In the heartless Cyberpunk world where instead of blood, liquids like coolant or oil flow through bodies, everyone carries at least one “bad memory.”
It could be the stocks of a company that lost in a Corporate War, a drunken vagabond encountered on the Lower-Class Area streets, or maybe a childhood spent falling into a Game just because I played it.
If I’m being specific, I was the latter.
When I first met people, I got kicked in the gut, faced life-threatening encounters with oddly aggressive mice (60cm) or cockroaches (30cm), and overhead floated the insane Killer Drones of corporations.
Looking back, it was quite a high-difficulty starting point.
Nonetheless, I had the good fortune of meeting a Gyeomjok named Catherine, the actual protagonist of the Game, which helped me adapt to this world.
Had it not been for her, I would surely have created a new character. (Or rather, I would have died.)
However,
Even I faced crises.
– Thud!
Literally, a harpoon stabbed right in front of my “face.”
If I had moved my head just a few centimeters more, I would have said goodbye to this world forever.
[Organic matter detected.]
The terrifying body of the drone that occasionally appears in my dreams drew closer.
The harsh glare of its red lens flashed ominously.
If the purpose was to create pressure, I would’ve said it succeeded. My body, now younger, was completely frozen in place.
It was the “first crisis” I’d experienced after falling into the Game, and the most “terrifying” moment.
Even now, I can hardly recall memories that made me feel such fear.
To me back then, drones were like beings with
That day,
The only reason I survived was thanks to Catherine, who later found me and threw a large rock at the drone’s body.
(It was about twice the size of my head.)
I was caught in her grip and ran away, staggering to avoid the drone.
What was I thinking? Even as I fled, I turned to look at the fallen drone.
A logo from a certain “corporation” was stuck on the drone’s body.
It wasn’t too strange since the landfill was already privatized, after all.
And,
“……”
I saw the same logo on the power plant building we arrived at today. Naturally. It was the same corporation.
I exhaled with a heavy heart.
…I never expected to find myself here on my own two feet.
—
Snowflakes, tinted gray, gently fell between the borders of dawn.
The sky was dark.
Due to the thick clouds that always hovered around the ceiling of Neon City, confirming the time just by looking the sky was nearly impossible.
Only the clock that appeared on my visual interface informed me that it was “very early morning.”
I tried to mumble some nonsense like, “Ahh… the city is covered in dark eyes,” intoxicated by the early morning vibes.
However, because of my trashy physical attributes, all that came out was a yawn.
“…Yawn.”
Being in the Lower-Class Area meant the temperature was very low.
Ugh, it’s cold.
I habitually put my hands in my pockets.
It would be a little better once I entered the building, but shivering in the alley made me feel quite pathetic.
“…Are we there yet?”
Catherine, kicking a pile of gray snow, asked.
Had she directed the question toward me, I would have replied kindly. But Catherine’s gaze was directed at Eve, not me.
It was only natural that Eve, who accompanied her on an early morning outing, followed like a thread to a needle.
(Catherine, who was hoping for a date, seemed slightly disappointed.)
However, today’s outing wasn’t a “date.” For that reason, Catherine couldn’t stop Eve from accompanying her.
Catherine’s question didn’t receive an immediate answer from Eve. After a few seconds, Eve gently closed her eyes that were wide open.
“I have completed everything.”
As Eve’s words ended, various data shared across my visual interface appeared terrifyingly.
From real-time surveillance camera footage to trivial employees’ hobbies, everything floated up.
No, I didn’t need this much detail.
It was an overwhelming amount.
The corporation’s name was [Resitect Associates], and it was established in the early 2000s, same as when Neon City was built. Its characteristics included….
I muttered as I read the data.
“…This isn’t just a privatized place?”
“That’s correct. It can be viewed as a corporation run under the name of the city.”
Right, being a key energy supplier and resource recycling center, the city would hardly have mindlessly gone for privatization.
I lamented my inability to grab the mayor of my childhood for raising the city’s difficulty level, but I continued reading the materials and simply turned it off.
Thinking back, Eve wasn’t hacking to check this.
What we wanted to find were the ‘security systems’ and ‘patrol routes of the guards’ in the power plant.
And the location of the ‘Mana Power Plant.’
According to what Mayor Harding mentioned, the Mana Power Plant wasn’t officially announced.
I had only heard that it was close to the Incinerator… in other words, the Waste Heat Power Plant.
That’s right.
We were currently planning to sneak into the Mana Power Plant.
If this had been an official facility, it would have been possible to use the chairman’s help and enter with the name of Monolith.
Even if it wasn’t, since I had explained the situation to Mayor Harding, there was a possibility to contact the city and find a way in.
But,
Unfortunately, such standard procedures couldn’t keep up with Catherine’s overwhelming actions.
I wasn’t dragged here to the power plant neighborhood by Catherine’s hand for no reason.
I looked at Eve and asked.
“So, did you find the location of the Mana Power Plant?”
Eve joined her hands and answered modestly.
“There exists a revised design item inside the Waste Heat Power Plant. As a result of recovering deleted data, we could confirm an additional connected facility.”
Of course.
There’s nothing impossible for the god of mechanical devices.
“So, it means there isn’t a separate entrance, but the facility is within the same power plant.”
