Loved by the War Machine

13 – Having Emotions for Robots (2)

The steel plates bursting open.

The loud splattering of blood and flesh.

The bodies, exploding even more from the impact of bullets, presented a sight not seen for quite a while.

“We’ve consumed 10% of the ammunition.”

“We still have a distance to the city entrance. Halt it around 20%.”

“I understand. 12%.”

As I listened to the muffled sound coming through the closed window, I slightly opened the cylinder of the revolver.

All six rounds were loaded properly.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of metal colliding from the side, and I turned my head –

“We’re ready.”

There was someone who had inserted a magazine and pulled the slide back.

Although their face was hidden behind a helmet, the slight nod of their head reminded me of the old days.

“15%.”

Now I could somewhat tell that the attackers had taken cover,

and the rate at which the ammunition was decreasing was slowing down.

“17%. The vehicle’s AI has confirmed all targets eliminated.

But I can still see the enemy’s positions.”

I could see Ilia’s field of vision in front of me.

Is it thermal imaging?

I saw the white figure of a person on the familiar gray screen.

The floor was also filled with white puddles.

“Will those things jump out?”

“The safest way is to break through the obstacles and proceed as planned.”

“But the bumper will get damaged.”

Feeling the silence around me, I slowly rotated the cylinder of the revolver.

Click. With the sound, my head tingled.

“To my left, any enemies?”

“Yes. About three are hiding.”

“Switch the shooting system to manual mode.”

[Confirmed damage to vehicle armor. Transferring control.]

A crosshair appeared on the screen before my eyes.

However, it wasn’t me moving.

“Control secured.”

Illya, who had quickly connected, seemed oddly excited.

As an artificial intelligence created for war, this situation seemed very familiar to him.

“Only fire up to 20%. Single shots.”

“Ready.”

“Fire.”

– Bang.

The car jerked once.

Simultaneously, white fireworks erupted on the black and white screen.

– Bang.

The guy hiding behind the wall trembled.

Seems like he caught on,

– Bang.

With this, all enemies on my side of the door were eliminated.

But pressing the button was still pending.

“What’s the remaining ammo count?”

“Currently, 173 rounds have been used out of 1000.”

“I’m taking down those bastards with 27 rounds. I’ll look back as I do it.”

Still, it felt much better to have two people than just one.

If I were alone, I’d probably be turning my head here and there, trying to find those invisible guys—

and inevitably dealing with the damn repair bill.

“No, it’s not allowed. There’s a risk involved. Cover me, and after I finish shooting, I’ll perform a side attack.”

As I reached for the button to open the door, Illya grabbed my hand.

Opening the visor of her helmet, the guy on the other side looked at me through the visual sensor.

The actions of this guy, resembling humans quite a bit in a mechanical way, were quite… interesting.

“Just -“

“Lord Taehyuk, please consider the injury to your knee. I request cover fire from behind the armored vehicle.”

– Thud.

26 shots.

Blood was pouring down from a pillar behind Illya.

“Lord Taehyuk.”

He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

There was nothing wrong with what he said.

On the day when the yellow dust was blowing, perhaps he had been too reckless.

Pressing on the brakes, feeling the protesting legs, he bit his lower lip slightly.

“… If you get hurt, I won’t stay still.”

“You don’t need to worry.”

“I won’t stay still.”

“I’ll be careful.”

The chassis shook a few more times.

Opening the visor, I grabbed the shoulders of the one still looking at me.

“I trust you.”

I immediately pressed the button and opened the door.

The building in front of my eyes, or the ruins where bullets had passed, were desolate.

Were they attacked from the village of planks or the same place as Dal-dong neighborhood?

“We have 5 rounds left. Get ready.”

Smoke rose from the glowing gun barrel.

With a gunshot signaling that would have burst your eardrums if not for the helmet, I moved from the car to the wreck blocking the way.

Arms and gun barrels gradually coming into view.

The body, thrown away as the wall was pierced, was pitiful beyond words.

“Just one shot left. I’ll prepare for a detour.”

“We’re ready on this end too.”

Slowly leaning against the wreckage, the barrel was discreetly extended.

At the same time, sounds could be discerned from the front.

“…Damn, damn it… Did, did we shoot them all?”

“I don’t know, I don’t know. Let’s bail from here, quickly…!”

“If we turn back here, we’re done for with the big boss.

At least, we need to drag that car back to have some excuse…!”

Damn, were these ignorant fools unaware of whose car this was from the start?

And the big boss? Were there any gangs around here reckless enough to pull off such antics?

Suddenly, the memory of the day the truck overturned flashed by.

“We’re moving.”

A faint sound of kicking the ground came from the side.

Simultaneously, enemies subtly revealing themselves from the front.

“There, there, over there!”

There were about five remaining.

Even after firing so much, it was surprising how much was still left.

Whether they took the wrong route or genuinely intended to build a fortress and go all out, I didn’t know.

I chose the wrong opponent.

“ㅆ -“

The revolver in my hand spewed fire.

As soon as I pulled the trigger, I slightly twisted my hand, smacking the ball with my hand.

Two shots almost simultaneously, hitting the head and torso of one guy.

The splattering blood created chaos in the surroundings.

