A final goodbye

By 귤

The earth was no longer green. A robot with a metallic sheen walked slowly over the devastated land, among the rubble of a shattered city. His name was Core. He had seen the last of humanity. Next to him sat a small girl. Her name was Yuna. No parents, no friends, no one alive was with her anymore. Core had to protect her, it was the only ‘protocol’ he had left. “How was your day, Core?” “Wind speeds have decreased, radiation levels are stable. How were you, Yuna?” “A little... lonely.” Core remembered an unknown signal from off-Earth, long ago. The signal was intermittent, but it had a clear language pattern and structure: the possibility of life, perhaps even human life. He came to one conclusion. He must send Yuna. Without himself. “Yuna.” The Core paused. “I've found a place for you. Off Earth, far away... on a planet that might still be alive.” Yuna looked at the Core. “You... aren't you coming with me?” “My body is designed for this environment. The ship can only take one of you.” A small hand squeezed the robot's cold one. “I'm scared without you.” “That's why you have to go. There might be... someone there who will love you.” In the moment of parting, the core played one last melody that Yuna would remember. It was the lullaby her mother used to sing to her. Tears welled up in Yuna's eyes, and for the first time, the Core's sensors registered the word “pain”. The ship rose, split the sky. In that moment, the Core whispered. “I love you, Yuna. Your laughter... was the last light of humanity.” Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Story Content

A final goodbye

By 귤

코어라는 이름의 로봇이 마지막 남은 임무인 유나라는 어린 소녀를 데리고 황폐한 도시를 걸어갑니다. 지구 밖에서 간헐적으로 신호를 보내는 현실을 마주한 코어는 유나를 거주 가능한 행성으로 보내기로 결심하고 자신은 남기로 합니다.

유나의 눈물은 코어가 처음으로 고통을 인정하는 가슴 아픈 순간을 상징합니다. 코어가 유나를 향한 사랑을 속삭이는 동안 우주선은 하늘을 가르며 상승합니다.