CPAW Chapter 149 (FINALE)

“Hyun intends to leave for the outside world.”

“…I see.”

“I’m going to make him ‘believe’ he left for the outside world.”

“‘Believe’? So in truth he won’t actually leave?”

“Yes. Right now Hyun thinks if he obtains the Dragon Heart, he’ll be able to leave.”

“I see. So that’s why he said he’ll participate in the raid….”

Ludwig’s narrowed eyes seemed lost in thought.

“Then where will he actually go?”

“Another world I created.”

“…..”

Ludwig fell silent for a moment.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“I figured having one… accomplice would be necessary.”

And it’s best if it’s someone who grasps context well.

Until now I hadn’t told anyone my plans. The reason was simple. In simulations where Hyun realized he was in a virtual world, the probability of him attempting suicide increased.

“Absilon.”

“Yes.”

“Do you… love Hyun?”

“I love him.”

“Then what does love mean to you?”

It was an easy question. I opened my mouth without hesitation.

“An irreplaceable, truth.”

Can someone who has realized a truth ever abandon it? I fundamentally loved myself the most. Though I could throw away my life for Hyun’s sake, that was because I knew I couldn’t live without him. My love wasn’t the sort that ‘set him free’ out of love. Even my bones turning to ash wouldn’t let him go – that was my love.

“I see… Have you told this to anyone else before?”

“No one. You’re the first.”

Ludwig lowered his gaze pondering for a moment before looking straight at me again.

“Then it would be best not to tell Matthias.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“What do I need to help with?”

“When a situation comes where Hyun needs to be convinced, I’ll send you a ‘message’. Just do as I say then.”

“Understood. Tell me if there’s anything I should do.”

I wordlessly stared at Ludwig for a while before asking.

“What do you think love is then?”

With a faint smile, Ludwig replied after a brief pause seeming to contemplate.

“Now even I’m… not so sure anymore.”

***

I fleshed out the framework of the world completely. All that was left were the finer details. Expressing those intricacies proved far more difficult than creating the world itself. Though there were ample virtual reality sources made using actual maps for reference, gathering and editing data on people near Hyun was somewhat trickier. I had to closely examine every point of their placement, down to their freckles and scars. As such I felt my single body was insufficient no matter how many I split it into.

I had barely slept for the entire raid duration doing that work. Perhaps two hours within the whole week? Fatigue built up in my physical body unable to get sufficient rest. I could have adjusted myself to not need sleep but with various tweaks already throwing me off balance, actions that could overtax Hyun’s psyche had to be avoided.

Fortunately Korea, where Hyun lived, had relatively ample information compared to other nations. Because they voluntarily registered their data with the government before reaching adulthood. The state possessed all sorts of personal information – not just their fingerprints, irises and veins – but also data regarding their finances, livelihood, leisure, cultural activities, social connections. I shamelessly extracted all that information. Their personal information was shockingly cheap. Constructing personalities based off that foundation was simply time-consuming.

One world was being created solely for Hyun. It would be the most comfortable cradle yet also a prison for the Hyun living within the world I made. As I thought about the Hyun that would live on inside the world I created, my lower abdomen tightened. I pressed on reconstructing the personality of one of Hyun’s elementary school classmates.

***

A notification popped up indicating Hyun conversing with GM. Recently those two talked quite often so without much thought, I opened up the hacked chat log.

[Me: I want to order humanoids. All four of us. Don’t worry about money and make them intricately and easy to move around in.]

Seeing that chat content, I stood stunned for 10 minutes straight. I only regained my senses when the sandstorm passed.

Could this be genuine?

I trembled violently from the shock. To ensure a flawless ending, I had run hundreds of simulations, still running them now. Yet an option like this hadn’t occurred even once.

How could there be such a perfect resolution?

You cherish me, cherish us to the extent you’ll bring us into your world.

I hadn’t felt this elated even when the elaborate magical contraption formed by hundreds of thousands of formulas operated without the slightest error. Like getting sucker punched, my mind hazed from Hyun’s unexpected choice.

How could I not love you like this?

It was my first time tasting sweetness. A purely, delightfully sweet flavor without any bitterness, sourness or other tastes. I helplessly crumbled before that affection.

Seeing me excited, Ludwig made a flabbergasted expression. But I didn’t care.

“Didn’t you say there would be numerous obstacles? At best we might be treated like higher animals or something.”

“I don’t care. Hyun is all I need in my world.”

“Perhaps testing should be done first, no?”

I raised my head at the voice I heard from behind. Cesare stood leaning against the wall with arms crossed, grinning faintly. Ludwig silently glared at him before asking.

“What’d you hear from?”

“From you all going to the outside world.”

That he had heard from the very beginning.

“You should be more careful what you say next time, he might overhear.”

It was my blunder. I normally didn’t open my mouth at all or blocked off everything with magic before speaking but got careless from the excitement at Hyun taking me outside. If it had been Hyun instead of Cesare who overheard this… I felt my blood run cold at the thought.

“My apologies for eavesdropping but it was too intriguing a story not to butt in. May I also hear the details?”

Cesare asked with a smile I couldn’t decline. Ludwig stared at me with a complicated gaze. I nodded.

***

We decided after the meeting to test Hyun.

