Chapter 33

The sensation of the ground brushing against her shoes feels distant and faint.

Even if it wasn’t the store she recommended, if she hadn’t mentioned some suspicious words like “special talent” while looking at me, I would have likely ignored her or cursed her as a quack.

How did I get stuck on this crucial issue…? If it’s a dream, I wish I’d wake up.

I think the diagnosis of being unfit for the implant procedure is even more painful than being forced to cohabitate with Helena.

Of course… not everyone living in Metropolis is a superhuman. Just remembering the passersby on the street or the mercenaries I’ve encountered, there are probably more people who live with only the enhancements of minimal cyberware procedures than those who are fully augmented.

Moreover, if I trust what that man, the teacher, said, you need to pass through the triple hurdles of costs, compatibility, and amplification rate to become a superhuman, so the number of truly dangerous individuals is likely to be even fewer.

…Damn, that’s obviously about ordinary people! Including corporations, all sorts of crazy individuals are bound to appear, so I’m not reassured at all. I have to fight against Mega Cop to get home…!!

“Ughhh…!!”

“Ahsa… Cyber engineers can live without undergoing those modifications without any issues.”

“……”

It’s frustrating to hear such words from a charlatan who can even deflect bullets.

When I lifted my head and looked beside me, our heroine, who wore a somewhat pleased smile, came into view.

…Even if I can’t help the implant issue, it’s still strange.

With her job as a combat police officer, she wasn’t supposed to be this kind and friendly of a character. She keeps smiling so casually… it’s driving me insane with her attempts at physical contact.

“Wait… Helena! Why are you patting my head?!”

“…You’re being rude to your older sister. Should I ride a motorcycle to the robot shop…?”

“…!!”

Hearing such scary words made me distance myself. Since my arms were trapped, I could only step back two paces… but isn’t this the Helena Valentine I know, who’d immediately resort to threats…?

Or maybe it’s still not the right time in the original timeline, so her personality is a little softer.

…Timeline? Huh?

“Helena…! I’m the elder… No, I’m the senior!! I’m 27 years old…!”

“……?”

I finally found a clue to escape this endless pressure.

At the start of the game, Helena was estimated to be in her mid-to-late 20s. Although there’s no exact information, considering the dialogues indicating she hasn’t undergone anti-aging surgeries and based on her beauty, it’s almost certain.

If that’s the case, I’m older…! I was almost fooled like with the mercenary trio.

I’m glad I could turn the crisis into an opportunity….

“…Citizenship.”

“……Citizenship? Why suddenly talk about citizenship?”

“When I saw it before, it definitely didn’t say I was 27. If not… as a punishment for a strange joke, I’ll have to hold you until we arrive at the store.”

“……When on earth did you steal a glance at that?!”

“I saw it openly.”

I don’t know what kind of trick she used, but Helena seemed quite confident. Thinking back… did I even mention my specific age to Grandfather Heinrich? We both seemed too shy for that…

For now, before sending data to the intimidating Helena, I took a quick peek.

[Green Level Citizen, Anastasia Valentine. Cyber Engineer, 20 years old.]

“….”

G-great. Since this isn’t some cross-verification with corporate databases, if I just change one number, it would be a perfect crime.

And that flimsy thought of mine was discerned by her burning gaze.

“Ah.”

The sad walker shoes that couldn’t touch the ground swayed. I didn’t have the courage to look around, so I clasped my hands together to cover my face.

…Just before hiding, I locked eyes with a passing child, making me blush even harder. …Hey! Don’t ask your mom to hug me!! That’s not it…!

Unlike the implant shop located slightly away like a hidden gem, the robot shop was in a super-large shopping center that penetrates all levels of Harvest Planet.

This means the foot traffic is tremendous… and any peculiar behavior there would inevitably attract attention.

“Are you going to lie again?”

“No… it’s not a lie, but really…!”

Helena’s arm, which had been wrapped around my waist, loosened. I thought she finally understood my grievance, but amidst the chaos, we had arrived at the shop.

The magnificent and intricately designed robots that snagged attention throughout the ages occupied an entire section near the accessible main entrance, displaying every kind and purpose of mechanical soldier.

Just from the legs, there were bipeds and quadrupeds as a given. I even saw models with wheels or treads.

I slowly stepped inside. She joined me quietly, sensing my serious demeanor.

Despite promising a resurrection without end, I didn’t even know the model name of that foolish machine.

