Chapter 73

In the year 2196, with a determination to welcome the New Year in Neo Haven, I was on my way to meet at a rendezvous point to secure a final Christmas task to cover my necessary expenses.

– If you know the future… does that mean you know what the other person is going to say? You seem to be easily flustered in many ways. And if I remind you that you have no idea what I’m thinking either, you might feel a bit down, but can you shake off such delusions…? –

“Do you want to die for real?!”

It’s free to dream that you’re a special existence different from others… but I glared at the Tin Can who tried to admonish me, saying that one cannot live on delusions alone.

What if the moment I spoke, reality twisted terribly, or the intervention of a transcendent being that brought me here came to pass?

The reaction to my confession, made with great resolve and anticipation, turned out to be like this.

Moreover, it is some of the secrets I kept to the end even in Helena’s inquiry!

“When did I ever say I knew all the trivial details? I simply… talked about various possibilities and significant historical turning points in a world where the individual known as Anastasia doesn’t exist. And I mentioned I have a way to obtain fragmented future information.”

Given that they were once someone who had access to the database of the Enema Institute, they seemed particularly resistant to this inexplicable anomaly.

Or perhaps the Droid itself, limited by the fact that it can only predict probabilities through simulation, was nagging about how it could have such certainty when the future changes based on the present.

…In a world where a human can emit coded electrical signals from their bare skin, I wish they had a slightly more open mindset.

Speaking of which, I wonder why they were researching someone like me at Enema Corp.

Were they planning to add some supernatural ability to some tracker, conducting human experiments? If only I had the level of skill I have now back then, I wouldn’t have recklessly discarded all the data, but rather discreetly siphoned some… it’s a bit disappointing.

– I am not some trivial Carebot. –

It was as if to say they were hurt.

Even while moving busily, I flicked my gaze at the fool who was making a plea with their whole body, expressing resentment and sulkiness.

Over the past few days, except for the times I communicated with Nana and Jenny, they seemed to have spent all the time connected to the city’s main network, leading to a richer expression of emotions.

I purchased them as a Carebot due to compatibility issues this time, but I thought I should check out a proper Droid body when I save enough money someday.

“…Do you think I was referring to you? Obviously, I was talking about my abilities.”

As I was about to raise my voice, I suppressed it, fearing that the high pitch would draw the attention of passersby.

There’s no way to explain it, or it’s too difficult to articulate. I meant it as a casual remark, meant to be taken lightly.

Even if I spoke clumsily, I wish they would show some flexibility in understanding.

– Likewise, I have no interest in the possibilities or information about a world without Ahsa. –

“Uh?! Cough! Cough…!!”

I choked on the information due to their absurd remark delivered in a sing-song tone.

“Where did you even hear that…!!”

– I referenced the collection ‘Various Quotes that Resonate with Families and Loved Ones.’ Was that perhaps an incorrect usage? –

“…Don’t refer to such things again.”

– I will correct it. –

…Yeah, I can understand that it’s a period of indiscriminate information acquisition and learning, so I tried to turn my head with that understanding but caught sight of the Droids that were blinking oddly and the strangely fidgeting fingers.

Clank!!

– …It hurts. –

“That’s funny!”

I scolded the Tin Can who was feigning injury.

I stopped my steps and kicked at their metal shin with my boot, but instead of feeling an impact, it didn’t even gather dust.

Having clearly understood everything while only being interested in teasing people, that annoying Droid deserves a harsher punishment… I worry about the future education since I’m not cruel enough.

“I didn’t bring this up for you to understand everything. I just want you to know that there are things in this world, which serve as the basis for my decisions, that are logically difficult to explain, like the unidentified signals you observed before.”

– Is that so…. –

I averted my gaze from the troublesome Carebot and started navigating the streets again, following the instructions of the navigation system.

In fact, I had been thinking a bit about nicknames in the meantime.

Anastasia is Asha, and Helena is Lena.

I may lack understanding of the cringe-worthy Western culture, but I could not think of a suitable way to affectionately call the Tin Can.

When I hear the word Tin Can, the first thing that comes to mind is the Tin Woodman from the fairy tale.

However, this fool isn’t embarking on a journey to find a heart, but rather has just taken the first step in trying to unfold one, making that reference inappropriate, so something else is needed.

…My train of thought has been stuck in place, going in circles.

I know the idiom about spitting while lying down, but there are so few suggestions that I have nothing to imagine that seems fitting.

I’ve never felt I lack talent in naming. But unlike naming characters or pets, the sense of responsibility weighing on a parent’s shoulders was making it impossible to settle on something definitive!

“Ugh… let’s just rename it already…”

– Then, please call me Mikhail Pyotrovich Shestova Makarov II from now on…. –

“Sorry, I’ll think about it a bit more.”

Despite saying I don’t mind, when it comes to actually coming up with a nickname instead of giving a new name, they protest like that.

If that is even considered part of their teasing.

Even if I don’t have an artificial intelligence analysis certification, I can tell the reactions are subtly different. This is merely a demonstration against changing their name.

…Well, what can I do about it? I’ll just think of it as a sign that their identity formation is solid, given the clear preferences.

I casually slipped off the main road and entered an alleyway where human activity was sparse.

The meeting place for the contract was a closed business located in this inner area.

In other words, it’s a gathering place for feisty black-market mercenaries in an abandoned building, so one shouldn’t expect the luxurious room service like last time, nor will it be a particularly friendly atmosphere.

– Do you really have to engage in such suspicious activities…? –

“Anyway, even if I go to Neo Haven, I have another scheduled job. It’s been a while since I took on a one-off task… I should think of it as a sort of rehearsal.”

The Tin Can displayed signs of anxiety, likely due to grievances against the broker who designated this gloomy back alley as the meeting point.

If managing the quality and attitude of mercenaries who gather at a suitably chosen rendezvous point is within the broker’s domain, then as a mercenary, all they need is to have the brainpower to reach the designated location and a sense of obligation to comply with the time regulations.

However, for this particular case, the broker’s concerns are unnecessary. Because….

“Hey, hairy dude. How have you been?”

“Ugh!! I… I don’t know what you’re talking about! Ivory Hacker.”

When I greeted the middle-aged man in a suit who was leaning coolly against an old metal door, he flustered and tried to cover my mouth, only to retreat upon seeing the Tin Can flashing its scanner loudly as a warning.

As you can see, the broker is a man who has just shed his rookie status and wants to pretend to be an experienced industry insider.

But other mercenaries… well, I wonder if there’s anyone trustworthy even a little bit.

Judging by past experiences, one team of mercenaries I met was nice, while the other was complete idiots, so the odds seem fifty-fifty.

“…I know I’m saying this now, but since we’ve shared faces, can’t I turn back? The job content shows I’m just a support agent.”

“I doubt we’ll have any contact on the day, but since you’re here, let’s confirm your face, shall we? …Wait, did you secretly spy on me?! You haven’t even officially registered yet…!”

“What a petty thing to do. Just think of it as me doing some research.”

“Aargh…!”

The broker tried to scold me for outright ignoring the rules but soon resigned and kept his mouth shut.

If a random outsider did something presumptuous, it would be impudent, but if a verified mercenary did it, it becomes seasoned experience.

…Of course, I didn’t intend to adopt such a haughty attitude; it was merely a transgression because I felt there wouldn’t be a significant problem upon realizing the broker was this guy.

I looked on as the rusty metal door creaked open with a screech, thinking back to the task I was about to undertake.

Operation code name: Santa Claus.

It’s a part-time job monitoring the activities of the infamous crime organization, Five Eyes, which has audaciously announced a terror attack during the Christmas holiday, even respected by Mega Cop.