In the drama titled Life, scenes occasionally arise where unavoidable choices are forced upon the characters.
Like the time when I had to clutch my starving stomach while staring at a relatively clean hamburger that someone had taken a bite of and discarded in the landfill,
or the situation where I had to stop Catherine, who was furious and holding a gun after being scammed by an agent on my first mission as a mercenary,
or the moment when other women gained courage after hearing the tales of my roommates who had safely completed their first night together.
(I’ll skip the detailed explanation of this part.)
Anyway, the conclusion is this.
Life is always a series of choices. It wasn’t much different for me, who just wanted to live peacefully while tearing into chicken.
Thus, it’s perfectly natural that I went out to buy a ring after hearing the news of Catherine’s pregnancy.
“… Life.”
I truly had no idea.
42. Endless Wandering (1)
The rest of that day’s memories are hazy.
I can’t quite remember how I got back.
Andrea, Julia, and Maya, with their eyes wide open from the news about our colleague’s pregnancy, bombarded Catherine with questions, while Catherine kept a cautious eye on me, subtly checking on the dragon that had transformed into a humanoid.
Nearby, Teddy, Dal, and Eve watched us munching on popcorn that appeared to be brought by a spirit.
In a word, it was a situation where it was hard to maintain a clear mind.
After we returned home, it was no surprise that the Golden Smile Condominium erupted into chaos.
All the roommates celebrated Catherine with their own reactions. Some stroked Catherine’s still slim abs with jealousy, while others looked on in wonder.
Maybe it was just a matter of time.
Though a few seemed slightly disappointed, there wasn’t much jealousy in the air.
Catherine, who usually seemed so easygoing, maintained a delicate girl vibe for the first time.
In this barbaric cyberpunk world, devoid of both blood and tears, the physiological process of cell division (pregnancy) should naturally be celebrated.
I sat there, deeply immersed in my chair, watching their reactions.
… Am I really going to be a dad?
The feeling of returning home was just like that of falling into a game.
As time passed, the weight of reality, which I had been trying to ignore, became heavier and heavier.
To be honest, it wasn’t something I hadn’t anticipated.
Looking back, it was the part I should have thought about from the moment I acknowledged my relationships with everyone and spent a night with Eve.
I slumped helplessly over my chair.
It’s not that I hate it. Of course, I was happy.
It’s been a while since I had made up my mind that this world wasn’t just a ‘game.’
The acknowledgment I came to had been significantly influenced by the advice I received from Drake and Lorenda, and the support from my fiancée(s) right in front of me.
This was officially my world now.
However,
a dreamy feeling lingered throughout my whole body, as if I were in a dream.
What should I name my child? Would it be okay if I didn’t use an artificial womb for safety? To be honest, Neon City isn’t a suitable place to raise a kid; should I think about moving…?
Various realistic thoughts flooded my mind.
But Catherine seemed a bit concerned about my state.
“… Maybe.”
Somehow, Catherine had come right in front of me.
That was clearly a mistake.
It was a time when she should’ve been bursting with excitement to share her good news all around the neighborhood.
Catherine’s face was clearly marked by anxiety.
It was an expression that didn’t suit her, who usually overflowed with confidence.
I stared at Catherine’s palm-sized face and realized my blunder.
Ah.
Catherine awkwardly laughed and scratched her head.
“… Maybe I jumped the gun a bit?”
Though it was a completely cut-off context, there was no way I wouldn’t know what aspect Catherine was talking about.
I immediately stood up from my chair and grabbed Catherine’s hand.
“No, no, no! I’m super happy!”
“But it seems a little different than usual….”
“I’m really serious! I just had a moment of distraction!”
“… Hmm.”
To prove my innocence, while I couldn’t cry, I could let go of the dignity of being human.
Catherine showed a relieved expression after noticing my ‘Grand Gesture’ using magic.
Is this the weight of being a family man…?
It was heavy.
*
Drake couldn’t hide his laughter after hearing my story. His golden, shining smile glittered on the hologram screen.
[Hehehe… It couldn’t be helped.]
The neatly tied gray beard of Drake swayed left and right. It was like watching a metronome.
