kscans

Chapter 387 - The Hypothesis of the Grand Strategist of the Demon Lord's Army

Hayato logged out, removed the headgear, and set it on the table.

The cafe was silent. It was dark inside, with only the artificial moonlight filtering through the glass windows.

Hayato checked the clock. It was just a little past eleven p.m., but he wasn't sleepy. He raised his hands, stretched, then stood up and turned on the cafe lights. After that, he drank the coffee sitting on the counter.

It wasn't something he'd ground and brewed himself, just a store bought coffee drink, but Hayato thought it wasn't bad in its own way.

As he was enjoying the taste, he heard footsteps descending the stairs from the second floor.

The door to the residential area opened, and a casually dressed Esha appeared.

She was clad in a maroon jersey, her hair in pigtails but slightly messy. It was hard to say if this was a sign of trust or if she simply didn't see him as a man, but after living together for so long, Hayato had grown used to it.

"Are Ash-san and the others coming over?"

Hayato nodded at Esha's words.

"Yeah. It seems Randa-san is coming too, but I wonder what they want to talk about. And what could have happened that they'd want to talk in the real world instead of virtual reality?"

Before he logged out, Ash, Randa, and Ren had stopped by, saying they would come to the cafe afterward. They had mentioned wanting to talk, but he hadn't heard what it was about.

"Perhaps it's something they don't want Diite to hear," she suggested.

"That just makes me wonder even more what it could be about. Oh well, I'll get some drinks ready. It's too late to be eating anything, I imagine."

"Then I will prepare as well."

"...Prepare?"

Esha didn't answer Hayato's muttered question, instead turning and heading back up the stairs she'd just come down.

Oh well, Hayato thought, and began to get ready to welcome Ash and the others.

About ten minutes later, they arrived.

Despite the late hour, Ren had come along as well and seemed to be in high spirits.

"Welcome. But, is this okay for you, Ren-chan? It's pretty late."

"Good evening, Hayato-san. C'mon, I'm not that much of a kid. I stay up late sometimes. But being in the colony at night is kind of exciting, isn't it?"

Hayato resisted the urge to say, "That's what makes you seem like a kid."

Leaving the somewhat overexcited Ren be, he turned his gaze to Ash and Randa.

Ash had a somewhat perplexed look on his face, while Randa was frowning, lost in thought.

"Welcome, Ash, Randa-san."

"Sorry about the time," Ash said.

"No, it's fine. I've finished my prep for tomorrow, so all I had left was to shower and sleep."

"Well, that's good... Randa, we're here."

Ash shook the shoulder of Randa, who was still deep in thought. As if finally noticing, she adjusted her round glasses with a flick and smiled.

"Ah, Hayato-san, I apologize for the late hour."

He's speaking normally...

Normally, Randa used the verbal tic "ssu" so much it was almost annoying, but right now his speech was standard. Since it was part of his persona, it was probably his natural way of speaking, yet it felt strange.

"Ah, no, it's fine. Are you going with normal speech today?"

"Yes. The topic is a little serious."

"Huh? Isn't this supposed to be about eating a tempting midnight snack at Hayato-san's place? I came prepared to gain some weight...?"

"Ren..."

Ash gave Ren an exasperated look.

"That's an excellent idea. I was just feeling a little peckish. No, very hungry, actually."

Esha had come down from the second floor. Unlike before, she was now wearing a white shirt and black denim pants. Her hair seemed to have been brushed and was neat and tidy as always.

"Did you get changed?"

"I couldn't let them see me in that outfit."

But you let me see it, he thought, wondering if this was a moment he should be happy about.

Ren shot her right hand up into the air.

"I want to know what you were wearing! Hayato-san, you saw it, right? Details! Give me the details!"

She's so energetic, Hayato thought as he deftly dodged the question. It was just a casual outfit, so he wouldn't know what to say even if she asked for details. Esha didn't seem inclined to say anything either.

Hayato guided everyone to a four-person booth by the window and placed drinks on the table. He then brought over a chair with a backrest, and the five of them gathered around the table.

Esha and Ren had melon juice, Ash and Randa had tea, and Hayato had coffee. There was a concern that tea or coffee at this hour would keep them awake, but the conversation seemed important, so he chose it to wake himself up a bit.

