Seol-ah shakes her head.
“Isn’t that possible?”
"A doll that's already asleep can't be woken up. This child is probably having a good dream."
After returning from Sekigahara, I asked Yu Seol-ah one favor.
At the Nagoya Tourism Organization, we wonder if we can bring back that robot friend who treated us so kindly.
If all androids originate from the crystal called Yuseol-ah, then wouldn't the opposite be possible as well?
But, it seems the world doesn't turn that easily.
“Fuck! This is too much!”
And, on the Odyssey anchored at Nagoya Port.
There was one more annoying guy.
“This woman, she really thinks she’s a queen? Isn’t she crazy?”
"A clown, or rather, a court jester? Hurry up and give me something sugary."
“You crazy bitch! These days, almost every dessert has sugar in it.”
“Maybe because he’s a clown, he’s good at telling jokes.”
"Haa... Captain, take this woman away quickly. Why on earth do you keep bringing more women with you every time you go somewhere? Are you some kind of womanizer? A collector of women? A gloomy Korean man obsessed with women's bodies?"
“Clown! Is there no chef here?”
I'm sorry, but that woman is not the one I brought.
I see her riding the Odyssey without paying.
Her transparent, flowing hair and beautiful purple eyes.
And a clear lion pattern.
“Richard, why are you on this ship? No, before that.”
I frown.
“How did you find out where Odyssey was?”
"You're such a fool. Is there another ship besides the Odyssey currently anchored in Nagoya Port? There's no way a ship this large wouldn't be visible."
I didn't think of that, I'll admit.
“What about Pizarro and the other egos?”
"Those idiots have probably already crossed the ocean. You'd be better off asking them, rather than me."
Richard just moves his shoulder and points to the best person in the world next to me.
Yuseol-ah, the singularity that once led Eden.
But surprisingly, she was not human.
No, in a world ruled by egos, androids aren't that strange.
"When I crossed from Incheon to this ark, I came aboard a mass-produced Odyssey. As you know, Master, several other types of Odysseys were built for camouflage purposes."
I think I've heard that story.
"But I don't see that mass-produced Odyssey. It looks like the Egos are using that ship."
“Can you figure that out right now?”
“Because I am not human.”
The best person in the world looks like he is lonely.
"This lady is really funny. Who would dare call a teacher 'Master'? She must think she's a real maid android."
“It’s not funnier than the name Cheonma.”
“A lady who thinks she’s a real robot.”
"At least, you could say my body, excluding my soul, is a robot. Because I was androidized by the crystal. The original Yuseol-ah…."
“So the original lady is dead?”
"At least her body is already dead. She died the day she was in the car accident."
“Something is difficult.”
Cheonma blinks while holding a spatula.
It seems that Kilk was so angry that she ended up getting pushed into the kitchen.
Even though the world is ending, I'm still working in the kitchen.
Isn't that too much?
“Anyway, don’t call me master.”
“It has nothing to do with you. I can’t even lead the organization called Paradise properly….”
“Wow, that’s amazing?”
Cheonma, holding a spatula, stands on tiptoe and tries to use all his strength to stand tall.
“I can’t see it.”
“That must be because he’s short.”
“I don’t see any of those many male masters of Eden.”
“….”
“Wow, who the hell commanded them? I really don’t know.”
“Go to the kitchen and prepare some food for the master.”
“Ma’am! I told you not to call me master!”
“Because I couldn’t find the answer.”
Cheonma and I look at Yuseol-ah at the same time.
The eyes of an android with a singularity of regeneration look mysterious.
"The real Yoo Seol-ah is dead. But then who am I? The real Yoo Seol-ah definitely loved her fiancé, her childhood friend? But then who was the person I loved now? The real Yoo Seol-ah didn't hate men. But I hated humanity itself, and I longed to destroy everything."
“The lady can rap too.”
“Then… what on earth is this country?”
What are we?
Just because we love someone, there's no guarantee that our love will be reciprocated.
The opposite is also true.
So, can that alone define us?
"slowly."
This time, it's the turn of the flipper and the android to look at me.
“Let’s take our time and think about it.”
“Don’t you hate it?”
“Who? Me?”
Seol-ah just nodded.
“I even forgave those who tried to kill me by crucifixing me….”
“Who is it… Who could it be… Hehe. Teacher….”
I ignore Cheonma, who is fiddling with the spatula, and continue speaking.
"Besides, you haven't done anything particularly harmful to me. Of course, that doesn't excuse your actions while leading Eden."
But, that's not for me to judge.
What she experienced when she was human, and when she was crossing over to another world.
This is not something I should sympathize with.
So, I decided not to pass judgment.
"So, if it's okay with you, let's take our time and think about it together. Something like that."
"also."
Yuseol-ah's pupils change.
