"…It's only been two months since I left, and here I am, back again."
February 13th, Friday, Dark Zone Town near Rochester, New York.
It’s barely been two months since I bid farewell to Arica in a way that left quite the lingering impression, and now I’ve found myself stepping onto the Arican soil, which now feels almost like a second ho. I clearly rember how unusually clear the weather was the day I left, but today it’s snowing heavily.
However, the heat sensors on the roads easily lt the falling snow, and humanoid robots spray flas onto the snow piles that have accumulated along the roadside. Naturally, the Icarus logo is engraved on the chest of the robots.
A crowd so vast it's hard to count, holograms rippling in the sky as far as the eye can see, and new buildings have sprung up around , more than when I last saw them. Can things change this much in just a few weeks? It seems they can.
The near-future architecture technology is truly impressive.
"An expo on Lunar New Year... is this what you'd call a typical thing for my parents?"
I mutter to myself as I walk toward the enormous tower ahead.
The words I just muttered were a simple way of summarizing why I’m here—just like I vaguely ntioned before, the younger cha models were finally able to appear in real life. It was always possible, but announcing it to the public was a whole other matter.
Anyway, as soon as I gave the green light, my parents imdiately began constructing a new building in Dark Zone Town. I hear it didn’t take long. Honestly, with humanoid robots working around the clock and large drones carrying tons of materials, what could possibly go wrong?
I wonder what Harmony and Dice, who will be following remotely, will think about it.
‘It’s not like I regret they didn’t co along.’
The reason is simple.
If you think about what Korea must be up to around this ti, the answer is clear. In other words, it’s the Lunar New Year, one of the two biggest holidays in Korea. That’s why none of the people who traveled with during the last Final Championship dared to join .
Olivia is in Paris, and Logan and Lorentina are busy with training and new operator education. So, the only one here today is, at best, .
And as you might have guessed, the real reason I tid my visit was to spend the holiday with my parents.
"…Am I lucky to not have holiday syndro?"
I feel like I won’t ever have such problems, but considering how much my family and I make, holidays or not, we could buy vacation hos all over the world and take leisure trips without an issue. Soon, Harmony, Dice, and even my national team friends will probably be in a similar situation.
Besides, these days, whenever I watch TV or see in-ga ads, I frequently spot the faces of my acquaintances or students. Well, I guess it’s all good.
I thought about preparing a New Year’s gift, but honestly, I don’t think my parents would appreciate such things. I’ve already received a car as a New Year’s gift, so it would feel awkward to say anything.
And well, I haven’t gotten married, but giving them four grandchildren that look like has been more than enough to satisfy them.
I heard that while I was comfortably resting in Korea, my parents were talking about various things. It seems they were so fond of that whenever they et the three Montani in New York, they only talk about my mom and dad.
After all, they’ve gained both fa and fortune, and now, the remaining joy is probably just watching their grandchildren grow.
‘…They wouldn’t really want to see actual grandchildren, would they?’
It’s not sothing to think about now, but even the thought makes my head hurt.
Anyway, so where was I headed today?
───!
"…Do I even have a chance to get in?"
It was right into the heart of the exhibition hall.
This wasn’t the massive event where hundreds of countries participated and the exhibition lasted for months. It was much smaller in scale and didn’t last too long—about a few weeks or so.
But imagine if, during those few weeks, the four younger cha models road around Dark Zone Town. Not just wandering, but interacting with people, sotis showing off their strength, durability, heat resistance, cold resistance, and many other features?
That’s why, even though the expo was starting the next day, the place was already packed. And when the news spread that the younger cha models would be roaming the area starting today, it only made things even more crowded.
I activate my stealth function, pass through the exhibition hall, and sneak into an area beyond the barrier, only accessible to those with the proper credentials. I enter the elevator inside.
Rising against gravity, the elevator quickly ascends the tower, over a hundred ters high, and stops in a completely empty space. The surrounding area is pure white. Through the clear glass windows, the bustling Dark Zone Town can be seen.
