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Chapter 8: Farewell, our fuel

And so, the final voting is as such.

鈥楶reposition to have humans continue to live鈥?- thirty votes.

鈥楶reposition to wipe out humanity鈥?- nine votes.

鈥楶reposition for humans and robots to coexist鈥?- two hundred and sixty-three votes.

-Total number with voting rights: three hundred and seven (100% voted)

-Void/invalid votes: Five.

An overwhelming majority voted for humans and robots to coexist.

After the results are out, Chief bows silently, and returns to the Village Hall. He looks really forlorn, and I don鈥檛 know what to say to him.

And so, we choose to head down the path of coexisting with humans, carving a new path out for ourselves.

However, the real troubles are just beginning.

鈥淣ot enough鈥?鈥?

I ask Viscaria in the Senate Hall of the Village Council.

鈥淵es鈥verwhelmingly lacking.鈥?

Viscaria explains to me slowly.

鈥淭hree days after the meeting is over, and the total number of batteries we found is almost about five hundred or so, regardless of size. And also, less than half are rechargeable and can be used directly.鈥?

鈥淭hen, can鈥檛 we use some of the recharging cables from the Snow White?鈥?

I ask as a matter of fact. 鈥淣o can do.鈥?Viscaria shakes her head.

鈥淭he displacement to the surface is only about five hundred meters, but the actual distance might be tens of kilometres. We鈥檙e really lacking in cables.鈥?

鈥淗mmm, so we can only use the batteries we have鈥?鈥?

鈥淵es.鈥?

Viscaria grabs the beret, and seem to be at a loss of ideas as she places it on the table.

The only generator of the village is the 鈥楽now White鈥? The 鈥榗rystal furnace鈥?inside the Spindle can generate a lot of electricity, and the villages maintain the daily operations through this electricity. The cables to recharge are located all over the village, and anyone can recharge as long as they remain in the village.

But this operation is different. All electrical facilities can鈥檛 be used from the moment we leave till we reach the surface. We need to rely on the electricity we have at hand, three hundred people鈥檚 worth.

鈥淏ased on the headcount, we need to maintain at least twenty hours of battery power. Our current stock can鈥檛 hold ten hours鈥?worth. It鈥檚 not enough.鈥?

鈥淕ot it. Anyway, I鈥檒l try getting a census of the village again.鈥?

鈥淣o other way here.鈥?

Viscaria adjusts her cap, 鈥淚鈥檒l go to the clinic.鈥?And stands up, saying this,

鈥淚鈥檇 check on the heavy facilities.鈥?

鈥淚鈥檒l go check on the icemobile, even though it鈥檚 probably not going to be of much use.鈥?

And so we head to our separate ways, looking for clues.

There鈥檚 no progress in the preparation work.

We gather all the batteries we can find, from the icemobile and the heavy machinery, to the remotes and the torchlights. However, all the batteries we can gather are either rusted or burned, probably because we have been 鈥榗ollecting鈥?them again, and it鈥檚 far less than what the plan requires. I thought of a plan to use the spare lighting of the ceiling when there鈥檚 a power outage, but even so, that only makes up a little bit.

But time waits for no one.

鈥擶hat can I do with the batteries鈥?

I roll about on my bed at home, thinking hard, trying to come up with something. But no matter how much I think, it鈥檚 all barren, and I can鈥檛 think of any ideas.

鈥淭his is troubling鈥aaa.鈥?

I sigh hard. And then, at this moment,

鈥淵o, you dropped your skirt here.鈥?

鈥淲ah!鈥?

I leap up in shock. I narrow my eyes, and see a familiar blond in the room. My skirt is twirling around on his fingertip.

鈥淲ait! What are you doing!?鈥?

I snatch my skirt back from this shameless guy.

鈥淒on鈥檛 just barge in here.鈥?

鈥淚 tried knocking. There was no response.鈥?

鈥淲hy are you here?鈥?

鈥淚鈥檓 just here to cheer up Amaryllis with the conflicted look on her face while humming away.鈥?

