Chapter 285: Star, Doomsday City (5)

Chapter 285: Star, Doomsday City (5)

The computer screen had been replaced by another screen, displaying the image of a middle-aged man’s face.

Chang-Sun prepared to detonate his Atra Fulmen energy, suspecting that the AI could be attempting to deceive him before resuming the attack. Looking at the screen, he slowly asked, “Are you the AI control system for this place?”

『You sound very stern. Can't we exchange more friendly greetings than that? 』

“I don’t really want to have that kind of conversation with you,” Chang-Sun said, raising a brow.

『Aww! That’s a bummer, because I want to become friends with you.』

The middle-aged man smiled and introduced himself.

『Now that things have turned out this way, let me introduce myself first. Nice to meet you. My name is Wait. I was one of the three AI control systems that protected Neo Seoul. I was programmed to be a middle-aged man in his forties for a reason. The one who created us...』

Wait’s explanation continued for so long that Chang-Sun felt it would never end.

“Oh, yeah. You need to be careful after you wake up,” Sixth Elder added.

“Why? Is the AI hostile to humans?” Chang-Sun asked.

“Ah, it’s not that,” Sixth Elder said.

“Then?” Chang-Sun tilted his head in confusion.

“He talks a lot,” Sixth Elder replied.

“...?”

“He talks a hell of a lot. It’s annoying. He’s a freak when it comes to talking,” Sixth Elder added, shaking his head in disbelief.

After remembering Sixth Elder’s warning, Chang-Sun became a little irritated as he thought, ‘He did say the AI would be a chatterbox upon finally meeting another person after such a long time, and he was right.’

Sixth Elder had told Chang-Sun to be careful, because his ears could go numb if he continued to listen to the AI.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.

A too-talkative artificial intelligence... Sixth Elder had grumbled, saying he was unsure why such an unnecessary function had been installed in the AI when a machine was supposed to prioritize efficiency. Chang-Sun had heard about it in advance, but it was still baffling.

『...So the woman the manager dated at the time was an elementary school teacher in a small island village. The manager fell in love with her simplicity, so he gave up on heading to Seoul and settled down in the village. After that, he devised each AI’s personality based on the things he agonized about...』

Nain had not expected the situation to turn out in such a way. Baffled, he turned to look at Chang-Sun and said, “...He’s a talkative one.”

“Yeah, he is,” Chang-Sun replied.

“Is he experiencing a system error or something?” Nain asked.

“I don’t think so,” Chang-Sun replied, shaking his head.

In any event, Sixth Elder had told Chang-Sun what to do if Wait was in chatter mode, so it seemed there was no need to listen to Wait’s story any further.

Tap!

Chang-Sun typed a few letters, and a password input window suddenly popped up over Wait’s face.

『...Mmmm? I’m telling you a very important story, so what are you doing? That input window is...』

“From what I heard, I can reset the system using the master key,” Chang-Sun said.

『Wooow, you seem to have a lot of knowledge about my control system...!』

“If I format you, I think I should be able to stop listening to this boring explanation. What do you think?” Chang-Sun continued. Wait immediately stopped talking.

『...!』

Looking at Wait, Chang-Sun growled, “Stop giving me useless explanations and answer my questions, or I’m really going to shut you down.”

『...You’re cruel.』

“I can’t let people’s ears go numb, can I?” Chang-Sun retorted. Wait grumbled plaintively in response.

『It’s been 300 years since I last met a master, but he’s one tough cookie. It’s sad, sad. 』

Of course, Chang-Sun did not even blink in response, but he noticed how Wait called him a master. Wait recognized Chang-Sun as his director because Chang-Sun had entered the master key, asking for orders.

『So, my master. What is your first order for me?』

“I’m in the ‘Vermillion Room’, so it’s obvious,” Chang-Sun said, firmly stating, “I want the [Vermilion Brilliant Light].”

『...My master really knows a lot about me and the other AI, huh? Then it’ll be easier to explain.』

With a serious look, Wait began to explain.

『You already know that the [Vermilion Brilliant Light] was one of the three main power sources of Neo Seoul, don’t you?』

“Roughly,” Chang-Sun replied.

『The [Vermilion Brilliant Light] you mentioned is the power source I’ve been protecting. In fact, it’s located on this factory’s underground floor.』

Wait narrowed his eyes before continuing.

『I, the control system, woke up, but the problem is that I haven’t recovered full control yet. Long before this city faced extinction, this city had been suffering due to a virus.』

『The remainder of the virus still remains everywhere in the city.』

『And part of the virus also infiltrated the power system. In order to regain full control, I need an antivirus program to eliminate the virus.』

Wait’s tone turned serious.

『Can you get me that antivirus program? Then I’ll be glad to give you the [Vermillion Brilliant Light] and finally get out of this place for good, master.』

Ding!

