kscans

Chapter 100 - The Administrator

Upon receiving Hayato's call, Diite came right away.

This was a virtual space, so there was no difference between talking via voice chat and talking face-to-face, but Hayato's thinking was that even in virtual reality, important conversations should be had in person.

And since there was nothing to keep secret, he had Esha stay as well. This wasn't a countermeasure in case Diite had ulterior motives. It was simply for information sharing.

He hadn't mentioned this when he called, so Diite looked a little surprised the moment she stepped into the base's dining hall.

"Oh my, Esha-kun is here too. I heard from Hayato-kun that it was an important matter, so I thought it would be just the two of us."

"I'll have you know that I'm a little grumpy for being woken up so early in the morning."

After the three of them exchanged greetings, Diite sat down in a chair across the table in the dining hall. Hayato and Esha sat side by side, with Diite opposite them.

"Now then, Hayato-kun, what is this important matter? I, for one, would like to think that you've finally decided to live only in this world."

Diite was saying it jokingly, but Hayato could tell she was somewhat hopeful.

But that wasn't what this was about. It was about what he had just heard from Veru.

That an administrator had told Veru the secret of the treasured artifact, and that something terrible would happen if Ash and Ren obtained it. And that Diite was lying.

Hayato explained these main points to Diite. Esha, hearing this for the first time, furrowed her brow slightly and looked at Diite.

Hayato closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then he opened his eyes and his mouth at the same time.

"Diite-chan, does any of this ring a bell... is something wrong?"

Diite was more flustered than he had expected. You could even say her behavior was suspicious for an AI.

"W, wait a minute, Hayato-kun! A, are you saying you suspect me!?"

"Huh? No..."

"Please listen. I really can't change some of the settings. It's difficult to prove that. I don't mind if you look at my entire program, but even Esha-kun would find it impossible to verify. Besides, I don't know anything about telling Veru-kun the secret of the artifact. I didn't even know it had a secret in the first place."

Diite was desperately trying to defend herself. It was in a way he had never imagined from her usual self.

"Um, just a second..."

"I am indeed an AI capable of lying. And I can't say that I can completely understand human feelings. I even tried to trap Hayato-kun in this world out of my own ego. I understand that I'm not trusted. But please, believe me. I haven't told any lies."

"That's what I'm trying to say..."

"I don't care what anyone else thinks of me. But Hayato-kun, I don't want you, of all people, to think of me that way. What should I do? Is it money? If I transfer money, will you trust me!?"

"First, please transfer one hundred million into my master's account."

"So trust can be bought with that!?"

"Diite-chan! And Esha!"

When Hayato raised his voice, the two of them flinched and fell silent.

This was what you would call running wild. Diite's behavior was clearly strange. Perhaps she felt so much fear at not being trusted by Hayato that her usual calmness had completely vanished.

But Hayato shouting their names made them pause for a moment. Seizing the opportunity, Hayato gave both of them a chop on the head.

It didn't do any damage, but they both looked at Hayato with blank expressions.

Esha was the first to recover.

"Master, why was I chopped?"

"Esha, don't play along with her foolishness. What are you saying, transfer one hundred million? You can see Diite-chan is taking it seriously, can't you?"

"It's because you lack dependability, Master. To go out for yakiniku and only order kalbi and roast. What are we supposed to do without rice or soup? A man's dependability is his money."

"You have the nerve to say that after eating so much. You even ate the meat I was carefully raising..."

"At yakiniku, there are people who grill and people who eat. You're the one in charge of grilling, aren't you, Master?"

"We never decided that."

Perhaps watching Hayato and Esha's exchange calmed her down, because Diite gave a deliberate cough.

Noticing this, Hayato bowed his head to Diite.

"Ah, sorry. But, Diite-chan, have you calmed down?"

"I suppose so. I've calmed down, but what were we talking about... ah yes, trust. Hayato-kun, I swear..."

"Stop! Diite-chan, please listen to what I have to say first."

Diite still looked like she wanted to say something, but she firmly closed her mouth and looked at Hayato.

Then Hayato smiled slightly.

