Chapter 61

I was spinning lazily in a swivel chair in the tech room, lost in thought.

There’s one thing I’ve been thinking ever since I was born into this world.

Isn’t everyone a little too obsessed with cybernetics?

…Well, I mean, it’s rich coming from me, considering I was just getting a bunch of implants until recently.

I know it sounds ridiculous, but after calmly thinking it over for a while, I came to one conclusion: Tony Stark was a genius.

Tony Stark—Iron Man’s real identity and the walking breakthrough of mechanical engineering.

Instead of fully cybernetizing his body, he opted for a detachable power suit. Stronger that way, right? Basically the polar opposite of Adam Smasher.

"But, y’know, stealth infiltration and direct shootouts are kind of the norm in Night City. Do you really have time to suit up? No, right? So it makes sense everyone just goes full-body cyber from the get-go..."

I mean, it’s not like I can make a suit that parasitically bonds like Venom and turns into a mutant getup. Hell, the latest Iron Man tech was nanomachines—totally out of reach.

So that leaves one option… I’ve gotta go full custom mod on this cyber body.

Resetting my cyberware gave me more options.

First and foremost: anti-quickhack countermeasures. And it’s already decided—I’m optimizing for mobility.

Sandevistan puts a huge strain on the nervous system, but the boost to combat performance is on a whole other level.

Whether you have it or not can completely flip the tide of battle—it’s a devil of a system.

But the burden it places is intense.

That said, I’ve already swapped out my spine for a neural-enhanced artificial one, so installing a Sandevistan is easy. The problem is…

That murderous instant processing speed and unshackled muscular control—while amazing—still only operate within the limits of human capability.

After using it, the headaches and muscle pain hit like a truck during cooldown. Whether or not I can run faster than a car during activation depends entirely on my potential.

Which means dodging weapons and bullets becomes the standard move. If I want to engage in melee, I’ll need actual skill.

"If I only need short bursts, thrusters might do the job. A human body’s light, so I wouldn’t need much propellant—definitely less clunky than flying some huge hunk of metal."

A good example would be the 3D Maneuver Gear from Attack on Titan.

That one uses anchor shots for range and speed, but for short, repeated bursts, I can ditch the anchor mechanism.

For human-scale application, air jets with a simple propulsion system are smarter than chemical thrusters.

Thinking about what happens if it gets destroyed is pointless.

Because if I were flesh and blood, I’d just bleed out anyway—no difference.

First, I’ll run a simulation using one of Delamain’s bodies.

Trying to attach a prototype unit to my leg on a whim is just dumb.

…Wait, what if I adapted the Gorilla Arm mechanism for my legs?

Combine it with reinforced tendons and I could get some monstrous strength—that opens a lot of doors.

In that case, no need for the legs to even look human during operation.

"…This is starting to feel like I’m building a human-sized Armored Core. I’m getting hyped!"

Make the design sleek, sprinkle in a pinch of crazy for flavor.

Outer surface? RealSkin—nah, visible mechanics are way cooler. I’ll go with a coating.

Minimize wiring waste, go full rugged durability…

"Hmm… gotta say, even I think this blueprint’s crazy. It’s so expensive it’s basically a one-off. Peak psycho. …Yosh!"

I’ll have Delamain print the parts later and assemble it myself.

Now I wanna mod both arms too. I’ll make them swappable with medical-grade chrome arms and build in a conversion mechanism.

Just straight Gorilla Arms would be boring—I want something extra…

Maybe something safe like Mantis Blades?

But I’m not planning on going melee, and I’d just lose in a skill matchup.

So maybe a Projectile Launcher?

But packing explosives in your arms? Sounds like a one-way ticket to boomtown—no thanks.

I need something convenient, easy to use…

"No idea, man. Most situations can be handled with a suppressed rifle for assassinations. So maybe I should focus on cyberware that deals major damage? …Electric, heat, chemical… hmm. Oh! What if I loaded stun bolts into needles and launched them? …That’d look sick!"

A needle launcher with stun bolt tips that detonate an EMP on impact—how cool is that?