It feels just like the gallery I visited with Henry last ti, and I open the lounge door—
"It’s been a while, mom, dad. Happy New Year!"
"Jin’s here! Co, sit down. It must have been pretty cold outside, have sothing warm to drink."
"Have you eaten? If you’re hungry, let know anyti."
"…I’m not a child anymore, you know."
"In my eyes, you’ll always be my baby."
…They’re saying the sa things as always.
A bit embarrassed, but how often will I get to embrace my family like this? So, I hugged my parents warmly. It was the warmth of a person I hadn’t felt in a long ti.
Anyway, today, neither of my parents had any real schedule, so they were both relaxing and enjoying the day. Of course, that didn’t an they’d be lounging around all day. They still had work to do, and I had to go pick up the humanoid Minah and Yerin later.
But right now, the most important thing is—
───Click!
"Squeeeen!"
"Whoa, what’s going on? Why are they so excited?"
"We can finally go outside without needing the owner’s help! This is so exciting!"
"Rain is more of a spoiled brat than I expected…"
I was soothing these excited cha models.
What should I say? It’s like hearing little daughters shout, "We’re going to Disney World today!" Of course, that doesn’t an the other three were acting all grown-up.
I glance to check the two of them. The snake tails are swishing around like puppies. Could it be that I’d act like this if I got excited too? I think about it while calling over the fourth cha model, Nasty, who seems less childish than the others.
With yellow eyes blinking rapidly, she babbled excitedly.
"This is so amazing! There are so many people! The buildings are so colorful and pretty!"
"Heh, getting excited over sothing like this… You have a long way to go. I’ve been to Disney World with Archetype. You don’t even know how pretty it is, Nasty, you’ve missed half of your life."
"Ugh, stop teasing ! I’m reflecting on it!"
"…To be honest, it’s all just comparing acorns to each other. Don’t tease each other and just get ntally prepared."
They’ve only been out a few months, yet they act like they’re showing off sothing big with just a little difference.
Well, maybe there’s not much of a difference, that’s why they’re showing off.
Anyway, I think, as I spend ti with these four cha models, sothing catches my parents’ attention, and suddenly they speak up.
"Since it’ll be boring sitting here, why don’t you go for a walk with those cute kids outside?"
"Huh?"
"Great idea! Let’s go outside and attract attention, Archetype!"
"I want to go too."
"…Why are you suddenly encouraging the kids to go outside!?"
Maybe I inherited the trait of ssing with others from my parents.
Despite my half-hearted protest, my mom and dad just laughed and wished well. They were strong, sharp people, so their smiles felt a bit… like charismatic villains.
But my thoughts didn’t last long.
───Whoosh!
"Whoa, what’s this, why is the tail wrapping around … Wait! Hold on!"
"Off we go! Owner’s owner!"
"Take care! We’re always grateful."
"I’ll follow! See you again later!"
"Ahh, these guys are so strong, Mommmmy!"
And just like that, I had my tails wrapped around and was forcibly escorted out of the lounge.
These cha models, really.
"U-uh, Eugene, what exactly is going on here…"
"Don’t ask, I’m losing my mind too."
Not long after, Harmony and Dice found wrapped in two cha tails, stuck in the middle of the crowd.
The world was truly a strange place.
"Thinking about it now… the world really has improved a lot. I closed my eyes in Korea, opened them, and now I’m in New York. Did you know that it’s 5 AM in Korea right now?"
"…Why are you still awake?"
"It’s the opposite, sir. I woke up early for this mont."
ganian AI- An R&D group—
What’s the deal with these guys bragging about this, haha
If you just watch them quietly, these guys seem like the absolute norm compared to Bi-Am haha
Is Eugene still wrapped in cha tails? Insane haha
There were tails wrapped around my waist and right arm.
