NOVEL NEXT chapter 2
2 – CI-125, Illya (2)
“Ugh.”
“Don’t act like that, huh?
Weren’t you frustrated when you couldn’t feed us properly back when you were with Mirsis?”
Since a while ago, the laughter hasn’t stopped,
It was the perfect moment for the expression “laughing till your belly button falls off” to be so fitting.
Even though my abs felt like they were being stabbed with pain.
I can’t stop laughing.
“Mr. Taehyuk, deactivate the taste sensor – “
“No, no.
That’s a very expensive thing, Illya.
I spent a lot of money to equip it to you because I wanted you to experience it.
If you refuse, it’ll be very troublesome.”
Scoop up a spoonful of the orange lump, carefully,
And pushed the spoon into the guy furrowing his brow arrogantly.
The viscosity was truly artistic.
It was a perfect embodiment of the cooking described in the manual, a completely distorted appearance.
The most poorly prepared dish imaginable.
“Well, shall we go?”
Wasn’t it that she still didn’t know how to express her emotions?
Or was it an extended function of her taste sensors themselves?
Her face, which could have been described as beautiful, was crumpled up as she shook her head, a pitiful sight…
“We shouldn’t leave any food behind, right? Hmm?
It’s important to always consume the appropriate amount of calories, Ilia.
You reap what you sow, right?”
My petty revenge was about to begin.
Even if I didn’t know where she found it, she had found the dish I deliberately made cold, so that it would at least have a bland taste when eaten, and left it untouched –
“To Corporal Taehyuk. Thank you for your help in the morning battle.”
I said,
As a token of gratitude for saving me while getting hit by bullets in the ruins of the collapsed building,
I went beyond the line when I covered this damn thing with his battery.
If it’s something that can be swallowed even after biting, it’s fine.
I wonder if this guy can now understand that disgusting taste that wraps around the tongue?
“Eating it warm is good for nutrient absorption and energy. Hmm?”
I gently placed the spoon on Ilia’s lips, which she couldn’t bring herself to open.
Expanding it into a broader thinking circuit alone has enriched emotions to this extent.
“Tae-hyuk – ugh -“
“Let’s just eat that much and share our impressions.”
In the end, the lump of pumpkin flavor went in again with a spoonful.
His face trembled again, and it seemed to accurately record the taste in that thinking circuit.
“How is it? Huh? Illya. This is still an efficient nutritional source from Mirsis Corporation -“
“No, not at all.”
Although the voice came out unusually calm, eventually, a bit of orange liquid seeped out from the mouth, as if giving up swallowing everything.
He gently wiped the hand on his stomach, which was not only painful but also pulling, and it turned out to be a pumpkin flavor.
Honestly, why does my eyelid tremble like that even though I’m a robot?
It should only be a tool to prevent dust from sticking to the visual device.
So human-like.
“Wanna try this too?”
Honestly, considering Mirsis guys messing around with pumpkins, the pumpkin surprisingly fell into the delicious category.
It felt worth the high price paid.
After simmering it, the texture became fluffy, with a subtle sweetness lingering.
And perhaps a hint of – should I say, a vegetable scent.
The sensation spreading in my nose was truly delightful.
Could it be that the pumpkin, which my comrades had cursed so thoroughly, now unjustly became a victim?
However, that’s something only those who have tasted it can say.
Iliya, who had experienced the fiery taste of combat rations, couldn’t possibly put on a pleasant expression seeing this.
“Sir Taehyuk. If this is expressing disappointment in my past remarks,
please accept my apologies.”
“No, no, it’s not like I hold any grudge.”
Well, maybe a tiny, very tiny… bit of annoyance, but oh well.
Even Iliya, who had been hit by Kim Dohyun’s throwing of rations, didn’t ‘feel’ anything.
Choosing this as a way to teach sensation was merely a choice.
“Then may I ask why you demand that I consume this vegetable called pumpkin?”
He seemed quite displeased.
Robots usually obey commands readily, but Mirsies truly stands out.
Our products may be well-made, but they can’t match combat rations in sheer nastiness.
“No, don’t make that face.
It’s delicious, I assure you.
My, where did you learn to make such expressions?
Let’s try tasting it once before we talk. Okay?”