“D, two, two of them!”

I immediately sat behind cover, pulled out two cartridges.

And one bullet, another one.

Filled them in that way.

Four left.

“Illia.”

“Initiating combat.”

On the 200th shot, the shell popped out of the turret.

At the same time, the sound of consecutively bursting air was heard from behind.

Suddenly, Illia’s screen was small on the front monitor.

“…damn.”

Gripping the handgun with both hands,

Quickly putting two shots into the chests of the enemies, and one into the head, was a textbook tactic.

However, despite being a semi-automatic pistol, the bullets spewing out rapidly seemed very impressive.

The four of them were quickly overwhelmed without a chance to counterattack.

However, whether it was due to the recoil or the cover, two of them still had their heads intact and were still breathing.

“Hmm, hmm…”

A man groaned as the wind escaped from his lungs.

“Gurgle, gurgle…”

Another man covered his mouth as blood dripped out, staining the cloth.

– Thud.

– Thud.

With those two shots, the surroundings fell completely silent.

“We have eliminated all nearby threats.”

Only after hearing those words was I able to stand up from my position.

I tried to manipulate the helmet’s screen with my hand to switch the turret to guard mode, but –

“I am in control. You can rest assured.”

Immediately, I heard Iria’s voice over the radio.

As she said, the turret slowly rotated 360 degrees, standing guard.

“Good job.”

“Are you injured?”

“I only took two shots.”

“And you hit both shots. It’s an impressive accuracy even upon second glance.”

The memory suddenly surfaced of Miguel, the sniper, with whom I often engaged in shooting competitions.

Of course, he was a monstrous guy who could pierce a hole right in the center of the shooting range, but…

Illya, walking out of the chaotic building, looked at me with a blank expression and reached out, grabbing me straight away.

Although I tried to shake off the sensation of shivers running through me, feeling the touch even through the trench coat –

“It’s okay.

You don’t have to shake.

Both Taehyuk and I are alive without a scratch.”

Only then did I realize that the hand holding the gun was trembling.

After releasing the finger from the trigger and leaning on him to relieve the tension in my neck –

“Have you calmed down?”

“…Thanks.”

Feeling the sensation returning to my hand, I could safely tuck the revolver into the holster.

Is it because I’m back in a place where bullets rain down after a long time?

My heart was beating a bit faster.

“I’ll prepare for barricade removal.

I recommend you take a short break for now.”

“Taking a break here is suicidal.

I’ll rest a bit in the car later, join me.”

The crumpled car seemed to have wheels in decent condition.

A steel plate with a hole in it for manipulating only the side brake.

It proved that it was not a random act of looting.

I reached in and released the brake, positioning the car towards the alley where it had come out.

Iria stood on the opposite side, gripping the crumpled frame tightly with her hands.

“Well then, on three.”

“Yes.”

“Three!”

With a force that was embarrassingly overestimated, the car immediately surged forward as soon as I applied a little pressure.

It tilted slightly towards me and rolled, then came to a stop as it crashed into the inside of a building.

It was evidence of Iria’s considerable strength.

Surely the base was a household android.

Just how much enhancement had been made to its output?

“I will return to the vehicle.”

“…Alright.”

Looking at the chaotic street, I climbed back into the car and gripped the steering wheel once again.

The jeep moved beyond the newly formed road.

Leaning against the soft seat, I felt the tension slowly dissipate.

Was it because of that?

My eyes blinked slowly.

“Mr. Taehyuk, I will drive in your place.”

“Uh, no. I’ll keep holding on.”

“You look quite tired. It’s better if I drive.”

“Anyway, we need to check if this kind of thing has happened before.

Just – would it be okay if I asked for something to help me stay awake a bit?”

“Alright. I’ll search for a solution.”

Searching for a solution, huh.

…I hope he didn’t bring back something weird from the internet.

“Mr. Taehyuk, over here.”

How much time has passed?

I heard the voice of the guy calling me right away.

But why do I hear an alert saying the seatbelt is unbuckled?

“Illya, why did you -“

Oh,

My goodness.

“Did you lose sleep?”

“Hey!!!!!!!”

He immediately lifted up the blanket and let it fall down.

A bare chest with the hoodie zipper pulled all the way down.

And, holding the chest with his hand?

“I’ve detected a rapid increase in excitement level.”

“Are you mocking me right now?”

“No, I’m not. I’ve simply learned that this behavior is very effective.”

He was right. The effect was undeniable. The peculiar posture that flashed before my eyes wouldn’t leave my mind.

“Stop it, seriously. Especially when there are other people around –”

I somehow managed to turn my head away from him, trying to slightly close my eyes, which kept moving on their own.

However,

[Warning, gaze has been diverted for an extended period.]

[Vehicle will come to a stop in 3 seconds.]

“First, let’s buckle up again,” I heard the warning sound, barely regaining my composure, and looked ahead.

The ear-piercing alarm blended with the mechanical warning voice, persistently echoing.

“Understood. And I won’t engage in such behavior in front of others.”

“…I’m going crazy, seriously.”

Putting him in an android with a body resembling that of a human woman seemed like a mistake.

Such a feeling, I felt it intensely.