NOVEL NEXT Chapter 114
Hani thought that the part-time job the scientist was talking about wouldn’t be a vulgar and ugly thing that used her body. However, she never imagined it would be something like this.
Dazzlingly bright lights shone on her face. A light that seeped in like tiny grains filled Hani’s vision. Women on either side and behind her began to quickly touch her hair and face, wafting a sweet fragrance around.
“Wow—your skin is really great. It’s nonsensical for someone who hasn’t taken care of it…”
“Your hair looks clean except for a little dust. Just a couple of vitamins should do the trick.”
“Makeup really suits you. Yes, I think we can finish up soon.”
For Hani, who had lived as a beast and hadn’t learned the things she was supposed to as a human, all this talk was just a series of incomprehensible phrases.
All Hani could do was try not to flinch when something cold or soft touched her skin or hair, but that didn’t last long either.
A little while later, the stylists finished decorating Hani and began to applaud each other, marveling at their work. Bewildered by this incomprehensible reality, Hani cautiously called out to Eight.
“…Sir? What is this—?”
“It looks good. You don’t look like you’re wealthy, but not too shabby either.”
“W-What do you mean by shabby…?”
“Looking poor earns sympathy, but it’s hard to make people envy you.”
As Eight said this, he patted Hani’s shoulder. It felt like an enormous weight was being placed on her, as if he was counting on her a lot.
“Hani, you just need to work hard.”
“Work hard, you say…?”
“Yes. We’ll handle the rest.”
How exactly that helped Eight—Hani couldn’t make head or tail of any of it. However, she did understand one thing.
The money spent on making her look this way was equivalent to thirty years’ worth of her food expenses.
* * *
“Nice to meet you. I’m Hani.”
From that day on, Hani participated in the volunteer activities of an environmental protection group, True Natural, run by Flower, who had invited her to join.
Given that she was a beastwoman and visually impaired, various stares from the environmentalists came at her as she volunteered. It was as if they were saying they were not there to protect the disabled but to focus on protecting the environment…
The only reason they refrained from openly showing hostility was because Hani exuded some inexplicable elegance, and Flower, the head of the group who invited her, was backing her.
“Hani…? You can’t see, can you?”
“Yes. I can’t see at all, but…”
“Uh… volunteering must be tough when you can’t see…”
“It’s okay. I have this.”
Hani said this while pointing to the smartphone tucked into her chest pocket. The camera was aimed at the front, and the members of the group quickly understood its purpose.
We were in an age so accustomed to artificial intelligence. The news wasn’t even covering the fact that disabled people were able to enjoy a quality of life that was incomparably higher thanks to AI.
People nodded, accepting Hani as part of the group. Her striking appearance and friendly demeanor made it easy for them to bond.
“I’ll handle it.”
“Huh? No, but you can’t see…”
“I’m strong, so it’s fine.”
Despite the fact that it might seem awkward to let a disabled woman handle things, Hani proactively took charge of everything, didn’t mind getting her clothes dirty from the fresh white outfit she wore, smiled whenever called upon, and was beautiful with a nice figure.
It was only natural that the environmentalists, who came to protect the environment, prioritized their own sensual desires first. The male members began to literally fawn over Hani.
“What are you doing after this?”
“I’m going home.”
“How about dinner with me…?”
“Sorry, I have things to do at home.”
“Then can I get your phone number…?”
The attention Hani received from the men was bound to annoy the women, but that was also difficult to do. Flower, who created and led this organization, was supporting her.
If you can’t win, join them. Seeing Hani seducing the men with Flower’s backing spurred the female members to try to befriend her, eager to grab even a few crumbs from the falling pieces.
Within a week of participating in the volunteer activities, Hani found herself in a high-ranking position in the organization.
It goes without saying that simply gaining humanity didn’t mean Hani had mastered social skills yet. AI helped her with everything.
