Chapter 70

In Sector B, there was a massive shopping complex called ‘Newflex Square,’ the largest in New Valhalla City.

It wasn’t owned by the Stingray Conglomerate, but they held a large enough stake that it practically felt like they were a major shareholder.

I put Iri and Miyu in the aerial sedan and headed toward the shopping complex.

After leaving the car for valet parking in the VIP lot, I led the two of them toward the central plaza.

“Woooow…”

An involuntary gasp of awe escaped both of them.

Iri seemed to be making an effort to maintain her composure, but there was no way that was going to work.

Just watching their reactions made me think coming here today was the right choice.

The first floor was the luxury section — various bags and products made of genuine leather, along with rows of accessory shops.

The second floor was the brand section, selling products that were friendly to ordinary citizens but still carried a decent price tag.

The third floor had various cafés and themed play zones for children, while the fourth floor was lined with all kinds of restaurants.

The fifth floor was for entertainment — theaters, arcades, bowling alleys, and cyberspace performance halls.

Above that, the sixth floor had an indoor zoo where you could interact with robotic animals.

The seventh floor was an indoor park, the eighth floor an observatory, the ninth floor a small amusement park.

Underground, there was an aquarium, and so on — an endless list of things to enjoy.

And the entire massive building…

Was completely empty.

It was as if we were the only ones left in the world. Other than us, there wasn’t a single customer in sight — only store clerks standing with tense expressions, waiting for our arrival.

Still unable to close her mouth at the sight, Iri asked me in a trembling voice.

“Um, excuse me…”

“What is it?”

“Did you… rent out this entire place?”

“You can tell just by looking, can’t you?”

For a VVIP’s arrival, the mall had been rented out for the afternoon so that no regular customers would be admitted.

Though I said it with confidence to Iri, the truth was, it was my first time seeing a scene like this too, so I was a little nervous.

“You… really didn’t have to go this far…”

She looked extremely burdened.

But this was necessary if we wanted to shop while avoiding the eyes of the media and the public.

More importantly, it meant Miyu, who had social anxiety, could come along.

After all, she had worked hard to rank first in her year. It wouldn’t feel right to just leave her alone while we went off to enjoy ourselves.

Miyu herself might be perfectly content to stay in her room tinkering with machines all day, but once in a while, she needed to go for a walk so she wouldn’t end up breaking down from it.

For reference, Miyu’s expression was frozen in shock, even more so than Iri’s.

It would probably take her some time to get her bearings again.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“E-even if you say that…”

“It’s too late to cancel now, isn’t it?”

“Well… that’s true, but…”

“Today, you two are the owners of this place. You can pick anything you want.

Feel free to roam wherever you like.”

“Uh… um…”

It seemed that particular part overloaded Iri’s thoughts.

She didn’t know what to do, and her eyes spun around in panic, which was quite amusing to watch.

Meanwhile, Miyu seemed to have regained her senses.

With so few people around, it must have felt like a more comfortable environment for her to be active.

What is she, a wild animal?

“Module shop! Let’s go to the module shop first!”

“Iri, are you okay with that?”

“I-I don’t mind…”

“Then let’s do that.”

Since the place was so big, they provided multi-passenger hover pads to conserve energy.

Iri and I, being Adaptees, didn’t really need them, but Miyu — a civilian with especially low stamina — would be exhausted after walking only a short while.

We moved to the module store and started shopping.

These weren’t the usual ‘combat’ modules we often saw, but products for ordinary civilians who had been administered nanomachines.

Miyu timidly asked the clerk a few questions about the products before returning.

Back in the day, she would never have even thought about speaking to a stranger on her own. To see her grow like this… I was deeply moved.

Perhaps her experiences at the Academy and her encounter with the Dwarf had gradually built her up over time.

Dad’s proud of you.

She still had a long way to go, but for now, this was plenty.

“Iri! Look at this — it’s a module that makes your face prettier! Over here, they have cyberware on display! Oh! This socket HUB can hold up to 120 modules at the same time, even though it’s for civilians!”

“…Is that impressive?”

“Of course! Yours can only hold up to 25! Aaron’s can—”

“Miyu.”

“Ah! Sorry, I wasn’t supposed to say that!”

When I stopped her, Miyu immediately covered her mouth with both hands and bowed repeatedly in apology.

A socket HUB was basically a parking tower for modules and various data devices.

