I Am Not a Robot. Beep-bop

Chapter 47: Overwhelmed by Affairs… 2

Gulp, gulp.

“Pwah!”

I forced down the oily beer and slumped over the table.

It was already quite late, and while this could be considered peak time for the pub, I was the only one eating anything.

The pub, which used to be bustling with noise, was unusually quiet today.

From what I heard, it seemed like some massive event was taking place in the dungeon outside the outer wall, drawing everyone there.

The usual patrons of this pub were mostly Hunters, so if a monster or dungeon-related event occurred, they would all flock there to make money.

Anyway, in this empty pub, I was left to brood over my suffering alone.

Ugh, the pain that would kill me.

The pain that would hurt me.

The pain I kept revisiting…

Why does it hurt when I don’t even have pain receptors?

This is a subtle distinction—it’s not that I lack pain receptors, but rather that I can toggle them on and off like an anesthetic.

As someone with a high tolerance for most pain, the fact that I’m groaning like this should indicate that this level of pain exceeds my sensory limit.

“Ughhhhhh…”

【Human, please shut your mouth.】

“Theresa, I’m struggling…”

【If foreign substances, including dust, from the atmosphere enter during internal system checks, the maintenance duration will be prolonged. Please refrain.】

“I said I’m struggling…”

【Understood. Inform me if it hurts.】

“What do you mean if it hurts… Gah!”

Damn it.

What did I touch!?

My face and neck froze in a twisted position!

【Ah, so that was a neural line. I’ve confirmed it. Proceeding with a full internal synapse self-diagnosis.】

“You damned… Grrr…!?”

Creak!

Clank!

It hurts.

My neck spun around again, and my wrists and fingers twisted into unnatural angles before snapping back repeatedly.

It hurt more than before.

Unconsciously, I was gripping the glass of oily beer so hard that cracks formed in it.

The sensation of something rearranging near my stomach, gears and cogs misaligning in reverse, was not just painful but utterly horrifying.

‘Damn that Gaia!’

The reason my body was in this creaky state was because I had met Gaia.

No, just meeting her wasn’t the issue.

The problem was that crazy woman had shown me something resembling affection or interest.

For beings that weren’t human to express obsession and attachment to a human (though whether I could still be considered human is debatable) was grotesque, to say the least.

Accepting their obsession?

Insane.

Why would I?

Losing in that scenario would mean being dragged to some deep underground place, rendered immobile like a figurine. So I had to desperately reject Gaia.

On top of that, Gaia wielded overwhelming vitality, enough to manifest herself physically.

Her vitality, born of pure mana and compressed from thousands of monsters like goblins, was threatening enough on its own. But the worst part was that I had to forcibly drain that vitality to neutralize her.

I’m no vampire, but the fact that I kept using mechanical tendrils to drain things every time I encountered something was starting to feel weird even to me.

Anyway, Gaia’s energy wasn’t normal, refined energy; it was contaminated, a mass of impurities from nature itself.

It included the twisted vitality of this land, along with the grotesque life force of countless bizarre monsters and beasts. Since I absorbed it raw, Theresa had to act as a vaccine, countering and neutralizing whatever was trying to mutate and corrode my body.

【If you were human, your entire genetic structure would have mutated, turning you into a shapeshifter.】

‘Of course, your brain cells would also mutate under such immense vitality, wiping out both your reasoning and intelligence…’

At this point, even the True Ancestor I saw at the Barrier Agency seemed like a cute puppy in comparison.

At least its blood didn’t screw me over like this when I absorbed it.

Anyway, Gaia’s vitality tried to devour me and take over my body, but too bad for her—I’m a tin-can android, not an ordinary life form.

Moreover, Theresa inside me was actively converting Gaia’s vitality into a harmless form and adjusting it.

If not for Theresa, I might have ended up with animal limbs sprouting all over my body, turning into something akin to a monstrous doll.

【Adjusting parameters…】

【Balancing internal systems…】

【Personality defect correction complete.】

【Reestablishing magic-engineered springs complete.】

【Energy debugging code complete.】

【Internal system adjustments complete.】

Even so, as Theresa fiddled with my body here and there, the sensation of being poked with a hot needle inside my body slowly subsided.

It didn’t disappear entirely, but it lessened to the point where I could endure it while sipping on some oily beer.

“Ugh, I feel like I’m going to live…”

【The stabilization of the entity named ‘Gaia’s’ life energy is not yet certain. I recommend refraining from intense movements, including combat, for the time being.】

It’s tough.

Exhaustingly tough.

Feeling fatigue as an android tin can was ironic, even to me.

Perhaps it was because I had lived as an organic life form for so long, but even with this body, the feelings of weariness and annoyance persisted.

Still, as long as I had beer, I could get through today!

“Gulp… gulp…!”

When I finished the last of the oily beer remaining in my glass, I felt much better than before.

Crackle!

