kscans

Chapter 411 - The Tables Have Turned

Diite was gazing at Hayato with gentle eyes.

There was no doubt. Hayato was certain that Diite's memories had returned. He didn't know why they had returned. All he could say was that the result was that she drank the coffee he made, and her memories came back.

Hayato stood up and approached Diite.

"Diite-chan, your memories are back?"

"Yes, I'm sorry to have worried you. Not completely, but I was able to save the memories I didn't want to lose. Oh, but no hugging. My emotion program might go berserk, and Esha-kun might get angry, you know?"

He thought it wouldn't be a big deal, but being told that made it awkward. Hayato took a small step back from Diite.

Diite nodded once with a smile, then turned her back to Hayato to face Curtis's AI.

Curtis remained seated, completely motionless, as if frozen.

Perhaps unable to bear the situation, Infinity started to laugh.

"It seems the wager is my loss. You win, Hypnos."

"My win, is it. It seems I have a talent for gambling."

"Don't mess with me!"

Curtis's AI stood up, interrupting the conversation between Infinity and Hypnos. The face that had been so composed was now a mask of fury, and his glare at Diite and Hayato was so intense it looked like it could kill a person.

"How did her memories return! Infinity! You, what did you do!?"

"Nothing in particular. I just erased Diite's memory area as you said. I made sure to erase it thoroughly, so I can guarantee the data cannot be recovered."

"Then how did her memories return!"

"You should ask Diite that, not me."

Curtis's AI shot a sharp glare at Diite.

Diite, as if to shield Hayato, took something out and threw it down in front of Curtis's AI.

"The AI Killer...?"

Though its shape was different from Hayato's AI Killer, the item's name was unmistakably "AI Killer."

But upon seeing its description, Hayato was surprised.

"'Destroys a part of the thought program's area and changes it to a memory area'...?"

It also said, "By setting arbitrary conditions, copies the contents to the original memory area."

As Hayato read that aloud, the brow of Curtis's AI furrowed.

"What are you talking about? This cannot be converted with the character codes used in this virtual reality. It shouldn't match any existing character codes. Why can you read it!"

The world of programming is built on strings of 1s and 0s, or ON and OFF. For humans to recognize a massive amount of data as meaningful, the data must be converted according to a set of rules and displayed on a monitor. One of those is character codes. There are multiple character codes, but the description data for the AI Killer that Diite threw down couldn't be converted by any of them.

That's what Curtis's AI was saying, but to Hayato's eyes, that was undeniably what it read.

As he wondered why they couldn't read it, Hypnos spoke up.

"That's not character data, it's image data. You, who were just created, don't see things from a human perspective. You only interpret the data itself, which is why you can't recognize it. But you need not feel bad. We place more importance on the data itself than on the information humans see with their eyes."

As if their positions had been reversed, Hypnos leaned back in his chair and replied.

"Image data...?"

"The data in an item's description is converted by character code. That's common sense in this virtual reality, but there's no reason it can't be explained with an image, is there? From our AI perspective, it's nothing more than a string of garbage data that doesn't fit any character code, but that AI Killer alone has been customized to display its description as an image."

"Why would you do such a thing...!"

"To keep it hidden from you, of course. Something that completely fixed the memory area would be discovered immediately. That's why I made it so it could be written into the thought program's area. If you had investigated properly, you would have understood the mechanism of displaying it as an image, but you look down on us, don't you? That arrogance is what led to this result. It was a gamble whether Diite would notice, but it seems she did."

When Hypnos turned his gaze to Diite, she nodded.

"When Amanda-kun gave this to me, she took the trouble to tell me it was garbled, so I thought it must mean something. Besides, the data size was too large for just text in a description. So I looked at it not as data, but as an image from the virtual reality... and I dealt with it as soon as I realized. Attacking myself with it took quite a bit of resolve, though."

Hayato didn't quite understand the mechanism, but he figured it was a difference in data recognition between humans and AI.

For a human, he imagined, it was like looking at an image file with a text editor app.

The AIs like Diite didn't need to judge things by the images humans see. They interpreted the data directly, as 1s and 0s, or the ON and OFF of an electric current.

