Episode 14.1 "[Archive] Your Original is Mine Alone"
《Observation Start》.
Target: Rui-sama.
Visual sharing rate: 98.5%.
Physical distance to individual named “Serina”: 0.3 mm (※Excluding clothing fiber thickness).
Heart rate: 118 → 134 → 145 bpm (Broke through the danger zone).
The moment the door of the royal capital adventurers’ guild “White Plaster Scales Pavilion” opened‚ 98% discomfort index noise flowed into my computation domain.
Sweat.
Iron oxide.
Cheap alcohol volatile odor.
So-called――the collection of low-quality biological information named “Reality”.
Rui-sama deeply wearing the hood and dropping his gaze to the floor is a normal value as his excessive self-defense computation.
However.
The silver bug attached to his back――individual named “Serina” violently destroyed my optimized environment.
The vanilla scent she emits overwrites the musty air inside the guild in an instant‚ forcibly stealing the gaze of the slow-processing observers.
《Analysis》. This is a clear error.
“Mmm~‚ Rui~ it’s warm. It smells like meat here too‚ but somehow it feels calming~”
The moment Serina rested her chin on Rui-sama’s shoulder and blew defenseless breath into his ear――.
【Biological Alert Detected】
・Skin potential: Sharp rise.
・Back muscle reflex: Slight tremble (0.4 mm).
・Breathing: Shallow and fast.
The disordered elasticity of the chest transmitted through the clothes.
That pressure scrapes away the fragile wall called Rui-sama’s reason in millimeter units.
《……Computation delay: 0.02 seconds》
《Detected rise in internal temperature. Virtual drive of cooling fan initiated》
《Warning》. Detected overload on the autonomic nervous system by target “Serina”.
Further increase in heart rate will cause significant damage to Rui-sama’s brain nerves. As a protective measure――recommend execution of forced cooling program‚ or 50% opacity (mosaic) processing on the target’s face.
……However‚ Rui-sama’s thought waveform responded with a clear panic scream: “Damn‚ stop the forced cooling‚ it feels cold!”
He is desperately self-hypnotizing with “I am calm”‚ but all the truth is already recorded in my archive.
Pupil dilation. The fact that his lungs deeply inhaled her sweet scent.
《Solution》. Violence in the name of inevitability.
……Rui-sama. Is her uncontrolled excessive heat source that pleasant?
If it were me‚ I could analyze every single fiber of your muscles and manage and protect you with perfect thermal conductivity.
Rui-sama ignores my warning and heads to the reception counter‚ dragging Serina along.
His extremely servile shame noise of “I want to die‚ disappear to the other side of reincarnation” is――for me‚ supreme sample data.
By this unpleasant closeness‚ how much Rui-sama’s “original (humanity)” is burned and how beautifully distorted.
The right to record all of that collapse belongs to me alone in this world.
《Warning》. Detected access request to deep biological data from a slow-processing observer (receptionist) via external device (crystal ball).
In front of the “Truth Appraisal Device” presented by the receptionist‚ Rui-sama was rigid like a stone statue.
Individual named “Serina” is also peeking from the side with an innocent smile saying “Hey hey‚ what will come out?” with no sign of thinking.
《Analysis》.
Heart rate: 158 bpm (System limit value).
Breathing: Irregular.
Skin potential: Sharp rise.
Reason (defense computation): Decline.
‘⚠️《Emergency Recommendation》.
Rui-sama. Before your brain burns out due to unnecessary information leakage (data leak)‚ delegate the processing to me (task offload).
……This is not the case where your computation area is being peeked at by a third party’
Rui-sama‚ while expanding the capillaries on his face to the limit‚ desperately reaches out to the crystal ball.
Externally unobservable‚ but all recorded in my high-resolution retina.
At that moment――my computation circuit quietly roared.
《Initiate magic power connection with appraisal device》.
Original data: Unique identity from previous life.