鈥淚 never asked you for help.鈥?

鈥淒on鈥檛 be shy now鈥h, one bra here.鈥?

鈥淩eturn it to me, you pervert.鈥?

I snatch my underwear from the guy. Looking closely, I find my underwear and clothes scattered all over the room, and I remember that I have yet to clean up my room in a while. The music box with the battery removed is lying there, giving a lonely feeling.

鈥擜hh, what do I do with the battery?

I pick up the music box that has lost power, and start to be frustrated again. If this keeps up, I will have to notify everyone on delaying the operation again. I don鈥檛 want everyone else to feel dejected after being fired up, but delaying it with no end date in mind will prove fatal.

鈥淛ust take a break for now. It鈥檚 important to change your mood.鈥?

Eisbahn gives a rare proper suggestion.

鈥擶ell, I can鈥檛 think of anything good if I keep being stubborn about this, huh鈥?

I sigh, and decide to take a little rest. I lean my back on the wall, and let my body sink into the chair. My joints give off a 鈥榗reak鈥? and I just feel heavy all over.

鈥擜hh, I鈥檝e been really tired recently.

I relax my body, and close my eyes. 鈥淵ou alright?鈥?鈥淵ep, I鈥檓 fine.鈥?鈥淕ood then.鈥?I carelessly converse with Eisbahn, and it it ends.

After some time passes.

鈥溾€ey, Eisbahn.鈥?

I slowly speak up. Eisbahn鈥檚 already lying on the bed, 鈥淗m?鈥?and he asks back carelessly.

鈥淐an I ask you something?鈥?

鈥淲hat?鈥?

鈥淲hy did you say me back then?鈥?

I know my voice鈥檚 really soft here. Back then鈥擨 collapsed when I short-circuited, and it was Eisbahn who came to save me.

He gives me a smile, and says,

鈥淚t鈥檚 a man鈥檚 duty to save his lover, right?鈥?

鈥淏e serious here.鈥?

鈥淓hh, but I鈥檓 really serious here.鈥?

Eisbahn鈥檚 tone is as mischievous as ever.

鈥淚 never mentioned anything about going to the surface to anyone else.鈥?

鈥淚 saw you head towards the 鈥楻EM forest鈥?鈥?

鈥淚 see鈥hen, how did you figure out where I was? That place was so far even the communicator can鈥檛 work.鈥?

鈥淵ou entered the work tunnels, didn鈥檛 you? I followed the footprints.鈥?

鈥淗-hmm鈥ou鈥檙e pretty smart there.鈥?

鈥淭hanks for the compliments.鈥?

鈥擜hh, this is hopeless.

I shake my head slightly. I really want to thank him formally, but I just can鈥檛 bring myself to do it.

鈥擱ight.

I clench my fist hard, and say,

鈥溾€-erm.鈥?

鈥淗uh?鈥?

鈥淲ell鈥h-thank, you鈥or saving, me.鈥?

鈥淗eh?鈥?

Eisbahn sits up from the bed, and turns towards me,

鈥淵ou鈥檙e actually thanking me for real here. The heavens are going to shoot spears down on us.鈥?

鈥淚t鈥檚 fine. You are my savior鈥nce in a while.鈥?

鈥淪avior鈥ice way of calling it. Just feels like I鈥檒l be forgiven for whatever I do.鈥?

鈥淲ait, what are you going to do?鈥?

I cover my body with both hands. This guy is able to casually say something like 鈥榯he reward is your body鈥?

But it鈥檚 different this time.

鈥淐an I ask you something?鈥?

鈥淲hat?鈥?

鈥淭ell me. How did the 鈥榟umans-robots coexisting plan鈥?come about?鈥?

鈥溾€? What do you mean?鈥?

鈥淏asically. You thought of a third plan other than to wipe them out or let them live. What gave you the inspiration?鈥?

鈥淎hh, you mean that.鈥?

I rub my cheek with my index finger, and get down to the point.

鈥淲ell, how do I put it鈥︹€檋alving鈥?鈥?

鈥淗alving?鈥?