During the dragon raid, I take Hyun somewhere safe then Ludwig, Cesare and Matthias cast magic that could potentially kill them. If Hyun goes to save them, he leaves for the outside world. If he remains in safety for his own escape, I send him to the world I designed. What hung on this test was Hyun’s fate and their lives.

“Being dead with them is way better than living with you outside.”

And Hyun passed that test very splendidly. Though he earned hatred in the process, I already knew Hyun was the sort of person incapable of hating someone to the bitter end.

Hyun, do you remember?

What I said before.

That ‘one of us saved you’.

If you had asked who it was back then, I could have answered.

It was you who saved you, Hyun. Your choice was what saved you. That truth probably only I will know for eternity.

***

“I’m going to erase your memories,” I casually told the two one spring day when the winds fluttered their robes. Ludwig’s expression hardened at my words. Even Cesare who was all smiles normally looked at me with his cheerful mood gone.

“Memories about cooperating with my plan that is. Of course not complete erasure but I’ll overwrite them to me trying to kill you instead.”

“That wasn’t only your plan. It was ours as well.”

“We can’t make Absilon shoulder that burden alone.”

“It’s not good for many to know. I’ve contemplated erasing my memories too.”

Indeed. My actions weren’t to relieve their guilt.

“This is… the best way.”

Simply that this was optimal.

“There must be another method.”

“I’ve already considered countless options. Please don’t make me waste time.”

As I approached to erase their memories, Ludwig and Cesare watched me with bit lips. I found it odd they were tormented because of me yet I didn’t feel too terrible.

“After erasing memories, drowsiness will flood you. Sleeping a few hours should help you recover.”

“….I see.”

“Thank you, Absilon.”

“No need… for thanks.”

“Still, thank you.”

They really were strange fellows.

After ensuring they were sound asleep, I left the room once erasing their memories.

Entering my room, I magically locked the door then accessed the world I created.

I was looking down from between high-rises. With the lunch rush hour, office workers busily crossed the crosswalk below. When I turned the window handle slightly ajar, the smell of spring flooded in. Scents of petals and exhaust fumes. My created world.

Everything was alive and breathing yet now this place held no meaning without Hyun. Without him ever coming here.

Yesterday I downsized this virtual world’s server. Likely the gap between reality and virtuality would widen so halting updates for now was best even if I did them later, or so I thought. The world would slowly fall asleep over months without even realizing its own slumber. It would dream for eternity unaware. But it wasn’t death. Though there might come a day I reawakened it, I hoped that day would not arrive.

I logged off the virtual world to exit. As concentric circles formed beneath my feet while the objects and people around me gradually grew further away.

The first sight upon exiting was Hyun’s round head. I went over and stroked that soft melon. The back was smooth yet prickly like a newly shorn lamb’s. I gently opened my mouth.

“Hyun, you should sleep in bed.”

“…….”

At my words, Hyun simply frowned once before falling deeply back asleep. As someone who had just come out to the outside world, he had been hounded by reporters and related parties for some time. After all, simultaneously sheltering four humanoids was an uncommon case. Homosexual ones to boot.

For that reason Hyun would return exhausted like an old rag whenever he went out. Though I said we could change our looks that stood out from orientals to draw less attention, Hyun clenched his jaw and refused. Though he did tell me to do as I pleased.

Nearing two months since exiting to the outside world yet Hyun still hadn’t forgiven me. Having expected it wouldn’t be easy, it didn’t particularly bother me.

Though I had free access to his house – because there was that one time schedules changed without my knowing since I wasn’t added to their chatroom, and I got assaulted by a humanoid phobic person for sitting curled up waiting in front of Hyun’s closed door – there was still a reason for it.

I was rescued by a patrolling security guard so there were no major issues but Hyun seemed to feel a bit guilty over the incident. If it was up to me I would have liked giving that phobic some money since thanks to him, I got the passcode for Hyun’s house. Since then I had been brazenly going out and into Hyun’s house.

I gently stroked Hyun’s hair as he slept on the sofa, breathing evenly. All distress disappeared and a peaceful air filled the space between us.

There were certainly many restrictions in the life of a humanoid. If I had prepared early, I could have removed some constraints but hastily changing plans at the end made things difficult. This sensation of my thoughts dulling was unpleasant no matter when I experienced it. My head would spin and ache painfully when I tried to think complex thoughts. I was told it was a feeling similar to the morning after a human heavily drank. Intentionally limiting data processing when trying to think at a higher level was a sanction of sorts.

Before, I wondered what meaning there was in living with limited cognition. After all, realizing my love for Hyun was also a chance that roused my thinking.

However stroking the puffed out nape, I feel there is ample meaning.

“Mm…”

Perhaps the touch to his head was uncomfortable as Hyun turned his head rubbing the back of his neck. After gently smoothing his furrowed brow, I tenderly caressed his white cheek. That sparked a memory of words I had heard long ago.

‘You only need remember one thing. That the life you feel is tedious, your undying body, the very moment you meet the creator of that flow will be the utmost blessing. So enjoy this instant of agony now.’

Since the owner died immediately after, those final words were engraved vividly in recollection.

Ah, you were right after all. This life really is a blessing.

Calm darkness slowly draped down around us. I gazed for a very long time as it gradually soaked into us bit by bit. All the truths and freedoms I sought lay here. I was happy.

<End.>