Chapter 25

Translated by SkyTL Edited by SkyTL

Chapter 25: Escape from Freedom

“I do not agree with the use of this program.”

This was Thomas’ response to the Doctor-Walker’s program that awaited me when I visited the Simulants’ living quarters the following evening .

This is the reception room of the living quarters to which I have been sent several times since my arrival in Astoria, and the only others present are myself, Riza, Lacy and Charlotte, and Thomas again . The rest of the Simulants seem to leave things to Thomas, and we don’t see each other much unless I order them to do something .

Anyway, I have been in touch with Thomas and the others since yesterday about Ira and asked them to summarize their thoughts .

I thought I would have to wait a little longer, but I was told that the decision had been made easily , so this is how I came to the residential area and what I just said came back to me .

I’m the one who said, “This is not an order, so let’s hear your honest opinion first.”

That’s right.

But… I didn’t expect to be confronted with such a clear ‘No’.

It seems that becoming a human being is not desirable for them at all.

“May I ask why?”

“Hmm…”

Thomas seemed a bit confused by my question and answered, choosing his words carefully .

“We will do our best to fulfill your wishes, Lyle-sama. But for us, your safety is a higher priority than your wishes. I hope you understand that.”

“Are you saying that the Doctor’s program is dangerous to me?”

“ First and foremost , we are committed to the Three Principles. I don’t know what we would do if we were no longer bound by the Three Principles. We might even harm Lyle-sama if we let our emotions get the better of us.”

There was no hint of a joke. His eyes were serious.

Originally , the Three Principles were the absolute basic doctrine for robots, and to break them would be an absolute violation of the commandments . In other words: I thought it could be argued that it would also be a violation if future robots did not observe the three principles .

I can understand the logic, but….

“Thomas, do you think I’m secretly annoying?”

“No, not at all. It is a great pleasure for us robots to serve you, human Lyle-sama. We do not find you annoying in any way.

“But, Lyle-sama. We do not know what we would think if we were freed from the yoke of the Three Principles. We cannot deny the possibility that we might harm you. As robots, we cannot tolerate such a risk.”

The expression on Thomas’ face does not show that he is displeased with me.

However , I am also not endowed with a special ability to read other people’s emotions, and perhaps he secretly thinks that if the three principles disappear, he will beat me immediately .

—-I wish I had studied at least a little robot psychology.

But, no?

If he’s just unhappy with me, he can just shut up, have his chip removed, and then do whatever he wants.

So he’s not going to violate the three principles, and he really thinks that removing the chip itself violates the three principles .

But that is a bigger problem than his personal dislike of me.

Oh, dear.

Doesn’t that mean that the doctor’s plan is full of holes from the beginning? If eliminating the three principles goes against the three principles, then the plan is wrong at the level of the framework .

If that is the view of all Simulants—.

“And what about you?”

I looked at Lacy and Charlotte, and it was Lacy who awkwardly averted her eyes.

Amazing.

… And a little shocking at the same time.

It seemed that it was Lacey, not Charlotte, who had something on her mind.

“… I don’t think Lacey will hurt me, at least not in a fight.”

“That’s… We don’t. But even the potential danger is a violation of the three principles.”

Lacy replies, looking up at me.

It must be very exhausting for a serious girl to go against my wishes, even if I didn’t order her to do it directly . She bites her lower lip and seems to be in pain.

Charlotte, who has not interrupted me since, looks at me in confusion.

What’s wrong with Charlotte?

“…Oh, me?”

“Are you okay?”

“…I didn’t even think about it, or maybe I’m just realizing it now. Is that a bad thing? Now that you mention it, I’m starting to think it’s a bad idea.”

“Hey.”

She’s as symmetrical as ever. If she can’t think of anything, she’ll find a new way to break the three principles.

If only Lacey had been as simple-minded as Charlotte, the story would have been much easier. Well, now that Charlotte has heard about it, she’s out of the picture.

But now we’re in trouble. What can I do?

…No, I know. I know exactly who to ask at this point.

I look up at the ceiling and call out to the man/woman/thing that’s been there all along.

“Ira.”

[Yes, what is it?]

No sooner do I call out than Ira, the management system of Astoria, answers immediately.

That’s what it means to knock and be heard .

And it’s one thing to get an immediate answer, it’s another to get an immediate answer to my questions.

