kscans

Chapter 248 - God's Intentions

Diite was saying that the ingredients for the medicine were not on Earth, but only inside the spaceship Aphrodite.

To understand the full meaning of that, Hayato stared at Diite.

"Diite-chan, could you explain that in a little more detail?"

Diite nodded at Hayato's words.

"There are various methods for making the medicine, but this one requires a rare medicinal plant. We need to extract the active ingredients from that plant and compound them. Unfortunately, that plant is already extinct. A hundred years ago, a few remained, but now there are none anywhere."

"Then why are they on the Aphrodite?"

"I believe I once told you that the Aphrodite is a kind of Noah's Ark. That doesn't just apply to people. It also holds plants, animals, and even now lost technology. It's no exaggeration to say that the entire history of Earth up to a hundred years ago exists within the Aphrodite."

For Hayato, the scale was too massive to comprehend. He was being told that everything from Earth was on the Aphrodite. Hayato asked another question.

"I've never seen the Aphrodite spaceship, but is it really that big? You're saying all the plants and animals that were on Earth are on the Aphrodite, right?"

"We don't have the actual specimens. It's just their genetic information. With that information alone, we can regenerate extinct animals and plants. Well, that's on the condition that we have complete genetic information. So naturally, there are some things we can't regenerate."

Hayato thought of Colony "Zoo." In the colony known as the zoo, all sorts of animals were protected, and that included animals that had once gone extinct but had been regenerated.

However, he had also heard that there were ethical discussions, and that it was a frequent topic at the Foundation's Council.

"Diite-san, is it possible to give that plant to Earth's medical institutions?"

"I thought you would say that, Mist-kun, being a doctor. But even the Aphrodite can't mass produce it. There's a chance a war could break out over it. Furthermore, the Aphrodite itself might be targeted. For now, the organizations known as the Foundations are managing the world, and we have a trustworthy Foundation backing the Aphrodite, so I think it's okay. Well, let's think about that later. First, let's talk about this business of gathering knowledge in this virtual reality."

Diite took another sip of the coffee Hayato had brewed.

"This was something Infinity did on its own, but it seems to have reflected your request, Mist-kun."

"What do you mean?"

"There was a request from you, Mist-kun, to cure everyone's illness yourself. That's why when you entered the undying sleep, the disease progressed faster for you than for everyone else. That was the request, correct?"

"Yes. That was my request."

"I just looked into it and found out something. I made a request to Infinity with those same details, but Infinity interpreted it strangely. Infinity considered the real-world matter and the virtual reality matter as one and the same. It seems to have interpreted your desire to cure the illness yourself not as a real-world matter, but as something to be done in virtual reality. That's why it's linking the creation of the cure with an in-game event."

"Diite-chan..."

"Hayato-kun, please don't look so exasperated. I regret that my request method was flawed. I should have made a more solid request. And one more thing. It seems you were used as a test subject to see if it was actually effective, Mist-kun."

"A test subject... Could you please find a better way to phrase that?"

"...A clinical trial, perhaps?"

"No, no, that's fine. If I had heard that it could potentially save everyone, I would have volunteered myself, so it's all right. But I see. So the medicine was completed while I was trapped and unable to get out?"

"...It seems so. Even if we can create the plant that is the source of the medicine, it's not a simple task. They must have regenerated a perfect plant after much trial and error. It seems that process has finally been completed."

Hayato didn't miss the slight hesitation in Diite's voice. He didn't know what it signified, but it bothered him a little. However, he felt there was no point in pressing her about it here, so he said nothing.

Besides, the problem was whether they actually needed to complete the event of gathering knowledge in virtual reality.

"Diite-chan, is there enough of that medicine for all the patients? For Ruth-kun and the others?"

"From what I just looked up, there is enough for everyone. It can be administered at any time."

"Then I'd like you to administer it right away, without us having to do this event to gather knowledge."

Diite looked back and forth between Hayato and Mist, then lowered her head.

"I'm sorry. That is difficult. This setting itself was created by Infinity a hundred years ago. And it's difficult to modify a program that affects the cryosleep pods. It's one thing to add a new setting, but modifying an existing one is quite another. Even if I submit a request with the highest priority now, the modification will take time. Completing the knowledge gathering event would be faster... You can laugh at me for being an incompetent administrator."

"No, I'm not going to kick someone when they're down. Um, Mist-san, what should we do? It seems the program can be modified if we give it enough time."

"Of course we'll gather the knowledge. Even if we have time to spare in cryosleep, we don't know what might happen with this disease. We should cure them as soon as possible."

