Robot Protection Zone Chapter 13

“……?”

William, who was entering his room, sensed something strange and stopped at the threshold.

It was because Didi had casually followed him and, upon entering William’s room, had naturally started getting ready for bed. After being indulged, it was quite a sight to see him, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, put on his pajamas and crawl into his bed when it was time to sleep.

William watched Didi quietly with a dumbfounded expression.

He waited, wondering just when this robot would start being mindful of him, but Didi did not notice for a long time and just lay down on the bed, tossed and turned to find a comfortable position, and pulled the covers over himself. Then he belatedly looked around, and when his eyes met William’s, he showed a startled expression.

“Master…?”

Just when he thought Didi had finally realized his mistake, he made an innocent face as if he had no idea what was wrong, and William laughed in disbelief. And after seeing that expression, he became too lazy to even educate his robot, so he just shook his head.

William left Didi, who had confidently occupied one side of his bed, and went to wash up. However, Didi, who he had expected to be asleep first, was still awake. Seeing him blinking his sleepy eyes with difficulty, it seemed he had forced himself to stay awake waiting for him.

This is a little admirable.

Originally, he had planned to work a little more before sleeping, but seeing that sight was so endearing that William turned off the lights and got into bed as well.

Didi, who he thought would fall asleep quickly with soft, even breaths like last time, showed no signs of falling asleep easily today.

“Master, do all things really change over time?”

And he was even talking nonsense.

It seemed he was just spouting whatever came to mind in his sleepiness. He answered him roughly.

“Yes.”

“You too, master, and Sophia, and me…?”

“Yes. Nothing is eternal.”

“…….”

After his short answer, a silence descended through the darkness. He thought it would finally get quiet.

William turned over and closed his eyes. The sound of rustling continued for a moment, and then a complete stillness came.

When I opened my eyes in the morning, I saw my master getting ready for work.

Yesterday, I had guarded the house alone all day. Without Sophia, the empty house was unfamiliar and quiet. Maybe that’s why it was scary. It was clear that if my master went to work, I would have to wait alone for a long time again.

After watching his mood, I opened my mouth.

“Um… master.”

As I called my master hesitantly, he looked at me as if asking if I had something to say. After hesitating, I gathered my courage and spoke.

“Would it be okay if you took me to the company too…?”

“To the company?”

“Yes….”

I was scared of being alone, and more than anything, I was worried about Sophia. My master had said he would have Sophia repaired, but I could not fully believe it until I saw it with my own eyes. I thought that if I went to the company, I might be able to see her in person at Thomas’s lab….

Yesterday, I had been caught lying, and today, I did not have a proper reason to go to the company. Nevertheless, my master was silent for a moment and then gave an unexpected answer.

“I’m leaving soon, so get ready.”

“I’ll get ready right away!”

I had asked half-expecting my master to say no, but he had given his permission. With a wide smile, I jumped up and returned to my room.

After quickly washing my face, I entered the dressing room and started choosing my clothes.

Since it’s a company, it would be better to dress neatly, right? My only suit had been thrown away by my master, who said it was dirty after the charity party, so I looked for something to wear instead of a suit.

I thought it would be best to look as neat as possible, so I looked for black clothes like the suit my master was wearing today. After choosing a black knit sweater and pants from the many clothes hanging on the hangers, a sense of satisfaction washed over me.

This should be fine in terms of attire. Feeling proud of myself, I came out of the room, but as soon as my master saw me, he frowned.

“What’s with those drab clothes?”

“Do they look strange…?”

“Take them off right now.”

A chilly reaction came back, as if he did not like them. I looked down at the clothes I had chosen with a dejected expression. They are just plain….

In the end, my master went into the dressing room himself and chose clothes for me.

Today’s outfit was a thick cotton shirt and beige pants. It was the complete opposite of the dark-colored clothes I had chosen.

“That’s better now.”

