Robot Protection Zone Chapter 5

It felt like I had been thrown into a deep, dark sea. It was pitch black all around, and I could see nothing. My body felt like it was floating aimlessly in the deep sea.

Then at some point, it felt as if someone had pulled me strongly, and I shot up to the surface. My senses gradually returned, and I could feel my body more clearly. My blurry mind also gradually cleared up.

“Ugh….”

Was it because I was turned off while crying? A headache washed over me, and my stomach churned as if I had motion sickness. I let out a pained groan and slowly opened my eyes, and the first thing I saw was my master’s face.

“Master…?”

“How are you feeling?”

At my master’s question, I cautiously moved my body. My body moved lightly and smoothly, as if I had slept soundly. However, perhaps because I had cried so much that my voice had become hoarse, a very raspy voice came out when I opened my mouth.

“I think I feel better….”

I blinked my stiff eyes and looked around. This was not the laboratory. A neatly organized room, a large and plush bed, and even the clothes I had been dressed in at some point.

I’m back home….

I let out a small breath and felt relieved.

I slowly closed my eyes and took out my old memories one by one. Warm golden hair… clear blue eyes… the hand that had stroked me gently…. Fortunately, all my memories with my former master remained intact within me.

I breathed a sigh of relief, stroking my chest. It seemed my new master had listened to my request not to touch my memories.

I raised my now much lighter body and asked.

“Is this your room, Master?”

“Yes.”

I thought so. The room was neat, but the scattered documents on the desk and the traces here and there told me that this was my master’s space.

I quietly looked around the room, then turned my gaze out the window. The sky was tinged with dusk. It seemed to have become night already.

“Master.”

I hesitated for a moment before speaking. The memory of me pleading with my master while crying came to mind, and my chest tightened.

“Thank you… for listening to my request.”

“……”

My master did not give any reply. I remained silent for a moment, then continued in a small voice.

“I will do my best to be of help to you, Master. I will try my best to remember the things you want as well.”

My master still remained silent. The room became quiet again. I turned my gaze and looked at the brightly lit moon outside the window.

The first day I greeted in a distant future without my master. For some reason, I felt lonely and scared.

Since this is my master’s room, I will have to sleep alone outside. But I did not have the courage to sleep alone in this large house. I was a little scared of running into the faceless robot while walking down the dark corridor, and I did not want to spend the night alone in an unfamiliar space.

I sat on the bed, fidgeting with my fingers, then mustered up my courage and asked cautiously.

“Master, can I sleep with you just for tonight?”

“…Fine.”

My master, who had been silent for a long time, finally answered. I had asked cautiously, half-resigned after showing him such an unsightly display of crying in the laboratory, but surprisingly, permission was granted easily.

My face brightened at the unexpected permission. As I was smiling happily, I felt my master’s gaze on me. Realizing it belatedly, I hastily composed my expression, and my master let out a small chuckle.

As I was cautiously observing him, my master got up from his seat.

“You go to sleep first. I’m going to wash up.”

After saying that, my master turned off the lights and went into the bathroom. Soon, the faint sound of water could be heard.

I fumbled to pull the blanket over myself and lay down. Then, I looked up at the dark ceiling and recalled my master’s tone and actions. Unlike his cold and blunt exterior, it seemed that my new master was not a bad person.

I pulled the blanket up and slowly closed my eyes. Hoping that I could safely spend the first night in this future where everything was unfamiliar.

The next morning, when I opened my eyes, I was alone in the bed. Traces of my master having lain next to me remained, but seeing that the blanket was neatly arranged, it seemed he had woken up first.

I looked around and came out of the room. When I went downstairs, I saw my master sitting on the sofa, looking down at a tablet.

“You’re awake?”

“Yeees….”

“Come here.”

My master beckoned. I quickly went over to my master and sat down quietly.

However, my master, who had called me, continued to stare only at the tablet and did not even glance at me. Feeling a little sad, I turned my head and looked around.

