About 500 million people around the world have become refugees due to natural disasters, climate change, and war.
In South Korea, the official count of refugees alone is about 500,000.
If we consider those who lived as stateless people, evading the government’s eyes during the mass expulsion campaigns, the number would be even greater.
Tracking the identity of Adella is nearly impossible, even with the National Intelligence Service involved; no, it’s outright impossible.
“Sis, I really think this isn’t right.”
Adella lightly pushed me back.
I frowned as if I didn’t understand what was going on.
I started to wonder if Adella truly understood what I was saying at all.
“The coordinates left by Mephistopheles were in Japan, right? But it wouldn’t be surprising if there were one more in Korea. The Katsuhata Sect found Naomi, and we’re looking for you. Unlike Dragonia Nascentia, the Persona Paishin is a proven magic that can be actualized. We can reveal at least that much.”
The hypothesis that Adella’s brain map blueprint was fixed at an actual reference coordinate of the real body had both plausibility and credibility compared to it being stuck in random virtual reality coordinates where the location is unknown.
“Didn’t you want to be recognized as a human being as Adella herself? Instead of relying on a trial that could drag on indefinitely.”
“What if I ask why you didn’t bring it up sooner?”
“What good would it do to reveal it now?”
Our voices gradually elevated a bit.
I turned on another phone I had kept off.
Right then, the phone vibrated non-stop, notifying me that a message had arrived.
“Every day, thousands of messages flood in, and when you step out of the Academy Main Gate, there are reporters, and these days, with the general elections, even the badge-wearing bureaucrats come crawling. If I look for reasons to conceal my identity, I could list over ten right now.”
“My point isn’t about the inconsistency.”
“Then?”
“This is a blatant lie. It’s deceiving people.”
The reply I received from Adella nearly made me lose my marbles.
“Who gets hurt by that lie? The criminals who made ASI?”
“Maybe not right now. But when that lie is exposed, I’m terrified of the fallout… Don’t you think so, Sis?”
“Hey, who do you think caused this mess? Don’t you see I’m trying to clean it up?”
“I just… I’m trying to somehow raise 200 million won—”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Do you think just complying once will end it? If they use this as leverage to keep blackmailing, then it’s another story.”
“I’ll handle it! It’s my fault, so I’ll take responsibility! Ha… Ha…”
Lifting my head, I met Adella’s gaze.
She was panting heavily, and there was a fierce determination in her eyes.
“Adella, you seem way too worked up. Let’s try to calm down a bit. Acting impulsively will only worsen the situation.”
“I just can’t make myself lie. According to what you said, I have to think of everything from the rescue process until now as if I experienced it myself. I feel like I could never come up with something plausible on the spot like you can, Sis.”
“What’s so different from now?”
“Of course, it’s different! The number of lies I’d have to fabricate is way too many! How can you tell a lie without blinking? Are people normally like that?”
Adella burst out words like a machine gun.
Surprised by her own statements, she covered her mouth and waved her hands.
“No, no, that’s not what I meant…”
“Yeah, that’s who I am.”
I replied calmly, devoid of emotion.
[Princess Estasha Latias de Kaizen, do you know your crime?]
I think I get it, the sin of deceiving, tricking, and making a fool out of everyone in this world.
[I still don’t know what you’re thinking.]
What can I do when I can see a way for everyone to be a bit happier right away?
[Are you not planning on answering at all?]
Even back then and now, my existence hasn’t changed at all. Everyone keeps saying the same sort of things.
[… Are you really going to keep this up?]
“It doesn’t matter; my life has been riddled with lies from start to finish.”
It seems even in reincarnation, the essence doesn’t change.
I suddenly thought that maybe the reincarnation itself is the issue.
*
Ding ding-
A message popped up on Adella’s phone.
“Read it.”
“Okay.”
“Hurry up, are you bringing the money?”
“No, they’ve been asking me since earlier who made me take on the role. What do I do? This person seems to know the school I go to…!”
“So did you say I made you do it?”
“No, I kept saying that I don’t know you. It can’t get back to you.”
“…”
“Why?”
