Book Read Free

i 5f46cfb4d10d4d86

Page 7

by Unknown


  "Well, regardless of that, can you roll it into a ball and hide it?"

  ShuVi was unsupportive of that action, but those two lively cables looked like

  tails no matter the situation.

  ".....No....This....ShuVi's....Power source....This explanation, is second time..."

  Ahhh, I know that, Riku started to sigh.

  Initially, it was intended for ShuVi to dress-up as a human, the Elves———

  camouflage magic could efficiently complete this task.

  But the problem would be the detection of the Elemental particles within the

  colony.

  So, as a desperate measure, they thought of a way to forcefully hide it....

  This tail——was supposed to be a nerve that connected to the Elemental

  Gallery——ShuVi was moving because of it.

  It was similar to when a human eats food, the behavior of [Ingesting] instead of

  using Elemental particles.

  Therefore, there wouldn't be any Elemental particles reading——but the tail in

  this case was exposed.

  Scratching his head, Riku said with low self-esteem.

  "...No matter, at this point, we'l just insist that it is a [Decoration]. I'l repeat this one more time, if you are exposed, it wil be impossible to understand the [Heart]

  ok? Resolve yourself to play as a human."

  "....Un, understood....."

  Renewing their determination, the two of them entered the cave through a

  narrow tunnel.

  Until they met the young door guard——

  "Ah, Ri——"

  He was going to greet Riku loudly, but Riku's panicky hand gestures stopped

  him.

  "It, it's been tough on you.....Everyone was worried about you, ah."

  The young guard who quietened down his face, noticed ShuVi beside Riku and

  had a suspicious look.

  Hush, Riku once again used the same gestures to shut him up, before going

  through the door.

  Seeing how Riku erased his breathing and slowly crept up the stairs, ShuVi

  inquired.

  "...Riku, is afraid....Because of ShuVi?"

  "Ahh, of course there is this reason. But compared to that——"

  Riku was going to say it out when he suddenly stopped. To escape or to not

  escape, he started to cover his head——

  "Ri——————————————————ku

  ————————————————————!"

  At the same time as the shout came.

  Directing the attack to Riku's head——no, his abdomen.

  Coron who appeared in front of Riku, gave him a malicious knee kick.

  Riku who didn't have time to moan collapsed onto the ground, and as if not

  easily letting him off.

  Coron continued by pulling the chest area of Riku's shirt and started scolding.

  "YOUUUUU!! Are you satisfied for leaving home for five days and making

  everyone worried——"

  Riku started foaming at his mouth due to Coron's intense shaking and roaring.

  ——at this time.

  Suddenly, the moment Coron stopped her actions,

  "WHY IS THIS CHILD SO CUTEEEE————————❤ "

  She tossed Riku aside and hugged ShuVi.

  Afterwards, she started laughing and sent her gaze over to Riku who was

  coughing vigorously.

  "Hey Riku, wouldn't it be fine if you've just said you were off to pick up a new bride ♪"

  "Coron, is your head okay. Who would try and find a bride in this troubled world for five days——"

  Hearing the answer from Riku whose eyes were semi-opened, Coron attacked

  with her elbow and continued.

  "Really now~ don't be shy~~ ♪ In this day and age, the first thing is life, the second is food! Third fourth and fifth are life too yo!"

  ——then what about you!

  Riku almost blurted out the words he was thinking but he swallowed it back.

  "But Riku didn't have that meaning, so I was worried oh? I absolutely won't

  hinder you too, so both of you enjoy your baths and have an intimate relation~

  ——"

  "....Stop your hand movements first!"

  Riku hugged his head upon seeing how Coron placed her thumb and forefinger

  before inserting the gap with her middle finger.

  "Hey, I say...Did you not normally think that she would be a survivor of a

  destroyed colony?"

  ——then, as if regaining her rationality, Coron finally stopped.

  She suddenly asked with a mysterious look.

  "....——is that so?"

  Finishing his words, Riku felt that the situation was a bit bad——he has no

  choice.

  Since he started it already, he was determined and said.

  ".....After interpreting the Dwarves' map, you should know that there was a battle in the place that needed two and a half days for a horse to travel. There was a

  small colony near that area——I went there to confirm it."

  ————not lying.

  According to the map, there was a colony that disappeared due to the exchange

  with the Demonia and the Dwarves.

  But that was——a matter [Two years ago].

  But in this colony, the only person who knows Dwarven language was Riku——

  so there won't be any flaws.

  But Coron possibly couldn't agree just because of this——

  "Even so, there was no need for you alone to go right."

  Riku expected that the refute would be this, he shook his head and said.

  "There would be more risks if there were more people. But if I tell that I will go alone——"

  "Getting prohibited would of course be natural!! This kind of things, although it's very Riku-like....Hey, you should give some consideration to your sister and

  allow me to give your stomach some new holes right?"

  Coron looked at Riku with dependent eyes.

