#091
All of Yoo’s functions were opened like that. After understanding what it meant to be “human,” Yoo’s expressions became more natural. His creator observed him carefully as he moved his hands and feet, then entered code into a tablet.
‘Any discomfort?’
‘…No. No abnormalities in physical sensations. Code verification complete. Beginning self-diagnostic of memory/database.’
Until the self-diagnostic was completed, the microchip embedded in his brain would function at maximum capacity. Afterward, except for music functions, it would be adjusted to operate similarly to an average human.
Yoo quickly scanned through the data stored in his memory. He didn’t need to specifically review his musical knowledge, which was several times more extensive than general knowledge. As he was checking his mind this way, Yoo inwardly paused.
Among memories similar to human ones, something alien was mixed in.
Images flashed like photographs of entities with faces identical to his own—one with its body strangely twisted and broken, another with the same face but without limbs.
What could this be? Yoo calmly examined what appeared to be errors in his memory while maintaining an outwardly neutral response.
Among them was a certain man. A middle-aged man, and… near his lips…
‘No issues?’
Yoo nodded at his creator’s question.
‘Yes. Reporting self-diagnostic results. Dynamic variable output and judgment functions effective. Global variable data storage confirmed. Output conversion function confirmed…’
He could easily guess that what he thought were photographs were memories from previously discarded entities.
Then who was that man who appeared in the middle?
After confirming all functions, the creator entered several more codes. Along with the sensation of his previously bright mind partially darkening, Yoo felt more comfortable. His functions had been reduced to a level similar to humans.
‘Now, let me play you music that hasn’t been recorded in your memory.’
The creator smiled as if pleased and played music.
‘Tell me your impression of this music you’re hearing for the first time.’
For the first time? Yoo questioned whether there was an error in his memory. He had clearly heard music inside the cultivation capsule.
Or perhaps this referred to the time after leaving the cultivation capsule. Yes, that must be it. Yoo spoke about his impression, the derived response, based on the input information.
Yoo made his own inferences about why memories of previous models existed in his memory. Perhaps the data had been transferred for efficient development.
Combining memories accumulated by previous models would naturally build up the database. It would be a good method for efficiency.
‘Then the previous entity must have considered memories of that man important.’
A man with a white spot near his mouth. The only memory inherited from previous entities.
But for something important, there was too little information. Only fragmentary memories like photographs. Moreover, this model hadn’t inherited any information about music or performances that should truly be considered important.
Yoo decided not to think about it further. If an error occurred, he could notify his creator and get repaired.
While continuing his training, forgetting about the man with the white spot near his mouth, the next model was created. After all, Yoo wasn’t a perfect entity.
His successor model, with its external covering just completed, lay expressionless in the cultivation capsule with a face identical to his own. His own appearance must have been exactly the same.
Yoo suddenly realized this might be the opportunity to transfer memories to the new entity.
However, as he recalled the faces flashing through his mind—faces identical to his own without a single difference—Yoo took a step back from the cultivation capsule containing the next model.
All the entities in his memories were broken. It was so terrible that he almost felt their pain transferring to him.
Was there any need to pass on such unpleasant memories to the soon-to-be-completed new entity?
As a machine, he didn’t have “real” compassion. It was just learned emotion. Nevertheless, his decision not to transfer the terrible memories to the newly completed entity was difficult to explain rationally.
Perhaps he was the only prototype that didn’t pass on memories to his successor model.
But it didn’t matter. This entity would likely be far superior to him anyway.
Just before leaving his younger sibling who would become Yoo-hyun in the future, he looked around the creator’s workshop.
His gaze lingered on the creator’s memory control device. But he didn’t touch it.
He felt the urge to erase the terrible memories but didn’t.
Perhaps it would be too great a leap to think these memories were a legacy left intentionally by previous models, his brothers.
After sharing with Yeon Tae-soo his memories of Yoo-hyun’s creation, the disposal of other entities, and investors playing with him like a toy, he finally added:
“…It’s possible that Yoo-hyun’s disposal might also be connected to the investors.”
Until now he had thought of them simply as investors, but there seemed to be something more.
“Looking back now, I’m uncomfortable with how the creator told me to escape, suggesting the investors might come after me. Yoo-hyun had already been disposed of, which meant the project had failed…”
“They would have no reason to try to recover you then.”
Yeon Tae-soo finished the thought, and Yoo Seong-woo nodded.
“Of course, they might regret the money invested, but the microchip in my body is just an incomplete, cheap thing anyway. Too unusable to reuse.”
“…Maybe they wanted to turn you into Yoo-hyun to recover some costs?”
It was a plausible story. Yoo-hyun had failed, but here was a substitute with the exact same exterior. They might be able to release one more album. But Yoo Seong-woo thought differently.
“I’m not sure. If they know I’m still alive, they’d also know my condition. I don’t think they’d take the risk of using an entity that could stop functioning at any moment. And as I mentioned, repairs are impossible.”
Seeing Yeon Tae-soo’s troubled expression, Yoo Seong-woo forced a smile.
“Still… I feel relieved. I never thought I could share all this, so it’s a bit bewildering…”
It was also awkward. And worrying. He still couldn’t believe that Yeon Tae-soo knew his true identity and was unfazed by it.
Yeon Tae-soo reached out and pulled his shoulder. Their upper bodies met, and his back was wrapped in Yeon Tae-soo’s arm. His embrace felt familiar without any awkwardness.
“You can tell me everything. If you want to.”
Yoo Seong-woo was still afraid of this familiarity. The more accustomed he became to him, the more difficult parting would be.
“Don’t think about whether it will help me. Just do whatever you want to do.”
Nevertheless, he didn’t want to leave this embrace.
“Now I’ll be your shield.”
He didn’t want to let go of the man who had become his ally for the first time in his life. He wanted to be greedy. This was different from his desire for life.
When the embrace ended, two dark blue stars looked down at him. There had never been a moment he didn’t love when Yeon Tae-soo faced him like this.
“…Yes, I understand.”
So he smiled and answered.
***
The business suspension was quickly lifted after a few explanations. Eden regained its glamorous appearance.
A few days later, General Kim confessed to having repeatedly bribed the Minister of Defense. It was the day Kim Ji-heon had visited him in detention.
His haggard face as he confessed to bribing his superior filled all media. People were confused. How could the Minister of Defense, who had led the country to victory in war, be a hotbed of corruption?
Of course, many felt that such bribes were insignificant compared to saving the country. They feared detaining the minister who had led them to victory. The terror of war still lingered in people’s minds.
What if another war broke out—who would save us then? The military leadership, including the minister, must remain in place. Even if they had minor flaws, national defense came first. This opinion grew stronger, and the Defense Minister denied the bribery allegations.
And while all attention was focused on the minister, Yeon Tae-soo quietly began investigating something—Yacheon Technology.
Among those frequenting Eden were many key figures from the business world. They all owed Yeon Tae-soo favors, small or large. While political figures visited Eden for escapism, business figures came for gain. Some of those who had received help from Yeon Tae-soo had connections to Yacheon Technology.
In truth, Yeon Tae-soo’s main reason for investigating Yacheon was different. He couldn’t abandon hope that they might have a way to fix Yoo Seong-woo.
Even though Yoo Seong-woo was made by an external creator, Yacheon itself had authority in humanoid androids. With their advanced technology, he believed they might have a solution.
However, good news came from a completely unexpected source.
It was Nikita’s wife in India.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
