The master saw that and chuckled lightly.
“Yeah, it shouldn’t be a problem. Maybe something will come to mind as you go around with it.”
Fortunately, the master allowed me to follow him to the office.
Hearing what he said next made me flinch, but I nodded as if it didn’t bother me.
Accompanied by Sophia and Eve seeing us off, I went to work with the master.
As soon as we arrived at the office, the master started working immediately, and I sat on the sofa, sipping the warm drink the secretary brought me.
The master had no intention of leaving his seat and settled for a simple sandwich for lunch.
***
“Are you done with work?”
“Not yet. Just taking a short break.”
The master sat next to me, causing the sofa to creak slightly.
“I thought you’d get bored and want to leave quickly, but you’re waiting well?”
He asked me with surprise.
“I often waited when my previous master worked.”
“Right, you said you spent five years in the lab.”
I nodded.
Waiting was something I was good at.
“Master, can I ask you something?”
Suddenly, a question I had while listening to yesterday’s meeting popped into my mind.
It was also something I thought of the moment I saw Sophia, who looked different from me.
“Why did human bots disappear?”
“It was banned long ago because of ethical issues. And the one who spearheaded the ban was none other than your former master, my damned grandfather.”
My former master?
I stared at the master in surprise when he mentioned that.
He looked puzzled and asked, “He was your master too, wasn’t he? Didn’t you know?”
“No, I didn’t…”
“Then it must have happened after your power was shut down.”
“I don’t understand why they banned the making of human bots after creating them and even destroyed all the manufacturing methods.”
So that happened after my power was shut off…
Why did the old master ban making human bots?
Did he hate the time we spent together so much… that he never wanted to see a human bot again…?
“As you know, I plan to restore human bots. The problem is, my grandfather destroyed all related data. Many have tried to restore them so far but all failed.”
“I see…”
“Do you know how to make robots?”
“I only watched you make them, so I don’t know how.”
I shook my head quietly.
Making robots was not something I could do.
Creation was solely the master’s domain.
“Then it’s impossible to entrust you with making human bots.”
“I’m sorry…”
“It’s fine. I didn’t really expect anything, and I didn’t think it would be solved so easily.”
The master muttered indifferently.
I wasn’t able to help again… but it hurt more that he didn’t even expect much in the first place.
The master returned to his seat and resumed working, and I sat silently, sulking and waiting again.
***
“Welcome back, William, Didi.”
When we returned home, Sophia greeted the master and me.
The greeting was as usual, but one thing was different.
Eve was beside Sophia.
“I’m back!”
I greeted Sophia and Eve warmly as I entered the house.
Sophia, whom I had always avoided, no longer seemed scary, and the guilt about not helping Eve was gradually fading.
The master said he still had work and went upstairs first, and I walked around the house with Eve, who was assigned to clean the first floor.
Then I found Sophia in the kitchen making noise.
Delicious smells were coming out, so it looked like she was preparing dinner.
She looked busy…
Is there anything I can help with?
I hovered near Sophia and asked.
“Sophia, is there anything I can help with?”
Sophia looked at me and fell silent for a moment, as if processing the question.
Soon, a voice flowed from behind her smooth face.
“Could you please tell William that the meal will be ready in 30 minutes?”
“Yes!”
That was easy enough!
I nodded confidently and headed toward my master’s room.
Eve, who was following me, couldn’t climb the stairs and lingered on the first floor.
I waved at Eve saying I’d be right back, then went upstairs where my master was.
“Master, may I come in?”
I knocked at the door of my master’s room, but no answer came for a long time.
What should I do…?
My master said if I entered without permission, I would be kicked out…
After hesitating, I quietly opened the door and peeked inside.
I expected to find my master working, but he wasn’t near the desk.
I couldn’t hear any shower sounds, so he wasn’t bathing either…
Rolling my eyes, I found him lying on the bed, asleep.
Hmm…
Now that I think about it, he did look tired earlier today… I debated letting him rest a bit longer but finally decided to wake him up.
Preparing meals is part of the duties of a robot serving my master.
“Master.”
“…Didi?”
I gently shook my master as I approached the bed, and his eyelids twitched.
Soon, his half-awake, blurry blue eyes looked at me.
“Sophia said dinner will be ready in 30 minutes… whoa!”
My master suddenly pulled my arm.
Because I was pulled so abruptly, I lost my balance and fell right onto him.
My nose pressed against his hard chest.
It throbbed so much it felt like I might start bleeding, so I hurried to get up, but my master hugged me tightly and I couldn’t move.
“Ma-master…!”
“Stay still.”
As I struggled to break free, my master’s low, hoarse voice filled my ears.
At his command, I froze like ice.
This must be an order… right?
While I was hesitating, I heard the steady sound of breathing above my head.
Did he fall asleep again…?
I peeked and raised my head slightly; my master’s face was peacefully asleep.
Come to think of it… this was the first time I had looked at his face so closely.
Because of his usual scowl and intimidating gaze, I always avoided eye contact.
Not wanting to miss this rare opportunity, I quietly observed his face.
His sharp facial features retained a cold atmosphere even with his eyes closed.
Maybe because he was tired today, that chill seemed stronger.
His peacefully closed eyes reminded me a lot of my old master.
That’s probably why I was mistaken the first time I met him—thinking the old master who abandoned me had come back.
But now I know the two are very different, so unless I see him asleep like this, I doubt I’ll ever confuse them again.
Resting my head on my master’s chest, a faint scent brushed my nose.
It was the familiar perfume I smelled when I massaged his shoulders.
The steady, heavy beating of his heart sounded in my ears.
The warm sensation slowly enveloped my cheek.
I stored my master’s vital signs in my memory and gradually relaxed my body.
It was the first sense of stability I’d felt since awakening from a distant future.
How long has it been since I last felt this calm?
My eyes blinked slowly.
Fatigue finally caught up with me, and drowsiness settled over my whole body.
Just for a moment, it’ll be fine.
Thinking that, I closed my eyes lightly—but before I knew it, I had drifted off to sleep.
Swoosh.
Through the half-open door, Sophia entered William’s room.
Her camera, installed beneath her facial surface, detected William and Didi lying soundly asleep on the bed.
Approaching the bed, Sophia said,
“William, it’s time to get up.”
Hearing the dry voice waking him, William’s eyes slowly opened.
“…How long have I been asleep?”
“You came upstairs about an hour ago.”
“Then I must have slept for about thirty minutes…”
He had intended to rest only briefly but had fallen into a deep sleep.
As he tried to get up quickly to avoid wasting more time, he suddenly felt a light weight pressing on his upper body.
Looking down, he saw Didi sleeping soundly in his arms.