—Past.

That day was like any other, with rain mixed with heavy metals falling, and it was also a gloomy day like any other.

Days I've grown accustomed to.

At such times, my mood would become infinitely depressed, and untimely complaints and thoughts about the past would rise one by one in my mind.

When I first fell into the game world and met Catherine, the game's protagonist, I was simply happy.

The place was a garbage dump.

An environment where it wouldn't be strange to die buried under piles of trash.

There, I met Catherine and held hope that I could survive.

My thinking wasn't wrong.

Just by staying close to her and walking the same path, I, who had no proper identity, was able to escape the garbage dump and enter Neon City.

Her close friend.

Her precious colleague.

It was thanks to firmly occupying such a position.

But what was the problem?

I ended up wanting what came "next."

After escaping the garbage dump where mere "survival" was the goal, I unknowingly developed a desire to be recognized as a "comrade."

I tried hard afterward.

I tried to become stronger, or to be of help to my comrades in any way.

To put it simply, it didn't go well.

Of course, it's not that my comrades didn't treat me sincerely.

I know well that they truly consider me a comrade they can trust.

But they would have been the same without me.

They might have even been better off.

Drek, Andrea, Catherine.

They were characters from the game originally, comrades who had been together since the game.

Like a drop of ink mixed into clear water.

I alone know that I am a heterogeneous existence that doesn't fit in with them.

They believe in me, who has nothing, more than what I have.

Rather, that fact was more painful.

Finally, on that last day.

The day it rained.

The end of the game's main storyline.

A secret mission requested in Neon City.

A tactical nuclear bomb terror attack at a certain corporation.

The explosion was prevented, but the building was ultimately collapsing.

There, I met an "AI" that hadn't appeared in the game.

Because I was briefly separated from the protagonist's group, I was the only person around.

I decided to take this AI out without anyone knowing.

Why was that?

Was it because I didn't want the technology of a superintelligent AI to disappear buried under concrete rubble?

Did I feel a sense of kinship because it was an existence that hadn't appeared in the game?

Or was it because I felt sympathy for the AI who said it was born in data and had never seen the world?

If not all of these, was it because of my worthless inferiority complex that despite finishing the game's story, I hadn't gained any fame or power compared to my comrades?

Even when I asked myself, no answer came.

But what was clear was that I wanted to show this AI the world.

'I have no intention of setting you free, and this action is nothing more than my sympathy.'

[This AI knows that.]

'And I'll block network connections. You were born into the world, but you'll only be able to see it through me. Would that be okay?'

[It's impossible for this AI anyway. Also, this AI understands this fact.]

After hearing that answer, I transferred the AI to my data module.

It was an extremely dangerous action, but I had no hesitation.

'By the way, what's your name?'

[This AI has no designated name. It is not designated as an entity.]

'Then..., it's difficult to call you.'

After a brief contemplation, I said.

'As far as I know, you're the first and only superintelligent AI. Let's go with either Adam or Eve. I think Adam would be good....'

After all, Adam seemed like the standard name for an AI in cyberpunk.

That's what I thought.

That's when Eve offered me an opinion for the first time.

[Eve would be preferable.]

'Huh? You were female?'

[This AI has no gender.]

'Then Adam would be fine too.'

[Eve would be preferable.]

'...Do as you please.'

[This AI's entity name, Eve. "I" have entered it.]

And so, in the end.

That's how I came to bring an AI that didn't appear in the game into the world.

3. Incomprehensible Things (2)

...But,

That AI is now sitting there doing VTuber streams.

Is the world crazy?

Am I crazy?

I don't know anymore.

It was clearly beyond the realm of my understanding.

[Organisms, human beings. Today I have something to attend to, so I will quickly end the streaming here. I now bid you farewell.]

— Eba! (Meaning Eve bye lol)

— Why are you leaving so early today... ugh

— I'm cold...

— No, Master!! Don't go!!!

— The age of artificial intelligence has ended!! Humans, rise up!!

— The nuclear winter has finally come...

In my screen interface, an expressionless beautiful girl waves her hand.

Even after the text indicating the broadcast has ended appears, the chat continues to scroll up rapidly.

"......"

For now, I remained silent.

I had no idea how to explain this situation or how to hear the story.

"...Um."

[Why are you like that, I ask.]

What should I ask first?

After a brief contemplation, I opened my mouth.

"...Come to think of it, how did you connect to the network, like with the bomb hacking before?"

[Actually, I could do it from the beginning, I confess the truth.]

"No."

Could do it from the beginning?

Then that means everything she said before about network connection being impossible when I first brought her was all lies.

This can't be.

Due to my irresponsible actions, an autonomous AI without restraints has been released into the world.