At that moment, Chang-Sun heard a notification sound.

[A Hidden Quest (Last Keeper’s Final Favor) has been created!]

[Last Keeper’s Final Favor]

· Type: Hidden

· Description: The AI control system named Wait has been protecting Neo Seoul alone for a long time. Now, almost no one remembers the city, but Wait still desperately wants to bring new hope to the city. He believes that it is his calling, given by his father and developer.

However, a missing antivirus program is necessary to grant Wait’s favor. Recover the antivirus program and give Wait a new power.

· Time limit: Period of your stay.

· Prerequisite: Becoming the master of Wait, the AI control system.

· Objectives:

1. Recover the antivirus program that is hidden somewhere.

“Is this item that remarkable?” Chang-Sun asked.

『It’s not something you can put into words...! That’s also the raw material of the [Tricolored Brilliant Light]!』

“...It’s that important?”

『Ha, hahaha. You have something this splendid, but you have no idea what it is. I may have met a very ridiculous master.』

Wait shook his head in disbelief.

“Then how can I give this to you?” Chang-Sun asked as he held [Li’s Fragment] closer to Wait.

『...Can I really use this?』

Wait became noticeably excited. Still, he cautiously glanced at Chang-Sun, worrying about whether he could really use this valuable treasure.

“Use it,” Chang-Sun said decisively.

『If you say so, master.』

Wait answered, his voice filled with bliss.

* * *

[‘Antivirus program’ creation has started!]

[Please wait a moment.]

Whirr―!

Clang, clang!

The conveyor belts began to turn busily; the antivirus manufacturing process had begun.

Although Chang-Sun wondered why building a computer program would cause such a commotion, he did not give it much thought, as he had been told the antivirus program was also a tangible item. Once he received the result, his question would automatically be answered.

『Huh... The day I could see this in person really came before I could be shut down. Li, Li...!』

Wait’s voice was still filled with rapture.

“Who in the world is Li?” Chang-Sun asked, feeling genuinely curious.

『You don’t know who Li is?』

“That’s why I asked the question.”

『How can someone like you not know who Li is?』

Wait’s jaw practically dropped to the floor. He could not understand Chang-Sun. From his perspective, Chang-Sun was on his way to becoming a Celestial, and the final goal of everyone who was aiming to achieve <Transcendence> was Li. So how could Chang-Sun react like that?

“Is that strange?” Chang-Sun asked. Wait seemed bewildered as he responded.

『Of course! You don’t know Li’s great journey...!』

“I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one that doesn’t know,” Chang-Sun replied.

『What?』

Wait looked upward just as Chang-Sun did. Many of the Celestials who had been watching Chang-Sun reacted the same way.

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ says that he is smart, but even he is not sure who Li is.]

[The Celestial ‘Twilight-Piercing Owl’ asks her siblings if they know who Li is.]

[The Celestial ‘Sky and Earth’s Connecting Wing’ shakes his head, smiling bitterly.]

[The Celestial ‘War-Loving Fighting Deity’ guffaws, saying that Li must be nothing.]

...

『...How?』

Wait’s voice trembled. Perhaps he could understand Chang-Sun’s case, but he had a hard time wrapping his mind around the situation upon finding out that even the Celestials in <Heaven> did not know who Li was.

『Was something distorted in the worldline you came from, master...? An error...? But the wavelength is... It doesn’t seem as if the observation was wrong... What in the world happened...?!』

Wait muttered incomprehensibly for a long time. Then he let out a sigh.

『It appears that every record regarding Li was erased in your worldline, or was otherwise forgotten. Under normal circumstances, you would know who Li is for sure.』

“So who is Li?” Chang-Sun asked again.

『Li is...』

“Li is?” Chang-Sun repeated.

『Li is...!』

Wait was just about to answer.

[An unseen presence beyond the law is attempting to interfere by force!]

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ becomes surprised...!]

[The Celestial ‘Twilight-Piercing Owl’ hurriedly turns in a certain direction due to the sudden abnormal phenomenon...!]

...

[Unable to receive any messages.]

[The entire system has shut down.]

Pzzzz, pzzzzz―!

With a noise, the world around Chang-Sun distorted by force, ripping him away from Wait, the Dungeon, and everything else.

[The Celestial ‘Abyss-Chasing Great Evil’ is very displeased about the uninvited guest’s sudden intrusion!]

After that message, Chang-Sun stopped being able to receive even Mephistopheles’ messages anymore.

Whoosh!

The world around Chang-Sun changed, and he ended up in... a library that was filled with endless books.

[You have entered the Changgong Library!]

‘What?’ Chang-Sun thought as he looked around in surprise, unsure what in the world had happened. Soon, he saw a man with impressive-looking golden eyes looking down at him from the second-floor balustrade.

The man exclaimed, “What? Who in the world is this guy?”