Crossing the World
LX - Shelters (Karen)

I did say that my words were an order, but I was not that bad to the point of dragging Auri to leave with me. Therefore, I decided to return to the Shelter and let Auri think about it together with her father.

Actually, when I returned to the Shelter, I thought about taking Sergei instead of Auri. However, when the AI heard that, he said that the possibility for Sergei to be recognized was very high.

Well, he was one of the higher-ups in that place. I think it's quite reasonable if a lot of people know him. Moreover, he was a person who was being hunted by the residents. Taking him would endanger me, too.

"Actually I'd rather you don't go there. There's no particular reason that forces you to leave."

Well ... what AI says is true. Now I have the source of water from the earth. In addition, other things that I could not find in the Shelter I could also find on earth easily. So, there's actually not much profit I get from the oasis. However ...

"... i'm very curious about their civilization. Besides, it's possible that I can get information we've never known before."

"Isn't that not worth the risk?"

"Oh, come. I have a wireless teleporter and can run away at any time. In addition, I will also wear a carbon primorial suit and bring a cyborg unit with me. My weaponry will also be very complete. There won't be any trouble even if there's a big war there."

Come to think of it, putting lives at risk just to satisfy curiosity sounds absurd. However, from the beginning I was indeed lacking in emotion when compared to the other Shelter Dwellers. My fear was minimal and the empathy I had was almost non-existent.

Life like this might sometimes help in the face of various emotional difficulties such as the loss of loved ones and having to accept the fact that I am the only living Shelter resident. However, I am certain that one day I will face a terrible calamity thanks to my inability to avoid dangerous things.

Well, I guess there's nothing to worry about. I have an AI and all the properties that are in the Shelter are also mine. Even if all the civilizations on earth were to unite and point their fangs at the Shelter, I believe we can still achieve victory despite the sheer margin.

After waiting until the afternoon, I teleported again to the front of Auri's house to pick her up. Why did I choose the afternoon? There are many factors that can be used as reasons. However, the biggest factor is the limited field of view of a person when the day before night. I think it'll be easier to infiltrate the city when the sun is almost completely submerged.

My right hand knocked on the door just like the day before. Then, a rowdy voice could be heard from inside the house for a while. For some reason I feel like de javu.

Did Auri experience panic again like the day before?

When the door opened violently and a large human figure stood right before me with breathless breaths, I could at least guess what was really going on inside.

"Are you in the middle of a forbidden relationship to defend yourself from extinction?"

I asked in an uninterested tone, waiting for Sergei to reply to my strange question.

Of course I know such an absurd thing cannot happen. My previous question was just a joke to make Sergei feel more comfortable when talking to me. You see, what he was about to convey was most likely his unwillingness to send Auri back to the oasis.

Sergei told me to enter politely, positioning himself against me while Auri was beside him. After his breathing pattern returned to normal, he began to speak his thoughts directly.

"Please think back to what you asked Auri."

Oh? It turns out her nickname is Auri, huh? Well, I don't think it's hard to guess his nickname.

"If I were to set out on my own, it would be difficult for me to browse through the city and see the situation there." In short, I need a guide.

"Can't you undo your intention to go there? The situation in the oasis is completely unstable. It's too dangerous to go there."

I understand what he's worried about. However, it was not like I had the free time to wait until the state of the oasis improved. There were too many things that I needed to take care of after all the supporting furniture of the game was delivered. In addition, we also need to start the manufacture of space spacecraft in order to mine water from the sky.

Leave now or not at all. I think that's the only option I have. Of course choosing not to leave would also not hurt me. However, I personally want to visit it at least once before the place is swept away by the flood that I will bring from the sky later.

Looking at me who was speechless without responding to his request, Sergei spoke again.

"At least don't take Auri there. In exchange, you can take me."

"How many people do you think recognize you? Aren't you the one who said you were the target of the population's indecency?"

Sergei was silent when he heard my words. It might be difficult for him to break the argument I just uttered. In the end, there was nothing he could do to convince me.

I started to stand up from my seat and spoke a few words before deciding to leave.

"I'll give you one more day to think."

After saying that sentence, I decided to return to the Shelter.

I guess I'll have to wait another day before I can actually go there. After all, it took me a while to visit the artificial island just to see how things were progressing there.