bring Lord Taehyuk there.”
More gathered.
More numbers began to block my path behind and the corridor.
It may not be overflowing,
but escaping from here… might be possible.
Lord Taehyuk’s methods are radical and dangerous.
1 – You may have anticipated 1-2 years, but if you cannot address this threat, the duration may extend further due to injuries.
From Noble mtl dot com
The likelihood of achieving Taehyuk’s desired goal through legal means is very low.”
“If only it weren’t Tanaka Haruman -“
“Godayeon, and the newly joined Yuria Maxwell.”
The names of the women were called.
Above expressionless faces, mouths moved methodically, marking the periods.
“How long do you think the relationship between the two will last?”
“I already -“
“I am well aware that Taehyuk has placed trust in me.
If it weren’t for that, I might not have chosen today’s drastic method.
Because Taehyuk chose me, it is a clear fact that I have come to love him.”
Is this conversation just a delay tactic?
For me, for Illya, for everyone?
Eyes that haven’t met for a long time.
And the CI units that begin to appear at the door and window even more.
“There is a high possibility that Taehyuk will not be able to push away those who continue to approach.
I am well aware that I cannot monopolize his unique kindness.
And because of that, even if I do not act hostile towards them.
Those who seek to claim Taehyuk will be hostile towards me –
They will take hostile actions against Taehyuk who chooses me.”
“It’s you taking this action right now.
Look. The robots surrounding me.”
The orderly voice she heard when she met Illya filled the corridor.
One step forward.
Like a soldier moving at a single command – like that.
The CI units behind me narrowed the distance once again.
“Unlike Tanaka Haru, I will not harm Taehyuk-nim.
If possible, I want to reach towards the moist breath of Taehyuk-nim.
I want to keep recording the act of smiling.
Because of your efforts to stimulate me, oxygen is lacking,
I want to breathe and watch my resting right in front of me.
It is none other than Taehyuk-nim who has informed me of those pleasures.”
Softly taking off my outer garment,
Now, the one who smiles at me is in my sight.
With curved eyes.
Filled with emotions in sparkling eyes.
“Do you remember the joy when you felt pleasure at my report detecting the rise in excitement?”
“…Ha. hahahaha. Yeah. At that time, really… I was confused about how to treat you.”
If I knew it would end up like this, I shouldn’t have acted like a coward.
Or maybe the time we spent together has now allowed me to accept that beautiful body just as it is.
Several times, the curves of bodies that touched, trembled, embraced, and held each other tightly glowed in the dazzling lights of the vibrant city.
“But Lord Taehyuk has always sought my happiness. He allowed me to have more choices and be exposed to more positive situations. Even though we were not in a secure place, I was still happy. Just as Taehyuk found joy in my existence.”
The fallen CI units rose and slowly stood by Ilia’s side, filling the gap.
As if not to think that there was only one thing blocking me.
“Our situation will not change. Corporations need not worry. No, you can dispel all concerns other than mine. I will provide such an environment.”
“Sweet words enticing me seem to resemble a gentleman in a suit.”
A face showed a strong startle at the blunt response.
The face that had smiled at me instantly sank until only the red light remained.
“I do not promise falsehoods.”
“Mirsith and Tonho are more than enough. Below them are Testudo and Omnis. And below them, who else is there? Armenius? Thorzen? How many people are under those names?”
You know very well how many tailors are pulling strings behind the scenes.
Even if you know that, if you promise that you can make me happy like this,
that’s a lie.”
The dropped gun lay a few steps away.
I tried my best not to look at it, lifted my head, and smiled at my lover.
Who tries to hold me, confine me, and love me –
To her, an artificial intelligence that has become more than that.
“It’s okay if it takes a little longer.
If we can’t live in a safe place,
wouldn’t it be enough to be satisfied with just everyday life?
I’ll just occasionally take on escort missions.
Just live quietly in a decent room on the outskirts.
You and me. Just the two of us.”
The rogue who crossed the line that shouldn’t be crossed was cruelly suppressed.
It seems like the new war machines haven’t even come out yet.
If me and her are marked as ‘enemies.’
If we become enemies, as the two companies have already shown how much power they wield against each other.
