The school day had come to an end. Aibar and Maria were buying ice cream.
Maria smiled faintly.
Maria: "So, today I'm on a date with my own Aibar."
Aibar remained calm.
Aibar: "Maria, or… my queen…"
Maria's eyes widened, and her face immediately turned red.
Maria: "What!?"
Aibar calmly continued.
Aibar: "Which would you prefer me to call you? Maria, or…"
Maria suddenly became flustered and interrupted him.
Maria: "Stop, stop, stop! Aibar, you can't just say something like that so casually. What, are you trying to call me something poetic?"
Aibar remained calm.
Aibar: "Yes. I asked So Hyun for advice, and she said that calling you that would appeal to any woman. Don't you like it?"
Maria hesitated nervously.
Maria: "No… quite the opposite… I like it. But…"
She paused briefly before continuing.
Maria: "It's a little too affectionate. It makes it sound as though you're beneath me."
Aibar calmly replied.
Aibar: "That's exactly right."
Although Maria was still blushing a little, she quickly regained her composure.
Maria: "Fine. If that's what you've decided, then… you have my permission to keep calling me that."
Maria walked ahead, and they eventually reached the school park.
She settled down, took an ice cream out of the bag, and unwrapped it.
Maria offered ice cream to Aibar.
Aibar took it and began eating, looking at Maria with his usual calm expression.
Aibar: "Chocolate… such a delicious flavor."
Maria smiled faintly and shifted a little on the bench, gesturing for him to sit beside her.
Maria: "Looks like you really like chocolate ice cream."
Aibar sat next to her, remaining calm.
Aibar: "It turns out that being able to eat any food offered by you… or, more precisely, any food you've touched… creates quite a romantic atmosphere."
Maria let out a small laugh.
Maria: "Yes, it's wonderful. I can always use that as an excuse to feed you with my own hands."
Aibar remained calm.
Aibar: "This curse-like thing about me is rather strange. Though… I suppose it has its advantages."
Maria took her own ice cream out of the bag.
Maria: "Let's eat before they melt."
She unwrapped her ice cream and began eating. After glancing at Aibar, a mischievous smile appeared on her face.
Maria: "Aibarchik, I like your ice cream. How about we trade!?"
Aibar looked at her calmly.
Aibar: "Aren't they the same? Both are chocolate."
Maria let out a light sigh, then spoke calmly.
Maria: "You called me your queen. And you're not supposed to go against your queen's wishes."
Aibar calmly offered her his ice cream, and the two exchanged theirs.
Maria smiled faintly.
Maria: "You should actually thank me. I traded my own ice cream for your little one so you could enjoy yourself."
Aibar remained calm.
Aibar: "Thank you."
Maria pinched his cheek, smiling a little.
Maria: "You're impossibly cute. Why!?"
Aibar calmly put the ice cream into his mouth.
Maria's eyes lit up even more.
With sparkling eyes, she exclaimed:
Maria: "Ahhh…"
Maria let go of Aibar's face and happily began eating her ice cream.
Aibar calmly touched his cheek with his free hand, where Maria had pinched him, leaving it slightly red.
Maria smiled faintly.
Maria: "It's your own fault. For being this cute."
Aibar remained calm.
Aibar: "I used to think I was the opposite. A terrifying… red monster."
Maria interrupted him, letting out a small laugh.
Maria: "Yes, a little adorable red monster."
After finishing their ice cream, they sat quietly for a while.
Maria had her eyes closed, a look of happiness on her face.
Aibar calmly spoke.
Aibar: "Maria…"
Maria opened her eyes and looked at him.
Aibar continued in his usual calm manner.
Aibar: "I want to tell you something so that I won't have any secrets from you."
Maria gave him her full attention.
Maria: "Yes, I'm listening. Go ahead. Don't worry."
Aibar calmly replied.
Aibar: "I'm planning to create an artificial intelligence… or rather, a war machine."
Maria stared at him with slight surprise.
Aibar continued calmly.
Aibar: "I'll call it Aira. I intend to make her autonomous, just like a human."
Maria was shocked, but soon regained her composure.
Maria: "How is that possible? I don't fully understand. Just like a human!?"
Maria calmly asked:
Maria: "Are you sure about this? Making her autonomous like a human!? It sounds incredibly risky. Why do you want to make her autonomous like a human?"
