Who was once the assistant AI of AL-1S and now a being named Key, I had abruptly requested her cooperation.

"I don't understand."

Naturally, the other party frowned and responded negatively to my out-ofthe-blue request.

"Why should I do that? And if you follow that adult, why are you making this proposal alone?"

Key questioned me sharply, citing logical reasons. Perhaps because I mentioned Alice's name, she looked at me with even more guarded eyes than before.

However, instead of attempting a lengthy persuasion, I decided to use a somewhat drastic method immediately.

"Please take a look at this."

"What is it now...?"

When I suddenly displayed some strings of characters in front of her, the girl, though seemingly bewildered, calmly began to read the text, or rather, the code, that appeared before her eyes.

"...Huh?"

As Key continued to read the characters, her expression gradually shifted from puzzlement to shock. I calmly recited the identity of this code as if delivering a verdict.

"Explanation, this is the activation code for Emergency Protocol EN.LIL."

"Ugh...!"

Thump!

At that moment, I felt a dull impact on my body, and my vision flashed.

After a brief moment of pain, I opened my eyes to see a black-haired girl sitting on top of me, glaring at me with furious eyes. Such an intense reaction from an AI that had been relatively emotionless until recently was hard to believe.

...That hurt more than I thought, maybe I shouldn't have let her.

Actually, this space and her body were both realized through my calculations, so blocking this attack would have been simple, but I deliberately didn't. After such harsh words to her, it was a price I deserved to pay.

"..."

As I just looked up at her with indifferent eyes, Key gripped the collar of my black uniform and spoke in an unusually agitated voice.

"Where, how did you...!"

Confusion and anger welled up from her trembling halo and pair of red eyes.

Yes, you were always calm, but anything related to Alice was an exception.

Of course, there was no benefit in prolonging this situation, so I calmly reassured her first.

"...You are currently completely separated from the physical body of AL1S. Therefore, there is no possibility of this code being delivered to Alice."

Perhaps realizing this belatedly, I saw a sense of relief quickly fill her trembling red eyes. However, Key still did not release her grip on my collar and continued to question me urgently.

"Is this a threat? Did the Nameless Priests tell you this code?"

"Negative. This is not a threat, and it was not obtained through the Nameless Priests."

"Then who...?"

Key, seemingly even more confused by my answer, struggled to form words properly.

To such a girl, I grasped her now-loosened hand, pulling it away from my collar, and calmly conveyed the truth.

"The one who told me this code was you."

Because with this AI girl, I felt it was okay to tell the whole truth.

From experience, I knew it would be, I believed it.

...

...

After a short while,

"Are you telling me to believe that now?"

After listening to my explanation, which I thought was short but sufficient in content, Key blinked her red eyes with a still-confused expression.

"That you have already experienced the destruction of this world in the future, returned to the present, and are trying to prevent its demise?"

"Correction, there is no need to believe it. I merely request a rational decision."

Standing face to face with her, still glaring at me, I replied while straightening my uniform ribbon, which had been disheveled by the recent commotion.

"...If what you say is true, then I must follow you, Plana."

The girl, whose long black hair trailed on the ground, longer than mine, began to recite her options with a stern face.

"And even if it's not true, I have no way to resist you, who know the activation code for Protocol EN.LIL."

"A rational conclusion."

"...This time, it really is a threat, isn't it?" "Affirmative, I apologize if it felt that way."

Yes, it wasn't entirely wrong.

But for some reason, I didn't want to end my request like this, so I approached her and added a word.

"However, I would prefer to ask for your help, if possible. Please, help me, Key."

With a sincerity of my own, bowing slightly.

"......"

The AI, who looked exactly like Alice and cherished Alice more than anyone else, paused for a moment, then spoke again with a slightly displeased look.

"...You're selfish. Are you really an AI?"

Your game-obsessed princess is also an AI, isn't she?

...Of course, I swallowed those thoughts and remained silent. Eventually, Key gave up and spoke again.

"Alright, then... I'll ask you one thing first, Plana."

Whether it was acceptance or resignation, I couldn't tell, but her voice was much softer than before.

"Yes, please speak."

To me, who was slightly taken aback by her unexpected words and answered, Key asked a question that seemed to stem from pure curiosity.

"In the previous world, what was our relationship?"

"We were..."

For a moment, a memory from the previous cycle flashed through my mind. A memory of a conversation I had with someone at the point when the world's destruction was already certain, as we prepared for a final struggle under Sensei's command.

.........

"Question, why are you telling me this code now?"

"We are alike, Plana.""...Incomprehensible, explanation required.""We were both originally created for different purposes, yet we both seek to protect our precious ones with our own will.""But...""So we can understand and trust each other. I can entrust it to you. That's what the princess... no, the hero Alice taught me.""...""If they come to control our bodies, please execute this code immediately. That is Alice's wish, and my wish as her follower."

.........

...You were selfish too, you know.

Recalling our last conversation, which ended like that, I closed my eyes and answered Key in a low voice.

"...We were friends."