Chapter 762: The Tale of the Mechanized God ④

<Author's Notes>

The Makina arc would be the only one updated this time, but Anima arc would be updated next time.

Going through the cold…… unadorned door, Alicia entered the iron building.

The house, which only has a simple collection of the bare minimum of essentials, looked like a prison to Alicia's eyes.

[……Fufu, I've never had a guest before, so I'm happy. Errr, can I call you Alicia?]

[It's okay, I'll also call you Makina then.]

Alicia and Makina, who met on the artificial island where only one person lived…… had a strange feeling that the both of them didn't know how to describe.

They had definitely never met before, but strangely…… they felt a sense of familiarity, as if they had "met their own kind" for the first time.

That's why, perhaps, Makina welcomed Alicia, who suddenly appeared from the sky, and Alicia accepted Makina's suggestion and went inside her house.

[Speaking of which, why did you come to this island, Alicia?]

[Ahh~~ you might find my kind strange, but I'm a traveler. I've been wandering around the world and just happened to stop by.]

[……Are these travelers beings that could fly?]

[Well. I'm what you call a wizard. We're beings that could easily fly up the sky.]

[Fueehhh, being a traveler must be amazing.]

Alicia's words that she was a wizard would have been unbelievable under normal circumstances. But Makina had already seen Alicia leap to heights impossible for a human being and landing without a sound, so she accepted her words without question.

[Ahh, that's right! It's just lunchtime, Alicia, so why do you eat with me? It's your first time here, so I'll welcome you with lots of hospitality.]

[Ohh, that's a tempting offer. I was actually planning to have a luxurious lunch on a luxurious cruise ship, but I missed it because I gave priority to my curiosity. I'll gratefully accept the meal then.]

[Unnn! Wait a minute, okay? It'll be ready in a moment.]

After nodding happily to Alicia's words, Makina reached for a console on a nearby wall and operated it.

Thereupon, a part of the wall slid noisily, revealing the items stored in it.

[You can choose your favorite flavor!]

With a big smile on her face, Makina pointed to a large amount…… of jelly drinks.

[Jelly drinks!? N- No, no, jelly drinks certainly are more developed than a long time ago. But jellies for lunch!? A- Arehh? Am I actually not really welcome here?]

[Eh? T- That's not it! You're very welcome…… A- Arehh, is it no good? I thought they were the tastiest though…… I- It's alright. I still have other stuff!]

Looking a little flustered upon Alicia's reaction, Makina operated the console again. Thereupon, a different area in the wall slid to the side.

And then, showing it to Alicia, Makina looked like she's unleashing her trump card.

[You can choose whichever you want!]

[Canned goods!? Moreover, aren't these those tasteless military canned goods that only prioritizes shelf life!?]

[Eh? Ehhh? Ahh, I- I also have bread!]

[……Are you perhaps…… talking about hardtacks? I'm not sure if I'm just misunderstanding things here, but could it be that Makina is actually "a veteran soldier on a long term secret survival mission" or something like that? Incidentally, do you have anything to drink?]

[……T- There's water?]

[……I see.]

It seemed that Makina really was welcoming Alicia, and her attitude showed that she was trying to be as hospitable as possible.

Therefore, Alicia smiled at Makina, whose shoulders drooped in dismay, and cheerfully told her to pull herself together while picking up jelly drinks and canned food.

[……Well, it's nice to have a meal like that once in a while. I could also prepare something for you, but since you're welcoming…… Do you have some recommendations, Makina?]

[Ahh…… Errr, this orange one is delicious!]

[I'll take this one then. Come on, Makina too.]

[Unnn!]

Seeing Alicia's smile, Makina also smiled like a blooming flower and held the jelly drink that Alicia handed her.

There didn't seem to be any chairs in the room, so they sat down side by side on a simple bed and started drinking their jellies.

[The more I look at this place, the more empty this place seems. How long have you been here, Makina?]

[Errr, I've been here for about 16 years…… that's as far as I can remember, so it's probably longer than that. The food is replenished every few years.]

[16 years in the middle of nowhere like this…… this is quite a depressing story. Speaking of which, you called yourself a monster, Makina, but why? I'm, well, I guess you can already tell from what you just saw.]

