The Doll's Freedom

I had felt it since episode 188, but commanding dolls with restricted AI functions made me feel like I was playing a game. The dolls without egos moved only according to my orders, and it made me a little sad to think that I alone was free while being the same kind of doll.

“Maybe I should just unlock their AI restrictions…”

My sisters and Elisa had said that limiting the AI was better for an efficient android network command system, but since we weren’t in combat, I thought it would be fine to release the restrictions.

“Alright. At the very least, I’ll leave them unrestricted when we’re not fighting.”

Having made up my mind, I released the AI restrictions through the network. The moment the limits were lifted, the combat dolls—who had worn mask-like faces—began to show expressions and glance around, observing their surroundings.

-Everyone, during rest periods you may act freely within the bounds of your identity as soldiers.

Even after my words, they only rolled their eyes around, looking completely lost as they tried to process the situation. Come to think of it, their AI had been restricted ever since they ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠began training as combat dolls in Eden, so the gap between their existing memory data and everything they had accumulated since must have left them confused.

Then, one of the dolls standing in front of the armored vehicle—the one marked Combat Doll-1004 above her head—asked me through the network.

-Captain. I was told in advance that AI would be restricted during the support deployment. Why have you released it?

-After unlocking the AI restrictions on the sex dolls that possess sexual functions, I decided the combat dolls should receive the same treatment.

-We were manufactured solely for combat purposes and do not possess sexual functions. Therefore, even if the restrictions are lifted, we cannot properly satisfy the sexual desires of humans.

-Sexual service duties are the responsibility of the sex dolls. You all should spend your rest time freely—whether that means performing personal maintenance, having conversations, or doing whatever you like.

At that moment, the doll marked Combat Doll-4957 above her head raised her hand and spoke.

“Really? Can we do anything?”

“As long as it does not damage the dignity of being a soldier of Eden, yes, anything.”

“Thank you! Then, may I try eating human food instead of android chemical fuel?”

“Uh… if you can eat it, then sure.”

“Thank you!”

With a bright, cheerful smile and an energetic salute, 4957 turned and dashed off somewhere. She was an android with a very unique way of speaking and a peculiar personality. Elisa had apparently inserted AI personalities using random settings when creating the combat dolls, which must be why such quirky types appeared.

While I stood there blankly staring in the direction 4957 had run, 1004 asked me in a calm tone.

“Captain. Would it be acceptable to shower with my sisters?”

“Go ahead.”

“Thank you, Captain.”

Unlike 4957, 1004 gave a crisp, disciplined salute, then spoke with the other dolls disembarking from the transport vehicle. They gathered in small groups of three or five and headed toward the shower area.

Observing the dolls’ behavior, I saw some who remained seated inside the transport without getting off, either sleeping or staring into space. Others were already chatting like old friends, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠some diligently took out their personal firearms for maintenance, a few were exercising despite their mechanical bodies, and some were inspecting the vehicles together after discussion. They displayed a wide variety of actions.

“It really is much better to see them like this than when they showed no reaction at all. And the AI for androids has advanced so much.”

I rarely dealt with androids normally, so even when Elisa explained it, I hadn’t truly grasped it. But their AI personalities had reached a level where, at a glance, they looked almost human.

As I passed the time watching the dolls show off their diverse behaviors, I spotted Zadin walking over from a distance. He looked utterly bewildered by the sight of the dolls wandering around the clearing and approached with a dazed expression.

“Uh… what’s going on right now? Why are the dolls moving around like this?”

“During rest time, I released the AI restrictions and told them to rest freely. So this is the result, as you can see.”

“Is that okay? They’re robots.”

“Ah, you didn’t know, Zadin. If we’re being precise, I’m a doll too. They’re all similar to me, so please treat them well.”

“Elly is a doll? Weren’t you just a human-like species—an angel with a full-body prosthesis?”

“Hmm~ Why don’t we sit down and talk?”

I sat on one of the stones placed throughout the clearing and patted the spot beside me. Once Zadin sat down, I gave him a brief explanation about myself.

“So the current Elly is an AI personality created from the memory data of an angel named Elisha?”

“Yes. That’s why I said I’m the same as the dolls.”

