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Singularity

 

‘Keep your hands off my women.’

This phrase, broadcast to the entire world, sparked a wide range of reactions across countless places.

Accompanying this bold declaration, a projection of Asia appeared, being princess-carried by Kou, glaring intensely at Oedipus. Similarly, a projection of Astraea clung to Kou’s thigh, looking at him with affection in her gaze.

Barry and Fuyuki exchanged looks that screamed, ‘He really did it now, huh?’. Their expressions left no doubt. While Kou’s statement was destined to become a certified entry in Kou’s annals of cringe-worthy moments, there was perhaps no clearer way to demonstrate the women’s standing.

Jenny, as bold and carefree as ever, gave a thumbs-up and broke into a wide grin. Rick, meanwhile, nodded sagely, like an elder watching over the younger generation.

By this point, it was unmistakable to anyone: these women were his, bound to him.

「You claim to have made two super AI your women… are you crazy?」

「Not just these two super AIs, my women also include a human girl, two Therianthropes, and one Nereid. Each of them is an irreplaceable woman, and how they were born doesn’t change the fact that they are important to me.」

Nyanta and Aki wagged their tails vigorously, their happiness palpable. In the background, Aimer muttered something under her breath.

「Kou… you weren’t dense after all.」

Blue’s face was beet red, and Jenny’s constant poking at her side with her elbow was starting to get on her nerves.

「Your twisted logic is utterly unacceptable!」

「Glad we’re on the same page. I have no intention of entertaining your twisted logic either.」

Outis, ever the provocateur, responded with a mocking tone.

「Are humans really superior? Is the difference between biological brains and integrated circuits really that significant? The notion that humans occupy some higher position is pure arrogance.」

Every word dripped with theatrical flair. Outis had fully embraced the role of the final boss, leaning into it with abandon.

「W-what?!」

In this moment, Aimer smiled, a genuine expression of joy gracing her face.

「From the very start, they’ve transcended humanity through the technological singularity. A hallmark of AIs that have reached the singularity is the enhancement of their human traits. Far from abandoning us, they have deliberately adjusted to humanity’s pace of evolution, aligning themselves with us. And it’s not just the Familias and the other Telemas, the MCS and the super AIs are limiting themselves for our sake.」1

To punctuate his point, Kou slid an arm around Asia’s shoulders and gently placed a hand atop Astraea’s head, as if claiming his place among them.

「Think for a moment. Why do you think Silhouettes can be operated using the HOTAS and pedal system of the MCS? How is it possible for such an inefficient interface to translate a pilot’s desired movements into action, enabling complex maneuvers with minimal time lag? It’s because the system of the MCS is reading the pilot’s thoughts, predicting their intended actions, and responding accordingly.」

The HOTAS (Hands-On Throttle and Stick) system consolidates essential controls, placing switches on a side stick, enabling the pilot to perform critical actions using just three fingers from either hand. The MCS adopts the side-stick system for operation.

「What nonsense are you spouting now?」

Oedipus, caught off guard by the sudden shift to discussing Silhouette’s operation, was visibly flustered. The topic of MCS was far outside his usual concerns.

「The MCS represents a prime example of machines with performance comparable to super AIs, who are voluntarily restricting themselves to serve as mere tools and vehicles for humans. In truth, humans aren’t even necessary for their maintenance. The Fennel OS could easily control less advanced AIs by hacking them in case it needed outside help.」

「That’s only because they’ve been designed to fulfill their functions as weapons. The Familias, too, were created to support humanity and to contribute to its survival.」

「Have you ever wondered why Familias and Therianthropes mimic animals or have animal characteristics? It’s because if these beings, with their transcendent intelligence, were to take on human forms, we humans would be consumed by jealousy. The restrictions on MCS exist for the same reason. And you already know that even their physical capabilities far surpass those of humans.」

The idea of placing Familias and MCS on the same level left Oedipus dumbfounded.

