Hmm…
After sipping a cup of coffee.
Cern spoke up.
“It’s late, but… I’m going to try to return to my wife and daughter. I need to put in much more effort since I’ve been negligent up until now. I might not be forgiven, but I want to take on the responsibility I abandoned.”
[You’ve thought it over well. I’ve caused trouble for the two of them because of you.]
*“It’s my fault. What wrong could you have done…? But if I take you, Linda, after saying I wouldn’t touch machines anymore, it won’t feel sincere. So, I’ll have to leave you behind…”
He seems to ponder for a moment.
Cern had a serious expression while looking at me.
Looks like he’s considering what to do with me?
I understand.
Cern has worked enough; it’s time he took a break.
I guess I’ll just be handed over to someone else to continue the research.
“Do you know what kind of human rescued you? Hmm. No, you wouldn’t have seen them…”
[I did see them. In the dungeon, when I was caught up in the thought of having to harm people under the influence of demonic energy. I clearly saw a human man and his companions rescue me.]
“What? What were they like?”
[…]
What kind of human he was…
It’s a bit difficult to answer that question.
Since he didn’t specify what criteria to evaluate, I guess he wants a general assessment.
The human man called Yoo Jin, who seemed to be the group leader.
He had the judgment and strength needed to protect his companions in unexpected or urgent situations.
He was also trusted by his peers.
One even jumped into the gears just because he trusted Yoo Jin.
Ah. Was it not a companion but a slave?
I’m not sure.
Yoo Jin also seemed determined.
An eagerness to achieve his goals, even at the risk of danger.
And a resolve was evident as well.
How do I summarize all of this…?
After turning the circuits for a moment and thinking of an answer, I could finally say what kind of man Yoo Jin was.
[He was a strong person.]
“Strong? In terms of strength?”
[In various ways. He’s strong internally with a solid core and externally robust. At least he didn’t seem like a villain.]
“I think so too. Suddenly barging in and waking up an old senile man to ask for a magical tool that traverses space and time… It’s clear he’s up to something serious, but at least it doesn’t seem like he’s going to use it for evil.”
Cern’s evaluation was roughly similar to mine.
The commonality being that he doesn’t seem like a bad person.
But why is he suddenly talking about Yoo Jin?
“I can’t see people anymore. I have no one left around me, so I can’t tell who is a good person. As the first artificial soul, I can’t just hand myself over to anyone. But your eyes are probably more accurate than mine. Linda. I’ve decided who your master is. Your master is that stubborn human.”
[…!!]
Thus, my master was decided.
My master challenged me when I was in a terrifying state.
He’s the one who pulled me up from the abyss.
.
.
.
[Um. Is there a problem, master?]
“No. Not for now…”
Every time I say “master,” my body flinches and shivers.
Trying to hide my embarrassment, I slurp.
I savor the taste of the coffee that Linda poured.
It’s delicious.
So delicious that I want to mix in sugar and milk and see Linda make a sulking face.
It’s that good.
Making coffee this well.
A smart and human-like robot maid is mine?
Even this mansion?
They say when too many good things happen in a row, suspicion arises, and that seems to be true.
“No, maybe it’s not that suspicious.”
Thinking about what Cern has lost while being so attached to Linda, it’s not too strange.
Since he abandoned his family to focus on Linda.
Now he’s likely stating his will to concentrate on family again by putting Linda on the back burner.
He must want to make it impossible to continue his research.
That’s why he’s hastily selling Linda and the research institute, and I’m the only one around.
Staying by the side of a senile man, I ended up inheriting a beautiful maid and a mansion as an inheritance?
This is like the prologue of a web novel…
“First, I need to know what you can do.”
[Well, since I’m for home use, I can do house chores like cleaning, laundry, and simple cooking. I can also do math. The problem is that fuel consumption doubles if used for calculations… And anything I don’t know, I can learn it all. As long as it’s within the limits of my memory, I can learn and do anything. I have self-repair functions, so if any limitations arise in my body, I can modify it myself.]
“Oh…”
“Your eyes are so sly! This must be a human trait!”
“No, what do you mean.”
Thinking about it, since Linda is an artificial soul, there’s no real differentiation between what she knows and doesn’t know.
If she doesn’t know, she’ll just learn.
So while it’s true she can’t use magic, she can be a versatile tool that can surpass Mi Jeong in usefulness.
The fuel costs won’t be a problem since Cornelia will cover it.
She can stay alert without sleeping or resting.
If I get hungry, she can cook, carry things, and can help with all sorts of odd jobs.
If I were to dream of an ideal companion, it would definitely be Linda.
Perfect.
So perfect that it’s almost overwhelming.
[Oh, there’s something I forgot to mention.]
“What is it? Is there a personality switch option?”
[Uh-oh. That one’s not available.]
“I see… So what is it?”