A typical Adaptee needed at least a dozen modules just for combat ability enhancement.

Add to that storage devices like USBs and various cables, and their whole body would end up covered with ugly ports for equipment.

Naturally, that looked bad and was inefficient for space, so the socket HUB organized chips internally for optimal efficiency.

In Iri’s case, the cheaper model she had was limited to 25 modules, but mine could hold up to 200.

However, like my modular information, that was Stingray Conglomerate confidential — something that must never be leaked.

‘Still, I guess it’s good she’s happy.’

Anyway.

I understood Miyu was so excited she almost slipped up like that.

She had spent her life in a small room doing research; this was probably her first time experiencing an offline store like this.

It made sense.

After that, Miyu led Iri around the store, looking here and there.

They looked just like a daughter dragging her mother through a toy shop — quite the amusing sight.

‘In the original story, the protagonist would’ve been there with them.’

Watching them from a short distance away, I overlapped that ‘might-have-been’ scene in my mind.

Nostalgia for things I had never actually experienced.

Savoring that ironic feeling, I handed my card to my entourage following behind me.

“Go take a break.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“I can handle this alone.”

Perhaps understanding my intent, my aide bowed right away.

“Understood. Do you need anything else before we go?”

“Just a glass of water would be nice.”

“Yes. I’ll bring it right away. If you need anything, please call us anytime.”

The aides all bowed politely in unison and withdrew quietly.

Judging from their bright expressions, they seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Yes, this is how a superior should be.

* * *

After that, I followed Iri and Miyu as they led me around the shopping mall.

Even Iri, whose expression had been stiff from the pressure at first, gradually began to brighten.

–Miyu, while we’re here, why don’t we get your hair trimmed?

–N-no! This is an important neural cord that connects me to Carla…!

–Stop with the weird excuses, just a little. Okay?

This time, Iri took the lead and guided Miyu.

They started with shops selling various snacks, then went around clothing stores and general stores.

But I knew the truth.

Iri actually wasn’t that interested in fashion.

Her real focus was on the restaurants, and the clothing stores she stopped by from time to time were just for appearances.

She probably felt embarrassed about only going after food, which was why, even after entering a shop, I caught her glancing out the window toward another snack stand.

–Miyu, don’t you wonder what that tastes like?

–We’re… eating again…?

–We’ve never tried that one before.

–C-couldn’t we put it off until later? I-I feel like my stomach’s going to burst right now…

–Fine, you order the chocolate flavor. I’ll get the caramel, and we’ll split them half and half.

–Please listen to me…!

Miyu’s protest was useless.

Iri’s eyes were already sparkling, fixed on the new dessert.

She clearly wasn’t hearing a word.

I was watching from a step behind, enjoying the sight with a satisfied smile, when Iri walked up to me.

“Um, Chairman.”

“What is it?”

“It feels like we’re just playing by ourselves. It’s a little weird… and I feel bad for dragging you around everywhere.”

“Would you prefer I step aside?”

“N-no, that’s not it.”

“So Miyu’s been knocked out by that chocolate fish-shaped pastry just now, and you’ve chosen me as the next victim. Ever heard the term ‘food torture’?”

“That’s not it either!”

“If you want to eat, just order all the flavors you want. If you still haven’t realized it’s too late to keep up appearances…”

“I said that’s not it!”

Iri raised her voice, but seeing my expression, she seemed to realize she’d been teased.

Her lips jutted out in a pout, her flushed face tinged pink with irritation.

Well, I could read her real thoughts clearly.

She didn’t mind hanging out with Miyu, but she probably felt a little guilty about leaving me out.

Still, asking me to join in might feel a bit intimidating for her.

She probably didn’t know what the best approach was.

“Then what would you like me to do?”

“It’s fine…”

“I won’t tease you any further.”

“…I said it’s fine. I guess I was stupid for worrying about you. I was just going to ask what you like — food or hobbies.”

“You’re sulking.”

“I am not!”

“You are.”

“No, I’m not!”

Great reactions.

This wouldn’t do. It made me want to keep teasing her.

But if I pushed too far, I might actually earn her resentment, so I forced myself to hold back.

Still, it made me think.

Come to think of it, since arriving here, I’d spent all my time dealing with storylines and transmigrators, without much chance for hobbies.

Sometimes I’d remember the web novels I enjoyed in my previous world and tried to find unique works from this world.