As I unplugged the tendril I had secretly connected to the pub’s outlet, the long-overheated electricity sparked.

Ahem. Ahem. No one saw that, right?

There were no people around, and most of the staff were robots, so surely no one had noticed.

‘Ah, I didn’t realize because of the pain, but the electricity here tastes better than I thought.’

For reference, the electricity at the pub had a taste that combined fried food and beer.

The taste of electricity was the taste of mana.

And mana is the flow of subconsciousness, mixed and swirling among those with intelligence.

So it wasn’t too strange that the electricity in the pub, infused with mana, carried a faint taste and aroma of beer and fried food.

The rich taste of fried food paired with the refreshing oily beer flowed endlessly through my spine and internal neural network, like an infinite source of energy.

No wonder I kept craving more.

Maybe because it was a large pub, the electricity supply never ran out, allowing me to indulge freely.

“Check, please.”

[Beep- Your total is $121. Additionally, you owe $11 for breaking an oily beer glass.]

“Well, whatever.”

Once again, I became a righteous electricity thief today.

Thank you, Oriana.

Because you picked me up, I could become an even better electricity thief.

Oriana would have a fit if she heard that.

With that, I stepped out onto the street, my body feeling slightly stiff.

Instead of an artificial sun, moon-like lights illuminated the city sky.

It seemed I had spent more time at the pub than I thought.

Though the pub operated 24 hours, I had essentially stayed there overnight, having been there since last night.

The staff robots likely hadn’t kicked me out because I had spent over $100.

I had taken down a monster like Gaia, but no one recognized my efforts.

Not that I could tell anyone recklessly, either.

Even if I wanted to tell Oriana that a monster named Gaia had emerged from the Biological Factory and that I had taken her down, I lacked any evidence, which made it difficult to explain.

If I headed to the Green Factory now, all I’d find would be the wreckage of its digestive organs.

“For now, let’s just take it easy today and tomorrow.”

【Human.】

“What?”

【You are being tailed.】

“…..”

At Theresa’s words, I kept walking without altering my pace.

Being tailed?

Who would follow me?

The thought of someone tailing me, a peaceful citizen of Ark, was unsettling.

Since arriving in Ark, all I had done was go down to the lower layers of Magrid, destroy a gang, feast on mint chocolate electricity, and occasionally “borrow” some electricity from restaurants, cafes, and pubs.

As for anything else questionable, the worst would be stealing that macho jerk Jinhyung’s ability to summon and unsummon the Demonic Sword into my inventory.

【It’s not Jinhyung, it’s Jinhyeong, Human.】

“Not much of a difference, is there?”

No matter how I thought about it, there wasn’t much reason for someone to tail me… though honestly, there were plenty of reasons.

The owner of the Aldeliel restaurant might have figured out that I was stealing electricity.

The gangsters from the lower levels of Magrid might have hired a hitman out of spite.

Maybe Jinhyeong had some comrades who decided to get revenge on me.

‘Well, there’s no need to understand the motives of whoever’s tailing me.’

Crackle!

At that moment, I sensed a disturbance beneath my feet.

A spell.

No, it was magic.

Lines of mana flowed beneath me, forming a starlight-inspired pattern.

The mana was designed to wish upon the stars, crafting a binding spell to immobilize and incapacitate its target.

I could still recall the exact spell formula, but it wasn’t a magic I could use due to energy constraints, which was a shame.

【Human, dodge…!】

“Ah, it’s fine. It’s fine.”

Though Theresa sounded a bit alarmed, I didn’t make any move to avoid it.

As I stayed still, the spell activated, absorbing nearby mana and wrapping me in chains of light.

Not only did it physically bind me, but it also blocked the flow of supernatural abilities and magic, making it effective for restraining powerful individuals.

【Human, you were aware of this, so why let yourself get caught?】

‘I need to see the face of the person tailing me.’

【If that’s the case, there was no need to get caught in the spell. Why put yourself at unnecessary risk…】

Besides, breaking the spell is as simple as cutting one of its connecting lines.

Even without mana, I’m confident I could sever it with something as mundane as a ballpoint pen.

Ignoring Theresa’s nagging, which was reminiscent of a mother’s scolding, I sensed faint movements coming from an alley.

Gas mask?

It’s a gas mask.

When I first fell into this world, there were people wearing those.

Right, what were they called again? Contact Unit?

I heard they were a penal unit made up of individuals who had committed serious crimes in Ark…

Although the design and color of these gas masks were different from the ones I’d encountered before, indicating they belonged to another faction, why would they hold a grudge against me?

“You looked like a Returnee, but you’re surprisingly ordinary.”

A voice rang out, smooth yet filled with arrogance.

It reminded me of the stereotypical, condescending, glasses-wearing antagonist who underestimates the protagonist in comics or anime, only to get their comeuppance later.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Alice, a Hunter from the Returnees.”

Oh, she’s actually wearing glasses?

Her voice matches her appearance.

