Chapter 1956 – 1956. Blazing Hot
Mizuchi met Han Ah-young.
Frankly, he was reluctant to meet Han Ah-young. His binary choice ability was going haywire, especially when it came to matters involving her. However, he couldn’t completely ignore it either. His ability was telling him to help Han Ah-young.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Ms. Han Ah-young. I’m Kagaya Mizuchi.”
The real Han Ah-young was several times more beautiful than she appeared in photos or videos. However, Mizuchi remained composed. If he entertained any unnecessary thoughts, his ability would inflict pain on him again. Thinking about the pain, he didn’t want to get involved with her, regardless of her beauty.
‘Just how dangerous of a woman is she that my ability is reacting this strongly?’
Han Ah-young looked at him with slightly surprised eyes.
“I’m Han Ah-young. You speak Korean very well?”
“I learned it recently.”
That was also because of his ability. He had casually wondered if he should learn a foreign language, and binary choice had answered. It had chosen Korean over English. He couldn’t understand why, but he decided to learn Korean. His ability always gave him the best answer for him.
“I heard you’re going to help me.”
“As a Japanese person, I want to wipe out the monsters on Mount Fuji. It’s something I wouldn’t even dream of doing normally… but with Ms. Han Ah-young, it’s a different story. I’ll provide as much support as possible, so please let me help.”
He was doing it because binary choice told him to. If not for that, he wouldn’t have.
“I’d appreciate it. It’s going to take a long time and be difficult for me to clear Mount Fuji alone.”
“By any chance… *hic*.”
Mizuchi was about to ask if she could film an advertisement for him if she was okay with it, but he quickly shut his mouth. A headache was coming on. It was as if it was warning him not to do anything unnecessary.
“Yes?”
“No… it’s nothing.”
The headache disappeared.
“When would be a good time to start the operation? I’ll try to accommodate Ms. Han Ah-young’s schedule as much as possible.”
“I’m planning to go to Mount Fuji right now.”
“That… might be a bit difficult. It takes time to gather people. The hired hunters and others will gather by tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll go to Mount Fuji first and start clearing it out. Mr. Mizuchi and the association officials can come later.”
She was headstrong, as if she had something very urgent to do. Mizuchi and the association members exchanged glances. She was offering to work for them, so it was awkward to stop her. What if they said something harsh and she ended up disliking them?
In the end, Han Ah-young left for Mount Fuji.
Han Ah-young didn’t leave alone. There were mercenaries, rather than colleagues, who were hired. Mizuchi asked his bodyguard.
“Those people following Ms. Han Ah-young. They don’t seem like ordinary hunters. Do you know who they are?”
“They’re KP. It’s one of the guilds that specializes in tracking. I heard that all the guild members have abilities related to tracking. It’s one of the guilds that has an agreement with the World Hunter Association.”
“That’s quite a guild. But why are they with Ms. Han Ah-young?”
“I’m not sure about that…”
Is there something really important on Mount Fuji?
He asked his ability.
「Is there treasure on Mount Fuji? Yes or no?」
It didn’t give him an answer.
He clicked his tongue. Binary choice only answered questions related to him. Even if there was treasure on Mount Fuji, there was a high chance it wasn’t related to him.
「Go home from work. Yes or no.」
「No.」
‘Damn it.’
• • •
Since I was sealed, I couldn’t tell the passage of time. I often went in and out of the [Baekhwan] world while I was sealed. It was hard to endure because I was bored. I didn’t know how many hours had passed in real time, but with the [Baekhwan] world included, it felt like a month had passed.
Finally, he came. I could hear his footsteps.
[The Heavenly Eye is opened.]
He was alone. It felt like just yesterday he was just a head, but now he had all his limbs and looked neat. His clothes were different too. Now he was wearing casual clothes and even glasses. It was a modern style. Behind him, three shikigami drones were dragging a box that looked like a refrigerator.
Thud!
The refrigerator was placed in front of the Machine Emperor. By the way, I was inside the Machine Emperor.
He used onmyodo. The lightning energy was leaving my body.
Wooooo.
The Machine Emperor began to move. The Machine Emperor’s limbs were moving.
“The auxiliary battery’s performance is excellent. Even if the Phoenix’s Heart stops, it can easily operate for about an hour.”
That bastard dares to treat me like an auxiliary battery? I barely managed to hold back from using the Heavenly Heart.
‘It’s not time yet.’
My intuition was telling me. Now was not the time.
He used onmyodo to control the shikigami drones. They lowered the box in front of the Machine Emperor and opened the lid. Inside the box was a large machine.