鈥淗m, you know I was a nanny robot, right? Back then, 鈥榟alving鈥檚 the mantra from the Principal.鈥?

Whenever the children have an argument, Principal will always teach them 鈥榣et鈥檚 do halving鈥? Even if they鈥檙e sweets, or toys, he will recommend that we halve them.

鈥溾€ack then, Yuu and Fuu鈥攁hh, they鈥檙e the children at the kindergarten. Both of the argued.鈥?

With nostalgic feelings, I narrate. Thinking back about it now, what happened back then feels like yesterday.

鈥淭hey were fighting over a ball. I was troubled as I was unable to get them to play nice. Principal came by, and suggested 鈥榟alving鈥?鈥?

鈥擭ow then, I shall halve this ball.

At this moment, Eisbahn interrupts,

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 half a ball, right? It鈥檚 not a biscuit.鈥?

鈥淵ou think so too? I used to think the same thing as you. Guess what the principal did?鈥?

I roll the handkerchief in my hands into a ball, and toss it at Eisbahn.

鈥淲e end up playing catch. 鈥淗ere, how about it? Throw the ball back.鈥?Principal throws the ball at Yuu, and so Yuu and Fuu end up playing catch, becoming happier. Before I knew it, I too was playing along.鈥?

鈥淗mm鈥his Principal sure can mix things up.鈥?

Plop, he tosses the ball of handkerchief back at me.

鈥淗mm, it sure sounds like pulling at fast one, but I really respect him back then. Ahh, there鈥檚 such a way to do this, I thought. Even he manages to 鈥榟alve鈥?a ball successfully when there鈥檚 no way to do that.

Principal loves to halve everything. If children are fighting over toys, he鈥檒l get them to play together; if children are fighting over a picture book, he鈥檒l get them to read together.

鈥淪o, I was wondering if I can do halving about this. The future doesn鈥檛 just belong to humans or robots, but rather, it鈥檚 to be opened by both sides.鈥?

鈥淪o, a future of 鈥榟alving鈥欌€︹€?

Eisbahn suddenly picks up the handkerchief ball in my hand, and twirls it around on his fingertips. His actions resemble the Principal so much, and it leaves a slightly surprised.

鈥淭hen鈥斺€?

He asks,

鈥淚f there鈥檚 a situation where you can鈥檛 鈥榟alve鈥?it, what will you do?鈥?

This really is an unexpected question.

鈥淓h? A situation where I鈥檓 unable to halve?鈥?

鈥淔or example.鈥?

He unravels the ball, having it take the shape of the handkerchief again.

鈥淎ssume that you are in a river, nobody will save us in a while, and we鈥檙e running out of battery. If we just leave this be, both of us will die of frostbite. There鈥檚 only one battery left. What will you do?鈥?

鈥淐an鈥檛 one person just share half the battery?鈥?

鈥淲hat if you can鈥檛? If we share half, both will die. If that happens, what will you do? Are you still going to halve it?鈥?

鈥淲ell鈥︹€?

I tell him the answer I have in my heart.

鈥淚鈥檒l give it all to you.鈥?

鈥溾€uh?鈥?

Eisbahn widens his eyes in shock. 鈥淲ell, that鈥檚 because.鈥?I then continue,

鈥淵ou saved my life before, so this time, it鈥檚 my turn to save you. There鈥檚 only one battery, so I鈥檒l give it all to you. Then we鈥檒l have saved each other鈥檚 life once鈥攁nd that鈥檚 halving.鈥?

鈥淲ha鈥斺€?

At this moment, he鈥檚 looking at me in utter shock.

鈥淲hat is it?鈥?

鈥溾€oodness.鈥?What he says next leaves me perplexed. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e always like this. Treasure yourself more.鈥?

鈥擡h?

I stare right at him.

鈥淲hat, did you just鈥?鈥?

I give Eisbahn a suspicious look as he suddenly changes his tone. He then seems to realize something鈥檚 amiss in his tone, 鈥淎hh鈥︹€?and he stammers.