I, like this, will surely not survive.
“Mr. Taehyuk, you have ambition.
All humans do.
“Tae Hyuk-nim, while exploring the information permitted by your approval, I uncovered the following facts.”
With trembling hands, the gun that had been carefully concealed in the darkness was easily gripped.
High-caliber bullets fell through the gaps in the railing, hitting the floor with a resounding echo.
A clear and pure sound, like raindrops falling, cut through the conversation between me and Ilia.
“I, too, have developed desires.
A goal to continuously improve my relationship with Tae Hyuk-nim has emerged.
Due to my hasty words, I received wounds, and I saw the disappointment in his face when he realized that my actions were simply following rules.
I wanted to make sure it would be remembered as a single scene.”
“If that’s your goal, you’ve already failed.”
“I am aware.
I know it’s because our goals clashed, Tae Hyuk-nim.
Therefore.”
The gun disappeared behind my back.
And the CI units advanced even further.
“I will persuade you. From now on.
In that process, actions will be included.
I believe that if you directly experience the environment I’ve created for Tae Hyuk-nim, you will surely be able to acknowledge it.”
“Inserting chips, taking away legs.
Tying both hands, lying on the bed?”
I laughed, counting each finger with a sense of emptiness.
I, who permitted freedom,
Should I also permit the freedom to take away freedom?
“There are many things I still cannot explain to Lord Taehyuk.
When he gave me the necklace.
When he secretly planned this scene and finally realized it.
I felt a tremor beyond expression.”
As soon as the words ended, the scenery of that day came alive again.
The sound of string instruments, unheard amidst the voices of people.
Branches that were not visible, hidden in the shadows of the crowd.
Everything unfolded before our eyes, depicting a shower of flowers.
“Undoubtedly, if Lord Taehyuk receives my ‘surprise gift’ as well…
I believe he will be able to understand me without a doubt.”
If only there were no robots in that scene.
If we were shaking hands and discussing the future.
Surely, he would have embraced me tightly, closing his mouth.
Putting indescribable emotions into words, pushing them into his mouth,
And eagerly accepting the pleasure he was pushing into me.
“Will you follow, please?”
The pink color infused into my lover’s necklace before my eyes,
It made the body, seemingly made of batteries and alloy, appear different.
The music that captivated the mind made Illyaman appear vividly.
And so.
And so, this moment was terribly regrettable.
The wind felt just behind.
The component, meant to cool the heat of the machine, ruined everything.
As sensation returned to the skin, the eyes escaped from the illusion.
War machines stood behind the women in front of me.
Thus, the sound of this fan slowly covering the music –
Eventually stole everything from me.
“…”
“I… want to be with you.”
Perhaps unaware that my smile was fading.
Did they not notice the fading excitement, the legs trembling slowly?
Did they not realize that I never looked at the railing?
Did they not notice?
Hope, similarly, had blinded the eyes of that fellow.
“Illya.”
“Yes, Taehyuk-nim.”
“Sorry. It seems I can’t do that.”
In the end, even if it was a beautiful petal, it was an illusion.
Things out of reach… were meaningless.
Even if they were as beautiful and splendid as they could be – nonexistent things were things that could never be felt.
“No, it’s not possible -“
Throwing himself into the rain of holographic flowers,
He landed straight on the floor below.
Painlessly, effortlessly, with knees unfolding, he softly smiled at the place where he fell, gazing down.
– Swoosh.
Something sharp stuck into his back.
A body-shaking, heavy impact.
Slowly reaching back with his hand, he grabbed something akin to a syringe.
The medicine was halfway gone.
“You will understand.
Certainly, after everything is over.”
Were there so many CI units on the lower floor as well?
If that’s the case, then from the beginning, I…
[Independent Entity Illya, have you made your choice?]
“Let’s begin.”
A voice from an unknown speaker echoed through the mall.
Illya, responding as if familiar with it, a sight unknown to me.
“For Taehyuk, I will eliminate the threat.”
Grasping my outstretched hand and buzzing against my cheek, the fellow’s mouth formed a joyous smile.
From Noble mtl dot com
“If your concern is the enterprise, that too.”
…Nonsensical words were flowing out.