Amaryllis in the Ice Country

Chapter 7: To Live On, Or To Die?

It was a bombshell.

Upon learning of the Village Meeting, all three hundred and so villagers were stunned, and protests were launched at the Village Council Hall. It was an unprecedented topic involving 鈥榯he survival of humanity鈥? so it鈥檚 to be expected that there would be such a reaction.

But the blame subsided in an instant. Once the people saw that 鈥榝ootage鈥?on the screen before the Hall, there was shock, hatred, followed by an immediate disappointment and confusion. After the footage ended, and hearing the Chief鈥檚 explanation, he villagers who were marching on in protests returned, completely stunned. The rumors of the 鈥榝ootage鈥?quickly spread amongst the Villagers. Over the first three days, viewership has been at 99%.

The Senate Council had divided views over whether this footage should be shown to the children. But as the children had offered their bodies and were 鈥榚xtracted鈥? the conclusion was made that they had the right to know. Of the children who participated in the viewing, there were a few who were wailing, yelling.

Thus, practically all the villagers had watched the footage, and the village was covered in a heavy atmosphere. The villagers went from shock and fear to lamenting, and disappointment, and then bitterness. 鈥淓verything for our masters鈥?sake.鈥?鈥淓verything else doesn鈥檛 matter as long as our masters can wake up again鈥濃€擳hat trust that has been supporting their devotion, their hard work, was shattered overnight like glass. It鈥檚 no wonder that there would be such a reaction.

However, the time to judge continued to approach without mercy. There was only a week till the Village Council meeting, and the villagers who were startled are now forced to decide 鈥榳hat stance are we going to have for this meeting鈥?鈥?To continue 鈥榚xtracting鈥?from our bodies and the children鈥檚 bodies for our masters鈥?sakes, or to sacrifice our masters and abandon our way of life.

Of course, to the villagers who have devoted their all for our masters till this point, it鈥檚 definitely not easy to think of an answer. Everyone had been asking their neighbors to be sure of their answer, but the answers are all similar frustrations like 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know.鈥?鈥淚鈥檓 confused too.鈥?Such troubles were shared, and the villagers were cornered. Given that the adults were like this, the children could only spend every day with fear and trepidation on their faces.

And so, that morning comes.

鈥擧aa鈥?

And so, I crawl into my bed at home on the day.

The Village Meeting鈥檚 about to start in the day. Even after a week, I still can鈥檛 make up my mind.

The topics to be discussed at the Village Meeting can be roughly classified into two parts.

1. Proposal to have humans survive鈥?to continue to maintain and manage the 鈥楽now White鈥?

a. However, there are some duties all villagers will have to do.

i. Double the frequency of 鈥榚xtracting鈥?

ii. Cut down supplies frequency by half.

iii. Stop all parts exchange during the diagnosis.

2. Proposal to have humans wiped out鈥?to stop the 鈥楽now White鈥? and destroy humanity.

a. From thus on, all villagers will have the following benefits.

i. Stop 鈥榚xtracting鈥?

ii. Double the frequency of parts.

iii. Issue standard parts for treatment.

The contents of the meeting are just that simple.

Given the dire lack of parts, there鈥檚 no way to continue maintaining the Snow White from thus on except for more 鈥榚xtractions鈥?from the villagers. In other words, if we are to continue protecting humanity, the villagers will have to die. Conversely, if we protect the villagers, humans will have to die.

鈥擜hh.

I鈥檓 tormented by this cruelty.

To protect with our lives, or to live by killing?

鈥擶hy did it end up this way?

Is it worth protecting humans by sacrificing the wives?

Do we want to have humans continue to survive, even if it means sacrificing the children we love?

But if we destroy the Snow White here, what is the purpose of the past hundred years.

In any case, we robots, created by humans, must judge over our makers; is this really forgivable?

鈥擶hat do I do?

Over the past week, I had been asking this question to myself.

鈥淗aa鈥︹€?

I sigh for the umpteenth time for the day, and turn around. I finally make it back to my room, but I just can鈥檛 calm down.

To let them live on, or to wipe them out鈥攚hich option do I choose? And, the reason behind it.

Of course, I do want to choose 鈥楶roposal to have humans survive鈥? Over the past hundred years, I have been living for that, moving on with the goal to serve our masters again. Just thinking of giving up on my prior way of life, and destroy the Snow White is something I am terrified to think about.

鈥擝ut.

There are two problems to this. One, the maintenance of the Snow White requires a large amount of sacrifice. If we continue to carry out extraction at this rate, the number of martyrs in the village will continue to increase. Having more cave-ins will also result in more sacrifices. Even if we do choose to remain in the village and protect the Snow White, that will mean a slow approach to our deaths, and there鈥檚 a very high chance that the villagers will die off before the end of the Ice Age.

Second, which the Chief did mention, is the reason why we worked so hard to protect our masters. The people asleep inside the Snow White are the ones who sacrificed a large number of their kind to survive. Are they really the judge masters worthy of our loyalty, the masters as kind as the Principal? Are they the enemies of our masters, the ones who sacrificed them? Even so, to destroy the Snow White and kill off the masters who cannot resist is too鈥?

鈥擜hh, seriously鈥?

I continue to rack my Mind Circuit, unable to consolidate my thoughts. If this kept up, I wouldn鈥檛 be able to speak up at the meeting today.

Almost all the villagers will be attending the meeting, save for a few who are being repaired. Like me, the rest aren鈥檛 able to get a conclusion, so the scale remains tipped in an unknown direction. If this keeps up, the possibility of the Chief鈥檚 proposal鈥攖he Proposal to wipe out humans鈥攂eing passed will be very high, given that he has the most trust from the villagers. Also, I lack the reasoning and resolution to refute that.

鈥淵o, coming in now.鈥?

The door opens without a knock. Poking her face in is my big sister, wearing a beret.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 with the long face? That鈥檒l ruin that cute face of yours.鈥?

鈥淏ut鈥︹€?

My heart just feels heavy thinking about what鈥檚 going to happen today.

鈥淲hat will you choose, Viscaria?鈥?

鈥淚 think I鈥檒l vote to wipe them out.鈥?

I suddenly lift my head.

鈥淥h, you鈥檙e surprised? I do have some reservations about it, but considering how bad the predicament of the village is at this point.鈥?

鈥淧redicament鈥︹€?

The lack of villagers鈥?parts is at its limit. If we continue extracting at this rate, there will surely be many more villagers who will stop functioning due to a lack of parts鈥攄eath.

鈥淲hat will you say for your speech?鈥?

鈥淥f course. I鈥檒l say this, we villagers will be wiped out due to a lack of parts. As the lead technician, I support the proposal to wipe out humanity.鈥?