[The man in front of you adopted a puppy three days ago. Let’s use that to bond. Suggested line…]
[This woman feels hostility towards you. Since it’s based on inferiority complex, let’s stomp it out. Suggested actions…]
She could remember and analyze the emotions the men and women around her had toward her, providing tips on ways to earn their favor. Just as Eight said, Hani didn’t need to do anything at all. All she had to do was follow the AI’s instructions.
She became a high-ranking member of the organization just by doing a little acting, proving how effective AI was without needing any lengthy explanations.
“Hani.”
“Flower.”
“You’ve been active lately? It’s nice to see!”
“…Thank you.”
“Let’s keep this up, okay?”
While Hani smiled back at Flower, feeling guilty about misleading her, she was certain that this was the right thing to do. Just observing the things Flower did within the organization made that clear.
They declared the need to protect the environment while wearing clothes made from textiles that polluted it, moving separately in personal vehicles instead of chartered buses, and even using private jets that emitted pollution.
Their activities, which aimed to develop the local community by protesting in front of factories that polluted the earth, or secretly infiltrating to shut down machines, could be deemed environmental protection, but it was really no different than villainous behavior when viewed from a different angle.
Especially since there was no evidence that these activities directly impacted environmental protection.
“So, have you thought about what I mentioned?”
“If it was something you brought up, Flower…”
“It’s about changing the world together.”
As Flower spoke, Hani briefly looked around, then cautiously leaned in to whisper in Flower’s ear.
“…Until I know more about your abilities, I think I’ll have to be cautious.”
“Hmm… My abilities?”
“Yes. It can’t be something I can do alone, right? Unless you give me some assurance…”
“Fine. I’ll let you know my ability.”
“…Huh?”
Flower shrugged, as if it were nothing, and began to ramble about her abilities. Hani leaned forward, trying to record and capture every bit of her words.
After listening to all the abilities that came from Flower’s mouth? Hani felt that it would indeed be plausible for her to propose changing the world. She had abilities that could completely change the world…
But.
‘I think I’ve done my part. Sir.’
Hani, who felt her role was complete, smiled brightly at Flower. Her role ended here. Facing the girl in front of her was the job of someone else.
The next day, Hani vanished from the world.
Along with all the evidence of the crimes True Natural had committed.
* * *
[Breaking News. The environmental protection group True Natural has been reported for over fifty criminal acts, including embezzlement, tax evasion, fraudulent use of donations, and obstruction of public execution…]
[The head of the organization, Flower, was even found to have the circumstances of breaking into private property and stealing belongings, causing a huge shock…]
[Donors are demanding refunds from the organization, while the prosecutor’s office has decided to investigate and prosecute the organization—]
The news was filled with reports about a single organization day after day. To be honest, they hadn’t committed such horrendous crimes, nor were they necessarily a gigantic organization worth this level of attention…
Mass media has always been a megaphone for corporations. They parrot whatever story the corporations want to tell.
True Natural was a group that was already hated by various enterprises, so there was no one willing to help them out while they were being pummeled by public opinion.
“─It’s all thanks to you, Hani.”
“You flatter me, sir.”
“No, if we had just sneaked in someone else, it wouldn’t have turned out this way.”
Without a doubt, all of this was thanks to Hani. If she hadn’t been scouted first by Flower, it would have never been so easy to dig out everything about the organization.
Of course, even after destroying the group, everything wasn’t over. Sometimes, extraordinary individual power surpasses that of organizations.
Flower was one such case.
“Being loved by nature…”
She was loved by everything naturally created.
She could exclude everything artificially created.
It didn’t take long to recognize how absurd this ability was. If something was created artificially, it could not harm her, and if it was natural, it would not attack her.
It truly was an overwhelming ability with no way to overcome it.
Had it been in the past, it would have been so.
‘I guess I can use something that is neither naturally nor artificially created.’
At that moment, something popped into his mind.
A being that cannot possibly be created, by either nature or man.