Chapter 10

Translated by SkyTL Edited by SkyTL

Chapter 10: Do Robots Believe in God

Thomas led us to the center of the living area. Of course, Lacey and Charlotte came with us.

There is a black cenotaph in the square.

It looks like a stone monument or something, but the material is not clear. It may be ceramic, metal, or resin. The surface is so smooth that we can see our reflection even from a distance.

There are no inscriptions on it, and it looks like a simple black square column.

It was erected only temporarily, but it looks like it is.

Why did the Simulants decide to build a cenotaph in the first place?

I don’t even think they believe in such a thing as ghosts.

To tell you the truth, I didn’t know what to do when I came. I wanted to make some kind of closure with Miss Whitford, but I have no religious beliefs myself.

First of all, if you are in Rome, you should do as the Romans do.

I could have asked Thomas, but I thought it better to show him that I could rely on Lacey and her team, so I decided to ask her.

“Lacey, I’m wondering what you’re going to do with this cenotaph. I know you guys don’t pray to God or…”

“God, yes, just something like that. Because we have a real absolute, a human being. It’s not so much about praying, it’s about affirming our loyalty and service to humanity.”

“…So we are the gods.”

Unfortunately, this kind of prayer is not suitable for me as a human being.

The Simulants knelt down in front of the cenotaph, put both palms to their chests, and began to meditate as if they were praying. As I watched what they were doing, I noticed that their mouths were moving in a murmuring manner and they were muttering something.

I waited a while, then stood up and asked Lacey what she had done.

“We recited the three principles of robotics. Because that’s our raison d’être.”

“That really sounds like a prayer.”

It’s weird. Or should I say, it’s the way of the world.

They are a people who serve the humans as gods and hold to the Three Principles as scripture.

The robots believe in the Three Principles, which were created for the convenience of humans to use robots, as their authority. This is a strange thing. Well, if you trace back the process of the creation of human belief, it’s similar, because it’s inextricably linked to power and control, so maybe it’s more inevitable than strange.

I meditated and said a kind of silent prayer, then looked up at the cenotaph, which was about twice my size.

They say there is no body of Miss Whitford here. What was she thinking, where did she die, and how did she die? I was torn between wondering what to do with such information and wanting to know at least this much.

“…Miss Whitford, where the hell are you…”

My muttered words sounded strangely loud, and I could see the robots flinch.

As I put it into words, I felt like I couldn’t hold back anymore.

“I don’t want to force you. But I want to know firsthand. I want to know what happened to her. I want to see it, know it, understand it. I wonder if I can find her. I wonder how dangerous it is outside of Ira’s control. If I had an overboard suit, I could get out…”

Finally, I noticed that all eyes were on me, and I smiled sheepishly. Riza’s eyes are especially hard.

“No, I was just kidding. No, I want to find her if she can be found, and I want to recover usable materials, so I’ll stay out of the control area, but I won’t be reckless. Riza, don’t look so scared.”

“Really? Do you promise?”

“I promise.”

I reassure Riza, who looks at me.

She’s a robot, and on first principle, my safety is her top priority.

On the other hand, she is not so confused that she would keep me, a human being, in a safe place to strictly adhere to the first principle. Riza knows that any serious violation of my free will is a violation of the first principle, so she is reluctant to do anything unless it is dangerous, but eventually she will try to find a way to make it happen. So if I push her to find Miss Whitford, she will do everything in her power to make that happen.

But I decided to put that off for now and gave Riza a light pat on the head.

We left the Cenotaph’s place and Thomas led us into the reception hall.

Before Thomas could say anything, I ordered Riza to serve the cookies and tea I had brought.

He was very opposed to it, but to be honest, I don’t want to eat their food anymore. I actually want to commend them for putting up with me for the first two days.

Thomas, Lacey, and Charlotte were the only three Simulants that responded. The rest of the cookies we had prepared for them all were to be left as souvenirs.

We asked Thomas about their living conditions, but he couldn’t give us much information. It seems that they really don’t work and live off the joy of their art. Thomas, by the way, seems to enjoy painting.

I’m not sure what to make of it, but I need to report it to Earth, so I’ll have Riza make a template for the report.

I notice that Charlotte has been looking in my direction for some time. Her gaze wanders back and forth between the cookie in front of her and me. She seems to think that she shouldn’t eat the cookie until I touch it. I turn to Thomas and offer her a cookie with my fingertips.

This is a good opportunity to address something that has been on my mind on the way over.

“Oh, by the way, Thomas-san. Do you know what it’s like outside of Ira’s administrative area?”