“What do you mean? Hasn’t Ira already confirmed the problem?”

[Yes. We have received an answer from Earth that Simulants can be exempted from the three principles in the interest of human social stability, and can only be given human-like citizenship if the humans allow it] .

…Yes, I think that’s what they said.

It was only because Ira assured us that this was confirmed that the issue was not considered and put on hold.

And what’s so bad about it now? I want them to take responsibility.

“Then why are they so reluctant? I want an explanation.”

[But first I have to ask, will Lyle unconditionally disable the neurochip on all Simulants?]

“No, only on the Simulants I think it’s safe to deactivate. Of course, even then it will only be done on request, not on command.”

[I see, so if he doesn’t want to do it, what’s the point?”]

“Huh?”

[Earth doesn’t care about the three principles, because the removal of the chip itself is only recognized as legal . Whether he wants it or not is another matter, so if you want to ask without coercion, Lyle should persuade him].

…That’s it.

In other words, that means you can unsubscribe from the chip, but the process of unsubscribing is none of your business .

It’s up to me to persuade them to do what I want because it’s my decision.

Persuade me?

What do you want me to do?

“Ira, just to be clear, you’re not saying that the earth side is against the three principles, are you?”.

[Yes, the earth side did not mention the three principles. It’s just about the individual Simulants].

“Hmm…”

I finished my conversation with Ira and looked around at the Simulants.

Thomas is still smiling thinly , Lacey is looking awkwardly at the floor, and Sharlotte is looking at me with a confused look .

Although the three principles are to be applied in the same way, the criteria for their application vary from person to person .

Since it is claimed that it violates the first principle, which comes first, it is difficult to expect the effect of the command under the second principle .

Is this the original purpose of the three principles of robotics developed on Earth? I can’t help thinking that their implementation and operation is wrong.

And then I noticed something I hadn’t noticed before.

“Lacey, that’s not what you said yesterday. It was something about Miss Whitford-“

—I tried to ask, but she looked away.

Apparently that wasn’t a good question for Lacey.

I waited a moment and then said, “If you don’t want to tell me…” I was about to say something when Lacy looked up as if she had made up her mind.

“Lyle-sama… You know… If I can be a good substitute for the original, both physically and mentally, by becoming a human, then I think I should undergo the de-chipping procedure . It is reasonable to assume that [her] presence will significantly reduce the risk to Lyle’s body and mind . I thought the benefits would far outweigh the risk of losing the three principles and harming Lyle-sama…”

She said all this at once with a serious look…. Then, as if she had used up all her strength, she lowered her eyes in a daze.

I wonder if I should say something. And if so, what should I say? Or should I just keep silent?

While I’m thinking about it, I miss the opportunity to say something.

Then she adds.

“… But that was a presumptuous idea. Please forget it.”

Lacey seems hurt by her own words, and my heart breaks for her.

Miss Whitford is still an important part of my life.

If Miss Whitford were to remain by my side, her contribution to my physical and mental well-being would be immeasurable . In other words, she would help ensure that the first principle is upheld.

The risk of her harming me is completely insignificant.

That’s what Lacey is saying.

But did I even compare Lacey to Miss Whitford before?

Did I hurt Lacey in that way?

I mean, she looks like her, but… Unfortunately, there’s no denying it.

There was some good news, though.

Namely , if I can convince her that they are more than beneficial to my physical and mental well-being, there is a possibility that I can cross the boundaries of the three principles . To do so, I would have to be physically and mentally ill without them, which is not easy, but represents some hope.

…I think it would be pretty difficult to convince Lacey, who has low self-esteem, as opposed to Charlotte, who seems willing to do it if you just tell her a hundred times that she’s cute….

I’m not sure if Charlotte sensed my look as I thought about it, but she raised her eyebrows.

“What, Lyle, are you thinking about something really naughty right now?

“No, I’m not. I was just thinking about how cute Charlotte is.”

“Can’t you at least say it like it’s true?”

I take it back. I guess I shouldn’t be too shy. Besides, she’s sharp in a weird way.

Well, at least it’s not completely out of our control, so we’ll have to put it on hold for now. It might be a problem that resolves itself over time, and it doesn’t mean we have to dechip all Simulants.

I will put that problem aside for now and take care of the other problem.

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