…Well, considering that he didn’t even know about it himself, how could I possibly?

I passed through the humanoid androids and the impressive droid section to enter the carebot section at the back.

The promotional text on the sign caught my eye.

[The best choice for your family in this era! Meet the guardian of the home, responsible for everything from tedious chores to patient safety, right now!]

“…Pfft.”

If that logic holds, I’d need to buy as many as four. For Grandfather… Helena… and even a carebot for the carebot. …I really need to work my butt off.

Just glancing around, the prices weren’t cheap.

Even the most basic carebot, with no special options included, just laying there with a simple frame and components, was around 70 to 80 million credits. Remembering how I could manage a meal in the wasteland with 3 to 4 thousand credits makes this a ridiculous luxury.

But… it’s definitely cheap for a life.

“Ah!!”

I quickly moved when I spotted a somehow familiar silhouette in the corner of my vision.

Though it lacked the droid arms, multiple scanners, or fierce additional weapons, looking down at me from the burning earth was one of my most vivid memories.

I forgot the face of the pursuer who delivered a tragic end, but I could never forget the robot who entrusted its heart to me.

…Thinking about it, the reason I’ve become strangely more emotional must be because of this thing. Anyone would develop a trauma seeing something like that.

“…Did you do mercenary work just to buy this? If it’s 100 million credits… that’s quite a big target.”

“……No, this isn’t the goal… um… it’s more like a starting line?”

Helena, who had approached me, puzzled as she leaned against the glass case.

I’m not one to back down easily regarding pride.

Living my life indebted to a life, I haven’t even reached the starting point. So, just as he burned his circuits for me, I will also strive for him.

“Then, is our business done?”

“……Yes.”

Today’s harvest was immense disappointment and an unwavering resolve that surpassed it.

I’m glad I visited both stores on the same day. With this level of motivation, I’m sure I can achieve anything…!

Smack!

“…Huh?”

Just as I was happily walking out, Helena grabbed my arm.

“Where are you going…?”

“Where am I going…? Well, obviously back to the hotel…!”

I haven’t even completed the procedure, and it’s not even lunchtime, but I believe that shouldn’t prevent me from resting on a comfortable hotel bed.

The environment was just pushing me outside; I’m, after all, a cautious person who doesn’t underestimate the dangers outside my blanket.

However, hearing such a very reasonable answer made her frown. A sigh was the added bonus.

“Sigh… You’re telling me that what you’re currently wearing is all you have? Then you have none of the essentials!”

“Uh… but I have plenty of ammo…?”

“…….”

…I made a mistake. I must have answered incorrectly again, as her head tilted to the side.

“Alright… I won’t ask what kind of backstory makes someone so soft-hearted yet live with such stoicism. But!”

“Gah?!”

Not as a metaphor but rather in a real lightning-fast manner, my body was yanked. With our eyes meeting almost forcibly, Helena asked.

“Even if you’re a minimalist, you wouldn’t have spent all this time without a change of clothes?!”

“Th-that’s what cleaning gel is for…?”

…If I could see three seconds into the future, I would have testified more specifically that today was my first time actually visiting a real 22nd-century shop. At least that way, even if I was treated like a weirdo, my sanity could have been protected.

“……Ahsa’s going to start with the underwear store.”

“Y-yes?”

Before my mind could fully comprehend it, my arm was being pulled along.

“Hey! What are you doing… Eek?!”

“Ugh…!!”

With Helena Valentine’s unprecedented determination, the crowds of the shopping center parted. Passersby who weren’t quick enough to get out of the way quickly turned their heads away upon seeing her.

Creeeak…!!

Even as I did my best to brake, it was coming. It was getting closer. A store design that instinctively dissuades entry no matter how much time passed.

With graceful cursive writing on a pink sign, and mannequins standing in alluring poses right from the entrance. Not to mention, it was even twice as embarrassing since they had faces like real people instead of just the white objects in my memory.

But that was nothing compared to the shopping process that unfolded inside.

“Ahsa…? This is supposedly popular underwear among minimalists.”

“?! Wh-what is this, just tape…? No, I’m not some kind of pervert!!”

“Oh, sir? Then is there something specific you’re looking for…?”

“Something comfortable…! Please, definitely something easy to move in!!”

“To determine that, you first need to try it on properly, right?”

“Sister?! Wait…!”

…Our shopping, her shopping, continued even beyond lunch.