321 – EP.12 Does Android make plans for tomorrow?-1
***
Kang In-ho felt the weight of the word ‘just’ coming out of NB’s mouth was quite heavy.
Perhaps it was because he had passed this road once, so he didn’t think it would take long to get back to base A-11.
“Then let’s start cooking right away.”
NB said as he put the emergency food he had brought with him into something similar to a microwave.
“There’s electricity on?”
When I looked at how electricity was being produced, something similar to a generator was running at the base.
“Electricity is produced with a small generator.”
Where NB’s fingertips pointed, a small generator was spinning wildly.
“Are all bases like this?”
Kang In-ho asked after seeing the base with quite a variety of items.
“No. Base A-11 has the best facilities.”
Kang In-ho briefly saw the food heating up with a whining sound.
Soon after the cooking finished with a ‘ding’ sound, NB took out the hot food with her bare hands.
“Bacon spaghetti. Here’s a fork.”
“Thank you… Oh, it’s hot!”
As soon as he reached out and received the container, the heat burned his delicate flesh.
When the food that was missed in a near miss was about to fall to the ground, NB stretched out his hand and picked it up again.
“Are you okay?”
He placed a towel soaked in water, which he had brought from somewhere, into his hand.
“Uh, yes. It’s okay.”
He answered, soothing his numb hands with a slightly cold towel.
NB put the food back down in front of him, and he rolled up the spaghetti noodles with his fork.
“Hoo-hoo-“
Fearing that his mouth might get burned, he blew on the noodles to cool them and then put them in his mouth.
As the umami taste spread throughout my mouth through my tongue, my jaw became slightly sore from the saliva coming out of my salivary glands.
As if he was eating food for the first time in his life, he ravenously craved noodles.
“Does it fit your mouth?”
NB, who was looking at him silently, opened his mouth.
Instead of answering, Kang In-ho nodded his head vigorously. Because of this, the noodles in his mouth fluttered.
“I’m sorry that I provided a convenience meal. If I had been equipped with a housekeeping module, I could have provided more decent food.”
“Lyrics module?”
With spaghetti on both cheeks, he asked with incorrect pronunciation.
“Only very basic information and AI are installed on the made-to-order Android. After receiving the product, the buyer directly installs and uses the desired modules.”
“In short, since it just came out of the factory, it only has basic software.”
“That’s right. That’s why we can’t provide full-fledged service to Kang In-ho.”
“Is there a reason not to install the module? You say you can’t install it by yourself…”
“Self-installation is not possible for older Android devices, but since I am a [Newer version], I can install it by myself.”
In a strange way, it seemed like the word ‘new model’ gave strength.
“Then is there any other reason?”
“The module acts as a kind of transceiver. So when you install the module, it temporarily connects to the intranet and downloads relevant data.”
“Ah… If it’s an intranet.”
“That’s right. Connecting to the intranet connects to the Ark. So I can’t install the module.”
“But isn’t the initial setting okay? I don’t know if there are construction modules… Even without those, the bases have their own assortment, and rails have been installed in the garbage dump.”
He recalled the well-decorated base, the rails of the garbage dump that were elaborately interlocked, and the NB moving to avoid surveillance cameras and drones.
“Oh, that has nothing to do with the initial settings. It is an action based on data accumulated over a long period of time.”
“Is that possible?”
“Yes, the capacity of the memory device installed in me can store memories up to about 600 years old, compared to humans.”
NB tapped his head with his index finger.
“600 Years?!”
Kang In-ho’s mouth opened at the unrealistic number.
“Yes, that’s why we can take ‘new actions’ with data obtained over a long period of time.”
“It’s amazing and amazing.”
“Compliment. Thank you.”
NB bowed his head slightly.
After the conversation ended, meal time continued.
Kang In-ho moved his hands busily, and as his hands got faster, the amount of noodles in the plastic bowl quickly decreased.
NB looked outside the base.
The sun was going down, and I sensed that the temperature was gradually dropping.
“The sun will set soon. I don’t have any heating equipment, so I’ll make a fire.”
NB got up and gathered dry branches. Then, he put tree branches into the various brick stoves and lit them using fire sticks.
The fire that was lit gradually grew in size by cutting off the ends of the branches and showing off its presence by making a crackling sound.
A warm feeling began to spread throughout the base.
As his cold hands and feet warmed up, Kang In-ho felt tired. It could be that he gets tired quickly because he has the body of a boy.
“NB. I have a question.”
“You can tell me.”
“Why did you save me and take care of me like this?”
“It is related to the software that is installed by default on Android, which I mentioned earlier. This is because helping and protecting humans is designated as a divine law.”
“Divine law?”
“These are the four sacred laws that androids, robots, etc. Must follow unconditionally.”
“Is it similar to the three principles of robots?”
“There is no information on what the three laws of robotics are.”
“Maybe there are 4 sacred laws instead of the 3 robot laws. They roughly say that we must protect humans, protect ourselves, and obey orders, right?”
“The expression ‘roughly’ is inaccurate, but it is correct.”
Kang In-ho laughed at NB’s expression.
“Anyway, NB, I’m glad I met you. If the Ark had been found first… What would have happened?”
Kang In-ho thought that when he met the Ark, the story would unfold as obviously as if it were fire.
“It is right for me to avoid the Ark, but it is likely not a big threat to Kang In-ho.”
“No. You will definitely not be free.”
Kang In-ho scratched his head.
“Freedom.”
NB received his last words.
“Yes, freedom. Just as you refused the Ark’s request.”
“I don’t know if I am free.”
“The reason for rejecting the Ark’s request was ‘just’. Then, doesn’t that mean there is free will?”
“Free will.”
NB received his last words again.
NB remained rigid and did not say anything for a while. Contrary to its seemingly quiet exterior, it seemed like a continuous computing device was running inside.
“I am not sure about my current condition.”
“I guess I said something too difficult. Hmm… Is there a simpler example… Ah, this will do.”
He put his lips together, thought of a suitable example, and then clapped his hands.
“You must have refused the Ark’s request and done what you have done so far, right? You did such a thing even though no one asked you to do it. It means you chose it yourself.”
“Does making your own choices mean you have ‘free will’?”
“Yes. ‘Approximately’ is correct.”
“Also, the expression ‘roughly’ was used. There are many inaccuracies in Kang In-ho’s words.”
It may have been his mistake, but ‘frustration’ seemed to suddenly appear on NB’s face. Kang In-ho cleared his throat.
“If Kang In-ho defines it, I have ‘free will’ because there are things I have been doing since the extinction of mankind.”
“Collection of junk?”
Kang In-ho thought of all the junk he had collected in his backpack.
“It’s the groundwork for what I’m doing.”
“Then what do you really do?”
– Crackle crackle
The bonfire was burning and the branches were breaking.
NB’s face, reflected in the light, looked like the face of a red-faced girl.
“Before I explain what I’m doing, I ask Kang In-ho.”
Kang In-ho, who was watching NB’s mouth, stumbled as if his head had been hit by the horse that fell next.
“Do you know about the concept of [Dimensional shifting]? If I’m going to explain what I’m doing, I need to explain this concept first.”