CH 36

“Good morning, Papa, Mama.”

“”…””

The little boy who had just woken up looked at us and called us Papa and Mama.

We looked at each other, unsure of how to react, and remained silent for a while.

The boy then looked anxious.

“Papa…? Mama?”

“Oh, uh, good morning.”

“Good morning.”

We quickly replied, afraid that he might start crying.

Shouldn’t we have denied it at this point and told him the truth?

Does the boy mistake us for his parents?

Could it be that he doesn’t even realize he’s a golem?

At what point do autonomous golems understand themselves?

As I was worrying about this, His Highness asked the boy next to me.

“May I ask your name?”

The Secret Power of Morning Routines

“Yes! I’m Nero! Papa.”

“Nero, huh? That’s a nice name. Why do you call us Papa and Mama?”

In the flow of asking for his name, His Highness asked the question I wanted to ask. 

I interrupted my thoughts and listened to Nero’s answer as he introduced himself.

“You two woke me up, didn’t you?”

“That’s right. I only witnessed it, but you woke up thanks to her,” His Highness said, looking at me.

Nero also looked at me.

His clear marine blue eyes were so captivating that I felt a strange sensation.

It was as if he was peering into the depths of my heart.

Nero smiled a little.

“Human children call their creators ‘parents’, so I’ll do the same.”

Human children…

I realized something from his words just now.

This boy understands that he is not human.

He is conversing with us after understanding this fact.

Just one thing needs to be corrected.

“I only made your core, so calling me your ‘parent’ may not be entirely accurate.”

“Eh… Am I not supposed to call you Mama?”

Suddenly, Nero’s eyes filled with tears.

Like a child who had lost his parents and started crying.

I hastily waved my hands and denied it. 

“N-No, you’re right! There’s no mistake that I’m the creator!”

“That’s good. So then, Mama is Mama.”

“Y-Yes, that’s right. I’m Mama…”

I let out a sigh in my mind.

I hate myself for not being able to firmly deny it at times like this.

His Highness pats my shoulder.

“For now, this is good. But how about asking him some questions?”

“Your Highness… That’s a good idea.”

He has just woken up.

There are many things I want to know as well.

I take a deep breath and ask Nero.

“Nero, you were sleeping for a long time, right?”

“Yes!”

“Do you remember when you started sleeping?”

“About 1,400 years ago.”

1,400 years…?

That’s five times more than the number I had vaguely associated with.

If it’s that long ago, this country didn’t even exist yet.

“Do you remember sleeping in the dungeon?”

“I don’t remember it directly, but Master must have put me to sleep.”

“Master? Is that the person who made you?”

“Yes. Master made my body.” 

Nero speaks with a bright expression and tone.

I am interested in the Master who created him over a thousand years ago.

How did they create him?

Why was only the core missing?

And why was he stored in the dungeon?

I asked Nero more questions afterwards, but I didn’t get much information.

It seems that his memory before sleeping is unclear.

Perhaps due to the effects of sleeping for so long, his memory storage may have degraded.

Even humans experience a decline in memory as they age.

Do autonomous golems also become more human-like in that regard?

It’s even more intriguing.

“Papa! Mama! I’m hungry.”

“What… do you get hungry?”

“Yes! My body is no different from a human’s, so I can eat.”

“I see… is that so?”

His Highness turned his gaze towards me, seeking an answer.

In truth, I haven’t fully grasped the details of his body either.

I have only observed his external characteristics and conducted a few tests.

But I don’t know the exact internal structure.

I didn’t want to touch it carelessly and risk breaking it, so I didn’t interfere. 

“What happens to the things you eat? Do they get excreted like humans?”

“No, everything is digested. The digested energy is stored as magic power.”

“There’s such a function, huh.”

It’s a technology so unfamiliar that I can’t stop being amazed.

It’s not just the appearance, but even the insides are close to that of a human.

What kind of technology is being used?

If I could go to the world of a thousand years ago, I’d go right now to check it out.

Filled with curiosity and questions, I was lost in thought for a while.

Nero pulls at the hem of my clothes.

“Mama, I want to eat something.”

Those eyes, like a small animal filled with desire for something…

Even though I’ve never been a parent, my maternal instinct is tickled.

“Y-Your Highness.”

“Yeah. Let’s prepare a meal.”

“Yay!”

His innocent joy is like that of a real boy.

His Highness and I are warmed by it.

It’s like we’re experiencing the feelings of parents with children right now.

“Papa! Mama! Please tell me your names!”

“I’m Freya. I’m a magic tool maker who works here.” 

“I am Julius, the prince of this country.”

And so, a new life with the autonomous golem Nero began.

We did not know at the time that this encounter and fate would later bring about great turmoil.