鈥淚 see鈥︹€?

Everyone can say whatever they want for today鈥檚 Meeting, if they want to. This affects the future of the village, and our own futures. Of course, I too have a chance to speak up.

She then continues on,

鈥淚 can鈥檛 stand seeing the lives that can be saved vanish before my eyes鈥︹€?

Such a grumble is befitting of her, a technician and a doctor. If the Snow White is broken into parts, we might be able to save a hundred. She knows this more than anyone else.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I think too. If the Snow White can鈥檛 work, it means it鈥檚 at the end of its lifespan. Even if we do continue to take care of her for a hundred years, if the Ice Age doesn鈥檛 end, the fate of human extinction won鈥檛 change either.鈥?

Viscaria states it very clearly. At such moments, she has an outstanding ability to make decisions.

鈥淏ut we worked hard for our masters until this point, right?鈥?

鈥淚 know. But aren鈥檛 the ones sleeping inside that Snow White the bad ones who killed our masters? It鈥檚 their fault that the surface entered the Ice Age.鈥?

鈥淭his鈥︹€?

鈥淭he 鈥榤asters鈥?I love and respect are the ones who really treasure the robots, and will continue to repair them no matter how many times it is, until the moment the robots break down, and say 鈥榯hank you very much for all this time鈥? When I was in the repair factory, I had so many kind people around me. My masters aren鈥檛 inside the Snow White, but in my memories.鈥?

Saying this, Viscaria presses her chest.

She鈥檚 straightforward, but there鈥檚 a lot of gloominess on her face, and as she bites her lips, her expression is somewhat pained. I know this is a conclusion she has made after much pondering, so I have no intention to refute.

鈥淲ell, it just has to be a choice to make after much consideration. I can鈥檛 say either of the choices are completely correct.鈥?

鈥淎ctually鈥斺€?

She lowers her beret, and mutters a wish, a prayer.

鈥淚t鈥檒l be best if there鈥檚 a chance for both humans and robots to be saved.鈥?

Viscaria leaves, and I still remain gloomy.

There鈥檚 only half a day until the Village Meeting. While it鈥檚 not necessary to state my view at the Meeting, as a villager, and as the Vice Chief, I want to treat this matter responsibly. I really hate voting for the majority or going along with the others.

鈥擨鈥檒l choose to wipe them out. To destroy the Snow White.

Viscaria had stated clearly. This is a decision befitting of her, and I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 anything wrong with that.

鈥擳o stop the 鈥楽now White鈥? and destroy humanity.

The Snow White uses the latest parts, so once it鈥檚 taken down, it will instantly solve the issue of a lack of parts in the village. Visea鈥檚 鈥榩opping pain鈥?can be treated immediately, old man Sugi can walk freely, Leaves can make voices from the throat, and Pinetree can see the light of day again. All the villagers who have done extraction can regain their original functions, whether it is that their limbs are immobile, or that they are blind or deaf; the village will probably regain its joy and life. This isn鈥檛 selfishness from the villagers, but instead, just taking back 鈥榳hat originally belongs to us鈥? The villagers who have been protecting the Snow White for more than a hundred years have the right to live on, so I think.

鈥擝ut.

Is it really fine? To abandon what we have been protecting with all our lives, and to ensure our survival? Our masters created us from one; are we just going to let them die? There are babies inside too. Are we going to treat them equally? Then, are we going to just save the babies? Just save the ones who never participated in the 鈥榤assacre鈥? Choose them one by one? Do we have such a right?

The more I think, the more confused I get.

And at the end of the frustrations, that voice will always show up in my mind.

鈥擥ood work.

That鈥檚 the Principal who often took care of me when I was still a nanny robot.

鈥擥o have a rest.

The Principal has always been thinking for my sake, comforting me with words from time to time. Even after becoming an old man, even after his back is slouched, his hands trembling, Principal always have an earnest smile on his face. Principal鈥檚 popular with the children, surrounded by them immediately once he appears. When I broke down, Principal objected to scrapping me, and had me repaired. To me, the original image of the 鈥榤aster鈥?is the kind face inside the bedroom, with the curtains fluttering in the spring breeze.

鈥擯rincipal鈥hat, shall I do?

Principal鈥檚 kind smile continues to linger inside my Mind Circuit. Over the past hundred years, I kept working for that smile, protecting the Snow White. For that, I have no regrets or grudges, and am I am proud of it.

Principal鈥檚 kind smile, the children鈥檚 innocent sleeping faces, the amicable mothers鈥攕uch memories of the era of nanny robots can鈥檛 be wiped away at all, and I find it hard to make a decision. There are two ends of the scale. One side is the nice sleeping faces of the children in the village, and the other is the innocent sleeping faces of the kindergarten children. The scale continues to shake, not tilting to either side.

鈥擨t鈥檒l be best if there鈥檚 a chance for both humans and robots to be saved.

Viscaria鈥檚 right. If there鈥檚 such a way, that鈥檚 definitely the best one. But because we can鈥檛 do it, we鈥檙e troubled, lost till this point. It鈥檚 not like this fantasy of a solution is there whenever we want it.

鈥淎hh, every problem will be solved if the Ice Age can end.鈥?

I continue to say something that isn鈥檛 possible, and feel increasingly downhearted.

And so, after thirty minutes of me being busy over nothing passed.

鈥擶ait.

I lift my face.

鈥擨f the Ice Age ends.

The reason why the Snow White was built was because the surface was unsuitable for humans to live on. So, there鈥檚 a need to wait until the Ice Age ends, and have the Cradle return to the surface to be 鈥榬eawakened鈥? That will become a new dawn for humanity. Right, if the Ice Age ends鈥?

鈥擧uh?

At that moment, I get up with an idea.

鈥擧ow鈥檚 the situation on the surface?

Once I realize this possibility, the electric signals race through my Mind Circuit. Sparks fly everywhere, and the shattered information start to piece together as a whole. This is a phenomenon called 鈥榬ealization鈥?in humans.

鈥擲uch cracks appear when there is a difference in temperatures.

There are some strange cracks appearing on the icemobile. Back then, Viscaria said,

鈥擬aybe it鈥檚 because the recent difference in temperatures causing it. I intend to focus on Treating frostbites during the next 鈥榖ody checkups鈥?

There has been a sharp increase in the number of frostbite cases. Back then, the one who was told of the 鈥榙ifference in temperature鈥?wasn鈥檛 anyone else, but me.

Difference in temperature.

In other words, that鈥檚 the change in temperature鈥攊f the temperature 鈥榰nderground鈥?changes, does it mean that the temperature on the 鈥榮urface鈥?is changing too?