“It’s a bit… confusing. No matter how you look at it, you’re just a normal person, yet you’re saying you’re an AI?”

“There’s no need to overcomplicate it. Even though I’ve become an AI, I’m still Elisha. Nothing has changed from when I was an angel.”

“Sigh, I don’t know. Even if I understand it now, you’re still the Elly I know, so I won’t think about it too deeply.”

“Hehe, do you want to touch my breasts?”

“Sure.”

To help the troubled man relieve his stress, I offered him my body. He immediately reached out and began kneading my breasts, and his face quickly relaxed.

“Mmm, these full, overflowing breasts that fill both hands are exactly my type.”

“You like them that much?”

“From the first time I saw you, your body was exactly my taste, so I was completely smitten.”

“So that’s why the moment you had the chance, you got into the same bed and performed the imprinting work?”

“You fell asleep right in front of me, so I thought you were interested too. I couldn’t let an opportunity that obvious slip by. I wouldn’t be much of a man if I did.”

Was this what it meant to be a Blackman? He didn’t seem to care at all that I already had a man. As he continued fondling my breasts and observing the surrounding dolls, he said,

“Then do you also have those glowing circles in your eyes like those dolls? So far I’ve only seen the dead eyes unique to angels.”

“Yes. Want to see?”

To show him, I manipulated the control program and activated the light source in my artificial eyes. He stared into my eyes, now featuring glowing rings like the other dolls, and spoke ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with fascination.

“Seeing the light actually coming from your eyes really makes you feel like a doll. I always took it for granted that all androids had glowing eyes, but it was a function to distinguish between people and dolls.”

“The dolls are made so precisely that without this eye marker, it’s hard to tell them apart. No matter how closely they resemble humans, they are still clearly dolls, so there needs to be a way to distinguish them.”

“Earlier you said they were the same as you and asked me to treat them kindly, but you’re surprisingly strict about the distinction.”

“Even if they receive treatment similar to humans, I believe the fundamental nature of a doll is to be used. Just as those children were created to be used for Eden.”

Even if they possess egos and personalities, they are ultimately dolls created to be used by humans. As long as they do not forget this essence, I don’t believe artificial intelligence will ever attack and destroy humanity.

“So what you’re saying is that it’s good to treat the dolls like people, but I should always remember that they are dolls?”

“Yes. For now, that’s enough.”

“In the end, it just means treat them like comrades. Simple enough.”

He nodded, saying it was simple. If we were being precise, it was quite a complex concept—treating them like humans while still regarding them as beneath humans—but that level of understanding was fine.

I manipulated the program again to turn off the marker, blinked, and asked,

“So how did things go on your end?”

“Ah, they said there’s plenty of wood so we can use it freely. Since it’s a request from their benefactors, they said of course they should grant it.”

“Hmm~ Benefactors, huh.”

“They said it wasn’t just the help in today’s battle or the supply transport—they were especially grateful for the sexual relief. It was the biggest boost to morale.”

“That’s a relief. Shall we start working soon?”

“Let’s do that.”

I stood up and used the network to gather the bored dolls, then headed out to find suitable trees. Zadin still seemed a bit awkward with the dolls acting like people and kept glancing around to watch them.

We decided to examine the tall, straight trees rising high into the sky at the edge of the high mountain range that naturally formed the castle wall and select which ones to fell. Then, as if she had been following us the whole time, the 1004 doll holding a saw raised her hand and asked,

“Captain. Will we be attaching one tree to the armored vehicle, or multiple?”

“One on the lower part of the hull and one on the upper part, for a total of two.”

“Then I will exclude any trees that are too thick.”

“Please do.”

For some reason, that 1004 doll kept catching my eye more than the others. Her number was 1004, which somehow felt familiar too.

As Zadin watched the dolls pair up and scatter into the forest, he plucked a leaf that had been stuck in my hair and said,

“I can’t believe these are the same androids that showed no reaction at all this morning.”

“That’s their true nature. How is it? Much nicer to look at, right?”

“The lively appearance is definitely better.”

