Robot Protection Zone Chapter 19

William slowly opened his eyes, feeling the surroundings brighten.

William, who had sat up in the bluish room, turned his head and looked at Didi lying in the next seat.

Morning was approaching, but Didi was curled up, hugging the blanket, and fast asleep. He must have been tired from being on the cruise ship until late last night, as he was in a deep sleep, so much so that he would not know if someone carried him away.

William quietly looked at Didi’s face and then went down to the first floor. Hearing the footsteps coming down the stairs, Eve came rolling over, but as soon as she confirmed William’s face, she turned and went away.

“That thing….”

William frowned slightly. It was not a humanbot with emotions like Didi, just an ordinary serving robot, but it was strangely unpleasant. Just then, Sophia approached and asked.

“William, shall I prepare breakfast?”

“Yes.”

William, who was about to walk to the living room, suddenly remembered Didi sleeping on the second floor and called out to Sophia, who was heading to the kitchen.

“Sophia.”

“Yes, William.”

“Prepare food for Didi to eat as well. He will surely come down much later as usual and whine that he’s hungry.”

He said, recalling Didi who was busy hiding his rumbling stomach all morning if he skipped breakfast. For a robot, he’s quite high-maintenance. If it weren’t for the information he possessed, I would have sold him off without even letting him into the house.

After a simple meal, while he was checking the documents he had not finished yesterday and drinking coffee, Didi came down to the first floor, rubbing his eyes with a drowsy face.

He was waiting to call Didi, whose body would be warmed up from just waking up, when he saw the serving robot, as soon as it saw Didi, run over and wait at the bottom of the stairs. Its attitude was quite different from earlier when it had turned away as soon as it saw William’s face.

That hunk of junk…. Thanks to whom did it escape the fate of being thrown away in a junkyard….

“Eve!”

Didi happily hugged Eve who had come out to greet him. William watched the two of them being all lovey-dovey in the morning, and then called Didi, who seemed to have completely forgotten the existence of his master.

“Didi, come here.”

“Master! Good morning!”

When he called Didi, only then did Didi greet him in the morning and run over. And with Eve stuck right next to him. Seeing that impudent sight, William narrowed his eyes. How dare a mere robot not even greet its master first?

“That hunk of junk seems to like you very much.”

“Eve does?”

Didi just blinked his eyes as if he had no idea. Seeing that, William felt pathetic and wiped his face.

Ha, what am I saying….

“Never mind. Go and have breakfast.”

“Yes!”

Didi answered cheerfully and went to have breakfast. William sighed and lowered his gaze back to the report.

“Didi, good morning. Are you going to have a meal?”

When I came to the kitchen, Sophia greeted me. Nodding my head, I sat down at the table and scanned the table with my eyes.

On the table, as always, the food Sophia had made was neatly arranged. Following the master’s preference for a light breakfast, the menu consisted of gently warmed toast and jam, a salad with fruit dressing drizzled over fresh vegetables, and a warm soup.

The breakfast Sophia made today was also delicious. I quickly finished everything and was clearing the empty plates when I saw Eve passing by, cleaning the floor next to the table.

She has only been in the master’s house for a short time, but she is already so faithful to her role….

A sense of anxiety suddenly crept over me.

Sophia is in charge of the general housework, and Eve, who has not been here long, is in charge of cleaning the first floor…. And I…?

Everyone except me had their own role. I am also a robot of this house, so if I am not of some help…. As a fellow robot serving the same master, I could not just sit around doing nothing.

And if, by any chance, I could be of help, maybe my master would not throw me away even if I could not remember any useful information.

A sense of urgency suddenly washed over me, and I thought hard. What can I do?

The food Sophia made is delicious, but I was not confident that I could cook this deliciously. But even if I try to do other chores like laundry or washing dishes….

I looked around. There were a lot of appliances I had never seen before. I wondered how much electronic products had changed over the years, and even though I was a robot, I could not even guess how to operate them.

But I should be able to do some simple cleaning, right? Eve is in charge of cleaning the first floor, and since she can’t go up to the second floor, I thought I could clean the second floor.

Having made up my mind, I approached my master who was drinking coffee in the living room.

“Master, there is something I would like to ask….”

“Speak.”

“From now on, I would like to clean the second floor.”

“…Why would you?”

My master frowned as if he were puzzled. Before my master could shake his head and say no, I hurriedly added.

