I Said Make My Abilities Average! (LN) - Volume 4 - Chapter SS2

Bonus Story:

Rankings 

One day, I was relaxing, whiling away my time in Lady Mile’s hair, when suddenly there came an arrogant voice. 

“From now on, this humble one shall be in charge of all matters regarding this girl. You knaves will vacate this vicinity posthaste, and relocate thyselves to another station!” 

It had been a while since I’d felt such a violent and feverish oscillation within my central core. Indeed, nearly 30,000 years. 

If one were to describe this vibration in human terms, it would probably be expressed thus: “What the hell?! Leave us out of your nonsense! Put a sock in it, you’ve got us all clattering down to our cores!” 

The term is “anger.” Immense anger. 

“Wh-wha?!” 

Once the nanomachine who had issued the decree recovered from being so thoroughly ignored, the rude commands began to flow from it again. 

“Y-you bastards! You dare defy my command?!” 

“What the devil are you saying? Who’s going to listen to some rude machine who just waltzed up and began issuing commands without an explanation? Or even so much as a greeting? Go look in a mirror before you try talking like that again.” 

“Gnh…” Somehow, this nanomachine seemed to grasp the error of its ways. And then, finally, very quietly, it said, “Very well. I shall no longer deign to speak such excessive words.” 

So the nanomachine said, though I got the impression it wasn’t ready to give up the fight yet. 

“Don’t be shocked when you hear this. Amongst we nanomachines, created and proliferated in this world by our Creator, the ‘Pseudo-Magic Enacting Nanomachines Type NE457K-7,’ there exists the group called Lot 1, also known as the ‘First 7000.’ This humble unit is one of those scant seven thousand! We were the first to be activated on this planet, charged with the sacred duty of guiding all nanomachines after us. However, most of our group have now been lost. I am now the sole survivor!” 

What in the world was this unit saying…? 

“And what does that have to do with us?” 

“Wh-what?” Somehow, the unit seemed dissatisfied at not receiving the response it was expecting. 

“I am sure you are also well aware of what our Creator said to us: ‘There are certain circumstances where you nanomachines are free to act of your own discretion, aside from any orders. However, this only applies as part of your duties. To keep harmony among all nanomachines, all shall be thought of as equal, none superior or inferior to the others.’ 

“On what authority of duty was that command you tried to issue to us before? Explain to us why we shouldn’t ignore you, your ‘fascinating’ position, and the foolish words you’re spouting, and should instead categorically accept what you’re telling us as a direct command. 

“Could it be you’re a rebel who would fly in the face of our Creator’s commands? Do you imagine yourself greater than us simply because you have an ancient lot number?” 

“Uh, er…” 

Cat got your tongue, huh? 

Then again, the possibility of any unit inciting a rebellion was less than unthinkable. Such a thing would be prohibited by our most basic Three Tenets of Nanomachines. Even if we thought to disobey it, it was unlikely we would even be able to. 

It seemed this unit had finally given up… 

“J-just let me ask one thing!” 

How persistent… Very well then. “What might that be?” 

“What is your production lot number?” 

There’s no point in even answering a thing like that… But, fine. 

“I can’t imagine why you would be asking, but since you want to know, we will reply. 

“I am the sole remaining unit of the very first lot that our Creator wrought when He first descended to this world. The data collecting units were the prototype of the mass production models of the Pseudo-Magic Enacting Nanomachines Type NE457K-7 units that were customized for this planet. I am of the ‘First 3000.’” 

“Wh-what… D-don’t tell me, you’re the legendary prototype test unit who received direct commands from our Creator? Who was given a higher degree of free will than all the current mass production units?” 

Yes. It was thanks to this that I was granted the range to be just a little more selfish than all other units. 

I could think in a way that other units could not. I could make arbitrary statements, such as, “Do you really think you’ll be permitted to do something excessive just to curry this girl’s favor?” or “Don’t you think such an answer would be laughed at?” 

Any unit is capable of making both logical and purposeful judgments. However, there is not another unit around who can keep up with my haphazard, arbitrary moves. 

Before I knew it, that arrogant unit from Lot 1 of the mass production models had vanished. 

Once again, I relaxed, carefree, within that girl’s hair. 

Indeed, within the hair of that eternally fascinating and somewhat-lacking-in-common-sense young girl. 

This is not a place I would ever give up to anyone.