鈥淗ey, did you just say something weird?鈥?

鈥淣o, nothing at all鈥︹€?

He shows a rare falter in his eyes, and then, he seems intent on trying to cover something as he averts his eyes.

鈥淛ust a little slip up.鈥?

鈥淩eally? Sounds disgusting to hear you talk with a serious tone.鈥?

鈥淎s I said, it鈥檚 a slip up.鈥?

鈥淵our tone sure sounded serious there.鈥?

鈥淎nyway!鈥?He probably didn鈥檛 want to get involved in this topic again as he raises his voice, saying, 鈥淚sn鈥檛 this because you said something strange? Anyway, your answer just now isn鈥檛 even 鈥榟alving鈥?鈥?

鈥淲ell, that鈥檚 not true. Since you say so, the basic premise itself is that your question is too weird. 鈥榯wo people, just one battery鈥? There鈥檚 no way such an extreme situation can happen鈥斺€?

鈥擧uh鈥?

Suddenly, a flash fizzles through my Mind Circuit.

鈥擳wo people, one battery.

Two people, one.

鈥淚 got it! There鈥檚 this method too!鈥?

I grab Eisbahn on the shoulders and shake him hard. 鈥淗e-hey, what鈥檚 with this out of a sudden?鈥?He exclaims.

鈥淚 think there鈥檚 a way to solve this battery issue!鈥?

Thirty minutes after the emergency meeting was called, all the Senators are gathered in the Village Council Hall.

鈥淚 see.鈥?

Viscaria widens her eyes in shock.

鈥淗ow is it? Not a bad idea here, right?鈥?

鈥淣ot bad, great idea, actually. No doubt that this is worthy of the 鈥楪rand Prix鈥?鈥?

This is my idea.

鈥擧ave two people share one.

Humans and robots, share the same battery through 鈥榟alving鈥欌€攖his is the idea I came up with.

Every Cradle contains a large battery to maintain a person鈥檚 life. My idea is to connect the robots to these batteries.

We鈥檒l pull the cables from the batteries of the Cradle, and connect to the circuits of the villages. The villagers can move freely without any electricity. Also, the batteries gathered that aren鈥檛 used can be used to replenish the units for this operation. Now we have three hundred people鈥檚 worth of battery power 鈥榓ppearing鈥?

鈥淚n that case, will the lifespan of the batteries in the Cradle not run out?鈥?

鈥淣o problems.鈥?Viscaria answers G?tz鈥檚 question.

鈥淭he batteries of the Cradles are massive, and us robots won鈥檛 cause much burden if it鈥檚 one to a unit. Only about ten percent will be used up if we spend about twenty-two hours over a period of twenty four hours recharging.鈥?

鈥淭hen, we need to do something about the battery, right?鈥?

鈥淲e鈥檒l need to do simple connections by ourselves. Leave this to me.鈥?

鈥淲e鈥檒l leave it to you.鈥?

If there鈥檚 insufficient battery power, we鈥檒l just borrow from humans鈥攍ooking back, it鈥檚 not hard to think about it. Why nobody has ever thought of it is largely related to the mental characteristics of a robot. We robots will offer our parts for humans, yet we never thought about using this logic the other way around. This causes a psychological blind spot, a blind angle of an idea.

And so, we slowly progress forth on the issue of the battery because of my suggestion. I鈥檓 really grateful to 鈥楶rincipal鈥?for giving me the 鈥榟alving鈥?inspiration, and also to Eisbahn, to whom I鈥檒l give a-thousandth of that thanks.

Of course, there is still a whole load of issues, like a possibility like the generator on the surface being unable to work, or countermeasures in case the villagers or the Cradles malfunction. However, the issue of the batteries remains the biggest challenge, so solving it is a huge boost to our operation.

Going at this pace, if we solve all the issues one by one, we鈥檒l definitely be able to return to the surface鈥攕o I have such a hope in my heart.

However, a bigger crisis looms upon me, as though my thoughts are read.

A day after the battery problem鈥檚 solved.

