Vol 1 Chapter 2.07 (2/2)
After that, she proudly told me about her finding a lot of household items (Only that they're broken or too dirty), books, music CDs and recorders among the waste materials at the construction site. She didn't have a hint of guilt on her face when she was happily introducing me to her 'war spoils'. I asked half-impressed, half-helplessly.
”But robots can't do actions that are against the rules, right? Why can Lilith steal them then?”
”Oh, you're probably referring to the code for prevention of rule violation in the safety circuit. That's no problem, because I— oh.”
Just at that moment, Volkov stood up slowly. His large body emitted a creaking sound, creating a long shadow in the warehouse. His eyes that gave out light in the darkness was full of vigor.
”Never mind, I'll save the details for next time. Let's move right now.”
Lilith walked further into the warehouse.
”Erm, is it really okay if we're only half charged up?”
”It's okay, two or three hours of use should be enough.”
”Huh......”
I turned my continuous track and followed behind her. Volkov followed behind us as well.
A small hill of waste materials were stacked up in the interior of the warehouse, remains of continuous tracks and objects that looked like human limbs were scattered all over. Those would probably be parts of robots. By the amount, it's even enough for someone to open two or three junk parts shops.
We walked past the small hill of waste materials, and arrived at a wide area not long after. Its only at this place that the materials were pushed aside, showing a s.p.a.ce of about three meters square. A mat was placed below the square wooden table, and this scene would look just like a scene from a movie if you ignore their worn down look.
The three of us surrounded the table.
”So there's somewhere like this in the warehouse......”
I looked around in surprise. The table was completely surrounded by sc.r.a.p metals, and seemed that a landslide would happen at any time.
”That's right, Iris.”
Lilith searched below the table and took out a thick book.
”Can you read?”
Lilith took out a children's literary book. I read out the t.i.tle of the book.
”...... Third-rate Demon G.o.d Visa Darke.”
”Excellent!” Lilith cheered with her eyes gleaming, ”You can read! That's great! Hurray!”
”No, it's just a small matter......”
Hearing Lilith's exaggerated praise, I couldn't help but feel rather embarra.s.sed. It's really not such a complicated book, as 'suitable for children of eight and above' was written on the front of the book.
A young man (a rather handsome young man) wearing a black overcoat, leaning against a wall, with a sparkling white ring on his left hand was on the cover of the book. Though I've only heard of the t.i.tle, it seems that this is quite a famous work.
”I can't read recently. My language interpretation parts malfunctioned. Volkov can still read, but he can't read words that are too small. ...... So this is the only thing that we could do.”
Right after that, Lilith opened the book and extended it to Volkov's front. It's just like she's using the book to cover Volkov's whole vision.
Then, Volkov spoke the word 'demon'. Lilith s.h.i.+fted the book, and he said 'G.o.d', then he continued with 'vi' and 'sa' after repeating the procedure.
Lilith closed the book and shrugged while saying: ”He could only read one word at a time. ...... So about fifty pages used up about three months.”
”Volkov- tried- hard.” The giant robot puffed up his chest.
”Mnn hmm, you did try hard~” Lilith smiled slightly like a kindergarten teacher.
”Volkov- did- great.”
”Very great, very great~”
Lilith stood up and patted Volkov's head as if she was comforting a child. Volkov seemed to be quite happy as well. I wonder what kind of relations.h.i.+p these two have.
”So, how about it?”
She looked closely at my face.
”I'll thank you, so can you read the book for me?”
”Mnn, it's okay......” I took the book from Lilith's hands, ”Where should I read from?”
”It's better if you read from the start. It's such a pity if you finish it in one go. ...... Ah, Volkov, you can go back now if you want to.”
Lilith said with a bullying voice, while Volkov's eyes brightened.
”Volkov- wants to know- story.”
”Oh, is that so.”
”Only Lilith- too sly.”
