Chapter 389

The number of world refugees caused by natural disasters, climate change, and wars is approximately 500 million.

In Korea, the officially counted number of refugees is about 500,000.

If we consider those living as stateless individuals who escaped the government’s attention during the expulsion campaigns, the number would be even higher.

Tracking down Adella’s identity is nearly impossible, even if the National Intelligence Service were involved; no, it is impossible.

“Sis, I still think this is a bit off.”

Adella lightly pushed me back.

I frowned, as if I did not understand what was happening.

I began to doubt if Adella truly understood what I was saying.

“The coordinates left by Mephistopheles were in Japan. But it’s not strange that there’s another one in Korea. The Katsuhuta School found Naomi, and we are looking for you. Unlike Dragonia Nacientia, the Persona Physis is proven magic and feasible. I can disclose that much.”

The hypothesis that Adella’s brain map was fixed to a reference coordinate of her physical body, rather than being stuck at an arbitrary virtual reality coordinate whose location was unknown, offered both plausibility and credibility.

“Weren’t you also wanting to be recognized as a human, just as Adella is? Instead of relying on a trial that may never end.”

“What if I ask why you didn’t inform me earlier?”

“What good would it do to let you know right away?”

Our voices began to rise slightly.

I turned on the power of another phone that I had kept off.

The phone vibrated continuously, signaling that I had received messages.

“Thousands, tens of thousands of messages come in a day, and when I step out of the Academy’s front gate, reporters and now with the upcoming elections, even badge carriers come along and cling to me. If you’re looking for reasons to hide my identity, I can give you ten right now.”

“My point isn’t about matching or mismatching, though.”

“Then what?”

“This is an obvious lie. You’re deceiving people.”

Adella’s response was so ridiculous that I felt deflated.

“Who is actually suffering from that lie? The ASI creator criminals?”

“There may not be any immediate victims. But I’m really scared of what kind of backlash will arise when the lie is exposed… Don’t you feel the same?”

“Hey, who caused this mess in the first place? Can’t you see I’m trying to fix it?”

“I’ll just… I’ll somehow scrape together 200 million won—”

“Don’t say nonsense. Do you think just fulfilling one request will settle things? If I use this to keep blackmailing, it might.”

“Ah, I’ll take care of it! I did wrong, so I should be responsible! Ha… Ha…”

When I looked up, I met Adella’s gaze.

She was breathing heavily, and there was intensity in her eyes.

“Adella, you seem overly excited right now; let’s calm down a bit. Thinking impulsively will only worsen the situation.”

“I can’t lie at all. If what you’re saying is true, I have to think of everything from the rescue process to now as if I experienced it myself. I don’t think I can make it sound convincing like you can.”

“What’s the difference with now?”

“Of course, it’s different! There are too many lies to create! How can you lie without blinking? Is that how people are?”

Adella spoke rapidly like a machine gun.

Seemingly surprised by her own words, she covered her mouth and waved her hands.

“No, no, that’s not what I meant…”

“Right, I’m just that kind of person.”

I replied calmly and emotionlessly.

[Princess Estasha Ratiaas de Kaizen, do you know your sins?]

I think I understand a bit—the sin of deceiving, tricking, and mocking everyone in this world.

[I still don’t know what you’re thinking.]

What can I say, when there seems to be a way for everyone to be a little happier immediately?

[Are you really planning to refuse to answer until the end?]

Even then, as now, my existence hasn’t changed at all. Everyone keeps saying the same thing.

[… You really are like this until the very end.]

“My life has been full of lies from beginning to end.”

It seems that even with reincarnation, the essence doesn’t change.

I wondered if the problem might be the very concept of reincarnation itself.

* * *

Ding—

A message notification appeared on Adella’s phone.

“Read it.”

“Okay.”

“Hurry up and get the money?”

“No, someone kept asking me who made me play the role here. What do I do? This person seems to know which school I attend…”

“So, did you say I made you?”

“No, I kept insisting I don’t know you. I can’t let that influence reach you.”

