Ch.6868. School.

# Chapter 68

“What’s going on? Why is it like this? It was working fine just yesterday.”

I was genuinely flustered seeing Alexander fall asleep weakly after almost starting up. I hadn’t been this confused even when I nearly fell after dozing off inside the pillar.

Sensing something was wrong, I frantically pressed the ignition button repeatedly, but the response was the same in the worst possible way.

“Did it run out of fuel? That can’t be right…”

I clearly remember checking the fuel gauge pointing at the 1/2 mark last night before getting out of Alexander when we arrived at the hospital.

Unless the fuel tank was damaged and leaking oil while I slept, the ignition problem couldn’t be fuel-related.

“Is there a problem?”

“Yeah. It won’t start. If it’s really broken, we’re in big trouble…”

The only reason I could be at the top floor of the Tower now, spending my days without festering wounds or freezing in the cold, was all thanks to Alexander.

If I hadn’t found Alexander and had continued relying solely on my own body like before, I would have died on some uphill slope or freezing field long before reaching the top floor.

“Should I open the hood and check the engine? What if there’s really something wrong with the parts?”

Though I pride myself on being fairly handy, I can’t magically fix something without any information about it.

Moreover, if there were cracks in the cylinder or engine or other damage, replacing parts would be the only solution.

And I had neither spare car parts nor proper tools.

“Is there any chance you could fix it?”

“I do have some relevant knowledge, and I could try if I had proper equipment and parts… but it’s impossible in a place like this.”

“…I figured as much.”

I asked the Robot hoping for a miracle, but the answer was just as hopeless as I expected.

Right. Even a robot couldn’t fix a vehicle several times my size without any equipment or tools—it’s not like fixing a small flashlight or heater.

“Still, I have to try everything I can.”

It’s too early to give up. If the fuel had gradually depleted over time like a heater, that would be one thing, but it was working perfectly fine just yesterday.

That made it more devastating, but it also gave me hope that with some tinkering, it might work again.

It has to work somehow. Somehow…

“Was leaving it outside in this cold weather the problem? Or was it because I drove it all day?”

Whatever the case, if a part was broken, it would be truly heartbreaking.

Creak.

Alexander’s engine compartment was located in front of the driver’s seat.

I opened the hood to examine the parts. Though I’m no expert, I couldn’t see any visibly broken or damaged components.

“I should probably start by wiping off the dirt with a cloth.”

I sighed deeply looking down at the massive engine and numerous cylinders.

If the problem was here, where should I even begin?

I considered taking apart components since it would be useless if not fixed anyway, but I decided to wait a bit.

It’s not definitively broken yet, after all.

“Mori, here’s a clean cloth!”

“Thanks. But that nut over there looks a bit loose—should I tighten it?”

“Hmm… I think that would be good, yes? Should I bring you a wrench?”

“Yes.”

I wiped away the dirt within reach with the cloth, then used the tools the Robot brought to tighten the visible nuts.

I looked carefully for anything else I could do, but to go further would require removing all the internal components.

“Let’s close it before snow gets in and makes things worse.”

As I said earlier, removing parts was a last resort. I carefully closed the hood, hoping it wouldn’t come to that. It felt like walking on thorns, unable to be certain any action was the right one.

“The fuel definitely isn’t the issue.”

I checked the fuel tank just in case. For better or worse, there was nothing wrong with it.

“Sigh. I should check the tracks too. Something might be caught or stuck in there.”

“Mori, you look tired. Should I do it instead?”

“No. I’ll do it.”

What could I do with an arm that can’t even hold a wrench properly? Just as the Robot has its tasks, I have mine.

I crouched beside Alexander and began servicing the caterpillar tracks.

Click, click. Unlike the engine and other components that gave me a headache just looking at them, the tracks were at least intuitive.

“We must have traveled a lot. It’s quite dirty.”

The tracks contained traces of our journey that I hadn’t noticed while comfortably traversing the snow-covered world on this technological marvel.

