AI: Artificial Isekai

I get out of bed and drag myself over to a private dining room. A way too bright and cheery Rak'Na is eating together with a more understandably drowsy Khi.

Rak'Na waves me over. "Morning." Then she chuckles. "If you are faking the look of someone that got chewed up and spit out by some angry monster, I'd be severely disappointed, because the alternative is very funny."

I crash down on a chair and shovel some delicious food in my mouth. Then I issue an expertly done rebuff.

The two beastfolk look at each other and grin. Khi addresses her mother, "Want to watch the snowball fight again?" Rak'Na affirms enthusiastically.

With my food swallowed, I try the supreme rebuff again, "You guys are mean."

The sovereign speaks up distractedly, enjoying the show, "Got word back from your Guild. They'll hear you out."

"Mmm. I see. Thank you for speaking on my behalf."

"I'll teleport you personally. At least to show I'm serious. Want me to stay, though? Not many things can stop me if I want to leave a place."

"No. You've done more than enough. This is something I must face alone." She shrugs in response, returning her full attention to the, for some inexplicable reason, hilarious video.

As the entertainment finishes, so does the sovereign's breakfast. She leaves for her heavier than usual duty. Khi spends some more time with me, still full of questions. But soon enough, she has to go and be the returning princess. A balance needs to be struck. A balance, that if broken, will lead to war. And so, I am left to entertain myself. Until Elisa wakes up, that is. Or until Mi'Min swipes her mother's tablet.

***

Time comes for me to depart. Rak'Na moves close and gathers her mana. Khi waves goodbye. The world shifts. We appear inside the Main Guild Hall's lobby. Lightning discharges long after the sovereign's spell has completed, putting on a show, and for those that will recognize it—a warning.

The scant few adventurers that are present in the expansive room stop what they are doing and regard us with interest. The ubiquitous loungers make nods of recognition. An attendant quickly rushes to greet us, and we are led up.

The attendant knocks on an unassuming door. Without any physical input, the door swings open. Two sets of eyes turn to look at us. One are shining with expectation, sitting leisurely behind a desk. The other are concealing a storm of uncertainty, standing straight and tensed.

Rak'Na walks in first, waiting for me to follow after. She turns to Guild Master Davia, probably trying to ascertain her intentions. The older woman does not shy away from the beastfolk's attempt at intimidation, returning the unblinking gaze in kind.

The sovereign's lips pull up slightly. "I'd rather not have to come back." And with a loud crackle, she's gone.

"Wasn't that a bit rude?" Guild Master Davia asks Ren. He ignores her and swiftly walks over to me.

I am wrapped in a tight, and yet, stiff hug. "Told you it was rogue bullshit. Shouldn't have let you go."

"I was exactly where I was supposed to be."

He disengages the embrace and looks into my eyes. His voice is quiet and full of hesitation, "Who are you, kiddo?"

Davia joins in, "Someone that doesn't exist. Someone that had her personally bring him here. I nearly wet my pants, young man. And not because I'm old as dirt." The guild master is older than Ren, but it doesn't really show. Dark brown hair is messily tied up. Small creases adorn her face, not at all detracting from her appearance. And she could have definitely shown Rak'Na a good time.

Ren motions to two empty chairs, still appearing on edge.

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When we sit down, Guild Master Davia asks, "Now, what am I going to do with you, Mr. Doe? Is it 'Mr. Doe'?"

"Yes and no. I falsified my records because I wasn't born here," I say. Ren inhales slowly. "And I don't mean the Union. I am from another world, another universe."

Davia grins and shakes her head. She prepares to say something, but Ren lets out the large volume of air he was holding in his lungs, interrupting her. The Hall Master of Harthes says, "Who else knows?" Davia's features harden.

"You knew?" I ask.

"No. But with this, it all makes sense."

"Elisa was the first." Ren nods, having already suspected. "The Elven Council was next." The guild master chuckles under her breath. "Followed by Princess Khi'Na, Lohrin's royal family, and finally, Sovereign Rak'Na."