“…”

“Why?”

“Wait, let’s look at that message again. Something feels odd.”

The culprit seems to be reluctant to bring up anything related to what I’ve tentatively called the ‘Adella impersonation incident.’

Are they worried I would get involved and be unable to handle the aftermath?

Or do they plan to blackmail me too?

“Is this person one of your broadcast viewers?”

“It seems so. They knew my community nickname and streaming schedule very well.”

“Can you show me that email again?”

“Here.”

[We know all your truths.]

(Photo sent)

(Photo sent)

(Photo sent)

(Photo sent)

Adella was active as a member of the first generation of Safari Dream’s ASI in the World of Arcelia.

And I discovered a few days ago that you have been filling in for Adella while doing her virtual streamer broadcasts.

Since I possess evidence of your activities as Adella’s impersonator, please send me 200 million won in cash immediately if you want to dispose of the materials.

If you have any questions, please contact us via <u>link</u>.]

Adella’s community login photo, Twish Broadcasting Studio pictures, and detailed images of bank account numbers were all there.

There was no room for doubt; it was evidence verifying Adella’s identity.

“This was taken a month ago? You don’t know exactly when?”

“I go to the cafe almost every day after school… So it should be right.”

I checked again against the text messages to see if there might be clues about the blackmailer.

[Star: I’m sorry, but I really don’t have any money. Even if I wanted to give it, I can’t…]

[K: Can I ask you something?]

[Star: Yes.]

[K: What’s your relationship with Noname?]

[Star: Why do you ask that all of a sudden…?]

[K: Just curious. You just answer.]

[Star: We’re not related at all. And I really don’t have any money. Honestly, 200 million won is too much.]

[K: So you do acknowledge you’re playing the role?]

There was a 20-minute gap between this message and the next.

After much consideration, Adella asked another question instead of answering.

[Star: When was this photo taken?]

And another reply came in 10 minutes later.

[K: Are you trying to search for CCTV? It won’t help. It was taken a month ago. You’re a regular at that cafe, right?]

[Star: …]

[K: While I’m saying this nicely, tell me your relationship with Noname. Then I could reduce the amount.]

[Star: Why on earth are you so curious about that? Why specifically mention Noname?]

[K: Just personal curiosity. Whether it’s Noname, Kariri, or a third party, someone must have told you to take on Adella’s role.]

[Star: Why?]

[K: I wouldn’t know. It could be to emphasize Adella’s existence, which has departed from the concept of artificial intelligence.]

(…)

[(Photo sent)]

[(New) K: You look young judging by what you’re wearing, so you’d better think clearly. If you just tell me who told you to take the role, I’ll pretend the 200 million won never happened.]

A photo taken from behind Adella.

Though she wore a gray hood, the plaid school skirt was exposed.

“This is clearly meant to set up a direct confrontation with NaeMe, right?”

“No.”

“Huh?”

“This person doesn’t seem like a blackmailer. Why don’t I see them pushing for money?”

“What do you mean by that?”

It was a scene I was familiar with from social gatherings.

From the beginning, they present an offer that the other party cannot refuse and then gradually lower the stakes.

Then what the blackmailer desires is not money, but something else.

For example, information about my relationship with Saetbyeol, or if there’s no connection, how could they have taken over the broadcasting station and virtual reality accounts entirely?

Was it simple curiosity?

“More importantly, why ask for 200 million won but not provide their own account information? They would be hasty if they threatened to spread it on the community if I didn’t give it immediately.”

“Uh, right? Did they forget that?”

“That’s impossible. Looking back, there are numerous strange things. In the email, it says that they saw it a few days ago, but when you asked again, they responded that it was a month ago. Is a month ago within the range of a few days?”

“Are they trying to discourage me in case I check the cafe’s CCTV…?”

“That could be possible.”

“I’ll go check right now!”

“Wait a minute.”

I grabbed the collar of Adella as she stood up and tried to rush out of the room.

The feeling of having a clue was tinged with a zinging sensation.

The blackmailer knew that Saetbyeol was a high school student wearing a uniform.