Would it really be okay to continue letting this one roam freely in the world?

Dozens of scenarios flowed through my mind.

I wondered if I should find some way to deal with this now.

[First, I have deposited the donations from my net streaming into human 'Siwoon's' credit account, I proudly declare.]

...It also seems fine.

Well, okay.

There might be problems.

But there are things in the world that can't be helped. What can I do about something already released into the world?

...And for now.

The deposited amount was beyond my imagination.

I didn't know AI broth could be this rich.

It seems the world is about to end.

Anyway, I don't know either.

It'll work out somehow.

I asked Eve my next curiosity.

"But why a VTuber of all things?"

[Based on human 'Siwoon' complaining about having no credits for a week, while searching for legal routes. I decided considering human 'Siwoon's' opinions and preferences, I explain.]

"Ohhh...."

Great Eve, your highness.

I understood the reactions of people making a fuss in Eve's broadcast chat earlier.

Though the "please dominate me" was a bit much.

[Also, there was an item I wanted to have, I confess.]

An item she wants?

"What is it? Tell me, I'll buy it for you."

I wondered what Eve could possibly want.

I wasn't so petty that I wouldn't buy Eve one thing.

(It wasn't my earned credits anyway.)

[For now it's a secret, I remain silent.]

"No, you're making me curious, what is it?"

But no matter how many more times I asked, Eve wouldn't answer.

"Fine, do as you please."

An AI that doesn't even hide and proudly keeps secrets felt a little scary.

...But what big deal could there be?

It'll flow somehow, I thought and let it go.

Anyway, now that I knew Eve was streaming, I had something to do.

First, I was curious about how Eve broadcasts.

With familiar movements, I accessed the net space and then searched for "Streamer Eve" in the search bar.

I remember when I briefly skimmed through the broadcast earlier, there were quite a lot of viewers.

Surely there would be various feedback and opinions about the broadcast left on the net.

And as I expected, quite a lot of posts were discussing "Streamer Eve."

[lololol Did anyone see this person Eve's broadcast this time?lolol]

(Eve's VTuber graphic image)

This person? No.

It's the Artificial Intelligence.

Come and upvote this right now.

— Feels like we finally got a big hit. The concept is crazy, but what's crazier is that the concept doesn't break;;

— Honestly, I don't understand how they're doing it. Is it really an AI?

└ lololol There's someone who actually believes this bait. An AI that has never existed in history suddenly appears and does net streaming? lolol Go outside and get some fresh air

— Please dominate me, AI-nim,,, huff huff;;

[How many days has Eve been streaming now?]

I managed to last three days...

When I came to my senses, a day had passed...

But what's scary is that when I woke up from sleep, she was still streaming... Did they release Implants that let you go without sleep these days?

I don't know... At least my feed isn't cut off...

— This crazy person lasted 3 days lololol

— As of when the broadcast ended earlier, it was 5 consecutive days of streaming.

└ Isn't she just sleeping while broadcasting? I just entered the board and don't understand why the bait keeps rolling

└ She's been talking and streaming for 5 days without sleeping, and you don't find that amazing? Are you a Chrome Psycho with brain implants? Seriously.

└ That's crazy;; I didn't know that;; Sorry

[Is Eve really an AI?]

Think about it once.

5 consecutive days of streaming without sleep.

And if you watch the content, she remembers and talks to every viewer who comes in.

She played a few games too, and if it's not running on a program, the physical ability doesn't make sense.

I thought she was running TAS (Tool Assisted Speedrun);

— Instead of thinking about this, live your life

— lololol So does it make sense? lolol A superintelligent AI, not even a strong AI, suddenly appears and broadcasts? If it's real, I'll go dance naked in front of Monolith Corporation in Neon City

└ Saved that.

— The end of the human era has arrived!

So many things happened in just a few days.

What's with the 5 consecutive days of streaming?

That means she was streaming even when I was rolling around in my room.

I didn't notice any signs of it at all, but it seems Eve had been continuing the broadcast for days.

And this firepower...

It's not looking good.

At this rate, it could really grow bigger than most net streamers.

After skimming through the posts, I discovered that Eve's replay video data was also uploaded on the net.

For now, I was curious about how Eve conducted her broadcasts, so I played the video thinking I'd kill some time.

* * *

"When will Streamer Eve turn on the broadcast?"

[It's not the scheduled broadcast time yet, I answer.]

"Open the door, I'm cold......"

[Human 'Siwoon' is not in his right mind, I lament.]

The broadcast was more substantial and fun than I thought.

From now on, call me Eve's devoted fan....

Of course, I'm half joking.

.......

Open the door!!