BATTER 12

If that’s the case, then his tendency to shower people with sudden confessions makes sense. Since he was never sold, he might have become an “agape machine” that loves all humans because he never went through an imprinting process—or perhaps his inability to be imprinted was the very reason he was deemed unfit for sale. Either way, it was interesting… but Baron had been neglecting the most important question for too long. His dark eyes crinkled, obscuring his pupils.

“Darling, let me ask you a few more things. You can’t lie to me, alright?”

The tone Baron used to pose the question shifted slightly. On the surface, it sounded gentle, yet it hid a needle just beneath the skin.

“When did you find us?”

“Around 10:45 PM.”

“What were you doing loitering around that area?”

Despite the somewhat aggressive vocabulary, the being remained unbothered.

“Because I heard gunshots. Hearing gunshots means a fatal act of violence has occurred.”

“What exactly were you doing? There’s nothing to see over by the underpass.”

“I circle the city twice a day. I try to inspect secluded areas without missing anything.”

Do robots go for jogs as a hobby? A chuckle escaped Baron.

“You have strange taste. Why? Just to go for a stroll?”

“No. There are many people in this city who need help. The more secluded a place is, the higher the probability that an injured person has been left abandoned, so I frequently look around places like the underpass.”

“What was the situation when you found us? Did you see anyone else besides us?”

“Both of you were in a state of serious injury due to excessive bleeding and brain damage. It took approximately five minutes to arrive at the location after hearing the final gunshot. I did not sense any other presence when I discovered you. I found traces such as footprints, shell casings, and bloodstains, but they all appeared to belong to you and your companion.”

Baron licked the roof of his mouth, savoring the thought. It was a cooperative and quick answer, but it didn’t seem particularly useful. Up to this point, it matched what his fellow detectives had investigated. The only traces the attackers had left behind were the bullets embedded in organs and bone. That thoroughness was the biggest reason Baron had fallen under suspicion. He scratched his forehead and continued the questioning.

“Why were you sitting here?”

“Because I wanted to know if you were no longer in pain.”

The being answered clearly. His excessively blue eyes sparkled. In those eyeballs, which were artificially made to maintain constant homeostasis, no fatigue, illness, or minute emotional shifts could be read. Baron wore a thin smile on his lips.

“You’re talking as if you knew I’d come back.”

“I thought you would want to see me, too.”

Baron didn’t press further with words but watched him quietly. The being was still smiling. As he tilted his head slightly, his long blonde hair cascaded softly over his shoulders.

“Because I am S2—2, who will always love you. Anyone who loves someone wants to see them.”

“Are we already at that stage?”

This really is just a tin can. Baron’s excitement deflated. He let out a laugh at the strange sense of futility.

Artificial intelligence can tell intentional lies. It’s difficult to trust the testimony of an android that might be defective or modified. The claim that he has no owner could also be a lie in the first place. The most certain method would be to open that head and check the memory.

Would he obediently allow his parts to be dismantled? All Baron needed was the memory anyway. Even if only the memory remained, it would function perfectly as evidence. Baron reflexively thought of the pistol in his back pocket. Right then, the being spoke up.

“Are you doubting my words?”

“Ah, does it look that way? My bad.”

“Not at all, it’s quite alright!”

He was as nonchalant and innocent as his purpose for creation intended. Baron watched him silently, finding he wasn’t even fun to tease.

“So you’re saying you’ve seen many other injured people besides us?”

“Yes. Because armed conflicts are frequent in this area. I find that fact quite sad.”

“How did you help those people?”

“I help them so their injuries can be treated. Even so, there are cases where they are attacked again and die, which makes my heart ache terribly.”

“Your heart aches…”

Baron’s eyes narrowed. Androids claiming to feel pain and sadness were quite common. Humans overestimated the meaning of emotions and saw manifesting them in artificial intelligence as a kind of achievement. While AI designed for “physical” labor does not feel emotion, androids equipped with AI for “emotional” labor like the S2 line were granted all sorts of complex feelings, including joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.

Did someone need a being who would not only smile for them but cry for them as well? Tears began to well up in the being’s eyes too. Baron wondered if those would taste salty. Did the tears shed by a machine have no taste, or did they taste metallic… Baron chuckled with a click of his tongue.

“Poking your nose into other people’s business around here will get you shot.”

“That’s true. That is why I have had to replace my parts occasionally.”

“By yourself?”

“Yes. Fortunately, I have only sustained injuries that were still within the range of self-repair.”

“How long have you been living here?”

“Approximately twenty-three years. It is the same as when I first began operation.”

“Did you start your first operation here as well?”

“No. My initial activation was at the manufacturing plant.”

In that case, did he escape during testing and make his way down to the Lower City? Even considering the basic security functions he would possess, the fact that he had been acting with independence until now was impressive.

“And you really don’t have an owner? How on earth have you been getting by? For a high-end model like you, everyone would’ve been itching to get their hands on even just your parts.”

“That was the case in the beginning. However, there were many humans and machines who gave me help. It’s something to be grateful for, isn’t it?”

“Is it? The Lower City isn’t exactly known for being a neighborhood full of heart.”

“The official administrative name of this district is not the Lower City. It is Old Bronx.”

He spoke with a rather bold voice. Baron twitched an eyebrow with interest. The being used plausible sentences with expressions that were more warm-hearted than a human’s.

“And everyone is just hurting and lonely. Just like you.”

“Hahaha.”

He burst into laughter again. The typical repertoire of an AI. Baron had been inwardly curious if the person who saved him was an angel or a fool. And now he had reached a conclusion. The one who saved him was a foolish angel. An artificial angel that couldn’t hatch naturally and was created solely by human technology and necessity.

Baron bowed his head slightly while still laughing. As their faces drew closer, the being’s long eyelashes fluttered like wings. Since he was made to be loved, he was exceptionally lovely.

Seriously, why hadn’t this thing been dismantled yet? If Baron were a black market trader, he would have taken these pretty, precious components apart one by one and sold them off for a high price. Baron tucked a stray lock of hair behind the being’s ear and spoke.

“Sorry, but you’ve got the wrong guy, darling.”

Once his disheveled hair was tidied up, he looked even more refined and pretty. The sensation of the skin that brushed against the back of Baron’s hand was very natural and soft. It wasn’t cheap silicone, but bionic artificial skin composed of collagen and fibrin. However, the evidence of him living on the streets was apparent, as there were slightly dirty spots here and there. Looking closely, his outfit consisted of nothing more than a single sleeveless T-shirt and stained jeans. When was the last time these were washed? Baron asked.

“Where do you usually stay?”

“I don’t have a specific designated place.”

“Do you just sleep face-down on the street? Are you a stray cat?”

“I am often told that I resemble a cat.”

“You’re not very feisty for a cat.”

“Do you prefer a feisty attitude? If so, I can reflect that in my future words and actions.”

The being calculated for a moment. Then, he produced the next action.

“What are you staring at, meow!”

Simultaneously, he winked one eye and brought his rounded fists up near his face. The result was as follows: silence. A long silence. An incredibly long silence.