  Noticing her red and swollen eyes, Riku's mood became heavier than before.

  Riku apologized deep in his heart to her sister that got worried for him——even

  so, he couldn't tell the truth.

  As if giving up, Coron sighed and turned around, gently inquiring ShuVi.

  "Sorry bout that——it seems like you encountered alot of misfortune....What's

  your name?"

  "....ShuVi...."

  According to plan, according to the setting.

  As if extremely timid, ShuVi hid behind Riku and replied.

  Unun, Coron nodded her head while smiling and replied.

  "But, rest assured, this is safe because there is Riku. So how did you get to

  know Riku ♪"

  Riku thought——there shouldn't be any malice in this question.

  It was only a question formed with purely interest. Or maybe, it was to comfort

  ShuVi who lost her colony, a feeling akin to small doubt——

  For ShuVi who did not follow up with the conversation, Riku instructed her with

  his eyes to [Continue the interaction].

  But——as an Ex-Machina, she couldn't interpret this kind of hint.

  "....ShuVi..Kissed with Riku....Then strongly requested.....Reproduction

  behavior."

  ——okay, here comes the problem.

  From this statement, it could be determined that it was [ShuVi who approached

  Riku for reproduction behavior].

  At this time, Coron started marching with unusually heavy footsteps.

  "That kind of thing——"

  The cave started shaking as Riku got bombarded with punches that could

  potentially pierce through his heart.

  "Can only be done after determining it's safe, after the success then it should be done—�
��————————————!"

  Riku's consciousness was easily erased.

  Part 5

  ——Riku and the young survivor of a destroyed colony, recently met and had

  already requested sex.

  The speed this rumor traveled was even faster than the speed of sound——the

  whole colony was buzzing around intensely.

  "No, Riku is correct. When it can be done, it must be done."

  "No, Riku should seek mutual-consent before doing that first."

  "No wait, you are saying as if he hasn't gained the other party's consent yet

  right?"

  "Forcing it is similar to commitment right? What else is there to discuss?——"

  ..........

  "Strange."

  The debate was strange. Reason being was the fact that no one mentioned

  about how young ShuVi was.

  Everything was strange. Or was it himself who was strange?

  Perhaps driven to insanity by this war, it appears that the people in this colony

  can't take it anymore....

  Accepting all looks and words of contempt or respect, Riku went through the

  colony into his room.

  Then, using a barely audible voice, he complained to ShuVi who was strolling

  beside him.

  "I say, can't you give me a break....?"

  ".....What?"

  Not understanding what she did wrong, ShuVi tilted her head in confusion.

  "Speaking of which, you want to understand my [Heart] right? Which means you

  want to seduce me, right?"

  He suddenly got reminded of the time when he was called [Ni ].

  "Can't you have an appearance of someone older?"

  If that was the case, this situation wouldn't have happened. Riku was unsatisfied

  with the results, while ShuVi replied blankly.

  "....This is a look....The human males.....Including Riku...like."

  "Why don't you just say that I'm a lolicon. I love fascinating——"

  "Liar."

  Swiftly interrupting his words, ShuVi continued.

  "...Then, with the human called Coron, the reason for no reproductive

  behavior....None."

  Aiya—Riku thought.

  Because of an Ex-Machina's judgement, he got identified as a lolicon.

  And including the matter about Coron citing the evidence out, it confirmed it.

  "....Probably, all human males, like, young girl."

  "Are you kidding, don't generalize, every individual has their own personal

  preference——"

  "....Deny....Biologically speaking, if you are fertile....Beneficial for a young body, no room for discussions."

  ——this guy.

  The Ex-Machina who wasn't supposed to have emotions, displayed an

  astonished look to Riku while explaining. It was probably an il usion.

  "....Ex-Machina, don't have an ambiguous subject....Humans, like to breed with

  younger girls....just, facts."

  "——...You, are making things difficult...."

  Burdened with all kinds of stares directing at his direction, Riku had a

  disappointed expression as he returned back to his room.

  .....Just one day, it made someone feel so distant, this was probably an il usion

  to Riku too.

  Part 6

  ——this was a really.....really long day.

  Risking one's life to search for something, and the result was——

  "....This, is....Riku's....Room?"

  Giving a strange look towards Riku's room, an Ex-Machina girl whose intentions

  were unknown.

  "Are you scared of it because it's too shabby?"

  "....Its very......Scary."

  Even an Ex-Machina can say flattery and ironic words, Riku jokingly exclaimed

  to himself.

  Probably prepared by Coron——Riku reached out for the food placed on the

  cushioned bed that was on the floor.

  Right now, all Riku wanted was to finish his meal and sleep like a log.

  "...Doing, what....?"

  "Although its not important to Ex-Machina-sama, humans would die if we don't

  eat oh."

  Riku casually said while tiredly eating the food with his fork.