Strangely enough, none of the women around me have cloudy eyes.
This is another peculiarity.
Yu Seol-ah's eyes are like a lake in a glacier that changes color completely.
It seems like the color changes depending on your thoughts.
Is it because it's Android?
“As expected, the master was the master. This is also a built-in android instinct….”
Seol-ah puts her hands together.
“That’s my judgment as well. The judgment of the human Yuseol-ah and the android Yuseol-ah.”
"The lady's judgment. The lady is old and slow to make decisions. This judgment is free."
“…So, from now on, I will follow you, Master, as the best in the world.”
“If the lady is the best in the world, then I am truly the best in the world.”
“It’s a heavenly horse, isn’t it?”
“Oh, this is….”
After all, a kid can't compete with an adult's eloquence.
"Sir, when are you going to return to Seoul? Seoul isn't Jerusalem, is there any need to delay like this?"
“Richard, I am not a knight.”
“I appointed him!”
The Lion King rose from his chair, his transparent hair fluttering.
And then, summon a shining sword.
The sword that I saw briefly during the final battle at the pyramid.
“Excalibur! I got it after defeating Arthur. By the way, the last time Arthur returned, he was a woman….”
“Up to there.”
"huh?"
I wave my hand at Richard.
“Don’t talk about that king.”
“No, why are you doing that? Ego Arthur, the blonde woman who wields Excalibur….”
"stop!"
“Oh… I see.”
Richard places Excalibur on my head.
“I, Richard, by right, blessing, and God-given right, have conquered England, France, Jerusalem, and all other lands under the Lionheart’s authority….”
“Oh, I’m sleepy. I’m sleepier than when I was frying potatoes.”
“It feels like I’m back in college, taking liberal arts classes again.”
After Richard glared at Cheonma and Seol-ah.
Let's continue talking again.
“And the sole King of London appointed by the Pope, the Protector of Europe, the title of the Beautiful Queen bestowed upon her by the Master in the 24th Regression, and the title of the Great Lion bestowed upon her by the Master in the 33rd Regression….”
Cheonma coughs.
Seol-ah crossed her legs and shook her beautiful thighs absentmindedly.
However, the Lion King's monologue is more than just stubbornness.
“And… uh, the sole ruler of Aquitaine, Wessex, Avignon, Neo-Burgundy, and Central Europe…”
“Your Majesty, no, Your Majesty, no, Your Majesty, no, Your Majesty, no, Your Majesty the King.”
Kilk comes towards us, swaying like a clown.
“What is it, clown?”
"That man is a bit dull. If you speak too long, he'll forget everything. Could you shorten it?"
“Ah, I see. That’s good.”
Kilk you.
Clearly, something other than the king was mixed in the middle… .
"I, Kim Geon-woo, hereby confer upon you the title of knight. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and of Richard, the rightful King of England! Amen!"
Bam.
Excalibur gently taps my head.
“Is it the end?”
“What is it, kid?”
“He’s not a kid.”
"The Knights Templar of England don't appoint anyone below an A-cup. So, just take care of the kitchen."
“Oh, that’s unlucky.”
However, Cheonma has already risen from his seat.
"Still, the Odyssey's kitchen is state-of-the-art. It's almost like it's a real pleasure to cook."
Cheonma sucked on the spatula and walked towards the kitchen.
"Anyway, both that lady and the British lady are old. In the end, the opportunity will come to me."
“I’m an android, so I don’t age.”
“Ah, the burden is the ego. If you return, you will be reincarnated, so you will not age.”
Cheonma throws the spatula towards the kitchen.
"it's annoying!"
And then she went into the kitchen, her main residence.
"But why a knight? I can't even handle a lance, and I'm not good at riding a horse."
"Huh, Jim has passed through several worlds to reach this point. That's not how knights are determined."
"then?"
“In Jim’s eyes….”
Richard taps my chest.
“True love, true chivalry, true faith, and true self are here.”
And she summons Excalibur.
“It’s not a weapon like this, it’s right there.”
“….”
"In that regard, after observing you for a while, I've decided you're a worthy candidate for a knighthood. Don't be so quick to swear. I'm heading to England."
“England has been ruined for a long time.”
"Clown! Go get some instruments. They may not be as good as my court orchestra, but I'll listen to you play."
“Oh my, your intelligence has gone to your heart. It’s a good thing your heart is bigger.”
"what?"
Kilk grumbles and takes a piece of paper out of his pocket.
“What is that?”
"Oh, Captain. It's nothing. Just a note for you, Captain."
I glance at what Kilk took out.
“Sir, Master, Master, Honey, Knight, Captain, Singularity… Hmm, if I just write down what the President of Dentures calls me, will the Pokedex be complete?”
“Kilkya?”
