Chapter 16: The Coin Heist

Everyone’s probably had an experience like this.

On a scorching summer day.

Walking under the blazing sun, you put money into a vending machine for a refreshing drink and press the button.

But after waiting, nothing comes out, and your money’s gone—just that infuriating feeling.

And if, after standing in the hot sun, all you get is a sticky, uncomfortable mood instead of a cool drink, the frustration doubles.

Exactly.

Replace the vending machine with a ‘high-performance android clerk.’

And swap the hot, sticky feeling for ‘hunger,’ and you’ve got my situation.

“Contamination level high. Forcing shutdown.”

“…What?”

Buzz…

With cryptic words about ‘high contamination,’ the android clerk Viata shuts down.

Hoping her power will come back on.

I squat in front of the counter, exhausted and hungry, waiting for about forty-five minutes.

‘She’ll reboot… She’s a high-tech robot, she’ll overcome this error…’

Fifty minutes pass.

“…”

An hour drags by.

The android clerk’s power doesn’t return.

Growl…

“Ugh…!! Come out, store owner… Come out!!”

Finally reaching the limit of my patience, I start searching for the nonexistent owner of this convenience store.

I’m not angry just because I can’t check out.

Hungry and tired? Sure, it’s annoying, but I could wait an hour.

It’s a ‘machine,’ not a human, so errors are understandable.

Problems can happen, and I get that.

The real issue is that this android—no, this tin-can robot—before shutting down, took half my earnings for the day.

In other words, half my entire fortune.

“Spit out my money…!! You tin-can robot…!!”

Some might wonder.

She didn’t swallow the coin in her mouth, so why not just take it back?

Yeah, I thought that at first too.

But when this android’s power cut out, some error locked her right hand—the one holding my coin—tightly shut.

Creak…

Sure, breaking a robot hand of this strength would be nothing for me.

‘Probably feels like unfolding a flimsy delivery box. Back in high school, when I accidentally(?) broke an industrial robot at a factory tour, it felt similar.’

But my hesitation isn’t because I can’t break her hand.

It’s because I mustn’t break this tin-can robot Viata.

‘If I break her, I can’t afford the repair costs…!!’

In this moment, I’m clearly the victim.

Not only was my coin of unknown value snatched before my eyes, but I’ve spent an hour squatting here, hungry and tired.

But if I break this android?

Can you imagine the repair cost for a hyper-advanced android that could pass for human?

With the coin’s value still uncertain, I’m not foolish enough to take that high-risk gamble.

Remember this.

No matter how hungry, tired, or furious you are.

Always look at the situation ‘rationally.’

‘Sigh… Now what?’

I waited. I got angry.

Now, the only option left is to ‘give up.’

‘…Time to head back.’

Feeling exhaustion outweigh hunger.

Just as I’m about to give up and leave for home.

Buzz…

“Hm?”

Another mechanical hum echoes through the store, and two robots, different from Viata, slowly approach.

‘Where did these robots come from?’

To identify these two robots that appeared out of nowhere.

I closely observe them as they slowly approach the counter.

The two robots, making loud mechanical noises, look far more ‘robotic’ than the tin-can Viata who fainted after taking my coin.

Buzz…

Instead of legs, they have tank-like treads for unrestricted movement.

Thick silver steel armor that looks like it could stop bullets—no, cannon shells—and a Gatling gun mounted on their backs.

Plus, two mechanical arms designed for transporting goods and performing various tasks.

…They actually look kinda cool.

‘No, focus.’

Pushing aside stray thoughts.

With my flawless analytical skills, I deduce their role in this store based on their appearance.

‘Got it. I understand perfectly.’

These are ‘transport robots’ for moving and carrying goods.

Why do I think that?

Simple.

Their silver armor and heavy-looking arms make it obvious.

That thick armor must be to protect against heavy items falling and damaging them.

And those mechanical arms—sturdy yet precise—are perfect for moving goods around the store.

‘Flawless deduction. Heh… I’m growing. Good job, me.’

Oh, and the Gatling gun?

Come on, that’s obvious—it’s just for show.

Not putting a Gatling gun on such cool robots would be a ‘crime.’ It’s only natural.

‘I’d put one on too. Honestly.’

While I’m mentally critiquing the robots.

Buzz—

The two transport robots reach the counter and stop in front of me and Viata.

Ignoring me, the customer, they approach Viata.

Beep!!

“Huh? That scared me…!!”

An alarm blares from Viata’s powered-down body.

Unable to make sense of the situation, I start to step back from the counter.

“Contaminant detected.”

A stiff, mechanical voice comes from the sleek transport robots.

“Repeat: Contaminant detected.”

“Danger level: High.”

“Entity: Viata.”

“Model: Anis Simuloid (6th Generation).”

“Transport to isolation facility for immediate disposal.”

“…What?”

I wasn’t paying much attention to their earlier chatter about Viata.

But one thing catches my ear.

They plan to take this tin-can robot, still holding half my fortune, away.

It’s like a vending machine eating my coin.

When I ask for it back, they don’t just refuse—they try to run off with the whole machine.

I can’t just stand by as half my fortune is carted off by these machines.

I step in front of the two sleek tin-cans trying to take Viata back into the store.

“No way, have some shame. At least give me my coin before you take her, you tin-cans.”

“Obstacle detected in path.”

“Presumed to be interfering with mission.”

“I don’t care about your mission—just give me the coin in her hand and go—!”

“Entity presumed to be targeting ‘contaminant.’”

“Warning!! Approach further, and we will open fire.”

“…Hah.”

The Gatling guns on the transport robots’ backs aim at me.

But I’m not in a ‘kind’ mood to care about their petty accessories.

I’m hungry. I’m tired.

I politely asked for my coin.

All I get are threats from tin-cans with their silly accessories, telling me to back off.

After enduring for an hour and a half, my patience finally snaps.

“Fine, you wanna play like that? It’s on now.”

[Warning!! Approach further, and we will open fire!!]

The transport tin-cans threaten to shoot if I get closer.

Crunch…!!!

I approach them.

Grabbing the spinning Gatling gun barrels as they prepare to fire, I crush them.

I’m almost surprised by how realistic these accessories are as I lightly squeeze the rotating barrels.

“Damage detected!!”

[Self-repair impossible!! Error!!]

Panicking at their broken accessories, the tin-cans blare error messages in their mechanical voices.

I lift the two tin-cans, flipping them over to immobilize their treads.

“Movement impossible!! Movement impossible!! Assistance!!”

“Serves you right, tin-cans. Listen to humans next time.”

Leaving the two transport robots flailing like overturned beetles.

I approach the still-motionless Viata, hoist her up, and sling her over my shoulder.

‘This tin-can lady is mine now. I can use her as I please.’

The vending machine ate my coin and won’t give it back?

Then I’ll just take the whole vending machine.

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