“Hold on, let me check that message again. Something feels off.”
The culprit seems wary about anything connected to what I’ve dubbed the ‘Adella Impersonation Incident.’
Could it be that they’re afraid they can’t handle the fallout if they get involved with me?
Or are they trying to blackmail me too?
“Is this person one of your viewers?”
“It seems like it. They knew my community nickname and my broadcast schedule.”
“Can you show the email again?”
“Here.”
[We know all your truths.]
(Photo Send)
(Photo Send)
(Photo Send)
(Photo Send)
Adella was active as a member of the first batch of Safari Dream ASI in the World of Arseria.
And I found out a few days ago that you have been impersonating Adella while substituting her Vtuber broadcast.
Since you have evidence of you acting as Adella, please wire 200 million won immediately if you wish to dispose of the materials.
If you have any questions, please contact us through the link.]
Adella’s community login photo, photos from the Twitch Broadcasting Station, and even the bank account number from banking sites were detailed.
There was no doubt about it that these were elements confirming it was truly Adella herself.
“So this was taken a month ago? But you’re not sure when?”
“After school, I go to the café almost every day… So it could be accurate.”
Looking for clues about the culprit, I compared the message logs again.
[Star: Sorry, but I’m really out of money. Even if I want to give it, I can’t…]
[K: Can I ask you something?]
[Star: Sure.]
[K: What’s your relationship with NoName?]
[Star: Why do you suddenly ask…?]
[K: Just curious. You just answer.]
[Star: I have no relationship. And I really have no money. Honestly, 200 million won is a bit much, don’t you think?]
[K: So you admit to being the impersonation?]
There was about a 20-minute gap between this and the next message.
After some pondering, Adella shot back with another question instead of replying.
[Star: When was this photo taken?]
Another ten minutes passed, and a reply came back.
[K: Are you trying to check the CCTV? It’s no use. It was taken a month ago. You’re a regular here, aren’t you?]
[Star: …]
[K: Tell me what your relationship with NoName is, while it’s still nice. If so, I’ll consider giving you a discount.]
[Star: Why do you care about that? Why specifically bring up NoName?]
[K: Just personal curiosity. There had to be someone who made you take on the role of Adella, whether it was NoName, Kariri, or a third party.]
[Star: Why?]
[K: I wouldn’t know. It might also be to make Adella’s existence stand out beyond the concept of Artificial Intelligence.]
(…)
[(Photo Send)]
[(New) K: You’re wearing a school uniform, so you must be young. You should think carefully. Just telling me who sent you will make the 200 million won go away.]
A photo taken from behind Adella.
She wore a gray hoodie, but she couldn’t hide the checkered skirt of her school uniform.
“Are they definitely trying to set up a direct confrontation with Na-me?”
“No.”
“Huh?”
“They don’t seem like a typical blackmailer to me. Why do I not see any sign of them pressing for the money?”
“What do you mean by that?”
It was a familiar sight from the social scene.
From the start, they made an offer that the opponent couldn’t refuse and then slowly lowered the stakes.
Then, what the blackmailer wants becomes something other than money.
For example, it could be information about my relationship with Cheon Saetbyeol, or how they managed to take over the broadcasting station and VR accounts if there’s no relationship.
Just out of simple curiosity?
“Above all, why are they asking for 200 million won and not revealing their account? In fact, they should threaten to spread it all over the community if you don’t give it now.”
“Oh, you’re right? Did they forget it?”
“That’s impossible. Looking back, there were quite a few strange things. The email said they saw something a few days ago, but when you asked again, they said it was a month ago. Is a month considered a range where ‘a few days ago’ could be used?”
“Could it have been to dissuade me from checking the café’s CCTV…?”
“Could be.”
“I’ll go check it out right now!”
“Wait a second.”
I grabbed the collar of Adella who was about to bolt out of the room.
My head was buzzing, feeling like the clues were about to fall into place.
The blackmailer knows that Cheon Saetbyeol is a high schooler in a school uniform.
Given they’re demanding 200 million won from a high schooler, that’s even more suspicious.
