Robot Protection Zone Chapter 18

My master’s playful mischief caused a delay in our departure. We stopped by the company for a short while, and by the time we came out again, it was already afternoon.

The place we went to with my master was the same department store we had come to before.

“We… are here to watch a movie, right?”

“Yes. We’re going to the movie theater inside this place.”

The memory of coming here to buy clothes resurfaced, and I asked 불안하게. I was suddenly afraid that he might say we need to buy new clothes before watching the movie because I couldn’t dress myself, but my master seemed to have no such intention.

Well… a place this big would have a movie theater, I suppose….

Nevertheless, I did not let my guard down and followed my master. Fortunately, the place we soon arrived at was an ordinary movie theater.

“What movie do you want to watch?”

“Umm….”

I pondered, looking at the long list of movies, and then pointed my finger at a movie whose trailer was playing on the electronic display. It was an ordinary-looking action thriller movie.

When I chose the movie, my master gave me a surprised look.

“That’s unexpected. I thought you would definitely choose that one.”

The movie my master looked at while saying that was a movie about the love between a robot and a human. I looked at the poster, which depicted two figures looking at each other affectionately as if they were in love, and shook my head.

If I were to watch that movie, my heart would break because I had failed in my love with my master, and instead of being able to watch the movie to the end, I would just end up sobbing.

I turned my gaze back to the action thriller movie. It was the first time I had seen the actors and the director, but they seemed to be quite famous people. That alone was reason enough to watch it.

My master walked inside without another word. I glanced at the ticket booth and asked.

“Master, what about the tickets?”

“I rented it out.”

Come to think of it, my master said he disliked loud places. Recalling what my master had said, I nodded my head.

We sat alone in the center seats with a good view of the screen and waited for the movie to start. While waiting for the screening to be prepared, I had a conversation with my master.

“You like watching movies?”

“Yes, I used to come to the movie theater often on holidays.”

“You must have come with your former master.”

“Yes….”

My master showed a somewhat displeased reaction. While I was cautiously observing the atmosphere in the ambiguous situation, the lights went out and the movie began.

As expected of an action movie, explosion sounds boomed from the beginning.

“Aah!”

Something exploded in front of my eyes and I was startled, and my master chuckled. He said that all movies these days are directed like this. I was not even wearing glasses, but it felt like watching a 4D movie.

However, the novelty was short-lived, and I soon got used to it, which allowed me to become more immersed in the movie. Before I knew it, I was engrossed in the story on the screen….

The movie was over.

However, my trudging footsteps were drooping and listless, as if reflecting my mood.

‘He said it was an action movie….’

It was indeed an action movie, but this too was ultimately a movie featuring a robot. It was a story about a humanbot who had been living with the protagonist like a lover for a long time being kidnapped, and the protagonist rescuing the humanbot before it was sold off and taking revenge on the kidnappers.

The actress who played the kidnapped robot was, of course, a human, but I ended up comparing myself to the robot in the movie. In the scene where the robot, reunited with its master at the end, whispered words of love, a single tear finally fell.

Are movies related to humanbots in vogue in the future? If I had known, I would have chosen the romance movie next to it instead….

I, too, had been with my master for a long time, but the robot in the movie was not abandoned until the end, while I was abandoned. The happy smiling robot in the final scene was compared to my miserable self on the day I was abandoned by my master.

I walked out of the movie theater with heavy steps. Still, my master had purposely brought me to the movie theater, so I forced a smile to avoid showing that I was dejected.

I thought we would go home or back to the company now, but the steering wheel turned in a new direction again.

“Master, where are we going?”

“To have dinner.”

“Sophia should be preparing dinner….”

“Don’t worry. I’ve already told Sophia.”

I see. Actually, I wanted to go home quickly, but it seemed my master had already decided where to have dinner, so I decided to follow him quietly.

The scenes from the movie were still lingering in my mind, leaving me with mixed feelings. Since things had come to this, I thought it might be okay to walk around outside a little more and alleviate my gloomy feelings.

The place we soon arrived at was a large pier adjacent to a river. A huge cruise ship was docked there, so the next part of the schedule was easy to guess.

“Are we going on that ship?”

“Yes.”

“Then… where are we having dinner…?”

“We’ll eat here.”

