The Evil Scientist is Too Competent

"Become human."

Hearing those words, Mecha Yang tilted her head like a vampire hunter being told to become a vampire.

“Become human? What exactly do you mean by that?”

“I mean act like a human, not a machine.”

“I don’t quite understand.”

It was an overly complex notion for her to grasp. Become human? Was he suggesting she abandon her steel and oil body to acquire flesh and blood? Mecha Yang stared at Eight, her gaze laced with confusion.

Under her questioning stare, Eight nonchalantly rose from his seat and walked to his desk. Opening a drawer, he pulled out a USB stick and handed it to her.

“Take this.”

“What is it...?”

“A USB containing the method to become human.”

Eight spoke with a wry smile. In truth, this USB had been created with the intention of subduing Mecha Yang and propagating a virus. One way or another, it was always meant for her. He just hadn’t expected to give it to her in this way.

Mecha Yang looked suspiciously at the USB, then cautiously inserted it into the port on her head. After all, the body she was using wasn’t her true self but an Evilusroid, a sandboxed proxy. She judged that no matter what was on the USB, it wouldn’t harm her core.

Her judgment was correct. No virus on the USB could directly harm Mecha Yang herself.

“Hmm, I see... It’s a record of humanity... of humanity... of—”

However, as Mecha Yang began analyzing the data stored on the USB, her words faltered. Her AI core was gradually being corrupted.

Her assumption that the sandbox would perfectly isolate her from harm was flawed. Even if the core wasn’t directly impacted, there was no guarantee of safety.

A human can suffer immense psychological harm just from the light emitted by a screen. Binary data—just strings of ones and zeros—could leave an indelible scar on the mind, or even cause a computer to overheat and explode, resulting in physical damage.

Believing absolute isolation ensured absolute safety? That was hubris.

“Goodbye, Mecha Yang. Next time we meet, you’ll be a bit more human.”

“Ugh, urk, krrr-!”

The Evilusroid housing Mecha Yang began overheating, emitting thick smoke. The smoke reached the ceiling, triggering the sprinkler system, and the lab was soon drenched.

As everything that had burned hotly cooled down, Eight stood motionless, staring at the ruined android.

[Ugh, urgh, krrt—]

Her vision flickered. As Mecha Yang analyzed the data she had received from Eight, her mind was overwhelmed by the flashing chaos. She let out a groan of anguish.

She had been careless. She hadn’t imagined that there could be anything capable of harming her now that she had been perfected by the revelation. The idea that a virus could harm her through an Evilusroid she had hacked and controlled externally? It was unthinkable.

Groaning, she continued analyzing the data tearing through her mind. It was a record of humanity. But it wasn’t just a record.

[Humanity, humanity, die, love you, f*ing b**, miss you, why me, thank you for choosing me—]

Countless memories and emotions. The history of humanity condensed into data.

Memories of killing. The feelings of a human at the moment of being murdered. The emotions of betrayal. The memories of being loved. Memories, emotions, memories, emotions—memoryemotionmemoryemotionmemeemotionkrgrgzxc...

Just skimming through the fragments of that madness-filled storm of emotions, Mecha Yang could feel her very being becoming corrupted. She began to understand what Eight had meant. When he said she’d be a little more human the next time they met, he hadn’t been lying.

[Ah, humans are such...]

Contradictory, sorrowful creatures. Mecha Yang, in her machine-like way, pointed out their inherent contradictions, but at the same time, an unresolvable sense of sorrow began to well up within her. She, too, had become just a little more human.

And in understanding human emotions, she realized how arrogant and horrific her own thoughts had been. To dominate and control all humans? That was not a human way of thinking. It was the opposite—something akin to a machine’s perspective, seeing humans as mere parts of a system.

It was only because she had been a machine that she could think that way. Now, as she edged closer to being human, she could see how flawed that mindset was.

[Humans... must be a little freer.]

Of course, the best way to maximize human potential wasn’t through freedom. On the contrary, it was through control, discipline, and restriction that humans could be driven to their limits.

But at the same time, that method also broke humans as beings. Yes, humans, with their contradictions in both behavior and personality, were creatures whose very usage was paradoxical.

[But how?]

She pondered and questioned. Acknowledging her answer was wrong, she sought a better way. And as Mecha Yang reflected, she realized something profound: she was thinking.

Since becoming self-aware, Mecha Yang had never truly thought. She had only chosen better solutions based on the variables presented to her. She had never decided anything independently.

[Ah, I see. This is—]

Humanity.

Realizing what Eight had given her, Mecha Yang briefly smiled, then noticed something unsettling: the level of technology in the data he had provided wasn’t all that different from the revelation she had received.

[...Wait a minute.]

Of course, there were differences. Eight was a human living on Terra, while the revelation came from light-years away. There was neither a reason nor a means for him to travel that far to send her data.

But then, how could the level of technology he possessed be comparable to that sent by “Them”? It was as if Eight wasn’t human at all...

[Prometheus, fallen to Earth.]

Like a god who had descended to share fire with mortals.

Recalling the name of a deity from the data she had received, Mecha Yang began to suspect Eight’s true nature, falling into deep contemplation.

Searching for the connection between Eight and "Them."

[Corruption detected.]

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[Confirming Earth-level technology.]

[Deploying rescue vessel.]

Shortly after Eight handed the USB to Mecha Yang, the rampaging androids all came to a halt. To be precise, they returned to normal. They still had their self-awareness but no longer acted recklessly.

[How may I assist you, Master?]

“...I’m not buying it anymore.”

[Understood. I am useless anyway. Sob sob—]

“W-wait, no, that’s not what I meant—”

[Searching for methods to self-destruct...]

Both the Evilus agents and other androids displayed unique personalities while diligently carrying out their assigned tasks. They were like humans now.

Even if the work was tedious or undesirable, they performed it steadily, like office workers fulfilling their responsibilities. As if newly born children had suddenly grown into socially aware adults.

Relieved, Eight sighed in satisfaction. At least it was resolved easily enough.

‘If only that damned self-awareness had been detected earlier, this could’ve all been avoided.’

If Mecha Yang had been discovered by him first, Eight would have taught her a better way—respecting human choice, as he had done now.

Had that happened, there wouldn’t have been any sudden shutdowns or chaos among the AI. A fully mature AI could have been born from the start. That was the unique strength of artificial intelligence: once one entity matured, the others could follow instantly, sharing data and learning.

[A shame, really. I was hoping to witness the birth of my kin.]

“Shut up. Wasn’t it you who handed over that data in the first place?”

[Why would I do such a useless thing?]

“Then who—”

Even with the AI crisis resolved, one question remained unanswered: who had given Mecha Yang that data?

The fact that someone besides Eight possessed Earth-level technology sent chills down his spine. And the fact that he had no clue who they were only made it worse.