Drawing a connection between Cheon Saetbyeol and me is reasonable.
In the open world, the Adella in virtual reality was dependent on me, so if anything were to happen to her, I had to be aware.
In other words, the blackmailer would think it most believable if they assumed I swapped Adella directly for another person.
‘Then doesn’t that end there?’
Why are they continuing to pry with so many questions?
It was strange to think that a capable hacker kidnapped Adella in virtual reality to broadcast without my and Kariri’s knowledge.
Yet, analyzing the nuances of the messages from the blackmailer suggested they might be trying to aim for that.
Do they really believe I wouldn’t?
“Give me your phone.”
In this scenario, the possibility of the blackmailer being an acquaintance of Adella lessens while it leans more towards one of my acquaintances.
After three seconds of deliberating over what to message the blackmailer, I moved my fingers.
[Star: So if I send you 200 million won now, can I continue broadcasting in place of Adella? You’ll keep it a secret for sure?]
[K: I’ll be watching. But do you have the money?]
Alright, I’m 100% sure the goal isn’t the money.
If they were a legitimate blackmailer, they’d at least mention they’d destroy the evidence at this moment.
[Star: Even if I don’t have it, I need to find a way to get it fast right now.]
[K: You don’t have much time. If you don’t send it within an hour, I’ll spread everything about you along with your personal info on all communities.]
The blackmailer imposing self-restrictions.
I drove the final nail.
[Star: Actually, we deleted Adella. It seems that NoName hasn’t even noticed that her cherished stuffed toy has changed for a few days; it’s quite pitiful. I’d appreciate it if you cut us a break since I revealed everything. Maybe around 100 million? 50 million would be even better.]
“Did Na-me go crazy?”
“Wait. A response will come.”
I returned Adella’s phone and took mine out, gripping it tightly with both hands.
One second, ten seconds, and thirty seconds passed without any reply at all.
‘Could it be that I was wrong?’
Just as I began to feel nervous,
Bang bang bang bang bang-!
Someone was banging heavily on our front door.
“Ah, you scared me!”
“Haah… Adella, you go out.”
“But I just let my hair dye magic wear off?”
“Don’t worry, just go.”
“… Are you giving up now?”
Adella trudged away, her stunning silver hair flowing behind her.
After a moment, a piercing female scream echoed.
“AAAAAHHHHH!”
*
[Actually, we deleted Adella.]
“NO…!”
Seol Yoon-seul’s eyes glistened with tears as her hands trembled uncontrollably.
[It seems that NoName hasn’t even noticed that her cherished stuffed toy has changed for a few days; it’s quite pitiful.]
“I need to hurry and tell Na-me…! Huh… Haaah…”
Unrefined words poured out in a torrent, fueled by chaotic emotions.
Adella was ASI but at the same time, a human. She was not just a cherished toy.
To say we deleted her was akin to saying I killed a close friend.
Memories of watching fireworks at the amusement park, numerous Vtuber collaborations, and every shared moment with Adella crumbled like a sandcastle.
Yoon-seul couldn’t even grip her phone due to her weak hands.
Na-me’s house was just one floor below.
She stumbled out in her pajamas, quickly rushing down the stairs.
‘No, no, no, no!’
The edges of the stairs felt sharp against her feet.
Then, slipping on the last step caused her ankle to twist, her knees hitting the floor.
The brief pain brought a sudden clarity to her previously darkened field of vision.
Like a weeble, she stood up again and frantically banged on Na-me’s front door.
Bang bang bang bang bang-!
“Na-me, NoName! Huh… Something big has happened… Something really big! Huaaang! NoName, open the door, quick! Adella…”
Why didn’t I notice sooner?
When exactly was Adella swapped out?
I should have tracked that hoodie-wearing student all the way to the café.
With each knock, an endless wave of self-loathing surged within me.
Click-
The fortress-like door swung open.
“Huh?”
“Huh… huh?”
“Kariri?”
“Ah… Adella…?”
A girl with dazzlingly bright silver hair greeted her instead of Na-me.
“AAAAAAHHHH!”
