Serph tilts his head. He's heard that sort of thing before -- not being real -- mostly from humans who know what he is.

"I am an AI. An artificial creation." He presses a hand over his heart. "I am myself, flesh and blood that began life within this simulated world."

At least, by his perception. If you don't know you live in a virtual environment and bleed when injured, there was no reason to believe he was anything but real.