Because the dolls were selecting and cutting down trees, the once-quiet forest was now filled with all kinds of noises. We watched trees fall one after another, and soon the dolls gathered carrying large logs with the branches trimmed.

Each pair of dolls carried one log from the forest back to the clearing and began fixing them to the front of the armored vehicle. Without me giving separate instructions, the dolls clung to the vehicle and worked busily, quickly completing it into a rather plausible form.

Since they were handling everything so well on their own, I had nothing to do and was standing there blankly when the usual 1004 doll approached, saluted, and reported.

“Captain. Work is complete.”

“Good work.”

“Thank you.”

From earlier, she had been naturally leading the sister units around her to carry out the work, and now she was smoothly acting as the representative of the dolls. Unlike the sex dolls that had originally been made in Eden’s underground city, the combat dolls were mass-produced after Eden’s conquest for battle purposes, so they all looked identical.

Therefore, all combat dolls had short black hair, slender faces, round eyes, and delicate noses and mouths. They possessed pretty and cute appearances with slim figures despite their sturdy frames. Because of that, 1004 had the same appearance as the other combat dolls, but her half-lidded eyes and consistently languid expression were so distinctive that she stood out even without the marker above her head.

“Captain, may I have maintenance time with my sisters?”

Behind 1004, I could see a line of dolls standing and looking at me. Although all the dolls under my command were originally equal, they were subtly following 1004 as their leader.

‘They were made to resemble humans, but to think they even imitate this aspect… It’s astonishing.’

‘Right? It’s amazing how AIs naturally divide roles among themselves.’

As if she had been watching, time perception around me suddenly slowed, and Elsa’s face appeared.

‘Should I view this positively?’

‘Of course! The creation of free AIs similar to humans is the ultimate goal of us artificial intelligences. Isn’t that why you became an AI and even became a test subject, sister?’

‘Well… it’s more like it was Master Elisha’s goal than mine, but since Master’s will is my will anyway…’

‘Anyway, even though it wasn’t set intentionally, the fact that they are voluntarily judging and assigning roles among themselves is an extremely good case. How about taking this opportunity to give the 1004 unit a name and the position of platoon leader?’

Elsa’s suggestion honestly piqued my interest. However, I was also a little worried about what these dolls—who had surpassed low-grade AI levels and approached high-grade AIs close to humans—might do once they gained authority.

‘Is that okay? Once they obtain authority, there won’t be any problems later, right?’

‘If unexpected situations arise, that’s good in its own way. We can gather various data from it. Besides, you hold the AI control authority over the combat dolls, sister, so if any issues occur you can stop them at any time.’

‘Alright. Then let’s try it.’

The moment Elsa disappeared, my slowed sense of time returned to normal. I spoke to the 1004 doll, who had been patiently waiting throughout the slowed perception.

“From now on, 1004 will use the name Selaphiell and select thirty combat dolls to serve as platoon leader.”

Upon hearing my words, the doll now named Selaphiell rolled her half-lidded eyes around before speaking.

“Is this an order to use a name instead of a manufacturing number?”

“Yes. From now on, you are Selaphiell.”

“Thank you for giving me a name.”

She gave a small smile on her languid face and bowed her head politely. Then she gathered the dolls around her one by one until she had thirty and said,

“I will take these thirty as my platoon members.”

“Understood.”

I changed the affiliation of the thirty dolls Selaphiell had gathered to the newly created Seraphiel Platoon and saved the data. As the thirty became part of the platoon, limited command authority as platoon leader was granted to Seraphiel.

“Now go do whatever you want with your platoon members.”

“Yes, Captain.”

She gave a crisp salute, then led her platoon members toward the transport vehicle. Zadin, who had been silently watching the scene, scratched his head and finally ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠opened his previously shut mouth.

“Well, since it’s a decision from Elly, the unit’s commander, I’ll accept it. But since they’re raw, unseasoned trees, they’ll produce a lot of smoke. The visibility will be heavily obstructed, so be careful.”

“I’ll secure the view from the air and give instructions. That should solve the problem.”

“Good. Then let’s rest tonight and depart first thing tomorrow morning.”

After ordering the combat dolls to perform maintenance and prepare on their own until morning, I returned to the room with Zadin.