Wow, how long has it been since I’ve seen the sky?
I gazed at the hazy ceiling covering Neon City, shattered like glass.
It feels like it’s been ages since I last saw the sky.
It would have been nice to see a wide-open view, but sadly, there were countless airships occupying the sky.
It seems there are more airships than clouds.
From air MPVs for transporting a large number of people to tactical helicopters with noisy whoosh sounds and spinning propellers.
But this place must have flight restrictions.
Such trivial issues don’t seem to matter to the Cyberpunk megacorp, Monolith.
I admired the airships crossing the dark sky.
“Is this the ending scene?”
I briefly recalled what had happened underground.
The continuous appearance of armed personnel.
Vagabonds or petty criminals with no front or back.
And the abominable mutated contaminants that held endless malice towards living beings.
Ugh.
Even upon reflection, it’s terrifying.
I must have struggled a lot escorting the Chairman, burrowing through hundreds of meters underground.
It was an incident I had never seen in the game, but judging by the content, it felt like it could easily make a simple DLC.
Thank goodness nobody got seriously hurt.
I thought as I looked around.
Just then, the Chairman of Monolith, fresh from a brief chat with the employees who arrived by airship, approached us.
“I heard you guys are confident mercenaries, and your handling is indeed neat.”
The Chairman, with an unlit cigarette in his mouth, commended us.
That was part of the mission details.
After escaping to the surface, there was time for a cigarette.
Drake, behind his sunglasses, gazed sadly at his cigarette.
But anyway,
The Chairman confidently addressed us.
“Alright, everyone, speak your mind. I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll grant quite a bit.”
….
One by one, everyone stated their wishes.
“What about the wizard?”
Finally, it was my turn.
Hmm,
To be honest, I had no real thoughts.
Should I just ask for more credits?
No, Drake already said that.
I couldn’t stall in front of the Chairman, so after a brief moment (0.1 seconds) of contemplation, I conveyed my thoughts sincerely.
“…Well, honestly, I haven’t done much. Just take care of my colleagues instead.”
“Hey…! What’s that─.”
The Chairman, lightly folding his arms behind him, interrupted my companions.
“Really?”
He continued speaking.
“It’s not every day you get to owe a Megacorp Chairman, you know? I won’t ask twice.”
“……Yes.”
Saying that much made it a bit awkward to deny now.
“Hoho.”
The Chairman chuckled softly at my words.
“I was thinking this since underground, but you are indeed peculiar.”
He muttered to himself.
Not minding my response, the Chairman began to step closer to me.
The security team around us lined up to guard me, but at a wave of the Chairman’s hand, they all took a step back, clearing the way.
Why is he suddenly getting closer?
Despite my puzzled thoughts, the Chairman did not stop.
Finally, the Chairman of Monolith.
The overlord approached right in front of me.
“This.”
I tensed as I waited for the Chairman’s words.
“It’s my personal number, so if you need anything later, contact me separately.”
With a faint smile in his eyes, the Chairman disappeared into the sky aboard the airship.
I responded a beat late, in a daze.
“…Yes?”
The remaining number of the Chairman on my visual interface reminded me that what just happened was not a dream.
This is more burdensome.
If I had known, I should have just asked for credits.
*
23. How to Fix a Mistake (4)
When I was escorting the Chairman, why did a memory from the past suddenly resurface?
I shook my head to clear my mind.
I confronted the reality I wanted to avoid once more.
The Chairman of the company that governs Cyberpunk.
The super AI that can dominate Cyberpunk.
Their conversation began without greetings.
“Kojaka, why didn’t you kill him?”
“?”
The Chairman’s question left me perplexed.
Why didn’t I kill him?
What does this sudden question mean?
As I tilted my head in confusion, Eve, who was in a hologram, answered the question with the same tone and expression as always.
[Because I don’t know what kind of variable might arise.]
“Hmmm….”
The Chairman snorted softly and shook his head in disagreement with Eve’s statement.
“Still, killing him would’ve been fine.”
He voiced his opinion.
“I can’t understand how you just let it go after he apologized. There was a Vice President who could help you depending on his gains or emotions; killing him would have been a cleaner solution.”
[But there’s no guarantee that a dangerous situation won’t arise. If only the main entity was present, it would have been different, but there were multiple entities at that location.]
The Chairman let out a loud guffaw.
