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  these out in his mind, but——

  "——what, are you saying..."

  "........[Heart]....."

  ——————————————————————————*ka*.

  "...In this world, humans being able to survive..To say it from a biological point of view...Is unusual.."

  ————————————————————————————————.............

  ....*Cha*.

  "....That reason....I want to know....Riku's [Heart]..."

  "——hahh."

  ————————————————————————————somewhere in

  Riku's body.

  ———————————————————————————————————

  ———————————something, was sounding out.

  "Ar, are you kidding me?"

  ————————broken.

  Riku suddenly lost control. When he regained control, he was lifting ShuVi's

  head up with his fingers using a crushing force.

  But to the Ex-Machina, this was nothing to them. ShuVi watched Riku with her

  crystal-like eyes.

  ——her crystal-like eyes reflected the figure of Riku.

  "....Unless, you, are not aware of your position?"

  Until now, Riku finally understood——ah, I see.

  Before meeting up with this kil ing machine, he tangled his chains, hung up the

  lock, and sealed his countless feelings and memories.

  Things such as anger, antipathy, taboo, resentment, disgust, hatred hatred

  hatred hatred hatred hatred hatred pain, etc——the built-up emotions that were

  unlimited.

  He hung up the [Lock], towards his forcefulness, his chaotic heart, his memories

  and his feelings.

  ——finally, because of being overwhelmed, the sound of things breaking came.

  A rational questioning——what is this? Ahh, it was one of the guys that want to

  destroy humanity.

  Feelings were also questioned——in the face of this thing, how could one

  remain calm?

  Ahhh yes——haha——how can one calmly think when in this situation.

  "Blindly kil ing us, taking away my everything, continuously repeating such a

  thing, I thought you would say.....[Hey hey, what kind of mood are humans]?

  Haha, a human's [Heart], ahhh let me tell you."

  "YOU ALL CAN GO TO HELL!!"

  ——the bones in Riku's hands cried out. At this rate, his finger might shatter.

  Somewhere in his mind, someone questioned——what kind of results would

  one gain from doing this.

  However, regardless of rationality of feelings, ——you are all to shut up.

  "———HA,HAHAHA,HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

  How can one not laugh in this situation. Because this was the first time

  rationality and emotions came to a consensus!!

  Like this, concerns are not needed. Even if his fingers break, RIku stil growled

  towards ShuVi.

  "Because of your reasons, how many people died, do you understand!! HOW

  MANY PEOPLE WERE KILLED!? HOW MANY PEOPLE——"

  Were kil ed by my hands——

  "....So, rry..."

  ShuVi softly comforted, in contrast to Riku's shouting.

  Could an apology solve this problem——when Riku was about to retort this out,

  ShuVi started stroking Riku's cheek and said.

  "....To let Riku, cry....Then, ShuVi, must've said something horrible, then,

  speculation..."

  ——.....Wh,at?

  Riku glared at ShuVi who was stroking his cheek, her hands were stained with

  tears.

  "Grasping....Riku's....[Heart].....Want to kil ShuVi...."

  ShuVi's next words brought Riku's mind to a blank.

  "....ShuVi, was.....removed from the link..."

  In the dark, she told Riku that it wasn't necessary to worry about the other Ex-

  Machinas knowing.

  ShuVi opened her chest and pointed to the mechanically complex packaged,

  light-emitting part——

  "....Use that fork, stab here, this way... ShuVi... wil die."

  Perhaps she was aware that there was some sense of violation with her words,

  she revised with a dazed expression.

  "?....Die.....Not, biological.....Permanently stop————repair,

  impossible.....Everything destroyed?"

  She was overly specific.

  Naturally, she continued.

  "....ShuVi..Want to be like Riku.....Have the same [Heart].....So.....Ca,n oh....."

  ShuVi talked, as if it was natural.

  Facing against those black eyes that reflected her own body, the teenager that

  possessed a [Heart]———she [Requested].

