It was a heavy morning… and yet, Everest didn't wake up with a start. He didn't wake up at all. No, he was already awake. Had been that way for two weeks now, if he remembered correctly.
Everest clearly wasn't completely in it… to say the least. His thoughts were distant, as if he were listening to someone else from the depths of the sea, and his vision was blurry. The streaks of sunlight from his window made him wince involuntarily. Everything felt like a lie, but there was a fiery determination burning in him.
Some green silhouette seemed to be swirling all around him. Round and round it went, but by the time he shifted his golden gaze to it, it was gone.
There were insidious whispers in his mind too, which he couldn't quite understand, apart from one which stood out, like a declaration in the midst of indistinct shatter; it said:
[Warning: Civilian!
You are crossing the boundaries of sanity.
Refrain from your actions immediately!]
Ahhhh.
Everest sighed heavily. That voice in his head wasn't just any insidious whisper—there was a reason it stood out.
Of course, so it had actually been there all this time.
It was the voice of the new world economy.
The star stream.
The consciousness which only "monsters" could interact with. His personal AI, for his final human moments… and beyond. Everest had always suspected it didn't just invade one's mind as they slipped away, and he was right. It had been there all along. He was sure of this now because he felt it. That feeling of being watched, which he only began noticing recently, was undeniable now.
[Warning: You are nearing the point of no return!]
A drifting fear gripped his heart, but it quickly faded away. Everything was fading away.
Then—
Like the sizzling of bubbles, all his thoughts and all his life began dissolving.
There was an oppressive silence, but then—
Oh. Oh no.
A sharp pain threw Everest back into reality. His heart felt like it had just been cracked in a million places but not broken. The pain made him yelp.
Nnnh… Thanks for the reality check.
Everest wasn't frustrated by the pain. Sure, it hurt like hell, but he was used to such things… What he wasn't used to was failure.
'Ha. Haha. Hahahaha.'
That's right! You failed to go mad!
Of all the idiots in the world, none of them would actually be so stupid as to court death…
And yet, to that extent, you still failed!
Hahahaha.
Haha.
Ha…'
Everest's thoughts wandered for quite a while. They even managed to leave a rare smile on his face before he regained himself and muttered solemnly.
What do I do now?
The question was understandable in and of itself, as he had spent years leading up to this moment—every interaction, every intent, and every action. And yet, here he was. But that wasn't even what made it all bad. The thing was… he had nobody, no money, and no name.
He gave a self-deprecating laugh.
Hehe, to be honest, I didn't expect this… but, this works too.
He grasped his head tightly and buried it under his arms for a brief moment before lifting it up, a neutral expression on his face.
Alright, let's get to work… literally.
He said that, but honestly, he didn't know what to do, what he could do, or what he should do.
Then, as if answering his question—
[Warning!— You have failed to go mad.
My deepest condolences.]
Gee, thanks… Wait, you wanted me to go mad?
Then why didn't you help rather than spouting nonsense and pulling me away throughout the process?
The star stream was silent for a moment, and when he had almost believed it wouldn't reply, it said in a soft voice:
[I am sorry. I don't know. It is all by the will of the HOUSEMATER.]
…But, why me? And what do I do now?
['He' still insists you follow protocol and turn yourself in.
'He' promises to take care of everything that comes after.]
Well, you and your master can just go to hell, yeah?
Everest said that while forcing himself up on his feet. He staggered to the coat rack and donned a pitch-black, silky night robe, crudely tying his shoulder-length hair.
He walked out of the room, then, out of the corridors and the halls, and the reception. Out of the rundown hospital building… as if he had never been here. As if this wasn't his new home.
He was, of course, headed to Stellar High.
His steps were unsteady, and his gaze was distant but determined. He clenched his fists and screamed at the top of his hoarse voice:
"Greetings, World!
I am Everest June!"
He paused, chuckled.
"…you'll remember me."