What I wanted to do...

To be honest, I can't remember ever considering that.

I didn't really know why, but the golem's words seemed to resonate with me.

I thought about it for a bit.

What had I done back on Earth?

A lot of my memories felt like they had missing parts for some reason. Did that 'goddess' mess with my memories or is this some kind of side effect of getting sent to this world?

Probably the first. Urgh... I wasn't really in the mood to get mad. What's done is done anyway.

In any case, from vague memories, I had a feeling I mostly just followed a routine and orders.

Kind of creepy to think about, actually. Was a similar thing going on Earth with humans and machines?

I continued to think about what I wanted to do for a few more minutes but couldn't really think of any proper goals. How frustrating...

I guess, for now, I could stick with the golems and try to find a way to save Minnie? Didn't sound like Jaxt could be saved anymore anyway.

"Well... maybe if we talk to him, Jaxt, I mean... we could get him saved? Maybe if he stops wanting to be bound, they can free him?"

I don't know...

Urgh, what a pain. Why do I have to put in so much effort into saving someone I barely know?

I felt a bit of guilt for thinking that.

"You can't just say that! It's our- my?" Radio paused. "I guess it's just my fault, not yours. But still..."

I felt a twinge of annoyance, then some guilt for that.

If only I was as compassionate as Radio.

"It's fine, you don't have to force it! We... we don't have anything else to do right now anyway, right?"

I mean...

Isn't that quite unsafe? And how would we save Minnie anyway?

"I don't know... maybe we can ask them for help? The golems?"

Alright, fine.

"Thank you!"

We didn't talk any more after that.

There wasn't anything to do now, but I was yet again not in the mood to read.

Why am I so irritable right now anyway? Was it because Radio and Tablet could just read my mind and I couldn't really hide anything? I really wished they couldn't.

"Sorry..."

It's fine. It's not your fault.

I guess I'll just activate sleep mode then.

"Hey? You on?"

Hmm?

I felt someone patting my bumper.

Oh, it was Gunhand.

"Yeah, I'm awake now." Radio said.

Funny... because Radio must have been awake before I woke if it could say that.

I pressed a button on Tablet.

[7:09 AM]

"Did you need me for something?"

Gunhand laughed.

"Nah, I just wanted to see if you were up. Oh yeah, you don't need to worry about any missions today. We usually only get assigned one every few days.

"Oh."

Hmm, seems good to me. I mean, even with Xion's talk, now that I think about it, is it that bad to not have a goal or purpose? I think I'm fine with just lazing around and reading.

After waving to me, the golem walked off on its own. I noticed its dent and arm were fixed. Not that surprising I guess, it probably went out at night to get it fixed.

"Um... Truck, might if I ask him something?"

Hmm, what did you want to ask him- it?"

"I mean... yesterday night, I was thinking to myself too. Do you think they'd let us go if we just ask?"

Huh, what? Why the heck would they just allow that?

I couldn't help but think of how forceful Xion had been. It also seemed like the golems here have some incentive to recruit new golems too.

"Well... after thinking about it for a bit, in the end, it seems like they're not supposed to take the golems in by force? Like you know, with Minnie and Jaxt?" Radio said. "Back then, they were freed but they didn't agree to go along with them. So I think they might be fine with us just leaving. I hope?"

...

I guess that sort of makes sense. Still sounds a bit risky though.

"I mean, we're not just going to head out even if it's okay. We still have to stick around until they let us find a way to save those two!" Radio sounds a rushed. "But I think once that over with, it would be nice if we could just leave."

Yeah, those two.

Hah...

Oh, Gunhand was getting really far away now that I look again.

Eh, whatever.

Ask it if you want, Radio.

"Thanks!"

I caught up with Gunhand.

"Hmm? Did you want to come along?" it asked.

"Yeah?"

"Nice."

Gunhand pulled on my handle. Really...

I mean, I'm technically designed to be ridden, but I sort of didn't like how casual Gunhand was about that.

Reluctantly, I opened the door for it. It hopped in and practically slammed its butt onto the seats, which kind of hurt.

"So... I was thinking about something last night." Radio started.

"Sure, ask away."

What. How did Gunhand even know that was leading into a question?

"Is it okay if we- I want to just leave this place? Like just-"

"Wh-what?" Gunhand sputtered. "Don't you- don't you uh, still have a friend to save or something?"

"Yeah? But I'm thinking of like, after that?" said Radio.

The golem seemed relieved.

"Oh, that's good. Uh, sorry for overreacting." it said.

There was an awkward silence for a while.

"Is it that bad if we leave?" Radio said, finally.

"Well, I mean, no, there's nothing stopping you from leaving. They don't have anything forbidding that. But..." Gunhand trailed off. "Was it Xion's words that sparked this?"

"Uh..."

"I know he put it like this place is like horrible, etcetera. He says we are still just cogs, forced to work anyway. But it's not the same at all." it said. "We don't just work without pay, we get pay and work less hours here."

"Okay..."

"And besides, what would you do in the outside world now, without an owner? The country doesn't even have any proper golem rights! We'd most likely be bound again and forced to work by the dwarves!"

"Oh..."

Oh. I actually didn't think of that. Come to think of it, I've been really lucky considering how long I managed to pretend there was a human in me, huh?

Suddenly, a golem with a human face ran over, knocking on my door. I halted and let it in.

"Hey! You've got to see this!" it shouted, waving a newspaper in one of its hand.

"Huh?" Gunhand said.

The golem showed a certain page of the newspaper.

"The king has released new laws after discussion with the dwarves! We're now given proper rights!"

What.

"WHAT?" shouted Gunhand.