The sunlight pouring in through the large window filled the living room, and the faint scent of coffee tickled my nose. The fresh morning air made my body feel even more refreshed.

Although many years had passed, the peace that the morning brought was still the same. I enjoyed the leisurely time and smiled happily.

It was only after a long while that my master put down the tablet he was holding.

“Sophia.”

“Yes, William.”

At my master’s call, Sophia appeared quietly without a sound. Startled by her sudden appearance, I hastily turned to where the reply had come from.

Still a white and smooth face. Seeing that face from which no expression could be read, I instantly tensed up and stiffened my body. When I gulped without realizing it, my master, who was watching me, chuckled and said.

“Prepare some clothes for Didi to wear.”

“Understood.”

Sophia replied quietly and then disappeared somewhere. I glanced at her retreating back, and only after she had completely disappeared did I ask my master.

“Are we going out?”

“Yes. I can’t let you keep wearing those old clothes.”

“Ah, right….”

I fiddled with my pajamas with my fingertips. Faded, old, and shabby pajamas. It was the only item that held memories of my former master, but as my master said, the traces of time remained on it.

I won’t be able to wear these pajamas anymore….

Feeling a sense of regret, I was fiddling with the hem of my clothes when Sophia returned and handed me neatly folded clothes. They seemed to have been tailored to fit my body, but they still felt loose. The waist did not slip down and the cuffs of the pants did not drag on the ground, but the fit was so large and baggy that it felt awkward, as if I were wearing someone else’s clothes.

My master looked me up and down after I had changed and then nodded his head.

“This will do for temporary wear. Let’s go.”

Once my master’s permission was given, I followed him outside.

The place my master and I headed to today was completely different from the company we went to yesterday. Colorful electronic billboards and sparkling lights covered the streets, and I felt dizzy from the information pouring in from all directions. I was busy looking around, taking in the new environment.

Our destination was a department store. As we entered, I heard the sound of an employee greeting my master.

“Good morning, Mr. Spencer.”

“I’d like to see some clothes.”

“Shall I prepare the brands you usually prefer?”

“No, not for me today, for this one.”

As my master’s finger pointed to me, the employee’s gaze turned to me. In a brief moment, a sharp gaze swept over me from top to bottom. I got goosebumps and tensed up, but the employee was already looking at my master, not me.

The employee smiled calmly and said.

“Yes. Understood. I will guide you to the usual place.”

The employee guided us to a waiting room and then excused himself, asking us to wait for a moment.

After the employee left, I leaned back on the plush sofa. My gaze, which had been exploring the unfamiliar space for a while, stopped at the dessert tray on the table.

Scones, cookies, small cakes, and even macarons. My favorite sweet desserts were neatly arranged. As the faint sweet scent tickled my sense of smell, I suddenly felt hungry.

Come to think of it, I haven’t eaten anything all this time….

What was the last thing I ate before I was turned off? I tried to remember, but it did not come to me easily. The fact that I had been left turned off for a long time suddenly became real.

As I recognized that fact, a sudden hunger washed over me. The macarons on the tray were particularly eye-catching. I cautiously pointed to a macaron and asked my master.

“Master, can I eat this?”

“A macaron?”

“Yeees….”

“Can a robot eat something like this…. Well, do as you please.”

After getting my master’s permission, I took a bite of the crimson macaron. The crispy surface crumbled softly, and the sweet cream and tangy raspberry jam filled my mouth. I happily closed my eyes and savored it, and in no time, the piece of macaron had melted in my mouth.

It was a sensation I had not felt in a long time. The sweetness spreading on the tip of my tongue was as novel as if I were experiencing it for the first time. Was the act of eating this happy?

Having devoured one macaron in an instant, I reached out my hand again and picked up another one. It was a moment when I was concentrating solely on eating the macarons.

“Is it that good? Let me have one.”

My master’s voice cut in abruptly. I momentarily lifted my head, but it was already too late.

My master had lightly taken the macaron from my hand and, without hesitation, put it in his mouth. I looked down at my suddenly empty hand. And then I checked the plate.

It was the last one.