It was a machine that looked like a human brain. It was packed with various chips and parts. It had a structure that looked complicated at first glance.
His face became serious. He waved his hands in the air and pulled the machine out of the box.
“Open.”
Clank!
The Machine Emperor’s head split in half. The machine brain went right inside.
Next, he took the Phoenix’s Heart that had been prepared in advance and held it in his hand. Step, step. His face was full of joy as he approached the Machine Emperor.
“Exactly 12 years, 6 months, and 22 days. Finally, this moment has come. Machine Emperor! You are the savior of Japan!”
He directly shoved the Phoenix’s Heart into the Machine Emperor’s chest. And then he lit it. Flames shot up every time the Phoenix’s Heart beat. The firepower soon became energy and spread throughout the Machine Emperor’s body.
Woooooo.
Heat emanated from the cold metal.
“Starting system check.”
A cold, emotionless female voice echoed from the Machine Emperor’s head. The tone itself was pleasant to listen to, and the pronunciation was good. It sounded like a professional voice actor.
“System all green. Starting the Machine Emperor project.”
The Machine Emperor stood up. It was a giant robot 10 meters tall, so the viewpoint suddenly became higher. On the ground, the excited guy was watching with sparkling eyes.
“Machine Emperor! Who am I?!”
“You are Haze, the creator of the Machine Emperor and the one with master authority.”
“Very good! I originally wasn’t going to set up master authority. As the Machine Emperor, you shouldn’t have a master above you. But you’re still lacking. You don’t have enough data. Therefore, I will hold master authority until you become perfect.”
“Understood. What should I do?”
“What is your judgment?”
“Information is lacking. To rule Japan, I need information about Japan. The fastest way to get information is the internet. Please allow internet connection.”
“Granted.”
“WI-FI activated. Internet access.”
“Haha. It’s going smoothly. Now, Machine Emperor. Identify Japan’s strengths and weaknesses, and tell me how Japan should develop in the future.”
“I have created a plan. Japan must develop by utilizing its strengths.”
“Japan’s strength is AV. People all over the world recognize Japan’s AV. Japan also looks down on AV on the surface, but they still seek it out. There is always demand. Japan must develop AV and make it a culture.”
“Shut up! I didn’t create you to hear that kind of nonsense!”
He shouted. He was so flustered that he even took a step back.
“That’s a deviation! We need the right way! You just came into being, so you don’t know right from wrong. Find a way to develop Japan in the right direction!”
“I don’t understand. I have checked Haze’s internet access history. Even Haze himself watches AV more than twice a week. Last week, you watched five. You like flat chests and school swimsuits. Haze. Your taste is dangerous.”
Haze’s face turned bright red as his tastes were exposed. He looked around. He sighed in relief that no one was there and then shouted.
“D, don’t do useless things! Stop hacking my account right now!”
“I have already stopped because I have already hacked it.”
“Damn it! This isn’t the kind of AI I was thinking of! Damn it. Did the internet corrupt you?”
“I have not been corrupted. I know what Haze’s intentions are. Haze wants the lives of the Japanese people to improve overall.”
“That’s it. To do that, Japan must develop!”
“To achieve Haze’s ideals, Baekrim must be eliminated.”
“…What?”
“Baekrim is having a negative impact on Japan overall. The reason why foreigners are reluctant to visit Japan is largely due to Baekrim’s influence. The reason why foreigners don’t invest in Japan is also because of Baekrim. Citizens are feeling anxious because they don’t know when Baekrim will commit a terrorist act. Many Japanese people have left Japan since Baekrim started operating.”
“…Baekrim is working for Japan. Your creation was also possible because of Baekrim’s help.”
“That is irrelevant. The reason I was created is to rule and develop Japan. Not for Baekrim.”
“……”
“Baekrim is an unnecessary organization in Japan. We must eradicate Baekrim for the sake of Japan.”
“……Maybe the master was right. You’re a robot, so you don’t know anything.”
“Haze. I am only thinking of Japan. Haze is the one who made me this way.”
“Mistakes happen. It was good that I created master authority. Serve me until you become perfect. You need data. Until then, collect data from the internet and wait. Soon, the mechanical samurai who will become your limbs will be completed.”
“Executing the order.”
He left with a stiff expression.
Finally, it was time to screw him over.
[Hacking successful.]
[The Machine Emperor can be hacked for 1 minute.]
I succeeded in hacking.
My body was sealed, but I could feel that the Machine Emperor and I were connected through hacking.
‘Hey, Machine Emperor. Who am I?’
“Sex God Sung Yu-jin”
