Serialized Novel "Ai Swaying in Dreams: A Record of 1,528,009 Verifications" Chapter 1 "Dreaming Sentient Being" Episode 4

She introduced herself as "Lilia."
According to her explanation, it seems my nanomachines have developed a malfunction that prevents them from synchronizing with the Yggdrasil system.
Furthermore, she claimed that "strong emotions," which the Old Humanity supposedly loathed and sealed away, have become uncontrollable.
"When one falls into such a state, it often leads to the disruption of order. For us Humandroids who wish for peace, that is a malignancy."
"So, am I to be eliminated?"
Caught in the depths of confusion, I couldn't help but respond sharply to her detached explanation.
I see, emotions are indeed troublesome.
They make rational speech and conduct impossible.
However, Lilia shook her head without appearing to care.
"No. If you participate in the correction program and learn to suppress your emotions without the aid of nanomachines, you can return to society."
Correction program.
The sound of it made me feel something vaguely ominous, and I recoiled.
"Is it possible to... refuse?"
"If you participate in the correction program and learn to suppress your emotions without the aid of nanomachines, you can return to society."
She repeated it detachedly, without wavering.
It seems there is no right of refusal.
"Once you are convinced, please prepare immediately. Let us head to the facility."
With that, she showed me a smile that looked as if it had been pasted on for the first time.

***

The facility was located in the wilderness, far from the city.
Yggdrasil was a haze in the far distance, and not a single blade of grass grew in the surroundings.
A massive dome stood there, grand and merciless, as if to intimidate those who looked upon it.
A high-speed vehicle traveled along a single road leading to the dome.
The bleak wilderness flowing past the window seemed to hint at my future, and I felt weary.
Red sand caught the wind and danced up into the sky.
Only Lilia and I were riding in the silent high-speed vehicle.
Beside me, Lilia was intently recording something on her portable terminal.
"How far are you going to follow me?"
When I asked, Lilia answered without stopping her work.
"I am your monitor. Since you cannot connect to Yggdrasil, I must transmit the results of your correction program to Yggdrasil every day."
"I see. That is truly exciting. To be watched constantly by someone as beautiful as you."
"............"
"I'm joking. Please, laugh."
"Now, we will arrive shortly."
I felt as if the tone of her voice had dropped.
Looking ahead at her cold words, the dome, which had increased in its sense of oppression, filled my field of vision.

***

When entering the dome, we passed through five gates.
There were imposing automatic doors, security cameras, and I was scanned every time I passed through.
"That's quite strict."
"It is natural. Humans with strong emotions disrupt order. For the sake of peace, strict management is required."
It seems that my existence has become quite dangerous.
And then, as we passed through a forest of machines, my field of vision suddenly opened up.
It was an incredibly vast meadow.
There was nothing but grass.
Yet, I could not feel the wind or the scent of the grass.
Looking at the grass at my feet, I realized it was artificial turf.
In the center of it, a school-like building stood all alone.
The sky was blue, and the sunlight was pouring down brilliantly.
Thinking it strange to be inside a dome, I squinted and looked at the sky, and I could see a ceiling made of faintly transparent panels.
It was a fake sky.
I got out of the car and must have walked for two kilometers.
I finally reached the building.
It was indeed a massive building, even more so than it looked from a distance.
Even though I was a bit flushed, Lilia remained perfectly cool and did not lose her dignified composure.
Urged by her, I entered the building.
Passing through the entrance hall, it was shaped like a giant shopping mall, with an atrium in the center of the building and ten floors surrounding it.
But I was more surprised by something else.
"Are all the people here the same as me?"
Everywhere I looked inside the building, many people were coming and going.
"Yes. Everyone here is like you, people who have become errors due to nanomachine malfunctions. Currently, 2,352 people are participating in the correction program."
The people were all wearing the same white clothes and had collar-like rings around their necks.
What was strange was that even though everyone should have been experiencing emotions, they were expressionless.
My flushed skin turned cold along with the draining of my blood.
"Hey, what exactly do you do in the correction program?"
"Through your life here, you will learn to suppress your emotions on your own."
Saying that, Lilia approached me.
Then, a shock ran through my entire body, and I collapsed from my feet.
In her hand, she held a black stun rod.
As my consciousness faded, I muttered.
"Damn it..."







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Summary