I Became a Sub Heroine in a Cyberpunk Game

Before continuing the conversation, let’s clarify a point that we should both be sure of.

First of all, Elysium did not place a bounty on my neck… rather, the head of the person who is the source of the virus. It would be a different story if it were the other way around.

What Hemet referred to as a “bounty” in a vague expression was actually more akin to a notice that combined rewards and compensations item by item when you look at it specifically.

If they can capture a machine that fully contains the virus and supply it to them, they will pay 500 million credits in a lump sum.

Some companies—avoiding specifics but clearly referencing Exatech—are trying to uncover the truth behind the incident they are concealing or bring evidence that can run simulations for an additional 80 million plus.

And, just in case. If the main developer of the malicious code or project contributor wishes to devote themselves to the Elysium Corporation, they promise means of escape from the metropolitan area and the best treatment in the industry… Wait, can I even say that openly?

Anyway, it was painfully clear how worked up the Elysium people were.

Even though they tend to operate online like cunning spiders building houses on the web and network, it seemed difficult for them to obtain physical samples in time since their headquarters isn’t in Neo Haven.

Seeing my abilities, which still hold many mysteries, I was just as worried about them as I was about Enema, so it was a relief that they placed bets not because they “figured something out” but “to gradually find out” something.

If possible, I’d prefer to keep my hands behind my back and just watch…

This circuit refinery is a store that is on the gray boundary that people who know about it recognize, especially since a disguised agent sent from Elysium is on special duty here.

Please let’s keep this quiet, quietly!

Who do you think I am, a celebrity? And you all aren’t a swarm of piranhas, are you? Do you really think you can sniff around and pounce just because I messed up only once after being careful all this time? This is too much.

“…Phew! Well, everyone seems to be acting quite decently. I was imagining someone walking around with a steak knife, eyes blazing like being part of some organization.”

Gulp.

My rationality advised me not to overinterpret things, calming my emotions.

But the feeling of my throat burning just wouldn’t go away, so I swiftly downed the drink Hemet brought out for guests.

The cool carbonation washed away the irritation in my chest, and the flowing liquid fructose warmed my brain’s neurotransmitter secretion into comfort.

I could slowly drink clean water or barley tea like before, but once I’m outside, it’s these kind of sodas… Wait. Is it possible this is actually more beneficial since I can easily resolve the health issues that arise from it?

“That’s not an entirely wrong assumption. Given the amount, I bet stupid people in need of work or friends dreaming of a turnaround are flocking nearby to spend the night. The shop hasn’t been too crowded, right?”

“…This damn thing.”

[ Inside the store, gizmo nerds were busy arguing amongst themselves over which scanner model was superior, and the clerks were busy grilling the customers they were assigned to for sales incentives. ]

As stated. While the shop was certainly large and impressive, it was not bustling as described in the games.

Just look at Hemet; he came straight from arguing with me over trivial topics to the office, and several employees without assigned customers were clapping, watching the boss stretch out.

They made sure to enforce on-site regulations right after the battle, and thank goodness they used a passage made in the black market to get back and forth; I had a chilling thought that if they got lazy, they might have found themselves pursued by stalkers like underground idols.

Even if a skilled private investigator were to get attached, reaching innocent Engineer A would require first being entangled in backtracking, leading to an agitated Opera Masked man, so I figured that part could be a relief.

But then again, physically intimidating me…

“Hm…”

I averted my gaze slightly from Zero 0, who was standing right next to me, and to Zero 1, who had declared they would guard outside the door regardless of it being someone else’s business. Lastly, I thought of the artificially enhanced Masanari, who might be monitoring us from somewhere.

…It could be foolish naivete or relaxation, but at least a surprise attack is out of the question, right?

What? Did I succeed in achieving a bit of personal safety? I thought it would take at least a few years to properly settle in Neo Haven.

“So, what kind of software do you plan to sell in the end? Recently, ad-blocking programs running on cyberware or search engines that accurately find desired data, or data trackers that reverse-track sources have been gaining strength. Honestly, I can’t picture anything ordinary or boring coming from your background.”

