READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 165
“What a late start!”
I somehow overslept today.
As the sun climbed high into the sky, casting its expansive light over the ground, I opened the window and was greeted by the biting cold air typical of winter filling the laboratory inside.
“So peaceful…”
As I gazed down at the silent ground below, that thought naturally crossed my mind. Even though I had found traces of the eye in the sky linked to the earth, the world remained peaceful.
“C-could this be bad news!”
“…Good morning, Ayle. So, what’s the issue?”
“A rabbit! It’s a rabbit!”
Hearing “rabbit,” I assumed Levitan had pulled another stunt and headed to the bathroom. After a quick wash and changing clothes, I stood before Ayle again, who was staring blankly this way only to jump and blurt out again.
“A rabbit, a rabbit appeared!”
“I see Levitan did something again.”
“N-no! Not Levitan! I mean, a rabbit!”
“…?”
Confused for a moment, Ayle quickly pulled out her smartphone and showed me a video. It featured androids with rabbit ears wandering the streets.
Looking at the gleaming, copper-colored chrome android, I couldn’t help but think how strange the taste of its creators was. Either style them like humans or like androids—what was this, just a hunk of metal carved into a human shape?
And more importantly— I didn’t get why it was such a big deal. Androids were pretty common technology now. Some big corporations were already rushing to have one android per household.
What was so significant about this bizarrely designed android? I thought that, until I suddenly froze at the next part of the video.
[What’s up with this tin can? Who’s this on the street…?]
[Another viral campaign from some company?]
[Hello～ Who made this?]
The person filming approached the androids with great excitement. The android had been calm until the moment the filmmaker laid a hand on it—
[—Name, Choi Bong. Recently disposed of recyclables in a regular trash bag. Multiple jaywalkings. Spitting on the street harms nature. Posting unwarranted slanderous comments about others online.]
[W-what?]
[Judgment: human waste. Correction implemented.]
[Don’t come near… huh?]
The copper chrome android transformed. A cloak of fluffy white fur enveloped it, maintaining long rabbit ears while its face morphed into something between human and beast. Honestly, it looked cute.
In an instant, the transformed android grabbed the man’s body and pulled him in, starting to pet his head. Whether some special chemical was leaking from its metallic fingers, the man’s expression softened instantly.
[That’s right, that’s right. No more mischief now.]
[Ah, mama…]
[Mama will take care of you.]
The video ended there, but my bewilderment was undeniable. The technology displayed in that video was no joke.
‘Morphing? Or is it holography? Though it felt too natural for that…’
The idea of metal morphing so smoothly—this was technology even I hadn’t conceived yet. There was no reason for metal to feel like fur. All I had was mangled steel that would just repair itself over time.
While I pondered seriously about the technology used in the video, Ayle added context.
“B-by the way, this person posted an apology on his SNS. He apologized for everything he’s done so far…”
“…Oh, I see. Since he’s become a good person, isn’t that a good thing?”
“T-that’s not the point! Look!”
Ayle handed me her smartphone, filled with stories following the video about how a rabbit android had helped rehabilitate some individuals.
This mysterious rabbit android was surprisingly going around rehabilitating the so-called social losers, helping everyone whether they were villains or citizens alike.
Whoever it was, it seemed like a good thing. Society was getting a bit healthier, right? Sure, it was clear some unordinary means were involved…
“W-wait, what’s wrong with rehabilitating people who’ve let life slip away? They can escape being shut-ins, right? Isn’t that good?”
“That’s exactly why it’s a huge problem!”
While I tilted my head at Ayle, who kept babbling, a realization struck me like lightning. I carefully slipped out of the laboratory and headed for the hallway.
The Evil Organization headquarters, usually packed with people… for some reason, it was totally empty. Only the sound of thumping from the gym echoed through the halls.
“No way…”
“Yes, that’s right! Exactly what you think!”
The suddenly appearing rabbit androids… were the so-called Rehabilitation Enforcers. They were looking to rehabilitate those considered social losers.
And just so happened that the Evil Organization was doing something similar—a sort of welfare system aimed at helping those who fell through the cracks of society. Naturally, the majority of the organization’s members were just the sort of societal losers the rabbit androids targeted.
“Half of our members have already fallen victim!”
In other words, from the perspective of that rabbit android—
Our members were prime prey.
I sighed, already imagining the trouble I would have dealing with Regalia pestering me to resolve this. Really felt like I was living a scene out of a comic.
————————
The Moon Person landed on Earth and immediately set out to find their targets. Using a karma system to evaluate and identify those likely to commit crimes.
The problem was, having spent so long dormant on the moon, the system had undergone some modifications. Originally meant for only the worst of the worst criminals—those who would have served lengthy sentences—it had been applied even to minor offenders.
[Name, Zra. Stuffed toilet paper from a public restroom into the toilet, causing a blockage. Correction implemented.]
“What? What even is… ugh…”
The special chemical agents released from their metallic bodies scrambled human brains. In an instant, they rendered individuals incapable of self-judgment, correcting them as the Moon Person desired.
Originally a robot meant to help criminals reintegrate into society after serving their time, now it became a helper robot created to forcibly reintroduce individuals who couldn’t otherwise return to society.
The reason such a robot was stashed in the moon base’s secret armory was simple: to suppress any criminal with even the slightest hint of rebellion instantly.
[Name, Nau. Special robbery and theft. Correction implemented.]
“What’s this tin can… go away—!”
The Villain’s superpower grazed the Moon Person’s flesh. However, the Moon Person nonchalantly regenerated its body and leaped forward. It was the power of transformation at work, changing shape in an instant.
Before long, the Moon Person clung to the Villain and released chemicals from its body that weakened humans. The metals used in the androids had the effect of awakening individuals.
“Ugh, ugh…”
[It’s fine. You didn’t kill anyone. Well done. Such a good boy, such a good boy…]
“Ah, ugh…”
The Villain, clinging to the Moon Person and starting to mumble as if they’d become a baby, even began to shed tears. The Moon Person looked on with sympathy, petting their head.
Such events were happening simultaneously around the world. Naturally, heroes were struggling to come up with a solid response.
“What do we do now?”
“First, we should prohibit contact with the robots…”
“But there are cases where they come looking for people directly. That won’t be enough…”
The heroes found themselves in a bind too, as the actions of these robots were somewhat lacking in criminality. They were effectively helping to subdue Villains and rehabilitating the downtrodden back into society.
The act of altering human minds was seen as trivial just because the targets were merely criminals and societal dregs.