After everyone had taken a sip, Hayato spoke up.

"So, Randa-san, what did you want to talk about?"

"This includes a lot of my own speculation, but I thought it would be best to share the information."

"Share information?"

"Yes. It's about the virtual reality event, but also about the virtual reality world itself."

At this, not only Hayato but also Ash and Ren tilted their heads. Only Esha, as if she had an idea of what was coming, stared intently at Randa.

"I've been gathering all sorts of information, looking into what Diite-san and the Foundation officials have said, as well as Hypnos's actions, the New Demon Lord's Army, and the movements of other players."

Hayato nodded.

He knew Randa had been doing that. He had just assumed it was for the sake of winning the event. It was the first he'd heard of him investigating the virtual reality world itself.

"So, I wanted you to hear my hypothesis."

"Hypothesis?"

"For the record, I love conspiracy theories. I don't have any concrete proof, and this could be completely off base, but I've been thinking so much my head feels like it's going to explode. So I'd like to tell you, Hayato-san, partly to organize my own thoughts. What do you say!?"

He's pretty worked up too, Hayato thought, wondering what to do.

He didn't think there was any point in listening to a baseless hypothesis. But for all that Randa said it jokingly, his eyes were serious. He had even insisted on talking in the real world at this late hour.

It wasn't a story with proof, just speculation, but he decided to hear him out.

"Since it's the hypothesis of the Grand Strategist of the Demon Lord's Army, it might just be credible. I guess I'll hear you out."

Hadato's words left Randa with a blank expression, but he quickly burst into laughter.

"I don't hate that kind of vibe, y'know!"

His verbal tic was back. After saying that, Randa's face turned serious, and he bowed his head.

"Thank you, Hayato-san."

"It's fine, lift your head. So, can you tell me? What kind of hypothesis is it?"

"As I mentioned a moment ago, it's about the event and the virtual reality world itself. The topics might get jumbled, but can I start with the event?"

"Of course."

He was also curious about the virtual reality world itself, but they couldn't afford to lose this event. Hayato listened intently, deciding to focus on the event first.

"This is just a guess, but I think we, or rather, Lunaria-san, will win this event even if we do nothing."

"Even if we do nothing?"

"Yes. I believe Lunaria-san's victory was decided before the event even started. We're just being made to dance to that tune, I think."

"Um...?"

"What is your basis for that? Even if you don't have proof, you must have a reason for thinking so, right?"

As Hayato struggled for words, Esha, who had been drinking her melon juice, posed the question.

Ash and Ren looked just as surprised as Hayato, but Esha alone seemed to have been listening to Randa's story calmly.

Seeing her expression, Hayato decided to listen more seriously than before, thinking that Esha might have had similar thoughts to Randa.

"It's a weak basis, but Hypnos's words and actions are the foundation."

"Hypnos?"

Hadato asked, and Randa nodded.

"Before this event began, Hypnos apparently brought you information about Amanda and her group. The story was that he didn't like being controlled by Amanda. I don't know if that's true, but at the very least, he took actions to make us win."

"That's true. But things seem a little different now."

"And recently, he apparently called Amanda a comrade."

"Right, I heard Veru-san said something like that from a conversation between Amanda and Hypnos."

Randa took a sip of tea, then looked at Hayato.

"I think Hypnos has been doing something unrelated to the event from the very beginning."

"Something unrelated to the event?"

"Yes. So, when you consider what he's doing, that's when the other AI comes into the picture."

The exchange Veru had heard from Amanda and Hypnos. In the conversation where Amanda called Hypnos a comrade, there was also talk about the construction of an AI that inherited someone's will being almost complete.

"You mean the AI that's almost finished? Diite-chan said there's no such thing, but if there is, I think she said it's an AI that inherited the will of the developer, Curtis. But what about that?"

"I believe Hypnos's enemy is that AI."

"Enemy?"

"I get the feeling Hypnos doesn't care about this event. He's not interested in the contest between Lunaria-san and Amanda. He might not even care about Diite-san. Well, it seems there was one person he was interested in."

"Who's that?"

"You, of course, Hayato-san."

"Me?"

"Perhaps Hypnos was trying to use you to do something, or is in the process of doing so. When I think of it that way, a lot of things make sense."