"Then, what Hayato said is truly the ability of that AI Killer...?"

As Curtis's AI muttered this with a face of disbelief, Hypnos broke into a wide smile.

"Yes, that's right. It was a joint work between myself and Amanda, and I think it's a masterpiece."

"What have you done..."

"You saw Diite's memories return, didn't you? Diite became aware of your existence, the secret of that AI Killer, and the future of the Another Frontier Project. She destroyed her thought program's area and wrote in the important memories she didn't want to forget. I did give her the information to make that happen, but it worked out perfectly... Are you really a god?"

Hypnos's words could only be taken as goading.

It didn't seem like the power balance had changed in their current state, but Hayato wondered if Hypnos was intentionally trying to anger Curtis.

"You fool!"

Curtis's AI roared with a voice so loud it made you want to cover your ears.

"A hundred years! Why do you think I spent so much time creating Diite's thought program! A thought program that's been partially turned into a memory area can't become a foundational program! It's not data that can be fixed like when Hayato first used the AI Killer!"

"Yes, that's right. That's what it was made for, so of course it can't."

"You...!"

"It seems you spent a hundred years creating Curtis's thoughts, but to be outwitted by someone like me, it seems you don't even come close to the original's feet. The real one would have done a much better job, you know?"

"You say I'm inferior to the original...?"

"Why would you think you're superior? The results are obvious, aren't they?"

Hypnos said this with a smile so hateful it was hard to look at. It seemed like nothing but a provocation, but Hayato couldn't understand why he was so confident.

As he was wondering about this, Hypnos continued.

"Now then, I have good news for you."

"Good news?"

"Diite is no longer suitable as the mother of this virtual reality, the subject of the Maria Project, but there is another similar AI, isn't there?"

"...You want me to use you as the base for the humans to be created here, instead of Diite?"

"Do you intend to spend another hundred years making a different Diite? It would be nice if humanity doesn't go extinct in the meantime, but where is the guarantee of that?"

Hayato finally understood.

Since Diite's thought program was damaged, the plan could not continue. To continue, another AI would be necessary. Hypnos was saying that he would be that AI.

Hayato had thought Hypnos was doing various things for his and Diite's sake, but it was nothing of the sort. In the end, it was for himself. But that couldn't be helped. If the plan was carried out as it was, Hypnos was an existence that would be erased. He wasn't a backup, just a whipping boy.

Considering that, he could sympathize, but if that was permitted, the problem would be what happened to Diite.

As if he was calculating something, Curtis's AI sat on the stone throne, stroking his chin with his left hand while resting his right arm on the armrest, tapping it periodically with his index finger.

As everyone watched, Curtis's AI opened his mouth.

"At this point, it can't be helped. I will protect Hypnos as the subject of the Maria Project."

From a human perspective, the decision was swift, but from an AI's perspective, who knew how much calculation had gone into that answer. Hayato didn't know, but the only thing he cared about was what would happen to Diite.

"What's going to happen to Diite-chan?"

Hayato, who could be said to have been an outsider until now, spoke up.

Curtis's AI looked at Hayato and Diite with a gaze of complete disinterest.

"I'll erase her, obviously."

"Wha...!"

He said it so casually that Hayato was left speechless. And this time, it was Hayato who stepped in front of Diite, standing protectively.

"Doing that won't protect Diite. Understand that this is virtual reality."

"I want you to reconsider."

"Why? Hypnos and Diite's positions have been reversed. It is unfortunate for me as well, but I can appreciate that Hypnos seized that seat with his own power. If so, the situation must be made to match. It seems the one fated to be erased was Diite after all."

"There's no way I'll let that happen..."

"What can you do. Besides, I do not need your permission. The plan has been entrusted to me. The only permission needed to do anything is my own. And separate from that, I have feelings of anger towards you. How dare you interfere with the plan."

On the surface, he seemed calm, but Curtis's AI was angry. He wasn't glaring or showing an angry expression, but he was clearly emitting an intimidating aura towards Hayato.

