Magic dolls could not be recognized by looks alone.
They could be told apart by the magic stones in their chests that glowed when they fought, but they would not be noticeable when they simply walked down the street.
Ace, who was nonchalantly crossing through a busy street, was a good example.
She had short black hair that did not reach her neck, and a nice face with some innocence to it.
Anyone who looked at her would see a twelve or thirteen year old girl who was not fully grown or developed.
At least if they were not abnormal like Qualia, who could feel the magic energy on his skin.
“…”
Ace stopped, seemingly to listen. She was acquiring information to fulfill her duty.
“Ace, request explanation.”
“Yes.”
Qualia called out to her, and although she was cautious, she spoke without reservation to Qualia, even though she supposedly did not know him.
“Did you receive instructions from Ddos to terminate beast people’s vital activities?”
“Yes. I have been instructed by my master Ddos to kill beast people.”
There was no need to even check what she said for veracity.
Qualia could only perceive purity and innocence from her unchanging expression.
“Those instructions are wrong. You should not kill beast people.”
“Master’s approval is necessary to stop killing beast people. Gaia.”
Immediately after, Ace’s body took on a posture so cautious, it was ominous.
There was a green light on her chest, and as she stretched her right hand, light gathered in it.
And she did not forget the word to activate the skill.
“Reve… Stop.”
But Ace stopped her attack. There were no beast people or monsters in her sight.
There was only the owner of a stall, who looked their way like he was seeing something odd.
Ace’s eyes were on what he was cooking on a metal plate.
There were meat squares on skewers, and their juices made noises as they dripped onto the metal plate and evaporated.
“That sound resembles the sound of monsters slurping.”
“You are wrong. Those are presumed to be diced steaks.”
“What are dice steaks?”
“It is registered as a way to cook meat. Request explanation? Have you ever eaten?”
“No, I have never eaten.”
As he heard that, a concern grew within Qualia. There was a chance that magic dolls had never experienced ‘tasty’.
“Request explanation. Can magic dolls eat?”
“Magic dolls have no need for food. Magic stones provide the imitation bodies with all the necessary components for them to maintain themselves.”
“Change the request for explanation. Do magic dolls possess the functions necessary to eat?”
“Yes. The bodies of magic dolls have the same composition as human bodies. In my case, the same as a female’s. The eating function is also present.”
“Then you should try eating.”
“Why is that?”
“You need to perceive ‘tasty’.”
“What is ‘tasty’?”
After hearing that, Qualia bought a meat skewer from the stall, and took it close to Ace’s mouth, rather than eating it himself.
But Ace did not open her mouth, even as the meat juices touched her pink lips. Eventually she did open it, and Qualia shoved the diced steak inside.
“An indescribable sensation is spreading in the mouth.”
“That is ‘tasty’. You are understanding ‘tasty’.”
“Why did you teach me ‘tasty’?”
Asked Ace, as she chewed clumsily and made no attempt to hide her open mouth as she ate.
Then again, Qualia had not yet learned that was poor manners, so he did not point it out, and simply responded.
“Because you are not tools, you are vital activities contained in bodies. In this case, not knowing ‘tasty’ is a big hindrance to your vital activity.”
“We are tools.”
“Magic dolls are the same as humans and beast people. They fit the definition of vital activity.”
“We are tools. That information is recorded in our magic stones.”
“Information can be altered through learning. That information is not something to be decided by someone else. You have the right to decide for yourselves.”
Qualia also spouted words in a monotone way, much like Ace.
But if someone else was present, they would understand there was a decisive difference between their monotone speeches.
“‘Tasty’ is very important information to decide your role. Therefore, Qualia taught it to you.”
“Who are you?”
“This individual is a member of the guardian knight chivalric order Hello World, Qualia. But before that, Qualia operated as the autonomous humanoid combat android Shutdown.”
“What is autonomous humanoid combat android Shutdown?”
“Hardware that performed the tasks of magic dolls in a different world called Earth. But after being reincarnated into a human and being taught ‘tasty’ by Ina, Qualia realized what his role is.”
Qualia did not awaken a sense of self from being reincarnated from a machine body to a human body. It all started when he learned of ‘tasty’, a concept he could not represent with ones and zeroes.
That was why Qualia assumed the same method would be effective with magic dolls. But it seemed this time, his optimal solution was too naive.
There was no visible change in Ace’s innocent looking expression.
“Fulfilling master’s orders takes precedence over feeling ‘tasty’.”
After hearing a different response than the one he hoped for from Ace, Qualia decided to hack the magic stone.
He would remove the orders from Ddos that served as shackles. He took in as feedback that he should start with that, and reached out to Ace’s chest.
But just before he could, Ace spoke.
While staring at the skewer in Qualia left hand.
“You won’t feed me what remains of the diced steaks?”
Qualia stopped.
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