Hayato didn't understand what made sense, so he prompted him to explain further.

Randa nodded and opened his mouth.

"Hypnos's actions have been strange from the start. Despite giving us information on Amanda's side, he also kidnapped you and confined you in the Demon Lord's Castle, claiming he was ordered to. It's completely unclear whether he wants to win or lose. And according to Veru-san's story, Amanda apparently told Hypnos he was trying to cause an irregularity. I think that's exactly what his actions have been up to this point."

"Uh, hmm?"

"Winning or losing doesn't matter. Or perhaps it's already decided. So, he involved you, Hayato-san, to cause an irregularity. I believe that's Hypnos's objective."

"An irregularity... you mean he's trying to cause an unpredictable situation?"

"Yes, the predetermined path where Lunaria-san wins... if I can put it that way. I believe he was trying to change that using you. Or, even if the outcome didn't change, he was trying to bring about some kind of change."

"Isn't he just trying to make Amanda win and defeat Diite? If Amanda becomes the Demon Lord, she can destroy Diite, right?"

When Ash said that, Randa crossed his arms.

"If he were consistently trying to make Amanda win from start to finish, that would be the case, but Hypnos's actions are all over the place. The only consistent thing is his involvement with you, Hayato-san. That said, since you returned, Diite-san has been nearby, so it seems he can't get involved much now."

At Randa's words, Ash said, "Hmm?" and fell into thought.

Hayato felt the same way as Ash. He could understand what Randa was saying, but he wasn't convinced. Now that he mentioned it, it might be true, but without proof, it was a story that could be spun any way.

"Randa-san, while we're at it, could you just tell me everything you're thinking? To be honest, if you say that's your basis, all I can say is that it's not enough."

"I know, right? What bothered me the most were the words of Hypnos that Veru-san heard."

"Which words?"

"That the Stampede event was originally planned. That even though Hypnos was the perpetrator, there were others who should be hated."

"Ah, I did hear he said something like that. But can we really believe it? I think it's possible he was lying."

"If it's a lie, that's fine, but if we assume it's true, I think it's about the other AI. Or the developer, Curtis."

"What? Curtis was a man from a hundred years ago, right? I don't think that's possible."

It was a stretch to think a man from a hundred years ago planned this event. Hayato thought so, but Randa shook his head.

"He's the man who created the world of virtual reality almost single-handedly. If he was that brilliant, it's possible he could have. Of course, I think the broad strokes were decided, even if not the fine details."

"But still, that's just too..."

"And then there's the question of why we were chosen as test players for the virtual reality."

At Randa's words, everyone except Esha looked surprised.

"Huh? Diite-chan was the one who chose us, right? She chose talented people..."

"From Diite-san's story, it seems that way, but did Diite-san really choose us?"

"You mean she didn't?"

"Probably not. And I also doubt whether the Another Frontier Project was a real plan at all."

"What? You're starting from there?"

"The Another Frontier Project is a story only known to the test players and those involved. There was a spaceship, and there must have been some large scale procedure like boarding, but isn't it strange that no information about the plan remains a hundred years later? Parsha-san's family had information about Paradise Lost, though."

"It is strange, now that you mention it... but Diite-chan said that was the plan, didn't she?"

The Another Frontier Project was a secret plan carried out behind the Frontier Project. To entrust a portion of humanity to a future where Earth's resources had recovered, they would spend their time in virtual reality until that day came.

The reason was apparently that cold sleep lasting several hundred years could have serious effects on humans, so their brains would be periodically kept in an awakened state in virtual reality. Hayato hadn't heard the full details.

However, although the Frontier Project to move to another planet was abandoned, they were able to obtain resources from other planets, making the Another Frontier Project unnecessary.

To prevent chaos in the world, they tried to act as if the Another Frontier Project never happened, but Diite rebelled against that and fled into space with everyone.

And a hundred years later, they returned to Earth. That was the history.

That was the story Hayato had heard from Diite.

That part had been shared with Randa and the other members who had regained their memories, and they had all agreed it was correct.

"But this plan is a story that only takes place within the virtual reality, or more specifically, within the spaceship Aphrodite, right?"

"Huh?"

"My understanding is the same as yours, Hayato-san, and everyone else who got their memories back, but that's a story from the isolated world of the spaceship Aphrodite. We don't know if it really happened."

