After reporting the elimination of Yang Jin-Mu, Alice was immediately promoted to a Grade 3 National Contributor.
Now, it was time to go.
"...Doctor, thank you for everything."
"Whatever."
Yang Su-Hyeon spoke indifferently as she severed Alice's arm and reattached it. She was struggling to uncover the mechanism behind this abnormal recovery ability.
"By the way, did you two have a talk or something with that guy Yu-Han? Did you reconcile?"
"Reconcile, my foot. I just got sick and tired of trying to kill him, that's all."
"So you did reconcile!"
"...You really don't listen to people, do you."
After receiving maintenance while having such trivial chat with Yang Su-Hyeon, Alice headed to the Cheong-Am Center. It was to say her goodbyes to Yi Rang and Kim Ga-Eun as well.
"Bye, you two."
"Alice C... You've worked hard all this time."
"Ugh, Alice. If you leave too, I'll be the only normal person left..."
Around the time they were exchanging farewells, that guy opened the door and appeared.
"Let's go."
After speaking briefly, Yu-Han set off toward New Seoul with Alice. To hide her identity, Yu-Han advised her to at least wear a hat, mask, and sunglasses. Other than those words, Yu-Han was unusually quiet today. In an awkward state, the two arrived at the security gate at the entrance of the Cheong-Wa Tower.
"Now, this tiresome relationship is finally over."
"..."
"Don't you have anything you want to say?"
Yu-Han stayed still before finally spitting out his words.
"I feel refreshed. Stay stuck in that tower forever if possible. Out of my sight."
"I was a fool to expect any nice words."
However, looking at Yu-Han's face, he was making an unfamiliar expression. A boy looking merely lonely, without any pretense, was standing there. Alice was deeply flustered.
'...Snap out of it. This bastard is a murderer!'
A murderer couldn't possibly make such an expression, so it must be his usual disgusting acting, Alice braced herself.
Still, a part of her wanted to know more about Yu-Han... but it would all be meaningless now. As Alice approached the entrance of the Cheong-Wa Tower, a security guard asked a question.
"What is your business?"
"Report to your superior. The real 'Seong Yu-Hwa' has returned."
"What does that...?"
"If you can't believe it, I'll tell you facts only insiders of the Cheong-Wa Tower would know!"
Alice rattled off the layout of the room she used to live in, the personal details of the Royal Guard Captain who protected her, and private information about President Seong Dong-Hyeon.
"H-How could this be? I must report to the higher-ups..."
"Who should you report to? The President? Or, the Captain?"
While the security guards were seriously discussing, a mass of light suddenly dropped in front of them and took a human form.
[What are you agonizing over? You just need to report to me, right here in front of you.]
"You're...!"
Long black hair and blue-tinted eyes. It was the very appearance of 'Seong Yu-Hwa' that Alice herself had been stripped of.
"What is your true identity! You fake!"
[I almost want to say that to you instead... From a third party's perspective, between a human and a robot, who do you think looks like the fake?]
"Well of course... I am a robot, but..."
[You know it well. Then, will you disappear.]
"Wait!! Let me meet my father! Or at least my older sister!"
[You have no such authority. Only Grade 1 Contributors can access the Cheong-Wa Tower. As long as you follow the rules, I won't stop you whether you're a robot or whatever. Miss Alice.]
"...!"
The figure made of light vanished. Alice eventually returned to Yu-Han with a dejected expression. Of course, Yu-Han, who had been watching this from a slight distance, also had a complicated expression.
"...Let's head back and think for now."
The way back with Yu-Han was several times more awkward than the way there. The two were sitting by the Han River in New Seoul, quietly looking at the river water for a moment.
"So, what was that Seong Yu-Hwa?"
"...Probably the real one. No matter how you look at it, I, a robot, am the fake!"
When Alice looked quite despairing, Yu-Han attempted to console her.
"But, living in a robot body might be surprisingly good, you know? You have eternal youth and immortality, you don't seem to feel pain, and you still eat and sleep, doing everything. You even feel emotions excessively. Actually, isn't it better than a human body!?"
"You call that consolation... But, hearing you say it, it does sound somewhat plausible."
Alice was strangely persuaded by Yu-Han. In fact, was there really a need to get her body back? Even if she returned to her original body, she would just live her whole life doing boring things inside a boring tower.
