<h4>Chapter 1618</h4>


    The students packed up as lessons were about to start.


    Wu Yan, Ikaros, Natuski, Astrea, Nagisa, Kanon, and Charlotte sighed in relief.


    A male student in military boots entered with a female automaton in a ck mini-skirt Wafuku. They stopped by his table after looking around the cafeteria.


    a


    "Yo."


    The guy greeted them.


    "This morning''s newspap-"


    Before he could finish, someone elbowed him in the plexus.


    He winced in pain.


    "You should know..."


    Wu Yan sipped his tea.


    "You talk crap, you get smacked."


    "Oka-Okay, sir."


    Raishin caved in.


    "I just wanted to eat with you all."


    "I don''t share that sentiment."


    Wu Yan didn''t say that, it was Charlotte.


    "You better stay away from me."


    "Woah, scary."


    Raishin grinned.


    "Tyrant Rex, your temperament is as explosive as your title."


    "You want to die? Second Last?"


    Charlotte growled.


    "I am not afraid of a challenge just because this is a cafeteria."


    "Tyrant Rex, let''s set our petty squabbles aside, let your friend here save some face."


    Raishin advised her.


    "He''s not saying no."


    "Hmph."


    Charlotte turned her head the other way.


    Charlotte silently cursed him.


    "Why do I have to share the same table as a mad dog? This guy is some kind of dummy? Is he wishing for death? Or is he messed up in the head?''


    Raishin sat down while enduring those verbal jabs.


    The table couldfortably sit the six of them plus 1 dragon.


    Raishin sat next to Wu Yan while Yaya sat next to Astrea who was chowing down a mountain of food. She looked at the bottomless pit operate with a pair of curious eyes.


    "And?"


    Wu Yan asked Yaya when she turned her gaze on him.


    "I don''t have a handsome face."


    "N-No, it''s not like that."


    Yaya asked him.


    "Did you really kiss your automaton?"


    Raishin and Charlotte coughed up food when they heard this.


    Wu Yan grinned.


    "Why are you asking me?"


    "Because..."


    Yaya carefully worded her thoughts.


    "Isn''t it weird to kiss a doll?''


    "Oh?"


    Wu Yan nodded.


    "Why''s that?"


    "Because."


    Yaya hesitated with a slightly sad look.


    "Even if a doll is humanoid, she is a doll in the end. They''re not on the same level as humans."


    Raishin and Charlotte turned mum.


    Humans and Automata, these two are not on the same level.


    If someone kills someone else, he will be tried and sent to jail.


    Meanwhile, killing a doll would get the same killer some time in jail and fines for destroying property, that''s it. Most of the time, one would just need to pay somepensation to avoid jail time.


    It''s a stark difference.


    Automata had no rights, they''re not on the same level as humans.


    It''s a cruel fact in this world.


    Yaya asked Wu Yan because this guy disyed unconventional beliefs.


    "A long time ago, humans sold and bought each other, these ves are now liberated and living with humans as equals. Correct?"


    The others waited for him to continue.


    "Perhaps, there is an insurmountable gap between humans and dolls. But, dolls have sentience and a life of their own, this is a fact too."


    Wu Yan''s voice might be light, but its impact reverberated in their hearts and minds.


    "We are getting there, there''s no stopping it, we are equals..."


    Wu Yan grinned.


    "This gap is slowly being filled. In the future, dolls and humans can live equally."


    "That''s my belief."


    His refreshing words blew away their doubts.


    "Wu Yan-san!"


    Yaya stood up as she replied passionately.


    "I believe it! that day wille!"


    "I too believe in such a future."


    Sigmund calmly said.


    "If I can live to that, my hundreds of years living are going to be worth it."


    "You will!"


    Charlotte rubbed Sigmund''s head.


    "Enough, Yaya, don''t trouble other people."


    Raishin is also happy to hear his stance.


    "That''s enough talk about the future."


    Wu Yan looked at Raishin.


    "There are so many seats, you came here nheless. Is it just to gossip or are you afraid of loneliness? No, that''s not it."


    Raishin fidgeted a bit.


    "You saw through me."


    "What is the matter?"


    Wu Yan pursed his lips.


    "If you have something to say then make it quick."


    "You know I just enrolled not long ago. But, I want to get intel on a certain person."


    Raishin whispered.


    Wu Yan is also new so he isn''t aware of many things.


    Raishin came here because he wanted to get a chance to speak with Charlotte.


    "Actually, someone tried to kill me this morning."