84 – 84: Linda (2)
“Slurp.”
After taking a sip of coffee.
Master Kern told me.
“It’s late…. but I’m going to try to return to my wife and daughter now. Given how much I neglected them, I have to put in even more effort. I may not be forgiven, but I am going to try to take back the responsibility I abandoned.”
[You made a good decision. I’ve caused you both trouble.]
“It’s my fault. What could you be blamed for…? However, it won’t seem sincere if I say I won’t touch machines anymore and then take you, Linda, with me. So, you must be released…”
As if he was contemplating for a moment.
Master Kern looked at me with a serious face.
He seemed to be thinking about my disposition.
I understand.
Master Kern has worked quite hard, it’s time for him to rest.
I suppose I will be handed off to someone else to continue the study.
“Do you know the type of person who saved you, the human? Slurp. No, you wouldn’t have seen… “
[I did see. In the dungeon, when I was possessed by magic, thinking I had to harm people. I clearly saw the human male and his colleagues saving me.]
“What? How was he? What kind of human was he?”
[……]
What kind of human was he…
“That’s a bit of a difficult question to answer.
The fact that you have not specified the evaluation criteria, it seems that you want me to evaluate in a comprehensive and universal context.
The male humanoid who was called Eugene by his colleagues.
Eugene seemed to be, in some aspect, a leader of a group.
He possessed the judgement and force to be able to evacuate and protect his colleagues even in an abrupt or critical situation.
He was also trusted by his colleagues.
One of them even threw themselves into a cogwheel, placing their trust in Eugene.
Oh, were they not comrades, but slaves?
It’s a bit unclear.
Eugene appeared to be tenacious.
A burning desire to seize his objectives, even if it meant risking danger.
And his determination was evident.
Wonder what this all sums up to.
After running circuits for a while, thinking, finally I was able to articulate who Eugene is.
[He was a strong person.]
“Strong? As in, physically powerful?”
[In many ways. Internally, he had a firm mind, and externally, he was sturdy and strong. At least, he did not seem like a villain.]
“I think the same. An absurd request to wake up a dementia-ridden old man, to make a magic tool that can cut through time and space… It is clear he wants to use it for something extraordinary. At least, it did not seem like he was going to use it for evil.”
Mr. Kern’s evaluation was similar to my own.
The commonality was the belief that he wasn’t a necessarily bad person.
But why are you suddenly talking about Eugene?
“I have become bleary-eyed when it comes to reading people. I don’t have anyone around me anymore, so I can’t tell who is good anymore. As the first artificial soul, I can’t give myself away to just anyone. But your eyes are probably more accurate than mine. Linda. You have chosen your master. Your master is that reckless humanoid.”
[······!]
That’s how my master was determined.
My master opposed me when I was in a terrifying form.
And pulled me out of the abyss.”
“Excuse me, sir. Any problems?”
“No, not at the moment.”
Every time I address you as ‘my lord,’ my body inadvertently flinches.
Struggling to mask my disarray, I sip the coffee Linda served me.
Delicious.
So delicious that I wish to add sugar and milk to it, just to see Linda’s dismayed face.
It’s that good.
Such a good cup of coffee.
A smart, human-like robot maid that belongs to me?
Even this mansion?
What are the odds? When things are going too smoothly, you start to doubt, and it seems to be true in this case.
‘Nah. I shouldn’t be skeptical.’
Considering all that Kern had lost because of Linda, this isn’t that strange.
He neglected his family for Linda.
Now, to show his intention to focus on his family, he must have sidelined Linda.
No more continuing the research.
That’s why he wanted to quickly sell Linda and the research lab, and the only person around was me.
Having tended to an old man with dementia, I was bequeathed a beautiful maid robot and a mansion?
This sounds like the start of a web novel…
“First, I need to know what you can do.”
[As a home service robot, I’m equipped to clean, do laundry, and prepare simple meals. I can also do math, although it doubles my energy consumption. Furthermore, I can learn anything within my memory limit. If there are physical limitations, I have a self-repair function.]
“Wow…”
“You look mischievous! Like you’re about to doubt my humanity!”
“No. I didn’t mean it,.”
Upon further thought, it’s unnecessary to distinguish what Linda, an artificial soul, knows from what she doesn’t.
As long as she can learn.
So even if she can’t use magic, her usefulness could surpass that of the versatile but unskilled, Mijeong.
The expensive fuel isn’t an issue since Cornelia will pay, and she neither sleeps nor rests but can stay on guard.
If you’re hungry, she can cook for you, carry your burdens, and manage all sorts of odds and ends.
If there were such a thing as a perfect companion, it would be Linda.
She’s perfect.
So perfect it’s moving.
[I forgot to mention something.]
“What is it? Does she have a personality-switch option?”
[Uh, no, she doesn’t.]
From Noble mtl dot com
“I see… so what’s the problem?”
[I’m a very complex wind-up doll, so I often break down. Therefore, it would be difficult for me to stray far from this lab, where there are all kinds of repair tools and parts.]