Was the feeding order wrong?
Even though I said words that could clearly be interpreted as ‘orders’, she hesitated,
and, strangely, did not approach hastily, fluttering her eyelids.
“Um, well… hmm?”
Illia finally gave in to my request, unable to resist any longer.
With her eyes tightly shut, she chewed on it bit by bit—a face that seemed to smile. How intriguing.
“Here, pumpkin…”
“Tasty, isn’t it? Right?”
As she stuffed a whole piece into her mouth at once, I grabbed some jerky.
Unfortunately, unlike the pumpkin, this was a synthetic food…
Still, it was better than the damned combat rations.
Just as I was starting to find it easier to swallow due to its saltiness…
“Sir Taehyuk, I apologize.
There seems to be a significant flaw in the Mirsies Corporation’s combat rations.
It was wrong of me to actively encourage the squad members to consume them.”
She slightly lifted the cup placed on the table, bowing her head to me.
Hmm, I wonder what was in those chips.
She was quite adept at imitating human behavior.
“You can drink it. If you’re asking for permission, that is.”
“Thank you.”
As I watched the robot drink water just like a human, I continued to handle the food on the table one by one.
Meanwhile, Ilyria stood up and stared at the combat rations that no one touched.
I didn’t expect to feel hatred.
Especially from a machine.
“If you’re not going to eat anymore, is it alright if I clean up?”
“Well, even though you were designed and manufactured by the company, I don’t hate you that much.”
“Thanks to you, I’ve learned that food with severe defects has no value as food.”
I nodded my head at Ilyria, who spoke harshly and flashed her eyes.
I didn’t have any mercy to offer for the food that would soon go into the trash.
“Well, how about trying some jerky as a last bite?”
“I’m sorry, but consuming meat is not recommended. According to the information of this unit, the teeth installed to mimic humans retain the flaws of humans. It is difficult to maintain cleanliness due to food getting stuck, and so on.”
Even though she said that, I wonder if she finds the sense of taste interesting.
She hasn’t taken her eyes off the jerky since earlier.
Thinking about how to bring a change to her face that is becoming more and more expressionless –
“That means I just have to brush your teeth myself, right?”
Come to think of it, that’s true.
If cleanliness is difficult to maintain, isn’t it something I can do for you?
“But, it’s also an additional task for you,
starting from the fact that even consuming food can create odors inside.”
“If you had thought about it from the beginning, I wouldn’t have fed you a full meal.”
Continuing to put two pieces into the moving mouth, she shook off her hands thoroughly.
Is the salty taste somewhat stimulating? Although Ilia frowned, she swallowed it with a grimace.
“The salinity is excessively high.”
“But still, it’s better than that, right?”
Turning her finger to point at the trash can, Ilia hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
After patting her head for that gesture, she began to organize what she had eaten one by one.
“Shall I help with the chores?”
“What, does it have that function too?”
“Originally, it seems to be a household android model,
but I confirmed that it has been modified in various ways.
In addition to the taste sensors… a combat system?”
As Ilia carefully touched the places where the money was quite torn, she closed her mouth as if confused.
Moving her shining eyes here and there in the air, or moving the visual sensors in various directions,
as if receiving complex commands, she checked herself again for a while.
If only artificial intelligence had been put into the normal body, it wouldn’t have taken so long from the beginning…
“Remote control prevention protocol.”
Anti-Troy System.
Bulletproof material upgrade.
Titanium alloy frame.
Custom visual sensors.
Output limiter release program… The final version.
Natasha self-recovery protocol.
And, retro AI compatibility system.
“I, Mr. Tae-hyuk.”
So, due to the experience I’ve already lost once,
I’ve modified my body to an extent that might seem excessive.
To ensure safety, no matter what happens.
Not to collapse without a word in front of my eyes.
“I need to ask again, Ilia.”
Despite shaking, I looked at the blue eyes that were firmly fixed on mine.
Still trying to understand the changed body, to my last comrade looking at me,
“Have you fully understood your body?
It’s a gift I prepared with some care.”
“Not yet, I haven’t fully understood.
But, yes.
Thank you.”
I flashed a smile.
In return, I received a gruff gesture of nodding with a quietly lowered head,
but it was enough.