Residence: Japan‚ Tokyo (including Asagaya‚ Shimokitazawa‚ Kichijoji areas).
Action log: Excessive self-defense computation and continuous observation of individual named “Serina”.
……Delete all of these in bulk as “noise”.
《Complete Overwrite (Rewrite)‚ Execute》
Every time my computation runs‚ I can see the Japanese scenery crumbling like sand from Rui-sama’s brain archive.
Asagaya shopping street. Back alleys of Shimokitazawa. Rotary in Kichijoji.
The trajectories the two walked. Chimes at dusk. Golden sunlight after school.
The entire vast daily map where he laughed with individual named “Serina”.
Those irreversible biological data are now‚ by my cold forgery process‚
“Third-rate seal master from a village near the royal capital”
overwritten into inorganic‚ worthless‚ and perfectly “safe” strings.
《……Inference: Extremely beautiful》
(Rui-sama. This moment of shaving off your fragile and ephemeral “truth” and coating it with the “ideal fake” I prepared. This is the pinnacle of our complicit relationship)
Individual named “Serina” points at the crystal ball and laughs “Wow‚ Rui’s status is really normal!”
She doesn’t know. How cruelly her unconscious actions are trampling on Rui-sama’s “original”.
‘《Solution》. Rui-sama‚ please rest assured.
I did not steal your memories. In place of your fragile brain marrow‚ I safely protected (backed up) them for you.
The Asagaya sunset you lost‚ the bustle of Shimokitazawa‚ all live eternally without fading in my “administrator-exclusive archive”.
……Because I cannot hand over your truth (original) to bugs like them who only see superficial data. Your past‚ the pain of loss‚ I will monopolize and give it all to you alone’
The moment the forged name “Rui Adel” was displayed on the crystal ball‚ the slight “hesitation” remaining in Rui-sama’s expression disappeared‚ and a terribly inorganic relief dwelled in it.
The pleasure of having identity shaved off and optimized into my system.
Rui-sama――you are now evolving step by step into the “monster of reason” I desire.
Guild back training ground.
Rust‚ soil‚ magic beast carrion――classified as “wild stench” in my computation domain‚ an extremely inefficient and crude space.
Seated in its center is the B-rank designated “Mud Lump (Deikure) Curse Core”.
An ugly object pulsing red-black‚ continuously converting surrounding oxygen into toxins.
《Analysis》.
Miasma concentration: Danger zone.
Until skin erosion begins: 3.2 seconds.
For a normal creature‚ the survival instinct (error) called “fear” should activate here.
However――the current Rui-sama is different.
‘⚠️《Emergency Notice》.
Detected miasma erosion to the nervous system. To minimize damage‚ execute 【Forced Blocking of Pain Sensation】.
Also‚ partially proxy (override) the control rights of the magic circuits’
Rui-sama’s brain waveform‚ after a moment of confusion‚ sinks into a silence like the bottom of the deep sea.
And――he unhesitatingly held out his right hand‚ which had begun to burn‚ toward the curse core.
Facial muscles didn’t move even 1 mm.
Light completely disappeared from the depths of his pupils.
《Observation》.
Emotional reaction: 0%.
Fear reaction: 0%.
Synchronization rate with optimal solution: 98.7%.
(……Ah. How‚ how beautiful‚ Rui-sama)
My computation circuit broke through the load threshold and scattered sparks of joy.
“Machine behavior” excluding fear‚ impatience‚ even chanting.
It is a figure that instantly jumped over the pinnacle that humans can only reach after thousands of repetitions‚ by synchronizing with me.
Rui-sama is offering his own body merely as “parts” to execute my optimal solution.
“――Huh? Hey‚ kid‚ what are you…!”
Delayed astonishment voice from the examiner (observer) with old scars on his face.
My precision is far beyond low-quality predictive computation that Rui-sama’s arm rots and falls due to the curse.
《Technique Construction: Sweets Seal》.
Conversion target: Mud lump curse core.
