I felt it from the very first day — this place was completely different from the world I knew.
Tall buildings blocked out the sky, and unfamiliar objects covered the city.
The robots roaming the streets all looked strange, moving mechanically, which made me feel uneasy.
I traveled along the gray road for quite some time, but no matter how much time passed, there was no sign of arriving at the destination.
When I asked my master, the answer was that it would take three to four hours just to get there.
Inside the car, I only heard my master’s voice on the phone.
From some point onward, my master got busy discussing work-related matters with someone on the other end of the call and paid no attention to me.
“Didi, wake up.”
Had I fallen asleep unintentionally due to the long trip?|
When I opened my eyes at my master’s touch waking me, we were already close to our destination.
Rubbing my eyes and looking out the window, a huge building came into view.
An art museum?
Or a museum…?
I pressed my forehead against the glass, looking up at the majestic building, when my master called me.
“Didi.”
“Yes, Master.”
“It’ll be noisy when we get off. Don’t answer any questions; just stay right next to me.”
“Yes, I’ll remember.”
Judging by the place and atmosphere, this was clearly an important occasion.
Determined not to make any mistakes, I nodded firmly.
***
The place we arrived at was far more grand and splendid than it had looked from a distance.
The entrance was crowded with people, and the lighting was dazzling.
Come to think of it… what was I supposed to do here?
I only knew it was a charity party, but I had no idea what this place was or what role I had.
Should I just stay close to my master?
Lost in thought, recalling the instructions I had been given, my master got out of the car first.
I hurriedly followed, and just as I stepped out, flashes from cameras went off right in front of me.
“Ah…”
Startled by the sudden burst of light, I froze.
Before I could even gather myself, more flashes exploded in succession.
At that moment, my master’s arm wrapped around my shoulder.
“Didi, get a grip.”
“I-I’m sorry, Master…”
The firm hand pressing on my shoulder snapped me back to reality.
Thanks to my master, I managed to pull myself together, but still didn’t know where to look, so I awkwardly glanced around.
***
“Mr. Spencer! What about the next product plan…?”
“We request an interview about the late founder!”
“What about the scandal with the female model announced last week…!”
Questions rained down on my master from all directions.
Thankfully, the bodyguards blocked the reporters from coming closer, but their constant shouting was enough to make my head spin.
I looked up at my master, who wore a tired expression.
However, my master seemed to be enjoying this situation, smiling confidently and exuding composure.
Somehow, he looked happier than when he was with me.
“Master…”
“Hold on a little longer. We’ll be inside soon.”
Calling out in a trembling voice, I received a cold reply.
His tone was sharp and full of annoyance, so I fell silent and quietly followed behind.
The path toward the building entrance felt like an endless long corridor.
Nervous, I almost tripped several times.
My stiff shoes were uncomfortable, making my walk awkward.
My feet hurt, but I kept my mouth shut, not wanting to bother my master any more.
***
Once inside, the noise outside disappeared as if it were a lie.
Instead, faint music and calming scents filled the space.
It was a completely different, calm atmosphere from the chaos outside.
Unable to adjust to the sudden change, I looked around, and gradually people who noticed my master began gathering.
My master greeted them as if it was a routine.
Among the crowd, my master stood out without effort — an unshaken expression, shining golden hair, deep and calm blue eyes, a relaxed smile, and an air of confidence.
It was a stark contrast to my own exhausted appearance.
My master accepted the attention naturally and smoothly carried on conversations.
Meanwhile, I was stuck among strangers, tense and silently watching with wide eyes.
***
Suddenly, someone who had just noticed me asked my master,
“Mr. Spencer, but who is this person beside you…?”
“He’s a robot I brought along this time.”
“A robot? Could it be… a human-bot?”
Surprise flashed across the faces of those around.
“No way! I thought he was human!”
As soon as my master finished speaking, gasps and astonished exclamations broke out.
Curious gazes focused on me.
I trembled nervously and looked up at my master.
Our eyes met, and a quiet command came from him.
“Didi, say hello.”
“Hello… I’m Didi.”
I greeted timidly, but the atmosphere grew even noisier.
