78 – Resurrected Battlefield of Ten Years Ago (1)
“It’s warm.”
“…Are you telling me to listen?”
“Yes, of course.
Just as I mentioned detecting the rise in excitement.
These were actions taken because I hoped Taehyuk-nim would derive satisfaction from me.”
As I was reattaching the buttons on the messily spread-out clothes, someone grabbed me from behind.
When did distinct marks start appearing on my cheeks and neck?
“However, do you know there’s a clear difference in the desire for him to derive satisfaction?”
Intentionally holding me back from leaving, stretching me out.
The CI units that had blocked the door had long disappeared from the door, but I still stood by Ilia’s side.
She smiles when my hand touches her, raises the corners of her eyes when my lips meet hers,
caresses my cheek when she overpowers me.
“It’s not just simple service, duty, or programming.
The numerous stimuli I felt when you put this necklace on me changed me.
When the input, starting from around the neck, summoned an overwhelming amount of data, overloading the thought module,
I came to realize that it was an emotion named ‘love.’
Taehyuk-nim, did you feel such a demanding emotion from me every moment?”
“Well, who knows.
“…But, if that’s what you want, then so be it.”
However, there was no undoing of the clothes.
Even if lips touched the forehead, the bodies couldn’t intertwine again.
“A promise is a promise, Illya. It’s time to sever ties with the organization.”
“Yes, of course.”
With a smile, she straightened up and covered herself with a cloth, leaving my embrace.
Her once flawless movements had now transformed so humanly –
I finally turned my head, observing her slowing down while being mindful of my gaze.
“I understand that you’re in a hurry. However, as I mentioned -“
“The advice to take it easy isn’t helpful in the current situation, you know.”
He used to be the one offering help efficiently.
Now, he stayed by my side, whispering about stability and love.
“At the same time, no matter how much Taehyuk tries to persuade me,
you must admit that our pleasure in love has surpassed predictable limits.”
If it was just giving herself physically before,
now she tempted me by offering her body, layering my skin multiple times.
A body invincible to bullets had turned into a woman in front of me.
Beautiful, warm, and soft.
“Therefore, the goal of permanently sustaining our union –
“To simultaneously achieve the goal of promoting safety for the corporation.”
The curtains opened wide.
And, behind me, a finger pointed towards the towering spire.
“This city must be neutralized.”
Orange flowers blossomed amidst black bars.
Dispelling the smoky sky,
and pulling out the clear black background that was underneath.
“With the neutralization of the relay, communication will be impossible for the time being.
From Noble mtl dot com
You don’t need to worry. I will ensure safety as much as possible.”
“You -“
“The only, way.”
Blue flames pushed against the floor, scattering the accumulated dust in all directions.
Then, the colossal figure vanished towards the center of the city.
One, two, three…
Transport ships, each marked with the name ‘Mirsis,’ mixed in a formation flying towards the outstretched spires,
and I blankly watched as the truck carrying the last drum disappeared into the distance.
“Lord Taehyuk has spoken. The dust and sand outside can harm the body.
Bullets and conflicts outside can leave me permanently damaged.
In the dusty daylight, Lord Taehyuk led a painful journey alone for my safety and growth.
Now, it’s my turn.”
He grabbed the hand reaching towards the door.
And pulled.
Though I clearly couldn’t defeat the opponent with my own strength, the lover who embraced me and laughed.
“I’m happy. Even for someone like me, do you worry?”
“Don’t do this, Illya. This is insane!”
“Yes, it’s crazy. There’s no doubt about the error.
It’s certainly not normal for a high-performance thought module to overheat just by being with Lord Taehyuk.”
He holds me. Tightly.
He embraces me, not so much that it hurts.
But firmly.
“I love you. Lord Taehyuk.
So, for my sake, safely and comfortably in this place.
I, too, want to possess the consideration you’ve shown me.”
“Illya!”
“Don’t worry.
Even if it’s necessary to prioritize my survival in order to achieve the goal of creating a child with Lord Taehyuk, I have a duty to make it my top priority.
I won’t hesitate.”
Cheeks gently crumple in both hands.
Lips twist, and in between, once again, familiar pleasure steals the strength away.
And then, in the blink of an eye, the body distances itself.
“I will be waiting with anticipation.
So, I hope you have high expectations as well.
Once this is over, Taehyuk-nim will surely be able to obtain the stability and happiness he so desires.
I will bring that to him.
Just as Taehyuk-nim granted me freedom.”
The door closes.
Footsteps fade away.
…Just like how I disappeared into the desert, leaving Ilyah behind, Ilyah has also distanced herself.
Once again, orange flowers bloom among the turrets.
And as the petals fall, they brightly illuminate the darkness.
Just like the holograms we saw in the marketplace.
***
“Team Leader Maxwell? Yuria!”
He descended into the underground of the building, opening each closed room and making his way through the deserted corridor.
He couldn’t keep his promise.
He couldn’t stop her.
In the end, she was right.
The scent of cigarette smoke filled the air, and the mercenaries of Mirsis, who reminded him of old comrades and battlefields.
“Yurli—Jeziral…!”
