Chapter 4 (1/2)
Episode 4: Preparing for Exploration
Up on the surface, Lydia watched on as Yuuyami installed the solar panels.
Once this work was finished with, they would be able to use sunlight to generate electricity.
“No matter how many times I look,” Lydia said, “there really is nothing left in the world.”
Lydia had already been brought to the surface by Yuuyami countless times. This was so that she could experience clear skies, cloudy skies, and even rain.
“I suppose so.”
As Yuuyami was engrossed in her work, she wasn’t watching Lydia.
Lydia twirled around, taking in the sights of all four cardinal directions. But no matter what direction she looked in or how many times she looked, this world had no horizon to be seen.
And as this area seemed to have originally been a city, there were no mountains or valleys either.
According to Yuuyami, the area was once packed with buildings. But now, not even a trace of them remained. There truly was nothing. Nothing but an endlessly spanning wasteland.
But in a month’s time, snow would fall once again and color the world in silvery white.
Having finished installing the panels, Yuuyami pretended to heave a sigh. But since she had no need to breathe, no actual breath was exhaled.
Lydia found these actions to be strange and had previously asked her “Why do you sigh?”
Yuuyami answered “I am aware that it is an unnecessary action, but it’s also one that was incorporated in me from the very beginning. Perhaps it’s due to the humans’ desire for Autodolls to seem more lifelike.”
Lydia plopped down onto the ground and kicked her legs about.
Her gaze was affixed on Yuuyami, who was fiddling with her tablet.
“Well Lydia, that’s one project completed.”
Yuuyami showed Lydia the tablet.
Lydia examined it thoroughly, and not a single error code could be found. Systems all green. It was perfect.
“Wow, congratulations!”
Smiling, Lydia clapped her hands.
“Thank you very much.”
Showing a faint smile, Yuuyami did a little bow.
Every day, Yuuyami had been replicating the parts needed to construct the solar system in the simple parts maker, and of course was a.s.sembling them bit by bit every day as well.
The simple parts maker was a modified version of the simple food maker. A unit that created parts instead of foods.
As the library contained four simple food makers, two of them had already been converted into different types: a simple parts maker and a simple dress maker.
The latter was a unit that replicated clothing and accessories, and had been used to produce the clothing that Lydia was currently wearing.
As Lydia liked western clothing, a large number of them had been replicated.
Enough so that Yuuyami once scolded her, saying “Your clothes are filling up the library. Please don’t create any more than necessary.”
Currently, Lydia was wearing a snowy white coat.
But underneath that coat was a black cardigan. And underneath that was a white blouse. And also, a wine-red circular skirt. To protect from the cold, her legs were covered by black tights and a pair of snow boots.
Lydia came to enjoy wearing different clothes every day and showing off her appearance.
“Thanks to your a.s.sistance, it was completed according to schedule.”
Yuuyami was wearing her usual maid outfit. She had no interest in dressing up, and owned many copies of the same thing.
Be it summer or winter, her clothing never changed. Because she wouldn’t die from being too hot or from being too cold.
“You’re welcome. It definitely looks like we’ll be able to generate a lot of electricity today,” Lydia said while looking up at the sky.
It was a fairly clear day, with a blue sky and white clouds.
It felt somewhat strange to consider that the sky was the same color as it had been prior to the destruction of the world.
“And now,” Yuuyami said, “I think I’ll go exploring once spring arrives. Would you like to come along with me?
“Of course!”
Lydia answered immediately with a smile.
“Understood. So…”
“Hey Yuuyami, let’s start with the place where you found me!” Lydia said, flapping her hands around in her excitement.
“Understood. That’s fine, but……”
“Umm, first we’d need something to ride, right? Ah, but didn’t you always go on foot before? I want to ride a motorcycle!”
“Yes. I walk, yes. But anyways……”
“Ah, can I take care of the bike’s design?”
“Yes, of course you can. But before that……”
“I’m really looking forward to this,” Lydia giggled. “But it must get lonely seeing nothing but wasteland, huh.”
“Lydia. Please allow me to speak.”
“Hm? What is it?”
Lydia tilted her neck, and the way she did so was so cute that Yuuyami couldn’t help but smile a little.
“Considering the possibility of enemies being in the area where I first found you, I believe it prudent to bring weapons. Would you like to choose them?”
“Weapons?”
“Yes. I’ve compiled a list of ones that you should be able to use.”
Yuuyami fiddled with her tablet.
“Eh? But I don’t want to.”
“You don’t?”
Yuuyami looked up from her tablet.
“Yeah.”
“You mean that you don’t want to choose?”
“No,” Lydia shook her head. “That’s not it. I don’t want to carry any weapons.”
“Why not?”
“Well they’re tools for harming other living things, aren’t they? I don’t want that. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
Upon hearing Lydia’s words, Yuuyami displayed the mannerisms of a person deep in thought.
And exactly three seconds later, she nodded her head.
“Very well, we can forget about the weapons. But in exchange, will you wear the clothing that I design?”
“Eeh?”
“I’ll make clothing with extremely high defensive properties, so please wear them. I won’t bring you along with me if you don’t.”
“Why are you being so mean?”
Lydia’s expression warped.
Yuuyami felt a stinging pain in her heart.
“I’m not being mean, this is for your own safety.”
However, she had to ensure Lydia’s safety.
“But it might not be dangerous.”
“But it might be. That’s something that we won’t be able to determine without exploring. I just don’t want you to get hurt, Lydia. You’re very important to me. So would you please listen to my request?”
“Uuu… alright,” Lydia folded. “But make sure it’s cute, okay?”
“Understood. I’ll do my best.”
“Then I’ll take care of the motorcycle, okay?”
Lydia switched on her own tablet.
“A motorcycle…” Yuuyami said. “…a vehicle which originally ran on fossil fuels, then batteries. In the end, they utilized power cells. Despite being extremely inefficient and only being able to hold a limited amount of cargo, they were quite popular. Particularly amongst males.”