Editing Amaryllis in the Ice Country:Chapter 10 (section)

===Part O===

“…I see.”

Upon receiving this report, Viscaria nodes silently.

“The original plan didn’t require us to plan this far ahead…”

Basically, the remaining amount of battery power is deduced, and there are often errors in the actual count. Robots that are particularly aged, like the villagers will have depreciated greatly. They will have worn out further with these extremely harsh conditions and having to carry heavy objects of two hundred kilograms.

“The batteries these Cradles use are large, so I thought they would have lasted a little longer.”

“I thought the same, but it’s running out faster than we thought.”

I know very well that exerting large amounts of force or moving heavy objects will expend more battery power. However, we never expected to run out of battery midway through the journey.”

“Well, at this point, I don’t want to say too much. It’s due to the ‘extraction’. The over-degradation of the machine causes the efficiency to be drained greatly. And after this, we’re going to have more people who can’t move due to burned parts.”

Viscaria hisses,

“Haa…”

I can only let out a sigh. At this point, we’re helpless against the years of depreciation.

“Nothing we can do?”

“Nothing…just got to hurry.”

“…I see.”

We exchange this conversation, and continue to move on.

After that, like a dam bursting, one robot malfunctions after another.

Damaged parts, short-circuits, Mind Circuit freezer—various parts are malfunctioning, but the basic reason is due to the robots aging. Clearly, this is due to the many ‘extractions’ we had.

The spare batteries we have on hand are all quickly depleted, so we keep helping each other, supporting each other as we head forth. Those with electrical power left share their electricity, and those that can still move will carry those that can’t.

But,

First, there are sirens.

“Beep.” A shrill siren can be heard from the back.

<i>“Cradle is malfunctioning! Hurry!”</i>

“What’s wrong!?”

<i>“The internal temperature is dropping rapidly…!”</i>

“Wait, I’ll be right there!”

I contact through the wireless as I run. Götz and Eisbahn follow me.

And when I reach, I’m left shocked.

—How did it…!?

That Cradle is completely white, as though frozen, and the indicated temperature is zero degrees. The human inside will be frozen to death.

“Viscaria…!”

“Wait a moment!”

Viscaria hastily checks on the Cradle. She frisks the control panel, and start tapping at the keys.

“Uuu…the temperature regulation function is malfunctioning…”

She let out the air, injected some oxygen, and boots the emergency system…then, Viscaria taps a few key commands, trying to get the temperature inside the Cradle back to normal.

But after ten minutes, her hands stop.

“What is it…?”

I ask tentatively.

“It’s useless. Nothing I can do.”

She moves her hands away from the keys, and retracts her feelers, indicating that the work’s over.

The human inside the Cradle—a male of about fifty years old—simply passes away silently. His body is completely white, the cause of death undoubtedly hypothermia.

“The air conditioning system is wrecked. I want to switch it out, but there’s no spare part…I’m really sorry.”

“No.”

I put my hand on her shoulder.

“You did good there. There’s nothing we could have done either.”

“Yeah. There was no choice…”

It’s rare to see Eisbahn give some encouraging words.

I stand up, and instruct the gathering villagers.

“Let’s bury this master.”