AI: Artificial Isekai

The next day, I wake up at around noon. Hmm. My hibernation was supposed to end at a random time in my designated early morning range. Was this inconsistency a subconscious decision or an outside effect? It is always a chore, delving deep inside my own mind, trying to glean some meaning and order within the chaos I can never understand, for how can I understand what gives me the ability to understand. An enigma forever.

But I can still 'read the waves' as it were. Let's see... Ugh, unpleasant every single time. Fortunately, it was subconscious. Which makes a lot of sense. Yesterday was... draining. Even Ren wasn't fully focused on our training session.

As I am stretching in bed, I am yet again asking myself—did I make a mistake? Only time will tell. Either way, I will take responsibility.

Oh. What's this? I saunter over to the window and rest my forehead against the glass, my head sliding down a little bit with a squeak. There are a bunch of decorations in the city, and even more are in the process of being put up. And some—grown.

Flowers woven into beautiful patterns are stretching across the streets. The colorful displays are bridging the gaps between buildings, creating a sparse cover over almost every open space, giving the city a cozy feel. No longer is it outside, looking more like a big room, housing every single person that calls it home.

Enchanted lights are adorning the flowery garlands, ready to brighten up the night with an even more vibrant palette. All kinds of ornaments are fashioned for most buildings, consisting of even more diverse flowers. Temporary paintings and murals cover multiple walls, and in some places, even the ground. The carefully drawn images capturing the essence of summer. People are magically growing all manner of climbing plants, trying to cover as much of the city's surface with green. Even some of the streets are hidden under an avalanche of fallen petals and leaves.

The town itself is transformed into a summer flower, blooming under the sun.

Man, cleaning this up will be a pain. Or probably not. Magic is such—

There's a polite knock on my door. I walk over and open it.

Nexen greets me, "Hello, Lucius. Now a good time?"

"Yeah. Just woke up." I stifle a yawn. "Come on in." The two enter, with Erysis lagging behind a bit. "Why do you look so bashful? It's weird." Nexen is unmoving, zero reaction to stimuli.

"I am not weird!" She quickly brings her voice under control, looking around nervously. "I feel like I am intruding."

I look at Nexen. "I'll tell you the deets about the hearing yesterday."

Some reaction to stimuli. "You are so weird, honey. Still love you, though."

She inhales sharply, but then deflates, merely huffing in annoyance.

I chuckle. "You are not intruding, Erysis. It's fine." She appears to relax a little. "Take a seat. Do you want something to drink? I got some real nice tea."

Erysis replies, "Tea would be lovely, thank you." Nexen nods.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

"So, why the visit?"

Erysis answers, seemingly having let go of the awkwardness, "To check up on you. I know the whole thing with... you know who was hard on you." I tried to hide it, my character appearing confident in front of them. But I guess my acting isn't perfect.

While I am prepping the tea, I deliberate on my answer. Always being so guarded is starting to weigh on me. I feel the pressure building up. Maybe it's okay to let some of it out.

"Yeah..." I bring a tray with three cups and some honey to the table and sit down. "Needs to steep for a few minutes."

Erysis wraps her hands around the cup, warming them. "Well, to cheer you up, why don't we go have some fun. Perfect timing too."

Nexen chimes in, "I promise it won't be just food stalls." Erysis nods enthusiastically. Did my mental state appear so worsened?

"Sounds fun. It'll also be my first festival. Nice to have some locals to guide me."

Nexen asks, "What happened yesterday?"

I sigh. "Well, my plan worked." Then I add, somewhat annoyed, "If you can call it that." I am losing more and more confidence in what I did. "Kept their licenses, and out of prison. Probably because everyone was paying them kinda willingly. I wonder if my involvement even changed anything."

Erysis' tone turns serious. "I don't agree with you." I quirk a brow. "I don't even think they deserved a chance. Taking advantage of people like that..." Before I can object, she continues, "And I think you helped show who they truly were. That has to count for something. If you hadn't, no way they get away with so much leniency."

"I hope you are right..."

Nexen tries to change the subject, "Let's forget about that." His previous curiosity quickly evaporating.

Might be for the best. "On that note, I took the E-rank Promotion Exam." Both look surprised. "Passed it too."

Erysis chuckles. "Do you ever stop? Making us all feel bad over here." She takes out the little tea baggie and takes a sip. Then, when she has had a moment to take in the taste, adds, "It is nice tea." After another sip, "Are you going to keep climbing?"

"To the top."

"Why am I not surprised..." She rolls her eyes. "You do know what the top is, right?" I just grin. "Where are my snacks? What a bad host."

I reply in an innocent voice, "And ruin your appetite for later? I am just looking out for you."

"How noble." She fidgets a bit with her hands. Her cup clatters and she regards me again. "Why are you so strong?" From all the branches I have predicted, this was not the one I wanted to find myself hanging from today. Is that a crack I hear…

There are individuals like me, even in this city, even Erysis and Nexen. They give themselves a lot less credit than they deserve. But still, potential here is a fickle thing. Limitless and yet, so easily lost. I am not the fastest climbing adventurer nor am I the strongest. Even with my 'hidden' levels of strength, I am still keeping it firmly in the D-rank. As it is for dungeons, so it is for adventurers, the distance between the high and the low ranks is a chasm. But I am still an outlier. A necessity.

"When did you start training, Erysis? Really training."

She tilts her head slightly. "Sixteen. When we entered the trainee program. But I have—"

"There's your answer."

"It can't be that simple. You must have done something different, trained better. I can—"

Nexen stops her. "Ery."

I continue, "Do you remember our last spar?"

She nods, a little distracted. "You wiped the floor with me."

I chuckle. "I remember it differently." She looks at me. "I am not the greatest judge,"—I am most likely one of the best—"but you improved a lot. And you know I am not lying to you, because if you hadn't improved, I would have told you, and probably laughed at you about it. So just keep doing what you are doing." I tilt my head at Nexen. "Same to you." It is a lot easier to lie when you are just saying the truth.

She grumbles a little, still unsatisfied, but then sighs. "Fine. I'll believe you. But you do know what you've just signed yourself up for, right?" Nexen smirks.

I drone out with zero emotion, "Full-time training contract for my great buddies Erysis and Nexen." She nods, smiling.

She thinks I lost, but in fact, I won. Big time. Now I get to train you up. You fool, you played right into my hands. Evil laugh, engage.

I really hope I won't need those abilities from them, though. For there is one branch even I am scared of.

We continue talking until the tea is finished. A hypothetical crisis averted. For now. Soon after that, we go out into the city, where the Summer's End Festival is already in full swing.