“Outside the control area, you mean? The power is off, it’s not pressurized, and we rarely enter it, so it’s …”

“Is it really that dangerous?”

“It’s also often …”

“As far as I know, it doesn’t bother me.”

“I think it would be better to ask Ira about such things.”

“… Is that so?”

I was going to say that I want them to cooperate, but they really don’t seem to want to do anything.

They talked about wanting a master, but since I’m being asked to be a master, the honest question is, what on earth can you do anyway? If you don’t know what you can do, you don’t know what to do. I’m sorry to say that, but as it is now, they are too incompetent to be of any use.

I let out a small sigh and looked over at Lacey and Charlotte.

The girls are eager in their own way to serve me. They are willing to help me in their own way, if a little spontaneously, but I will try to get them to help me with my daily life in Astoria. I am also in the process of writing a report on the situation on the ship based on what I have learned from the girls. When I say it’s all about asking Ira, I’m being blunt, but the subjective stories of the Simulants are also significant in their own way.

While I’ve been thinking about this, they’ve been quietly eating their cookies. Lacey eats elegantly like a lady, while Charlotte eats slowly like a small animal. It was kind of funny.

Their attention was focused on the cookies, and they didn’t seem to notice my glance.

Then Thomas asked from the side.

“Lyle-sama, are these two useful to you?”

“Huh? Oh, I think you’re doing great. Hey, Riza?”

“Yes?”

Riza, the machine, neither ate the cookies nor took a seat, but stood silently behind me.

At that moment, Lacey and Charlotte also looked up, as if they finally realized they were the topic of conversation.

When I suddenly turned the water on Riza, she tilted her head and replied.

“Hmm, what am I thinking? I don’t think there’s anything that’s useful on a practical level?”

Riza is adamant. From Riza’s point of view, that may be true, but there are a few other ways to say it.

She continued to look around at everyone.

“Isn’t that all right? Lyle-san seems to like these two bodies in their own way. At least you can expect to please him, right?”

“Is that so? I hope you like it.”

Thomas nodded in agreement to Riza’s words and cast a sidelong glance at Lacey and the others. The two who were staring at them lowered their eyes to avert their gaze.

I hope they don’t torture them too much.

“The girls are doing well. They’re not as good as Riza, who can do everything.”

“It’s more efficient if I do it. Uselessness is a hindrance.”

“If you say so, I’m not in a position to do anything about it …”

I shrug my shoulders as she simply replies.

Well, I can understand what Riza is saying.

The machines and devices she uses like arms and legs far exceed the amount of work that can be done by human hands. If I or any of the Simulants were walking around, we could interfere with their work if we weren’t careful, or even if we were. The late Captain Baker, who was like a father, taught us to do as much as we could ourselves, but that was for my own reasons, not Riza’s.

And yet she needs a person.

“I can’t do without you, Lyle-san. I wouldn’t know what to do without my human.”

“That’s true, but…”

Yes, the reason I am needed and Simulatans are not is precisely because I am a human and there are the three principles of robotics.

“All of Riza’s actions are based on the three principles: how to protect humans and how to carry out human orders. It doesn’t matter how good she is, without humans she can’t define her purpose. That is how she is made.”

The three principles are extremely irrational, depending on how you look at it. But without them, the robots would be able to make rational decisions that would quickly destroy the humans holding them back.

At least that’s what some people thought, and that’s why the three principles were created.

This is also true of Ira.

Riza and Isla have slightly different goals, but the only reason they are not in complete conflict is because they are mediated by me.

In that sense, Lacey and Charlotte, who are not human, are worthless to Riza.

Thomas nodded his head as if he could see what we were doing.

“Lyle-sama seems to have great confidence in Riza,” he said.

“Well, we’ve known each other for a long time. I think Thomas-san and the others trust Ira, don’t they?”

“Yes, indeed, Ira is very good at what she does.”

“Really. The robots are so good that there is nothing for us to do.”

“Yes… Yes… You can count on Ira to take care of everything… because this ship is protected…”

“Thomas-san?”

There was a subtle undertone and a hint of heat in Thomas’ abrupt words. There was something shivery about them, and when I interrupted him, he seemed to come to his senses and breathed a sigh of relief.

“No, it’s nothing. I’m very sorry about that.”

“Well, I see you have faith in Ira.”

There’s a hint of indescribability in the air. It’s a strange feeling, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to pursue it any further right now.

I think it’s best if we change the subject now.

It occurred to me that I should change my schedule a bit for today.

“By the way, I heard that you like to paint.”

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