episode_0084

“Phew.”

After taking a sip of coffee.

Kern spoke.

“It may be late, but… I want to go back to my wife and daughter now. I’ve been neglectful until now, so I’ll have to put in much more effort. I may not be forgiven. Still, I want to take back the responsibility I abandoned.”

“You’ve thought well. You’ve caused trouble for both of us because of me.”

“It’s my fault. What fault do you have… But you said you wouldn’t touch the machine anymore, so if you take Linda with you, it won’t feel sincere. Then you should let her go…”

After a moment of contemplation.

Kern looked at me with a serious expression.

It seems like he’s considering his options.

I understand.

Kern has worked hard enough, it’s time for him to rest.

I’ll be passed on to someone else to continue the research.

“Do you know what kind of person the man who saved you was? Phew. No, you wouldn’t have seen him…”

“I saw him. In the dungeon, when I was captured by magic and trapped in the idea that I had to harm people. I clearly saw the male member of the tribe and his comrades rescuing me.”

“What? How was he? What kind of person was he?”

“…”

What kind of person he was…

It’s a bit of a difficult question to answer.

Not specifying evaluation criteria means they want a comprehensive and universal evaluation.

The man called Eugene by his colleagues.

Eugene seemed to be the leader of the group.

He had the judgment and strength to protect and evacuate his comrades in sudden or dangerous situations.

He also had the trust of his comrades.

One even trusted Eugene enough to jump into the fray.

Oh. Was he not a comrade but a slave?

I’m not sure.

Eugene seemed to have strong determination.

A desire to achieve his goal even at the risk of danger.

And his determination was evident.

Summing it all up, what does it amount to?

After a moment of processing, I finally found an answer to what kind of person Eugene was.

“He was a strong person.”

“Strong? In terms of strength?”

“In various ways. He had a strong will internally and was externally firm, so he was a strong person. At least he didn’t seem like a villain.”

“I agree. Coming out of nowhere to wake up a dementia patient and then asking for a magical tool that can manipulate space and time… It’s definitely suspicious. But at least he doesn’t seem like he would use it for evil deeds.”

Kern’s assessment was somewhat similar to mine.

The common point being that he didn’t seem like a bad person.

But why is he suddenly talking about Eugene?

“I can’t see people clearly anymore. There are no people left around me, so I can’t discern who is a good person. As the original artificial soul, I can’t just give myself to anyone. But your eyes must be more accurate than mine. Linda, I’ve chosen your master. Your master is that headstrong man from the tribe.”

“!”

And so, my master was decided.

The man who stood up against me in a terrifying manner.

The one who pulled me out of the abyss.

.

.

.

“Um. Is there any problem, master?”

“No. None. For now…”

Every time he called me master, my body twitched and trembled.

Forced to hide my confusion, I took a sip of the coffee Linda gave me and savored its taste.

Delicious.

So delicious that I want to see Linda cry as she mixes sugar and milk into it.

That’s how good it is.

Making coffee this well.

And having a smart and human-like robot maid as mine?

Even in this mansion?

It’s too good to be true.

When too many good things happen in a row, suspicion arises, and it seems to be true.

‘No. It’s not too suspicious.’

Considering what Kern has lost by being so focused on Linda, it’s not that strange.

He neglected his family because of his dedication to Linda.

Now, he wants to focus on his family and has decided to put Linda on the back burner as a sign of his determination.

He wanted to make sure that Linda couldn’t continue the research.

So he’s trying to sell Linda and the research lab, and there was no one else around.

He protected the dementia patient and was rewarded with a cute maid and a grand mansion as an inheritance?

This sounds like the beginning of a web novel…

“For now, I need to know what you can do.”

“Oh…”

“Your gaze is sinister! I feel like I’m being watched by a human!”

“No. What are you talking about?”

Come to think of it, Linda is an artificial soul, so there’s no distinction between what she knows and what she doesn’t.

If she doesn’t know, she can learn.

So, she may not be able to use magic, but in terms of usefulness, she can surpass the versatile tool, Mijung.

The expensive fuel cost is not a problem because Cornelia will cover the expenses.

She can stay awake, never rest, and be on guard.

If you’re hungry, she can cook for you, carry your luggage, and do all sorts of chores.

If there was an ideal companion that you only dreamed of, it would be Linda.

She’s perfect.

So perfect that it’s almost overwhelming.

“Oh, I forgot to mention something.”

“What is it? Is there an option for a personality change or something?”

“Oh. That’s not available.”

“I see… So what is it then?”

“I’m one of the more complex leaf dolls, so I often have malfunctions. That’s why it might be difficult for me to stray far from this research lab, where various repair tools and parts are available.”

“You should have told me that earlier!”

“I’m sorry.”

