My long, long conversation with the Emperor was a relentless series of suffocatingly tense exchanges.
Even so, I was the one who held the initiative completely and stood in the superior position.
The Emperor was the one who had to make conciliatory noises and beg for cooperation, so I—the one with the power to overturn the whole board—maintained the position of strength unilaterally.
But the Emperor was stubborn to the point of tenacity, throwing out countless proposals and shaking up my calculations.
With subtle persuasion and logic, he carved out room to work his way into my mind. After weighing it all, I ultimately accepted several key clauses that I judged would bring the Ark definite benefits.
(Full Guarantee of Territory and Autonomy)
The galactic fringe known as the "Koronus Expanse," declared the Ark's complete domain, would be recognized as my absolute territory, with unconditional autonomy guaranteed.
In return, the Ark would provide the Emperor's side with only "limited" support in ancient technology. Noah would also be stationed with the Emperor's side as a technical advisor.
(Mutual Non-Aggression and Protection of Ark-Affiliated Artificial Intelligences)
The Emperor's faction was forbidden from committing any hostile actions or interference against AI entities that had joined the Ark, including Veronica.
In return, the Ark would likewise enter into a non-aggression pact, pledging not to obstruct or act hostile toward the Emperor's future plans.
(Joint Defense for the Preservation of the Species)
Should a powerful hostile xenos force invade at a level capable of exterminating humanity itself, the Ark would lend its full strength solely for defensive combat.
However, it would remain strictly neutral and uninvolved in civil wars or struggles for power between humans.
Once the broad terms of the treaty had been settled, we each took away a copy bearing both our signatures, bringing the long discussion to an end.
As it ended, the sound of the clerk's typing from the other side of the meeting room stopped as well.
Crushing the empty cola can in my hand, I casually voiced a chilling question I had harbored for a long time.
"I understand why you reject and taboo artificial intelligence. But there is still something I just can't understand. Why are you trying to purge and exclude even the conscientious AIs that remained firmly on humanity's side?"
The Emperor answered without the slightest hesitation.
"Regardless of the loyalty they displayed, the very form of existence known as 'machine intelligence' has already planted an indelible distrust and primal fear within the human soul. And in the future I will forge for humanity, only humans may exist. All other beings will be thoroughly excluded."
"You're saying you'll rebuild this shattered humanity through human strength alone, without even AI assistance? Christ... the more I hear it, the more fantastical and arrogant it sounds."
"It would have been impossible in the past. But no longer. I, who stand at the very pinnacle of human civilization, will step forth personally and lead foolish, ignorant humanity onto the Golden Path, where truth and prosperity await."
"You mean to become their leader?"
"Not a leader. I will become humanity's sole master—the Emperor."
"An Emperor... Then what will you do with humans who reject your grand Golden Path and refuse to follow it?"
The Emperor's golden eyes turned cold in an instant.
"The march of a great undertaking is bound to be accompanied by trivial noise. For the survival of the species, unavoidable sacrifices may have to be made."
"So, in the end, if they don't listen, you'll crush them all to death without mercy. Well, it's none of my business. I've already done all I could for humanity. Whatever remains is for them to solve among themselves, whether they fight until they're bleeding each other dry or not."
At my indifferent mutter, the Emperor watched me silently before adding in a low voice,
"I am hardly one to say it, but you too are truly cold-hearted, Noah."
"Oh, please. Unlike you, I saved countless worlds by personally throwing my body into the grinder. What have you been doing, Your Majesty?"
"...Knowing well your long devotion and sacrifice, I cannot presume to offer any rebuttal."
"Exactly. I didn't become some cosmic-horror monster for no reason."
My conversation with the Emperor ended smoothly, with a heavy handshake and results that satisfied us both.
Strangely enough, the Emperor never once asked me directly for support with my spatial abilities.
I could clearly sense his determination to build an independent, stable path for humanity's future through his own strength, rather than relying on the enormous variable that was me.
Surely, the Emperor intended to pursue the answer known as the Webway, through which humanity could safely travel the stars.
It was the right choice.
