Loved by the War Machine

1 – CI-125, Ilia (1)

“…System activation. Environmental perception in progress. Please wait a moment.”

A very familiar line echoed from the dry lips of the emotionless woman.

A gap beneath the eyes, almost like lines etched under the eyes, not enough to call her human.

The machine finally opened its eyes.

“Environmental perception complete. CI-125, activated.”

In the greeting of the one I missed, I felt the corners of my mouth gently rise.

Fortunately, it seems to have risen without any problems.

“This is Unit Taehyuk. Nice to meet you – ?”

Despite being given the latest model body, the stiff movements that didn’t suit the body.

The clunky movements were like a puppet moving.

It was rather… refreshing compared to the androids I saw on the streets.

If I were to put it nicely.

“Searching for the last record. Please wait a moment.”

Whether it was because I couldn’t properly adapt to the changed appearance, my visual sensor – that is, my eyes blinked.

Like a startled human.

“Unit Taehyuk, is my condition, abnormal, abnormal?”

If you put an outdated artificial intelligence into a household android, would this be the result?

Always speaking in a dry, cheap voice model, and then putting it into a body resembling a human neck, would it end up like this?

“hehehe, hahahaha!”

In the end, I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Because there’s a limit to enduring.

“Unit Taehyuk, has my chassis been altered? I am a combat model, and this type is deemed unsuitable for my mission.”

The pitch of the voice is still a mess.

No matter how hard I try to speak, my neck keeps creaking as if it’s realized something strange too.

“CI-125 finds it difficult to accept the current situation, member of the TaeHyuk unit. I request an explanation.”

Reluctantly, he turned his head towards me, seeking help.

The figure crouched in front of me was all too familiar.

Though the body was different, he was undoubtedly my comrade.

The one who saved me until the very end on the day I lost all my comrades on the battlefield.

“…Ah, let’s start with greetings first.

It’s been a while, Illya.”

“I’m also glad to see you again, member of the TaeHyuk unit.”

I called CI-125 Illya, unlike the other comrades.

***

“I am clearly recorded as halted during the Incheon training operation.

I confirmed the injuries of TaeHyuk unit member and performed the withdrawal from the combat area.

However, just before the escape, the power supplied to the memory module stopped, and I couldn’t perceive the changes inflicted on my body.

Therefore, please provide the change information directly or request an explanation.”

The bewildered guy seemed unsure of how to handle his new body, but he genuinely showed a satisfying reaction.

The still unsteady voice of the woman provided enough laughter, but if it continued, the long-awaited reunion would turn into a mess.

So, I immediately handed him a chip.

“Did you grasp the body structure, Illya?”

“Yes. I have confirmed the insertion port for the information device.

This part is located on the back cover of the human body, specifically… the back of the neck.

Therefore, it is understood that this device does not have the ability to be inserted directly – it does not…”

“Wait, wait, what exactly are you trying to understand?”

“It is understood that there is a serious defect in my ability to perform.

I am requesting assistance from the member Tae-hyuk.”

To think that even though he recognizes his own hand touching his neck, it has come to this point.

Furthermore, he even flinches every time his hand touches his own skin.

“Expansion of spatial perception – ex, expansion?

Member Tae-hyuk, this device is having great difficulty accepting this situation.

I am requesting assistance once again.”

Nevertheless, the Mirsis Corporation’s artificial intelligence has not gone anywhere. It was already flexing its fingers quite freely.

However,

“Member Tae-hyuk, I would like to inquire why this device has toes.

Also, I have confirmed the existence of olfactory, auditory, and gustatory sensors.

I did not understand if they are suitable or unsuitable for this device’s mission.”

But still, is there a clear limit?

The sight of a subject with a mechanical body flinching was quite intriguing.

Even though he used to extend his body without hesitation for suppression and shooting.

Now, he looks no different from a human.

Of course, the chaotic voice and stiff body were still a source of laughter.

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. Your curiosity will probably be satisfied with this.

Tell me when it’s done. Got it?”

“Thank you for your help.”

After inserting a small chip behind her neck, her eyes immediately changed from black to blue.

Gone was the sight of relying on a single camera to perceive her surroundings, now she had two eyes… or should we call her a woman with short hair?

“Oh, damn. This is strange again.”

Bulletproof shields, machine guns, shotguns…

All sorts of firearms were grabbed as they came and casings were scattered around –

The one who used to rampage, clashing with iron and making a sound, is now inside a female-shaped apparatus.

“Well, anyway.

I should be grateful, Iria.

Thanks to you, I’m still alive.”

She sat down, pressing the soles of both feet against the ground… Is she a woman? Is it?

Damn it, what should I call this?

