Loved by the War Machine

3 – CI-125, Illya (3)

“Come in.”

I felt pleasantly the rattling sound coming from the narrow kitchen.

I continuously tapped my creaking knee.

The result of injuries obtained from a chaotic training operation.

Certainly, if I had the mind for it, I would have received implant surgery that moved much smoother than human legs,

“Mr. Taehyuk.”

“Oh, Illya?”

The money given to that guy doing the housework in the kitchen should be just a few coins.

Even so, I was happy.

Just the fact that a comrade who remembers the same moment as me woke up again was satisfying enough.

“I need confirmation that I have performed the entrusted tasks correctly.”

After pulling up the pressure guard I had taken off, I moved my steps.

Tock, tock.

The floor touched by my feet was a bit damp and overly smooth.

However, contrary to the results shown in my taste,

“Seeing with the naked eye is much more certain, it is judged.”

The hand that pointed to the light switch while saying those words.

A slow flicker, illuminating the ceiling above with light.

“…I thought you were just going to do the dishes.”

“Mr. Taehyuk, are you satisfied with the cleaning results?”

No words were necessary.

The dishes on the rack sparkled, and the floor was so well-polished that it was almost scary to think it could be slippery.

The wooden floor, reflecting vividly from my footsteps… ah.

To think this could be achieved with just a mop and a dustpan.

“Oh, and I wanted to ask about this.”

“Uh, Illya. What – “

A gulp.

On the desk lay a six-shot revolver.

The well-maintained barrel was quite impressive.

Due to various modifications, it no longer retained its old appearance,

but the gun, now equipped with new technology, had its own charm.

“Why do you have a small firearm in your house?”

Turning my head to Illya, who asked that question, our eyes met, trembling –

Odd. It should only be a visual sensor of a machine.

Why does it seem like it’s getting angry?

“Well, that’s because of my profession.”

“Are you still working as a contracted mercenary for Mirsis Corporation?”

“No. I quit being a contracted mercenary.

Now, I guess you could say I’m a slightly safer independent mercenary.”

“In my memory module, there is still a record of you, Tae-hyuk, making a promise to me.”

It was a dry tone, but it only felt colder because of that.

With the gun by my side, I couldn’t say a word to the fixed eyes on me.

And rightfully so, because it was the truth.

“Tae-hyuk said to me,

‘I’m tired of mercenary work.

After this training operation, maybe I’ll settle down in some city in the rear.

It would be nice if you could come along. Illya.

It’s a promise. If we both make it out okay.’

He told me that.”

As if mimicking my tone – though the voice was completely different – the guy kept moving his mouth, showing no signs of looking away from me.

Instead, he scanned me for a moment, then lowered his gaze…

“The last confirmed injury from that battle was a knee penetration wound.

Tae-hyuk—”

“That’s enough.”

He had hit the sore spot.

I guess you can’t fool high-performance visual sensors with something as simple as covering it with your hand.

Value is a singular entity.

“To save you, there was no other choice.

Your artificial intelligence. Due to the exchange of on-site data and interactions with the squad members, it became independent, and they said it’s extraordinarily expensive.

What do those damn crazy corporate bastards excel at the most?”

“Mirces always exists for the betterment of human life -“

“There still seems to be traces of a corporate foundation.

Listen carefully. It’s about profit.

No matter how much of a wreck I become,

No matter how much of a mess you become…

You have to be profitable for them.”

As I rolled the pen on the contract I had forced upon, the vivid memory of treating blood-soaked knees with hemostatic agents and bandages still lingered, trying to suppress them somehow.

Thanks to that, the damn knees became a useless lump that couldn’t move without compression bandages.

“At that time, you were the most advanced artificial intelligence.

Now you’ve transformed into something like an ancient artifact or similar relic that even those high and mighty people wouldn’t accept.

At best, it’s the only decisive weapon for the police guys who get wiped out within a few minutes when facing corporate forces in a full-scale battle.

That’s how your brothers and sisters are treated.”

“I don’t understand. The knee injuries are permanent -“

“Losing you?!”

As if opening eyelids wide like a human, Ilia’s visual sensors were flickering as she stared at me.

Whether it was checking my condition,

Or dealing with my reaction.

I couldn’t tell.

“I’m the only one who made it out alive from Incheon.

As you know, I was a destitute orphan without family or anything.

My comrades said something about being caught off guard… or was it that damn suit-wearing guy?”

“…Mr. Tae-hyuk.”

Even though I hadn’t taken a sip of alcohol, the feeling of being supported came from the comrade in front of me.

I grabbed my aching knee with my hand, wincing.

My hand trembled as if it was responding to my body, urging me to recall the memories of that day.

“Damn it, those bastards…

They used us as shields. It was as good as telling us to die.”

“Please calm down.”

At that moment, my body was grabbed.

My trembling body was firmly held against the floor.

“Any gunshots or artillery sounds that Mr. Tae-hyuk may be hearing,

Or the voices of hostile personnel, are all just hallucinations.”

I hadn’t even mentioned that I heard anything.

Perhaps, just like me, he was in the same place.

Those understanding eyes seemed strangely sad for some reason.

