Invitation from the creator

"Hm, so, how are you going to evaluate me?" I asked thoughtfully.

"Hm, it cannot be done this fast. I need you to trust me and visit my place. But, I won't force you as my lab is located in the Sierra underworld."

I felt my eyes go wide. Did I end up with underworld business?

It seemed like the scarecrow man read my thoughts. He slightly smiled.

"No, no, I have nothing to do with those creepers. Just, it was the only place I could do my research without anyone unwanted poking their nose into my business.

So, back to my topic. I am here to invite you. If you like to participate in this evaluation, I might be able to help you more with your leveling up. It was my first successful creation so, it'd be helpful if you can participate.

However, I won't force you. If you ever decide to agree to my invitation, please tell your AI, "code creator," and they will connect our minds briefly to exchange a call. Got it?"

"Wait, wait, wait, wait a moment. Did you just say, connect minds?"

"Yup."

"Like telepathy?"

"Not exactly. This will let us communicate through our minds for a small amount of time. Why do you look surprised? It's easy to communicate between systems of different people." He gave me a curious look.

I felt my mouth wide open. He has a system too?

"Oh my god, you are dumber than I imagined. Did you think that I would never try my systems on me? haha, you make me laugh. Do you think I just research for the greater good of the world, while not evaluating myself? Stay weak while having a way to get stronger next to my hand? Even I have full knowledge about how risky it is for me if someone finds out about my creation?"

True. I didn't think of that. How dumb I am to think I am the only one with a system.

Scarecrow man turned his head towards me. I saw his face become serious again.

"Alright. I gave you my message. Now, it's time for me to go. remember the code, "code creator." I'll get going then. see you soon kiddo."

"Wait, at least tell me your name."

"Not important." With that note, he walked away.

I didn't try to stop him. I bent down and picked up the key. I turned my head towards the strange man for one last time before I unlocked the door.

Strange. He disappeared on that brink of a moment.

Well, it's not strange if he had a system. I smiled as I entered the house.

**************

Julian looked at me with a weird look when I said that I will walk to school from today onwards. He knew how much panic I felt when they left me behind to walk to school. Then, he recovered quickly and replied,

"Whatever." Then he locked himself in his room.

Nobody asked much about walking to school except Mike. He was shooting questions at me nonstop for a whole day.

"Did Lances make you walk this far?"

"It was Julian, right? Even if you don't tell me I know it's that asshole bullying you like this."

"Tell me the truth, Sammy. I won't tell them I swear. I won't cause any trouble for you."

I rolled my eyes.

"I started it, Mike. I need some exercise. Don't worry."

"Oh," he scratched his head. Then looked at me with a concerning look.

"Hey, if you ever want a ride to school please tell me, ok? I can set some friends to drop you by the school."

I bonked him. This idiot doesn't get what I say. But, his concern warmed my heart. It's nice to see someone concerned about you. So I smiled at him and said,

"Dummy."

"Hey, How in the hell am I a dummy? It's your birth name, not mine."

"Ouch, I forgot. Your birth name was birdbrain." I smirked.

Once his uncle called him 'bridbrain' in front of me to scold him. I knew from experience that it was the perfect name that can make him irritated every time.

I was right. He stood up and chased me to punch me. I laughed as I ran away from him. It was fun to watch him panting as spewing funny insults at me.

How lucky I am to have a bestie like Mike.

************

Even though many weeks passed, I didn't make up my mind to accept the creator's invitation. What if he wasn't the creator but, someone needed me for their experiments? Even if he was the creator, he might just kill me and open me up as a test subject.

What if he needed my brain to dissect into pieces like in sci-fi movies?

I shuddered at that thought. I can't present myself to him without knowing much about him anyways.

"Amy, can you tell me about your creator? I met him."

"Wait. You really met him? Wow. I have no data about him in my database. Lemme check the common database." She went silent for a brief moment. Then she spoke in a disappointed voice.

"Sorry, There was a small folder but, it denied my access. But, tell me how he looks?"

So, it ended up me telling her the details. Why do I always find myself in such comedic situations? I filled in my AI assistant with detail, instead of this AI assisting me.

"So, he deactivated me? Then rebooted me. That sounds scary."

You tell me, Amy. You can't imagine what I went through. Then a sudden thought occurred to me.

"Amy, if your creator intends to harm me would you help him?"

"Are you crazy? I don't even know him. I'd surely help you if he didn't take control of me. As he is my creator, if he controls me, I'm sorry. I won't be able to go against him." I felt sadness in her voice.

How amazing this AI to became human-like each day passed. This adaptation rate is mind-blowing.

However, her final sentence tripled my anxiousness.

"If he controlled me, I'm sorry. I won't be able to go against him."