Ch.3737. Home.

# 37. Home.

“Mori! I’ve been wondering about something. What’s that drone?”

Before officially embarking on our journey to Paradise.

The Robot asked me as I stepped out onto the street to head to the building where we planned to spend the night.

“This drone? It’s one I found recently… Why?”

“The appearance and circuit patterns don’t look like they were made here at all. And those unpredictable movements too.”

The Robot displayed a question mark on its screen while looking at my drone. Somehow, that familiar sight made me chuckle.

So I wasn’t the only one who thought this drone was strange.

Well, what kind of drone would play with a Puppy on its own without being controlled?

“The reason it looks unfamiliar to you is… as you said, this drone wasn’t mass-produced in a factory in this city.”

I used the Controller to call the drone, which had been circling around the Puppy at low altitude.

As if reluctantly following an unwanted command, it approached me at a noticeably slower pace compared to when it was playing with the Puppy, then perched on top of my head.

“I assembled it myself using blueprints and parts someone left behind. Of course it wouldn’t be the same as factory-made drones.”

“I didn’t know there were still technicians around. That’s impressive.”

“I know, right? And despite looking like a toy, this drone even has communication functions.”

“…Communication functions?”

“Yes. Right now, our images are being transmitted to many people through this camera, and although there’s a one-day delay, their messages come through this Controller. See?”

I showed the Robot all the messages my friends had sent me through the Controller.

Evidence of survivors connected since that first moment through the drone until now.

I used to complain about how the messages came so sporadically and in small amounts, but looking at them all together, there was quite a lot.

I remember this happening. I remember saying that. I got lost in nostalgia, scrolling through the messages up and down, when the Robot muttered in a small voice.

‘—That can’t be possible.’

“…What can’t be possible?”

“Oh, nothing! I’m just amazed that there’s still something functioning properly after all this time.”

“Right? When I first saw the drone working properly, I was so amazed I screamed ‘Wow!'”

I’ve often criticized the drone, calling it toy-like and saying its functions were good but mediocre… but I think I need to change my assessment.

This drone was an amazing friend, so well-made that even a highly advanced robot was surprised by it.

I find myself smiling foolishly, proud that I discovered and successfully assembled such a drone.

“Finding a drone by chance that has working communication functions, and being able to talk to other survivors through it—that’s like a miracle.”

The Robot says this while looking at the drone. Using words like miracle or destiny that don’t suit a robot at all.

But its gaze seems deeply contemplative, contrary to the romantic words it’s using.

It’s just a camera lens that shouldn’t contain any emotion, but is it just my imagination?

“Just so you know… don’t take it apart out of curiosity.”

“Take it apart! I would never!”

“Good. You were staring at it so intensely, I had to make sure.”

I used the Controller to make the drone, which had landed on my head, take flight again.

The drone, which I thought would go play with the Puppy again, this time flew high into the sky, hiding itself in the darkness and snow.

What an unpredictable little thing.

* * *

Left at this alley, then right at the next one. Straight ahead until we reach the tall building.

I move according to the map I drew earlier.

With each step I take on the snow-covered road, I move further away from both Alexander and the pillar.

But there’s no hesitation in my steps. I have a clear goal.

…Just for today, I want to sleep in a warm room, on a soft bed!

Until now, I’ve been saying that any place without wind was good enough to sleep in, but that was just self-hypnosis.

Logically, who would enjoy sleeping with just a coat as a blanket, without a proper bed or blankets?

If the rooms were at least clean, it might be different… but as I’ve shown through the drone, rooms in decent condition often still have their owners in them, making for an uncomfortable night.

I’ve been consoling myself that mental discomfort is much better than physical cold and pain, so this was good enough.

But I’ve always had a wish in the back of my mind to sleep in a warm, soft bedroom.

I could say I’ve somewhat fulfilled that wish with the wonderful gift of Alexander.

But no matter how warm and comfortable the cockpit is, it’s still just a cockpit. Compared to a real bedroom and bed, it has its inconveniences.

“Hehe…”

It’s time to fulfill my small wish. A lit building, a clean home.

“Hey, do you think there might be hot water in the building?”

“Hmm, some buildings have it and some don’t. We’ve tried to maintain things as much as possible, but without materials to fix old pipes or broken temperature control machines…”

“I see.”

So the water situation is… still unknown. I hope there’s hot water. I’d like to take a bath or do laundry after so long.

“But—weren’t you heading to Paradise?”

The Robot drew a question mark on its face, as if it couldn’t understand why I was moving away from Paradise after saying I would go there.

Tsk tsk, this Robot knows one thing but not another.

It doesn’t understand that these small moments of happiness and rest become great driving forces for the journey ahead.

“…Why are you following me anyway?”

The Puppy. The Robot. The drone.

My once solitary footsteps now have three… no, three things following them.

I can understand the drone following me since I’m its owner, but there’s no reason for the Robot or Puppy to follow me.

They’ve been naturally following me since we left the pharmacy.

“Obviously, I’m here to help you reach Paradise safely, however small my assistance might be.”

It seems the Robot intended to go with me all the way to Paradise. What about this city?

“Aren’t you a Maintenance Robot? Is it okay for you to leave here?”

“As you know, there are no people left in this city. And although my colleagues and I have been maintaining this city somehow, there are limits to what we can do.”

“…I see.”

“This city will stop functioning before long anyway. Rather than waiting here until the end of my lifespan, wouldn’t it be better to help you with your goal?”

So even this city, which looks fine now, is gradually heading toward its end.

That’s… a bit sad.

“Perhaps you don’t want me to accompany you? If that’s the case, I might be a little hurt…!”

“No, no. I’m grateful. I’ve always been lonely.”

Even though it’s a robot, having someone to talk to beside me makes me feel much less lonely, which is nice.

“This should be the building.”

We’ve arrived at the building I saw from the rooftop. The corridor is clean, and the interior is brightly lit.

It feels like receiving a gift, and my heart is already pounding with excitement.

“The elevator doesn’t work, huh.”

“We don’t have power to waste on unused equipment.”

“Makes sense.”

I climb the stairs and stand in front of the home I saw earlier. The door is firmly shut, with no visible handle.

There’s a small hole in the door, but it doesn’t respond when I put my finger or eye against it, probably because I’m not the owner.

I instinctively reached for my back. But nothing was there to grab.

…Maximus. I didn’t bring it.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah. I didn’t bring my axe… How do we get in?”

“What?”

The Robot raised its voice in disbelief at my answer.

“Have you been opening doors with an axe all this time?”

“They were all locked tight with no way to open them…”

“Wow. You’re more violent than I thought! Should I call it human-like? It’s something I could never imagine doing!”

“What exactly is human-like about that?”

I grumbled as I watched the Robot place its arm against the door.

When the Robot’s slender arm touched the door, the firmly closed door made a “zing” sound and opened vertically.

“Wow.”

So a Maintenance Robot can open doors like this with just a gesture. While I have to struggle so much to barely open them.

I’m starting to see the Robot in a new light. I thought it was just a chatty robot, but it’s much more impressive than I thought!

I wonder if traveling with this Robot means I can benefit from technology to some extent.

Feeling a bit excited about this, I carefully entered the home. Like the outside, it was clean and bright.

“Did you clean this?”

“Yes! I personally maintained all the buildings in this area with these hands!”

“Amazing!”

With a sincere exclamation of admiration, I entered the home and immediately jumped onto the bed.

The firm mattress and thick blanket enveloping my body felt better than anything. I could almost cry.