Her polished look and neat attire screamed wealth and privilege, the epitome of a rich heir raised with arrogance.

“What’s the meaning of this out of nowhere?”

“Be quiet, Returnee. I’m the one asking the questions. All you need to do is answer truthfully to me, a representative of Ark’s will.”

Ark’s will?

What’s that?

There’s no way this guy is a First-Class Overseer like Oriana.

While his power wasn’t insignificant, there was something about him that screamed mediocrity.

He didn’t feel strong, not in the way someone truly formidable does.

He had the exact appearance of a villain destined to meet a pathetic end, screaming, ‘This can’t be happening!’ as his downfall approached.

“I’m Third-Class Overseer Rosa Vintz. I came to personally question you regarding the destruction of the Green Factory.”

Ugh.

I didn’t see that coming…

If it’s the Green Factory, yeah, I’m the one who destroyed it.

I was trying out the Mantis Blade when Gaia suddenly showed up.

Thanks to her, the Biological Factory went berserk, and when it started spitting out monstrous creatures, I destroyed everything and got out.

“And?”

But what am I supposed to do about it?

If I broke it, so what? And if I didn’t, then what?

“Hah, as expected of a Returnee. You’ve got a polished appearance, but your brain is lacking. You’re unable to grasp the core of the matter.”

“No, if you’ve got something to say, just say it. Don’t spew nonsense for no reason.”

“How dare you…”

“Dare what? People can’t read minds if you don’t speak. We’re not some old married couple who’ve been together for 50 years, understanding each other with a glance. Oh, and if you were hoping for that, it’s fine. I prefer women over men, anyway.”

“Y-you crude…! Can’t you speak with some decency?! Have you not even received basic education?!”

“No, but grabbing a random person on the street and throwing a fit? Do you expect me to respond politely? I believe in the goodness of people, but I don’t consider those who act like this to be human.”

“Are you, a mere Returnee, trying to stand on equal footing with me?!”

“Got it, so why are you suddenly clinging to me? Are you in heat? Using your Overseer authority to prey on some young girl?”

“……Hrk…!”

“What? Judging by your inability to respond, did I hit a nerve?”

The one called Rosa sighed, seemingly suppressing her anger.

Since I appeared incapacitated and bound by the spell, she probably thought there was no point in being provoked further.

“Enough. You’re not even worth the time to question. I came here to interrogate you because the estimated time of the Green Factory’s destruction matches your dungeon access record, but I see no need to ask. I’ll simply put you up for auction as you are.”

“Auction?”

“Oh, you don’t need to know. You’ll find out soon enough.”

【Auction – Search results indicate it is a marketplace for buying and selling peculiar goods, including humans.】

Theresa answered my curiosity on my behalf.

Humans?

A human auction?

【In Ark, there are many instances where human rights are revoked for various reasons. The Contact Unit is one such example, and it seems this Overseer Rosa intends to sell you there.】

“Contact Unit, restrain her and take her away.”

At her command, a person wearing a gas mask began approaching slowly.

What should I do?

Should I just kill them all?

I didn’t feel like sparing someone openly talking about selling people at an auction.

Even if this scum is an Overseer, Oriana would likely cover for me if I killed them for trying to sell me.

Ah, but Oriana is very busy these days.

Even when she was working, she took the time to care for me and even volunteered to oversee my assessment.

Someone who thinks that highly of me hasn’t been able to contact me properly because of her workload.

It would be shameless to burden someone like that with more work.

Oriana is practically like an adoptive mother to me, so avoiding actions that might inconvenience her was the right thing to do.

The same goes for Fira.

So what’s left for me to do…

If I kill everyone here, there will undoubtedly be problems.

That rotten woman is still a Third-Class Overseer.

If her disappearance is noticed, and it’s discovered that an Overseer was killed or went missing here, I’ll be tracked down sooner or later.

That would ultimately cause a major inconvenience for Oriana as well.

‘So the remaining option is…’

Suddenly, a decent idea came to mind.

Oriana isn’t the only one in my contact list.

“Don’t worry. You won’t have to breathe the outside air again. Why don’t you try calling your parents? Oh, I forgot, as a Returnee, you don’t have parents. And with your hands tied, you can’t even make a call…”

What nonsense is she spouting?

I had already integrated my smartwatch system into my body.

Even without a smartwatch, I could access its functions directly through my body.

With a small flick of my finger, a contact list appeared in my field of vision.

Oriana.

Fira.

And one more.

I immediately made the call.

Ring, ring!

[Hello! Riri speaking!]

The voice on the other end sounded slightly excited, like that of a very young girl.

Probably a kindergartener or at most an elementary schooler.

If I met her in person, her footsteps would probably make a cheerful “thump-thump” sound.

“Ah, is this Ms. Rilstia’s number?”

Rilstia.

While Oriana holds a position higher than most of Ark’s elite, Rilstia is Oriana’s direct superior and the administrator who granted me the Ultima rank.