NOVEL NEXT Chapter 136
Just one floor.
It’s just one more floor than usual.
Why does my heart feel so tight with tension?
The human heart is so fickle and amazing.
Thinking like that, I took a step back from the elevator door.
When I turned around, an air vehicle was moving beyond the glass walls of the ascending elevator.
Neon signs shining painfully bright, holographic ads, languages floating in the air, and contrasted by the pitch-black cloudy sky.
I tried to erase my unease as I took a deep breath, admiring the complicated streets of Middle-Class North Houston in Neon City.
The building I live in, Golden Smile Condominium, has 22 floors.
Still, it’s a higher height than other buildings, so I could overlook other buildings that aren’t quite high-rises.
Just like the quickly shifting scenery below reflecting my muddled emotions.
Let’s think calmly.
Why did Eve ask me to come to the 14th floor?
By the way, the facilities in Golden Smile Condominium I know are as follows.
The basement has a spa and artificial pool.
The 3rd floor has several entertainment facilities.
From the 5th to the 8th floors, there are cinema facilities.
And on the 9th floor, they were planning to build a wine bar.
As for the rest?
I don’t know.
There are probably accommodations for facility management employees, or maybe a maintenance facility for the chairman or Maya somewhere, but I didn’t know for sure.
There are probably also several facilities under construction in real-time at this very moment.
The 14th floor.
What on earth could be there?
Half worry, half anxiety, half tension, and half a desire to just go home and rest.
I steadied my trembling heart and stared at the elevator door.
I’m slowly reaching the 14th floor now.
Whatever the identity of this floor is, it’s time for me to see and judge it myself.
– Ding Dong.
The elevator notification chimes and the door opens.
“……?”
There’s another door after this one.
I concealed my curiosity and moved inside the 14th floor.
A surveillance camera lens glinted above the firmly closed iron door.
Should I tell Eve to open it? Just as that thought crossed my mind, the closed iron door began to open.
And then…
“……”
What in the world is this?
I couldn’t hide my surprise.
—
32. Lesson Learned from the Ribs (3)
—
Actually, this place, the 14th floor, is categorized the same as the ‘living space’ on the 13th floor where I live.
There’s a kitchen, a bedroom, and a living room.
So it’s just a living space for now.
But how much credit must have been spent?
Mysterious facilities like a personal swimming pool or a personal cinema also appeared, which was a problem. Plus, there were strange artworks hanging on the walls.
I couldn’t properly grasp the current situation.
Golden Smile Condominium is indeed a well-known communal residence in the middle class.
In Silver Smile Condominium, over 100 households live capsule-style on one floor.
And on the Bronze Smile Condominium, since it’s located on the lower class, there’s no need for further explanation.
But here, if you think about it, it feels similar to the impressions I got when I visited Andrea’s home.
Actually, this place is much more luxurious than Andrea’s house.
I cautiously stepped in, as if walking through a minefield, and took off my shoes.
There were no shadows of people inside.
…This really seems like a place a megacorp chairman would live.
I mumbled quietly while admiring the luxurious furniture and interior design.
“…Wow, is that really gold?”
[Correct.]
Whoa, I jumped at the soft voice that reached my ears.
It was Eve.
I looked around to locate the voice, but just like before, there were no shadows of people around.
“Where are you?”
[I’m down below. Please have a seat on the sofa inside first.]
I followed her instructions and moved inside.
The sofa was even more plush and luxurious than any sofa I remembered in this world.
At this rate, it might not function as a sofa at all.
My whole body felt like it would be swallowed by the sofa…
….
I dosed off for a moment.
I shook my head to get my senses back.
I wish there was something to drink.
Just then, from the armrest of the sofa, cola with ice (the cup’s design was fancy too) appeared.
Good timing.
I savored the leisure that a bourgeoisie person would feel while drinking cola.
“……”
The sofa must cost a fortune, right?
If I were to ask Eve about the price of the sofa, I could find out the answer, but I held back that question for the sake of my mental health.
No matter how solid my bank account was thanks to the compensation from Kojaka, my commoner mindset didn’t change.
By the way.
What the heck is this place?
It feels like it was just taken from the upper class.
At that moment, light began to shine on the enormous screen in front of the sofa.
A rare electronic device in a cyberpunk world where hologram technology is common.
I heard that the wealthy only use it due to its resolution, but I didn’t expect to see it here.