Why don’t you take a breath while you’re at it? Why are you more excited than me, who’s pretending to be a door-to-door salesperson for the first time in my life?

“What I had in mind was… a vaccine or a logic circuit remedy, but given the current situation, I wonder how much demand there will be. I should reconsider the consumer base for my products.”

“…So, you have several products developed?”

With words that flowed from someone who was unsure of what exactly to create, Hemet tilted his head to the side while muttering.

The seat cushion was crushed by the robot’s lower joint, and he awkwardly crossed his short legs, highlighting that he was the office owner.

He seemed familiar with handling his body like a part of himself, as the robot leaned to the side, and the appearance of his gloved alloy fingers scratching his chin fit quite well… Wait, doesn’t he trim his beard by himself?

“Hmm…”

I felt the urge to ask him to tone it down a bit, especially when he was making twice the noise that others were, with wires hanging all over.

Upon reflection, I couldn’t treat him like an emotional therapist who I could just ‘massage’ like before. It felt better to refrain from saying anything about the abundance of gestures.

Indeed, watching the 23rd-century emotions of these locals is enjoyable, but when you actually have to interact with them, it can be challenging in various aspects.

No matter how much time passes, it’s hard to fully adapt, right?

It’s like tossing a wrench into the virtues of modesty and decorum that were venerated in the East… Yet the urban nightscape is more cyberpunk than any other country.

“Hmm, that’s just a hypothesis. That new virus…”

“Starfish.”

Hemet’s sudden interruption caught me off guard, and I returned a bewildered expression.

It seemed he uttered the term with a clear reason and basis, as he chuckled at my obliviousness to societal news, gulped down soda, and added further explanation.

“There are numerous new malicious codes appearing, even when you combine various small networks, and there must be a pronoun we can understand while chatting. A customer dubbed it ‘the monster that eats metal’ and ‘the one you can’t kill even by slicing its body apart’, aligning perfectly with its characteristics and Eastern mythology.”

“What.”

Uh… But no one in the news called it such a nickname, right? What’s going on here, is it some secret camera tradition? On a metropolitan scale? How dedicated does someone have to be to turn that into a joke?

In a state where shame and embarrassment mingled almost infinitely,

I wasn’t sure why Hemet found my subtly furrowed brow appealing, but now he was practically grinning ear to ear and speaking animatedly.

“Despite its vicious characteristics, wouldn’t a term like this require some background knowledge to detect its danger? It sounds much more convincing to label it an unknown virus rather than using such a cute marine creature’s name as a headline!”

“…Wow.”

It’s commendable that a runaway kid has already acquired a new alias before their parents. I’m so happy I might burst into tears.

In a hurry, I opened the hacker community that I had shoved away into a corner using cyberware and checked the most recent posts.

…Wow… it’s real? These basement dwellers should be quickly reflecting outside rumors and chatting with the latest trends.

These guys are making me feel embarrassed by picking up trending phrases a beat late! The next fool who picks a fight with me better brace themselves.

“Ah, anyway! If there’s a solution regarding that starfish… the corporations are likely to offer more than the civilians, right? Can you at least provide a rough estimate?”

“…It seems the case will vary depending on whether it’s a vaccine to prevent the intrusion of malicious codes or a remedy to restore already messed up logic circuits.”

“Both.”

I quickly shook off the uneasy feeling brought on by ignorance and confidently stated my response.

A vaccine creates antibodies to provide immunity, while a remedy offers a sword to fight the illness.

Generally, on computers, the vaccine that catches malicious code also plays the role of treatment—deleting it—but I thought it might become a sales point as I heard the news that recovered robots are getting scrapped.

When I hastily crafted the virus, the keyword that came to mind was ‘self-defense.’

Since we were surrounded by Exatech’s forces, it was only natural that our starfish would target threatening droids, autonomous robots capable of movement.

And typically, such items have expensive main components. You can trust that; I painfully realized it while shopping for all sorts of things recently.

– ……. –

Startled. The unfocused gaze shot at Zero, who began to remain even more vigilant as he noticed the sudden shift in atmosphere.