Aibar remained calm.
Aibar: "I can't express emotions. Sometimes, I even find myself wondering whether I actually feel anything at all."
Maria gave him her full attention.
Aibar continued calmly.
Aibar: "If she has no emotions… that would be strange. I don't want her to end up like me. And I think emotions would give her compassion. She would be able to act on her own, just like a human… without needing my orders. She would understand what she needs to do and do it herself."
Maria calmly asked:
Maria: "But what if… she doesn't turn out the way you expect?"
Aibar remained calm.
Aibar: "You can't deprive her of emotions just because I lack them."
He paused before continuing.
Aibar: "On the other hand, she'll provide tremendous support… emotionally, too."
Maria replied:
Maria: "Ordinary AIs can do that. Why do you want to make her autonomous? Do you realize how dangerous your idea is?"
Aibar calmly replied:
Aibar: "Don't worry. Human beings aren't born evil."
Maria raised her voice slightly.
Maria: "That's quite a comparison you've come up with… She won't be human, no matter how much you make her resemble one. She's a danger!"
Aibar remained calm.
Aibar: "If I create her without giving her autonomy, she'll only be able to think within the system. She won't be able to act on her own. That's why I need to make her capable of thinking independently."
Maria exclaimed:
Maria: "Aibar!!! I don't know how you're planning to do it, but if you really go through with this, it's going to be extremely dangerous!"
Aibar calmly spoke.
Aibar: "My queen… please, trust me. I'll take full responsibility for this. I beg you."
Maria closed her eyes, blushed slightly, and let out a soft sigh.
Maria: "Ugh…"
She opened her eyes and spoke calmly.
Maria: "Aibar, I suppose you can persuade me with your sweet words. But this is a decision that concerns all of humanity…"
Maria blushed a little.
Maria: "And… just how did So Hyun teach you such words that can make me give in so quickly…"
Maria returned to her calm expression.
Maria: "Fine. You're taking full responsibility… Ugh… It's impossible for me not to trust you. But please, be really careful…"
Aibar calmly replied.
Aibar: "Thank you."
Maria (internally): "Hmph… Aira!? Is he planning to make her into a cute girl or something? Ugh…"
Aibar calmly spoke.
Aibar: "Don't worry. You'll always be my queen."
Maria looked at him for a moment, then smiled faintly.
Maria: "Of course. It's only right that I always remain so."
Aibar remained calm.
Aibar: "My queen, have no doubt about that."
Maria blushed a little.
Maria: "Well, you seem to have started speaking in a rather poetic way."
Aibar calmly replied.
Aibar: "You think so? Fine. I'll keep doing it for you."
The next day.
Before the third lesson began, Aibar entered the classroom.
Maria smiled faintly.
Maria: "Guardian of Order."
Aibar calmly replied.
Aibar: "My queen…"
The entire class stared at him in shock.
Maria immediately turned red.
So Hyun burst out laughing.
She walked over to Maria and teased her.
So Hyun: "Ooooh, 'my queen,' huh? This feels like a wonderfully romantic story to me. Keep it up, you two."
Aibar calmly asked.
Aibar: "My queen, did I do something wrong?"
Maria began blushing even more, flustered.
Everyone pretended to focus on their own work, turning their gazes away as if they hadn't heard anything.
So Hyun spoke.
So Hyun: "Don't worry, Aibar. You're doing absolutely perfect. Hehehe."
Maria sat there, blushing, and thought to herself:
Maria (internally): "I never expected him to keep calling me that at school, too…"
Maria regained her composure.
Maria: "Alright, it's fine. Everyone, just take your seats. I have something to discuss."
Everyone returned to their seats.
Maria stepped forward and spoke calmly.
Maria: "I think we need to come up with something else exciting for our school. School should be memorable and enjoyable for students, and we should always encourage them to participate in different activities."
Symbat raised her hand.
Maria looked at her.
Maria: "Yes, I'm listening."
Symbat spoke calmly.
Symbat: "Excellent, President. I think your idea makes a lot of sense. My suggestion is to organize some fun competitions based on friendly rivalry…"
Everyone looked at her, unsure what she meant.
Maria calmly replied.
Maria: "Symbat, I don't quite understand. Could you elaborate?"
Symbat smiled faintly.
