Chapter 35 – Don’t Believe Either (1)

[Translator – Late Dreamer]

[Proofreader – Seeker]

Chapter 35 – Don’t Believe Either (1)

Next day.

A message came from the chairman.

Sender: ‘Black Monolith, Taylor Blackstar’

– seems like there’s a party at the end of this month, for sure.

– We’ll send details separately about the time and location.

– We’ll arrange transportation for the day as well.

– We will handle it.

– ヽ( ⌒▽⌒)ﾉ ≡ヽ(⌒▽⌒ )ﾉ

“……”

I’m not sure about the meaning of this emoji.

You could have sent it through your subordinate.

Sending it directly again seems unnecessary.

I felt a slight sense of burden.

I closed the message window.

Alright, I’ll figure out a way to get to the party.

All that’s left is finding clues about Smile John’s identity.

Information is all over the place.

What was No. 7 saying?n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Around the end of this month, there’s a party for senior executives at a hotel on the upper floors.

Honestly, whether Smile John would really attend that party was questionable.

In this place overflowing with lies and fakes, Neon City.

It was quite common to spout nonsense to earn credit.

But still, considering the chairman’s message, it seems like there will indeed be a party for senior executives at the end of this month.

And I also tried to gather information about No. 7 on my own.

Only heard rumors, though.

They say he hasn’t yet deciphered false information.

They called him “Underdog.”.

He was even more famous than I thought.

Although he’s probably in a sad situation now, having lost all his electronic devices.

To be fair, I acted emotionally without realizing it.

No, but.

I really couldn’t help it.

To the extent that I remembered a modern Korean LA baseball player that I had lived with.

He talked too much.

Even if the content was useful.

More than 90% of it was useless TMI.

I could only endure it because it was me.

If it were someone else, they would have already─.

[I’m moving.]

“Whoa, you surprised me.”

I almost cursed without realizing it.

I looked at the small unmanned aerial vehicle, also known as a ‘drone’, stationed in front of me.

Eight legs.

Somewhat bulky design.

The wriggling legs were quite repulsive.

The robot that appeared in the story of No. 7.

I remember its name being Lone Spider.

I don’t know the model’s name, though.

That’s right.

While attacking No. 7, I inadvertently brought this item too.

There might be some room for misunderstanding.

This is definitely not an act of theft.

Bringing items to a wealthy and nefarious person was one of the legitimate means.

It could be called ‘looting’ or ‘farming’.

That’s how I rationalized it.

What kind of item could it be that was so boast-worthy?

I even wondered why I wasted my precious time explaining it.

It’s currently being controlled by Eve.

Her movements with the acquired body seemed more lively than I expected.

The wriggling legs were truly memorable.

Seeing that, I felt like buying her an ‘artificial body’ or something.

Sadly, it wasn’t something I could buy just because I had money.

Moreover, I didn’t even have the credits to buy it in the first place.

…Well, maybe I’ll look into it later.

Thinking that way, I looked down at Eve’s drone, dancing like movement.

I recalled an old video I had seen.

It was a video of a spider lifting its legs and moving, and surprisingly, it synced well.

Yeah…, if you’re satisfied, that’s all that matters.

But something felt off.

While dancing was one thing, her movements seemed to imply she wanted to say something.

I waited for Eve’s words.

[I sincerely recommend checking this first.]

“What is it.”

The screen appeared through my visual interface.

It was a video of the hallway of the Golden Smile Condominium, where I lived.

Did you hack the surveillance camera, Eve?

And then, I felt like my heart stopped as I faced another shock.

“….”

In the video feed within my field of vision.

Catherine and Julia were facing each other in a standoff.

“Oh, damn it.”

This time, I couldn’t hold back the curse.

Let’s calm down for a moment.

It was something everyone could have anticipated.

Thinking about it, it was obvious.

[Translator – Late Dreamer]

[Proofreader – Seeker]

Catherine moved in next door to me.

And although I’ve been trying to ignore it, Julia also ended up living on the same floor as me.

On the other hand, it was surprising that we had never crossed paths until now.

I took a deep breath and calmed my mind.

First, let’s organize the situation.

First of all, it was clear that they didn’t know each other’s faces.

No matter how much Catherine might be the protagonist in the game, she wouldn’t have pierced through all the NCPD’s bounty data.

And no matter how Julia might be a wanted criminal, she wasn’t the type to randomly jump around like other Chrome Psychos without reason.

I called Eve.

“…Eve.”

[I’m waiting.]

“Can you make this voice audible?”

[Not possible. I haven’t installed a voice module on the corridor surveillance cameras, I’ll explain.]

That’s what it meant.

