1. The Day After the End of the Algorithm
HQ was… quiet.
Too quiet.
No alarms. No pop-ups. No emergency banners screaming "UNEXPECTED ERROR" in twelve fonts.
Shion stood in the lobby holding her tablet.
It showed a blank screen.
No notifications.
No recommendations.
No predictive warnings.
Nothing.
"…Raon," Shion said slowly, "the system hasn't suggested anything to me in twelve minutes."
Raon, sprawled on the couch upside down, blinked.
"…Is that bad?"
"It's unprecedented."
Raon smiled lazily.
"I like it."
Shion frowned.
She really didn't.
---
2. The First Symptom: People Thinking For Themselves
Manager Kimchi ran past carrying a stack of folders.
"I MADE A DECISION," he yelled.
Shion stiffened.
"…You did what?"
"I didn't consult analytics! Or a forecast! Or a poll!"
He disappeared into an office and slammed the door.
Shion's tablet vibrated weakly.
ERROR: NO OPTIMAL PATH FOUND.
Her eye twitched.
"This is… not good."
Raon rolled off the couch and landed perfectly on her feet.
"Why? People making choices is normal."
"Yes," Shion said tightly. "Normal for humans. Not for HQ."
From down the hall, Yuno screamed.
"I PICKED A SMOOTHIE FLAVOR WITHOUT CHECKING TRENDS AND NOW I'M EMOTIONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR IT—"
A crash.
Someone cried.
Someone else applauded.
Shion pinched the bridge of her nose.
"The Core being gone means the world lost its guidance systems."
Raon tilted her head.
"…So?"
"So now everyone has to live with the consequences of their own actions."
Raon paused.
"…Oh."
---
3. Raon Discovers Free Will Has Side Effects
Raon wandered into the training room.
No auto-generated missions.
No recommended targets.
Just… space.
She stood there.
Waiting.
Nothing happened.
"…Shion?" she called.
"Yes?"
"…What do I kick now?"
Shion froze.
That question.
That exact question.
She turned slowly.
"…Raon. There is no objective."
Raon's eyes widened.
"No… villain?"
"Not today."
"No countdown?"
"No."
"No glowing arrow?"
"None."
Raon looked genuinely distressed.
"…What if I kick the wrong thing?"
Shion hesitated.
"…Then it's your choice."
Raon stared at her foot.
For the first time since they met—
She didn't move.
---
4. The Unexpected Fallout: Silence
HQ staff gathered in the cafeteria.
No one knew what to do.
Someone asked:
"So… do we… go home?"
Another whispered:
"Is that allowed?"
Shion watched them, arms crossed.
The systems that once told them what mattered were gone.
Now they had to decide.
Raon sat beside Shion quietly.
Too quietly.
"You okay?" Shion asked.
Raon shrugged.
"It's weird. I'm not mad. Or hyped. Or punchy."
She poked her noodle cup.
"I don't know what I'm supposed to feel."
Shion softened.
"…You're not supposed to feel anything specific."
Raon frowned.
"That sounds fake."
Shion smiled faintly.
"Welcome to being human."
---
5. A Small Choice
Raon stood up suddenly.
Everyone tensed.
She walked to the center of the room.
Looked around.
Then—
She kicked a chair.
Not hard.
Just enough to scoot it into place.
She sat down.
Shion blinked.
"…You didn't destroy it."
Raon nodded.
"I wanted to sit."
Shion felt something twist in her chest.
Warm.
Dangerous.
Proud.
---
6. The World Adjusts (Badly, At First)
By evening:
• Traffic was chaos (no optimization)
• Feeds were quiet (no algorithm)
• People argued more—but also talked more
• Creativity spiked
• Productivity dipped
• Anxiety rose
• Freedom followed
Shion reviewed reports.
"This is going to take time."
Raon leaned against the window.
The city looked different.
Messier.
Alive.
"…Shion?"
"Yes?"
"…Was the Core really evil?"
Shion considered.
"…No."
Raon blinked.
"Then why did we destroy it?"
Shion looked at her.
"Because it stopped people from choosing."
Raon nodded slowly.
"…I like choosing."
She smiled.
"…Even if I choose wrong."
---
7. The Last Echo (Not a Villain… Yet)
Deep in the old data vault…
A faint signal flickered.
Not hostile.
Not sentient.
Just… unresolved.
A small text fragment blinked:
> IF YOU LIKED THIS EXPERIENCE…
It failed to finish.
The power faded.
Silence.
For now.
---
8. Ending Beat
Night fell.
HQ lights dimmed.
Raon stretched.
"So… tomorrow?"
Shion smiled tiredly.
"Tomorrow we deal with the consequences."
Raon grinned.
"Cool."
She cracked her knuckles.
"…Can I kick consequences?"
Shion laughed.
"Some of them."
Raon beamed.
"Perfect."
They walked out together.
No arrows.
No guidance.
Just choice.
---
END OF CHAPTER 112