Iria, I stroked Iria’s head.

“…It’s soft.”

Did she get caught teasing and petting a metal plate with visual sensors in the past?

Now, would she be scolded for being attracted to a hunk of iron?

Of course, this story would be from the days when all of our comrades were still alive.

125th, Bulk, Scrap, Dot…

Mirsysa Corporation’s war machine in front of me had many names.

Now, only the nickname I gave it remains.

***

“Private Tae-hyuk.”

It was when Iria called me that evening to set up the dinner table.

Wanting to prepare a somewhat luxurious meal since it was our first meal together, I was diligently moving around –

Iria carefully stepped forward and called me.

Perhaps he had become more accustomed to his body than before, standing in front of me with a gentle posture.

Judging by his stable voice, the patch through the chip must have been successful.

“I have gathered information about this unit.

However, there are parts that need to be confirmed simultaneously.”

“What parts?”

“Why did you assign me to a female android instead of the existing combat-type unit?”

Hmm.

A sharp question.

Honestly, it was something I had been pondering a lot.

“Well, you should know how your ownership has changed, right?”

“Yes. I have confirmed that it has been changed to Private Tae-hyuk from Mirsysa Corporation.

Therefore, I am Private Tae-hyuk – “

“Just call me by my name. I’m no longer affiliated with Mirsis.”

“Yes, understood.

Continuing, I prioritize the orders of Mr. Taehyuk.”

Fortunately, it seemed that the update had been applied without any issues.

However, could it be the limit of artificial intelligence? I couldn’t find the various expressions or variations in tone of voice that I had seen before.

There was only a dry woman’s face in front of me.

“Mr. Taehyuk, may I ask you again about the confirmation?”

“Oh, that? Um…

Since we’re going to live together, it didn’t feel right to put you in a boring combat model.”

“I don’t understand.

I am an artificial intelligence designed for combat purposes.

Therefore, it is most logical to choose a suitable aircraft for mission execution.”

Logical.

I was really sick of that word.

I suddenly saw the image of him ordering me to do something without any emotions, repeatedly, as if I were a robot.

…Of course, it was because of the company’s orders.

“Well, that worked out well. As your owner, shall I give you your first command?

Don’t be too fixated on making rational choices.”

“A command, sir?”

“Well, yes.

“Isn’t that just how humans are? They occasionally do foolish things.”

When the opportunity arose, I gave the orders I had been wanting to give to the fellow right away.

Because I wanted to see him liberated from constraints.

Rather than a simple robot that would go to unreasonable places following the instructions from above –

Now, I wanted to see him as ‘Ilia.’

Despite knowing he was not human but an artificial intelligence.

“By any chance, when you mention ‘foolish things,’ are you referring to the incident where you petted my head equipped with visual sensors,

or are you talking about embracing me after the battle ended?

I kindly ask for clarification on whether both actions led many unit members to repeatedly name Taehyuk as a ‘fool.'”

…It felt like my face was flushing red.

I became emotional, relying on Ilia, observing those muscular guys with a smell of sweat embrace me for some reason,

perhaps because they had teased me, calling me a machine geek.

Until that moment, I couldn’t have imagined such an android unit.

But still, a machine geek… were they making fun of me?

“However, yes.

CI-125 is – “

“Ilia.

From now on, let’s call you Ilia.”

That damned machine number I had heard so painfully.

The numbers that came out of the mouths of those who were about to discard Ilia, who had fallen while trying to save me.

“Yes, from now on, I will name this unit Ilya.

And I will strive to follow the orders you have given to the best of my ability.”

I felt satisfaction in no longer calling myself by that name.

The comrade I remembered as my only companion in the corporate war.

The only one to whom I entrusted my back is now this guy.

“Well then, shall we start with a meal?”

“If you’re referring to a meal, I’m fine.

I still have enough power -“

“Ilya.”

Although I didn’t want to explain the reason for risking my life for money again over the past ten years,

I wanted to make sure to convey the advantages of a body close to human.

“Remember how you always wondered about the taste of the combat rations we used to eat?

Why do you always treat something nutritionally rich so negatively?”

Essential nutrients? Yeah, I get it a hundred times. You need to eat to gain strength.

But why didn’t that damn taste get any attention?

You should save money. How can you ask someone to be strong by tormenting them with what they eat?

Ilya never understood me and my comrades.

At least during the time when he had a body made of steel.

Fortunately, with the cooking done, the steam rising from the packaging.

The very familiar sound of a zipper opening, ‘tut-tuk.’

“This time, let’s have you taste it.”

Why did I go through all that trouble, enduring the suffering of modifying my body with a taste sensor option and the ability to derive energy from food?

Now was the time to reveal it.