His green eyes, visible beyond cyber sunglasses, were also gleaming with amusement.
[I told you to be careful with contraception.]
“……”
I had no words, even if I had two mouths.
Drake accepted my sudden contact as naturally as expected.
After all, Drake had given me advice stemmed from experience like, ‘…you shouldn’t get married yet.’ so it wasn’t too strange.
Still chuckling, Drake continued chatting.
[Goodness, Catherine’s pregnant? What a long life I’ve lived to see this.]
“… I felt something similar when I heard you were marrying Lorenda.”
[What about me?]
I reflexively almost said, ‘You didn’t get married in the game.’
But since that couldn’t be said, I pointed with my finger at Drake’s beard.
“Look at your face.”
[… Damn it.]
Drake leaned back as he answered. The plush chair let out a squeak.
As he waved his prosthetic arm, he brushed back the skinhead that contributed to his ferocious appearance.
[Anyway, congratulations.]
“… Thanks.”
[Now you qualify to join the ‘Neon City Married Men’s Association.’ Soon, the freedom to do anything will disappear.]
What on earth is that?
Nevertheless, Drake gazed at me with a pitying expression. It felt incredibly tragic.
To put it specifically, it was an expression that seemed to worry about a garbage future with seven marriage partners.
I suppose it’s best to respond to jokes with jokes.
“Still, you’re happy, right?”
[Damn right.]
Hearing Drake’s answer, I couldn’t help but laugh silly, delivering my own jest. We were friends, so it was possible.
“If Lorenda were beside you, I’d say carrots….”
[Oh, how did you know?]
“……”
Oh man, what a surprise.
I didn’t expect her to actually be right there.
With Lorenda’s voice suddenly echoed, I quickly fell silent.
On the screen, Lorenda’s fresh face slightly appeared next to Drake.
She waved her hand to greet me.
[I heard the news too. Congratulations!~]
“… Ah, yes. Thank you.”
I replied, creaking my neck like a machine.
I hope I didn’t say anything inappropriate.
It was like a scene from a horror movie.
I glared at Drake, conveying with my eyes,
‘Hey, you… no, if she was with you, you should’ve given me a heads-up.’
Drake, catching my look, sheepishly shut his eyes. And then a message alert appeared in my visual interface.
Sender: ‘Kind Cyberware Specialty Store, Counseling 24 Hours’
– 🥕 🥕 🥕
A carrot emoticon.
What the heck is that supposed to mean?
Drake, with his fashion-challenged bald head and neatly tied gray beard, paired with his green eyes ablaze behind cyber sunglasses and his massive muscles presumably over 2 meters,
it seemed he was utterly captured by Lorenda, who had switched her class from girlfriend to wife.
… He is truly well caught.
For some reason, I glimpsed my future reflected in Drake’s image.
As if he somehow knew what we were thinking, Lorenda brightly smiled and leaned closer to the hologram screen.
[Then the wedding date can’t be far off?]
Drake gently grasped Lorenda’s shoulder with his large hand.
[Honey, I’m in the middle of a call here—]
[Hmm?]
[… Nothing.]
Pregnant women are invincible and divine.
Without saying a word, Drake, unable to leave any parting remarks, vanished out of the screen.
I shook my head while watching the couple.
“I actually have some questions for Drake regarding that.”
Drake appeared back in the screen, his face filled with unease.
[What’s it about?]
Both Drake and Lorenda looked upon me with curious expressions.
I sighed softly.
“… How should I do the proposal?”
A brief silence followed.
[…….]
[…….]
The two exchanged glances, looking as bewildered as could be.
Eventually, Drake burst out in a chiding manner.
[Wait, you haven’t done that yet?!]
“Uh-huh.”
Technically, I was about to do it now.
*
Other than bombs, everything seems to have to be worried about quality in a certain country, and it was no different with the finished products of Neon City.
That was also true even for high-end brand stores in the middle class.
Unless we were speaking of the upper class, there were a significant number of stores that opened and closed for a quick buck in the middle class.
Ignorance isn’t a crime, but the responsibility or damage from it must be carried by the individual.