"At this rate, I'll have to publish a title like some kind of achievement. A guidebook to the achievements of Kim Geon-woo of Hannam. Only 3,000 won."
“Killer Crown?”
“Oh, it’s kind of fun.”
And the clown also staggers away to the lower levels of the Odyssey.
“You’re a clown who only talks about yourself. You should be fired from the palace.”
“He wasn’t even a hired clown in the first place.”
“Then, knight, let’s return to Seoul immediately.”
“That’s difficult.”
“What? Is there anyone else on this ship with an ego besides me?”
But, after a few days, I immediately recognized who the voice was.
“Andromeda?”
"Thank you for remembering, Captain. Are you, by any chance, collecting every woman who survived the destroyed world? Are you working towards a 100% Pokedex?"
"no."
“That’s a shame.”
One of Andromeda's tentacle cameras slid down towards us.
“You look down on me with such contempt, that’s why I can’t befriend the machines every time I return.”
“This stupid cow ego… no.”
Andromeda's camera quickly scans Richard.
Just like we did when we boarded the Odyssey.
"Third place. I can't give you the title of cow. Anyway, is this idiot ego also the Captain's new guest?"
“I think so.”
“Then, I will temporarily record you in the Odyssey roster.”
“Kim Ki-sa! What are you talking about!”
Why Kim Ki-sa?
Oh, because my last name is Kim.
What kind of parking lot is this? They asked me to move my car.
“I’m ranked third in dairy cow rankings?”
“There’s no such ranking. Andromeda just made it up.”
"I don't want to hear it! Anyway, isn't the chest ranking the standard in this timeline?"
“Not at all….”
Where on earth could such a world exist? Even the voices are terrifying.
"That chest ranking. It's nothing, but I'm still concerned. Could this be the result of meeting the master?"
"Where can I lock up this stupid, not-so-virgin doll? She's making a lot of noise."
“Oh my, you don’t know anything.”
Seol-ah smiles.
“I am a virgin. And forever.”
"Huh, even so, she's still a fake virgin. She's just a trick of the singularity of regeneration."
“Since she’s an android, there’s no other way to revive her, right?”
“That’s fake too! Aren’t they all artificial?”
Richard coughs.
"The heart of a pure virgin is to honor her lover and maintain her chastity. That is all there is to it. What you are doing is nothing but a lie."
“I just haven’t found love yet.”
"I don't want to hear it! Mr. Kim! Lock your slave in solitary confinement! Or send him to the Tower of London!"
“No, she is not my slave.”
“Master, I will do as you wish.”
Oh, my head hurts.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a virgin or not, and it doesn’t matter what you call me. Seol-ah.”
“Yes, master.”
“I have no intention of arresting you.”
Yuseol-ah's eyes change again.
In a brighter, pinker color.
"The answer you seek. Well, the soul and the self are difficult questions, but... until you find them, let's set you free. I have no intention of enslaving you or treating you like some kind of employee."
“Then, what am I, Master?”
“Just something.”
It's nothing.
If you say that, you will be badly hurt and may even activate the suicide device, sinking the ship.
That's not it.
“Yuseol-ah, the best in the world. Isn’t that you?”
“….”
“So, for now, just. Hmm.”
I haven't had a friend like that yet.
“I guess we’re Android friends.”
"friend…."
“Yeah, a friend. Or maybe a colleague.”
“Ha! That’s funny! You’re talking about pouring mayonnaise on fried sweet and sour pork!”
In the kitchen, Seocheonma screams.
"I don't have any friends between men and women! I guess she's so burdened by her old age that she doesn't even watch YouTube!"
“Hey kid. Is the fried food burning?”
“Eek! No! The last pork!”
Ignoring the words of the clown and the horse.
Seol-ah looks at me.
It stares at me as if looking into the deep waves.
"friend."
"okay."
“Even though they’re human and android?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
I've already seen various beings and crossed the sea.
"All right."
Yuseol-ah smiles brightly.
“Master.”
And, the best in the world who bows his head.
"I'll go in. Andromeda has prepared a room for me. I have some things to think about…."
“I see you’ve already become acquainted with Andromeda.”
“Should we say that there is a communication between machines?”
Like that, smiling brightly.
Yoo Seol-ah also left.
Now there are only three people in the lobby.
“Hey, Mr. Kim. Answer me quickly.”
“What on earth?”
"Whether it's the cow rankings or the breast rankings, why am I in third place?"
How would I know?
The mechanical tentacles squeak above us as if they are having fun.
"This is information I gathered through Odyssey's protocol. I've identified most of the women around Captain Gunwoo. You're third. Only third. Yes, that's right. Third. This world remembers second, but it doesn't know third. Third, third in the dairy cow rankings. Defeat. Loser."
“Who is in second place!”
“Android Seol-ah Yang, you’re in second place.”
“That’s foul play! She’s not human!”
