Following Mezulen's guidance, Brian entered Eidel's laboratory and immediately assessed the internal structure.

The room had a separate chamber attached to it. Since Erica wasn't visible, she was probably inside there.

However, entering without permission would be impolite. Brian decided to wait patiently, pretending he had no ulterior motives.

"Here's a chair."

"Thank you."

Seated in the chair, he habitually tapped his knee with his index finger. Brian slowly looked around.

High-quality research equipment.

Mathematical formulas written on the blackboard.

Undergraduate students busily conducting research.

The lab seemed properly equipped...

"I never expected the Third Young Master to be this thorough," Erica (Unit 1) whispered in Brian's ear.

Brian nodded.

If by some chance Eidel was a genius, the existence of this laboratory would make "some" sense. Though rare, there were people who became professors in their mid-twenties.

No, this was still too strange. How could an undergraduate student set up a research lab and employ classmates as assistants?

He couldn't figure it out. Any possibility he considered remained uncertain.

"Excuse me."

After composing himself, Brian asked the green-haired girl who seemed to be in charge when Aidel wasn't around.

"What do you research here?"

"We study crystals from Darwin-type outer gods. They have many applications and are actively researched across disciplines. Recently, they've gained attention as new materials with diverse applications. In other words, they have great potential!"

She readily shared the information. She didn't seem to be in cahoots with Eidel. Brian was familiar with the appearance of outer god crystals, having seen them throughout the South until he was sick of them.

"You're Rheinland's brother, right? A medical student?"

"No. I've graduated from college and I'm currently working as a resident."

"Ah, a fellow? So you're halfway to being a graduate student?"

Brian responded with a silent smile.

Graduate school. Yes, he was attending, but unlike typical graduate students, he wasn't full-time. He had to care for patients as a doctor.

The girl didn't seem to know this and continued her questions with a grin.

"Isn't writing papers really hard?"

"It is difficult."

Writing papers was what Brian disliked most. It was far more tedious and exhausting than writing case reports. Mezulen remarked:

"Wow, you brothers are so different."

"...What do you mean?"

"Eidel really loves writing papers. He just eats and writes papers. I tell you, he's the type who would secretly text professors about new ideas even during dates with his girlfriend!"

The green-haired girl clutched her stomach, laughing hysterically. She seemed abnormal, exhibiting a subtle madness.

Eidel returned just then, having gone to purchase an engagement ornament.

He was being carried on Sonia's back. He wasn't injured or unconscious, just taking a short nap. Brian frowned and asked about this.

"The young master takes short naps like this while moving. It's because his research blurs the boundary between day and night."

After Sonia's explanation, she put Eidel down. His eyes opened smoothly as if someone had flipped a switch.

"Ah, you're here, Brother."

It was chilling.

Was he a machine?

How could someone who was just sleeping wake up so naturally and greet him so calmly?

"I heard my eldest brother has come looking for me twice. I'm sorry I couldn't meet you sooner. Thank you for your concern. I bought coffee—would you like some?"

"...No, that's fine."

He couldn't help thinking there might be sleeping pills in that coffee. Brian reflexively complimented Eidel.

"You've been working hard. I couldn't have imagined the old Eidel being like this. I'm proud of you."

"Thank you."

"I've been too busy to know what my brother has been doing, but seeing this makes me feel nostalgic. Could you show me around your lab? I'd like to see what scientists do."

"Of course. You're curious about what physicists do, right?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes. That's it. Just simple curiosity."

Though slightly forced, Eidel nodded willingly. Brian's suspicions only deepened. Was some enormous trap waiting for him?

"For my current project, I chose to research crystals. It's a toy project with moderate difficulty."

In truth, Eidel had been conducting this research for quite some time, but Brian had no way of knowing that.

"Is writing a paper your goal?"

"Yes."

"It would be difficult to write one within two months."

"Why would it be difficult?"

At this point, Brian felt a chill down his spine.

It was instinct.

In Eidel's calm eyes as he responded, Brian glimpsed something like an abyss. He felt fear toward his brother, not an outer god or monster.