  ".....Complying with inner thoughts...To kil off.....ShuVi?"

  ————————————haha.....

  ——this isn't right, Riku.

  To want to shirk your responsibility at this time——in the end, how low of a jerk

  do you want to stoop to.

  Talking about the root of this, it was because of this guys that ignited the [Great

  war].

  But the passing of 48 people——Chaden, Anton, Elma, Kerry, Dilo, Sirius, Addo,

  Daler, Deven, Lucus, Wayne, Eric, Charlie, Tommy, Sindt, Yarn, Za Za, Zelge,

  Morey, Golovin, Pita, Arthur, Morton, Kimi, Dutton, Cilson, Sandy, Wally, Kay,

  Sabrile, Rirai, Bo Bo, Cotton, Luke, Samuel, Simon, Wolf, Ben, Yale, Kelvin,

  Ahmad, Bell, Harrod, Berrod, Mariah, Melissa, Karim....

  ——and also, Ivan.

  They were people told to die,

  Regardless of any excuses.

  It was none other than——Riku!!

  ——*peng*.....

  Riku loosened his hands and ShuVi sat down on the floor.

  Unable to continue looking at ShuVi's crystal-like eyes, Riku turned his body.

  ".....Time to sleep."

  Saying that, he lied down on the bed weaved with straw.

  "....Why...Didn't you kil me...?" Came ShuVi's doubtful yet incredible voice.

  "————how would I know, I don't understand, asshole!! SO CAN YOU

  PLEASE SHUT UP!!"

  Why didn't I kil you? There were reasons.

  ——like how can you compare me with you guys.

  ——like how the dead can't be revived.

  ——like how this could solve any problem.

  He could list all these rhetorical arguments if he wanted to.

  But Riku would feel that this would be disgusting of him to do so.

  He does not possess the rights to talk about the dead.

  Because, although Riku could tell the words to send someone to their death.

  But personally, he didn't kil anyone. He was this much of a coward.

  "....I'm sorry...."

  Did she do something wrong——perhaps, she might have misunderstood Riku's

  intentions.

  ShuVi's voice seemed apologetic.

  Riku was once again struck by a deep feeling of self-loathing.

  ——can't, cope with it anymore.....I don't understand...Lots of things are

  happening....

  "...Don't leave from my sight. If you want to harm the others in the colony...."

  "...Un....I know...."

  ShuVi candidly agreed in a relaxed tone, Riku felt the pressure weighing down

  on him even more.

  ".....What, do I want to do in the end...."

  Although he tried to ask these questions, Riku felt that he himself already knew

  the answer.

  ——he was already broken.

  Regardless of the intentions, Riku h
ad one of the Ex-Machinas who pushed

  humanity to the brink of extinction as a company.

  ——since he successfully suggested that he had [Friendly relations] with her

  ——then, he himself wasn't a human anymore right.

  Compared to the Ex-Machina who was bothered because she was worried, he

  himself felt that——he was the one who was more machine.

  Currently, he was continuously [Calculating] her.

  ——using rational thinking, kil ing her would be best.

  ——but there were too much uncertain factors. It cannot be believed that she

  was relieved from the link.

  ——up til the end, could she be kil ed. A lie —was there the possibility of being

  tricked by her?

  But, Riku asked himself.

  [Thinking til this extent, I should let it go.]

  No. Only——he felt something wasn't right. However, he didn't know what was

  wrong.

  If he had to say it——it was everything. Whatever he felt, was wrong.

  "You say the human [Heart]?.....That kind of thing, I'm the one who wants to

  know.....Damn....."

  "?.....Riku....?"

  Closing his eyes, he seemed to hear ShuVi's uncertain voice.

  Fatigued, the sleep demon easily snatched Riku's consciousness and dragged

  him into the dark....

  Part 7

  ——*bang bang*, the knocking on the door brough awareness to Riku's eyes.