Mist said this with a smile.

Hayato smiled in return and nodded.

"Understood. In that case, I'll back you up completely. And let's ask everyone else for their cooperation too. I don't know if everyone who helped this time will have the time, but I think at least a few of them will help. You'll help too, right, Diite-chan?"

"Of course. It seems I've been told the locations of the knowledge from God, from Infinity. I'll lend my strength when we conquer those places. That should allow us to obtain the knowledge sooner."

"Thank you very much."

"No need to thank me. This whole mess is my responsibility in the first place. I seem to be losing confidence as an administrator a lot lately..."

Seeing how dejected Diite was, Hayato felt a little sorry for her.

There were certainly many problems, but it seemed Diite rarely caused them intentionally. This time, lives were on the line, which was troubling, but from what he'd heard, Diite seemed to have little to do with it.

Hayato opened his mouth, hoping to lift her spirits even a little.

"I'm surprised you had any confidence to begin with."

Hayato said it in a joking tone.

"Isn't that a bit harsh? Well, I suppose I have shown you quite a few of my shortcomings, Hayato-kun."

"No, I'm just kidding, so don't take it seriously. In fact, I find a clumsy administrator like you more likable."

"A clumsy administrator... Why is it that being found likable doesn't make me very happy?"

Mist, who had been watching their exchange, was shaking with laughter.

"You two get along so well. And Diite-san is truly like a human. Could it be that there's a real person inside you, just like us? Someone whose memories have been erased and just thinks they're an AI?"

"It's an interesting hypothesis, but that's not the case. It's difficult to prove my own existence, and I have no evidence I can show you... but what if you're an AI whose memories have been implanted, Mist-kun? Can you prove you're absolutely human?"

"I see your point. My physical body should be in a pod, but I myself cannot prove it."

"There are times I wish I were human. But there are also times I think it's because I'm not human. An AI's dilemma, I suppose... Oh, I've gotten all sentimental. Isn't it about time for your cafe job, Hayato-kun?"

"You're right. I need to log out soon. Um, Mist-san...?"

"I think I'll move my body a little. I don't know if it's because I was asleep for so long, or because my real body's illness is cured, but there's a disconnect between my consciousness and this body, so I'll do some rehabilitation."

"Understood. But please don't overdo it."

"Of course."

Hayato then looked at Diite.

"We're having a party to celebrate Mist-san's recovery tonight, you should come too, Diite-chan. Let's all have fun. I've prepared a lot of food."

"Thank you for the invitation. In that case, I think I'll take you up on that. There are various things I need to investigate, but a little while should be fine. I'll head back once, but I'll come again tonight."

"Okay. I'll see you tonight, then."

With that, they parted ways, and Hayato returned to his room and logged out.

Deep within the Demon Lord's Castle, in the room closest to reality, Diite set foot.

Her smile from Mist's room was gone, replaced by a blank expression. In fact, one could say she looked angry. She walked to the center of the room and glared at the empty space above.

"Infinity. What are you doing?"

Diite spoke, but no one answered.

"You concealed some information so I wouldn't find out, didn't you? And what is this event? You were the one who gave Ruth-kun the information and lured Mist-kun to the Necropolis, weren't you? You were the one who caught him in the teleportation trap, too. Why are you doing such things?"

Infinity did not answer that question either. Infinity was an autonomous program that constructed the virtual reality, it did not have a personality like Diite. However, Diite's question had undoubtedly reached Infinity.

Diite knew this, and she knew there would be no response. Perhaps venting her feelings had calmed her somewhat, as she took a deep breath.

"Infinity, you should have known. It's not as if you can't distinguish between virtual reality and the real world, is it? I apologize for being dissatisfied with you, who always grants my requests. But please understand. I am the administrator of this virtual reality. For me to be unaware of something is a disgrace. Do not make me feel ashamed in front of Hayato-kun."

Diite said that much, then took another deep breath.

"This may be an event that the you from a hundred years ago thought up and created, but it's too cruel. It's possible that I would have done the same back then. However, this virtual reality exists to protect the humans on the spaceship. We are merely supporting them, so you must not turn matters of life and death into a game event. Well, I can't say that I fully understand life myself. Let us learn about humans together. I shall go to my favorite place for a while and think about it."

Diite left the room closest to reality.

The room was once again an empty space. But in that supposedly empty space, a small voice echoed.

"You are wrong, Diite. This virtual reality exists for you. One day, you will understand not only life, but everything about humans. For that, I will do anything..."

An inorganic voice, neither male nor female, was born without anyone to hear it, and then it vanished.