His pride was wounded.

Just then, Erica (Unit 1) raised her hand and asked:

"Has an android entered here recently? A robot with the family label."

"Android? Ah."

Eidel nodded as if realizing something. He rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a key card.

"The family sent one two weeks ago. I don't know who sent it, but I've been putting it to good use."

"...Good use?"

"Yes."

Brian barely concealed his shock. As soon as Eidel opened the door to the separate chamber, Erica (Unit 2) came into view.

Unit 2 was connected to what looked like hundreds of wires. The tangled electrical cords resembled tentacles, reminiscent of an inspector captured and violated by a Darwin-type outer god.

"Calculate, calculate, calculate, no, no, no, matrix, matrix, matrix..."

Unit 2 was muttering like someone who had lost their mind.

Looking at her, Eidel waved his hand dismissively.

"This is the computer room. It's a bit hot because we've been running continuous operations... Sorry, let me turn on the air conditioner."

Whoosh.

Shortly after the air conditioner started, Unit 2's clouded pupils returned to normal. She slowly raised her head as if waking from unconsciousness. Soon her eyes widened.

"...Young Master? Young Master!"

Unit 2 shouted.

"You came to save me! Please help me, Young Master! This place is hell! It's more terrible than an outer god's demon realm! Please, save me...!"

"Oh?"

Eidel scratched his head and turned around.

"Was that friend the android you sent me, Brother?"

"...Well, that's..."

"Thank you so much. Thanks to her, I wrote my paper well. Her VRAM capacity is so generous that simulations run smoothly."

Brian unconsciously took a step back.

The response was too mechanical to claim ignorance. As if trying to hide that there was no malice. That made it even more eerie.

When Brian remained silent, Eidel asked with a look of sudden realization:

"...Perhaps you didn't mean to give her to me?"

"Please save me, Young Master—!!"

"It seems I'm right."

"Save meeeee—!!"

What should he do here?

There were two options.

Abandon Erica (Unit 2), or retrieve her.

Abandoning would be easy. He could simply show generosity. He could say he specially gave it for his studious brother, so accept it without hesitation. This would also demonstrate his magnanimity to the Council of Elders.

Conversely, retrieving her would require Eidel's consent. If his research wasn't just for show, Unit 2 must be taken back. Eidel should not complete his project if possible.

However, it was uncertain how Eidel would react afterward. This uncertainty tilted Brian's decision.

The deliberation wasn't long. Having made his decision, Brian spoke:

"It was a surprise gift to celebrate meeting my brother after a long time. You can keep that robot."

"Young Master?"

"Y-Young Master..."

Erica Unit 1 was too shocked to speak, while Unit 2 began crying with a sorrowful voice.

"Young Master! Why! I've been so loyal to you! Why are you abandoning me!"

Click.

Brian closed the door without a word. Erica (Unit 1)'s expression grew even more dumbfounded. Eidel asked:

"Are you sure I can keep her?"

"Yes. We're brothers, aren't we?"

Brian smiled while patting Eidel's shoulder. He was desperately managing his image.

For good reason. Looking into Eidel's profound eyes, he realized:

A sleeping dragon.

This man was a dragon submerged underwater, quietly waiting for his time.

The hypothesis: His past reckless behavior might have been to conceal his abilities.

Add to that the papers that shook the universe. His suddenly respectful attitude. Their father's defense of him, and his sudden closeness with Seti. When all these results were fitted to this hypothesis, everything made sense.

Because if Brian had known earlier that Eidel was this intelligent, he would have taken action against him long ago.

At minimum, it was proven here that Eidel knew how to play politics, so abandoning Unit 2 was the right choice. Otherwise, Brian could be caught in his own trap.

As if waiting for this moment, Eidel said:

"If you meant to give her to me, why didn't you say so directly? Why did you just leave her at the lab door for two weeks without saying anything?"

Interpretation: If it was a gift, Erica wouldn't be saying such things. Why are you lying?

"Brothers can share things. I didn't want to make a big deal out of this."