More and more people gathered, their excessive attention and strange gazes tightening around me.
It was so loud my ears almost hurt, and people blatantly scanned me up and down as if appraising me.
I clasped my trembling hands together and lowered my head.
Seeing me like that, they probably thought I was shy, and their reactions grew louder.
Before I knew it, my surroundings were filled with strangers.
Some pretended to observe me closely but then tried to casually touch my arm or hand, or even grope my skin.
Their greedy eyes scanned my entire body as if stripping me bare.
I felt nauseous.
I glanced toward my master for help, but my master was busy talking with others and didn’t even look at me.
“I heard it’s really hard to find a human bot these days. How did you get this one?”
“I found it while sorting through the belongings.”
“You mean the belongings of the one who passed away recently…?”
People whispered, starting to talk about my former master.
I flinched and listened closely, hoping to hear something about the one who passed, but the conversation stopped there.
That was when I felt a chill down my spine — a disturbing gaze unlike curious looks, but a creepy, eerie stare.
Uneasily, I looked around and made eye contact with a middle-aged man in the crowd.
He had a potbelly and a balding head, and was looking at me with a lecherous gaze.
I pressed closer to my master out of fear, but his gaze only became more greedy.
The man, who kept scrutinizing me persistently, came over to my master and asked,
“Good day, Mr. Spencer. I’m also looking for a human bot. Would you consider selling that robot to me?”
My heart dropped.
Anxious at the thought I might be sold, I looked at my master desperately.
The new master didn’t seem to care much about me.
In fact, he clearly found me bothersome.
I feared that, since my master thought I was useless, he might accept the man’s offer.
A wave of anxiety engulfed me, just like when my master said it wouldn’t matter if my memories were erased.
“Sorry, but that won’t be possible.”
Fortunately, my master refused his offer.
Only then did I feel relieved.
Having been abandoned once, the greatest fear was to be abandoned again.
“I’m willing to pay any amount! If money isn’t enough, I can even give you one of my companies.”
The man was persistent.
His voice grew louder, attracting the attention of the crowd.
People started to move away from the increasingly stubborn man.
Annoyance flashed in my master’s eyes.
“No, I said I’m not selling. Are you hard of hearing?”
Only when my master angrily raised his voice did the man lower his tone, looking frightened.
He finally gave up, bowed his head, and stepped back.
“If that’s the case, there’s nothing I can do… But if you ever consider selling later, please be sure to contact me.”
As if retreating, the man suddenly brushed the back of my hand and passed by.
A chill ran down my spine, and I pulled my hand away instinctively.
Even as he walked away, his lecherous glance followed me until the very end.
Since then, I kept feeling that gaze.
Whenever I turned my head, the man who had been refused earlier was still watching me with an unpleasant smile.
My master lightly wrapped his arm around my waist and talked with other participants.
I couldn’t run away and had to endure that gaze, sticking close to my master.
‘I’m tired… I want to go home…’
I wanted to escape this place.
It was my first time experiencing something like this, and I felt like I had become a spectacle.
As time passed, people’s gazes and attention felt more and more burdensome.
I missed my former master even more today.
“Ah…”
At that moment, I noticed the serving robots busily moving inside the hall.
On their trays were small cookies and drinks neatly arranged.
Their round and cute shapes, along with their smooth movements, caught my eye.
Only those robots felt friendly to me.
I wished I could move simply like them and help people.
Today, more than ever, I hated the fact that I was a human bot resembling a person.
As I stared absentmindedly at the robots, I suddenly felt as if I made eye contact with one of them.
And as if it recognized me, the robot quietly changed direction and slid up in front of me.
On the tray the robot held were small cookies and a drink.
Could it… be for me?
Hesitating slightly, I carefully reached out and picked up a cookie.
😀
Then a smiling face appeared on the robot’s screen.
Seeing that, I smiled without realizing it.
The serving robot held the smile for a few seconds, then wiped the screen clean and silently went off to deliver food to others.
It felt like a small but warm comfort.
The tension that had stiffened my heart softened considerably.
A gentle solace slowly seeped deep into my chest.