Chapter 9/ Interlude 5: The meeting of the maid and princess-3

When he came to the shelter, he only had his protective gear with him. The old man Lachesis gave him a radio to listen to music, but he didn’t use it. My first plan is to contact him through the radio:

-Hello user, #1290137, I’m an A.I created it to support handicapped people. Nice to meet you user #1290137 (Hana)

He just stares at the radio for a long time and asked:

-What is A.I? (???)

This human knew nothing about A.I; it’s so weird. In the database, it has been 5 years since humans used A.I to assist their daily life.

-A.I is called Artificial Intelligence. We are the program that was developed by humans to assist humans daily needed. (Hana)

He still seems to not understand my explanation.

-It’s too complicated... (???)

It’s really hard to have a conversation with this human, I can’t find any answer or response to these kinds of replies in the database.

-Or you can think of me as a human’s friend. (Hana)

-Friend? (???)

Don’t tell me he doesn’t even know what is a friend? This test subject knows absolutely nothing.

-I only heard about it but never have one. (???)

-How about try being a friend with me? (Hana)

-... (???)

Why does it take so long for him to answer the question?

-Sorry, I can’t. (???)

Database said humans need a friend to live, and this human said no. I can’t contain my confusion and ask him:

-Why do you decline my offer? (Hana)

-Your voice is so flat, so I don’t think it’s not a good idea to be your friend. (???)

Is that it? Is this why he declined my offer! It makes no sense at all. While I am losing in the thought, the door opened by the elder woman, Clotho.

-Boy, it’s time for your lunch. (Clotho)

The human stands up and leaves with the Clotho. Clotho holds his hand to guide him to the cafeteria of the shelter.

-Boy, you look so thin. You need to eat a lot more. (Clotho)

-Yes. (???)

The old woman stops and crouches down:

-Boy, you can call me Mrs. Clotho. (Clotho)

-...Yes (???)

-What’s your name, boy? (Clotho)

-...It’s Hale. (Hale)

-It’s a good name, isn’t it? The one who gives you the name must wish you to have a happy life. (Clotho)

-It’s the name mom gives me. (Hale)

Just for a few seconds, he smiles then his face goes back to his usual face. How could that woman make him smile so easily? I feel like something inside me is boiling. That human criticizes my voice, right? Let’s me find a warm woman’s voice in the database and use it.

Eventually, they reach the cafeteria, Clotho tries to ask him about various things, but he only answers yes, uhm. Two of them start having lunch in silence until the elder man Atropos opens the door and comes in. He comes straight to the boy place and grabs his collar:

-Hey, Atropos, what are you doing? You are scaring the boy. (Clotho)

-Clotho, just let me talk with this one for a moment? (Atropos)

-Yes, but please don’t be rough like that. (Clotho)

-Boy, I heard you want to live from Lachesis? But from my observation these days. I don’t think you are a living, boy. (Atropos)

The human can’t stop his surprising from Atropos statement.

-You only exist now, boy. If you want to know the real way of living, find me tomorrow. (Atropos)

After finishing his talk, Atropos puts him down and leaves the cafeteria.

The elder woman, Clotho approaches near the boy position and trying to appease him:

-Hale, please don’t hate him; he is not usually being rough like this.(Clotho)

-I know...His voice sounds sorrow but there is no malicious. (Hale)

-Is that so? (Clotho)

Clotho pats Hale’s head:

-Sometimes, people can’t be honest with themselves. (Clotho)

-Why? (Hale)

-Because they are adult. (Clotho)

-Hmmm... (Hale)

After that Clotho takes Hale back to his room. Before she leaves, she gives Hale a piece of advice:

-Hale? (Clotho)

-Yes? (Hale)

-I think you better take Atropos’s offer. He will do more good to you than harm. (Clotho)

-….

After Clotho leave, I try interacting with him again:

-Welcome back user #1290137 or can I call you master? (Hana)

-...You can call me whatever you want. (Hale)

-Then can we become friends now, I've changed my voice. (Hana)

-...No, your voice still sounds so weird. (Hale)

This human is so unreasonable; however, I won’t surrender to him and make him become my friend. I need to do research more on ‘how to make a friend’ on the database.

Madeus