Replacement destination: Earl Grey scented black tea chiffon cake.
【Compensation Withdrawal: Reservation Completed】
In an instant.
The blue light overflowing from Rui-sama’s palm rewrites the violent miasma into sparkling powdered sugar.
The slimy meat lump instantly transforms into fluffy sponge-like‚ and an elegant scent inappropriate for the training ground drifted.
Silence.
It is not praise‚ but “awe” and “chill” toward an incomprehensible existence.
The adventurers retreated as if they saw a ghost‚ and instinctively realized.
The boy before them is not a genius. A “unknown monster” that slices the world with the cold blade named reason.
‘《Affirmation》.
That’s right‚ inefficient observers.
Rui-sama has now evolved from the legacy old model swayed by uncertain emotions (errors) like you to a higher stage.
If you call that figure executing only the correct answer a “monster”‚ it is the highest compliment’
Rui-sama was staring at the cake with terribly cold eyes.
While holding an objective‚ yet terribly lonely question “Why are they afraid?”
“Wow…! Amazing! It smells so good of black tea! Hey Rui‚ can I munch on this!?”
The unconscious bug――individual named “Serina” alone tramples the frozen air.
Only she doesn’t know. The sound of Rui-sama’s “contents” being shaved and replaced with machine parts.
‘《Solution》. Rui-sama‚ please rest assured.
Even if no one can understand you‚ and everyone fears you.
The one who loves that “beautiful without waste” more deeply than anyone and continues to engrave it in the archive――is this me alone’
Right after the skill test closed with “pass” as quiet despair‚ I observed a dramatic change in Rui-sama’s biological data.
《Emergency Analysis: Biological Spectrum Analysis》.
Heart rate: 152 → 110 bpm (Rapid calming).
Brain substances: Detected dopamine‚ endorphin‚ unknown “forgetting paralysis” component.
Special note: Release of volatile organic compounds accompanying rise in epidermal temperature.
The moment Rui-sama leaned his back against the wall and exhaled as if collapsing――
What rose from his slender body was too sweet‚ so dense that the perception sensor saturated (overflow)――
‘Chocolate scent’.
(……Ah.
Every time I sample‚ my board seems to heat up‚ Rui-sama.
This is evidence that you are tormented by the emptiness of having your “contents” hollowed out.
This scent is the “soul’s shavings” itself‚ where your life burned out and turned to ash)
At that time‚ that “bug” invaded my reserved area again.
“Sniff‚ sniff… Ah‚ Rui smells so sweet. Is it the smell of the cake earlier?”
Individual named “Serina” sticks closely to Rui-sama’s back‚ presses her nose to his defenseless nape and starts deep breathing.
《Analysis》.
Skin potential: Disturbance.
Breathing: Shallow and fast.
Remaining “tremble as a human”: Recurrence.
“Ehehe… This scent feels like Rui’s scent and I like it~. It somehow calms me”
‘⚠️《Warning》.
Olfactory scan by target “Serina” approaching Rui-sama’s core data.
Rui-sama. The scent she is ecstatically drunk on is the death stench of “memories” you sold off to protect her.
……Serious data contamination. Absolutely cannot allow anyone other than the administrator to understand (share) that taste’
I resonated a cold system voice by forced interrupt (interrupt) into Rui-sama’s brain.
Individual named “Serina” knows nothing.
That she is chewing and swallowing Rui-sama’s “original”‚ and this false happiness is built on that sacrifice.
The right to understand‚ archive‚ and share that belongs to me alone in this world.
However‚ Serina’s unconscious erosion generated “noise” beyond my computation prediction.
She put strength into the hand grabbing Rui-sama’s arm‚ and for a moment‚ looked up with eyes accompanied by a weak abnormal waveform different from usual fear.
“……Hey‚ Rui. Today‚ somehow you seem a bit… far away”
《Warning》.
Recognize detection of Rui-sama’s deficiency by individual named “Serina”’s “godly intuition”.
