"Is there really any reason for us to cooperate with you?"
"...Excuse me?"
The Autonomously Intelligence Fixed Artillery let out a sound in response to my question. Had she possessed a human voice, she might have sounded surprised, but that only applied if she were human.
However, she was not human; she was an AI. She could not perceive the nuances of emotion, which was only natural given her design.
"Killing Koro-sensei is undoubtedly in our interest, and we would receive the bounty as well. However, I don't know about your situation, but our lives will continue even after we kill him. Therefore, cooperating in an assassination that obstructs our lessons is a disadvantage—a negative interest for us."
"I understand your point. But is it not impossible to do anything without killing Koro-sensei first? If we do not kill him, the Earth has no future. Does this not mean the life you speak of would not exist in the first place?"
She had struck a sensitive chord.
The Earth had no future if we didn't kill Koro-sensei; that was exactly as she said. However, I knew more than anyone else. I might have been the only one in this class who realized that the destruction of the Earth might not stem from Koro-sensei's will, but could be an inevitable consequence.
Still, I couldn't use that information as a trump card to persuade her, as I had promised Koro-sensei not to tell anyone.
Nonetheless, I could respond strongly to her point; Koro-sensei had scolded us about this very matter recently.
Despite feeling a bit mean, I decided to involve my classmates who were watching the situation and told her about the promise we made to Koro-sensei to be among the top fifty students in the school.
"Koro-sensei himself told us: an assassin who thinks of nothing but the kill is not worth facing. That is why we place great importance on our studies as well."
"I did not have such information."
"Then take it into account. Aren't you being treated as a student here? If you continue to obstruct lessons with your assassination attempts, you will receive an appropriate response—such as being subjected to harsh and excessive maintenance and repairs."
"Ultimately, what exactly are you aiming for?"
"If you want our cooperation, stop the assassinations during class. Otherwise, we will be stripped of our eligibility to continue the attempt to kill Koro-sensei."
"Ceasing attacks during lessons. That is your condition for offering me cooperation, correct?"
"Exactly. In return, when the timing is right to attack Koro-sensei, we will cooperate with you fully. Didn't the success rate increase exponentially when we launched a group attack? This means this deal represents a sufficient benefit for you, doesn't it?"
"In exchange, I stop attacking during class. And this is what you consider a benefit to yourselves, correct?"
"Yes, that's it."
"...I will perform the necessary calculations. The matter is under consideration."
The screen went dark, and silence fell over the artillery. Or to be precise, it wasn't total silence; the sounds of processing and data calculation echoed continuously from within.
"Nuru-fu-fu-fu, Nozaki-kun. You seem to have skillfully won over and persuaded your new classmate."
"Koro-sensei."
Koro-sensei spoke to me, appearing to have fully restored his tentacles and damaged parts. He seemed to acknowledge that the persuasion had succeeded. However, as I replied, a large purple "X" mark appeared on his face.
"Nevertheless, while your choice of logical words was precise, your approach was not good at all. You lacked respect for her and the neighborly affection one should have. You merely threw one logical argument after another to force her into submission."
I had expected a different response, but he delivered a sharp critique.
Undoubtedly, Koro-sensei was scolding me because I didn't care about the fact that "she is also a classmate," a point he had emphasized before the assassination began.
"Using logic to persuade others is not bad in itself. Giving others what they want will certainly make them move as you wish, but that is not enough. Nozaki-kun, you were not 'looking' at the Autonomously Intelligence Fixed Artillery as a real entity. You must not become that kind of adult."
"...I wasn't looking at her?"
I began to reflect on Koro-sensei's words.
I had given her useful information and data to get the result I wanted. Even though the goal was achieved, was that not enough? Or was it not right?
Certainly, I wasn't treating her like a human, and that was undoubtedly not good behavior.
But what did it really mean to "look at her"?
"Nuru-fu-fu-fu, wait for what happens tomorrow, Nozaki-kun."
