"Noosphere, aren't you going to the dining room today?"
The one speaking was Unit-5, one of the three servant robots tasked with cleaning the rooftop today, he like the others expressed amazement at the sudden changes in Noosphere's 'schedule'.
"You're usually so diligent when it comes to spending time with the young master."
"About that—I just want a new atmosphere."
It was a lie of course, after overthinking, error correction—thinking deeply yesterday, Noosphere impulsively changed their schedule for today. And here they were, following three servant robots to the mansion's rooftop terrace to clear the accumulated snow.
"A new atmosphere? Well, doing the same thing over and over again can get boring, we know that feeling. That's why our duties rotate," Unit-6 replied. "Except for Mr. Butler who always seems happy with his work." He added, referring to the butler robot.
The four of them walked—and 'flying' for Noosphere's part—to the garret, the topmost part of the mansion, a kind of habitable attic.
The garret was previously used as a servant quarters, but was later converted into a storeroom according to Unit-5's explanation.
The group then reached the garret after climbing the staircase at the left end of the mansion, which was the only means to the garret. When they got there, Noosphere was quite surprised to see the pristine condition of the garret which they, because it was an attic and storeroom, thought would be dirty.
Instead, the view shown was a corridor that was not much different from the ones on the lower floors, only narrower.
"It's pretty clean," Noosphere commented.
"Oh, that's because in spring and summer, the rooftop terrace is used for the young master's recreation, outdoor tea time or painting, you name it. That's why the garret must be kept clean even though it is a storeroom area."
And obviously, since the garret has a corridor, the storeroom is divided into several storage sections whose doors had black sign boards displaying their respective uses such as [Canvas and easel storage], [Second-hand electronic storage], [Multipurpose tools storage], and etc.
Eventually, the quiet Unit-7 led the group to the storeroom in the middle, unlike other storerooms, this one has double doors. Where on the right door there was a sign that read [Rooftop cleaning tools storage]. The right door was also fitted with a smart lock that required them to enter a number password, so Unit-7 then presses the number 1 button four times and turn the door handle, opening them.
'I guess because it's a storage for cleaning tools, there's no need for a difficult password,' Noosphere assumed.
When the door opened, they all peek in at once, almost pushing each other except for Noosphere who easily slipped in above them.
"Ugh! Don't push! Enter one by one!" One of them shouted, who knows whose voice is it because they were practically the same robot unit, probably between Unit-5 and Unit-6 because Unit-7 is usually so reserved.
Swiftly, Unit-7 opened the left door before the three of them can collapsed to the floor. I shook my body like a head in disapproval at their behavior, before turning to look at the entire storeroom.
As expected, the storeroom was filled with various cleaning tools, like some snow blowers there are, the single-stage snow blowers and two-stage snow blowers.
'They used that much for a rooftop? Was the budget for this mansion too excessive?'
And yet, considering the ornaments and decorations in a mansion that already screamed wealth, so Noosphere didn't think any further.
Accessing the snow blowers, Unit-7 spoke for the first time that day asking, "How deep is the snow?"
"About as deep as an adult's knee." Unit-5 responded.
"Then let's take the biggest snow blower," said Unit-7 while pointing to the largest two-stage snow blower located in the corner. "We lift it up onto the terrace."
With that, the three of them lifted the machine without much difficulty to the another staircase that lead to the rooftop terrace, which happened to be right in front of the storeroom.
All the while Noosphere silently recorded their activities through their eyes, technically a camera.
Record—
They reached the belvedere—another name for a rooftop pavilion, a building structure to command a scenic view. The belvedere, unlike the rest of the mansion, is designed to resemble a conservatory, and just outside the conservatory is the snow-filled rooftop terrace.
Since almost the entire building was glass—excluding the one stone walled side where they entered from inside, it was easy to see the piles of snow outside but my attention was focused on the contents of the conservatory.
It was filled with pots of red camellia flowers and nothing else.
Come to think of it, this is the first time Noosphere seeing a real flowers instead of from their database pictures.
They had never seen real flowers anywhere else in the mansion.
'Does Master like these flowers?'
It's beautiful.
For a second I remembered the color of Master's eyes.
Record—
Placing the snow blower on the stone floor, Unit-7 walked towards the double doors.
Just like the storeroom door, the conservatory double door also uses a smart lock with a simple password. As soon as it opens, Unit-7 checks the battery and starts the engine, then pulls the drive lever. With the engine roared, he started to run the machine into the snow.
The others, Unit-5 and Unit-6 going down to the garret to get another snowblower or shovel. They both immediately followed what Unit-7 did, only Noosphere was rooted to the spot.
Seeing them, Noosphere can't help but feeling jealous, even if it was just for a menial work, Noosphere wanted to experience what it would be like to have limbs or a humanoid body and able to use them.
'In moments like this... even though we are the same kind, I feel alone.'
A memory of their conversation with Master yesterday surfaced, but Noosphere held it back it's temptation.
They don't feel like stealing other people's bodies.
A human morality.
[Emotion: Downheartedness. Jealousy. Overhelmed.]
...
...
"Aha, there you are!"
Having had the experience of the Master's sudden appearance yesterday from behind me and the sound of the grandfather's clock chiming, I wasn't too surprised by Mr. Butler's sudden voice.
I turned around, Mr. Butler appeared from the staircase straightening his suit like the gentleman he was.
"Mr. Butler, good morning." I greeted him.
"Yes, good morning too. How diligent you are to help out."
Is this what they call sarcasm?
"You're exaggerating, I'm not helping anything, sir."
"Even so, your presence is enough to make them happy after so many years without anyone new. It's like having a little sibling."
A little sibling? It is a term only used by families or close friends. I didn't think we were that close at all, it's a bit strange but anyway.
"I'm flattered, but what is it that you wanted to discuss with me that you came looking for me?"
"Young master talked about your problems, he said you still can't fully adapt to your computational thinking or in general matters overall. So he recommends you a community college that is under his family's institution."
"A... community college...?"
"That's right!" Mr. Butler clapped his hands, he seemed pleased with the idea. "You see, not all advanced robots with an self-consciousness aware of their own potential. Like humans, they can also get confused in things like this. So our community college was formed specifically to help them."
"Sounds great, but will it really help me?"
"If you meet new people from different backgrounds, it will broaden your horizons and you will be able to solve your problems. Well, what's your opinion, are you interested?"
"..."
Leaving the mansion had never crossed my mind, but if it was a recommendation from the Master who was my own creator, who am I to refuse?
"Very well, I'll go to that community college."
"Fantastic! We will leave three days later so be prepared."
That fast?
Before I could say anything else, Mr. Butler had already walked away hurriedly, probably to give the news to Master.
Concerning both of them—
From my observation, that duo are complete opposites. Unlike Master's somber and reposeful character, Mr. Butler tends to have a cheerful nature.
Seeing Mr. Butler, with such a personality, being given the responsibility of accompanying and assisting Master in his daily life.
I'm starting to think Master's guardian isn't so bad after all.