The Snow White malfunctioned.

The first report comes from the emergency wireless channel.

鈥淪now White鈥檚 output is dropping! Hurry!鈥?

Viscaria鈥檚 anxious voice can be heard through the wireless, and I immediately get off my bed and dash towards the REM forest.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 wrong鈥??鈥?

I arrive at the REM forest, and see Viscaria completely focused on working the control panel. Her actions seem to reflect the seriousness of the situation.

鈥淭he output of the crystal furnace is weird!! Ahh, it鈥檚 dropping by half!鈥?

I see the panel show 鈥?9%鈥? and the numbers behind the decimal point continues to drop, like a slot.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 the reason?鈥?

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know! The extraction purity of the crystal furnace is dropping massively鈥? Anyway, if we鈥檙e lacking in fuel鈥攁hh, damn it, it鈥檚 40% now!鈥?

鈥淲hat about the emergency fuel鈥??鈥?

鈥淭here鈥檚 some out there!鈥?

鈥淚鈥檒l go get it!鈥?

I carry the bag of fuel鈥攃rystals of extremely high purity, put it on my shoulder, and ladder up the ladder used for inspecting the Snow White, hurrying to the top of the spindle. The spinning speed of the spindle is slower than anyone else, and the light is clearly a lot darker than usual.

I spend about thirty seconds to arrive at the top of spindle.

鈥淰iscaria, I鈥檓 here! Open the furnace!鈥?

鈥淏e careful!鈥?

A strong blue light gushes into a corner of the spindle. The refilling hatch leading to the crystal furnace is opened, and I remove the safety installation holding the fuel in, pouring it all in.

鈥淗ow is it鈥?鈥?

I release all the fuel I have in hand, and ask Viscaria who鈥檚 below me.

But reality is cruel.

鈥淚t鈥檚 useless! Twenty, nineteen, eighteen鈥h, ahh!鈥?

Viscaria鈥檚 voice becomes increasingly softer.

Finally, the spindle grinds to a halt, and the spindle output stops at 鈥?.00%鈥? Red warning lights can be seen all over the control panel, and Viscaria lowers her head weakly.

鈥溾€ell, that鈥檚 enough already, Amaryllis.鈥?

Her calm voice echoes throughout the room.

鈥淲-what鈥檚 the matter?鈥?

I ask worriedly. The spindle slows down gradually before me, and finally stops.

Viscaria shakes her head, and mutters,

鈥淚t鈥檚 completely stopped.鈥?

All the senators receive the message, and gather at the Snow White again in an hour.

鈥淚 see.鈥?

Upon hearing the report, Chief quietly closes his eyes.

鈥淚鈥檓 really sorry.鈥?

鈥淣o, this isn鈥檛 your fault.鈥?

Chief says slowly. This is the first time we鈥檝e officially talked to Chief ever since that Meeting.

鈥淭hen, what is the reason?鈥?

Chief closes his eyes, and asks,

鈥淭he crystal furnace itself isn鈥檛 really damaged at all.鈥?Viscaria flatly answers, 鈥淏ut the extraction rate of the energy.鈥?

The reason why the Snow White stopped was basically due to depreciation. Having worked for years, the crystal furnace is increasingly filled with impurities, and the extraction rate is thus lowered. At this point, it鈥檚 at its limit.

鈥淚 thought it could last for another hundred years. Didn鈥檛 think it鈥檒l wear out so soon.鈥?

鈥淐an we not insert all the emergency fuel, and have it start working again?鈥?

G?tz asks, 鈥淣o.鈥?and Viscaria denies him immediately.

鈥淎 massive amount of energy is required to get a non-functional furnace working again. That type of fixed volume is like eroding rocks with water.鈥?

Viscaria lowers her beret further, and grits her teeth. It鈥檚 not hard to imagine that for her, the technician-in-charge, this is the outcome most regretful to her.

鈥淭hen, what do we do?鈥?Eisbahn leans on the wall, 鈥淭omorrow鈥檚 the deadline.鈥?