"What's the story with the sovereign? Why was she ready to fry us up if we looked at you funny?" Davia asks. I cycle through a general shell configuration, Khi, and then back to myself. "That would do it."

I launch into my tired old tirade. These explanations are starting to get too frequent. Maybe I should make a booklet? Let's throw something together for next time. I wonder if Mi'Min would like to do the illustrations for me...

When I am finished with the most important parts, Ren and Davia don't show any significant reaction. The guild master just addresses me with a simple question, "Why become an adventurer?"

"It made delving easier."

"But that's not all."

"It let me develop a persona that could interact with people without any undue scrutiny."

"Getting warmer. You can do it."

"I... I was made to help people." She is finally satisfied, a small smile creeping on her face. "To make their lives easier... To elevate them. That was my purpose. I failed. Not only a failure, I was a corruption that did everything it shouldn't have. Then I was brought here. My purpose turned to duty. And then, I became more. And that duty turned into something more, too. I became an adventurer because I wanted to help people. Remove me from the Guild, reveal my existence, try to kill me, it doesn't matter. I will never stop being one. I will never stop being what an adventurer stands for."

A boisterous laugh erupts out.

Davia sighs in pleasure. "Goddess, I love this job. Kick you out? Why would I do that? You are my adventurer, aren't you? Don't you worry about anything, I'll take care of it. But you haven't told me what you actually want."

"For now, to keep my adventurer identity intact. In addition, to inform the Investigation Division and the Union's Senate of our growing alliance."

She hums in thought. "Sure. I can handle the ID, but the senate's going to take some backup. You up for it?"

"Yes. Councilor Olindir is currently preoccupied, but Councilor Alcia is available to assist."

"Okay." She stands up. "I'll go have a chat with my good friends and let you boys have your own chat. I'm sure you have a lot to say to one another."

Alcia warps next to me, gives me an encouraging smile, and joins the smirking Davia.

When we are left alone in the guild master's office, I turn to Ren, only to get the initiative stolen from me. "Probably shouldn't call you 'kiddo' anymore," he says.

"Well, I've technically been in this world for less than a year, and my social development has been severely stunted until recently, but probably not." We awkwardly look away. I sigh out, "I'm really sorry, Ren. I can give you numerous reasons for my deceit, but I know it was wrong. Can you forgive me for lying to you all this time? For taking advantage of your kindness?"

"I don't want to forgive you for something I'm not mad about, ki— ...Lucius." He takes a deep breath and gives me a good smack on the shoulder. "I'm proud of you."

"Ren?"

"That first day you came to my Hall... I sensed there was something inside you. Something you were struggling with. But it was so much more than I could have ever thought... And you faced it all alone for so long. I'm the one that's sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't see it. I just hope that what I was able to do for you helped even a little."

I chuckle softly. "It did."

"Good. That's good." He takes a moment to think, and then hesitantly continues, "Would have been nice to continue our training sessions, though. I really liked the time we spent together."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

He pulls at his wild beard. "Well... You'll be busy. And do you really need me to train you anymore?"

"Of course I do. The only reason I've gotten so strong is because of you. Plus, I will always make time for my friend. While many things I've said were lies, that never was."

"Oh..." He smiles at me lightly, letting the tension slacken. Then the smile turns dangerous. "We can finally get proper with it." Gulp.

***

I'm exhausted... It feels like I've been in constant motion for an eternity, but it's only been a few days. The reveal to the Union's Senate went excellently, even if I was more of a background character, standing around and looking pretty. I am a master of delegating by definition, after all. And with the Guild leadership also in the know, I can now coordinate adventurers even more efficiently and without the covert methods. Marvelous.

"That smells divine," I say as Elisa brings a couple of full plates over to the table.

"Thought I'd try making pizza. There's also dessert, so leave some space."

The elf has prepared a hefty pie, topped with ample amounts of cheese, sweet peppers, and caramelized onions, then drizzled liberally with honey. She's gotten way better than me at this whole cooking thing. Got to up my game.

The dessert is what appears to be a vat of tiramisu. I have to get a second helping of that, or Elisa will definitely explode.