As we boarded the cruise ship, I saw other people here and there. The atmosphere was similar to the charity event, so I was a little nervous, but thankfully, no one approached us.

When I followed my master inside the ship, a space that looked like a high-end restaurant appeared. So we really did come here for dinner.

As I sat down at a window seat and looked around, most of the people seemed to be couples or married couples. It seemed like my master and I would look strange to them. It was obvious that we were not a couple.

“You don’t get seasick, do you?”

“It’s my first time on a boat, so I don’t know.”

“Then we’ll find out today.”

After getting on the boat, I was constantly looking around and marveling, when my master asked.

“Is this your first time in a place like this?”

“Yes.”

“Right, that old man hated crowded places, so he wouldn’t have brought you to a place like this.”

“…….”

He was right. My previous master liked quiet and secluded places. And I, who had served such a master, was also used to and comfortable in quiet spaces.

That ordinary daily life was happy enough for me, so why did my master abandon me….

The boat slowly set sail.

The cruise ship slowly moved forward, cutting through the huge waves. But the real beginning was now. As soon as we departed, the sun began to set, and a red light spread over the water.

“It’s beautiful….”

An exclamation of admiration escaped my lips without thinking.

The afterglow of the sunset that had dyed the sky red danced on the waves. The fragments of light swayed gently along the river, breaking dazzlingly.

While I was lost in thought, looking at the scenery outside, food began to be placed on the table one by one.

I thought I had no appetite, but seeing the appetizingly arranged food stimulated my appetite. Watching my master pick up his utensils, I also slowly began to eat.

I first put a piece of fish I had picked up with a fork into my mouth. The soft flesh, soaked in cream sauce, melted in my mouth. The deep flavor of the cream and white fish enveloped the tip of my tongue and then slowly went down my throat.

What kind of fish dish is this? The moment I took a bite, I was moved. It completely captivated me to the point where I could not remember the gloom I had felt earlier.

“How was the movie?”

“…It was fun.”

“I don’t think so.”

I stopped my hand and looked up at my master. I had definitely tried to act like nothing was wrong, but it seemed I had been caught. I hated that I was bad at lying at times like this. Because whatever I think is revealed on my face.

“You don’t have to force yourself to say it was fun.”

“Yes….”

“Love between a robot and a human, it doesn’t make sense, does it.”

“…….”

I could not deny it. As my master said, love between a robot and a human might be impossible. No matter how much a robot is made to imitate a human, we are not real…. Perhaps my love for my master was impossible from the beginning.

I took another bite of the fish dish, but it did not taste as good as before. The other dishes that came out after that were also generally delicious, but my mood did not get much better.

After dinner, I went out onto the deck with my master. Feeling the chilly wind, I looked at the now dark river and the glittering city.

The night view was as beautiful as the sunset. The city shone brightly, and countless lights shimmered on the river.

Looking at the night view from far away from the city, I could feel how much the world had changed. At the same time, my own existence felt unfamiliar. I felt like I was the only one isolated from this world.

Bang-.

With a loud firework sound, the sky brightened. I was startled and lifted my head to see colorful fireworks embroidering the sky like a galaxy.

“Wow….”

With my mouth open, I stared blankly at the sky and then looked to the side. Every time the colorful fireworks went off, my master’s face also sparkled.

I had never had a date like this with my previous master, but for a moment, I felt like I was on a date with my previous master. It must be because my new master looks so much like my previous master….

Thinking that, I looked at my master, and he turned his head, feeling my gaze. The sight of my master smiling with his lips gently curved upwards filled my vision.

The gentle demeanor he had shown since morning was unfamiliar. For a moment, it was as if I had returned to the past and was living with my master.

“Didi.”

Just then, my master called my name. Just like my previous master, who always called me with a voice full of love.

Thump, my heart fluttered greatly.

Bang-.

The fireworks went off again, and my master slowly lowered his head towards me. As his face got closer, as if he were going to kiss me, I unknowingly closed my eyes. However, instead of a warm touch on my lips, I heard a sweet voice whispering in my ear.

“You are the only key to restoring humanbots. So remember everything you did with my grandfather, the places you went, the conversations you had, and tell me. Who knows? If you remember something useful, I might continue to treat you kindly like your former master.”

It was a gentle tone, but the content was not…. Nevertheless, I ended up nodding my head as if I were mesmerized.