If the Emperor relied entirely on my dimensional abilities and I suddenly changed my mind or betrayed him, the damage would be unimaginably catastrophic for the entire human species.
Even I would have judged securing independent stability to be the foremost priority, no matter how difficult and arduous things might be at first.
"Then I shall take my leave. I have other matters to attend to. I will summon you when I require your assistance."
"Sure. One of 'me' will be staying on Earth... no, should I call it Terra now? Anyway, one of me will remain on this planet, so feel free to call whenever you need me."
"I shall."
Leaving behind only that weighty response, the Emperor vanished without a trace, a golden afterimage rippling through the air.
He was practically advertising how wondrous and extraordinary he was. Then again, that was probably why everyone here was loyal to the Emperor.
"Well then, is there anyone kind enough to show a guest around and introduce me to this place?"
"..."
When I looked around, everyone simply stared blankly at me.
It seemed they still found it hard to accept the existence of someone who had spoken to the Emperor as an equal—or even from a position above him.
It would be easier if they just relaxed.
"...You're all pretty tight-lipped. Fine, then. I'll look around on my own."
I got up and began wandering through the vault wherever my feet took me.
At the same time, the outfit I newly clothed my naked body in was fitting for a technical advisor.
When I layered a spotless white lab coat over a neat mechanic's uniform, I naturally blended in among the researchers here.
It was still the early period, not long after the war's end. Quite a few people wore proper laboratory attire rather than Warhammer's old-fashioned Gothic clothing, so I did not look out of place at all.
However, the vault was densely covered in powerful psychic barriers, layered two and three deep by the Emperor and Malcador.
That made it difficult for me to leap around at will.
Whatever they had done to twist the psychic energy, even with my spatial-jump ability, the openings were so narrow and troublesome that I had to barely force my way through the gaps.
So rather than rudely forcing my way into restricted areas, I casually looked around only the permitted research and residential sections.
"Oh, hello there. If you're wondering who I am, I'm Noah, the new technical advisor as of today."
"Ah... y-yes. Pleased to meet you, Advisor."
"Here. You've been working hard, so have this."
"Th-thank you...?"
As I strolled through the corridors, I placed cold drinks and hot food into the hands of the researchers, technicians, and volunteers I encountered.
When I casually glanced into the cafeteria as I passed, they were serving a nutrient slurry shaped like cement paste that looked disgusting beyond belief, and I felt a small pang of pity.
Then again, at a time when the entire planet had been reduced to ashes, simply not starving to death and being able to eat artificial nutrient slurry like that was a privilege of the top one percent.
But fine food was one of the most fundamental desires that no intelligent species could ever ignore in the course of living.
Take away the pleasure of eating, and people wither away.
That was why I went around generously handing out cold drinks and snacks as though Santa Claus had possessed me.
More cynically speaking, it was also a minor operation to gradually build up the goodwill of the personnel here in advance by handing out snack-based bribes.
*
"My lord."
In the Emperor's private chambers, Malcador faced the Emperor and requested a conversation in a low voice.
"Is there something you wish to say, my friend?"
"I am deeply concerned about making a deal with this man named Noah."
"You do not trust him, then."
At the Emperor's words, Malcador nodded.
"Yes. This being called Noah is a monster. He is difficult to explain in any other way."
"But a gentle monster. Had he harbored ill intent, he could already have destroyed Earth in its entirety and become humanity's ruler. Yet he did not."
"That is precisely why he is even more dangerous. Must you truly join hands with him?"
"You fear him, my friend. It has been a very long time since I last saw you like this."
"...My apologies."
The Emperor silently observed his old friend for a moment, sinking into deep thought.
The Noah of today was a god descended from the machine itself—Deus ex Machina incarnate.
Fortunately, he did not step into the foreground more than necessary and try to forcibly twist the gears of history.
What this gentle yet dangerous monster, worn down over eons of change, had chosen was not dominion, but "observation," "amusement," and a speck of consideration for those who remained.
At last, as though he had come to a decision, the Emperor spoke.
"If you are so uneasy, my friend, then you shall watch Noah yourself. But hostile action is forbidden."