No, you there… you. Ugh, I won’t say it.

Anyway, even if raw materials don’t disappear altogether, the process of reprocessing and molding such expensive components is practically wasteful, so I speculated that if there were another method, a sufficient price would be offered.

“…I’d need to see detailed completion levels to provide an accurate appraisal, but for a remedy that can restore a broken system, at minimum, it would be 5 million per use. If the vaccine is a high-quality compatible product that can be used across various operating systems and possesses superior performance, I could charge 30… 40 million per month to each contracting company, possibly even up to the billion level.”

“Sounds good.”

I had no idea where my former frivolous expression had gone, as Hemet recited the estimate gravely and seriously, while I wore an absurdly smug smile.

The party responsible for paying credits isn’t a poor, innocent citizen caught in it? Several companies even seem willing to invest in developing countermeasures?? This is a business where you can swim by just planting your feet on the ground.

Isn’t it quite rude for someone to ring the Golden Bell in a restaurant and try to leave without eating?

Hmm? Isn’t the situation different? I’m a 21st-century person, still adapting to these minor ‘cultural differences’~

However, that silly train of thought was short-lived.

Toward me, who had been grinning alone, suddenly! A hairy man’s hand… No, a bright red rubber glove appeared, palm facing down.

“Surely you’re not thinking of getting to the main point without even showing the real goods? Come on, show it. You’ve got my expectations up since earlier, and I’m dying to know!”

I wasn’t quite sure what I had instigated, but I was inclined to agree that it was time to officially start the consultation.

Thus, I, Anastasia Valentine, with an utterly business-like, natural demeanor that wasn’t strange or absurd in the slightest, simultaneously reached out next to Hemet’s glove, as if I had something to entrust.

“…What does this mean?”

“Just give me two random empty chips. I’ll immediately load the program and hand them over.”

…To be honest, my original plan was to enter the store and, with a shopping mindset, buy any standard data chip displayed, because it’s impossible for there not to be a reader in the place where I bought the goods. I intended to simply transfer the data onto them.

No, it’s not an excuse; I genuinely meant it.

It’s all because of a little dwarf who jumped in first, causing a mix-up, okay?

“Oh wow, I can’t believe you come to a chip shop and worry about whether the store’s standards match. Where did you grow up, a desolate backwater?”

“……”

Wincing at how on the mark that grumbling was, I awkwardly fiddled with my fingers.

Meanwhile, I keenly listened to Hemet’s mutterings as he stood up and rummaged through the office desk.

‘How confident must they be in their security not to apply even a non-reproducible protection to the software….’

Thanks for the insight. I should keep that in mind. Yes.

‘No, if it’s stored in that droid, I wouldn’t have to worry about simply losing it.’

Hmm, if you understood it that way, then let’s actively reflect that in the performance.

‘…This little brat is as cocky as his flashy career.’

…Hey, why are you being passive-aggressive over something we agreed to let slide? Can’t you see my fists are closer?

“Hmph!”

Clap!!

Soon after, with a definitive gesture that meant I heard everything, I swiftly grabbed the chip that had been offered and handed it to Zero. He opened the connection point near his nape and quickly received it to connect.

It was actually a task to confirm whether the internal storage space was indeed a clean, empty chip, but it had to look like a process of shifting the stored software to Hemet.

– All clear. Please control your strength. –

After an appropriate amount of time passed, as I took back the emitted data chip, I carefully closed my eyes and embraced the connection point as if to feel for any scrapes.

I might not be someone who can dare to speak on the agony of pulling all-nighters, or the depressing despair of barely keeping consciousness with caffeinated drinks, since I know nothing about what it’s like beyond a school assignment.

But since it’s set to become a marketable product, the moment to use my abilities with extra caution has arrived.

So, let’s include immunity against the malware I created.

The structure should be intuitive enough for even a first-time user to use.

If the user is a corporation, it’s appropriate to include generally available additional functionalities as well….

“…Oh.”

That’s it. As I pondered over the situation and circumstances, one cliché scenario suddenly popped into my mind.

Isn’t this completely a picture where I end up getting severely hurt by the program I created someday??

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