Chapter 18: The Android Dilemma and a Risky Massage

I’ve brought the android clerk Viata, who’s holding half my fortune, back from Mimesis Convenience Store.

Returning to my cozy, rundown villa.

I face a rather awkward situation.

‘…Where do I put this thing?’

There’s no suitable space in this cramped villa for a hyper-realistic ‘female’ android.

Leaving her in the narrow hallway outside, like a parked bicycle, risks someone taking her.

So, I need to bring her inside…

The problem is this android.

As I mentioned, she has a lifelike body and a cute appearance that could pass for a ‘beautiful girl.’

How could a healthy young man like me not feel self-conscious bringing such an android into my home?

‘Ugh… Why does a coin-eating vending machine have to be so provocative…!!’

Maybe it’s because of the massage session(?) with the shy guest, but lately.

My thoughts keep drifting in that direction.

So, I need to decide where to place this android in the villa as quickly as possible.

‘Alright, preferably somewhere out of my sight…!!’

I take a deep breath and scan the room again.

Since this is a studio, there’s no option to put her in another room.

That leaves the large wardrobe in the corner or the bathroom…

‘Hmm, the bathroom’s used too often to be an option…’

The bathroom, a space I use at least once a day, is out of the question.

That leaves only the large steel wardrobe in the corner.

‘Alright, let’s check the wardrobe. It’s big enough to hold her.’

I decide to inspect the wardrobe and, if there’s nothing important inside, clear it out to store the android.

Approaching the wardrobe in the corner.

I open the door cautiously, as if it were Pandora’s box.

‘W-What’s this…?!’

The contents inside make my eyes widen.

The sturdy steel wardrobe looks big enough to fit a person.

The first thing that catches my eye upon opening it.

‘T-Tuna cans…!!’

At least fifty tuna cans and instant rice packs.

Plus, fifteen 1.5-liter bottles of water.

‘There’s food at home…!! Thank goodness…!!’

I couldn’t exchange the gold coin or buy a bento at the store.

After starving all day and worrying about heading to the motel tomorrow night, I was exhausted.

Knowing I can solve today’s meals and won’t have to worry about food for a while, even without earning money, revives my weary body.

‘What’s up there?’

Shifting my gaze from the tuna and rice to the top of the wardrobe.

I see various other items.

A portable multi-tool kit.

A solar-powered generator.

A portable water purifier.

A small pocket knife.

A gas mask.

A crowbar.

A thick radiation suit, and so on.

‘Hmm… Nothing special.’

There’s a variety, but nothing particularly unique.

Just a bunch of ‘miscellaneous items’ that don’t seem immediately useful.

The only things that might be handy are the portable multi-tool kit.

And maybe the red pocket knife.

‘With the tool kit and knife, I can fix some of the broken stuff at the motel myself.’

Checking the tools’ condition, I think to myself.

I’ve found enough food to last a month and a ‘portable repair kit’ that’ll be useful for fixing motel facilities.

Preparations for tomorrow’s second day of motel operations are coming together.

But the main issue of the day—

– Placing the beautiful android clerk Viata –

—remains unresolved.

‘Too many useless things…’

As I mentioned, to place Viata in this steel wardrobe, I’d need to clear it out completely.

Using the kitchen might create some space, but sacrificing my entire studio to store one android.

No matter how I look at it, it’s not worth it.

‘Sigh… No choice, huh.’

I close the wardrobe and grab the android by the entrance.

Heading to the one space in this studio I wanted to keep as ‘my own.’

By ‘my own space,’ I mean.

The only place in this studio where I can truly relax.

As expected, that’s my ‘bed.’

Flop!

I lay Viata neatly on my cozy bed.

And then.

Swoosh!

I cover her with a soft, fluffy blanket up to her head.

‘…Covering her face feels a bit weird.’

Even though she’s motionless on the bed, covering her up to her head looks odd.

She’s a robot, but just in case, I leave her face uncovered and drape the blanket over her body only.

‘Yeah, this’ll do.’

I’ll have to sleep on the floor for a few days, which will be uncomfortable.

But it’s better than constantly battling dangerous temptations.

I can handle that level of inconvenience.

“Instead… you’ve got one or two days until the owner contacts me. After that, you’re going on the floor, tin-can!”

I grumble at Viata, who obviously can’t hear me.