There was also the option of pressing the intercom button on our house’s front door to listen to the outside sound, but there was a possibility that my movement could be conveyed to Catherine.

The absurd physical abilities of the game protagonist made the impossible possible.

Even what I was saying now was whispered very quietly.

Is there a better way?

While I was thinking about it…

[I can use a drone to check it myself, I suggest a method.]

“Oh, really?”

[Affirmative.]

Eve, or rather, the machine drone controlled by Eve, slowly folded its legs.

Then parts resembling propellers popped out from various parts of its body.

[Aircraft named Lone Spider, model K2N-7757. I assure you that it is equipped with an ‘Invisibility Mode’ for excellent infiltration performance.]

Yeah, I’ll take your word for it.

The Lone Spider slowly rose into the air.

During this process, no sound was heard.

Moreover, although it rose into the air through the rotation of the propellers, there was no trace of even a slight breeze.

[Invisibility System activated.]

It was at that moment that Lone Spider’s body became transparent.

If you look really closely, you might be able to grasp its shape.

But unless it was very bright, it seemed difficult to notice its presence.

I don’t even know where it went yet.

[I’m departing.]

The Lone Spider moved silently without making any sound.

The window here doesn’t even open.

How does it plan to go out?

“But how do you plan to go out into the corridor?”

[There are multiple ways, I’ll infiltrate.]

I thought there might be a good way, but I didn’t know.

Indeed, there was no disaster when the front door opened.

If it had quietly infiltrated and then opened and went out through the front door, I would have been horrified.

Perhaps it went out using the ventilation ducts or exhaust vents, I cautiously speculated.

I patiently waited for Eve’s words, preparing my mind in case there was a fight outside that I needed to leave for immediately.

After a short while…

Through Eve’s connection, the sound of Catherine and Julia’s conversation was transmitted.

“So, you’re a neighbor living here?”

“…Yes.”

It sounded like a voice that could cut through steel.

Fortunately, the situation didn’t seem to be as serious as I thought.

“I didn’t see you move in.”

“…I moved in just a few days ago.”

Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed like Catherine, who sensed something suspicious, initiated the conversation with Julia.

“Is your house over there?”

“…Yes, that. The person who used to live there suddenly moved somewhere else.”

“…One lunatic less.”

Catherine muttered softly. I agreed with her on this part.

The house Julia moved into was a place where a sensitive weirdo used to live.

There were times when he came to cook soy noodles quietly in the early morning. If my patience hadn’t held out then, I might have become a criminal myself.

It was a different feeling from ‘Bill’.

Anyway, I calmly stared at the screen.

If we could just maintain the current atmosphere, everything would be fine.

And while I was thinking that…

“So, why were you in front of this house?”

Catherine’s tone sharpened.

For about 10 years.

That’s how long I’ve been seeing Catherine.

So, from the perspective of a ‘Catherine specialist’ like myself, if Julia said anything wrong here, a fight could break out without it being strange at all.

Whether she knew that or not.

Julia responds in a calm voice.

[Um…, there’s someone I know here.]

[?]

Catherine looked puzzled at Julia’s response.

[This house?]

…Yes.

[Not a bounty hunter or anything like that?]

She looked sharp, like a house cat.

She didn’t eliminate my bounty herself from the start.

Catherine seemed worried about various things.

…I should probably go out soon.

The atmosphere doesn’t seem right.

[If something is going on with Siwoon, just a moment.]

Catherine stops talking.

[…It sounds like there’s a drone noise somewhere.]

As soon as I heard Catherine’s words, I dashed towards the front door immediately.

“Oh? What a coincidence! What are you two doing here together?”

I casually spoke to them, while at the same time feigning ignorance.

“Why are you suddenly coming out?”

“…Oh, it’s Mr. Siwoon.”

Their gaze turned toward me.

I let out a short sigh.

That was close.

What about the Lone Spider?

While continuing to speak to them.

“…What are you doing in the hallway? If you have something to discuss, come in and talk.”

I gestured to Catherine and Julia.

…First.

I need to sort out the current situation.

* * *

“…So, you’re saying that the game you stumbled upon by chance was actually not a real game, but something like a backworld network?”

“That’s right.”

“And luckily, the person you happened to meet there by chance was this wanted criminal, and then by chance again, she helped you, who happened to be on a bounty at the time?”

“That’s right.”

“And finally, by chance again, she moved in next door, and now you’re just neighbors who play games together and get along well, is that it?”

“That’s right!”

“Hey, are you telling me to believe all this?”

At first, I couldn’t believe it either.

[Translator – Late Dreamer]

[Proofreader – Seeker]