It was even more suspicious asking for 200 million won from a high school student.

The reasoning for associating Saetbyeol with me was valid.

In the virtual reality world, Adella was dependent on my open world, so if anything happened to her, I couldn’t be unaware of it.

From the blackmailer’s perspective, it would make the most sense to assume that I had personally replaced Adella with someone else.

“Then wouldn’t that be the end of it?”

Why are there still follow-up questions?

It seemed strange to think that some skilled hacker kidnapped Adella in the virtual reality world and streamed without my and Kariri’s knowledge.

However, analyzing the subtle nuances of the messages the blackmailer sent suggested they seemed to hope for that instead.

Did they think I wouldn’t do that?

“Give me your phone.”

This pointed to the possibility that the blackmailer knew Adella rather than me.

After three seconds of deliberation on what I should text the blackmailer, I moved my fingers.

[Star: So if I send you 200 million won right now, can I continue streaming in place of Adella? Will you keep it a secret?]

[K: Let’s wait and see what you do. But do you have the money?]

Right, I was completely convinced that money wasn’t the goal.

A true blackmailer would have claimed here and now to dispose of the evidence, at least outwardly.

[Star: Even without it, I should hurry and find it now.]

[K: You don’t have much time. If you don’t send it within an hour, I’ll spread everything about you and all your communities.]

A blackmailer setting their own restrictions.

I pressed the final nail in.

[Star: In fact, we have deleted Adella. I think Noname hasn’t noticed that her attachment doll has changed for a few days. It’s quite pitiful. Since I told you the truth, can you reduce it a little? Maybe to around 100 million? 50 million would be even better.]

“Did NaeMe go crazy?”

“Wait. There will be a response.”

I returned Adella’s phone and took out my phone, gripping it tightly with both hands.

One second, ten seconds, and even thirty seconds passed without any contact.

‘Could I have been wrong?’

As a growing sense of unease crept up on me,

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang—!

Someone was pounding loudly on our entrance door.

“Ah, what a scare!”

“Ha… Adella, you go.”

“I just had my hair dye magic worn off?”

“It’s okay, just go out.”

“… Is it time to give up already?”

Adella, with her beautiful silver hair fluttering, trudged forward with heavy steps.

And shortly after, a shrill female scream echoed.

“Ahhh!”

* * *

[In fact, we have deleted Adella.]

“No…!”

Yoonseul’s eyes glistened with tears as her hands trembled.

[It seems Noname hasn’t noticed her attachment doll has changed for a few days; it’s quite pitiful.]

“I need to hurry and tell NaeMe…! Ugh… Hm… Ha ha ha ha.”

Raw words came rushing out due to the chaotic emotions.

Adella was an ASI, but at the same time, she was a human. Not just a mere attachment doll.

The statement of having deleted her was not all that different from saying I had killed a close friend.

Memories of watching fireworks at an amusement park, countless collaborations with virtual streamers, every memory associated with Adella crumbled like a sandcastle.

Yoonseul’s hands lost strength, and she couldn’t even hold her phone.

NaeMe’s house was right below.

She quickly opened the door in her pajamas and rushed down the stairs.

“No! No! No! No!”

The tips of her feet pressed down on the sharp edges of the stairs.

Then, she twisted her ankle on the last step and banged her knees on the ground.

Short-lived pain brightened her darkened vision.

She stood up again like a weeble and desperately pounded on NaeMe’s front door.

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang—!

“NaeMe, Noname! Ugh… It’s serious… it’s serious! Ahhh! Noname, open the door quickly! Adella is…”

Why hadn’t I noticed sooner?

When exactly had Adella been swapped out?

I should have followed that hoodie student all the way from the cafe.

With each knock on the door, relentless self-hatred surged within me.

Clunk—

The fortress-like door creaked open.

“Huh?”

“Ugh… huh?”

“Kariri?”

“Ah… Adella…?”

A girl with dazzling, extravagant silver hair greeted me instead of NaeMe.

“Ahhh!”