鈥擱ight.

It鈥檚 an optimistic guess. Even if this is an illusion born out of my wish, called 鈥業 hope so鈥? but at this point, I, who鈥檚 at a complete loss, thinks of this as a great idea. Even if it鈥檚 a roll on the dice, there鈥檚 value in going to check it out.

鈥淎lright!鈥?

I stand up, grab my coat, and run out of the house.

鈥擳o the surface!

After that.

I stand at the top of the spindle, looking up. There is a heavy door above me, giving off a dim glow.

鈥擟hief will be angry after learning of this.

Using the identification key I obtained from the Chief鈥檚 room, I open the door. With a blunt rumble, the door slides open, and the shattered ice drops.

鈥擳he passage does seem fine here.

On the other side of the thick door, there is a path that leads high above. This manhole-like path is called the 鈥楶ath Canal鈥? left behind when the Snow White sank deep into the ground. It鈥檚 the mission of the village to send the Cradle through this Path Canal when the snow melts. The purpose of sending three hundred and so robots underground is to provide manual labor for transporting the three hundred or so Cradles in the final phase.

鈥擶hat will Viscaria say鈥?

I never mentioned anything about heading to the surface. Normally, I鈥檒l discuss this alone with Viscaria, but this time, I won鈥檛.

鈥?I think I鈥檒l vote to wipe them out.

My hope to have humans continue to survive will definitely clash with her. She鈥檒l definitely suffer because of this. So, I have to finish this on my own鈥攕o I think.

鈥擱ight, let鈥檚 get going!

I reach my hand out for the ladder, and start to climb out.

An endless darkness.

I slowly climb up this really dark 鈥楶ath Canal鈥? My visual installation can only light up several meters away, so it does feel like I鈥檓 slowly floating up in the deep sea.

鈥擨n fact, how might it be?

The remote thermometer that records the surface temperature has been broken for more than thirty years. As long as the Ice Age hasn鈥檛 ended, just changing it will only be a waste of precious parts, so at this point, we left it alone.

鈥擳he problem here is the 鈥榩ower generator鈥?

There鈥檚 a generator on the surface. Thousands of robots were deployed when the Snow White was created, and the generator was the facility. If I can get the generator working, and we return back to the surface to live鈥攁nd most importantly, to ensure the vitals of our masters. It will be very possible. I can鈥檛 do anything in this Ice Age, but as long as the temperature returns to normal, there鈥檚 hope.

鈥擨f possible, I want to try getting the generator to work again.

Harboring such faint hopes, I climb up the dark Path Canal. This hole, ten meters in diameter, has ice everywhere, and the ladder surface is completely frozen. It鈥檚 hard to proceed on as I have to scrape the layer of ice and move on, but I can鈥檛 be jumpy. If I slip and fall in this situation without a safety rope, even a robot like me will be broken into pieces at this massive height.

So I climb on quietly, and after climbing a little while.

An obstacle suddenly appears before me.

-Ugh鈥?

Waiting for me there is a thick wall of ice.

The Path Canal gets narrower, and the diameter is already less than five meters, and the ice blocks the path like a stopper. It looks like it was formed by underground water that had seeped through and froze.

鈥淭his is troublesome huh鈥︹€?

Anyway, I first take out a tool similar to a torchlight, and approach the ice block like a dentist shining light into a patient鈥檚 mouth. Once the light hits the light, the ice vaporizes with a whoosh. This is a tool called the 鈥楤lack Pointer鈥? the official name called 鈥楶ortable Directional Heat Wave Aiming Device鈥? This works on the same principle as the 鈥楲ittle Sun鈥? and is a 鈥榟eating flashlight鈥?

鈥擳his is endless鈥?

I stop what I鈥檓 doing, looking lost. It鈥檚 regrettable to give up here, but it is a waste of time to melt the ice with the equipment I have,

鈥淭his is troublesome huh鈥︹€?

I open the map in my Mind Circuit. The Path Canal extends straight up from the 鈥淩EM Forest鈥? It鈥檚 a clear path, but because of this, it becomes a dead end when blocked.

鈥擜nd I can鈥檛 just dig my way through here鈥?

I activate the holographic map inside my Mind Circuit. Like a windmill, the map rolls about in the Mind Circuit.

鈥擡h?

After that, I realize something.

On this map that I just so happen to check on, there鈥檚 are thins line that shows up after I enlarged it. The branch-like lines extend from the Path Canal, in a radial manner. They look like an ant hive with a complex structure.

鈥淲ork, tunnels?鈥?

I look at a brief explanation on the map, and it has a tagline 鈥榝or moving sand and dirt鈥?behind.

鈥擩ust maybe鈥?

A hundred years ago, the Snow White was buried deep underground. In order to build such a large facility, there needs to be a large amount of dirt and rocks dug up. In that case, are these the work tunnels used to transport the dirt?

鈥擯roof is more important than theory.

I follow the directions indicated on the map, and descend the ladder by a little. After about five meters or so, I gather my focus on the surrounding walls. If my guess is correct, it should be nearby鈥?

鈥淕ot it!鈥?

I find a spot with a slightly different color on the frozen wall. This is a little gradient that isn鈥檛 easily noticed if I don鈥檛 observe up close, and it is a two-meter diameter on the wall. Just as how there are 鈥榯races鈥?left behind when something is buried underground, there are such marks here.

鈥擭o doubt about it. There is such a tunnel here. A work tunnel used for moving the excavated dirt and rubble.

I pull out the 鈥楤lack Pointer鈥?torchlight from my pocket, holding onto the ladder as I cautiously melt the border with the contrasting color. After I etch out a circle.

鈥淗eeeeyyy!!鈥?

I kick at the wall. The wall falls to the other side with a thud, forming a pretty round hole.

鈥擜s I expected鈥?

Opened right before me is a tunnel that appears to swallow all darkness.

Right, right, left, up, left, a little down, and up again.

I continue to advance wordlessly in this tunnel that鈥檚 as complex as a labyrinth.

I ignore the little paths that appear to be dug up randomly, and choose the direction with lots of light, using all my efforts as I advance forward. Till this point, the locations match the map completely, so I should be in the right direction.

鈥擝ut even so.

I seem to have stepped on something, and hastily raise my leg.

鈥淯u鈥︹€?

I just stepped on a broken hand. Lying beside it is a body that was shattered due to frostbite. The head lying by the side of the body is staring at the road, wide-eyed, like a really poor sculpture. This is the corpse of a robot.

鈥擳his is the sixth one.

Every five minutes I pass through the tunnel, I will come across a robot corpse. Obviously, it isn鈥檛 hard to think of them as the work robots deployed to build the Snow White.