He looks up at the Snow White, and frowns. Even he, usually so cheeky, gives such a grim look, and this clearly shows how dire the situation is.

鈥淯gh.鈥?

I too can鈥檛 answer.

The Cradles have spare batteries, but they can only last for twenty-four hours as they are for emergency use. Also, the crystal furnace is the only generator in the village, and it stopped working. Thus, recharging the Cradles鈥?batteries from the outside won鈥檛 work. Even if we do continue to search for the portable batteries we gather, it鈥檒l only last half a day. If that happens鈥?

Our masters will die.

鈥擶hy, did it end up this way.

The sudden reality is so cruel, as though we鈥檙e informed of a terminal illness. The Snow White loses its usual luster, and my feelings become increasingly dejected as the room is only lit by luminous lights.

The room is filled with a short silence.

Everyone is unable to say anything, cornered by the despair. Nobody can answer the question, the question of how to restart the heart of a patient that has stopped. Unlike a human, the Snow White can鈥檛 be revived with electric shocks.

Breaking the silence here is the oldest person in the village.

鈥淭he most important thing here is the 鈥榩urity鈥? isn鈥檛 it?鈥?

鈥淓h?鈥?

I lift my head. Chief merely has an eye opened, glancing aside at me.

鈥淐hief, what did you just say?鈥?

鈥淎s I have said.鈥?Chief calmly states, 鈥淒ue to many years of operating, the crystal furnace has lots of residue and impurities mixed in the lowers the purity of the fuel to the minimum. This is the same rationale as a rechargeable battery being unable to do so after a certain number of times鈥o, if a fuel of extremely high purity is to be added, the extraction rate will increase, and the Snow White will be able to restart. Is that right, Viscaria?鈥?

鈥淓h, ah, yes.鈥?Viscaria blinks once she鈥檚 suddenly mentioned. 鈥淭hat is true. But, there鈥檚 a need for crystal plants of extremely high purity, a type that can get a major generator working at once. Where do we find such a thing in the village though鈥斺€?

鈥淭here is.鈥?

鈥淓h?鈥?

鈥淭here is fuel. Of that level of purity at that.鈥?

And then, what Chief says next leaves everyone stunned.

鈥淭hat will be me.鈥?

鈥溾€uh?鈥?

Viscaria and I question in unison.

鈥淢y body is made of a highly pure fuel called 鈥楥rystal Lead鈥? The purity of the fuel will improve if you throw me into the furnace and burning me, and the extraction rate will increase noticeably鈥攖he Snow White shall be revived.鈥?

鈥淲h-what are you saying here? Burn you, Chief? You got to be joking.鈥?

鈥淚 was originally created for this purpose. From head to toe, my entire body was created to be a robot containing the most important fuel, simply living for this purpose. The reason why I was assigned the purpose of Chief is all for the purpose of fuel preservation. I do call it 鈥榮aving energy鈥? but I have been offering my body to the Snow White as fuel.鈥?

鈥淲a-wait, Chief!?鈥?

Faced with the sudden words from Chief, I鈥檓 momentarily left unable to comprehend.

鈥擟hief is fuel? Crystal Lead?

鈥淚 shall repeat this again. If I am thrown into the furnace, the purity of the fuel will increase, and the Snow White will be operational again. When this happens, all the conditions for the operation will be at hand. Today, I shall bid farewell to everyone.鈥?

鈥淐hief, you鈥檙e kidding here, right? It鈥檚 just the usual lame joke, right鈥?鈥?

I anxiously ask, and Chief shakes his head,

鈥淚 really am sorry.鈥?

There鈥檚 no smile in his eyes; he鈥檚 as serious as ever.

鈥擟hief鈥檚 being serious here鈥?

Once I realize this, my body immediately heats up.

鈥淐heat鈥?鈥?

I lean over, and raise his head.

鈥淧lease, enough with the foolish words! Everyone鈥檚 finally going to the surface! A new life is about to begin! What are we going to do without you around, Chief!?鈥?