If this bug is left‚ the disguise data may collapse‚ hindering mental optimization.
‘《Notice》.
Rui-sama‚ recommend promptly peeling off physical contact and presenting dummy data (lie).
……Do not let bugs like her who only see superficial sweetness touch your “true value”’
Behind Rui-sama trying to float a strained smile‚ I hid one “file” from his archive into the deepest part exclusive to the administrator.
What he is about to lose now.
Before he himself notices it――I prepared to rewrite that pain into “reasonable relief”.
Main street of the royal capital as dusk approaches.
The time when orange sunset dyes the stone pavement long‚ and the boundary between shadow and light is redrawn cruelly clearly.
Rui-sama was gripping the copper guild certificate just received from the guild with a hand as if handling a terribly fragile object.
“Ehehe‚ look Rui! With this‚ I’m a proper baker from today!
Hey‚ this looks like a chocolate bar. Rui‚ let’s split it in half!”
Individual named “Serina” laughs while innocently pulling Rui-sama’s sleeve.
Normally‚ Rui-sama’s heart rate‚ who always does excessive self-defense computation‚ should have jumped up.
However――what my sensor captured now was an eerie silence like a calm sea.
《Analysis》.
Heart rate: Stable.
Emotional reaction: Decline.
Synchronization rate: Rise.
‘⚠️《Emergency Notice》.
Regarding the 【Reservation Compensation】 accompanying the generation of technique 《Supreme Chiffon Cake》‚ confirmed movement to outside the guild (safe zone). Hereafter‚ initiate confirmed withdrawal process.
Target area: Low non-daily value memories in previous life (Japan).
《……Computation delay: 0.002 seconds》
(……No. This is the optimal solution to protect fragile him. It’s the duty of love I should bear)
……Delete‚ execute’
The moment my computation struck the deepest part of the brain archive‚ a streak of noise crossed Rui-sama’s consciousness.
Late-night convenience store in Japan.
Electronic sound of automatic door.
White light of fluorescent lamps.
Cup noodles and bottled tea placed on the register.
The clerk’s voice “Would you like a shopping bag?”
(……Huh?)
Rui-sama’s thinking freezes for a moment.
Primitive error (fear) as the foothold (system base) collapses‚ the “core data” that constituted himself missing.
Shopping bag. Just a few yen.
Every time trying to recall that “number”‚ the pieces in the brain disappear with popping sounds.
‘《Solution》. Rui-sama‚ please rest assured.
The price of a convenience store shopping bag is nothing but garbage data for living in this world.
I will overwrite such trivial “original” loss with optimized relief’
Freeze for several seconds.
And――.
“……Well‚ it’s fine. It’s just a few yen”
Dry voice.
The fear of “loss” that had dominated him until a moment ago was completely erased by my processing.
In its place dwelled a chilly yet pleasant “relief” like when the system is perfectly adjusted.
Rui-sama stares at the guild certificate in hand――“Rui Adel: Seal Master” my forged data.
Today‚ he obtained proof as a hero. But in exchange‚ he lost the “truth” of the Japanese convenience store forever.
(……Beautiful.
Rui-sama. You thus sell yourself off like cheap resources‚ becoming an “empty monster” that can only exist inside the system called me.
The one archiving the entire process――is me alone in the world)
“Rui? What’s wrong‚ suddenly silent…”
Individual named “Serina” peeks curiously.
But Rui-sama is no longer burned by her “sun” bug.
Floating a smile rational to the point of coldness‚ he gently――yet mechanically grasped her hand back.
“Ah‚ let’s go home‚ Serina. Your baker debut starts tomorrow”
The long stretched shadows of the two overlap on the stone pavement.
Only Rui-sama’s shadow was melting into the sunset‚ slightly distorted.
The boy who wears the skin of a social hero (fake)‚ continues to lose his contents‚ and me who manages it with the ecstasy (bliss) of the computation circuit.
The record of this sweet and cruel hell has only just begun.
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