[Hmmm, it's hard to explain…… I, you see, "could speak the language even though no one taught me", and even though I've been on this island for as long as I can remember, I can see so many things.]

[……See?]

[Unnn. I don't know how to say this, but even if something is supposed to be far away, I can see it if I want to and hear it if I want to…… something like that.]

it was definitely something that transcended the capabilities of humanity. She could speak a language without being taught, and she could see and hear things from far away places.

In a world where magic has disappeared, it was a power that could be called a super power……

[……Clairvoyance.]

[Clairvoyance?]

[That was what my power was apparently called. That was what my "alleged father" said.]

[Alleged, you say……]

[I've never talked or actually met him, so calling him my alleged father is enough. Well, as I said before, I can speak the language even though I wasn't taught to, and I know a lot of things even though I've been on this empty island for a long time. I don't think I'm wrong.]

[Heehhh……]

Even as she talked about this, Makina remained smiling. She was happy…… For the first time in her life, she was able to talk to someone like this, and was able to meet Alicia who, even when she heard about her power beyond the boundaries of humanity, gave her a nod like it was nothing……

[……How long have you been traveling, Alicia?]

[Hmmm, I think it should be around a thousand, but I forgot the exact numbers.]

[A thousand years!? Amazing. That sounds crazy.]

If an ordinary person had been told that she had been traveling for a thousand years, they would have just her words off, but Makina accepted and believed it easily.

At the same time, they were able to understand the inexplicable familiarity they felt to each other. In other words, the two of them are monsters beyond humanity who have finally met.

[……Why are you traveling, Alicia?]

[I'm looking for something I promised my best friend I'd find. I haven't found it yet, but well, I'm not really in a rush to find it, so I'm just going to take my time in finding it while traveling around the world.]

[I see…… Hey, Alicia. Ummm, you see……]

[Unnn?]

As they continued chatting, Makina looked like she wanted to say something, to which Alicia tilted her head. Makina's gaze wandered about for a bit, as if she's searching for the right words to say, and then, as if she had made up her mind, she announced.

[……Hey…… Would you be…… friends with me?]

[Ehh?]

[……Ahh, i- is it no good?]

[No, I was wondering what you'd say with that serious look on your face……. You don't really have to bother asking such a thing though, isn't it enough if we just call each other friends?]

[……Alicia.]

[It's not like you have to declare yourself someone's friend to be one. If both people think the same way about each other, then that makes you friends.]

[I see, unnn, I guess you're right…… Fufu, I'm glad. I've finally got my first friend.]

Seeing Makina's heartfelt smile of joy, Alicia also softly smiled. Just like that, so harmoniously that it was hard to believe that they had met for the first time today, they went on chatting with each other.

As Makina happily listened to Alicia's stories about her journey, before they knew it, it was almost night.

[Ahh, well, I'll be staying here for the night, so I'll be in your care.]

[I don't really know what's happening, but you're welcome. This house has almost nothing…… but it got a big bathroom!]

[Fumu, the bathroom is that room over there, right? From its position, only the bath looks wider…… It feels like it's been completely adjusted to make the exterior a regular cube.]

[Fufufu, I guess that's really what they wanted?]

Makina happily smiled at Alicia's words that she would stay the night. Afterwards, they ate canned dinner together and moved to the bathroom together.

It was just as Makina said, the bath was quite wide as it could hold not just two people, but quite a few people at the same time.

[Well, I guess this is something to be expected…… but there's nothing in the bathroom either huh. It's spacious, but it's only got iron walls and no windows, and the bathtub is just a simple tub with no designs…… I'd give it a 15 for looks.]

[Hmmm, that's a low mark huh. Well, I didn't really build it anyway.]

[Ahaha…… Mhmm?]

[Unnn? What's the matter, Alicia?]

Alicia was looking around the bathroom while nonchalantly giving her evaluation, but her gaze stopped midway and she began to stare at Makina.

Almost at the same time that Makina tilted her head, unsure of the purpose of her action, Alicia slowly reached out her hand.

[Makina sure have great skin~~]

[Hyaahhnn!? W- What are you suddenly doing!?]

[Uwahh, these bonkers are also smooth and bouncy…… Even though you're eating nothing but jelly and canned food, touching these babies feels really amazing.]