When I changed into the clothes my master had chosen, he showed a reaction as if he were finally satisfied. However, my master’s gaze, which had been scanning me up and down, stopped at my feet.

Following his gaze, my eyes fell on the dress shoes I had worn to the charity event.

“Throw those shoes away.”

Well…. If I wear these, my heels will get ruined again. I did not want to aggravate the barely healed wound either.

I nodded and changed from the black dress shoes to white sneakers.

“Let’s go, we’re late.”

“Yes…!”

I hurriedly followed my master, but I felt a little intimidated the whole way to the company. I felt like I had wasted my master’s time by not being able to choose my own clothes properly.

I arrived at the company in that state, but my master seemed busy, as if he had a meeting from the morning.

I quietly watched my master as he reviewed documents with his secretary and had a difficult conversation, and then I thought it would be better if I were not there. I carefully stood up from my seat to ask if I could go see Sophia.

“Master, Sophia….”

Before I could finish my sentence, my master waved his hand, signaling me to go. Thinking I should not disturb him further while he was busy, I quietly left the office.

The company was large. It was a place I had not been able to look around properly on the first day, so I took this opportunity to look around and wander through the company. Then I found a floor directory hanging near the elevator.

“Machine Analysis Team, Robot Artificial Intelligence Research Team, Robot Structure Design Team, Robot Repair Team…. Machine Parts Development Team?”

As expected of a company that develops robots, there were many departments related to machines. Which one of these is Thomas’s lab….

Pondering this, I looked at the directory and then went to every department that had the word ‘machine’ in its name. However, Thomas’s lab, which I had gone to with my master before, was nowhere to be found.

Then I suddenly realized something.

Standing blankly in the middle of the hallway, I quietly muttered the new fact I had just realized.

“I’m… lost….”

Where am I?

I looked back, but all I saw was an unfamiliar hallway. I did not know the way back to my master’s office, and I had no idea where Thomas’s lab was.

This building had a complex structure. The building was divided into several wings, and some places could not be passed through at all without an access card. In a maze-like space like this, there should be an information desk for visitors, but the problem was that I did not even know the way there.

The same went for Thomas’s lab. I had only followed my master last time, so I could not even guess its approximate location.

Occasionally, employees passed by me, but it was scary to even ask for directions from people who walked with expressions more mechanical than machines themselves….

As I was looking around, wondering what to do, a robot that was gliding past in front of me caught my eye.

“Ah!”

Only then did I feel a glimmer of hope. I thought I could ask another robot without any burden.

When I quickly approached the robot, the robot displayed a smiling face on its screen and asked in a cheerful mechanical voice.

“Do you need any help?”

“Hello, do you happen to know where Thomas’s lab is…?”

“I will guide you to Thomas’s lab!”

As soon as my question was finished, the robot took the lead and started moving.

It would have been fine to just tell me the way…. Seeing the robot busily rolling its wheels and leading the way, I felt unnecessarily sorry.

As I was being guided by the robot to Thomas’s lab, I suddenly realized that the robot was carrying a full load of documents. It seemed to have been in the middle of moving documents somewhere and had postponed that task to help me, so I carefully expressed my gratitude.

“Thank you. I’ve been here once before, but I don’t know the way very well….”

“It’s alright! Please ask me anything you’re curious about!”

The robot guiding me was very kind. It also seemed to know a lot about the company, so for some reason, I felt like it would answer if I asked about my new master.

“Excuse me… what kind of person is William Spencer? He’s my new master, but I actually don’t know anything about him….”

“William Spencer is currently the CEO of Spenic, and he was appointed as the president of Spenic a year ago. Also….”

The guide robot started rattling off information that would likely be in a company introduction. It might be trivial information that everyone knows to others, but for me, it was important information. Thanks to it, I learned new things I did not know.

As I walked, listening intently to the information about my master that the robot was telling me, I suddenly wondered if I could also hear about my previous master.