“Please calm down.

Release the tension in your body, and I recommend leaning against my body.

According to the recorded emergency response procedures, placing your head on my chest area is deemed the most stable in situations of severe stress, as per the given manual – “

Chest area… chest… what did that mean?

It sounded like a word I heard when handing a first aid kit to the platoon leader who took a shotgun blast to the chest.

Wait a moment. Chest?

“Unggh?!”

Before Moore could say anything, his head remained lifted, and suddenly, his face touched something soft.

Warm, cozy, and the place it touched gently sank in while providing a strange sense of support.

This, is this what a chest feels like?

A woman’s, no, it’s an android chassis for now,

A woman’s, what?

“Detecting a rapid increase in heart rate.

Abnormality in the emergency treatment procedure detected. Halting.”

It was warm.

Soft.

Strange feeling.

For a robot. Surely, it must be a robot.

“Mr. Taehyuk. Shall I contact the emergency rescue team?”

“I’m okay.”

Nolan’s heart doesn’t easily settle.

He tries to feel the lingering warmth with his hands,

squeezes the hand he touched, and opens it again.

“Lord Taehyuk, could you please evaluate whether the measures were appropriate?”

It was gentle.

And unbelievably warm.

“Lord Taehyuk.”

“Oh, uh, yeah. I’m fine. Just a bit surprised, that’s all.”

Did I end up daydreaming while leaving Illya behind?

When I answered the one calling me and tried to stand up slowly.

He moved quickly.

…Of course, it’s more appropriate for him to move ‘one step’ ahead than me with a broken leg.

“I’ll help.”

“No, it’s okay. I can manage this much, whoa.”

“I’ll help.”

Illya, skillfully supporting my arms, effortlessly lifted me toward the bedroom.

Isn’t this almost the same as the situation on the old battlefield… isn’t it?

“Whether I laid you down in a comfortable position – “

“This is fine; I can adjust on my own.”

“Thank you, Ilia.”

Leaning on the bed for a moment, attempting to ease his knees, he briefly brightened his eyes.

The light bulb hanging from the kitchen ceiling flickered for a moment.

“Synchronization complete.”

With those words, the kitchen lights went out, and the bedroom lights turned on.

…Did I not connect to the system myself?

“I have accessed Mr. Taehyuk’s residential system.

This is a measure taken independently, considering the serious damage to the knees.

Please refrain from overexertion and kindly issue commands to me.”

“Could you explain the judgment process -“

“It is not Mirsis’s, but the Hippocrates Medical Support System’s judgment.”

As expected.

It seemed that they had autonomously added various things after entrusting the modification to that place.

Is there anything among them that could harm Ilia?

“Do not worry.

I am continuously inspecting the system, but apart from one thing, all are assisting my activities –

Focused on ensuring Mr. Taehyuk’s safety.”

“And what is that one thing?”

“We cannot verify the original source of the legacy artificial intelligence compatibility system.

Attempts to access it with administrator privileges have failed.”

It must have been installed by the place that was in charge of the modification.

I wonder if it’s not the type to cause collisions or anything like that.

“But yes, there is no problem with other parts.

Although the voice part still needs to become familiar,

I am operating normally.”

“If you say so.”

The one who quietly came and sat next to me placed a hand on top of my head.

As expected, like a human, or maybe even softer and warmer skin than a human.

“Lord Taehyuk, you look very tired.

It would be good to get some sleep and prepare for tomorrow.

By any chance, is there anything I can help you with during that time?”

“What can you do?”

“As you know, I can take on the guard duty.

Now that I’m not on the front lines, the term ‘guard duty’ seems appropriate.”

Guard duty.

It was always Illya who got the short end of the stick since there was hardly any need for it.

Maybe this time, I’ll make an exception.

Anyway, it’s been a long time since I escaped from that tiresome place.

“Can you sleep together?”

“I am a robot. Sleep is not applicable to me, but -“

“I can proceed with optimizing my processor during that time.”

“Well, then, you can do it by my side.”

Grabbing the arm covered with human-like skin, I pulled the fellow to lie down beside me.

It wasn’t assumed that two people would sleep together, a bit cramped, but –

“Excuse me. For space.”

Thanks to being hugged first with a neck pillow, I could settle comfortably without discomfort.

As a bonus, a soft chest also touched my face.

Damn. Do real women wear things like this?

“Every time it touches the protruding parts of the chest, the heart rate increases.

Do you enjoy touching this part?”

“If you ask like that, I seem like a weirdo.

But, well… honestly.”

Whether it’s to prevent me from falling,

or maybe she wants to hold me tighter.

The face was buried even deeper between them.

Soap scent. No, fabric softener?

It was full of such fragrances.

“If maintaining this posture helps with sleep, I will keep it.

Please, have a comfortable rest.”

“Alright, then.

Rest well, Iria.

Since you won’t be receiving any work for a while… why don’t you sleep in a little longer?”

I held Iria, who had transformed from a rigid body to a soft one, tightly and closed my eyes.

I must be tired, but my eyes kept feeling refreshed and full of energy.

Is it because of the warmth of her soft skin…?

Damn, she really is like a woman.