鈥溾€s this one a lost cause too?鈥?

Feeling lucky, I open the robot鈥檚 chest to check on the condition. Unfortunately, like the five units before it, the Mind Circuit had shattered due to it being in the last stages of frostbite, and was unfortunate not to survive.

Ssssst, ssst, the sound of dried sand as it shatters, and the image resonates that with Gappy鈥檚 death. A sad emotion tugs hard at my chest.

鈥擲orry that I wasn鈥檛 able to save you.

They didn鈥檛 enter an evacuation shelter, they didn鈥檛 enter the village, and ran out of power. What did the robots feel when they died off? I was coincidentally chosen as a villager, and there鈥檚 nothing strange even if I鈥檓 to die wordlessly here like them. My Mind Circuit had been modified before, and I have no idea what happened before, so maybe these robots before me were comrades who suffered along with me.

鈥淚鈥檓 really sorry.鈥?

I apologize as I step across the hill of buried corpses that filled the tunnels.

The frozen corpses shatter like ice pillars.

And after a while.

鈥擧uh?

I stop in my tracks to listen. It鈥檚 feeble, but there seems to be the sound of a wind instrument being played.

鈥擶ind?

I sense something, and hasten myself.

I continue to climb up, and start to firmly believe. The wind blowing through the ice cave is definitely coming from the outside.

鈥攊t鈥檚 close鈥?

I follow the sound, and finally find a large hole. I try to advance as much as possible, but the path becomes narrow, and black dirt blocks my path.

鈥擭othing I can do鈥?

I check the map, and the line ends here. This is originally a path that leads to the surface, but it is buried by the large amount of dirt. At this point, I can鈥檛 advance.

鈥淭his is troublesome, huh鈥︹€?

If I have to look for another road here, I will have to make a long detour back.

There鈥檚 still another fifteen minutes until the meeting.

鈥擨 can鈥檛 make it in time if I take the same route back. But鈥?

Even if I can鈥檛 reach the surface, as long as I can be sure that there鈥檚 sunlight鈥攖hat鈥檒l be proof that the surface is warming up. After that, I鈥檒l just take a photo of a place with sunlight, determine the temperature, and that鈥檒l be enough material to show everyone at the Meeting.

But unlike what I have assumed, the tunnel is still filled with darkness. Even though I have the night vision installation at full power, I can only move forward carefully, and I can鈥檛 detect a trace of sunlight.

鈥擲o all for nothing?

I sit on the dirt, and sigh. It鈥檚 so close, but accordingly to the map, there鈥檚 still a hundred meters. It鈥檚 impossible to dig my way through.

鈥擳his is bad.

In another ten minutes, the Meeting will start. Those led by the Chief will strongly insist on wiping out humanity. Viscaria too will join in. In this case, the Meeting will end up鈥?

鈥淯gh鈥?鈥?

I slam my fist into the dirt. Let鈥檚 just return to the village instead of going so far. In that case, there鈥檚 still a chance to speak up at the Meeting. No, maybe I can still make it if I head back immediately.

鈥擥uess I can only head back now.

I grit my teeth, and make the decision to retreat. Since the tunnel is blocked, I can鈥檛 move forward, and the only option left is to retreat. I still have some hope if I have another half day, so I thought, but unfortunately, time won鈥檛 return.

I stand up, and pat my cheeks with both hands.

And then, I start running at full speed. The tunnel direction is already locked in my Mind Circuit, so it鈥檚 easy for me to return. I return back at double the speed, as though I鈥檓 challenging the darkness.

鈥擨 got to hurry back.

I haven鈥檛 told anyone that I came here. I guess not many will realize that I鈥檓 not present, and even if they do, it鈥檚 unlikely that Chief will delay the Meeting. At this point, I am a hindrance to the Chief.

I have to hurry back before the Meeting ends鈥攕o I thought as I run down the dark tunnel.

鈥?

And I immediately slip.

鈥淲ahhh!!鈥?

As it鈥檚 too sudden, I鈥檓 unable to fall over properly, and even worse, I trip over at a slope. I tumble down for dozens of meters, tumbling around.

鈥淯gh鈥︹€?

A sharp pain races through my body. I exert my strength in my arms, trying to support my upper body. My body feels hurt.

鈥擜hh.

More than the pain, I鈥檓 shivering in regret. I was moving forward towards the surface with a hint of hope, but not only was I unable to reach the surface, I鈥檓 unable to return. I feel anxious as I fail to accomplish anything, and I feel momentarily limp in the face of my own incompetence.

At this moment.

鈥擧-huh鈥?

As I recover, I see completely white before my eyes. I assume that the visual installation has malfunction, but my vision recovers little by little. I guess my automated calibration functions didn鈥檛 match due to the sudden light. Such a phenomenon is called dizziness by humans.

鈥擜re my eyes鈥izzy?

I turn around, and look up.

鈥淎h.鈥?

There鈥檚 a large hole there. It鈥檚 a large crevice鈥攁 long and narrow ridge on the landscape, seemingly carved by a blade, and I鈥檓 able to look up from the bottom due to this.

The sky.

The light shining down from the sky is undoubtedly鈥?

Sunlight.

鈥淎h, ah鈥︹€?

I eke out a voice. A glimmer of hope that I had given up on cast away the darkness of despair, shining upon me.

Such a warm light.

The artificial skin senses the change in temperature, and it brings me greater

0.2 degrees.

This is a temperature so cold, humans will shiver in. However, to me, who have lived underground, below zero for more than a hundred years, this light feels so warm to me.

鈥淎hh鈥︹€?

I spread myself wide, basking in the sunlight.

鈥淭he sun, feels so warm鈥︹€?

I sink in the sea of data, as the memories of the sun has awakened after a long time. It鈥檚 the light I feel in the nap room of the kindergarten, the sunlight shining vaguely through the gaps of the leaves and the curtains. The feeble sunlight shining into the underground feel so similar to that.

鈥擭ow then, I got to hurry鈥?

After enjoying the sunlight I have experienced after a hundred years, I cover the antennas of the ears with my hands.

鈥淭his is Amaryllis!鈥?

I call out through the wireless.

鈥淧lease responds, this is Amaryllis鈥?

There鈥檚 still another five minutes until the meeting starts. It鈥檚 impossible for me to be punctual, but I can share the good news to the villagers through the wireless. The visual of the sun, and the temperature that鈥檚 above the freezing point. These aren鈥檛 scientific proofs, but just describing this possibility should be enough to convince them. The villagers should be able to understand now.

鈥淒o you hear me鈥?? This is Amaryllis鈥? Anyone! Please answer鈥? Eisbahn! G?tz! Viscaria! Chief!鈥?