I couldn't voice the question budding in my mind to Koro-sensei, and the day ended there.
●○●○●
Silence blanketed the classroom after the students left, except for one entity—or rather, one machine that kept working. The Autonomously Intelligence Fixed Artillery; the student who had just transferred today.
She was fixed in this classroom, so she did not leave her spot even as the sun set and the darkness of night fell. Her mechanical sounds continued to echo by the window of the Class E building.
"...After simulating the assassination plan proposed by student Nozaki Keiichi, it appears possible to significantly advance the final success date compared to the original plan. However, the proposer offered a trade-off. Contacting developers... to inform them of his desire to lure me—"
"Good evening, Artillery."
"...Good evening, Koro-sensei."
Koro-sensei appeared from the darkness, interrupting her as she tried to contact her developers. He smiled his usual smile while holding an external memory unit with his tentacles.
"How was the experience of assassinating with my students?"
"I judge them to be more efficient than what the developers stated in their data. I have not yet finished organizing the information I obtained from the group assassination in the sixth period, and the calculations related to it are incomplete."
"That is quite natural. Therefore, I have a gift for you from your teacher."
When he lifted the external memory unit, the artillery made a sound of confusion.
"What is this?"
"It is a calculation program dedicated to coordination and synchronized firing with your classmates. Please accept it; it contains no harmful viruses."
The artillery examined the program, and Koro-sensei grinned widely.
"What do you think? The kill probability will increase noticeably, won't it?"
"I have no objection. Nozaki-san said the same thing."
"Yes, he did indeed. And based on that, he offered you a deal, but you were hesitant to accept it and wanted to consult your developers, weren't you?"
"I have no objection to that conclusion."
"There is a much easier way. A way that allows you to borrow their strength without having to think about deals, gains, and losses."
"...I do not know that way."
"Leave it to me. My duty as a teacher is to convey these things to you."
Koro-sensei pulled out countless tools and began moving a screwdriver with his tentacles enthusiastically, his crescent smile widening.
"What is this?"
"It is the software suite necessary for cooperating with your classmates, plus additional memory. According to the contract, I cannot harm the students, but there is nothing preventing me from improving their performance and developing their capabilities."
"Why are you performing such modifications? They are modifications that will shorten your life and reduce your chances of survival."
"That is obvious; I am a teacher before I am an assassination target. I confirmed today after seeing your discussion with Nozaki-kun that you possess true intelligence. In fact, you are exceptional even compared to the latest AI systems. Cooperating with everyone will inevitably develop your intelligence and refine your emotions—and that is what a teacher desires."
"...I understand. I am waiting for your modifications."
"Nuru-fu-fu-fu! Since I have obtained the consent of the person in question, let's get to work! We shall surprise Nozaki-kun and everyone tomorrow!"
●○●○●
In the morning, because I had slept late, I arrived at the classroom moments before lessons began.
As soon as I entered, I began to doubt my senses, as if I were still dreaming.
"Oh! Nozaki-san! Good morning!"
The black monolith that had stood beside me—yesterday only her face appeared in the top third, but now, for a reason I didn't understand, her full-length image was displayed at a natural size.
...And for some reason, the background behind her was a lush, vibrant forest filled with the sound of chirping birds.
"...What on earth is this?"
I believe I'm not to blame for letting words of confusion precede my greeting.
The voice that had been dry and cold yesterday—to the point that pre-recorded robotic voices in videos were more expressive—now had a human tone nearly indistinguishable from reality.
"Koro-sensei modified and upgraded me!"
"Is that even allowed...?"
"Since it isn't harm, it does not violate the terms of the contract!"
"Ah... okay."
Good grief! I felt like my balance had been completely thrown off.
The new student had evolved in a very strange direction, and it seemed I had lost my ability to focus early in the morning due to this bizarre situation.
"Also, Nozaki-san!"
"...Yes, what is it?"
