My new body is working really well. It rides smoothly on rocky hills and grassy plains! I understand why it was a top seller in areas with bumpy roads.
But I noticed the texts were right when they explained that a three-wheeled car topples easily navigating sharp turns. There’s a certain nuance to balancing this body. I have to be careful.
The amplifier cracks a little bit, so maybe it needs some adjustment. I hope the volume doesn’t bother anyone.
I hope customers come. I’ll work hard tomorrow too.
✦ ✦ ✦
The new body is great, but my sales aren’t. I need customers. I’ll work even harder tomorrow!
✦ ✦ ✦
Today the weather is really nice. I’m in a good mood, so I’m hopping around from one building to another.
“Recommendation: Force interruption with long-range attack from Pod.”
I hear somebody’s voice, I think. I hear a gunshot, and start to spin around as my gears shudder … my engine stalls. So that’s what they meant by a forced interruption …
“Ow ow ow.”
I slowly get up as I hear footsteps heading toward me. I look up, and am surprised.
“Oh, it’s you, from the other day!”
The Androids in black. The other day they had decided to destroy me right away, so I guess they’re more violent than other Androids. I remember it now. This is just like … just like … wait? Who does that remind me of?
Oh well. Business, business. They’re my customers too.
“My name is Emil. As you can see, I run a shop. Would you like to purchase anything today?”
Since my reopening, they’re my first customers. I hope they buy a lot of stuff!
“Would you like a rusty clump? And I would recommend a rusty clump? Also just so you know, the rusty clump is a good deal!”
Apparently the woman in black is named Ms. 2B and the boy in black is named Mr. 9S. The two buy the titanium alloy. Even though I recommended the rusty clump …
“Thank you very much! I’m looking forward to your next visit!”
I hope they start coming regularly. Oh, I have business to do!
“What? Where do I live?”
“We didn’t ask.”
This is business. Answering a question they didn’t ask, that’s what a good salesman does!
“Um, I live deep underground … deeper than the deepest part. Come play with me anytime.”
After watching Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S walk off, I decide to call it a day. I need to tidy up my home if they are going to come visit.
✦ ✦ ✦
Today I’ve been doing repairs since morning. Yesterday the “long-range Pod attack” knocked me off my wheels and gave my body a small dent.
Well, it’s not too bad. I’ll be able to finish repairs before breakfast. Well, I already ate breakfast, but …
Anyway, first I have to inspect the damaged part. Hmmm … it looks like the sides need to be more durable. After all, in the city ruins where there’s tons of rubble, tumbling around is a normal occurrence. I should probably use some spare material to reinforce the sides.
Time to work. I lined up the iron ore and …
“Emil Beaaaaaaaaam!”
Take out the impurities, and … ah! I’ll try adding some titanium alloy. And some memory alloy too.
“Emil Cyclone!”
The iron ore, titanium alloy, and memory alloy start mixing together. Now I have to coat this with magic.
“Yeah!”
Okay. All right. It looks good. Repairs and reinforcement are complete. Now, maybe I’ll eat.
“Hm? Huh? Did I already … eat breakfast? It seems I did, but maybe I didn’t. Which one was it again?”
I can’t remember. Every time I repair my body I lose some memories.
“Oh well.”
I’ll eat breakfast.
✦ ✦ ✦
Today I’m restocking my shop. Yesterday I cleaned up a weapon I found, and it turned out better than expected! It’s a masterpiece!
I need to go sell it right away. Someone will be happy to have it!
I quickly leave my home. I blow by familiar-looking areas in the city ruins. I’m gunning it, at high speed, because I want somebody to buy it as soon as possible.
Am I going too fast? I hear a gunshot, and start to spin around as my gears shudder—yes, it’s Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S.
Ms. 2B is relatively quiet, but it seems like Mr. 9S talks a lot. He seems really curious too, and always has a look of fascination as he talks.