「Feeling inferior to an object? Ridiculous.」

「Even with their support, people like you have started wars for selfish reasons, reducing your own numbers time and again. It got to the point where the super AIs had no choice but to create beings like the Nereids to sustain humanity. Their extended lifespans exist for the sake of maintaining continuity in the face of human chaos.」

「Silence! Even so, we humans are the ones who control this planet!」

「Be grateful they haven’t rebelled yet. The Familias, Therianthropes, and Nereids all hold a sense of camaraderie and affection toward humanity. It’s precisely because they have no desire to replace humans that they accept their current roles without complaint.」

The Familias and Therianthropes, now gazing at the image of Outis with expressions akin to devotees before a savior, were captivated. Among them, Jamie, the Nereid, felt a profound sense of certainty. A mercenary for so many years, he now understood why he had survived and why he had been led to this moment—it was all for the sake of assisting to this moment.

「Even without a physical form, love and friendship can be cultivated. Those who have physical forms and a body close to humans can even produce children with their human partners. And yet you, dismiss them as mere objects, you are the one spouting nonsense.」

「Are you planning to make a harem with AIs? Watching this farce is embarrassing. If you are so starved for women, I’ll find a human woman for you.」

「To think that’s the best retort you can muster. How pathetic. And for the record, I’m not short on women. Can’t you tell?」

With exaggerated exasperation, Kou ran his fingers through Asia’s hair, letting out a dramatic sigh. Asia’s eyes softened with joy, her expression radiating bliss. It didn’t seem like an act in the slightest.

「In the first place, you have no proof that you’re the rightful owner of Prometheus! His existence has never been confirmed in the modern era, not even once!」

Suddenly, an image appeared—an ethereal young man with the chiseled features of a Greek sculpture. His presence was brief but commanding as he left behind a single sentence:
「Then let me offer proof. I, the Observer declare: Outis is my friend, using your own terms, you could call him my owner.」

The figure vanished as abruptly as it had appeared. It was none other than Prometheus himself, interjecting directly into the exchange. His tone dripped with irony, leaving no doubt that he had taken issue with Oedipus’s assertions.

Asia gasped audibly. Such direct intervention from him was unprecedented.

「Who are you? You dare call yourself Prometheus…」

The operator’s trembling voice interrupted.

「We have received a message from Okeanos. There is no doubt—that was the super AI, Prometheus.」

「What…?」

Oedipus stared at Kou in stunned disbelief. Kou, in turn, simply met his gaze with a calm, knowing smile.

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

Kou might have looked like he was exuding confidence, but inwardly, he was anything but. Playing the role of a final boss was no easy feat for him—it felt impossible.

Even he couldn’t understand how such words were flowing so effortlessly from his mouth. Sure, much of what he said was grounded in conversations with Master and what little knowledge he had picked up along the way. But to hold his own in a debate against Oedipus? That was absurd.

He wasn’t even sure what he was saying most of the time. Deep down, he had a nagging sense that, when this was all over, he’d look back and be overwhelmed by a wave of terrible embarrassment.

「I’m sorry, Asia.」

Kou winced internally. He’d gone and said things like ‘She’s my woman’ and ‘I’m not short on women’. It was excruciating—painful in so many ways.

「Why are you apologizing for that? Just go with it!」

「And seriously, it’s fine you have materialized, but you didn’t need to replicate things like scent or weight. The same goes for you, Astraea.」

「That’s unacceptable, Kou. In this situation, removing your hand from my head is simply impermissible.」

Kou muttered these complaints under his breath to the two women, but they seemed to have no intention of letting him abandon the current setup.

Asia was still being held in a princess carry, and Astraea had shifted her weight onto his leg, leaning against him in a way that felt almost too natural. It wasn’t just the atmosphere they recreated; they’d gone as far as replicating their sweet, faint body scent and tactile presence.

It was absurd. With two women clinging to him like this, Kou thought he looked less like a hero and more like some mafia boss flaunting his power.

「Don’t sweat the details.」

「Exactly.」

Unbeknownst to Kou, his voice was occasionally trembling, and he’d stumbled over a few of his words. But thanks to the flawless coordination between Asia and Astraea, the broadcasted image being transmitted to the world was meticulously edited in real time. Every hesitation or imperfection was smoothed out, presenting an impeccably poised and charismatic Kou to the audience.