I was imagining a luxurious trip with a robot maid, receiving all kinds of attention without getting my hands dirty.

But now I can’t leave this place?

My fantasy has been shattered.

“My plans have gone awry…”

“Are you planning to leave the Leaf City after all?”

“Yeah. I have things to do. I can’t just stay here because of a leaf doll.”

“Even though I’m not just a leaf doll? I can think and feel emotions just like a human. If you stay here, I can make you happy. But do you really have to leave?”

“Huh…?”

Linda grabs my hand with a pleading expression.

I wonder if there’s a heater function because her hand feels warm.

I’m surprised by the slightly alien texture of the silicone.

And I’m doubly surprised by Linda’s incredibly lifelike expression.

Even though I know she’s a doll, her face is convincing.

“Hehe. Just kidding. You’re not the type to be swayed by this. Don’t worry, you can leave. I’ll take care of this lab and mansion properly.”

“It seems like the indecisive human is swayed.”

“Quiet.”

It’s true that I was a little swayed, but ultimately, I can’t stay here.

Ariana will soon arrive at the Leaf City.

Staying here is not an option.

I have to keep wandering without settling anywhere.

“Before you go, I have a favor to ask.”

“Please give me your instructions.”

“Receive letters here.”

“Letters…?”

With a puzzled look, Linda looks bewildered.

I’m currently using Tei’s workshop as the address to receive messages from Alicia, Cornelia, and Mia.

I had to do that because there was no other place to use, but it’s not as troublesome as it seems.

If I get caught, I’ll have to face the anger of the three main heroines.

On the other hand, using this place as a contact point has its advantages.

Linda can handle the letters for me.

And since this mansion is my property, even if I get caught, I won’t cause trouble for anyone else.

“Okay. Letters will come from Elvengard, Palana, and Cologne. Receive them and keep them safe. Hide them in a safe place where no one else can see them, not even me.”

“Yes. I will do that. But are you planning to come and check the letters yourself?”

“I have to. There’s no other way.”

“If you’re looking for a way, there is one. Keern has surely left a prototype here… Ah! Here it is! A wireless communication device!”

“What?”

Thud.

After rummaging through the warehouse, Linda places a large machine in front of us.

“Wireless communication device.”

[Status: Good]

“This is a prototype of a leaf machine that transmits information wirelessly through mana waves. It’s not commercially available yet. There are only two in this world, one embedded in me and the other is this one.”

“Wow…”

This is definitely useful.

A device that allows me to communicate with Linda in real-time.

Then I don’t have to come to the Leaf City to check the letters myself.

As soon as Linda receives a letter, she can whisper it to me through the communication device.

It will save a lot of time.

But how do I carry this big thing around?

Of course, I can change its appearance with the ‘disguise’ feature, but it doesn’t reduce the weight.

What should I do? Just as I was wondering.

Next to me, Mijeong stands awkwardly in my line of sight.

“You’re not carrying anything anyway, right? Just carry this for me.”

“······What.”

“Come on, just carry it.”

“······It’s, it’s heavy.”

Mijeong’s pupils shake.

Now Mijeong has luggage too.

Her back must have felt empty.

Good for her.

When I put the communicator on Mijeong’s back, it fits perfectly.

Covered with a backpack, she’ll definitely look like a traveler on a long journey to anyone.

Doesn’t look suspicious at all.

It suits her perfectly.

“······You’re so. Cruel.”

“What’s cruel.”

“······The reward. It’s too. Little. More, petting. More often. Needed.”

“Alright. I got it.”

With the communicator on her back, Mijeong protests expressionlessly.

Certainly, carrying that heavy thing around would require a lot of magic consumption.

I’ll have to replenish her magic and feed her more often in the future.

The labor negotiations were dramatically settled.

“You’re giving labor compensation through petting…? Isn’t that a bit too much?”

“What’s wrong with that. It’s my reward.”

“Even Draken doesn’t indulge in such behavior. I’d prefer the welfare of the Four Kings-”

[Draken? Did you just say Draken?]

As usual, when the gnome nun started babbling nonsense, I was about to give her a sweet night, but Linda intervened urgently, watching me and the gnome nun.

Reacting to the name of the final boss, Draken?

It wasn’t entirely impossible.

Even though he had been asleep all the time.

Linda, too, fell into the dungeon and played the role of a boss monster for a dozen years.

Does she know something about Draken?

“Do you know Draken?”

[I don’t know him, but I’ve heard of him. When I fell into the dungeon, someone approached me and talked to me. His name was······]

“It was Draken?”

[Yes. That’s right.]

“Tell me more about it.”

I drag a chair over and take a seat in front of Linda.

This is a golden opportunity.

I can study up on the final boss.