“W-what was that!? Are there still remnants of Azure Skies!?”
Ddos sensed an enemy attack and looked around. However, Qualia was too far away for him to see.
And on the other side, Qualia was pushed down by Spirito.
That was what threw off his aim, Spirito covered him just before the shot was fired.
“No! People would only see that as him venting his anger out on an object! If you attack him, you’ll be the criminal!”
Spirito straddled Qualia, and frantically tried to explain the reality of the situation to him.
There were no laws protecting magic dolls. Magic dolls were not seen as people.
Qualia himself understood that Ace and the other magic dolls were not people.
He sensed no values from them that hinted at vital activity, and felt no ‘tasty’ from them.
But despite these calculations, the moment he saw the sight that was a magic doll being kicked, static filled Qualia’s mind.
“Qualia still judges the actions taken by the human known as Ddos to be wrong.”
“…I understand what you’re saying. I don’t feel good about seeing that either.”
Spirito could relate to how he felt, and she had a bitter look on her face.
By the time Qualia got back up, Ddos and the magic dolls were gone. But still, Qualia immediately looked down at the area where they stood before.
“Analyzing situation. Qualia has a strong resemblance to the magic dolls.”
“Resemblance?”
“It is estimated that the magic dolls input that Ddos’ instructions, and take action to eliminate whatever they are told, regardless of what it is.”
“Yes, that’s what magic dolls are. The main weapons of the new age of war… Is what the Wirgin faction said. But you’re human.”
“…Unclear.”
Qualia used the moment he destroyed the beast person who murdered Mind as feedback.
He remembered the destructive actions he carried out repeatedly, coldly, and ruthlessly. As though he was simply working.
“Qualia’s earlier behavior was not human. It was the same as those magic dolls. And more importantly, the structure of artificial intelligence is very close to that of magic dolls. Qualia does not need to be human to fulfill his duty in the first place.”
“…It’s over for today.”
Spirito was right. There were no more signs of activity from Azure Skies. There was no more need to fight.
“Qualia will get Ina from the shelter and return to the mansion.”
“I’ll do that. Just go back ahead of us and rest.”
“Negative. Qualia does not need the action called rest…”
“You’re human! You do!!”
She yelled with a high-pitched voice, on top of Qualia’s voice.
“…Listen to your teacher’s recommendation.”
Qualia could not break those wide open eyes looking directly at him.
His calculations as an artificial intelligence told him not to listen to her, but his judgment as a human told him to accept her feelings.
Even Qualia could not understand why he followed the latter.
“Qualia will return to the mansion.”
But he did not rest, when he arrived at the mansion alone.
He entered his room, and activated his 5D printer.
“Initiating PROJECT RETURN TO SHUTDOWN.”
In the end, he tried to return to the autonomous humanoid combat android Shutdown.
Join my patreon to support me and read ahead.
