Black Monolith Corporation.

A mega-corp that no citizen living in this cyberpunk world could possibly be unaware of.

In fact, even in my in-game hometown, the landfill where corporate influence was (almost) non-existent, there wasn't a single vagrant who didn't know of its existence.

It's only natural in this insane world where corporate power exceeds that of nations.

From what I know, they have nearly a million employees spread across the globe, and hundreds of subsidiaries dominating the market economy.

Truly an absolute entity.

I gently looked out the window.

"A World Led by Overwhelming Innovation"

The promotional slogan of Black Monolith flies around in holographic letters.

Innovation, huh...

Looking back, it was a word that never missed from Black Monolith advertisements. I remember seeing similar phrases in the Black Monolith ad that Andrea shot.

Eventually.

Beyond the forest of skyscrapers, Black Monolith's "headquarters" began to reveal itself in all its enormity.

I had similar thoughts when I came here before, but its appearance naturally evokes a sense of grandeur.

The massive 153-story building, black as obsidian, literally looked like a "monolith."

Just looking at it seemed to drain one's mental strength. It felt unreal, clearly out of place compared to other buildings.

With glass of that size, there must be issues with reflection, shadows, and handling absorbed solar heat.

It seemed strange to me that they would deliberately maintain such an inefficient structure.

Well, it's a fairly common sight in the cyberpunk world.

It's just how the wealthy spend their credits.

Enjoying unnecessary expenditures and indulging in extravagant luxury.

Thinking about it now, it made sense why Koozaka's headquarters was located in the middle of an amusement park.

Though from my perspective as an ordinary citizen, I can't help but think, "Are they all crazy?"

This really is like another world.

...

Of course, the most surreal thing was the fact that the "Chairman of Black Monolith" was sitting right next to me after all that lengthy explanation.

34. Me? (2)

Personally, I had briefly imagined that on our way to work, interns, regular employees, executives, and even passing citizens would line up in order, kneel down, and welcome the chairman (a god-like being).

Thankfully, nothing like that happened.

It wasn't that citizens failed to recognize the chairman due to some perception filter; it was simply because our aircraft landed on the rooftop.

As we got out of the car, the chairman muttered briefly.

"We arrived quickly."

"Well, it's only a 30-minute walk anyway."

It doesn't take long since it's in the nearby area.

On the rooftop, Justin Borg, Black Monolith's chief secretary, was visible, apparently having received advance notice.

Justin Borg slowly walked toward us.

"Chairman, unlike usual, you came to work directly today without exchanging your body—"

Then his eyes met mine.

"—which clearly had its reasons. Should I cancel all external schedules for now?"

"Hmm, I'll check and let you know later."

"Understood."

It was an impressively quick change of subject.

Justin Borg's expression grew increasingly dark. If I could use X-ray magic, I probably would have seen holes forming in his stomach in real-time.

Having quickly assessed the situation between the chairman and me, Justin Borg continued speaking, clinging to a thread of hope.

"Then for 'today,' I'll only bring you high-priority electronic documents that require your approval."

"Not just today, but 'for the time being.'"

"...Yes, understood."

Justin Borg, having realized the truth, nodded while hiding his agonized expression.

He looks even more distressed than I was when I heard the chairman use the phrase "for the time being."

I almost feel sorry for him.

...

But come to think of it, I was dragged here against my will too.

I felt a little less sorry.

Anyway.

The chairman walked toward the entrance located on the rooftop with his usual unhurried steps.

"Have you investigated the accident?"

"Yes, but we haven't found any traces yet."

"Hmm, continue the investigation for now."

"I'll inform the relevant department again."

After finishing their brief conversation, the chairman started walking again. Justin Borg quietly followed behind.

I know that in Neon City, activities are regulated above certain heights. As such, there was no one else visible on the rooftop besides us.

It's really incredibly spacious.

This was my first time coming up to the top of Black Monolith Tower. I discreetly looked around in amazement, trying not to make it obvious.

The top of a mega-corp tower...

...Hmm.

"Is this your first time on the rooftop?"

The chairman's voice interrupted my thoughts.

If I had continued with my train of thought, it was obvious that Justin Borg's gaze would have turned murderous, and some unknown assassin would come for me, so I immediately answered the chairman.

"Yes, that's right. Honestly, I've never had any reason to come up here. The view is nice though."

"Hehe."

The chairman looked at me with a brief eye-smile, apparently pleased with my simple answer.

"By the way..."

The chairman's gaze moved downward.

Narrowing his eyes slightly, he continued.

"If you're going to play the role of bodyguard, you'll need to change your clothes, won't you?"

This is actually really good.

My current outfit was given to me by the Koozaka Vice Chairman.

Carbon nanotubes, Kevlar, muscle fibers, and something else I can't quite remember—I don't recall all the details, but it's definitely quality material.