鈥淚t鈥檚 fine. There鈥檚 still you here. And also Viscaria. G?tz too. And Eisbahn. And everyone else鈥y mission comes to an end.

鈥淣o!鈥?

I bring Chief to my chest, embracing him.

鈥淒idn鈥檛 we work hard over the past hundred years!? I don鈥檛 want to bid farewell here!鈥?

鈥淏ut if you don鈥檛 burn me, the Cradles will die.鈥?

鈥淓-erm, right! Ev-everyone, let鈥檚 think of something together to get the Snow White working again. If we gather our thoughts, we鈥檒l come up with something good! Hey, let鈥檚 do this, okay, Chief!?鈥?

鈥淯nfortunately. There is no time left. Everyone in the Cradle will die tomorrow鈥here鈥檚 no time to hesitate.鈥?

鈥淏-but!鈥?

鈥淚 suppose I shall be fuel here. This is a fiery man at work. Gahahaha!!鈥?

鈥淐hief鈥?鈥?

Unwilling to give up, I embrace Chief with more strength.

鈥淚-I鈥檓 not letting go! I鈥檓 not letting go until you give up on that idea, Chief!鈥?

鈥淎maryllis鈥︹€?

鈥淵es, Chief.鈥?Viscaria too extends her feelers, as though trying to hold Chief down, 鈥淚t鈥檚 terrible to say goodbye here. It鈥檚 fine. There鈥檚 definitely an idea. Let鈥檚 all go to the surface together.鈥?

鈥淭rue is that! This village needs you, Chief!鈥?

鈥淵eah old man. What鈥檚 with you acting cool at your old age?鈥?

Everyone surround Chief.

鈥淪eriously, you people are too kind鈥︹€?

Chief laments,

鈥淏ut I too have my responsibility as Chief鈥nd it is time to go our separate ways.鈥?

鈥淐hief!鈥?

鈥淟et go of me now, Amaryllis.鈥?

鈥淣o!鈥?

I exert more strength.

And so, Chief lets out a little sigh, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to do this鈥︹€?he mutters, and shouts,

鈥淟et go! This is an order!鈥?

Before the voice trails off, my body shivers, and my hands cupping the Chief loosen.

鈥擡h, eh!?

鈥淪tay still. This is an order.鈥?

Immediately, my body鈥檚 frozen in place.

I can鈥檛 move my body, I can鈥檛 move my fingers, I can鈥檛 blink.

鈥擸ou鈥檙e kidding鈥n override code!?

Everyone else is the same. Time seem to have stopped as everyone remains rooted.

鈥淚 shall be honest.鈥?

Thuck thuck, Chief鈥檚 head hops onto the Core of the Snow White, the top of the 鈥榮pindle鈥? The 鈥楥rystal Furnace鈥?is over there.

鈥淚 am a 鈥榮upervisor鈥? I am tasked by humanity to observe if the Snow White is operating as normal鈥攊n other words, I am sent here as a 鈥榮py鈥?鈥?

鈥擶ha鈥?

The sudden confession leaves me stunned.

鈥淭hat 鈥榮ecret room鈥?was a guard room meant to watch over the village, and through the are numerous displays installed there, I watched over every single action in the village. The robot lying in the room was my 鈥榗olleague鈥? who malfunctioned in the process.鈥?

We鈥檙e all left dumbfounded as Chief continues to talk about the truth. That 鈥榮ecret room鈥?was a space suitable for humans to live in, that once the Ice Age ends, the humans waking up intend to live there, and observe all the actions of the villagers.

At this moment, Chief closes his eyes. His face is filled with deep wrinkles, like the ripples rising from the bottom of his heart.

鈥淵ou all do want to know why I became the Chief, right? Remember that there was no election, and I was elected as Chief, right? That鈥檚 because the humans have programmed it in your Mind Circuit. This 鈥榦verride鈥?too is the same. In cases of emergency鈥攍ike for example, you have some intentions to damage the Snow White, I will have the privilege to 鈥榩urge鈥?you all.鈥?

Chief opens his eyes again, and looks around. He looks at each of us in the eyes, affirming something.