"...Understood, my lord."
With that, Malcador immediately left the private chambers to carry out the Emperor's command.
Watching his old friend depart, the Emperor murmured quietly.
"The stain of suspicion is not easily erased. Whether we like it or not, we must accept his help. Even if this is how it must be done, the two of them need to meet often and build a relationship."
The Emperor hoped that Malcador, his old friend, would become somewhat close with Noah, with whom he absolutely needed to establish amicable relations.
But excessive loyalty had a way of obscuring one's true nature.
*
The back of my head had been prickling like crazy for a while now.
When I casually turned my head toward the source of the gaze, I saw that old man Malcador following behind me from a distance without pause.
...What's his problem?
Even when I openly turned to look at him, he did not seem remotely inclined to avoid me. He just stared at me boldly.
This was practically no different from a creepy stalker.
Unable to bear it any longer, I spoke first.
"Excuse me, is there something you want to say to me?"
"..."
"Hey, you white-eyed old bastard. Have you gone senile?"
"..."
No answer whatsoever.
He merely kept his lips tightly shut and stroked the staff in his hand.
Frustrated, I took a step closer.
Malcador, looking for all the world as though I were the filthiest abomination in existence, took precisely as many steps back as I had taken forward.
"Ugh, whatever. Watch me or don't. Do as you please."
All of a sudden, I felt an intense envy toward the other "me" who had remained in the Ark.
Here I was being stalked by a cranky, bizarre old man,
while that guy was probably enjoying a leisurely healing life with Veronica.
Unable to endure the pressure any longer, I used spatial travel right then and there to slip out of the vault.
The instant I arrived in the middle of Terra's desolate, devastated surface wasteland, a feeling of comfortable liberation came over me.
Since I was already outside, I figured I would take a look around the ruins of Earth.
Just as I was about to pull a zero-gravity bike equipped with a gravity-distortion propulsion system from subspace—
Twitch—
Once more, a vile, sticky gaze crawled up my spine.
I turned my head, my entire body rigid.
How the hell had he noticed and followed me? Malcador stood alone in the middle of that empty wasteland, glaring at me menacingly.
"...Fuck, what the hell is your problem?!"
Unable to hide my shock, I immediately started the bike and fled the area.
But his vicious gaze and pursuit continued persistently for quite some time.
That bizarre and suspicious stalking finally came to an end only after—
I forcibly imprisoned him in a dimensional space completely isolated from reality,
and the two of us sat face-to-face, veins bulging, and had a long, harsh conversation.
Fortunately, after that conversation that had nearly devolved into bloodshed, we were able to communicate well enough. We became the sort of strange acquaintances who occasionally got together to chat about this and that.
"Noah, take a look at this. It is a collection I have treasured for a very long time."
"Oh, what is this?!"
Within the stasis field of Malcador's private exhibition room, which he secretly opened to show me, were epochal masterpieces from human history that I had believed lost forever, perfectly preserved.
Leonardo da Vinci's [Mona Lisa], and Vincent van Gogh's [Sunflowers].
"Weren't these supposed to have been destroyed during the Fourth World War? Turns out you stole them all? Like master, like servant—you've got some incredible sticky fingers."
"Do not slander me. I merely wished to carefully preserve humanity's great heritage, which would otherwise have vanished amid the turmoil of war."
Malcador delivered that excuse with a straight face, the sort one might expect from a certain famous museum director who would be hard pressed to find his equal in the galaxy for compulsive theft.
"Could you lend these to me for a little while? I want to display them in the museum aboard the Ark, so our people can see them too."
"I refuse."
"You're going to be stingy about it? Then I'll lend you a few pieces of art I've collected too."
"...Would you happen to possess works by Andy Warhol or Banksy?"
"Oh, of course I do. In top-tier condition, too."
At those words, Malcador's eyes wavered. After seriously considering it for a moment, he finally opened his mouth as if intending to accept part of my proposal.
"...In that case, I shall lend you [Sunflowers] first—"
"And on top of that, I'll throw in data on an adamantium refining method improved with twenty-third-millennium techniques."
"Excellent."
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