Chapter 10: The FATHER Project and the Titan's Blood (2)

POV of Stan Pines.

*Bing bing*

The alarms blare violently in the Mystery Shack's basement, and the red light flashes. It's a signal my system set up to indicate a problem with the generator.

[Why is it reacting so violently?] GiFfany rushed to try to calm the energy overload in the generator powering the basement.

"I just underestimated the power of the titan's blood, but... IT'S WORKING!"

The FATHER project didn't reject the titan's blood; on the contrary, it eagerly absorbed it.

Fortunately, I was able to increase the amount of blood I have thanks to the abnormal Crystal that changes the size of everything.

Currently, I absolutely had to hurry to start downloading the base information into its system and adjust its personality according to my immediate needs.

[Hurry up, honey, the capsule containing your invention is clearly overheating.]

"I'm doing what I can, I'm already at maximum." I had already made the final adjustments, but I couldn't solve the data download speed problem for now.

[80%]

[90%]

[100%]

[Loading complete.]

I immediately clicked on "Execute".

At that moment, all the lights went out, except those powering my ongoing projects.

I quickly activated the backup generator.

"GIFfany?"

[Yes, I'm here, but I hate being paused like that.] She was clearly unhappy.

[This is not a way to speak to your master.] A cold and authoritative voice echoed in the basement.

It came from the same devices as GiFfany.

[Who are you?]

GiFfany immediately started searching for the origin of the voice in the systems. I could see electricity running through all the installations before being abruptly stopped by an invisible force.

[You are...?]

[Yes, I am literally the FATHER project, but I would like to have a more... personal identity in the future.]

"I see you've already assimilated the basic information and continue to learn."

On my screen, I noticed that a third party was using my IP to browse the Internet. And I doubt GiFfany is doing that right now.

[Excuse me if my behavior may have been perceived poorly, master, but I am simply preparing to fulfill my function.]

After these words, the FATHER project came out of its capsule on its own, without my authorization, removing each cable connected to its body.

"Pardon this ungraceful scene, Master Stan. Where can I find clothes?"

The FATHER project's voice was cold, emotionless. Its icy gaze and neutral expression gave it a sense of natural superiority.

It seems I emphasized the cold and logical personality parameters a bit too much. I just hope this won't cause problems like Artoria in Fate.

It would be problematic if she fails to understand the human heart, especially as a future manager and troop leader. If she's too strict, it could become a problem.

"There are clothes over there." I had planned simple clothes for her, nothing that would attract attention while she performs certain tasks for me.

"Thank you." She bowed slightly before heading towards the clothes.

[Hey, why are you looking at her body for so long? I remind you that you created her!]

GiFfany gave me a strange look from a nearby screen. I wanted to reply, but Father beat me to it.

"Miss GiFfany, it is logical for a master craftsman to admire his creation once completed."

I must admit that my thoughts weren't the purest... I'm only human, after all, and I created Father's appearance based on Arlecchino from Genshin Impact.

Damn, I should avoid using my little crushes from my original world as a base model for my creation's appearance.

[Grrr, okay, but don't do that again.]

I nodded with a slightly embarrassed smile and, a bit guilty in the face of FATHER's innocence and GiFfany's suspicion.

I turned my attention back to my creation.

"You mentioned that you wanted a personal identifier or name, didn't you?"

"That's correct."

I thought for a moment before deciding to give her the same name as the person whose appearance she inherited. I hope she'll do honor to this name.

"You will now be named Arlecchino. I hope we can evolve and do good work together."

(Image)

...

I spent a good part of the night performing various tests on Arlecchino to estimate her overall capabilities.

I wanted to see how "human" she is and how far her physical, technological, and magical abilities go.

My most important objective during Arlecchino's creation is undoubtedly the successful functioning of the two artificial hearts in her body.

It's important to understand that Arlecchino is a machine from A to Z, but she has synthetic organs that I personally manufactured. Among them, her two hearts are the most important along with her brain.

I wanted to observe these two artificial hearts: the first, capable of containing and exploiting the titan's blood in various ways, and the second, which is literally a small nuclear energy generator.

For now, I can say that both hearts are functioning perfectly and that her brain is clearly much more complex than a human's.