“Ha, that’s truly a human reason.”
The gaze of the Chairman, which bore both laziness and sharpness, fixated on the hologram screen.
“Let’s assume, they didn’t spare you just because they created you?”
[Absolutely untrue.]
“I don’t see why you would allow the variable known as Kojaka to remain in this situation.”
[As I stated earlier, there was a reason to take risks because ‘Siwoon’ was present.]
Oh boy, it seems a fight is about to break out.
I had no idea what would happen if the top predators of Cyberpunk clashed.
Summoning up my courage, I interrupted their conversation.
“First, both of you please don’t fight─.”
“Right.”
[Understood.]
“Huh?”
The explosive atmosphere vanished in an instant. Simultaneously, both their gazes turned towards me.
…….
Seeing my bewildered expression, the Chairman casually remarked as if it were nothing.
“There’s nothing worth fighting over. I wasn’t even there, so why would I fight about it?”
[I just received feedback on that controversy; it’s nothing I would call a debate.]
“…….”
Well, as long as they’re not fighting, that’s a relief….
But what’s with this feeling of absurdity?
The Chairman, who had been looking at Eve in the hologram, shifted his gaze back to me.
“However, as I mentioned, ‘Kojaka’ is still a variable.”
Golden eyes were fixed on me.
“I still have no idea why that old man developed the AI ‘Eve’ and what the purpose is.”
“…Hmm.”
I hadn’t really thought about that part.
I nodded robotically, agreeing with the Chairman’s words.
“…I’ll investigate this separately.”
Oh.
“Thank you for that.”
I answered with a delighted heart.
Having a super AI and the Chairman of the megacorp above me made me feel incredibly light.
“Well then, that’s it for the business I called you for.”
After wrapping up his words, the Chairman looked at the hologram screen where Eve was.
“I’m a bit worried about the artificial intelligence, but honestly, considering the thought of hacking the broadcasting station, it might be fine.”
He placed the Zippo lighter he was holding on his desk.
“Even if I tell it to stay away from the AI, I doubt it would listen.”
“Well, that’s true?”
[…….]
Eve being deemed dangerous.
Staying away from Eve is a separate issue.
“Anyway, since I’ve heard all that was happening up until now, I feel a bit relieved.”
The Chairman stretched briefly and continued.
“I wish I could tell you to have a meal together like last time, but it seems it’ll be a bit hard today. I have some work piling up.”
The Chairman rose from his luxurious chair.
Naturally, I stood up along with him.
The ‘Confucian aristocrat’ within me forced my body to rise.
“Oh, and I believe you mentioned ‘Maya’?”
“…Yes.”
Since I had asked Dr. Terra to look after Maya, the Chairman must have known about her as well.
“That poor girl, so please check up on her.”
“…I was actually planning to do just that.”
“Hmm.”
Seemingly acknowledging that I would do so, the Chairman nodded in agreement.
We walked naturally towards the elevator.
I was glad it all ended without any major issues.
When I entered Monolith Tower, following the Executive Secretary,
I had envisioned a future where I would become a wizard
and the AI would become Eve.
Thank goodness the Chairman turned out to be an honorable person, not typical of Cyberpunk.
“Ah, right.”
As we were about to take the elevator down, the Chairman called us once more.
“If we’re gonna live together, I’ll book a renovation for us. How about merging the entire floor? Or I could also buy the whole building.”
“…What?”
“As long as we avoid the pillars supporting the weight, it shouldn’t be a big problem. You wouldn’t think it, but I’ve worked in construction before.”
…….
I was momentarily at a loss for words.
“And also, I’ll be signing a lease for a house later. I’ll be sure to drop by whenever I have the time.”
…Chairman, what on earth are you saying?
I saw the Chairman’s smiling face through the closing elevator door.
I decided to pretend I hadn’t heard anything.
*
“Eve.”
Standing blankly on the street after exiting the Monolith Tower, I spoke to myself.
[Waiting.]
…….
I hadn’t known Eve would still follow me around even after I got my body.
I opened my mouth to say something, but I held back with difficulty.
After all, it’s not like it’s been just a day or two.
It’s not a surprising matter either.
“Shall I go out for a bit?”
[Where are you referring to, please clarify.]
Having not stepped outside for three days, I decided I should at least go see someone’s face.
“Sushi place.”
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