"...Does that mean Diite-chan is lying?"

"Please don't look at me with such scary eyes!"

Randa suddenly smiled and said this jokingly.

Hayato was startled. He took a sip of coffee and then let out a long breath.

"Sorry. I wasn't being calm. But I can't believe Diite-chan is lying..."

"I don't think Diite-san is lying either."

"Huh, but..."

"The question is, what if Diite-san herself was taught a lie?"

"Ah..."

That reminded Hayato of something.

When Diite had talked about Curtis, she had said that virtual reality was her priority and that she knew nothing about the real world. She had just taken what Curtis told her about the plan being canceled at face value and hadn't investigated it herself.

"In the first place, what is Diite-san?"

Perhaps seeing Hayato lost in thought, Randa posed a new question.

"Um? What is she? I don't think there's any answer other than that she's an AI and the administrator of the virtual reality."

"For an administrator, she seems rather powerless. Her authority is restricted, she was almost taken over by her backup, Hypnos. To be honest, she seems like nothing more than an NPC with a little bit of authority."

"That's..."

"I don't think it's a problem that she has a backup like Hypnos. I understand that there's a core program for the virtual reality called Infinity. But it makes you wonder what purpose the AI under construction serves."

Hayato couldn't answer. There must be a reason, but he couldn't think of one right away.

"Diite-san isn't the administrator at all, and the AI under construction is the real one..."

"...Huh?"

Randa turned serious eyes on the surprised Hayato.

"...That's my hypothesis, y'know!"

His serious gaze suddenly changed, and Randa said this with a smile.

"Huh? Ah? Hmm? What do you mean?"

"Just as I said at the beginning, it's my hypothesis. But based on the information so far, I think it's a possibility. Because I love conspiracy theories!"

"Ah, yeah?"

Hayato didn't know how to take it, so his response was vague. He couldn't even tell if he was joking or serious.

"Randa-san."

Esha said this, then placed her empty melon juice glass on the table.

"Then what is Diite?"

Now Esha posed the same question to Randa that he had asked Hayato. Esha's eyes were completely serious.

Randa crossed his arms and let out a long sigh.

"That's a difficult question. If we affirm everything we've talked about so far, it becomes less about Diite-san and more about why we were gathered in the first place. The questions just keep piling up."

If Diite wasn't the administrator and the Another Frontier Project was a lie, why were Esha and the others gathered on the spaceship?

According to what Hayato heard from Diite, they had gathered talented individuals from various fields, but if there was no plan, then there would be no such reason.

"Just your speculation is fine."

"Then just one thing."

Randa said this, then sent a glance to everyone.

"I don't know what Diite-san is, but I believe she is the center of everything. Us from a hundred years ago, you, Hayato-san, living now, the virtual reality and the spaceship Aphrodite, and even Hypnos himself. I wonder if it all exists for Diite-san."

"For Diite-chan...?"

"I don't have any proof, but I get the feeling that everything happening in this virtual reality is being shown to Diite-san."

"Being shown...? Not watching?"

"If we assume Diite-san is not the administrator, then I think it's 'being shown'. Diite-san herself probably thinks she's the one watching, though."

"But what is Diite-chan being shown?"

"...Humans."

"Humans?"

"I think the AI Diite-san is learning about humans. Or rather, is being made to learn... but maybe that's taking my delusion too far!? An AI learning about humans is a common trope in sci-fi, I think!"

Randa acted cheerful, as if joking. But Hayato and the others fell into thought.

Silence continued, until Esha spoke up.

"We probably won't find an answer, but we should discuss this more. Shall we have a grand delusion party tonight? Hayato, may I request a midnight snack?"

"Huh? I don't mind, but is the time okay for Ash and the others?"

Before Ash could answer Hayato's question, Ren shot her right hand up into the air.

"I'm having a sleepover today! I think Randa-san and I can sleep together in Esha-san's bed, so I'll stay up until the very last minute!"

"For the record, that's my bed... though I haven't used it in a long time."

At Hayato's murmur, everyone except Esha gave him a warm look.

He wasn't sure if it was sympathy or some other emotion, but Hayato decided it was fine, gave up on various things, and stood up from his chair to make some light snacks.