  "Riku~♪ I'm so sorry for doing this while you are tired——"

  As the sound continued, the door was slightly opened——

  "——Ohhhya❤ So sorry! Nee-chan is too dense, so please take your time oh~♪"

  Immediately afterwards the door was closed, and the sound of her leaving

  footsteps *pata pata* resounded.

  ——what happened?

  Acknowledging the fact that he needed to know what was going on, Riku made

  an effort to open his heavy eyelids.

  "........"

  "........"

  Underneath the blanket, Riku and ShuVi gazed into each other's eyes, with

  ShuVi on his body.

  "...Why are you, riding on my body, may I hear an explanation?"

  ——from the time when he fell asleep, a few hours had passed already——no,

  the few hours was fine.

  They were in a dispute of life and death awhile ago, so what was this guy

  planning on doing——

  "...Riku said, be in....vicinity where Riku can see...But Riku...Closed his eyes...."

  So. ShuVi while looking a bit prideful——this may be an il usion Riku was saying

  ——said.

  "...[Vicinity where Riku can see].....Unable to express using words,

  presumably......Speculated, [vicinity where one Riku is aware]."

  "——oh? And then?"

  "....Contact, even sleeping.....Can detect, usage.....Therefore judged as [Aware of]...."

  This was her own judgement, she must feel confident.

  ShuVi who didn't have a [Heart] had a look as if asking Riku to praise her for

  studying the abstract intentions of humans.

  Riku frowned and replied.

  "Do not go out of this room——this is the meaning. You understand?"

  "...............Don't understand."

  ShuVi widely opened her round eyes and muttered out in complaint.

  "....Close, eyes...Designated [vicinity where Riku can see]....Unable to change..."

  ShuVi tilted her head, insistent on not agreeing. Then, Coron's voice came in.

  "Ah, right! Ehh~ Although I feel like I'm interrupting your good stuff~...."

  "We didn't do any good stuff.....What do you have?"

  "Ah, that? I feel it would be best if both of you were to take a bath! Especially ShuVi, since ShuVi had some bad experiences, this Nee-chan needs to help her

  clean her body thoroughly~ like such♪"

  Hearing this, Riku signaled to ShuVi using his eyes.

  ——[You must coordinate with her words]

  Not knowing if this intention was passed on, ShuVi firmly nodded her head and

  replied.

  "...Riku said..ShuVi's body.....Cannot let other people see."

  ——as expected, I should've kil ed this guy off.

  Riku was slowly losing his consciousness, the door however was full of Coron's

  laughter, who then answered

  "Ahhhh~Really♪ So you already tamed her eh? ~ If this is my brother, it indeed

  is at an amazing speed❤ "

  "Coron....Please. I beg you. Please shut up——"

  "Then I'l leave ShuVi-chan to you then~ I already removed everyone from the

  bathhouse, so this is the best opportunity oh!?"

  "——stop your hand movements!"

  After Coron stretch her hands in and inserted her right index finger into the hole

  created by the left hand, she ran away like the wind.

  ...........

  The only ones left was the intensely fatigued Riku and ShuVi who was on his

  body.

  "——its about time you get down from my body right?"

  "...Un."

  Riku started thinking while facing against ShuVi who left his body in accordance

  to his instructions.

  ......It was useless to say anything anymore.

  As a result, everyone would know that he was a lolicon[1] and the fact that he successfully tamed a war refugee.

  But——Riku felt, at least it was better than getting discovered for bringing an

  Ex-Machina back.

  "....You, won't you have any problems with ingestion and bathing?"

  In order to mask the fact that she was a Ex-Machina, she neede to mimic

  humans at least——

  ".......It means, human beings...actions...?"

  "————you.......You can understand my intentions at this timing, why is...."

