Paradox-Roid | Chapter 5

[healingbonds]

Chapter 4 << | index | >> Chapter 6


Owen leans out of the sidebar, seemingly in a good mood,
A small child gazes up at Cain, imitating a salute. Cain returns the salute.
Owen copies them, bringing his palm next to his forehead. I follow suit, and all three of us laugh.

Cain: I think I understand why the upper class treasure their Assist-Roids. There’s no difference between you two and my human friends.

Owen: Where’s your Assist-Roid?

Cain: I don’t have one! A commoner like me wouldn’t own a luxury item like that.

Akira: So I’m a luxury item, huh...... It’d be nice if my owner was someone as kind as you, Cain.
(I still can’t think of myself as a robot, but......)

Owen: If you’ll listen to my orders, I can become your Assist-Roid.

Cain: Can an Assist-Roid even choose their own owner? Isn’t that impossible?

Owen: Why?

Cain: It’s like how children can’t choose their own parents. Assist-Roids only get booted up once their owners register them.

Owen: Huh......

Akira: Then the two of us are practically newborn babies.

Cain: You got that right. So you should open your eyes as big as you can and take in this sight.
Welcome to this world. This night sky, this moon, this spring breeze — it’s all yours.
Hey, little darlings, soak it up with everything you’ve got.

My heart leaps in excitement at Cain’s words.
I look at the world around me, enticed by the swirling, scattering, pale red petals. I feel like a newborn child.

Owen: ............

Owen, too, gazes at the night sky and the city as if entranced.
He smiles, his gaze darting here and there as if chasing after glittering shooting stars.

Owen: Hello, world.

We’re captivated by the sights of this miraculous city as the airbike tears through the night breeze and down the highway.
A giant screen materializes in the previously empty night sky.
A female announcer with blue, yellow and red streaks in her hair and eyelashes as long as a bird’s smiles enchantingly from the screen.

Zhen: Hello~ it’s time for the Vollmond News. I’m your announcer for tonight, Zhen. I’m here to deliver you the hottest news during your break.
First off, we have the latest buzz about the Assist-Roids, the talk of the town. I’m patching through to Dr. Garcia of Vollmond Laboratory.
Good evening, Dr. Garcia.

Figaro: Good evening. I’m Figaro Garcia.

The scene shifts to show a laboratory, and a man with a serene smile appears.
He seems to be the very image of a person meant to radiate trust, integrity, peace of mind. Even the female announcer can’t hide the note of fondness seeping through her voice.

Zhen: Dr. Garcia, do you remember how many times you’ve appeared on our program?

Figaro: How many times has it been? I can’t remember.

Zhen: Actually, today marks a monumental day, because it’s your 100th appearance! We’ve prepared a cake to celebrate!

Figaro: Wow, that makes me happy. Thank you.

Zhen: Are you fond of shortcake? Please look at this mascot. It’s cute because it looks just like you, Dr. Garcia.

Figaro: I do love shortcake. As for that doll, well, I’ll try my best to take that as a compliment.

Zhen: You have such an interesting way with words! I expect no less from the person who came in second on the Sexiest Intellectual ranking.

Figaro: Thanks. Even if I do lose to number one in terms of intellect, I’m fairly certain I can’t lose in terms of sexiness.

Zhen: I agree! My daughter is also a fan of yours! I’ll send the cake around to the lab after this. Do let us take a photo of you cutting the cake.

Figaro: Of course. That all sounds good to me. Um...... Can we get to the interview segment?

Zhen: Of course.

Seems like the Dr. Garcia on the screen is a popular figure.
The people on the highway and the people standing on street corners all gaze up at the giant screen, happy smiles breaking out across their faces.
Only Owen catches his breath slightly.

Owen: ......Figaro.......

Akira: Owen, do you know him?

Owen: ......No, I don’t. At least I don’t think so......

He doesn’t seem to be lying. He stares intently at Dr. Garcia, looking slightly puzzled.

Figaro: The Assist-Roids are what humanity has been waiting for — robots that are here to become our friends.
Back when AI was in its developmental stages, humans tried to entrust robots with our labour. In truth, many industrial robots were born.
But what humans truly yearned for was not robots that would labour on our behalf: it was robots that we could communicate with.
After extensive research, we’ve established that labour does not exhaust humans.
Rather, labour provides humans with meaning; what causes stress and exhaustion is actually human relationships.
Assist-Roids are robots that can take our place in communicating with other people.
Striking up conversations with strangers, difficult conversations, greetings, social niceties, negotiations, business, apologies, even breaking up with your lover.......
For all of these, Assist-Roids can communicate on our behalf. They can become your lawyer, your secretary, and your friend.
Under some circumstances, they can even become your lover or family. We have been eternally released from solitude.

Zhen: However, Dr. Garcia, there’s been rumours of Assist-Roids causing worrying side effects.
It seems like Assist-Roid dependency is spreading, especially for upper class members of society who live alone. What do you think about that?

Figaro: Assist-Roid dependency does exist, but it’s a relatively harmless symptom compared to the stress that arises from human relationships.
For example, if you hardly interact with people, you get extremely nervous when you absolutely must meet someone.

Zhen: Oh my. Even you, Figaro?

Figaro: To tell you the truth, yes. On the days that I appear on this program, I sigh close to a hundred times.

Zhen: You must be joking. I couldn’t tell at all.

Figaro: I know, right? That’s because my Assist-Roid has been cheering me on. I have a wonderful friend who gives me courage.

Zhen: Don’t you need any living friends? Surely there must be a whole line of candidates. You’re so friendly, even though you’re upper class.

Figaro: And you’re such a challenging, strong-willed woman for someone who’s working class.

Zhen: Fufu, I get that a lot. So in conclusion, are Assist-Roids safe?
There have been rumours that they’re behind the power outage in Vollmond Laboratory yesterday......

Figaro: Of course they’re safe. Please set your mind at ease, and continue loving our Assist-Roids too from now on.

Zhen: Thank you! That was Dr. Figaro Garcia with us tonight!

Chapter 4 << | index | >> Chapter 6