Eidel swallowed at those words. Brian nervously swallowed as well.

Eidel reopened the door to the separate chamber. Inside was Unit 2, tears streaming down her face.

"I appreciate your consideration, Brother. But as you can see, she seems to dislike being with us. I'll return her to you."

"No, it's fine."

"Please take her back. I've already collected all the data I need for my experiments, so I won't need a GPU until the first half of the year. If anything comes up, I can leave it to Sonia."

At Eidel's nod, Sonia moved. She released Unit 2 from her restraints. Freed from the black tentacles, Unit 2 ran to Brian and collapsed before him.

"Young Master, please don't abandon me, sob...!"

She pleaded desperately.

"I may have been overworked, but I'm still fine. Look, I can display videos. See? High definition! Right? I'm still useful. So..."

An image formed in the air. Though it stuttered slightly due to overheating, the quality was generally clear thanks to her excellent basic performance.

"So p-please don't abandon me. I beg you. If you don't need me anymore, just dispose of me properly. Master, you know. I have lots of gold, silver, and platinum in my body. It's worth quite a bit of money..."

Unit 2 begged as if praying to a deity.

Erica's main body also looked at Brian with confused eyes. She had already exchanged information with her clone. All video information of Eidel's actions over the past two weeks had been copied.

In other words, Unit 2's role was complete.

"Brother. You should keep this robot."

"Y-Young Master..."

"Continue to use her well. Now I'll be going."

"Young Masterrrr—!!"

Brian left without looking back.

***

"I won that mind game."

Brian is so cautious that when told to advance, he stays still, and when told to stay still, he advances. I used that trait appropriately and he ended up giving me his android.

Plus, he seems to think I'm crazy, which is even better.

Two-faced. He's someone whose outside and inside are different anyway. In the original story, as soon as he became the family head, he sent Seti and Rezein to a distant planetary system, which shows his true character.

It feels satisfying to have gotten one over on such a snake-like person.

"Erica, get up."

"...No."

"Sonia."

"No! No! Absolutely not! I don't want to do any more matrix operations! Aaaah!"

Sonia firmly grabbed Erica and forced her to sit in a chair. After staring at Erica for a moment, she unexpectedly said:

"Young Master, it would be best not to assign excessive work."

"Why?"

"We have intellect too. And emotions."

"Hmm."

This was peculiar.

Was this the "machine rebellion" common in science fiction?

It felt like preheating leftover pizza and suddenly having the microwave say "Stop eating and lose some weight" before automatically turning off.

Humans created machines for convenience, didn't they?

If a machine refuses to work, you send it for repairs—who would coddle it? Even if it has a human form.

Nevertheless.

"I know what you're thinking, Young Master. Yes, neither I nor Erica are human. We're not living beings either. But..."

I quietly listened to what followed. This kind of atmosphere from Sonia was a first in our three years together.

"...Although our neural structures differ, our thoughts and feelings are the same. The materials that make up your hand and mine are different, but both can cook food, write, and play the piano."

"Functionalism..."

"That's right. We may not be living beings, but we are intelligent entities. We can't claim rights as we were created by you humans, but we ask for your consideration."

Her argument was logical.

"But weren't you the one who brought Erica here?"

"I never dreamed you would work her so hard without a single break."

Ah, so that was it.

Just as people go crazy from working overtime, and computers crash or show blue screens when left on too long.

I learned that artificial intelligence also cries when overworked.

"I understand. I'll let Erica rest for a while."

"Thank you, Young Master."

I looked at the panicked Erica. The expression of an android abandoned by its master was more devastating than I had imagined. She looked like a woman who had been rejected. In such situations, they really are just like humans.

Brian quickly discards useless things. Charitably speaking, he's decisive; less charitably, he's heartless.

Mezulen agreed to take care of Erica, whom I couldn't handle. After resolving the situation, Sonia bowed respectfully and spoke:

"And, Young Master. Congratulations on your engagement."

Perhaps because I had listened to her plea earlier.

For some reason, her voice seemed to be trembling.