But no matter how many times I try, I get no answer.

鈥擶h-what do I do now鈥?

Is it because the output is weak, or that there鈥檚 some problem with the electromagnetic base station is malfunctioning. In any case, I have nothing in the wireless, not even static. One minute, two minutes, three minutes. Time passes by for nothing. If only I can ask Viscaria in such a situation鈥攅ven if I do, it鈥檚 pointless.

鈥擡hhh!!

I sit upright.

If I can鈥檛 connect through, I鈥檒l just have to go back and tell them personally, don鈥檛 I? Anyway, it鈥檚 likely that I鈥檒l get a signal somewhere on the way back to the village. Anyway, staying here is a waste of time. This can鈥檛 do.

But.

鈥淯鈥︹€?

The moment I stand up, I feel a sharp pain in my leg. I look, and find that my right foot has been twisted in another direction.

鈥擸ou鈥檙e kidding鈥??

I frantically check the damage, and found that the parts at the joints have been severed, stabbing into the artificial skin. The oil is oozing from the wound, giving off sparks.

鈥擴gh鈥?

I haven鈥檛 noticed the damage till now, as it was so severe that my pain installation was cut off automatically. However, I鈥檓 a little confused as to why a siren hasn鈥檛 rang. Is this a side effect of the 鈥榚xtraction鈥?

In any case, I start my emergency repairs. I take out some chemical fibers and tape from my pocket, and bandage my ankle.

This should be okay. Having such a thought, I stand up.

鈥淯gh.鈥?

And then, I kneel over. The damaged area seems to be worse off than I have expected, and just the leakage and overheating is already abnormal.

鈥擴gh鈥?

I try standing up without care for my own injury. Every step I take, my leg will twist to a side, giving off a creaking sound. I open my arms wide, trying to maintain my balance, but I can鈥檛 increase my speed. This requires me to spend more time than I did wandering around.

I check the time; the Meeting鈥檚 about to start soon.

鈥擲eriously! Why do I have to break down at this moment!

I curse myself as I advance forward, dragging my injured leg forward. My ankle鈥檚 heating up, and at this rate, I might have to be scrapped. Who cares about such things now, anyway, got to keep moving forward鈥?

At this moment.

Pack, a sound rings. Ah, I look down at my ankle, and see it bent as I fall down. My face lands on the ground, and my antenna numbs; electric currents run all over my body, and I can鈥檛 exert strength.

鈥淯, ahh鈥︹€?

I short-circuited.

My body cringes from time to time, and it heats up.

鈥擪u,uu鈥gh!

I remain face down on the ground, trying my best to break the deadlock. No matter how I struggle however, my short circuit just can鈥檛 recover.

I know the reasons. The direct reasons are that my ankle is faulty, and the short circuit caused by the hit. Indirect reasons are because my body deteriorated from the 鈥榚xtracting鈥? or that this robot called Amaryllis Alstroemeia is already completely fatigued.

鈥擱eboot system! Restart, restart鈥?

Normally, the way to deal with this is to first shut down the functions and start up again, but for some reason, even restarting here hasn鈥檛 shown much effort. Is this a side effect of extraction too?

鈥擜hh, uu.

The silver lining here is that the Mind Circuit doesn鈥檛 appear to be having too many issues, and my consciousness remain awake. However, it鈥檚 because I鈥檓 conscious that I鈥檓 anxiously commanding myself 鈥淩estart! Recover! Reboot!鈥?

Time passes, and my anxiety reaches its limits. And to add fuel to the fire, 鈥榯hat鈥?started鈥?

Such words come coldly from the wireless,

鈥溾€擡veryone, please be seated. I repeat, please be seated.鈥?

It鈥檚 Cattleya鈥檚 voice.

鈥擡h? This is鈥?

Whenever there鈥檚 a major activity in the village, she鈥檒l be the one hosting. At this moment, she鈥檚 reading a certain message.

鈥淲e have ended questioning, but it does not mean that we are limiting any chance to speak up; instead, it is about sorting out the order. Anyone willing can repeat their words as many times as possible, though all questioning has ended鈥斺€?

There鈥檚 no doubt that it鈥檚 the telecast signal for the Village Meeting. It鈥檚 basically everyone participating, but there are some who can鈥檛 be there as they have to be repaired, and they too can receive real-time voice and visual. It seems my wireless just so happened to have picked up on this.

Naturally, I start shouting鈥攚ith the voice of my heart.

鈥擯lease answer! This is Amaryllis鈥? Please answer鈥?

But nobody answers my call. No matter how many times I call out, there鈥檚 no response, only the voices of Cattleya and the villagers. It seems I鈥檝e only received the voices, unable to convey my own voice to them. This is no different from the prior broadcast.

Time passes on mercilessly, seemingly nudging at my anxious emotions. I鈥檓 unable to move, only able to listen to the voices.

And then, finally鈥?

鈥淭he Emergency Village Meeting shall now begin.鈥?

The fated Meeting begins.

鈥淔irst, may we have Chief Chamomile begin with the topic at hand.鈥?

Cattleya鈥檚 voice rings, and the place turns silent. Then, Chief鈥檚 voice follows.

鈥淧lease allow me to express my utmost thanks to all of you, for making this long journey here.鈥?

The raspy voice enters my wireless. At this point, surely the Chief鈥檚 head is looking down at the villagers who have completely filled the seats.

鈥淚 shall again state the reasons why I support the preposition to wipe out humanity. Basically, this meeting鈥斺€?

With a heavy tone, Chief starts rattling off the reasons for organizing this meeting. However, the Senate has already informed all villagers, and this is just an affirmation.

The Meeting will be held three phases, 鈥榮tate the topic鈥? 鈥榝loor discussion鈥? and 鈥榲oting鈥? During the second phase, each person has about three minutes to speak, but as it鈥檚 just a rough estimate, anyone can continue to talk even if they do exceed the time; also, there are opportunities to add on or correct their words. There鈥檚 no special rule to the end of the meeting, and the discussion will continue until everyone is convinced. Only when no one else wants to speak will the voting phase begin. Of course, all the villagers, from the children to the adults have the right to speak up, and the right to vote. At this point, there are three hundred and seven villagers, so more than half of that number is a hundred and fifty forth. Also, besides the preposition to wipe out humanity or to let them live, the villagers can add new prepositions for voting as they please.

鈥溾€擳hese are the reasons why we have the preposition to wipe out humanity. I hope everyone will actively participate in the discussions.鈥?

