… Great Makers, dammit.


    What is it this time?


    [Analysing quality of sound. Measuring the pattern of steps. Matching it with pre-existing records. Match successful,] [It is a crab.]


    You don’t say.


    [Please be ready to flee or fight.]


    I really should run, right? I mean, I’m… I’m tired. And I’ve never fought anything or anyone before. Well, I guess there was that one time with that vagrant who tried to steal my donations when I first started sand-dancing, but that doesn’t–


    [Focus.]


    probably


    clang


    Oh no.


    Oh no no no no–


    …


    something


    not


    Great Makers, that took a few years off my life. If he were a mutated human like those Marauders–


    [If he were a Marauder, you would have been dead already,] [It would appear he is simply wearing the pincer and the shell as Swarmsteel: magic equipment made out of insect parts that enhances his biological attributes.]


    Yes, yes, I remember.


    really


    And he’s probably not dangerous, right? I mean, he’s just a little boy. Doesn’t look older than ten to me. What are the odds I’ll wake up missing an arm or two?


    [Not very high. I will alert you if he attempts to harm you in your sleep.]


    You can do that?


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    [I am integrated with your cervical spine. I can administer adrenaline, numbing agents, and various other compounds into you as the situation calls for it. I could even stimulate your nerves to make you feel as though your entire body is on fire, which has a ninety-nine percent chance of waking you up within three seconds.]


    Ninety-nine percent? Who have you tried that on and failed to wake them up?


    [The second strongest man in the world. Now, you need not be worried—I will make sure the boy does not harm you in your sleep.]


    … Don’t wake me up unless it’s an emergency, Between you and the boy, you’re more likely to be the one to hurt me.


    <hr>


    <div>


    … It’s warm.


    How long was I asleep for, Archive?


    [Five hours, twenty-six minutes, and eighteen seconds,] [Your brainwaves were quite calm and stable, like those of an infant. I trust you had a good rest?]


    The worst part about waking up is hearing your voice ringing like drums in my ears. Couldn’t you… tone it down a little? Make your voice a little less grating, a little less metallic?


    [Most certainly,] [Is your own voice to your liking? You can simply pretend I am your ‘inner voice’. Statistically, most Altered Swarmsteel System users prefer their Archive speak in their own voices, but there are exceptions every once in a while, where people request we mimic the voices of someone dear to them–]


    Where’s mama’s book?


    definitely


    Hey! I thought you said you’d pay attention! Where’s my book?


    [The boy took it an hour ago, but I did not wake you up because it was not an emergency–]


    ‘Ain’t an emergency’ my ass! Mama wrote it for me!


    think


    [I do not think the boy speaks your tongue,] [Normally, I can automatically translate any language in the world, but since I am currently unregistered—you did not obtain me by passing the official Hasharana Entrance Exam—the automatic translation function only works on very old languages previously entered into the database of Altered Swarmsteel Systems. By ''old'', I mean the last time languages were manually entered into the database was four years ago. Considering you are currently on an unidentified landmass, I doubt a Hasharana would have encountered the boy''s tongue within the past four years—assuming the boy can even speak to begin with.]


    You’re a gift with so many limitations.


    [Blame the situation, not the system–]


    … What?


    world


    Whoa.


    What is this place?


    [I have given up on identifying this landmass, but it would appear there is a subterranean coral forest in addition to the gargantuan forest above ground. Perhaps… this landmass is…]


    …


    [... Nevermind.] [The boy is fast, but you have already outrun the Marauders on the forest’s roots. You can do the same here. Would you like to give chase?]


    was


    … Do you even have to ask? I’m getting mama’s book back, and then we’re gonna figure out how to get off this creepy island.


    <div>


    [Objective #5: Pursue the boy and reclaim your book]