The busy NCPD pays no attention to such small incidents unless bribed.
(On the contrary, if you bribe them, it gets resolved.)
Anyway, I asked Drake for advice about a ‘store’. I questioned him about a good place to buy wedding rings.
Drake recommended a ‘jewelry specialty brand’ located at Center Plaza in the middle class, adding that they don’t deal with contaminated alloys or processed gems.
That’s why I had ventured out on my own today.
The silver-patterned automatic door opened before me. A faint fragrance and warmth wafted out.
For a moment, as I struggled to breathe under the overwhelming vibe of ‘in’ culture, I dragged my heavy feet into the store.
The red lens of the surveillance camera inside followed my movements.
It was plain to see that there were numerous turrets stationed on the ceiling, floor, and walls.
I walked as naturally as possible.
I took off my hood and slipped my hands out of my pockets, proving I was a harmless customer rather than a thief, and wore a friendly smile on my face.
This was a skill every ordinary citizen living in Neon City possessed.
By rights, I would’ve had to take off my mask too, but the store’s strong floral scent made that a bit tough.
An employee who had been scanning me bowed his head gracefully.
“Welcome. We sincerely invite you to the jewelry brand, ‘Bijou de Rêve.’”
The translation module indicated it meant ‘Jewels of Dreams’ in French.
The store seemed quite elegant and sophisticated, reflected in the employee’s rather polite demeanor.
Normally, when a customer wearing a mask comes along, the standard practice would be to prepare a red button (to trigger turret action).
The employee, however, was as white as porcelain. He wasn’t made of the Real Skin often referred to, but was crafted from metal cyberware skin.
“Do you have a reservation?”
“… Ah, no.”
My words stumbled slightly.
Honestly, the atmosphere didn’t feel like a walk-in. That was why I felt a bit tense.
The couples around me were also eyeing me like I was some suspicious character.
The employee’s mechanical eye flickered with circular lights.
He seemed to be checking internal data.
Nodding slightly, the employee calmly asked me a question.
“Is this your first time here? If you don’t mind me asking, could you share why you chose to visit our branch?”
“Uh, I would like to buy a ring for a proposal.”
“Oh my.”
The employee bent at a 45-degree angle.
“Congratulations in advance. So, what budget did you have in mind?”
Budget…
I recalled the amount in my account (Pied Mc’s reward) and answered quietly.
“… there’s no limit to my budget.”
“…… Ah, yes.”
For a moment, I spotted a flicker of ‘Is this guy a scammer?’ in the employee’s eyes… but it was probably just my imagination.
“… Then, I’ll guide you to the platinum line. It’s the highest quality piece we offer at our branch.”
I quietly nodded.
“What is the finger size of the person?”
“Ah.”
“What…?”
Oh no.
I had completely forgotten to ask.
Should I just say I’d come back later?
If I proposed and the ring didn’t fit, I couldn’t be responsible for the consequences.
But then,
a voice of salvation rang out in my head.
[4 sizes two, 4.5 sizes one, 5 sizes two, 6 sizes two prepared for you.]
……
I stopped in my tracks. The employee, watching me, tilted his head in confusion.
“Is there something bothering you…?”
“… No. I just thought I may be hearing voices….”
Right.
I had no intention of keeping it a secret from Eve.
I relayed what Eve said directly to the employee.
There were a total of 7 ring sizes.
Instantly, the employee’s pupils widened.
“… Excuse me, sir? If I’m not mistaken, you mean to say you want to fit seven rings?”
“Yeah.”
As I nodded, she found it hard to articulate her words.
A few seconds passed and she finally managed to continue.
“… I’m sincerely sorry, but may I ask why? It’s quite common for people to purchase one engagement ring and one wedding ring.”
The employee asked me with the gaze of someone seeing a scam marriage.
… But don’t you need to give an engagement ring separately?
Is it really the American way of doing things?
I should’ve researched it a bit more.
Calmly, I shook my head in response to the employee’s question.
“In that case, I’ll need two engagement rings and two wedding rings each, totaling 14.”
“…?”
The employee’s eyes bulged at my words.
“Because I have 7 partners.”
“…… Huh??”