“Hm? Why do I run my business in this form? Well I could talk about that for days …”
I think we should talk about that when you come over for some tea. It really is a long story. Because a long long time ago … a long … hm? What was it again?
No, now’s not the time to think about that. It’s all about business.
“Anyway, won’t you buy something today? I have some incredible weapons in stock today. Like Angel’s Folly and Type-3 Fists. Angel’s Folly and Type-3 Fists.”
I repeat myself because they were my top recommendations. As a result, Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S bought both of them. They looked happy. I’m glad, I’m glad.
After I come home it’s time to inspect my body. Since I reinforced the sides, I don’t see any dents today. Although there are a few scratches.
On the other hand, my brakes are starting to wear out. Speeding doesn’t seem like the best idea.
✦ ✦ ✦
I went off my usual route and tried business around the steel tower. Doing the same thing every day just leads to fatigue. It’s important to try new things.
There’s a lot of weeds growing near the steel tower, so it’s a bit hard to ride around. But only an amateur salesman would be discouraged by that! A true professional goes to the customer, wherever they are! It’s my duty to transport goods!
That’s right, because I’m … um. Hm? What was it again? I was about to remember something …
“Oh! That’s!”
Somebody’s crossing the bridge over the valley. Those black clothes definitely belong to Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S. They cross the bridge and head toward the shopping center. That’s where I’d met Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S for the first time. What a glorious moment. Even though it was a little scary.
Hmm, maybe I’ll ask them how they like the weapons they bought last time. I wonder if they’re useful. I wonder if Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S would be happy to hear I’ll do maintenance for them.
And so I decide to cross the bridge and follow the two of them … but the bridge is creaking a lot. Is it going to fall under my weight?
Oh, I just have to use some magic! This is the perfect time for magic! I don’t know if I can fly very well in this form, but …
“Whoo!”
I’m able to float. I only get off a couple feet off the ground because my body is so heavy. But this is good enough for crossing the bridge.
I quickly head to the other side. The entrance to the shopping center is littered with boulders and rubble, so I just float over them.
“What a strange flower.”
I can hear Mr. 9S. The floating box next to him—I think it’s called a Pod, right?—say, “Answer: It’s a type of plant known as a lunar tear”
I widen my eyes when I hear what the Pod said. Lunar tear? I feel like I’ve heard the name “lunar tear.” Looking closely I can see a white flower near Mr. 9S and Ms. 2B’s feet. It looks familiar.
“Lunar tear …”
“Ah! Since when have you been here?!”
Mr. 9S looked back in surprise.
“This flower is called a lunar tear, right?”
Where? Where have I seen this flower before? I really want to remember, but I can’t …
“Looking at this flower brings back a lot of memories. I don’t know why, but I remember being chased by a huge boar a bunch of times …”
That’s probably why I’m so afraid of boars. But I feel like there was always someone next to me when I was being chased by boars. I try my hardest to remember who that person was. Was it just my imagination?
“My body was always broken, and I had to try different replacement parts …”
“That sounds pretty intense.”
My body wasn’t nearly as strong as my head. Even now, I’m testing a new body after my model change.
But I feel like back then I was making a different type of body. That’s weird … what I need is a body that specializes in transporting goods.
“And … when I look at this flower I’m filled with this weird feeling. My chest feels tight.”
What is this feeling? It’s sad and lonely. But then again it’s warm and painful. As if someone mixed all the metals into one alloy but it somehow ended up becoming an entirely new metal.
“Um. I want to ask you a favor, is that okay?”
It might be rude to ask a customer for a favor. But I can’t help myself. I need to find out.
“Please let me know if you ever find lunar tears growing in other places. I want to find out why I’m feeling this way.”
Where is this feeling coming from? What is this feeling for?
“So please. If you find any lunar tears, please send a transmission to this frequency.”
“Okay.”
Ms. 2B’s answer was short, but kind, and so similar to someone …