Giant robot.
Seeing that item, a fantasy artifact, in reality made me gush in admiration. I had never seen anything like this on Earth.
In a world without fantastical concepts, giant robots would usually be deemed an inefficient delusion. And indeed, that was the case.
There were no super robots used for military purposes, nor did any wealthy hobbyist create and showcase a giant robot. Robots in Earth were merely two-dimensional beings existing in fiction.
“Impressive… such a thing actually moves?”
“…To tell the truth, it can’t actually move yet.”
“Eh? What do you mean—.”
While I was puzzled, the researcher smirked and said.
“It would be faster for you to see for yourself. Would you like to have a look?”
As the researcher said this and manipulated something, the robot, connected to a mass of devices, began to move on its own.
However, the moment the robot took a single step forward, something went wrong, and it began to topple over.
The only reason the robot didn’t crash down was due to all the connections sticking to its body, not because it was maintaining balance on its own.
“Now do you understand? This is why we need you to create a soul.”
“…Are you planning to teach it how to walk?”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
The super robot before me couldn’t walk on its own. It wasn’t strange. Walking is an incredibly complex motion; it’s no wonder it takes humans over a year to learn to walk on two feet.
So, how many calculations would it take to make this massive hunk of metal walk? They intended to fill those calculations with a soul.
If they could give the robot a sense of self and teach it how to walk, then this giant robot would be able to walk.
However.
“If that’s the case, wouldn’t artificial intelligence be better? Why are you asking me instead of Dr. Kuroid?”
“I have contacted Dr. Kuroid. However, he said he couldn’t recreate the achievements he made… and instead recommended you, Dr. Eight.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Originally, we planned to invite Dr. Shira, the master of souls. But since she also recommended you, we ended up calling you instead.”
I wondered why I, not the master of artificial intelligence, Dr. Kuroid, or the author of the prominent paper on souls, Dr. Shira, was invited. It seemed there had been some behind-the-scenes negotiation of which I was unaware.
I didn’t feel offended. In fact, I was relieved. The fact that I wouldn’t have this exhilarating research ripped away from me was genuinely joyous.
“Alright.”
I reached out my hand towards the giant robot.
“As you wish—I’ll give that robot a sense of self.”
* * *
When creating something, the most important factor is the design philosophy.
While there are cases where the original purpose, like Viagra’s, is redirected to discover different effects, there is usually a reason for creating something when it comes into existence.
(TN: Viagra was discovered accidentally during the development of a drug intended to treat angina, a heart condition. In the early 1990s, clinical trials for the drug, known chemically as sildenafil, showed it was not very effective for angina but had an unexpected side effect: enhanced erections. This side effect became the focus of further development, leading to Viagra’s approval in 1998 as a treatment for erectile dysfunction.)
What could be the design philosophy of this robot? That was essential.
“Ah, it would be quicker to ask the developer.”
“The developer…? Aren’t they all researchers?”
“We’re more like research assistants. The overall supervisor is one person…”
The researcher said this while leading me to the heart of the robot. Inside, a man with a face covered in black soot was fiddling with something while holding a wrench, resembling a chimney sweep from 19th-century London.
“—Mr. Steelstone?”
“Uh—?”
“This is our new research assistant.”
The man known as Steelstone cautiously stood up. He was quite short, but his body was large for his stature.
It was more like his bones were plump, not that he was overweight. He reminded me of a dwarf from a fantasy novel.
“Research assistant? What kind of research?”
“Soul research.”
“Soul—? Why does my robot need that?”
“It can’t walk… that’s why the higher-ups urgently—.”
“Damn them. Manual control would be cooler. What’s the big deal about being a little late?”
Steelstone grumbled, wiped the grease off his hands onto his clothes, and extended his hand.
His hand was as big as a pot lid. After shaking hands, Steelstone grinned and introduced himself.
“I’m Steelstone. Sorry for looking like this. I’ve pretty much looked this way for 24 hours, so I hope you understand.”
“I understand. I’m Dr. Eight from City E.”
“Huh…? City E, huh….”
I thought he might talk about the giant robot, but surprisingly, Steelstone brought up something I never expected.
“That’s the place with the Cream Band, right?”
“The Cream Band…?”
“Don’t you know? They’re super famous. The singing villain.”
I had a few guesses due to that remark, so I nodded cautiously. Being a villain in City E, ruled by an evil organization, meant belonging to that organization, and there was only one villain known for singing within that organization.
The former violinist, Milk-a Pokato.
She swapped the violin for a guitar and rock.
I never imagined she would be known by the name Cream.
“Is she singing to those exploited by corporations or governments? I don’t know why, but it seems her songs are increasing the rebellion spirit in listeners, so the government is trying to ban her songs…”
“Villains don’t care about things like that.”
“Exactly! That’s the best part! Do you know her? If so, could you get her to sing here? This city is so dreary with no entertainment.”
I replied that I would look into it and shrugged. If I hinted that I knew her, he might pressure me to get her to sing right away…
What mattered now was not whether it was the Cream Band or the Vinyl Band, but figuring out why the giant robot was made.
“Mr. Steelstone? I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“This robot. Why was it made? I mean—what’s its purpose?”
At the mention of its purpose, Steelstone’s expression turned fierce. He glared at the researcher who had brought me here. Receiving his gaze, the researcher lightly nodded and answered.
“We have implemented security measures.”
“Is that so? Then it should be fine for me to explain, right?”
“Yes, well… although this person might frequent places to spread that secret.”
Steelstone, who had been silent for a moment, examined me top to bottom, and upon determining I was fine, quietly opened his mouth.
“—It’s a decisive weapon.”
“……A decisive weapon?”
“Yeah. In other words—these city folks want to make a weapon that can win against other cities.”
At that, Vira, who was following behind me, gasped. Her glimmering eyes reflected disbelief.
I momentarily gazed at the robot and tried to assess its specs. So, according to Steelstone, could this robot defeat all cities except P City?
‘For now… excluding a few conditions… is it feasible?’
It goes without saying that if all villains and heroes from all cities, excluding P City, combined forces against this robot, its purpose could not be achieved.
I could think of ways to neutralize the robot with everything I had.
However, considering the reality… Villains would disrupt heroes, and the world would not unite against the robot, assuming there were no other hidden secret weapons like the robot. If our evil organization did not lend any support, under such assumptions…
It would be a weapon with enough feasibility, much like a solitary nuclear bomb in the world if equated to Earth.
While one nuclear bomb alone couldn’t conquer the world, it could establish a superior advantage and, if leveraged properly, could lead to world domination…
“This sounds exciting!”
“Right? This guy knows a thing or two!”
“Yes! I could lend a hand as well!”
A decisive weapon strong enough to turn the world against itself.
And if a soul were born from that weapon, it would have been defined since ancient times.
—A hero with a strong aversion to violence, the good type.
‘So it’s a decisive weapon, huh…’.
I smiled broadly, contemplating the self I would implant in the robot. Should I go for the classic hero type that leans towards justice, or a pure girl type that has become a weapon?
Just imagining the expressions they would make when the soul is embedded and the robot is completed sent shivers down my spine.
I was truly glad to have accepted this request.