Chief, who could normally rattle on for at least an hour if left unchecked, only spoke for three minutes today. The serious tone and business-like mannerism seemed to have conveyed the tension in the arena. The 鈥榮witch鈥?that can stop the Snow White from running is placed on the stage, and Chief鈥檚 explanation ended.

Following this, it鈥檚 the time for floor discussion.

鈥淣ow, we shall begin the time for discussion. The first speaker is鈥斺€?

Cattleya鈥檚 voice echoes, and states the name of the first speaker,

鈥淚 am speaking with the hope to support that humans will continue to live. As we all know, our mission is to protect our masters. It is true that I was really shocked when I saw that footage at the Council Hall. However, to everyone who is seated, please calm and think, over the past hundred years, we鈥檝e鈥斺€?

(Hydra Gien/ Homemaker Robot/ Operation time, a hundred and fifty three years/ 鈥楤ody鈥?B block)

The first speaker supports the preposition to have humans survive. The reason is simple; the reason for our existence as robots is to protect our masters, and this too shall never change. That footage was an exceptional situation, something that had to be done.

鈥溾€擳his shall be all I have to say.鈥?

This speech lasts for exactly three minutes. There鈥檚 neither applause nor boos as the audience quietly listen.

鈥擳hat鈥檚 right, that鈥檚 right.

I remain lying on the ground, my body unable to move as I empathize with what was said.

鈥擯rotecting our masters is our mission.

鈥淣ext, number two, please.鈥?

And as Cattleya instructs, the second speaker steps onto the stage.

鈥淥ver the past week, I have been thinking about this over and over again. Unfortunately, till this point, I still have yet to have an answer, so I shall hold back on what I have to say鈥 too have seen that footage, and I too was shocked, for I always believed in our masters. Even till now, I still have doubts on the validity of the visual. The masters who have given me much care are all very kind. But if that footage was real, and everything was as Chief said鈥斺€?

(Robbie Dantrum/Heavy Construction Robot/ Operation time, a hundred and twenty-six years/ 鈥楻ight Foot鈥?D block)

The second speaker honestly admits his 鈥榙oubts鈥? After brooding and being frustrated over this, he鈥檚 still unable to make up his mind, so he chooses to 鈥榝orfeit鈥?

鈥淣ow then, Speaker number three鈥斺€?

The discussion continues. There鈥檚 a lot of different content, but everyone admits to the pain in their heart. It seems most have talked about seeking help, and most of the opinions are 鈥榯o keep the vote鈥? Even amongst those who supported 鈥榯o let humans continue to live鈥? most were pessimistic, saying 鈥榠t鈥檚 better to maintain the status quo鈥?instead of enthusiastically declaring that humans should live.

Thirty minutes pass.

My body is still unable to move, but I continue to listen in on the Meeting. At this moment, ten villagers have finished what they have to say, and seven chose to 鈥榢eep their vote鈥? three chose to 鈥榟ave humans continue to live鈥? Nobody has yet to vote for 鈥榳iping out humans鈥?

Ahh, at the very least, the preposition to wipe our humans probably won鈥檛 be picked up鈥攕o I heave a sigh of relief.

But,

鈥淣umber Eleven, please.鈥?

The next one stepping onto the stage radically changes the direction of the Meeting.

鈥淰iscaria Acanthus. 鈥擨 am in support of wiping out humanity鈥?

The arena is silent.

Not only is it because we finally have the first one who agrees with 鈥榳iping out humanity鈥? but more importantly, the one saying this is 鈥榟er鈥?

A Senator, the best mechanic in the village, the chief doctor, and the big sister I trust in.

鈥淭he reason is simple. First, please look at this.鈥?

Viscaria stops her speech, and pauses for a while as she seems to be waiting for something. She鈥檚 probably waiting for the screen on the stage to show the something.

鈥淓h, this is the number of people I have diagnosed. This is the number of times extraction has been done. And this i鈥?

She continues to show the data, and smoothly explain the situation. With a nonchalant tone, she conveys the dire topic, as per her usual style.

鈥淪imply put, if the proposal to have humans live on passes through, there will be ten robots dying a year.鈥?

It鈥檚 buzzing out there.

鈥淭his is just an optimistic number, but if there are more cave-in or severe frostbites, this number will probably increase to twice or thrice that. Also, in the second year, the number of dead will increase in numbers, so in other words, there probably will be a hundred dead in five years. Such developments aren鈥檛 really something that can be taken lightly.鈥?

Her explanation remains based on data, but it鈥檚 because of this that she鈥檚 really convincing.

鈥淗aving treated everyone till this point, I do feel that you all have done enough, and let your bodies be so ruined for the sake of the Snow White鈥ut I think it is time to change that. We have fought for more than a hundred years, and it鈥檚 time to put down the burden we carry.鈥?

There鈥檚 silence again in the arena as everyone listen intently on Viscaria鈥檚 words,

鈥淭o prevent others from misunderstanding what I have to say, I will preface that no matter what the chosen outcome is, I will not give up on my mission. If the proposal to wipe out humanity is denied, I will continue to do my best to treat everyone or repair the Snow White. I will never allow myself to reject treating others just because our viewpoints clash. I just want to have everyone know from an objective viewpoint, and the demerits to allowing humans to continue living鈥hat is all from me.鈥?

Once she stops, the arena鈥檚 buzzing. Those views seem exceptionally clear to that have chosen to forfeit their votes or leave for later judgement.

鈥淭hen, number twelve.鈥?

Cattleya calls out for the next person.

And so, the Meeting changed in direction.

鈥淎ctually, I鈥o support wiping out humanity.鈥?

It feels like a dam is burst.

After that, there鈥檚 a clear decline in number of people who clearly voice their support for 鈥榟umanity to continue surviving鈥? while those supporting 鈥榳iping out humanity鈥?have increased in numbers. Just a moment ago, everyone was unwilling to say such a guilty thing, to not 鈥榳ipe out humanity鈥? but once Viscaria Acanthus, a prominent person in the village, helped give a nudge, it seemed there was an atmosphere where they can all say whatever they want.

鈥淚 have lost my vision. If possible, I want to look at everyone鈥檚 faces again. If I can obtain proper parts, I will be able to see the light of day again. Please allow me to regain my parts from the Snow White.鈥?

鈥淥ur child here can鈥檛 move the legs. My parts can鈥檛 get him moving. But, if the parts from the Snow White are available, this child will be able to walk again. Please, allow this child to.鈥?

鈥淢y husband has been sleeping since twenty years ago. If the parts from the Snow White are available.鈥?

Due to 鈥榚xtraction鈥? the villagers lost parts of their bodies, unable to move their limbs freely, started to worry about their family鈥檚 health, or lost their lovers. There are all kinds of thoughts expressed, but the villagers convey all their wishes, and have a common mindset. Sobbing can be heard from the arena, and even I, listening from far away, can鈥檛 help but feel the same as I think of the suffering everyone feels.

