Who's she? -2-

"Hey, are you alright?" There was an uncharacteristic hint of genuine concern in Yuriy's voice, indicating that she had touched a seldom-seen compassionate side of him. As he moved closer, noting her persistent effort to wipe away her tears, he reached out with the intent of offering comfort. However, she abruptly responded, "I'm sorry, please don't touch me."

Taking a few steps back, Yuriy recognized the depth of her distress and knew he had to tread lightly. In an effort to comfort her, he said, "I won't harm you. Besides, we're in a military facility surrounded by formidable soldiers. How could I even think of it?" Slowly, the girl lifted her gaze to meet his, tears flowing freely. At a loss for how to help, Yuriy hesitated, but she managed a weak smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. Determined to provide some solace, he gently probed, "Is everything alright?"

With a melancholy tone, she replied, "It's just... I was reminded of my mother. She passed away exactly twenty days ago." Yuriy's eyes widened in disbelief, "That's... that's the exact day my mother passed away." Suddenly, the weight of shared grief connected them, and Yuriy felt compelled to ask, "Are you okay? I can't imagine how you must be feeling."

The girl offered a strained smile, explaining, "I'm alright now... I was engrossed in my novel. It told the tale of a medieval knight who found himself in a future far beyond our own. His sorrow was profound, having time-traveled precisely when his mother lay critically ill. He was tormented by not knowing her fate."

A shadow crossed Yuriy's face. An inner voice urged him to comfort her. "Her pain mirrors what I felt when I lost my mother. The weight of such loss isn't easily borne." Resolving to be there for her, Yuriy shelved his earlier plans of distancing himself. He sensed she needed an empathetic ear, much like he had yearned for after his mother's passing but never found.

Suddenly, Yuriy's attention was drawn to the title of the book she held. His eyes widened in recognition, "Wait a minute. 'The Three Knights in the War of Artificial Intelligence?' I know that light novel well." As he spoke, the girl's tears ceased, and she looked up, her sorrowful demeanor shifting to one of piqued curiosity.

"Wh-What? You're familiar with this light novel?" She replied with a mix of disbelief and intrigue, as if she'd stumbled upon someone who recognized an obscure treasure in the literary world. "That's implausible. The author isn't widely known yet. Online sales of the book have only just crossed a modest hundred."

Yuriy replied with a hint of excitement, seemingly thrilled to find someone with a shared interest. "Yes, you've nailed it. The author uses a prominent platform named 'Bookshelf.' Although it hasn't gained widespread attention, mostly because many readers on that platform gravitate towards lighter content, those who've discovered the novel, including me, are utterly enchanted by it."

"Have you read the entire novel?" The girl's question carried a clear sense of eagerness, prompting Yuriy to respond with an affirming nod. "Of course, I have. All 155 chapters. The story revolves around three knights from the medieval era who stumble into a magical time rift, propelling them into a distant future. Which chapter are you on right now?"

Her reply came with an animated spark in her eyes, "I'm on chapter eighty." Yuriy nodded understandingly and continued, "I see. So, you're at the point where the three knights execute a deceptively simple strategy using rudimentary means to overthrow the highly intelligent and technological robots?"

Her eyes lit up in recognition, realizing that Yuriy was indeed discussing the section she was engrossed in. The two found themselves engrossed in a conversation that wove the threads of a shared passion for literature.

The girl exclaimed, "Wow, so you really read all the chapters!" Yuriy responded playfully with a touch of sarcasm, "Well, what if I did? Did you think I was lying? Alright, fine. In my opinion, the author wanted to emphasize that no matter how advanced artificial intelligence becomes, it's impossible to surpass human intelligence. Even medieval knights could outsmart AI with their sharp minds, outwitting ten robots in a single night. I agree with that. The flaws in AI become apparent when glitches emerge, causing it to behave foolishly. That's when its artificial intelligence turns into artificial idiocy."

After hearing Yuriy's last comment, the girl let out her first genuine laugh. Yuriy, aiming to lift her spirits further, remarked, “Your smile is radiant; you should wear it more often.” Seeing her gentle smile and the focused attention she gave him, Yuriy felt a flush of embarrassment. "W-What did I say?" he stuttered. The girl merely smiled, choosing not to answer. Instead, she introduced herself, "I'm Yulia Ivanova Petrovich. And you are?" Gathering himself, Yuriy responded, "I'm Yuriy Kozlov." Yulia acknowledged with a nod, "It was a pleasure, Yuriy Kozlov. I enjoyed our chat, but I must be on my way now."

As Yulia walked away, Yuriy watched her, lost in thought. Their unexpected connection over such an obscure novel, known only to a handful of people, left him pondering its significance. While he wasn't usually the type to initiate introductions, there was something distinct about this interaction with Yulia. For that brief moment, the pain of losing not just his mother but his entire family seemed to fade into the background.