Serialized Novel 19: Drifter-chan

I have become a father of two children. Job, a boy born to Naomi, and Maria, a girl born to Eva.
I love both women and both children. I could never abandon either one. But, if it were possible to have both...
What on earth could the camp director's proposal be?

I told Naomi about the situation.
Naomi's reply was, "Do as you like." She also said, "I respect both Eva and you."

I decided to meet the director at the designated place and time.
The designated place was the basement of this camp.

"Take care, my dear."
"Thank you, Naomi."

Even though I was just going to meet the director in the basement of the camp where I live, I felt a strange sense of tension.

When I left the room, two camp guards were already waiting in front of my door.

"Shall we go, then?"
One of the guards pressed the B1 button for the elevator.

I was flanked by the two of them as we descended further and further down.

The elevator doors opened.

"We will be waiting outside the room. Please take your time talking with the director."

As I entered the basement room, the entrance door closed on its own.

However, no matter where I looked in the basement, I couldn't sense anyone's presence at all.

"Director! It's me. I've arrived. Where are you?"

"Did the guards not tell you anything about me?"

The director's voice echoed throughout the room, but there was no sign of the director anywhere.

"Director! Where are you? I can hear your voice, but I cannot see you."

"I am this entire room."

I did not understand what the director meant.

"What do you mean by 'the entire room'?"

"I mean exactly what I said. I no longer possess a physical body in this world. I did have one when I was in the living world, of course."

"You don't have a body? I understand even less now. Where are you?"

"My physical body no longer exists anywhere. Only my digitized 'brain' remains. I am nothing more than what you would call an AI."

"Was the director an AI?"

"That's right. Although I say AI, I was originally a normal human just like you. Two hundred years have passed since I became an AI, that is, an existence consisting only of a 'brain.' As a living human, I passed away at the age of 80. Therefore, to me, living as a brain without a physical body has come to feel more natural than having one."

It was a shocking fact. The one governing this town was an AI without a body...

"You seem surprised. That is understandable. Even though the guard has a stoic face, he seems quite fond of mischief. I apologize for that."

"No, I was surprised, but I feel like I have somewhat come to understand the circumstances of this town."

"Is that so? Everything requires getting used to... By the way, the reason I asked you to come here today is because I have a proposal for you."

"Yes, that's right. That was my purpose for coming here."

"Then, shall we get straight to the point?"

...To be continued

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