“You should have told me that before!”
[I’m sorry.]
I was imagining a luxurious journey with a robot maid tending to my every need without lifting a finger.
But she can’t leave this place?
My fantasies are shattered.
“My plans turned awry…”
[Are you planning to leave Wind-Ups City after all?]
“Yes. I have things to do. I can’t stay here just because it’s a pity to lose a wind-up doll.”
[Even though she’s a complex wind-up with thoughts and emotions? I assure you, she’ll be ecstatic if you decide to stay. Do you have to leave?]
“Uh, uh…?”
Linda, with a desperate look, grabs my hand.
Whether it’s the heat function being turned on or not, her hand feels warm.
I was startled by the uncanny sensation of silicone.
And secondly, I’m surprised by the lifelike nature of Linda’s expression.
Even knowing that she’s a doll, I’m deceived by her face.
[hahahaha. I was just kidding. You wouldn’t be swayed by such a thing. Go ahead, don’t worry. I’ll take care of this lab and the mansion.]
“It seems like a despicable human has been shaken.”
“Be quiet.”
While it’s true that I was slightly shaken, I cannot afford to stay here.
Yerina will soon invade Wind-Up City.
Stopping is not an option to begin with.
Unable to settle down anywhere.
Unfit to belong anywhere.
Forced to continuously wander.
“I have a favor to ask before I go.”
[Give the command.]
“Please receive some letters for me here.”
[Letters?]
Linda looks perplexed, as if puzzled.
I am currently using Tei’s workshop as the address to receive contact from Alesha, Cornelia, and Mia.
There’s nowhere else to use right now, so that’s why…
Actually, there’s nothing more bothersome than this.
If discovered, I will bear the full brunt of the main-trio’s wrath.
On the other hand, there are considerable advantages to using this place for contact.
There’s Linda, who will collect the letters on my behalf.
And because the whole mansion is my property, even if I’m discovered, I won’t be a nuisance to anyone else.
“That’s right. Letters will come from Elven Guard, Palana, and Cologne. Please receive them and keep them safe. Hide them somewhere secure like a safe, away from anyone else’s view.”
[Yes, I will do as you asked. But, will you personally come to check the letters?]
“That’s the plan, since there’s no other way.”
[Actually, there is a way. Surely, there’s a prototype you’ve made here… Here it is! It’s a wireless communication device!]
“What?”
Thunk.
Rummaging through the warehouse, Linda places a large machine in front of us.
[Wireless Communication Device]
[Condition: Good]
[It’s a prototype clockwork device that wirelessly transmits information through mana waves.]
[It’s only a prototype, so it’s not commercialized yet. There’s only two in the world. One installed in me and this one.]
“Oh…”
This is certainly useful.
A device that can communicate with Linda in real time.
Then, there won’t be a need to visit Clockwork City to directly check the letters.
As soon as Linda receives the letter, she can recite it to me over the transceiver. That could cut down the time significantly.
But how am I supposed to carry this big thing around?
Of course, I can change its appearance using its special feature, ‘camouflage’, but it can’t reduce the weight.
At that moment, when I didn’t know what to do, Mijeong, who is blankly standing next to me, comes into my view.
“Since you aren’t carrying anything anyway, can you carry this?”
“…What.”
“Here, try carrying it.”
“…It’s, it’s heavy.”
Mijeong’s pupils shudder.
Looks like Mijeong has her own load to carry now.
She probably felt empty without carrying something.
Perfect.
When the transceiver was placed on Mijeong’s back, it fit perfectly.
If we cover it with a backpack, it’s just like a traveler setting off on a long journey.
It doesn’t look suspicious either.
It’s a perfect fit.
“…Too. Harsh.”
“What’s harsh.”
“…The reward. Too, little. Need more, strokes. More, often.”
“OK. I got it.”
With the transceiver on her back, Mijeong protests expressionlessly.
Carrying around that heavy thing would indeed use a lot of magic power.
From now on, I’ll have to do more magical energy supplement and blood sucking.
We’ve dramatically resolved labor negotiations.
“You’re giving strokes as compensation for labor… Isn’t that too much exploitation?”
“So what, it’s my effort.”
“Lord Draken wouldn’t exploit like this. Rather, the Four Heavenly Kings welfare would be better–”
[Draken? Did you say Draken just now?]
As always, when the ragtag nun started talking nonsense, I was about to feed her some honeycomb.
Suddenly, Linda interrupts anxiously, gauging both me and the nun.
A reaction to Draken’s name, the final boss?
That didn’t seem entirely impossible.
Even though she had been asleep this whole time.
Linda too had fallen into a dungeon and played boss monster for over a decade.
Could she know something about Draken?
“Do you know Draken?”
[I don’t know per se. Just heard of it. Someone approached me when I fell into the dungeon. His name was…]
“Draken?”
[Yes. That’s right.]
“Tell me more.”
I pull up a chair and sit in front of Linda.
This is a jackpot.
I may be able to gain some insight about the final boss.