  Riku was beginning to suspect if she was doing this on purpose, but he felt that

  it must have being the difference in thinking as she is an Ex-Machina and he

  was a human. Un, I should keep the opinions to myself.. [2]

  ".....Ingestion....Not needed. Humanity's precious resources......No need to

  waste...."

  Is she respecting our situation here? This is.....I really don't understand——I

  shall keep my opinions to myself.

  "But you'l be suspected if you don't eat. At least eat a little. It shouldn't affect your body right?"

  ".....Un. Simply decompose it...Pointless..."

  "I'l give part of my share to you. This way the food situation wouldn't change

  ——"

  Riku didn't allow ShuVi to refuse before continuing.

  "Against water——"

  "....No, problems....ShuVi, anti-water, anti-fire, anti-dust, anti-bullet, anti-explosion, anti-demons, anti-elemental particles...."

  "You really are an unreasonable race. Then just pretend to be bathing——"

  "....But....Anti-fouling...No function."

  "You even had anti-explosion right? Unless this is a mechanical defect?"

  "...If, usage of, elemental particles is available....Cleaning, self-cleaning

  device...But, Riku, said, not to use...."

  ShuVi protested, looking a bit angry.

  "Damn, with things like this, just let it be wrong already. Taking advantage of Coron's misunderstanding——"

  "....Riku, help....Clean ShuVi..."

  Facing ShuVi who was nodding deeply with a determined tone, Riku hugged his

  head.

  "Why should I.....You aren't a kid anymore, just do it yourself ah."

  In a logical manner, ShuVi used her finger to point out the problems.

  "....Firstly, take advantage of the empty bathhouse... ShuVi alone... With Riku,..
.

  don't lose opportunity."

  ——.

  "....Secondly, ShuVi, some parts, cannot clean....Unless self-cleaning

  device....Never clean before myself."

  Then——

  "....Thirdly, deduced....No reason....To refuse bathing together with ShuVi. As expected, against a young majestic beauty like——"

  "Okay okay, I get it....Let's go."

  Riku spurred on his heavy body that was deprived of sleep to stand up.

  ——Riku understood that it was impossible to win against an Ex-Machina in

  arguments.

  Part 8

  Riku dropped the stone which was burnt red into the cauldron fil ed with water.

  The moment it was dropped in, the small bathroom got fil ed up wth bil owing

  steam. The steam was used to sweat out any impurities in the body, which

  would then be rinsed off with water. This was how humans showered.

  But because ShuVi did not have sweat glands, Riku had to wipe the dust and

  mud gathered on her body with a rag dipped in warm water.

  With the close observation, the finesse and complexity of ShuVi's body awed

  Riku.

  Riku had studied all kinds of Dwarven equipment that utilized elemental

  particles, yet he couldn't make sense of the machinery parts ShuVi was

  revealing.

  However, because of this——Riku understood that it was one of the more

  superior parts.

  "....Riku.....Machinery, crazy....?"

  "Why does someone like you, who is from a high-class Ex-Machina race, keep

  having the wrong guesses...or is it because your knowledge is all prejudice?"

  Riku's voice sounded surprised, ShuVi who looked justified replied.

  ".....Imanity's, thinking.....Is related to the [Heart]....Unable to predict.....The specific point."

  ..........

  In the silenced room, there was only the sound of dripping water.

  Maybe she wanted to break the awkward silence, ShuVi suddenly said.

  "....Riku, play...A game?"

  "Here in the bathroom? Why?"

  "............Because [Bored]....?"

  ShuVi asked it in the from of a question as if she didn't understand the meaning,

  prompting Riku to give a bitter smile before replying.

  "Well, I guess we could.....But the use of elemental particles is prohibited, the chessboard——"

  As if knowing that he would say these words.

  ——or maybe ShuVi had this intention from the start,

  Taking off the hood, she retrieved a chessboard hidden inside the hat and

  showed it to Riku.

  "...Ha, I get it. But since I'm helping you wash your hair, there can't be any time limits oh."