“Ego is talking about his in-laws.”
Richard shows his teeth and growls.
Andromeda's camera has already been retracted into the lower abdomen.
Now, really, only the Lion King and I remain.
"wait for a sec."
Richard looks up at me, stroking his chin.
Because her height is just a little bit shorter than mine.
“So, who is number one?”
Oh, this is it.
I think I already know who's number one.
####
Living in a ruined world, what you gain is not ability or skill.
I think it's just a matter of perception.
“You’re just being observant.”
"huh?"
For the first time in a while, I see her in plain clothes, not in a bunny girl outfit.
In the lounge of Club Isis, there was only Aya and me.
The noisy passengers all seem to be doing their own thing.
"You just become more perceptive. After experiencing this world."
“Please tell me what it is.”
"Richard, you know. He's on the Odyssey. It's so obvious."
"is it so?"
For once, without other people, egos, singularities, robots, or androids.
Aya is looking at only one thing.
Those soft eyes that put me at ease.
"… mister?"
“Sorry, I was thinking about something else.”
“Hmm. They say that as you get older, you only have more distracting thoughts.”
“I’m not that old.”
“It doesn’t matter. You’re still an old man.”
Park Aya, looking at me, is lying comfortably in the lounge with her chin resting on her hand.
Even if she wasn't a transcendent being, but just a human Aya.
I would have loved her.
Of course, the glowing body, the eternal fragrance, and the occasional wings are all very nice.
“Sir, you’re really just thinking about other things today.”
"Sorry. What I'm saying is, Richard's intentions are obvious. He's wanted this ever since we met at the pyramid."
“Are you talking about Saladin?”
"yes."
But that's strange. Richard and Saladin didn't originally have that kind of relationship, right?
As I became more feminine, did I really end up with such a female heart?
Or did they experience something together in that regression timeline?
“But, it seems like Jinbyeol likes Saladin too.”
I quietly pull the two chopsticks placed on Isis's lounge towards Aya.
“Huh? Sir?”
I hold those chopsticks upright.
“Hahaha! Die! Let’s kill each other from now on!”
“….”
Two chopsticks are dancing with a clanging sound.
I put the chopsticks back in place.
“Well, that’s it.”
“You talk as if it were someone else’s business.”
“Is it really someone else’s business?”
The passionate love triangle between Richard, Saladin, and Zhuge Liang is none of my business.
“Still, I’m glad the ark problem was resolved.”
"I thought I could build some kind of machine army with those hundreds of androids. But in the end, I didn't achieve anything."
Aya touches my wrist with her soft fingers.
A small mark. A pattern so subtle that it's hard to see unless you look closely.
“Here, there is a sign of the solution.”
“….”
“Maybe it’s something like a key.”
"key?"
"Yeah. Maybe the voice created a test like that for each world of the apocalypse. Only those who pass it can come to him."
"So what's next? A sincere conversation with a divine being?"
“I don’t know about that.”
Aya smiles and touches my chin.
“Oh, sir. You’ve grown a beard.”
“I didn’t get a full shave while I was at Sekigahara.”
“Something feels good.”
Aya was fiddling with my beard.
“I heard somewhere that men have erogenous zones in their beards and cheeks….”
Aya's eyes felt a little wet...
Her white fingers, today not wearing the gloves of the transcendent.
The hand that Hannam Kim Gun-woo always saw when he was working.
That hand is caressing my cheek.
“Sir, do you remember what I said before?”
"well."
“I told you I like sketching insects!”
Aya puffs out her cheeks a little.
“I really didn’t forget.”
"Sumatra, stag beetle, insect sketches. Drawing. Summer night sky."
Aya's eyes grow wide.
"mister…."
"I won't forget a single thing I've experienced with you, or anything I've talked about with you. Because you're the most precious thing to me."
Aya's cheeks turn red.
We didn't even have a drink at Isis today?
“Haha, sir. You know.”
"huh?"
“You know that the Odyssey was originally designed as a cradle for VIPs, right?”
suddenly?
Of course I know, it's Musk's legacy of bad taste.
"So, besides this club... there are other places where you can play pocket ball or just relax. I spoke with Andromeda earlier."
“That makes sense. It’s a cruise on the sea after all.”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Aya puts down the hand that was touching my chin.
And then, Park Ah-ya comes up to me with her face pressed against mine.
Her sighs disturb the bridge of my nose.
“There was also a studio. Art room, studio, atelier, workshop, it doesn’t really matter.”
“….”
"therefore."
Aya presses her forehead against mine.
In my eyes, Aya's chest, now in plain clothes, is clearly visible.
“So, I feel like drawing for once.”
“Well… you can just draw it, right?”
“Uh, no. That’s not it.”
Aya's breath is hot.
“I wish you would draw Aya.”