To think I received something like this just because some broth splashed on my clothes in the sewer... Looking back, I might have been a bit shameless at that time.

But I couldn't say "NO" to the chairman's suggestion.

"...I guess so."

Hearing my answer, the chairman looked at Justin Borg.

Justin Borg nodded slightly in response.

"Understood. The size—"

The chairman manipulated his visual interface.

After a moment, having received the measurement data, Justin Borg bowed and replied.

"Understood."

I was speechless at how naturally he provided my clothing size.

"Now, let's go down."

"...Um, yes."

I nodded with difficulty in response.

Since there was a separate elevator that went directly to the chairman's office, we didn't need to take a complicated route.

However, I had expected Justin Borg to take the same elevator as us.

That wasn't the case.

Justin Borg, his expression growing even darker, saw us off from outside the elevator doors.

"...Please take good care of the chairman."

"...Yes."

I gave a brief moment of silence toward Justin Borg.

My condolences to the struggling subordinate.

The elevator doors closed slowly.

Between letting an outsider like me ride alone with the chairman, and having an elevator that goes directly from the rooftop to the chairman's office...

I briefly worried about Black Monolith's internal security rules, but I figured a mega-corp must have its reasons.

...

"Excuse me, Chairman."

"What?"

The chairman answered in a relaxed voice.

I asked the chairman, who seemed completely at ease.

"...Isn't it a bit cramped in here?"

I've been feeling something touching me...

I tried to erase the sensation I felt on my forearm from my mind.

However, the chairman dismissed my words lightly.

"Is it? That's because the elevator is narrow."

The elevator was indeed narrow, as the chairman said.

I had expected that an elevator used by a mega-corp chairman would be spacious enough for someone to lie down with their legs stretched out.

In fact, the elevator connecting the 152nd floor reception room and the 153rd floor chairman's office was very spacious.

This one wasn't extremely small, but it was about the size of an elevator you'd find in a regular building.

"..."

Still, it's not so small that we need to be this close.

[The estimated area of the elevator is 1.54m². Subjectively speaking, it is narrow, but not so narrow that you need to be pressed against each other.]

Fortunately, I wasn't the only one who thought so.

Eve, who had been quiet until now, spoke in my mind.

The chairman must have heard Eve's voice too, as he naturally responded to her words.

"Still narrower than the bed on the 14th floor, isn't it?"

[......]

Eve?

My ally sank instantly.

From grabbing my shoulder during breakfast and talking about Eve's scent, to now suddenly bringing up the bed.

It was clear the chairman had noticed something.

I scratched my head.

Silence lingered in the atmosphere with just the two of us.

I mean, if we're going from the rooftop to the office, we're only moving "one floor." I don't understand why the elevator ride is taking so long.

I tried to quickly change the subject.

What should I say?

What would be good to talk about?

Hmm.

"Um, Chairman. I just realized, if you're worried about your safety, wouldn't it have made more sense to bring others like Catherine or Eve along too?"

...Come to think of it, that's right.

I had just brought it up to kill time.

But now that I said it, it made sense.

Why did he only bring me?

Surely someone of the chairman's stature wouldn't fail to separate personal and professional matters, just to spend time with an ordinary citizen like me.

That would be an insult to the chairman.

The chairman looked up at me in response to my words.

With his current body, the chairman is as short as Julia. His head reaches about my chest level.

The chairman slowly stretched out his hand.

Only after extending it almost fully did his hand reach my head.

The chairman, who poked my forehead with his finger, drew a shallow smile at the corner of his mouth.

"It's rude to ask something you already know."

As if that wasn't enough, the chairman grabbed my face with both hands.

Uh-oh.

Normally, the strength of a bioware body should be weaker than cyberware. I had no choice but to lower my head, pulled by that movement.

"If you keep pretending not to know, I might just act on my suspicions like a proper corporate chairman would."

Coming from the chairman who could easily influence and shake not just Neon City but this entire world, those words sounded even more frightening.

I always thought the chairman's eyes looked dead.

But looking at them now, I could see a burning light within those eyes that mixed indolence and dignity.

The elevator doors opened.

Only then did the chairman release his grip on my face.

"Well, we have plenty of time 'for the time being.' I can take my time finding concrete evidence first. Living together has made me appreciate moving at a leisurely pace."

The chairman stepped out first, leaving me standing stunned in the elevator.

I blankly stared at his back.

And then.

[...Tch, I was planning to keep it secret for a while.]

I could also figure out why Eve had been hiding my truth.

In that situation, I experienced again the feeling I had when I recently went out to take on Andrea's manager duties.

Is this just the start of the day?

And it's not even an issue that will end today.

...

I slowly squeezed my eyes shut.