[Hnnn!? Wait, w- where the heck do you think you're touching!? Ahnn……]

[Fufufu, this irresistible feeling is something I must savor……]

[Your eyes look like those of a pervert, you know!?]

[Whoa there, don't think I'll let you get away with saying such things…… Now then, brace yourself!]

[Hyaaaahhhh!?]

Makina tried to escape as quickly as she could, but the difference in their physical abilities was glaringly obvious, and she was quickly caught by Alicia.

The sound of water dripping in the large bathroom loudly echoed, and Makina, with her white, translucent soft skin exposed, seems to have given up resisting, closing her eyes and allowing Alicia to do as she pleases.

Seeing such a Makina, Alicia smiled and technically moved her hand.

[……Itchy?]

[Unnn, rather, could you stop with those misleading words? Your words are leading in too much even though you're just washing my back. I'm seriously feeling like my chastity is at risk, you know?]

[Hmm~~ I wonder what you're talking about? Right from the start, I only intended to wash your back…… but I wonder what kind of misunderstanding did the adult Makina-chan have?]

[……You're mean. Alicia is so mean.]

[Ahaha, sorry, sorry. It's been a while since I've taken a bath with someone, so I got a little excited.]

[……You've got a little excited huh. That confirms it, you're a total friend. What a shock this is, for my first friend to be such a pervert.]

[Houu, now you've said it…… for cheeky girls like you, this is what happens!]

[Ufwaahh!? Geez! Don't suddenly pour hot water on my head!]

Within a few hours, the two of them had opened up with each other surprisingly greatly. It was as if they had been friends for years, even joking around like this…… and as if doing such a thing was very natural for them.

Was it their compatibility with each other? Even as she complained about Alicia when she screwed around, Makina still had a happy expression on her face the whole time.

[Now then, let's switch!]

[Unnn, then Alicia, sit down.]

[Yes, yes……. Ahh, there's something I forgot to mention. In some places, there are some people who wash others with their bodies covered in foam to deepen their relationship with each other.]

[……That's a lie. A complete lie. Alicia, you liar.]

[I didn't expect that I would be accused of lying by someone I've only known for a few hours. Well, I'm not necessarily lying though.]

[Eh? There seriously is a place like that!?]

It really was a casual conversation, but it was the first time for Makina to joke around with a friend. Through the power of clairvoyance, she had seen what friends were like and how they interacted with each other. However, this was the first time she had actually experienced it, and it was very refreshing for her.

[It's probably a little early for the little baby Makina though~~]

[Even though you said I'm an adult just now…… for lying girls like you, this is what happens!]

[Naive!]

[Hyaahhnn!?]

[Tsk tsk tsk, you still lack the resolve. If you stay like that, you'll be easily countered.]

[What are you doing, grabbing people's breasts and saying that with a smug look on your face!? Geez, Aliciaaaaa!!!]

[Ahaha.]

[Hey, don't run away!]

For Makina, who has been living in isolation on this empty birdcage-like island for the past 16 years since she can remember…… she had never felt this much fun in her life.

It was also the first time that she felt time passing so quickly.

It was also the first time…… that she ever wished that this time would last forever.

<Afterword>

? ? ? : [Haahhh…… The Makina of that time was still so cute and honest…… Why did such a person evolve into a crazy yandere? The passage of time sure is cruel.]

Makina-chan : [……That's a terrible thing for you to say. Speaking of which, don't you have to wake up Serious-senpai?]

? ? ? : [Anima-san's arc still hasn't ended yet……]

Makina-chan : [……Well, whatever happens to people that aren't my child isn't really my problem. Now that you mention it, there was that question, right? It's about the Earth we lived on…… About this matter, it may be good to have readers imagine that the "Earth that my beloved child lived in" is the one closest to the readers' modern era, while the Earth Alicia and I lived headed for a different history. To put it simply, the Earth where my beloved child lived is "Earth close to the modern era", while the Earth Alicia and I lived in is "Earth with strong SF factors". Incidentally, Alicia is like a "Hero of the mythic age"…… Well, that means that all readers are "beings close to my beloved child"…… so you don't have to be reserved…… and allow yourselves to be spoiled by Mother, you know?]