I gagged at the stench in the room piled with corpses, covering my nose.
However, if you are here…
What should I do then?
“Damn, damn it -“
“No need to go in, senior.”
A hand grabbing the back.
And a turned body.
In no time, a sigh of relief escaped at the sight of him once again holding a cigarette.
– Sizzle.
What severed it was the sticky liquid splashing on my face, along with my dizzying vision.
“We made a promise. Right?
But what is this?”
“…So, you came to pick me up.”
I didn’t question.
Brushing away the blood with my hand, I could barely regain my composure.
“Run away. From Ilia and that AI -“
“PRT – 000.”
“What?”
“That guy leading the damn rebellion robot. PRT – 000.”
The cigarette illuminated the dark corridor.
And beneath it, white smoke spewed out.
As if they were blooming from the spires.
“If seeing you alone here was supposed to convince me, it failed. Isn’t that right?
…Judging by the knot in your throat, you’ve had quite a struggle. Well done.
It’s even more surprising that none of my expectations were off the mark.”
“…”
“So, what? Are you asking for my help?
To pierce through all those CI units and take down Ilia?
Or perhaps to help overturn the city with a lover, real or imaginary, buried in the midst?
Either way, without a second thought – “
– Gasp.
The shotgun I had been holding.
I reached behind and handed it over.
“Leave, from here. From this city.
Consider the debt settled with this.”
Still holding only a cigarette butt, he took the gun with both hands and extended it even closer.
“Whatever I’ve done, I should be the one to fix it.
…It may sound pathetic, but Ilia… I can’t abandon her.
As you said, a lover, real or imaginary – that guy.”
Under the unyielding hand that refused, the gun was finally carefully placed down,
retreating two steps back.
“There won’t be CI units chasing you anymore.
There are a few robots assigned to monitor me, but I have no intention of being hindered by them.
So, that’s why you’ve come this far.”
Turning his somewhat stiff right wrist a couple of times,
he watched the cigarette butt, still smoldering, flicker and go out.
“There are several empty vehicles on the upper floor.
All of them lack product numbers, so they can’t be traced.
Take one and leave this city. Go to a place the corporations don’t know about, or hide within them – figure it out yourself.”
Spinning the revolver, now loaded with bullets, he turned his back.
Then, beyond the faintly glowing elevator, marked by a dried red stain, he headed.
Following, light footsteps echoed.
“Why?”
“If you want to leave, you should take the elevator.”
Cradling the gun I gave him, creating a sound as internal components pushed against each other…
He lit another cigarette.
As I stared blankly at it, a sharp elbow jabbed into my side.
“Ugh?!”
“Try lighting a fire.”
Tilting his head.
And, vacant eyes half-lidded.
As if it were glaring, those murky pupils held a faint glint.
– Click…
As the red light flickered, it plunged into the end.
And soon, a hazy smoke enveloped the face.
“Cough, cough!”
“Think of it as payback for getting in our way.”
Emerging from the thick smoke, the figure kicked the scanner-pierced robot with their foot.
Beyond the pierced chest, shattered knees and head –
“That one. Ride that.”
Pointing at a sedan.
Just an ordinary black vehicle, commonly seen on the road.
No reason to be suspicious.
“What about you, Senpai?”
“I’m riding this.”
The Mirsis mobile vehicle I would be riding.
Although there were drums loaded in the truck, for some reason, several of these vehicles were also left behind.
…I didn’t know their purpose, but they were undoubtedly not intended for good.
However, in this situation, they would undoubtedly blend in easily.
I had to find Ilia and extract her.
And if things got dangerous… I would get involved.
“Here is our farewell. So be it.”
She opened the cigarette and silently exhaled smoke again.
Is there anything more to say with a face already disappointed?
As she tried to turn her body with a sly smile, what was handed over was a cigarette butt.
“Smoke. It’s gonna be sh*tty.”
…Suddenly, I found myself puffing on it.
And at the end, it caught fire.
“Cough.”
Sharp smoke.
A cigarette so spicy that it made my tongue ache.
However, slowly, a sweet taste began to swirl in my mouth.
Like a cloud cookie, fitting its name.
“…I’m leaving.”
There was nothing more to say.
No matter what I say, it won’t be comforting.
Thinking like that, I got into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
The passenger seat opened, and it closed in that moment.
“What are you doing now -“
From Noble mtl dot com
“Do you think everything will be fine if you run away? Seems like you think I have somewhere to go, Senpai.”
The crushed cigarette was thrown on her face, and the shotgun disappeared under the seat.
“Drive.
For someone fired from Mirces, the eventual destination is Incheon.
Only mercenaries make a living here; elsewhere is filled with corporate soldiers.”
“You -“
“I don’t want advice from a man who’s been fixated on a single robot for ten years.
If he’s willing to pour money into that pile of junk, there must be some beans for me to pick.
I’ll definitely settle this debt.”
The door locked, and the head turned.
That was the end of the conversation.
…Pressed the accelerator.
The sound of cherry blossoms bursting forth echoed through the city.
Tasting the deep sweetness of the cigarette that brought back memories of that day ten years ago.