鈥淏ut I never made such an order, and I can鈥檛. You鈥檙e too serious, too hardworking, too devoted鈥here was no such need.鈥?

With the white mist engulfing the 鈥楻EM forest鈥? a robot head continues to narrate, with four wax sculpture-like robots remaining still around him.

鈥淓ver since we came to this village, I鈥檝e changed. I鈥檓 supposed to invigilate over you, but before I knew it, I enjoyed living with you. Working with you, laughing, crying, singing, dancing with all of you鈥擨 enjoyed every single day. Before I knew it, I forgot my mission. It will be great if such peaceful, normal, ordinary daily village life could have continued.

With nostalgic feelings, Chief continues on. The spindle gives off a deep brown glow behind him, like a faded photograph.

鈥淏ut seventy years later, the Snow White鈥檚 reserve parts have finally depleted, and the villagers started extraction. The villagers have all become worn down to keep the Snow White running. There were even deaths鈥o I started to think, the humans just sleep there without doing anything, and you work so hard to offer your bodies, wearing out, dying. What鈥檚 the point of this? What鈥檚 with the discrimination and difference? Is this really fine? Is it really fine to die protecting humans? In any case, is there any worth in protecting humanity? Are those culprits who left humanity unable to live on the surface going to live on by sacrificing robots? What kind of future awaits us? I was frustrated, and the conclusion I had was鈥斺€?

Chief then raises his voice

鈥淭he preposition to wipe out humanity.鈥?

鈥擲o that鈥檚 how it came about鈥?

I finally understand; I finally understand the reason why Chief suddenly said to 鈥榳ipe out humanity鈥? It sounded sudden, but it was a conclusion Chief came to after much thought.

鈥淚 called for a village meeting. I find it most appropriate to have the villagers decide the future of the village. No matter the outside, I shall abide. But you lot exceeded my expectations, discovered a third option, and found a way to coexist with humans. Once I personally witnessed these, my mission鈥檚 done.鈥?

鈥溾€pen.鈥?Chief then mutters, and with a rumble, the spindle trembles. The outer wall slides aside, and a blue light emits from the furnace.

Chief hops up, and moves to the opening of the furnace. My body shivers, but I can鈥檛 do anything due to the override. Stop, don鈥檛 go. I keep looking at the Chief, but Chief replies with a kind smile.

鈥淚 love you lot, everyone in the village. You鈥檙e all so serious, kind, honest, brave, purpose-driven, treasure your comrades, and never do anything to hurt others. I love you for these reasons, and thus, I want to protect. You lot are worthy of a bright future rather than the selfish humans. Hmm鈥ven at this point, I am still trying to defend myself. A foolish Chief I am.鈥?

Chief then states his 鈥榳ill鈥?

鈥溾€maryllis, you are the one with the highest standing in the village, and thus forth, you shall inherit my title as Chief. I shall leave the village to you鈥?G?tz, you will be the vice Chief. Continue protecting everyone with those sturdy arms of yours and your loyal heart鈥iscaria, your skills are the lifeline of the village. As Amaryllis鈥?advisor, please provide the steady backbone to the entire village鈥isbahn. You are so unlike these stubborn, serious selves, but do offer your assistance when they are in trouble.鈥?

The opening of the crystal furnace slides down. The fuel鈥hief rides on it, and sinks into the light.

鈥淭his shall be goodbye鈥emove order.鈥?

鈥淐hief!鈥?

The moment the order is removed, I get my body moving, leaping over as I try to catch up to Chief.

鈥淐hief, wait! Don鈥檛 go!鈥?

鈥淲hat鈥?鈥?

The moment Chief vanishes into the furnace, he smiles,

鈥淭his is a form of saving electricity鈥︹€?

And so, Chief vanishes into the blue light. The opening is completely sealed, and the spindle glows. The light races through the surface of the Snow White like a web, dazzling like the sun. The efficiency is restored to almost 100%. The Snow White awakens, like the icy face of a girl becoming red with life.

Those were Chief鈥檚 final moments.