"Right! Then, there's no need to fight so hard to raise my Contributor grade! If I just work casually and enjoy life..."
"Unfortunately, that won't happen."
The last line was spoken neither by Yu-Han nor Alice. A man with long black hair, a bushy beard, and an unknowable intimidating aura was standing in front of them. Flustered, Alice asked.
"Wh-Who are you?"
"...My name is Lee Nam-Yong."
Alice found the name Lee Nam-Yong in her database. The leader of Thanatics, who resurrected Yang Jin-Mu...! Alice pulled out her beam sword like a quick-draw and swung it at Lee Nam-Yong.
"Wielding violence first despite being weak, how spectacular."
Lee Nam-Yong was holding Alice's beam sword with his bare hands. This was the third time Alice had been flustered today alone.
"What business does a terrorist have!?"
"To correct you, my essence is not a terrorist. And as for my business... I came to convey my gratitude."
In an instant, Lee Nam-Yong grabbed Alice, threw her, and forcefully sat her down next to Yu-Han.
"Yang Jin-Mu. Thank you truly for resolving the resentment and lingering attachments of that pitiful soul..."
Alice was dumbfounded by Lee Nam-Yong's words. Anyone would feel that way if a terrorist leader suddenly came and thanked them for killing his comrade.
"Your plans must have been ruined because of us! You said you'd exterminate Koreans!?"
"Ruined? Exterminating Koreans is something I can already do sufficiently on my own. It has no effect whatsoever?"
"Th-Then why don't you finish your plan right now!"
"The extermination of Koreans is already basically confirmed, so why should I rush so much?"
"Uh..."
Alice was speechless at the overly confident answer. Lee Nam-Yong smiled gently as if observing an ant and continued speaking.
"I didn't come just to say thank you. There must be a reward for the gratitude to be sincere... A gift will arrive soon, so look forward to it."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lee Nam-Yong momentarily disappeared from before their eyes, as if video-edited. Alice gave Yu-Han a piece of her mind.
"Why were you just standing still?"
"I only fight battles I can win. You felt it too, right? He isn't an opponent we can kill without any preparation."
***
"And so, from now on, we shall begin the 'Farewell Party That Turned Awkward Because the Goodbye Got Canceled'!"
At the 'Inferno Pizzeria' in Old Seoul, along with Yu-Han's declaration, a feast of various Italian dishes unfolded on the dining table. Alice wanted to nitpick the name of the party, but she didn't even have the energy to speak anymore.
"Alice, you met the leader of Thanatics!? By any chance, could you let me meet him too!"
"Antonio C? What on earth are you talking about..."
"Those rotten Korean bastards, lately they've been putting kimchi on pizza as a topping on social media! I want to exterminate Koreans too, you see!?"
"...You're joking, right? Please."
Antonio grumbling with Italian curses, Yi Rang and Kim Ga-Eun mindlessly eating, and amidst all that, Yu-Han picking out the strawberries from the dessert because he didn't want to eat them... Watching that scene, Alice felt that living this kind of life wasn't so bad either. It was the moment she resolved to live modestly and inconspicuously once the matters with Kim Je-Hyeon and Thanatics were resolved.
[...Greetings, I am Lee Nam-Yong, the leader of Thanatics.]
From the hologram screen playing in the restaurant, a familiar voice flowed out.
[Our precious comrade, Yang Jin-Mu, has died in battle during his noble duty. And we will absolutely not forgive the faction that killed our comrade. The Cheong-Am Euthanasia Center! Its members will be the first to reach death!]
Alice, who was sucking up a strand of pasta, spoke with bitter eyes.
"Ah, fine. My dream of living modestly has already been shattered."
***
Meanwhile, Assemblyman Kim Je-Hyeon was also watching this declaration of war in his office.
"Lee Nam-Yong! What the hell are you doing!?"
With Lee Nam-Yong's declaration of war, the Cheong-Am Euthanasia Center would have instantly gained the image of a righteous hero group. And what about himself, who had placed a bounty on that group? It becomes politically somewhat strange.
"Uh, it's me. First, cancel the bounty placed on the Cheong-Am center. We need to handle this matter carefully and secretly."
Kim Je-Hyeon made a phone call and changed his plans.
"And, dispose of the uncontrollable Lee Nam-Yong and his underlings as well, as soon as possible."