“Eve can’t go up to the second floor, and Sophia is busy with other things….”

“Do as you please.”

My master still had a puzzled reaction, but he did not stop me.

Having received permission, I clenched my fists.

Even if I could not remember the information my master wanted, if I became a useful robot, I would not be thrown away. In order to stay by my master’s side, I had to prove my usefulness as soon as possible.

-Jiiing.

Just then, my master received a phone call. Seeing my master start to talk on the phone, I naturally kept my mouth shut.

“Thomas?”

— William, are you still at home?

“Yes.”

— Can you bring Didi over today? The stomach I ordered for him last time is finished.

“Alright. I’ll bring him over in the morning.”

I heard Thomas’s voice over the phone. I pricked up my ears when I heard my name during the call, but the call ended quickly.

I was quietly eavesdropping on the conversation, and as soon as my master hung up, I asked.

“What’s going on?”

“They said your stomach is finished.”

“Aha….”

“Go and get ready. We’ll be leaving soon.”

For a moment, I remembered what had happened in the repair room.

The feeling of my body being opened with a clunk, and all my senses disappearing and then returning. Recalling the reddish object that had come out of my body, the desire to go disappeared.

It’s a little scary…. I slyly lied and tested my master.

“I’m not feeling well today, can’t I go next time…?”

“Then we can just ask Thomas to take a look at you.”

“…….”

I had dug my own grave. As I reluctantly nodded, my master chuckled.

As soon as I arrived at the company with my master, I headed to Thomas’s lab.

My legs felt heavy. I forced myself to walk, recalling what had happened in the lab.

It’s scary…. What if my master suddenly changes his mind and decides to look into my memories? I was anxious because I had said I would recall information that would be helpful to my master, but I had not found anything since then.

“Didi! How have you been?”

When we arrived at the lab, Thomas greeted me noticeably. He was said to be an old friend of my master, but it seemed that my master was not even in his sights. I sneakily glanced at my master, but my master just looked around the lab as if he were used to it.

My master checked his wristwatch and asked nonchalantly.

“How long will it take?”

“Replacing the stomach won’t take long…. By the way, can I check Didi’s pain sensors? I want to check the humanbot’s movements.”

“Do as you please.”

As if to mock the anxiety I had felt all the way to the lab, Thomas suddenly added a new request. Checking the pain sensors. I was scared because I did not know what kind of experiment would be conducted this time, but the two of them finished their conversation as if I had no choice in the matter.

“It seems like it will take some time, so do you want to come back later? Didi, are you okay on your own?”

“Yes….”

“Call me when you’re done.”

“Okay.”

My master turned his back without hesitation. I sent him a look begging him not to leave, but my master did not look back once and left the lab.

I stared at the door my master had left through with a longing gaze, and then sighed in resignation. I carefully asked Thomas.

“If it’s the pain sensors… does that require surgery that cuts the skin?”

“That’s right. Are you scared?”

My mouth would not open. As I lowered my head with a dark expression, Thomas asked me as if he had belatedly realized.

“Come to think of it, I didn’t ask for Didi’s opinion. If you don’t want to, I won’t do it.”

After hesitating for a moment, I shook my head back and forth.

“No, it’s alright. I’ll do it.”

It was scary, but it was okay if it was something that could help my master. I already knew that I had no choice if I wanted to avoid being thrown away.

I followed Thomas and walked to the laboratory.

At the word ‘surgery’, I was about to take off my top and even my pants like last time, but Thomas stopped me. As I paused in the middle of taking off my pants, Thomas explained.

“Today, I’m only going to check your upper body, so you don’t have to take off your pants.”

“Aha….”

Then that’s a bit of a relief. My master isn’t here, and I don’t have to take off my clothes….

I nodded and lay down on the examination table.

Seeing Thomas extend his hand towards my body, I unknowingly held my breath. As soon as his hand touched me, my body opened with a clunk, revealing my insides. It felt like my stomach was getting cold even though I had not inhaled any cold air, so I could not bear the fear and squeezed my eyes shut.

My stomach felt empty for a moment, and then I felt as if something was being filled in. And then the sensation of my body being covered again. As the coolness that filled my stomach disappeared, I slowly opened my eyes.

“Is, is it over?”

“Yes. Today, I just replaced the stomach, so it was quick, right?”

“Yes….”

I was a little relieved, but it was not over. Now, the surgery to check the pain sensors remained.