…According to my estimates, each needle would cost about as much as an epic-tier gun. But I’m cutting labor costs, so it’s priceless. Yosh.

It’s only material costs that suck—the price doesn’t change—so dumb!

Man… I’ve done this kind of stuff before, but it’s just too damn fun.

Really drives home how bad the daemon interference was until now.

I password-lock the two completed blueprints and save the data.

…If I’m modding my limbs, maybe I should tweak the internals too?

Makes sense—Adam Smasher’s approach really was the optimal solution in Night City.

Flip-flopping is practically a law here—might as well lean into it.

"But still… if I go that far, what’s the point of staying human? That’s crossing into no-humanity territory. And honestly, I don’t wanna lose that much of myself."

Bulletproof, bladeproof, heatproof, coldproof clothing… isn’t that just a Taimanin suit?

Sure, it gets shredded all the time, but it never actually cuts skin, so I guess it works.

Maybe I’ll develop a leotard-style cybersuit like Yukikaze’s.

Layer it with synthetic carbon fiber and non-Newtonian fluid for max defense, throw a SAMURAI jacket on top…

That’s pure cyberpunk. Yosh.

And hey, a black inner suit on a flat-chest body? That combo slaps—totally photogenic.

Since I’ve got modded limbs, it’s actually the perfect solution. Maximum range of motion and the clothes won’t tear—huge bonus.

"…Wait, is this turning into a doujin eroge? I should probably tone down the skin exposure."

A normal netrunner-style cybersuit is fine, actually.

My over-caffeinated brain almost took that idea somewhere real weird. Close call.

Feels like I’m floating mentally, even though I haven’t had a drink yet…

While I kept spinning the chair and brainstorming suit designs, the office intercom upstairs buzzed.

…Who’s that?

David should be chilling with Gloria at his family’s gun shop today, and the V crew’s still out in the Badlands.

『Jugra, Rebecca and Lucy have arrived and say they want to talk. Shall I let them in?』

『Hmm? That’s a rare combo. Well, I’m free anyway, so yeah, I’ll come over—let ’em in. Put out some snacks and tea, would you?』

『Understood.』

I got a holocall from Delamain, but… why are David’s potential girlfriends here?

David’s birthday is still a ways off, and Main’s reported that there’s no issue with the Edge Runners’ operations. So seriously, what’s this about?

When I took the elevator up to the second floor, I found Rebecca and Lucy—dressed just like I remembered them—sitting solemnly on cushions.

The tea and snacks set out in front of them were untouched, but… why are they so tense?

"It's my bad. I was working downstairs. Been a while since we met face to face. The health check is scheduled for the end of the month, but is something wrong?"

"Ah—um, so… we kinda wanted to talk to you about something, Jugra… It’s about David."

"…Hm? Something you need my help with?"

"…I know it’s weird to say this to his employer, but… we want you to take David back. As a member of the Edge Runners."

…Huh? Take David back?

"What do you mean by ‘take David back’? I only sent him off for training—he’s not technically part of the Edge Runners. So what, you’re saying you want to poach him?"

"Y-yeah, that’s basically it. I mean… we’re kinda stuck without him, in a lotta ways. You get what I mean, right?"

"…Hmm? But you’re not lacking in frontliners, are you? Maine’s been reporting in, and from what I’ve heard, everything’s fine."

"That damn Maine… acting like it’s someone else’s problem…"

Rebecca muttered Maine’s name with an F-word under her breath.

At the same time, Lucy put a hand to her forehead and looked up at the ceiling.

"Uh, so—are you saying there’s stuff going wrong on-site that just hasn’t been reported? And you’re here for a direct negotiation to fix that?"

『…Haa. Lady Jugra is not like you love-brained weaklings. Or rather, you’re completely failing to get your point across.』

"Delamain? What are you talking about—"

"Ahhh, come on! I told you, didn’t I?! This is why dealing with smart people sucks! We can’t even get a moment to talk to David! He’s always glued to Jugra!"

…?

Why not just call him on holo or something?

I tilted my head slightly, and Rebecca flopped face-down onto the table.

Lucy let out a deep sigh, and with dead eyes, finally spoke.