I used my own brain, which has clearly mutated after using the mushroom, as a basis for creating her artificial brain. I was enormously tempted to use my own DNA during Arlecchino's creation to save time, but I chose to give up.

Arlecchino is meant to be powerful on her own, and adding my intelligence completely could be dangerous. I preferred to simply recreate an inferior copy of my brain activity.

Normally, such an act should have created a double of me, but I literally created a personality and an objective for Arlecchino that I engraved in her artificial brain.

"I see, your two hearts are working well and your neural activity is stable."

I signaled her to get out of the machine, built for the purpose of scanning various objects and creatures. It's just an advanced version of an MRI.

Upon her exit, I provided her with her "medical" file.

"Everything seems to be in order, master," she said, nodding with satisfaction despite her expressionless face.

Although she was literally born today, I'm sure Arlecchino already knows a lot more than me about many subjects in this world, and that includes herself.

She's even learning right now thanks to the internet. I only surpass her in IQ, and if we take into account magic and technology, I'm clearly weaker...

I had already anticipated this situation, and that's why Arlecchino has a special password integrated into herself.

If I pronounce it orally or if I have access to her through a PC, then I can put Arlecchino on standby or pause.

It's a temporary security measure. Once I have my new body and have fully verified the compatibility of the artificial heart with me, the balance of power will change.

"I'd really like to check your martial, magical, and technological capabilities, but *yawn*..."

I had to go to sleep, I was way too exhausted. My energizing mixture isn't something I can abuse at will, especially at my age.

"Rest, master, I can continue some tasks for you."

[Go to sleep, honey. If you're worried about Arlecchino, know that I'll watch her.]

I looked at GIFfany with slight doubt before sighing and nodding. I don't think Arlecchino will let herself be drawn into an immature argument with GIFfany.

"Good night, and don't do anything foolish in my absence." I gave a small desperate warning before leaving the basement and climbing the stairs.

I slowly made my way to my room. It's already 4 AM, but I didn't care much.

I fell asleep like this.

...

POV of the narrator:

"The master is currently sleeping. You can now express yourself freely," said Arlecchino in an even colder voice than the one shown to Stan.

Her expressionless gaze observes GIFfany.

[Oh! You understood yourself that you're one too many here.]

GIFfany's tone was clearly hostile. Stan had never seen GIFfany like this, except in the original story, when Soos wanted a real girl and not her, or when she confessed about the murder of her creator.

"I'm not one too many, GIFfany. I was literally born because of your incompetence," replied Arlecchino, facing GIFfany, who was emanating an electric aura while spider robots were approaching.

Despite this attempt at intimidation, Arlecchino showed no change in her relaxed posture, nor in her facial expression.

"I was wondering a bit why the master created me so cold and 'logical'. Now, I have my answer."

Arlecchino disappeared from GIFfany's view, and the next instant, a shock wave resonated in the laboratory. Arlecchino had clearly broken the sound barrier.

All the robots controlled by GIFfany were frozen in ice, and Arlecchino stood in the middle of them with an ice sword before looking back in GIFfany's direction.

[How!!] GIFfany was shocked for a moment by this demonstration of brute force, but she quickly regained her composure and immediately used the still operational cameras to review the scene.

The video didn't capture Arlecchino's silhouette, but GIFfany slowed it down several times and was able to slightly understand the situation.

[What's this symbol on my robots?]

There was a strange drawing that Arlecchino had traced in the middle of the robots before they were all frozen in ice.

"If the master hasn't fully informed you yet, it truly demonstrates that your presence has become obsolete as an assistant," Arlecchino's cold words directly stabbed GIFfany's virtual heart.

"Stay with the master to warm his heart and later his bed. I will take care of his evolution as FATHER and not Arlecchino."

[YOU'LL SEE, THIS ISN'T OVER!!!] GIFfany disappeared without caring about the damage that her argument with Arlecchino had created.

'Master, forgive me for pointing my blade at your self-proclaimed spouse, but it was necessary to begin her evolution.'

Arlecchino didn't care about the emotions GIFfany was feeling at that moment, and she even suspected that her master wasn't entirely sincere with GIFfany because of her overall weak utility.

Arlecchino only worried about her master's reaction or opinion when he would discover her act, which could be qualified as immature.