Once thirty people finish their speech, a break is called at the meeting.

At this point, the atmosphere at the arena is completely different from before. The side supporting the notion that humans are to live on has completely vanished, while more than half of them support wiping out humanity, increasingly riled up.

鈥擳his is bad.

Two hours have passed, and I remain short-circuited. I remain prone on the icy ground, tormented by anxiety and helplessness.

If this keeps up, the proposal to wipe out humanity will be passed. Chief will press the 鈥榮witch鈥?that鈥檚 prepared, and the Snow White will be ruined forever. By that time, it will be too late, and even if we do regret, we won鈥檛 be able to wake up our masters again. I finally managed to find a third route where both humans and robots can coexist鈥?

鈥擬ove鈥?

I pray, I earnestly pray.

鈥擬ove, my body!

Restart, force stop, emergency reset, insert backup work-in鈥擨 tried every single method, but my body is unable to react.

My consciousness fades from time to time. Whenever a short-circuit longs for a long time, I鈥檒l be forced to shut off all functions in order to protect the Mind Circuit. If that happens, everything will be for naught. The path where humans and robots can work together to survive, and move into the future; that will disappear forever.

鈥擜hh.

The world before my eyes get increasingly darken.

鈥擳ime鈥h, ah.

My visual installation is forcefully shut down, and I鈥檓 unable to see anything. The end is near.

The voices from the arena become increasingly distant. Someone is calling for humanity to be wiped out. That voice becomes increasingly fleeting, and finally vanishes.

鈥擭o, this isn鈥檛 it鈥isten to me, everyone. We, don鈥檛 have to fight, like that鈥t鈥ll鈥?

The moment my consciousness blacks out,

I see a light.

A blue light shines in the bottom of the darkness, and the sand before my eyes crumble.

鈥擶hat?

I sense a figure opposite the sand appear before me, and my consciousness is cut off.

My consciousness remains blurry, groggy as though I鈥檓 in a dream, and I can only hear voices.

The meeting continues.

鈥淒ue to the aforementioned reasons, I wholeheartedly support wiping out humanity.鈥?

The meeting is now a countdown to wiping out humanity. The speakers have all become supportive to 鈥榳ipe out鈥? and no other views have been expected.

I understand. It鈥檚 true that Viscaria鈥檚 words managed to change the course of the meeting, but it鈥檚 just the initial drop. The villagers are in complete pain due to a lack of parts, like how every drip of water fills the cup, and at this moment, the emotions are overflowing in the arena like a flood.

It鈥檚 because of this that the current direction isn鈥檛 going to be changed easily. The damage self-sacrifices from over the past hundred years have finally shown itself. 鈥楾he villagers鈥?mission鈥?鈥榯he raison d鈥檈tre of the robots鈥? such words clearly appear feeble before anyone.

鈥淚s there anyone who will like to speak?鈥?

Cattleya鈥檚 voice rings again. There鈥檚 silence in the arena, and nobody else raises their hand. This doesn鈥檛 indicate that they have nothing to so, but that everyone already knew what鈥檚 the outcome will be, and choose to remain silent.

鈥擨s it, over鈥?

In this pitch-dark world, in this world of voices, I feel an end to everything.

鈥淚s there no one else who will say anything? If not, we shall end discussions and begin voting.鈥?

I don鈥檛 want to give up, but there鈥檚 no time already. As long as nobody else in the arena wants to say, the meeting will end. There will be voting, the preposition to wipe out will be chosen, the button will be pressed, the Snow White will forever cease, and humanity鈥攐ur masters, will die off forever.

鈥擲omeone鈥?

I mutter earnestly in my heart. My voice can鈥檛 possibly reach out.

However,

鈥溾€擶ait!鈥?

Someone calls out.

There鈥檚 a commotion in the arena. After a pause, there鈥檚 a voice from the microphone of the stage.

鈥淭his is too weird! Everyone, everyone鈥檚 acting weirdly!鈥?

It鈥檚 a young voice.

鈥淛ust a moment ago, everyone was so, so admiring of our masters! Everyone did their best! Practicing over and over again for the Festival! But why? Why change when we say change? Why is it that it doesn鈥檛 matter even if our masters die!?鈥?

With a childish pout, she continues to complain loudly,

鈥淗ey, tell me! What about the past hundred years!? Every day, every day, we worked so hard for our masters, for what reason? For whose sake did we spend the last hundred years? For what purpose did we spend the last hundred years? Didn鈥檛 everyone have so many parts extracted? For whose sake did our comrades die for over the past hundred years!? If we destroy the Snow White here, isn鈥檛 their deaths for nothing!? They didn鈥檛 need to die, and they鈥檙e die!? And, and, if we give up here鈥斺€?

The girl鈥檚 voice is trembling.

鈥淭hen for whose sake, did Gappy die for!?鈥?

There鈥檚 a loud thud. I can hear that it鈥檚 the sound of the podium being slammed.

The arena turns silent.

The girl鈥檚 silent. And so is everyone. Even the host of the meeting, Cattleya is silent.

And I鈥攕ystem recover鈥攕tandby鈥攔ebooting鈥攖ime to functional recovery, thirty seconds鈥攖wenty seconds鈥攖en seconds鈥攆ive, four, three, two, one鈥?

Reactivated.

I open my eyes. I stand up. And I walk on.

There鈥檚 a girl standing on the stage, looking confused. It鈥檚 the central stage, the arena for the Village Meeting. Once I show up, the arena burst into commotion. 鈥淚t鈥檚 Amaryllis鈥?鈥?鈥淲here have you been鈥??鈥?Everyone is giving me looks.

The girl speaking looks at me in shock, and I walk straight towards her.

鈥淪orry I鈥檓 late.鈥?

鈥淎maryllis鈥︹€?

鈥淵ou鈥檝e worked hard, Daisy.鈥?

I reach my hand forward, petting her soft chestnut-colored hair. As I continue to pat, tears begin to well in the girl鈥檚 eyes.

She buries her face into my chest, and then seem to remember something as she lifts her face.

鈥淎maryllis鈥re you going to support wiping out? Or letting them live?鈥?

The uneasy eyes are shown in mine. And I smile, answering,

鈥淣either. If I have to say, halving?鈥?

鈥淓h? Halving?鈥?

鈥淵es, halving.鈥?

And then, I move forward, grab the microphone, and loudly declare,

鈥淚 have an emergency proposition!鈥?

Emergency proposition鈥?