Not exactly the early days… but compared to Mav and Nasty, it’s definitely been longer since Jin and Rain had been helping . The subtly crafted new tallic feel is, to be honest, quite soft yet powerful, very similar to the feeling of the snake tails.
Anyway, their faces were pure joy—if you could call it that. They were finally able to walk around the world. I understand, but from my side, maybe they should focus a bit more on fanservice.
Of course, that was just my opinion. The people here at the expo seed to genuinely enjoy watching be half-kidnapped by the younger cha models.
But not everyone was shy about being bold.
In other words, most people naturally approached and shook hands or fist-bumped the younger cha models and spoke to them.
"Archetype, people are pulling out paper and pens. What should I do?"
"They want you to sign. But I don’t think the younger ones even know what a signature is."
"Is that the proof of contact? A mark or word that officially verifies that I’ve t this being?"
"...You don’t need to get that fancy about it, but yes, that’s it."
‘Proof of contact.’
It’s true, but hearing it out loud, it sounds a bit dizzying haha
Wow, limited edition cha Bi-Am signature??? Insane??????
Sincere statent) If these guys ever lead a robot rebellion, I’d agree haha
Heh...
"…It’s pretty dizzying, huh?"
"What, a limited edition cha Bi-Am signature??? Insane??????"
"If these guys ever start a robot rebellion, I’d agree, haha."
"Heh…"
The comnts continued to flood in, as the cha models made their mark.
Every ti one of them spoke, laughter would erupt all around. Maybe the cynical ones would say it’s all pre-programd responses, but there’s no need to pay attention to them.
Anyway, there was a clear difference between these cha models and others—each one has its own backstory. At least those who have seen my broadcasts would know that.
The idea of a robot rebellion—the excuse of machines replacing humans—is an old favorite of conspiracy theories. The thought that beings with far superior learning, application abilities, and computational power might act outside of morality and beco a threat has always been a topic of debate.
But our younger cha models… they already have emotions.
That’s why, Icarus International doesn’t refer to them as AI.
Instead, the term they use is—
"One question, Eugene. Could you explain why Icarus International calls these friends ‘Electronic Beings’ instead of AI?"
"Uh..."
Electronic beings, or electronic lifeforms.
Of course, I knew the reason, and seeing that the cha models didn’t stop it, I figured this might be a journalist already prearranged by Icarus. As if to confirm that, a cara with three letters from a broadcasting station pointed in our direction.
I paused for a mont, then spoke.
"AI has no origin, but our younger models have individual stories. As a result, they’ve learned emotions and curiosity, and they clearly distinguish between what they should not do and what they want to do."
"It sounds more specific than I expected... No, that’s not what I ant. Listening to what you just said, these friends almost seem to have grown like humans."
"They’re not all that different, really. After all, humans are artificially created beings too, and the reason we call them electronic lifeforms is because we grow and learn the concepts in the world, develop social skills, and grow into adults. These kids are no different."
"Huh…"
"Isn’t that cute?"
"Hahaha, oh my god."
"That sounded so cool, but then you ruined it with the last line!"
"cha Bi-Am Special) Likes to get its neck scratched"
"Are these guys really robots? They’re no different from humans, haha."
I scratched the back of Rain’s neck. She flushed red and started scolding . I didn’t even know why.
Anyway, the mood turned awkward quickly, so I pulled out the note I received from my parents and decided to share a brief announcent.
Let’s see what it says…
"…Anyway, now that the chance has co, I’d like to briefly promote it—if this expo goes well, other countries will have similar opportunities. So, please, everyone, enjoy your ti and go ahead!"
"Hey, wait! Eugene! Why are you running off without us!"
"Catch him! He’s running away!"
"Whoa, everyone move aside!"
If you drop a bomb, the best thing to do is run.
I noticed the journalist who tried interviewing earlier secretly giving a thumbs up, so I smiled and quickly ran off with the cha models.
This expo was sure to be lively in many ways.
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