Symbat: "These competitions wouldn't involve just students. Parents and teachers would participate, too. In other words… we could organize contests to determine the Best Student, Best Teacher, Best Mother, and Best Father. I think it would be really interesting."
Maria smiled slightly.
Maria: "Yes! I understand what you mean, Symbat. That's a wonderful idea."
Symbat continued cheerfully.
Symbat: "The competition was supposed to start in September, but now it's already November... Anyway, what if we hold it from now until New Year's? That way, we can celebrate both the New Year and the winners' victories. And those who don't win won't have much reason to feel sad, either, because they'll be too busy enjoying the New Year celebrations!"
Maria burst out laughing.
Maria: "Oh, Symbat, you're such a sweetheart! You're not just a girl who enjoys getting on my nerves. You're actually incredibly clever!"
Symbat looked rather pleased with herself.
Symbat: "Hehe! Of course, of course! After all, before you guys arrived, I held the title of the best student here for quite a long time."
The others were cheerful as well, enjoying the conversation.
Meanwhile, Aibar sat quietly in his seat, wearing his usual calm expression.
Aibar (thinking): "Best Mother? Best Father?..."
Symbat continued cheerfully.
Symbat: "In the following years, we'll start these competitions right in September. And now, I suppose you'll announce this proposal to everyone at a school assembly in the auditorium, Maria."
Lucas smiled slightly.
Lucas: "Excellent work, girls. I think this is a really wonderful decision. Now we just need to put it into action. I'm sure everyone will love it."
So Hyun added in a cheerful voice.
So Hyun: "Of course! This could turn out to be such a heartwarming event. Even parents will be able to participate and remember their own school days!"
Lucas looked rather pleased with himself.
Lucas: "Symbat, as you just said, you were the best student here before we arrived, right? Hehe... Well, this time, that title is going to be mine."
Symbat burst out laughing.
Symbat: "We'll see about that!"
So Hyun joined in cheerfully.
So Hyun: "Hey, don't forget about me! I'll show you all what I'm capable of, too!"
Maria smiled slightly.
Maria: "Oh, you little ones... The winner is already obvious. It's me..."
Symbat teased her.
Symbat: "Yeah, well, there's nothing wrong with dreaming..."
Some of the other students were also getting excited about the competition, and many of them were eager to take part.
Just then, the subject teacher entered the classroom. Everyone returned to their seats, and the lessons continued as usual.
Eventually, the school day came to an end.
Aibar was at home, sitting on his bed with his usual calm expression.
Aibar (thinking): "Best Mother... Best Father... Father... It's been so long since I last saw him. He doesn't even contact me, and what's happening in his life is a complete mystery to me, too. To him... I'm practically a stranger."
Azamat entered the room.
Azamat: "My Lord, what are you thinking about? Did something happen?"
Aibar calmly looked at him.
Aibar: "Master... Why doesn't my father read the letters I send him? I know he hasn't read a single one of them. Does that mean I'm really that unimportant to him?"
Azamat replied calmly.
Azamat: "It's all right, my Lord. You have me. You can tell me anything, no matter what it is."
Aibar spoke calmly.
Aibar: "I feel like I've already won so many things worth winning. Medals, certificates, trophies..."
Azamat calmly sat down beside him.
Azamat: "Aibar, this is exactly why I'm so proud of you. You're the most wonderful son anyone could ask for. Any parent would be happy to have a son like you. As for your father... Mr. Rasul... Don't pay him any mind. I'm sorry... but I think you should try to forget about him."
Aibar looked at him calmly.
Aibar: "Ugh... All right. I suppose I'll just keep collecting achievements, hoping they'll help me deceive myself."
Azamat smiled slightly.
Azamat smiled slightly.
Azamat: "I can express emotions, even though I still have a metallic body. And thanks to Miss Maria, you've also become able to enjoy other kinds of food. Everything is happening little by little... but eventually, everything we wish for will come true. Believe in me..."
Azamat left the room.
He went downstairs to the central room and sat down on the sofa.
Azamat (thinking): "Aibar, forgive me... He has already married another woman, and apparently, she has three children. One girl and two boys... Rasul... You might be the person I hate most in this world. Your own son is right here. You could at least check on him once, just to see how he's doing. Surely, you haven't even read a single one of his letters... You're the person I hate most. Aibar, I'm sorry for keeping all of this from you. Please, forgive me..."