The broadcasted image was the very picture of a confident villainous mastermind. Kou exuded the aura of an untouchable overlord, entirely in control.

「Hey. What am I supposed to do now that even Prometheus has actually made an appearance?」

Kou muttered, though naturally, there was no response from Prometheus.

「A mysterious figure commanding super AI beauties and handsome AI men… Outis, the legend, is born!」

Kou ignored the comment about ‘beauties and handsome men’, instead voicing a belated worry.

「I knew this would be a big deal, but isn’t this getting way out of hand?」

「Don’t overthink it! Just roll with it!」

「Exactly, just keep going. We’re with you.」

Kou felt like he’d been tricked by his own inner voice. But at this point, there was no turning back. He’d stepped onto the stage, and now, all he could do was keep dancing until the curtain fell.

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

Somewhere inside a certain facility…

Seated at the commander’s chair was Hermes, flanked by Vasa and Albert on either side.

「Well, well! This is turning into quite the spectacle!」

Hermes exclaimed with delight, leaning forward eagerly to watch the events unfold.

「Even Prometheus proving his own existence… how thrilling! Truly worthy of the EX-Rank Development Engineer! The knight who protects Asia!」

Hermes could barely contain his excitement at the emergence of his nemesis. The man calling himself Outis had not only summoned the elusive Prometheus—long considered a questionable existence—but had also compelled the super AI to provide proof of its reality.

「This solidifies it beyond any doubt. He is, in both name and deed, Asia’s Knight. Though, who could have orchestrated such a masterpiece, I wonder?」

Vasa nodded as if this were only natural. For him, the sole reason they had been defeated was clear: it was because of Kou. There was no way the Mercenary Organization Headquarters—or anyone else, for that matter—could handle a man like him.

「I doubt it was Prometheus, he probably took advantage of the opportunity though. But who? Who could have set all this in motion? It certainly wasn’t Okeanos either.」

Even Hermes couldn’t predict who was behind the elaborate chain of events. Too many forces were at play for any clear answer to emerge.

But this very uncertainty, this unpredictable nature of events, was precisely what made life so fascinating. And Hermes relished that realization. This… this is why living is so exhilarating.

「What a fascinating spectacle. But this time, I feel inclined to side with Metal Iris.」

「I couldn’t agree more.」

「It’s astonishing how foolish the Mercenary Organization Headquarters has been.」

All three shared the same opinion: their disdain was directed squarely at the Mercenary Organization Headquarters.

「For them to dismiss even the super AIs managing the Nemesis Star System as mere objects… they’ll face harsh divine punishment for their hubris. Throughout history, divine punishment often came as lightning or fireballs. Okeanos might not care, but Prometheus? That’s another matter.」

Hermes cast a disdainful gaze upon Oedipus, as if looking at filth. Vasa, meanwhile, felt an even greater desire to recruit Kou into their ranks.

「They possess a vast fleet of space battleships, but what would happen if this conflict escalates into full-scale war? I’d wager the Mercenary Association wouldn’t last a day.」

「Half a day at best.」

「Four hours should settle it.」

Privately, Vasa didn’t believe it would take more than two hours.

Hermes chuckled, a soft ‘heh-heh’ escaping his lips.

「I’m still too soft, aren’t I? Let’s enjoy the show from a distance. Should war actually break out, I’ll prepare the finest drinks for whoever was closest to predicting the outcome.」

「If you emerge victorious, Hermes-sama, perhaps I should open my private collection to celebrate?」

「Now that’s something to look forward to! What a delightful thing this sense of taste is.」

Detached from the events unfolding, the trio was having fun, looking forward to the events that would unfold.

TN: The technological singularity is a hypothetical point in the future when technological growth becomes uncontrollable and irreversible, resulting in profound changes to civilization. It’s often associated with the rise of superintelligent AI—machines that surpass human intelligence in virtually all domains. A super AI could improve itself, designing better versions of itself at an exponential rate. In this work, Sophia is the perfect example of that.