“...So, you're saying you'll help deactivate my ability?”
“Yes, that's right. Don’t worry, I’m not going to make you wear a bunny costu or anything.”
“A... bunny?”
For a mont, Six's gaze was filled with pure disdain. It was clear she misunderstood sothing. Yet again, the people of this world had trouble catching onto Earth-style jokes.
I waved my hand dismissively and began explaining what I had uncovered about her ability.
“Your ability blocks presence detection, right? Over ti, it’s gotten to the point where people can’t even recognize your existence.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“At first, I considered whether it might be a different type of ability, but after various investigations, that doesn’t seem to be the case.”
“...How do you know that?”
“Well, for one, only humans fail to recognize you.”
The inability to perceive Six was limited to humans—or more specifically, beings with a developed sense of self and the ability to distinguish themselves from others, like humans, animals, beastkin, and sufficiently advanced artificial intelligence.
CCTV recorded her perfectly fine, and while she couldn’t pass through sensor-based automatic doors, she could open them by pressing a button. If even those systems couldn’t recognize her, she’d likely be floating aimlessly in space after accidentally falling through the Earth's crust by now.
At any rate, her ability clearly fell into the category of presence suppression and recognition alteration.
“It only affects human perception, but the fact that you can physically interact with humans is a significant point.”
“...But people don’t even react when I touch them.”
“Sure, but if you kick soone, they fall over. They may not understand why, but they still fall.”
The ability to interact ant that humans could still influence her, and if that was possible, then there was potential to make her visible and recognizable again.
Even invisible beings, like transparent humans, beco noticeable if draped in a cloak. Similarly, entities that cannot be recognized could, with the right approach, beco identifiable.
‘Well, there’s an easier way, but...’
Of course, the simplest solution would be to trigger a universal recognition phenonon. Sothing like forcibly imprinting the existence of the Beast onto everyone’s minds using the Queen’s powers.
The reason I didn’t resort to this wasn’t just because it was illegal but also because it was genuinely dangerous. The difference between a few individuals like myself, Auxilion, and Stale knowing sothing versus billions of humans knowing it was unimaginably vast.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure the world welcos you back with open arms.”
“...Fine, I’ll trust you—for now. It’s better than staying like this forever.”
“Excellent, Ms. Six. Then, let’s start with the first thing I need you to do.”
I gave her a once-over and then spoke.
“Please take off your clothes.”
“...I knew it. You’re a pervert. A trashy bastard exploiting my weakness.”
Six’s eyes were once again filled with disdain as she glared at . Honestly, it was unfair.
Inside a secluded laboratory.
A single cara was capturing a section of empty space. Monts later, a white tablecloth suddenly appeared and dropped to the floor. Upon noticing it, the AI monitoring the lab promptly logged the anomaly.
[2313: A white tablecloth suddenly appeared out of nowhere.]
[2313: The dropped tablecloth has disappeared.]
[2314: Vibration sensors detected unusual activity 10 minutes prior. No abnormalities found.]
[2315: Sensors detected another anomaly. Recheck shows no abnormalities.]
I observed the text scrolling across the monitor while keeping an eye on Six, who was darting around the lab.
‘So, it seems her ability kicks in once there’s a certain level of logical processing.’
This ant anything capable of logical judgnt couldn’t perceive her—even AI linked to chanical devices. Sensors could detect her presence, but the AI interpreting the data couldn’t register the detection.
Even without AI, chanisms relying purely on sensor feedback, like turrets firing upon detecting intruders, couldn’t recognize her presence. However, her ability wasn’t entirely invincible, as I discovered by gradually lowering the complexity of the traps.
[Screeeeeech—!]
Six scread as she fell into a primitive trap triggered by stepping on a weighted panel. Although the landing cushion prevented injuries, the fall had undoubtedly startled her.
Panting and glaring, she tried to climb out, only for the trap to reset due to her weight, activating again. This ti, blunt rubber arrows shot out from all sides, pelting her as she curled up, shrieking.
[Damn it! I’ll kill you, you wretched scientist!]
“Yes, yes, do your best.”
[I an it! You’re dead!]
Ignoring her vengeful cries, I docunted my findings. Her ability rendered her imperceptible to advanced chanical systems, aning anything reliant on binary signals couldn’t detect her.
On the other hand, primitive, physical traps worked perfectly. Pressure plates triggered, and arrows fired at her without issue.
Why did this discrepancy exist? Did even the simplest AI exhibit so form of self-awareness? If proven, this could offer another argunt for anti-machine activists opposed to granting AI rights...
“Get over here, you damn scientist!”
But my thoughts were cut short when Six stord out of the lab, grabbed my collar, and began shaking violently. Her strength was no joke, befitting soone who had survived the apocalypse of altered recognition.
“Cough, cough—! Why are you so strong...?”
“Try being a spy! Of course, I’m strong!”
“Ah, fieldwork isn’t my thing. I’m more of a desk job type.”
“Die, you damn scientist!”
Misinterpreting my comnt, Six continued her barrage of punches before finally relenting a few minutes later.
As she stepped back, I straightened my disheveled clothes and spoke.
“If you’re done, please go change your clothes. I need to analyze them.”
“...In a mont.”
“No, there’s no ti. Take them off and hand them over now.”
“...You really are a perverted jerk.”
“What? What did I even do this ti—”
Before I could finish, she threw her suit at and stord out of the lab.
The bodysuit was drenched in her sweat, radiating heat like a sauna. I worried whether the internal chanisms had been damaged and carefully laid it out for analysis.
As the suit was moved away from her, its embedded sensors finally began providing detailed data.
‘So, her ability’s range is approximately this much... If that’s the case, the equipnt size needs to be...’
After organizing the gathered data, I began designing sothing for her using the lab’s AI. Technically, it wasn’t clothing but an object disguised as such.
“Hmm... this...”
Looking at the blueprint, I scratched my cheek. Its appearance was, frankly, awkward. Having already been called a pervert, I wasn’t eager to hear similar remarks again.
Still, I shrugged off the thought and set the 3D printer into motion. After all, no one but her would see it. While it might embarrass her, it was far less humiliating than standing naked in front of others.
Once the item was complete, I carefully packaged it and left it outside the space Six used as her room.
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