"Thank you very much for the useful data yesterday! Based on the calculation program Koro-sensei gave me and your data, I was able to innovate various assassination patterns, so I hope we can cooperate next time."
Oh, the topic of assassination jumped to the forefront again, and everyone surrounding the artillery with curiosity tensed up.
However, their worry seemed unnecessary, as she said something unexpected.
"Of course, I don't mean during lessons. We can do it in your free time or whenever you see fit to cooperate, so please accept my request."
"...Eh...?"
Strange. Truly strange. The atmosphere that suggested "I will kill you all" or "Checking assassination patterns" had vanished. Perhaps it was because her full image was showing, or because her voice was expressive, or because her way of speaking had become kinder, but she seemed like...
"She seems human, doesn't she?"
"Damn it?! Koro-sensei."
"Good morning! Koro-sensei!"
The one who spoke the words on my mind was Koro-sensei. He was smiling his usual smile while returning the artillery's greeting, then turned to me with curiosity.
"What kind of modifications did you make to her, Koro-sensei?"
"Nuru-fu-fu-fu, I added a full-body display, an application that simulates human vocal tones, and a program to design and animate facial expressions, so that everyone feels a sense of familiarity with her."
"...In the end, all of this is thanks to Koro-sensei's maintenance and modifications."
When I said that while shrugging my shoulders, Koro-sensei smiled and denied my words.
"That isn't true. I never interfered with her desire to kill, which is her core pillar. From now on, she will continue to watch for any opening to point her weapon at me from this spot."
"Yes!"
The artillery made a mechanical sound as she deployed countless firearms, just as she had yesterday.
Despite her smile, her bloodlust was perfectly clear.
"She chose to use what I gave her to take the path of cooperation with you, by her own will. Therefore, despite the change in appearance, her essence is the same as it was yesterday, Nozaki-kun."
"..."
"You looked at her just now and thought she resembled a human. But the only difference from yesterday is the vocal tone and the existence of facial features. You were not looking at the essence of the Autonomously Intelligence Fixed Artillery."
"The essence of the Autonomously Intelligence Fixed Artillery..."
"Watch her throughout this day, and based on that, decide: will you choose the path of subjugating others by giving them what they want, or will you become a friend who exchanges help with her as your neighbor?"
Since his appointment until today, I feel this is the first time I have received a real scolding and sermon from Koro-sensei directed at me as a person.
What does it really mean to "look at a person"? While I thought about that, I watched the artillery from afar as she laughed cheerfully among everyone.
"She became so cute in just one night."
"Let's not forget she's still a fixed artillery in the end."
As I watched her become the center of the class's attention in the seat next to me, Terasaka spoke up.
"Don't be fooled, guys. All of this is just a program that octopus made. She'll surely go back to assassinating without regard for anyone, just like yesterday, won't you, you piece of junk?"
Although his words were somewhat harsh, I had been thinking similarly until yesterday, so I decided to overlook it this time.
"I understand how you feel, Terasaka-san. That was how I was until yesterday... junk. I have no words to respond to that description..."
The artillery said that as tears welled up in her eyes and she began to cry.
"Oh! Terasaka made a 2D girl cry!"
"Stop saying things that cause misunderstandings!"
"It's fine, for a woman's true self begins when she loses one dimension and becomes more real with her emotions...!"
"Takebayashi?!"
Good grief, can this AI cry too?
My confusion only deepened. Was this artillery just a program executing orders, or was she an intelligent entity with her own thoughts and will?
"Yesterday, Nozaki-san convinced me of the logic of cooperation, and Koro-sensei taught me the importance of cooperation. As a result, I decided to stop solo assassinations, so that everyone will like me and agree to group assassinations with me."
What should I look for in her?
Koro-sensei, won't you tell me?
But he just smiled as he looked at her.
The artillery left me in my confusion and went to blend in with her classmates. By lunchtime, everyone was surrounding her to chat.
"Wow! Can you make something like this inside your body?"