  "So, I'l lie down after eating this....You just do something properly, I guess."

  "....Un, I understand......Do, something properly..."

  After the girl confirmed Riku's map, measuring tools and others——she

  suddenly proposed something.

  ".....Riku, play a game together......Okay?"

  "——why?"

  Looking at Riku who stopped moving his fork, ShuVi silently pointed at the

  bookshelf.

  What she pointed to was——the chessboard Riku took away when his home

  was destroyed.

  Using the gloomiest expression he had to look at the board, he replied with

  disgust.

  "I refuse. That time, the fight was forced. Al these games, are only used by

  bored kids to play."

  ".....?..Why...?"

  "Because reality is not as simple as games."

  Without rules, there would be no winner.

  Alive, or dead. Nothing more. In this world——

  "Games are just child's play, we can't waste time unnessecarily, and we don't

  have the energy to do this."

  "....If it, wasn't meaningless, then?"

  Unconsciously, ShuVi had already placed the chess pieces on the board and

  continued.

  ".....If you beat ShuVi....Then I'l give....The intel Riku wants."

  "——what?"

  "....Such as the origins of the Great war, the reasons...The factors to end it...And the like..."

  On the spot, Riku rejected this suggestion.

  "Ha... this is boring."

  The reason why the Great war started? The factors to end it?——I don't care.

  Endless war. No matter the reason, how can knowing the truth about the Great

  war change anything?

  Moreover, the factors to end it? If it could be achieved, then it would have been

  realized long ago.

  If those people who destroyed the world can't accomplish it, then as humans, it

  was definitely impossible.

  So——Riku refused. It was useless even if he knew.

  Futile hopes, would lead to an even deeper despair.

  The Great War would end someday, because there wasn't any proof that stated

  it won't——so people can't deny the fact that there was [Hope].

  But if the proof was given, and if humans were to live in denial with those words

  ——what's left of the humans would be a deserted, barren, damaged and

  destroyed world.

  It was enough just barely surviving as humans that could be wiped with a blow.

  So——

  "No interest, no reason to be. If it was something I want to know——"

  Pointing his fork at ShuVi, Riku squinted his eyes and said.

  "It would be means of surviving, nothing more."

  ——one of the guys who pushed humans to the brink of extinction.

  "The Ex-Machinas' knowledge, mathematics, design technology——if I win, you

  have to give all these to me."

  Al these strengths would be used for humans. In order to survive, it would be for

  tomorrow——not for [Today].

  "...Un...I, understand..."

  ShuVi nodded with an expression of slight regret, Riku continued.

  "Then what if I lost ?"

  As machines that are full of calculations, there must be something the Ex-

  Machinas would want.

  ShuVi bluntly replied in response to Riku's wry smile and words.

  "...[Exchange]...."

&
nbsp; ShuVi continued while gazing straight into Riku's black eyes.

  "...I want to understand the [Heart]....I need the intelligence....of Riku's

  understanding of the [Heart].

  "You want to understand something that is difficult to express with rights, this must be what you mean right?"

  "....Un, so, I request...Difficult to express with words...I require..Effort to have mutual-understanding with ShuVi....."

  ".....Okay."

  Saying this, Riku placed his food aside, and sat in front of the chessboard——

  and prepared to start the game.

  ......He stared at the board. When was the last time he seriously thought about a

  question, Riku's heart couldn't help but think.

  Faced against the computing power the Ex-Machinas possesses and to

  calculate the best way in a chess game to win?——impossible.

  But ShuVi's actions so far, was being clueless about the human heart, leading to

  these feelings of failure.

  This showed that there was the existence that [There were factors that

  computing can't solve].

  Just by looking at the board, winning was impossible.

  However, psychological factors and strategies——the effectiveness of these

  were high.

  "——check."

  Riku who believed all of these, setted up a simple trap; ShuVi who was easily

  caught in it was checked.

  ".....Check."

  But ShuVi who discovered the mistake immediately took measures to correct it.

  The same trap wouldn't work the second time——it was as if this fact was told to

  Riku. No, this was a specialty of being a human.

  What should he do?——simple. Use a different measure by changing strategies.

  The number of psychological guidance, baits or strategies that could be utilized

  was——[Unlimited].

  If you can calculate the unlimited——then try to calculate it, Ex-Machina——!!

  Riku didn't remember when his fatigue disappeared, his mood was extremely

  intense, suddenly——

  ".....Riku, is laughing..."

  "——————————————wh,at?"

  Surprised by what ShuVi suddenly uttered out, Riku widened his eyes and

  gently touched his mouth.

  ——because he confirmed that his mouth corresponded to the fact, Riku's eyes

  widened even further.

  As if unable to perceive Riku's frozen state, ShuVi continued the chess game.

  "...Riku, in games...Isn't isolated...eh..."

  ————shut up. Don't ask, don't listen, turn a deaf ear——Riku shouted all

 

‹ Prev