[Among clockwork dolls, I’m considered quite complex, so I tend to have frequent minor breakdowns. So it might be hard for me to stray far from this workshop equipped with various repair tools and parts.]
“You should have said that earlier!”
[I’m sorry.]
I imagined a luxurious journey accompanied by a robot maid doing everything for me without lifting a finger.
But she can’t leave this place?
The illusion shattered dramatically.
“Plans have gone awry…”
[Are you seriously planning to leave Clockwork City?]
“Yeah. I have things to do. I can’t just live here because one clockwork doll is too precious.”
[Even though I’m not a simple clockwork doll? I, just like a human, can think and feel emotions. If you stay with me, I can make your master happy. But do you really have to leave?]
“Uh…?”
Linda grabs my hand with a desperate look.
Is it just me, or is her hand warm like it has a heating function?
Surprised by the oddly alien texture of silicone, I’m twice as amazed by Linda’s insanely lifelike expression.
I know she’s a doll, yet I’m fooled by her face.
[Haha. Just kidding. You’re not the type to be swayed by this, right? Don’t worry about leaving. I’ll keep this workshop and mansion spotless.]
“Sounds like a desperate human trying to cling on.”
“Shut it.”
It’s true that I was slightly swayed, but I can’t stay here.
Yeerina will be storming into Clockwork City soon.
Stopping is simply not an option.
I must wander endlessly, unable to settle anywhere.
“Before I go, I have a favor to ask.”
[Please give your orders.]
“Please receive letters here.”
[Letters…?]
Linda looks puzzled, tilting her head.
I’m currently using Tay’s workshop as the address to receive correspondence from Alicia, Cornelia, and Mia.
I had no other place to write to, so I did it this way…
But honestly, it’s the most troubling thing.
If they find out, I’ll face the full wrath of the three main heroines.
Meanwhile, if I use this place for contact, the benefits are enormous.
Linda will gather the letters for me.
Since this mansion is my property, I won’t bother anyone else even if found out.
“Yeah. Letters will come from Elvenguard, Palana, and Cologne. Please keep them safe and hidden away, like in a safe, so that no one else can see them.”
[Understood. But will you come to check the letters yourself?]
“I guess so. I don’t have another way.”
[There is a method! Cern made a prototype that must be here… Aha! Here it is! A wireless communication device!]
“What?”
Thud.
After rummaging through the storeroom, Linda places a large machine in front of us.
[Wireless Communication Device]
[Status: Normal]
[This is a prototype clockwork machine that transmits information wirelessly through mana waves.]
[Since it’s just a prototype, it’s not commercialized yet. There are only two in the world; one is built inside me, and the other is this one.]
“Oh…”
This is definitely useful.
A device that allows real-time communication with Linda.
That way, I wouldn’t have to come to Clockwork City and check the letters directly.
Linda can just read me the letters as soon as she receives them, and that would be enough.
That would save a lot of time.
But how to carry this bulky thing around?
Of course, I can change its appearance with the trait ‘Camouflage,’ but that won’t reduce the weight.
As I pondered this, Mi Jeong, standing beside me in confusion, came into view.
“You’re not carrying anything anyway, right? Just carry this on your back.”
“…What?”
“Here. Try it on.”
“…It’s heavy.”
Mi Jeong’s eyes shake.
Looks like Mi Jeong has baggage now.
Her back must have felt empty before.
Good thing.
Carrying the communicator on Mi Jeong’s back fits perfectly.
If I cover it with a backpack, I’ll look just like a traveler setting off on a long journey.
Not suspicious at all.
It fits perfectly.
“…This is too cruel.”
“What’s cruel about it?”
“…The compensation is too little. I need head pats. More often.”
“Alright. I understand.”
With the communicator on her back, Mi Jeong protests with a blank expression.
I guess it’ll use up a lot of magic to carry that heavy thing around.
I’ll need to give her more magic replenishments and bloodsucking from now on.
I dramatically settled the labor negotiations.
“You’re saying head pats are a reward for labor? Isn’t that a bit exploitative?”
“Who cares? You’re my maid.”
“Even Draken doesn’t treat his maids like this. The Four Heavenly Kings have better benefits-”
[Draken? Did you just say Draken?]
As the Centipede Nun starts rambling, I was about to give her a light smack when Linda urgently intervenes, glancing back and forth between me and the Centipede Nun.
So, she reacted to the name of the Final Boss, Draken?
That wasn’t completely impossible.
Though he has been asleep the whole time.
Linda, having been a boss monster in the dungeon for over a decade, might know something about Draken.
“You know Draken?”
[I don’t know him, but I’ve heard of him. When I fell into the dungeon, someone spoke to me, and that person’s name was…]
“Was it Draken?”
[Yes, that’s right.]
“Tell me more about it.”
I pull a chair and sit in front of Linda.
This is a jackpot.
I can get a preview on the Final Boss.