“That’s what the blueprint indicates.”
One thing was clear: we definitely had to enter the inside of that Waste Heat Power Plant.
“What’s the exact location?”
“You can use an elevator inside the power plant to move.”
Since I only had to rely on Eve for directions.
“…Hmm.”
I quickly thought of a plan.
Glancing at the security system of the power plant, it appeared very systematic.
The surrounding walls looked to be over 10M high, and the armament and numbers of the patrolling security were substantial.
Earlier, I had briefly scanned the entrance.
[No entry allowed for unauthorized personnel. Violators will be shot without warning.]
…How should we get in?
My thoughts were interrupted by Catherine’s voice.
“Shall we just go?”
“?”
I stared at Catherine, who was stretching.
Perhaps reading my puzzled expression, Catherine leaned slightly toward me, extending her thumb and index finger as if shooting a gun, pointing at the power plant.
“Anyway, as long as we don’t get caught.”
“That sounds easier said than done.”
No bad Gyeomjok exists.
I tried to explain while lowering myself to Catherine’s height, much like returning to childhood, but Catherine cut me off first.
“You worry too much. When did we start caring about those things?”
And just like that, Catherine picked me up.
“…Huh?”
It resembled the stance of a princess carrying me.
Before I could say anything in shock, Catherine turned around to look at Eve.
“Can you keep up?”
“Of course.”
“Then let’s go.”
…Um, excuse me.
If we’re going to cross over the wall anyway, I could just use the Levitation Magic to float over─.
– Tap-tap!
The thrilling sensation of gravity pressed down on my entire body like riding a roller coaster.
I wanted to scream, but thanks to the laws of physics, I couldn’t even open my mouth. The pressure was so intense that I was simply keeping it shut.
It felt like clinging to the roof of a speeding car on the highway.
I instinctively grasped one of Catherine’s arms tightly.
And when I came to my senses, we had jumped over the power plant’s walls in an instant.
I looked around blankly.
Fortunately, there were no visible security personnel.
Eve elegantly landed behind us, clutching the hem of her skirt. A fine maid can fly, I noted in my head.
Catherine, who appeared as if on a neighborhood stroll, with a peaceful voice, asked Eve.
“Are you in charge of the security system?”
“Of course. From now on, our appearances won’t be captured by surveillance cameras. Additionally, I’ve provided you with the predicted patrol routes of the guards for your reference.”
“Good.”
…If that’s the case, I could have just stayed at home playing games.
Anyway, I finally looked up.
I stared at Catherine’s face from below.
“…Uh.”
“What is it?”
“Could you let me down again?”
At this age, being carried like a princess felt quite burdensome.
Catherine released me with a somewhat regretful expression. I let out a sigh of relief since I was approaching a moment where my femininity might awaken.
“…So.”
“Uh-huh.”
I muttered helplessly while looking at the two.
“What do we do now?”
“You heard what I said. We need to go underground.”
“…So, how?”
Catherine smiled brightly at my question.
“Well.”
“……”
No matter how I thought about it, ‘Gyeomjok’ suited her much better than ‘Meteor.’
—
Eve, with her eyes wide open, warned us.
“Biometric signals detected ahead.”
At the moment we entered the power plant, there were few places to hide or evade.
Especially in situations like this.
The long hallway did not offer any space to conceal ourselves.
However,
Fortunately, I had learned magic from my second master, Merlin, which greatly aids in stealth.
(Although it was more of a copying act.)
As I prepared to use magic, Catherine and Eve naturally gathered by my side.
…Just holding hands would be enough, yet their entering my space felt slightly burdensome.
In any case, soon our appearances became transparent.
It was the ‘Invisibility Magic’ predominantly used by Merlin.
Due to my lack of proficiency, moving while using magic was quite the challenge, but staying still posed no problem.
– Stomp, stomp.
The patrolling guard passed by without noticing us.
I softly whispered as I released the magic.
“…Did it pass?”
Catherine and Eve separated from my grasp.
Catherine, who likely also had temperature control cyberware, kept fanning herself to cool off as sweat trickled down her forehead.
“Sure is a lot of guards since it’s a power plant.”
“Agreed.”
Eve, responding similarly, showed a slight blush on her otherwise expressionless face.
Perhaps because it was a Waste Heat Power Plant, a mild warmth emanated throughout the building.
I assumed that their state was due to that and slowly began to speak.
“Let’s keep moving.”
We soon encountered a fork in the path.
The directional signs on the wall indicated that we should go left.
At that moment, Eve’s hand climbed up onto my shoulder.
“That direction isn’t right.”
“Oh, really?”
According to the signs, the elevator seemed to be this way….
Well, Eve’s word must be right.
I decided to follow Eve’s lead without giving it much thought and moved to the right.
About 30 seconds later.
“There’s a biometric signal ahead.”
“Hmm.”
Catherine and Eve again moved into my space.
I used the Invisibility Magic once more.
And after walking for another minute…
“There’s a signal…”
“I know.”
I continuously used my Invisibility Magic.
About 30 seconds later, again─.
……
I looked on with suspense as Eve approached me.
Oh come on, don’t tell me….
No way.
The ‘Super Artificial Intelligence’ Eve wouldn’t mix up public and private affairs or intentionally guide us through routes with patrolling guards.