‘But they weren’t my taste…’

Maybe it was because there were real monsters and highly advanced science here, but their imaginations tended to leap in directions I could never have predicted.

With their unique clichés and genre-specific terminology, there were too many parts I found hard to understand, so I naturally gave up reading them.

‘Other than that…’

I liked games.

Especially the kind with lots of physical combat.

But ever since I got this body, games became too easy to be fun.

My visual reflexes were so good that all the enemies looked slow.

“I guess I don’t really have hobbies.”

Since I couldn’t exactly mention Aaron’s hobby of ‘hunting humans,’ I just answered like that.

Iri’s expression grew even more complicated.

It was just a casual comment, nothing worth worrying about, but she probably caught a faint emotion behind my words.

Feeling slightly guilty for causing that, I spoke up to lighten the mood.

“…Ice cream.”

“Yes?”

“I like soft-serve ice cream.”

Iri’s eyes went a bit blank at my answer, as if the idea of me liking ice cream was unexpected.

“Ice cream? Really?”

“Does it sound like a lie?”

“It’s not that, but…”

“Then what is it?”

It was true that I liked ice cream.

Of course, more than that, I’d chosen it deliberately because it was obvious Iri had been craving some for a while now.

“Can I be honest?”

“Go ahead.”

“It doesn’t suit you, Chairman…”

Hey, you…

I wanted to say something back, but I couldn’t — because I agreed.

This was probably her way of getting back at me for teasing her earlier.

And honestly… I’d probably be taken aback too if I saw a sharp-looking man like me slowly licking a soft cone.

“Don’t mind me. Do whatever you want. Today, you two are the main characters…”

I was mid-sentence when Iri suddenly grabbed my arm.

“Then don’t hesitate, let’s go. I want to see you eat soft-serve ice cream. I think you’d look really cool eating it.”

She smiled softly as she said it.

I had no way of resisting that look, so I let her lead me to the shop.

That was when it happened.

From that point on, instead of just following from a step behind, I started properly walking with the two of them.

I gave advice when they asked if something suited me, shared meals with them, and toured the zoo together.

I felt the walls gradually coming down.

The huge wall between us — that invisible barrier created by differences in status and position — was slowly melting away like ice cream.

–Try this!

–How is it? Not bad, right?

–Where should we go next?

When the two of them eventually looked at me with bright smiles, I felt — perhaps with a touch of exaggeration — that it was the first time I’d felt a hint of regret since coming to this world.

‘I was a reader.’

A reader of this world, and a fan.

That was why, even after being invited to this world, I unconsciously kept that attitude.

Because I knew everything, my existence and knowledge might damage their integrity.

‘I was Aaron Stingray.’

I had faithfully carried out the role of “Aaron Stingray” all along, and when the protagonist disappeared, I even took over that role and continued acting.

‘And that was why I was nothing.’

In truth, I wasn’t there at all.

Because I had been faithful to my roles — as a reader, a fan, a Crown Prince, a patron, a protagonist, and a villain — these kids didn’t actually know me at all.

What I liked.

What I disliked.

What life I had lived.

What life I sought.

The truth hidden beneath the many layers of façades.

‘…Damn.’

Normally, I wouldn’t think like this.

I would have lived in this world doing what I needed to do, without a shred of regret, finding my own kinds of enjoyment.

The fact that such pointless thoughts were surfacing was probably because I was afraid.

‘…Thirsty.’

It was the same feeling I had experienced before.

It wasn’t as strong yet, but I could tell that soon it would come at me with an intensity I wouldn’t be able to endure.

But I held on.

I couldn’t ruin this pleasant time, so I used every bit of willpower I had to keep up an unshaken appearance.

And then, the end approached.

They say good times pass quickly, and before I knew it, the time had flown by and it was time to head back.

By the clock, the mall should have already been closed long ago.

And then—

A new message arrived from my secretary.

[Young Master. Silence has awakened.]

It was finally here.

Time to put the plan into motion.

“Iri, Miyu.”

I called the two of them.

They turned to me with smiles, but those expressions stiffened slightly at the strange air I was giving off.

I regretted ending things this way, but it couldn’t be helped.

There would be another chance.

Perhaps not for me—

But certainly for them.

With that belief, I carefully opened my mouth.

“There’s something I want to entrust to you.”

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