This is a third option after the motion to 鈥榳ipe out humanity鈥?and 鈥榟ave humans keep living鈥欌€攊t鈥檚 called the 鈥榓 preposition for both humans and robots to coexist鈥?

With everyone looking at me on the stage, I start to explain with confidence.

鈥淛ust a few hours ago, I went to check on the surface.鈥?

The arena is buzzing.

鈥淭his is the footage that serves as proof.鈥?

I show the image I saw of the surface on the stage screen. The sky after a hundred years, the warm sunlight, the warmth that鈥檚 coming back. I convey all the data stored in my Mind Circuit, including the corpses of the work robots I encountered along the way. I hope for humans and robots to coexist, and I feel that the most proper way to go about doing it is to reveal everything on the footage.

鈥淎s everyone knows, there is a large generator built on the surface. That鈥檚 the facility used to provide power for work robots like everyone here when building the Snow White. If the surface temperature recovers, this means we can get this generator to restart. The power lines can then be assured, starting with the air conditioning, and the chances of us living together with our masters will be better than before.鈥?

The arena starts to explode in commotion. The villagers exchange looks, shaking as though they鈥檙e rattled by my words.

Of course, there is opposition.

鈥淚f the generator can鈥檛 work again, what do we do鈥?鈥?

There鈥檚 a sharp scathing voice from the front rows.

鈥淚f we do return to the surface, and it鈥檚 still not working, then we鈥檙e all doomed!? You dare say there鈥檚 no problem!?鈥?

鈥淭his is.鈥?

In the face of such a fiery question, I can鈥檛 help but stammer. I can鈥檛 say something irresponsible like 鈥榥o problems at all鈥?

At this moment.

鈥淣o problems! Not only do we have the main crystal furnace in that type of generator, we also have traditional sub-generators. The usual fossil fuel there should be enough! So don鈥檛 worry!鈥?

鈥擜h!

Shocked, I look over at the voice. There鈥檚 a woman with red hair in the middle of the arena, standing there with a hand on her waist. She exchanges looks with me.

鈥擵iscaria.

鈥淲e can get the generator running again. Leave this to me.鈥?

She concludes decisively.

This relief from her has me really grateful. The man questioning me seem shocked by the unexpected counterargument, 鈥淲ell, whatever, so鈥︹€?and returns to his seat.

I then seize the opportunity to say,

鈥淚t鈥檚 true that I can鈥檛 be sure that it鈥檒l definitely succeed. This plan needs a lot of labor, starting from the preparation phase. But please calm down and think about it. Even if we do stay in the village, we will end up ruined by another earthquake that may come. It鈥檚 not too late. Since we still have our batteries working till this point, this is the best chance to escape the village.鈥?

I confidently narrate. The faces of the villagers are filled with life, and it gets increasingly cheery.

And before I end off my speech, I deal a 鈥榝inishing blow鈥?

鈥淓veryone, before you came here, I suppose you have seen 鈥榯hat footage鈥? right? I too have seen it, and to be honest, I am really rattled. But,鈥?

I take out a chip from my pocket, and raise it high enough for everyone to see. It鈥檚 a microchip the size of a little fingernail鈥攁 high end memory chip.

鈥淭hat footage isn鈥檛 the only thin contained in this chip, It鈥檚 halfway saved, but there鈥檚 such a video inside.鈥?

The footage is then aired on the screen.

It鈥檚 a footage of daily life.

First appearing is a tall, lanky woman. This woman with black flowing hair is seated on a bench, reading a book. Standing politely beside her is a girl. The girl is dressed in a maid outfit, and the antenna extending out from her ears clearly show that she鈥檚 a robot.

The master, and the robot serving her. This is a common scene from far back.

The woman and robot rely on each other like sisters, reading the same book. The robot will give a few looks at the woman, or lean on the shoulder fawningly. Whenever this happens, the woman will smile gracefully, stop flipping the book, and lend the girl her shoulder.

This initial footage lasts for a minute or so, and then, the footage changes to another scene. It鈥檚 the scene of a human and a robot working together in a certain small factory. The robot produces the goods, and the human inspect them. Once inspection is done, the human pats the robot on the shoulder in a consoling manner. Only when they leave the mini factory did the footage end. They鈥檙e like intimate brothers.

And so, such scenes change over and over again, the scenes of humans and robots living together, working together, helping each other out.

Every footage lasts less than a minute, and in all, it appears to be no more than fifteen minutes, without any sounds. Finally, there is the logo of the producer, showing that it鈥檚 a promotional video used to promotion coexistence between humans and robots.

Perhaps it鈥檚 made for show, that the footage is made for a certain purpose, or maybe it might be an idealization of humanity.

But despite this, the footage awakens the precious memories deep within our hearts. Humans will die one day, but robots won鈥檛 die easily. The robots who lost their masters and were left behind experienced long memories that won鈥檛 fade away, living on until they become scrapped metal.

Thus, the old memories remain piled inside the Mind Circuit, and they can be repeated over and over again without fading away. The clear sadness that can鈥檛 be forgotten shall always remain etched in our chests.

Before I know it, everyone鈥檚 crying. They recall the memories they spent with their masters, the memories that are as precious as gemstones.

I recall my time working in the kindergarten. The lively children, the earnestly mothers, and the amicable Principal.

I look back, and Viscaria is crying too. She probably recalls the superintendent of the automobile repair factory. That鈥檚 the one she would reminisce from time to time, the when she would blush whenever she talked with. There鈥檚 a barrier between humans and robots that can never be overcome, and they鈥檙e unable to get together.

G?tz too was crying. He must have been thinking of the director when he was still an actor. When he was about to be scrapped, the director kept him, and groomed him until he became famous, the benefactor.

The children too are crying. They recall their dead parents and the siblings they broke off with. To me, a nanny robot, I understand them really well.

All of them are dejected, lonely. They recall the blissful days they can never return to, their longing for masters filled are of such pain and destitute over the past hundred years, a time of enduring such loneliness. However, we don鈥檛 hate this; instead, we enjoy the work heartily, offering our bodies. For we always have the dream of working together with our masters.

The footage ends.

I give a deep bow, and descend the podium.

Soon, Cattelya鈥檚 voice rings.

鈥淚s there anyone else who wants to say anything?鈥?

Even Cattleya is crying. Surely she is thinking of her beloved husband.鈥?

鈥擜h!

At this moment.

Chief appears on the stage. His head is rolling about.

I hold my breath; everyone鈥檚 eyes are gathered upon a spot.

鈥擶hat will he say?

I feel uneasy. I have nothing else that can convince them. If I get routed by Chief here, there鈥檚 no way back.

Chief sits on the podium.

And all he says is,

鈥淭ime for voting.鈥