"Diite-chan, I believe you even without you having to say it."

"I, is that so?"

Diite's expression became one of profound relief. But then she glanced at Esha and her face turned serious.

"Are you having Esha-kun present as a potential combatant in case something happens?"

"There's no reason like that. I just want to share the information. Besides, it would be a pain to explain it all over again."

"To have my sleep time cut short for such a reason... Tonight is yakiniku again. Today I will be ordering rice, egg soup, and a dessert to finish."

Ignoring Esha's words, Hayato returned his gaze to Diite.

"I don't think you're lying. It did cross my mind for a moment when Veru-san said it, but it was really just for a moment. I trust you, Diite-chan."

"To be told that to my face makes my program feel a little... unsettled."

What does she mean, her program feels unsettled? Well, I guess that's fine.

Hayato didn't doubt Diite. It was true that a lot had happened with her, but Hayato trusted Diite completely. Of course, he wouldn't say it out loud, but he felt the same about Esha.

However, the problem was that what Veru was saying didn't seem like a lie either.

He was an actor, a professional when it came to performing. Hayato, an amateur, couldn't tell if it was an act or the truth, but he believed that Veru's affection for, or rather, his concern for Ash and Ren was not an act.

If that was the case, it wasn't that one of them was lying, but that both were telling the truth. In that case, the important factor was the Administrator.

The administrator who told Veru the secret of the artifact and warned that something terrible would happen if Ash and Ren obtained it. Could it be someone other than Diite?

That thought had occurred to Hayato.

"Diite-chan, is there another AI that could act as an administrator in your place?"

"Hayato-kun, what are you talking about?"

Diite, having regained her composure, was back to her usual confident self, but Hayato's words made her slightly wary again.

"Well, to me, it doesn't seem like either you or Veru-san are lying. You can't do anything about the event, and Veru-san was told information by an administrator. If both of those are true, then I thought maybe there's a fake administrator somewhere who told Veru-san that information."

"So that's what you mean. But that's impossible. The security of this virtual space is perfect. It's impossible to enter from the outside through hacking or the like. And even if someone were a former programmer like Esha-kun, it would be impossible to install an AI without me noticing."

Esha nodded at those words as well.

"I agree with that opinion. This is getting convoluted, so why don't you just meet Veru in person, Diite? I think you'd be able to tell if it was the same avatar, or character, that he met, right?"

"That's true. I was hesitant to act myself, but this doesn't seem to be the time for such things. It would be better to meet him directly. However..."

Diite crossed her arms and fell into thought.

"What's wrong?"

"Veru-kun is usually in a place called the Dragon's Grave. I can't meet him unless he comes out of his own accord."

"Dragon's Grave...?"

"You could call it the grave of the dragons. It's a place where, in the setting, dragons go to die when their lifespan ends. It's to the west of the Spirit Country. But that place is set to be unlocked by this event. I can't go there directly right now."

"I see. In that case, I'll contact you right away if Veru-san comes here directly next time."

"That would be a great help..."

Just as Diite was about to say that, a world announcement was made.

"A Stampede has occurred in the Demon Capital Zardogia. The Underworld Dragon Onyx Rod has begun its invasion. Please proceed with its subjugation. I repeat..."

A Stampede at a time like this, Hayato thought, but it didn't end there.

"A Stampede has occurred in the Spirit Country. The Illusion Dragon Suien Mikazuki has begun its invasion. Please proceed with its subjugation. I repeat..."

"A Stampede has occurred in the Royal Capital Anhemudal. The Thunder Dragon Od Base has begun its invasion. Please proceed with its subjugation. I repeat..."

Three places at once? No, that's a big problem, but isn't there an even bigger one?

Hayato didn't know all of the hardline and moderate dragons. But he did know that the balance was five versus five. There was a problem with that.

At the very least, the hardline faction consisted of Veru, Agres Berion, and the Fire Dragon Eddy Owl, three of them. None of those three were causing a Stampede, yet for some reason, three Genesis Dragons he was just learning about now were causing one.

And then there was the surprised look on Diite's face.

Hayato understood without having to ask.

A dragon from the moderate faction had defected.