Then, I heat some tuna and instant rice for a quick meal.

After washing up my tired body.

I lie on the cold, hard floor to sleep, preparing for tomorrow’s second day of motel operations.

The next night, day two of motel operations.

It’s currently midnight.

I woke up early and arrived at the motel an hour ago.

After tidying the slightly messy lobby and finishing the counter drawer and key box organization I put off yesterday.

I’ve been ready for the first guest thirty minutes in advance, waiting for the shy guest to arrive.

Blindfold? Check.

Earplugs for the door alert bell? Check.

Questions? Perfect responses prepared.

‘Alright, everything’s checked. No more ‘mistakes’ for me…!!’

Yesterday was my first day as manager, so I was a bit clumsy, but the ‘first day’ excuse ends there.

Having mastered the response manual overnight, I won’t make any more mistakes.

No, I can’t make any more mistakes.

Starting today, I’ll boost the motel’s reputation and my favorability.

‘Come on…!!’

With firm resolve, I wait for the shy guest for twenty-nine minutes.

‘One minute to go…!!’

Even a minute before her arrival, the ‘alert sound’ from the manual hasn’t rung.

‘Alright, no alert sound means… time for the blindfold.’

I quickly put on the prepared blindfold and sit quietly at the counter for a minute.

As sixty seconds pass and the clock’s hands point to 12:30 a.m.

Creak…

The old motel door opens.

The 12:30 a.m. guest, the ‘shy guest,’ enters.

“Welcome, customer!”

“…Ah. Uh.”

Greeting lightly while wearing the blindfold, I hear.

The shy guest’s voice from yesterday in my ears.

“I’m sorry about yesterday. It was my first day, so I was rude in many ways. That won’t happen today, so please rest assured.”

“…”

“Staying for one night again? I’ll make sure there’s no need for early checkout…”

Before putting on the blindfold, I reach for the key to Room 204 on the second floor, as per the manual.

Swoosh…

“Huh—?”

“—Uh. Uh.”

The shy guest, somehow already inside the counter.

Removes the blindfold covering my eyes.

“Don’t—wear—the blindfold.”

“It’s easier for me, but are you sure that’s okay?”

“…Uh.”

Asking if it’s fine without the blindfold.

The shy guest stares at my face for a moment.

Then, like yesterday, she closely inspects my wrists and ankles.

“No—need. For—you.”

She mutters quietly, shaking her head.

“Strange—”

“What does that mean…?”

“Strange—can’t—be together. Don’t—hurt—”

“…??”

I can only tilt my head at her incomprehensible words.

After the brief, confusing conversation with the shy guest.

I hand her the key to Room 204.

“Here’s the key to Room 204. Have a good day.”

“…Ah. Uh.”

Just as the lobby conversation seems to end uneventfully.

Limp.

Limp.

‘…Hm?’

Watching her head toward the central staircase.

I notice her arms and legs trembling severely.

Come to think of it, her hands were shaking when I handed her the key.

Did something ‘tough’ happen to her yesterday? It keeps bothering me.

‘Oh…!! I’ve got a great idea.’

A brilliant idea to boost the motel’s service satisfaction and my favorability pops into my head.

“Excuse me, customer! Could you wait a moment?”

“…Uh?”

“I have a suggestion—a special room service our motel offers.”

“—Ah. Uh?”

“You look exhausted today. Would it be okay if I come to your room later to give you a ‘massage’? It’s our motel’s ‘special’ room service!”

Just like she called me to her room for a massage last time.

I offer a massage as room service to the tired-looking guest.

I’m not confident I can massage as well as she did.

But it should be enough to relieve the muscle pain in her arms and legs.

“…Uh.”

Seemingly surprised by my sudden offer, the shy guest pauses to think.

She quietly rubs her aching arms and legs for ‘some reason.’

“Okay—”

She readily accepts my room service offer.

This is my chance.

If I nail this massage, I can boost both favorability and motel trust.

“Yes, customer! I’ll come to your room shortly!”

Hiding my excitement as best I can, I respond.

Twenty minutes later, I head to her room first.

How did it come to this?

All I wanted was to give the guest a massage.

“Customer…? Are you okay??”

“Hngh Ah. Uhk—”

“No, you have to endure me massaging here to relieve the fatigue…?”

“Hah. Uhk—??”

Day two of motel operations.

I’ve gone and done it.