”I'm joking, I'm joking. ...... I really can't joke with you.”
Lilith started to laugh. She seems very happy whenever she teases Volkov.
”I'll start reading then.” I turned to the first page, ”Third-Rate Demon G.o.d Visa Darke. First Volume 'The Demon G.o.d who Can't Use Magic'. ...... er, prologue.”
Just like that, the three of us started our 'night time book club' meeting.
” 'And then?' Darke said coldly, 'Are you saying that destroying the world is the job of a demon G.o.d?' After hearing his questions, the ring answered unhesitatingly: 'That's exactly the case, Master Darke.' .”
I slowly read the book.
Lilith sat beside me, leaning her body forward from the table with her large eyes gleaming. On the other hand, Voklov kept his silence, but his eyes would light up occasionally. Both of them seem to like this book very much.
After about thirty pages, I gained a rough understanding of the story of 'Third-Rate Demon G.o.d Visa Darke'.
The main character, Visa Darke, is a demon G.o.d. He is a lord that commands part of the demon world, comes from an exalted family, but is uninterested in his job as a demon G.o.d. The cause that he dedicated himself to is not using his powers to invade other countries or causing disasters in the human world, but to fix the tools collected from all around the demon world so that they could be used again.
The magic ring that served Darke is 'Flo Snow'. She is an exquisite ring that is white as snow, while her voice is clear like ice. Having a serious personality, she often berates her master who always fixes tools, putting aside his obligations as a demon G.o.d. However, Darke forgot about his job again today, not learning from his mistakes at all. He hid the truth from Flo and sneaked out of the city—
”Iris, what's next? What did Darke say?”
Lilith pulled on my elbow, urging me to carry on with the story. I just read until the part that she hadn't reached, which is why she is harrying me with words like 'Faster, faster' 'What's next' in a rapid-fire speed.
”Okay, let's continue. ...... 'Hey, Flo. My magical powers are very weak. So isn't it okay if I rely on magical tools a bit?' Darke spoke to Flo Snow in a lazy tone as usual. So, Flo immediately admonished him with a displeased tone. 'That's just an excuse, Master Darke. Your magical powers aren't weak, you just lack practice. Ahh, this is too tragic. If this goes on, you would be unable to face your deceased ancestors.' ”
On the night after their conversation, one of the magical tools that Darke brought back suddenly turned into an abominable monster after Darke lied down on his bed. The monster snuck into Darke's bedroom—
”Shh!”
Suddenly, Lilith placed her index finger in front of her lips.
”Turn off the lights!”
Volkov immediately switched off the lights in his eyes. I turned off the illumination system in my visual settings as well.
”It's the patrols.”
Lilith's index finger stopped in front of her lips, while her sharp gaze was focused on the entrance of the warehouse.
After that, I saw a dim light moving in the warehouse. Probably it's a patrol holding a torch. The searchlight flitted from one sleeping robot to another.
As a lot of junk are piled up around us, 'this place' can't be seen from the entrance. Even so, we would still tremble in fear every time the lights shone onto here.
After five minutes, Lilith said lightly 'I think he's gone......' after glancing outside from the seams between the junk, then returned to the side of the table.
I was relieved, then lightly rubbed my chest. Volkov gave out a 'Hu~” noise as well.
”We actually didn't get exposed.”
Lilith said in a light tone: ”It's no big deal. The patrols just s.h.i.+ne the torch here an there. They wouldn't count the number of robots.”
”What would happen if we were found out?”
”Who knows...... Probably they wouldn't just dismantle us to sc.r.a.p metal. ...... However, they would probably confiscate these.”
She took the book from my hands, hiding it beneath the table.
”Aren't we going to continue?”
”Though I really~ care about it, that's all for today. They'll get suspicious if our batteries aren't charged to the max.”
The meeting of the book club ended just like that.
As for what Darke saw after he heard the strange noises, that would have to continue tomorrow, two in the morning.
<script>