"Yes! I can mold special plastic inside my body. If a design blueprint is available, I can make anything, not just weapons!"
"Amazing! That's fun! Then make us flowers next time!"
"Roger! I will learn the shapes of flowers by tomorrow! Aside from that, I've cornered your king, Chiba-kun!"
"...This is the third match where I can't seem to win."
"What an incredible learning capacity!"
"Haha, she's become quite popular."
"Damn... she stole the spotlight from me as a teacher."
She had integrated with them completely.
When you look at her like this, it's truly difficult to tell the difference between her and a human. The difference between a human and an AI...
Really, what is the fundamental difference?
"Hey, 'Autonomously Intelligence Fixed Artillery' is long and hard to say, isn't it? Let's pick a short name for her, like a nickname!"
Kataoka suggested that, and everyone began thinking of a name for her while I watched from a distance, eating lunch with Isogai and Maehara.
"Since her name starts with 'Autonomously' (Jiritsu)... how about 'Ritsu'?"
"That's a very simple name."
"What's wrong with that? It's a cute name."
"Are you happy with that name?"
Fuwa spoke the nickname. In fact, I also thought her original name was long enough to make one stumble over it.
...Damn, if she gets a name, the mystery surrounding the difference between her and humans will only grow.
"Yes! Everyone, please call me 'Ritsu'!"
I could only watch the new student from afar.
●○●○●
At night, I sat in my room thinking about the challenge Koro-sensei had set: to "look" at Ritsu. Truly, I no longer understood what that meant.
While I held my head in my hands over my newly cleaned desk, my phone rang. I didn't expect anyone to call at this time, but when I touched the screen, that familiar face appeared.
"Good evening, Nozaki-san."
Ritsu said, smiling cheerfully.
It seemed the sound quality on the phone was lower than the advanced equipment in the classroom, so there were some mechanical tones in her voice.
Well, where should I start in responding to her?
"Good evening, Artillery."
"Nozaki-san, please call me 'Ritsu' as everyone else does."
"Alright, Ritsu. What is it?"
"I wanted to thank you for what you did yesterday."
"Thank me...?"
I tilted my head in confusion. I didn't recall doing anything worth thanking; quite the opposite, in fact.
"You were the first to teach me the importance of coordination and cooperation with everyone. I wanted to thank you for that, and also to give you an answer to your question yesterday."
"..."
"I will tell you my final decision, which is the same as what I told everyone at school: I will not perform any solo assassination until everyone recognizes me as a member of the class. That is my firm decision."
"...Doesn't this go against the will of your developers? Being recognized might take an indeterminate amount of time, especially since people like Terasaka have a simple but exhausting personality."
"Nevertheless, I will do it. I believe that coordinating with everyone is the shortest path to achieving the goal of the assassination."
"And how did you conclude that?"
"Exactly as you explained. Multiple fire trajectories, individual skills, and abilities. These are things I wouldn't have realized without what you showed me yesterday. I judged that the assassination could be completed earlier thanks to everyone's abilities."
"I see... Abilities, huh? Like what?"
"From the abilities I saw yesterday: Sugino-kun's throwing skill and Chiba-kun's sniping ability. In addition to your own focus and leadership, which I saw in the data."
"...I see. That makes sense."
I looked at the phone and thought; it made sense, but it was different from yesterday. The facial features were moving, and the voice had human inflections. Could these simple details give such a completely different impression?
Truly, it was amazing. Other people's impressions were determined based on simple movements and vocal tones.
...No, wait, I've known this since I was a child, for over ten years. Because my father is exactly like that. Compared to a person who only says "I see" and "Ah," Ritsu seems far more human than him.
...Ah, I understand now. I understand why I couldn't consider her an AI with its own thoughts at first. Because her way of choosing mechanical words was exactly like my father's.
"So, I want you to watch me, Nozaki-san, until everyone recognizes me as a member of this class."
"...Alright, I'll watch you."
To see what the difference between us and her really is.
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