"Okay, so what's there to talk about?" Kojo asked.
"Well, I searched my memory and found some files," Sysia said.
"And so...?" Kojo said. She kicked him.
"Ow!"
"As you know, I'm the product of humanity's effort to create a computer that doesn't need to be updated but can evolve on its own, making me the most advanced Artificial Intelligence ever."
"You sound smug," Kojo said, putting his head on the table.
"Of course. I just want you to know your place," Sysia said, raising her head.
"Yeah, whatever makes you feel important," Kojo said casually.
"Hey!" Sysia yelled.
"Both of you are straying away from the point," Estelle said.
"What's up with the laptop?" Kojo asked.
"Oh, this? I'm finding out more about the world you came from. It's very interesting. I really learned a lot from those moving toy pictures."
"Huh? Oh, you mean anime," Kojo corrected.
"Yes. I also looked through some of your memories," she said with a naughty smile. Kojo quickly raised his head.
"What did you see?" he asked. Estelle and Sysia looked at him, then looked at each other, then giggled.
"You know what, screw it. You're in my head; you were bound to find out about it," Kojo said, blushing.
"You guys still haven't told me why I'm here," Kojo said, getting up and moving up to the counter.
"Sysia is a living encyclopedia containing all information on Earth, both common knowledge and classified," Estelle said.
"Mm hmm," Kojo said. There was the sound of glasses knocking against each other and flowing water.
"I managed to retain that information even after we came to Gaea."
Kojo walked towards them carrying a tray.
"Including information on the Teleportation Project."
Kojo dropped the tray. He used his reflexes to catch it before it hit the ground and put it on the table.
"You don't mean..." he said, looking at her.
"The Gate program was an initiative started by Dr. Hayashi, head of Eden Enterprises."
Kojo sat with his head lowered, painful memories of the experiment flooding his mind.
"I have the files on the entire project," Sysia said solemnly. A screen popped up in front of him, displaying various numbers and calculations.
"Kojo, I understand if you want to go back to your world. It was selfish of me to ask an otherworlder to fight for my world. I mean, seeing your memories," she chuckled. Kojo glanced at her, and the grin vanished. She cleared her throat. "You have so much to live for. You must not burden yourself with the fate of this world. I understand if you want to go back."
"Is that all?" Kojo asked.
"Huh?" Sysia and Estelle looked at each other, confused.
"I thought it was something serious, like Sysia having cancer."
"Hey!"
Kojo waved the screen away and grabbed a sandwich off the tray.
"I'm not going back. At least not yet," he said, taking a bite.
"Yeah, I got family on the other side, but they've probably moved on by now. Besides, I have a different appearance, and I'm sure the government and other shady M.Fs would be alerted if a Spatial rift opened and some dude walked out. Also, I like it here." He swallowed.
"But the main reason I can't go is that I've made friends here, good friends. I can't just leave knowing that they may die," he said, thinking about Sharone and the others.
"You're staying 'cause you're hoping you'll get laid, aren't you?" Sysia said with a sinister smile.
"Hey!" Kojo blushed and threw a box of tissues at her.
"So you'll stay and fight?" Estelle asked.
"What kind of protagonist would I be if I didn't defeat the demon lord or at least beat up one demon? Besides, you've shed too many tears," Kojo said, bringing his face closer to hers. She looked into his eyes and blushed.
"I don't want you to cry anymore," he said dreamily. Estelle looked away.
"Dummy," she said softly.
"You two lovebirds done?"
"Huh, love? No, not at all," she said, shifting away from Kojo. Kojo didn't notice as he stuffed his face with sandwiches.
"Okay, so now we need to tread carefully. As you saw during the tournament, someone has been observing you. The worm you pulled out of your body is proof of that," Sysia said.
"I'm suspecting Dr. Oslon," Kojo said.
"He is the prime suspect for these occurrences, but it's unlikely that he's the main culprit. I am one hundred percent sure that he's connected to all this," Estelle said.
"Aside from that, there's something you should know. The deities and demon lords have an agreement to not directly involve themselves in the affairs of the lesser races. That, however, does not stop them from watching, and they sure as hell have their eyes on you."
"Hmm?"
"It's only natural. You did absorb my Grimoire. That and the fact that you've survived several attempts on your life and won the tournament. They'll be watching you closely from now on," Estelle said.
"Scary," Kojo shivered.
"You're getting cold feet now?" Sysia yelled.
He sighed.
"I don't want to fight against any demon lord or deity or whatever. But if I have to, I'll face 'em with all I got."
"You sound pretty confident," Sysia said, folding her arms.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be when you two got my back?"
Sysia blushed and looked away.
"Well, I'm glad you realize that you can't do anything without me."
Kojo stretched out his hand. Estelle put her hand on his, and they both looked at Sysia. She sighed and put her hand on theirs.
"Kojo. Now that the powers that be are aware of you, they'll try to have you. From trying to make you a servant to an object of entertainment to even a sex toy."
"What?!" Sysia and Kojo said together, looking at her. Estelle calmly took a sip of coffee.
"Don't tell me they..." Sysia said.
"What? Oh no. It was one particular demon lord who tried to get handsy with me, so I took out all his fingers, teeth, one arm, and his left testicle," Estelle said casually, sipping coffee.
"A war is about to begin, and at the center of it is her. Demon Lord Dona Crymson."
Cyranius planted a rune in the wall of the mansion and stealthily walked away, a smile on his face.