The person appearing on the monitor was Eve.
And beside her were other women as well. The background looked familiar; it seemed to be from the 13th floor where we all watched something together.
《Did you have a good outing?》
“……Uh.”
It’s a different feeling seeing her like this, after only seeing her on a hologram screen.
I scratched my head and asked Eve.
“So, what’s this place? Is it a new house?”
《Half right and half wrong.》
What kind of cryptic answer is that?
Eve glanced around as if seeking consent from the other women nearby.
If all seven of them spoke at the same time, it’d surely be chaotic. It seemed they had agreed beforehand.
They’ve really become fully human now.
At first, they only spoke short answers or in strange tones. Now, asking for others’ consent seems quite natural.
Anyway.
Half right and half wrong, huh?
What does that even mean?
I listened intently to Eve’s next words.
《That day, an accident happened where ‘Siwoon’ suffered a ‘physical injury’ due to us.》
A person with a broken rib from kissing is probably rare even in this harsh cyberpunk world.
I nodded in agreement.
“So?”
《Therefore, we all pondered together. Various entities, including ‘me’ and Siwoon’s romantic interests, considered various opinions.》
“Hmm.”
Is this 0 confessions and 1 dating or what?
But now, it would be too late to point out the term ‘romantic interest.’
My feelings were already exposed, and I knew they weren’t oblivious to their feelings either. I brushed over this part naturally.
Thinking from another perspective, this may actually be better.
If I had to confess to all seven of them without things progressing like this…
….
Just imagining it feels exhausting.
Anyway, Eve continued to explain.
《And this place is the result of our combined opinions.》
“A change of place won’t change anything, will it? We’re all still living together anyway.”
《No, it won’t.》
Huh?
I locked eyes with Eve through the screen.
《This world flows in weekly cycles. In other words, it means that the seven of us can stay with Siwoon and complete a normal cycle by rotating.》
“?”
《To clarify, that place is the location where the entity that gained the opportunity that day and ‘Siwoon’ will live together.》
This isn’t some rotating duty system.
I thought I was the only one who didn’t understand this situation, but the other women around Eve were all nodding in agreement.
It seems my rib-breaking incident was quite shocking for them as well.
In a way, it was fair.
Except for the minor detail that I had no say at all.
Noticing my expression, Eve didn’t stop speaking.
《This is also beneficial for ‘Siwoon.’ In a 1:1 situation, there are fewer risks, and ‘Siwoon’ can have relaxed time, as he wishes.》
“…That’s true?”
《It doesn’t mean you have to continue staying on the 14th floor either. If you want, you can also live on the 13th floor, where you used to stay.》
It feels like I’m reading terms and conditions.
“What about the days spent outside?”
《Then the turn will be shifted by one day.》
“So you don’t just let it go….”
Anyway, it was a proposal that wasn’t bad.
But what should I do about it?
I’ve already learned Body Enhancement Magic and could just live with all seven of them without issue.
I was about to open my mouth to reveal this fact.
“Wha—.”
And at that moment, I instinctively stopped speaking.
Thinking about it, the new magic I learned didn’t show externally at all.
Besides, there’s the safety concern. I hadn’t tested the defense yet, and I was only at a point where I recognized this kind of magic was possible.
….
I felt it was still too early to disclose the fact that I had learned Body Enhancement Magic to everyone.
“…I see, that’s a good idea.”
《Consent confirmed. Saving voice data.》
Something ominous seemed to flash by, but I didn’t show any major reaction.
Keeping the truth hidden was the same on my side.
Of course, I wasn’t going to hide it forever. I’m not asexual, and I don’t dislike living with seven of them. I’m a man too.
But.
– ‘…I can’t die like this…!’
– “Churp…”
– “…Ugh!”
Ugh, a headache.
That day’s nightlight still lingers like PTSD.
It’s not urgent anyway.
Let’s take my time and think it through.
I rationalized to myself and rubbed my eyelids.
“So, are we done with the discussion?”
《Yes, then I will head up.》
“?”
Why has the conversation suddenly shifted—?
Ah.
“Is today your turn, by any chance?”
《That’s right.》
“……”
《I will see you soon.》
With Eve’s words, the screen went dark.
….
I managed to dodge the seven, but I couldn’t escape even one of them.
What’s with this tension?
I swallowed hard and looked in the direction of the elevator.