"…I thought I was ready for this, but seeing it firsthand kinda hurts… We like David. As women. Romantically."

"…Ah! So that’s what this is about! …Hm? But then, why come to me about it? It’s your love life—shouldn’t you handle it yourselves?"

When I said what I was thinking, this time Lucy sank into the table.

Rebecca sat up instead, slammed her hand on the table, and with a trembling mouth said:

"David’s so crazy about you, we don’t stand a chance! Arghh, damn it! Why the hell do I have to say something like that?!"

"…Wait, why are you taking it out on me? If you like David, just confess already."

『Uh—Lady Jugra? I don’t think anyone would confess when it’s so obvious they’d get rejected.』

"…Why not? You could still make him aware of your feelings. I mean, I can’t imagine any guy not being happy to get a confession from the cute Rebecca…"

Something about this conversation isn’t clicking.

Rebecca and Lucy exchanged looks, then turned toward me with serious expressions.

I mean… I’ve never dealt with romantic stuff like this, so I’m not exactly the right person to ask…

And Delamain’s gaze kinda feels suspicious too—did I do something?

"Umm, Jugra… you don’t like David?"

"I like David, but… I’m not in love with him."

"Ahh… I see. That explains it… I was wondering why things felt off. So your relationship with David is strictly boss and subordinate, and David’s got a big ol’ one-sided crush. Is that about right?"

"Well, I suppose that’s how it is. I don’t know what David feels exactly, but from an outside perspective, that’s what it must look like."

"『…………Haa』"

Eh, eeeeh…? They both just sighed super hard…

I mean, it’s not like David confessed to me, or I confessed to him. There’s nothing romantic going on at all.

Rebecca and Lucy both buried their heads in their hands, while Delamain shrugged with a “what can you do” gesture.

…Seriously, what do you want me to do here?

"Then, if we became David’s girlfriends, there’d be no problem—can we take it that way?"

"Yeah, I don’t mind… Huh? Wait, that’s what you came here to ask? Don’t you two have anything better to do?"

When I said what I was thinking out loud, their faces… well, I don’t really know how to describe them.

Maybe… confused but also angry? At least, that’s the emotional vibe I’m getting.

"…Are you really okay with that?"

Rebecca’s forceful question got a smile out of me as I nodded.

"If he can smile happily, that’s all that matters. He’s alive, after all—so anything’s possible."

Honestly, just the fact that David is still alive is already a miracle.

He was supposed to die beyond the Edge, entombed in that cold coffin they called the cyberskeleton, remember?

By now, in the original timeline, the only ones still alive would’ve been Lucy and Falco. Seeing Rebecca now, facing her feelings head-on with such sincerity—it’s something precious. Something truly beautiful.

"Life is both light and heavy. The speed toward death is the same for everyone. So while you're alive, do what you love. No one’s going to stop you."

That’s what I’ve been doing. So you two should do the same.

Go all out for the boy you love. Approach him. Fall in love.

That’s the healthier thing to do as girls.

Seriously… David, you sinful bastard. Even with such cute girls falling for you, you went and fell for a half-dead wreck like me.

"When the Arasaka situation’s over, I’ll give David some time off. By then… everything should be over."

Ah… by then, I’ll have faded into the shadow of “her,” quietly leaving this world.

Just like when Johnny left on his journey with Alt, I have to return this body to the personality it rightfully belongs to.

The dead should stay dead. Isn’t that right, Johnny?

Just like you pushed her forward, I’ll disappear too.

Because that’s definitely… the right thing to do.

I don’t even remember my past life anymore. All that’s left are the net memes and subculture I held onto.

I don’t remember my parents’ faces, or what I looked like before I died. Friends, acquaintances—not a single one.

Looking back now, it’s obvious: the fuse that was lit burned away my identity for fuel.

So it’s fine now. I just need to focus on fulfilling my role.

If it’s David—who now feels like a best friend—I’m sure he’ll get along with her just fine.

That’s why, Rebecca, Lucy… be there for him. He’s a good guy—my best friend.

…If only I could have actually said all that out loud.