326 – EP.12 Teaching Feeling-1
***
NB returned a few hours after the moon rose at the base.
He must have entered Aaru alone, and he had a lot of luggage. From what I heard, he also finished maintenance of the dimensional sailing ship CLBS-1283 by himself.
He asked why she went out alone, and NB said it was because of the behavior of the drone she had seen yesterday.
“I think I’ll be traveling alone for a while until I figure out the drone’s path.”
NB took out books and miscellaneous items.
“Next time, please at least say something and leave. I was worried.”
I spoke to NB while packing up my luggage.
NB Today was the longest day without NB, and I was so startled by even the slightest noise around me that I covered myself in a blanket and held my breath.
“Kang In-ho was sleeping, so I didn’t wake him up. It was too late to wait for Kang In-ho to wake up. Since he can’t read, I’ll devise something like a sign.”
NB looked at the tree branch that had entered the stronghold for a moment, then he took the rolling string and tied it to the tree branch in the shape of a ribbon.
“If there is this ribbon on the branch, it means I went to Aaru. I think this is enough.”
I nodded at the mark made by NB.
After finishing packing, NB said he would cook using ingredients from the base.
Now that I think about it, he seems to have a cookbook among the books he brought, so I ask him and he says [A cookbook that even beginners can easily follow].
“How was Aaru?”
While watching NB making food, I asked what happened today.
“The security level has risen. More drones than usual were patrolling the outskirts.”
“It looks like you’re looking for something?”
“That is highly likely. Every time you increase the number of drones in operation, power consumption increases. Since the Ark values efficiency, there is no way it would have increased the number of drones without any special reason.”
NB said while grilling canned ham.
“Wasn’t it dangerous?”
“I almost encountered a drone a few times, but I wasn’t detected.”
“What did you get?”
“I obtained some parts and a book that could be used to repair the dimensional navigation ship.”
The smell of ham cooking in oil irritated my nose. Feeling my mouth watering, I started preparing the table.
Even so, you just have to take out plastic bowls and disposable forks.
NB skillfully placed grilled ham on the bowl. Corn from a can and small bread followed.”
“Enjoy a delicious meal.”
“Thank you, I’ll eat well.”
I said hello to NB and ate my food with a fork. When food entered the mouth, the tongue danced and dopamine was secreted into the brain.
My stomach, which had been suffering from anxiety and worry all day, seemed to shout with joy at the appearance of food.
NB picked up one of the books he brought with him that was of appropriate thickness.
“What’s the title?”
It was difficult to guess the title because it was written in a foreign language, so I asked NB.
“It’s a book called [What Makes a Man].”
“Science books?”
“It’s a novel.”
“I guess you’re interested in the novel?”
“Kang In-ho’s interpretation made it possible to understand most of the novels in the base. That’s why we supplemented them with new novels.”
“So, is it fun?”
“A novel, you mean?”
“Yes. There are various reasons, but in the end, a novel is only meaningful if the reader enjoys it.”
“There are novels that end in tragedy. Does Kang In-ho find that interesting?”
NB asked me with an expressionless expression, but for some reason, I felt like there was an emotion of disgust on his face.
I corrected myself before any strange misunderstanding occurred.
“When I say fun, it’s a bit like that. Can I just say interest? Does something remain emotionally after reading the novel?”
In response to my unrefined explanation, NB stared at the book in his hand.
Are you thinking or calculating?
I decided to assume that NB was thinking.
“There is no emotion in Android. Of course, there is an emotion module. But that is also just an algorithm that tells you what to express in a specific situation. It is far from human emotions.”
“That’s right. But NB, you’re a little different.”
“Different? I need a more detailed explanation.”
“You just rejected the Ark’s request.”
“At that time, Kang In-ho talked about ‘free will’. If he had free will, did he have emotions?”
“Not really. Ah, how should I explain this? I’m not an expert, and it’s just a piece of sh*t philosophy that came out of my head….”
Because I am not confident, my words become longer.
“If you are an android with free will, wouldn’t it be possible for you to have emotions? Both are the differences between androids and humans. Since you have free will unlike other androids, you would also be able to have emotions.”
When I first became interested in the novel, I had doubts about whether NB could really be defined as an android.
“I understood Kang In-ho’s explanation.”
NB opened the book with an expressionless face. I resumed eating the food on my plate, and me and NB concentrated on our own tasks for a while.
NB was the first to break the silence.
“There is a sentence that says [I wish I could become a doll that can’t feel anything.] Here, why do humans want to give up their emotions?”
“Emotions sometimes make things difficult for people.”
“Throughout the novels so far, love has been understood as a positive emotion. However, the characters in this novel are suffering because of love.”
“You mean like [Crying with a smile]?”
That expression appeared in a novel I read the other day.
“It’s similar. In the end, it didn’t come true from the protagonist’s perspective, right? That’s why you cry.”
“If love doesn’t come true, will you cry?”
“…I’m glad I just cry.”
I think back to the time when I was chained and couldn’t leave the house.
“I know that crying is an action that is associated with sadness. However, it is difficult to understand that crying out of love, which is a positive emotion, can lead to sadness.”
Steam was rising from NB’s head. Is the thinking circuit overloaded?
“Love cannot be divided into positive and negative. It is just one emotion, and based on that emotion, it can be sad or happy.”
“Do emotions create new emotions?”
“Um… How about summarizing it?”
“I understood that emotions can change depending on external factors.”
NB nodded his head and returned his gaze to the book.
I put the last piece of ham in my mouth and cleaned up after myself.
As I placed the bowl and fork in the garbage collection box, NB was looking at me again with bright eyes.
“What else are you curious about?”
“It says, [First, let’s break it and kiss it. If you do that, there will be love that didn’t exist before, right?]. Will humans still feel love even if they are physically restrained and forced into physical contact?”
– Cluck cluck cluck
I felt like the food that had just gone down my throat was regurgitating.