I did my best to clean off visible dirt—small gears, pebbles, torn pieces of clothing—and shake everything out.

If I had a jack, or whatever it’s called, to lift Alexander, I would have unscrewed everything for a thorough inspection.

But for now, I could only service the parts I could reach by hand.

“They could have included repair instructions in the manual while they were at it…”

“…Isn’t that asking too much?”

“I know. I’m just frustrated.”

I was angry at my own helplessness—facing a problem that needed solving, but having neither the tools nor knowledge to fix it.

If only I’d looked for an auto repair shop, stuck to safer routes despite the inconvenience, or avoided pushing the vehicle so hard.

[You’ve been working hard all day…]

[I hope your efforts pay off.]

“I think I’ve done everything I can…”

While turning nuts counterclockwise, I was lost in regret, then returned to reality as I turned them clockwise again.

I’d wiped away as much oil and rust as possible and removed foreign objects. I’d checked all the nuts and bolts.

A professional would say I’d done practically nothing, but this was everything a non-expert like me could do, and I’d given it my all.

The sun was already setting again, and despite the cold weather, I was drenched in sweat under my clothes—something I hadn’t noticed until I put down the wrench.

“Please… please…”

I know it’s greedy to beg for it to work again after just this much.

But I still needed Alexander, having not yet properly located Paradise.

I pressed the ignition button while desperately praying.

…Tr…

If it doesn’t work, try once more.

Trtrt…tr…

If it still doesn’t work, try again.

With the belief that there was still hope until it completely broke down, I pressed the button again each time the engine died.

After countless attempts…

—Trtrtrt.

After pressing until my fingertips went numb, Alexander regained its original sound.

“Ah. Ha. Haa. It worked. It worked!”

I don’t know when I’d started holding my breath, but I was gasping and my head was spinning.

Still, I raised my arms high in irrepressible joy, even as I collapsed into the driver’s seat.

“Great. It moves well now… and the steering works too. Why did you worry me when you’re perfectly fine!”

I planted kisses all over Alexander’s control stick that was now moving as I wanted.

Worried that this might be the last spark, I turned off the ignition and pressed the button again—seeing Alexander still working well gave me confidence that I could set aside my worries for a while.

The engine noise and track sounds did seem louder and rougher than usual, giving the impression it was approaching its limit like an old heater…

But it was fine for now since I could still drive it.

…It had to be fine.

“This looks like… a school building from the old days.”

I drove the revitalized Alexander through the snow.

On this top floor, there were buildings whose intended purpose was unclear alongside familiar structures. The hospital was like that, and so was this school before me.

“It feels strange to see a school in person after only seeing them in books and videos. I feel like I’ve time-traveled to the future.”

In the past, to gain knowledge, one had to learn directly from accomplished people, so many schools were built regardless of country.

But with the spread of individualism and resulting social anxiety…

With the proliferation of home learning devices and the arrival of a world where humans didn’t need to learn…

Most schools disappeared except for a few universities catering to those with special intellectual curiosity.

Moreover, since I wasn’t in a position to visit even those few remaining schools, educational facilities were no different from ancient cultural relics to me.

“There’s no trace of people here either, as expected.”

“Of course not. Who would sit and study in times like these?”

Intrigued, I briefly stopped Alexander and explored the school interior.

The many spaces along the straight corridor with desks and chairs inside.

People of the past must have sat here, learning from teachers standing at those tall desks.

And when they had time, they would gather with peers to chat and run around.

“…I envy them.”

Sitting in the middle of numerous desks, I felt the loneliness that had persisted from past to present, then stood up.

At the tall desk in front, there stood a non-functioning robot.

Before leaving the classroom, I bowed my head to the robot guarding the empty space.

“The hospital, the school… why build buildings that no one uses?”

Perhaps these were attempts to recreate the golden age of human civilization.

[It looks similar to the school I attended.]

Just then, a message arrived.

The sender spoke as if schools were familiar to them.

How?

I couldn’t help but wonder.