Modern World Warlock-Chapter 251: The Android’s Emotions

As Dante kept talking with Forty-two, he noticed that the android was having a difficult time deciding what to do.

The last command she was given was to protect the necrotic core, but the main command overwriting it was telling her to protect the people of Novaria.

Since there was nobody inside the room besides Dante and Forty-two, the warlock suspected that the necrotic core was affecting the android.

Being exposed to such intense magic for a long time could make a human go mad, especially if they had to listen to the wailing of the dead for days. However, Forty-two wasn't a human, so it wasn't clear how it could've affected her.

The android mentioned that the whispers were from the people she was meant to protect, and Dante pondered if she felt guilty for being unable to save them.

"Do you know what these cores are made out of?" Dante asked the android, curious to know her perspective.

"Yes, I was told the souls of the dead could be used as a power generator… But I didn't think it would be us who killed them," Forty-two replied.

'Ah, so that's it…' Dante thought.

When the android was first created, a command was etched on the deepest part of her system, asking her to protect the people of Novaria.

After the cartel took control of the Azure Rebels and began killing people to create a necrotic reactor, the commands she was given clashed with her first order.

Moreover, being able to hear the whispers and cries of those people gave the android a bit of sentience.

'It wouldn't be strange for a powerful soul to escape the reactor and take control of a human body… But then again, she isn't a human,' Dante pondered.

If the android had been possessed by a person's soul, Dante would've noticed, as her body would constantly produce energy. However, the android only produced small trails of umbra whenever she seemed sad.

"Do you think the souls are trying to tell you something?" Dante asked.

Forty-two glared at the reactor beside them, taking a few steps toward it and extending her hand—not entirely making contact with it.

"I've been hearing them since the beginning, but I wasn't programmed to feel pity… So, why? Why do they keep talking to me?" The android replied with another question.

"But you do feel pity… I just saw a small trail of umbra coming out of your body. That should only happen from genuine emotions," Dante commented.

"Hmm, genuine emotions?" Forty-two pondered aloud as she scanned her body.

"Look, I have a feeling that you should probably come with us instead of staying here…" Dante said.

"I'm not sure if you know this, but the cartel has some of the people from the rebels—your creators—as hostages. That's why you have been receiving these orders…" he continued.

"But… The system tells me the cartel are our allies," the android replied.

"Right, they had to put that command in there so you wouldn't turn against them. Don't you see how the cartel's plans contradict all of your first orders?" Dante inquired.

"You are right. The discrepancy between commands is affecting my system…" Forty-two said, and for a brief moment, Dante thought that she would agree to accompany him.

"Commencing reset of the operating system…" she continued.

"Wait… Reset?" Dante wondered, to no avail, as the android suddenly dropped her head and closed her eyes as if she had fallen asleep while standing.

'I got a bad feeling…' The warlock thought.

After a few seconds of utter silence, Dante figured he would destroy the necrotic core since the android had gone to sleep.

"I'll get you guys out of that prison…" He said to the souls inside the glowing orb.

Nevertheless, as soon as he aimed his palm at the core, he felt a firm and cold grip holding his arm.

Calmly, the warlock turned his head and saw Forty-two with a completely stoic expression, showing no emotions or concerns as she did mere minutes before.

"Umm, Forty-two? I thought you wanted to save the people of Novaria…" Dante commented.

Still, the android showed no reaction to his words, increasing the strength of her grip, which could've broken an ordinary person's forearm.

'Is she trying to break my arm to stop me without killing me? How thoughtful…' Dante thought sarcastically.

"My orders are to protect this core from intruders. Please, stay away," Forty-two replied.

Using her free hand and aiming it at point-blank at Dante's torso, her palm opened a small, circular hole and released an explosive blast that flung the warlock to the side of the room, away from the core.

'Ugh… That reset only regressed her to an emotionless robot,' Dante thought as he stood up from the ground. frёewebηovel.cѳm

Although his jacket had been slightly singed on the side, he was able to protect his body by accumulating umbra on his torso.

"Computing survivability for a human to survive the blast… 3%.

Comparing results—No visible damage.

Non-human opponent detected.

Adapting battle skills…" The android muttered quickly.

"I am a human…" Dante replied, thinking that just because he had survived the blast didn't make him a non-human.

Still, Forty-two didn't listen to his words, as her shoulders opened like a compartment where two missile barrels came out, pointing forward.

Dante may not have been the most knowledgeable about new technology, but he could tell that the large cannon barrels on her shoulders were dangerous.

"And here I thought this would be a bit easier…" Dante muttered.

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Meanwhile, in the hangar area of the mountain laboratory, Megan, Alice, and Zac were facing a couple of androids, which had the numbers "4.0" and "9.1."

Even after Gin, the mechanic who worked on aircraft and android maintenance, told them to stop, the androids didn't slow down their assault on the Omega Team.

As they used the entire hangar for their battle, they heard Dante's voice on their earpieces, saying he had found the necrotic reactor. However, it would take him a few more minutes to destroy, so he asked his team to "hang in there."