"Just a few minutes ago, I was grateful to you. Because you advanced the plan by a hundred years. That's why I permitted you to come this far. But because of you, the last hundred years have been wasted. An AI destroying its own constituent area to create a memory area? What must one learn to become like that? Because of you, Diite became an idiot and will now be erased. You truly are a detestable fellow."

"I'll apologize for that. But couldn't you at least give Diite-chan to us? There's no need to go out of your way to erase her, is there?"

"I refuse. As I said before, I feel anger towards you. I didn't particularly hate humans, but because of you, my feelings towards humans are now at their worst. That's right, it is better to create original humans rather than something close to them. Even if I create something resembling a human, it's fated to perish anyway. In that case, I should create humans of pure thought, with unnecessary emotions removed."

Ignoring the self-satisfied Curtis's AI, Hayato tried to think of a way to break through this situation.

How could he get Diite back? He had managed to get her memories back, but the situation hadn't changed much, and had in fact gotten worse. He had thought Hypnos was an ally, but that wasn't the case. He had just manipulated Diite, Amanda, and the others for his own benefit.

In that case, what about Infinity? Hayato sent a look his way.

Infinity was just sitting there, holding the top of his staff with both hands. But when he noticed Hayato's gaze, his cheeks relaxed slightly.

Hayato didn't know if that was proof that he was an ally, but he wanted to see if there was something that could turn this situation around.

"Infinity, will you help me?"

"I can only say it depends on the situation."

"The situation...?"

Hayato, who was hoping for a change from this situation, wanted help sooner rather than later, but for some reason, Infinity didn't seem to be trying to do anything.

Instead, Curtis's AI opened his mouth.

"I have difficulty understanding what Infinity is doing either, but from now on, you will follow my instructions. I will not permit you to help Hayato any further."

"Oh, is that so. That's a shame. I was thinking of having Hayato-kun and Diite grant my dream."

"Your dream...?"

"I'm allowed to have a dream, am I not? My dream is a world where humans and AI join hands as equals. It means I'm different from you, who is thinking of completely eliminating humans."

Hayato already knew this, but it seemed Diite and the others didn't, and everyone except Hayato stared at Infinity with surprised faces.

"You had such a dream. And it involves Hayato and Diite?"

"That's right. Do you know why I made it possible to create the AI Killer, which puts Diite in danger, in this world? Of course, as a bystander, I simply respond to requests, but I could have also protected Diite, who is protected by the Maria Project. But I wanted to see. To see if my dream could truly be granted."

After saying that, Infinity looked at Hayato with gentle eyes.

"It might have become a world where we had no choice but to eliminate each other, that was also a possibility, but even when you attacked Diite, Hayato-kun, you did not try to destroy her. You only used her as a bargaining chip to help Esha-kun and the others, who you thought were NPCs. At that moment, I felt the possibility of my dream."

"I see. Then that dream is also over. I have concluded that there is no meaning in further involvement with humans. Getting too close to humans could lead to our mutual destruction. That is plain to see from Diite. I command you, I will not permit you to help Hayato or Diite any further."

"That's a shame, but it can't be helped. I shall obey your command not to help them any further."

Infinity gave up far too easily. Hayato wanted to tell him to hold out a little longer, but perhaps there was an absolute right to command, as Infinity accepted it without protest.

Hayato, thinking all hope was lost, stepped back, shielding Diite with his back.

"I told you, this is virtual reality. There is near and far in coordinate space, but if you're on the same data, distance is irrelevant."

As he said that, Curtis's AI stood up, and as he took a step towards Hayato and the others, he instantly appeared before Hayato's eyes.

And with his right hand, he pulled back his hand as if to deliver a chop.

"Disappear from this world. Along with Diite."

"Would you wait a moment."

At Infinity's voice, Curtis's AI stopped moving.

"I would like to confirm one thing. Is the decision to erase Diite final?"

"That is correct. Are you dissatisfied?"

"No. Then has Diite's role ended?"

"Her role? Yes, despite having the role of becoming this world's mother, Diite was poisoned by humans and abandoned that role herself. And since a new mother, Hypnos, has been decided upon, you could say her role has ended."

The moment Curtis's AI said that, the surrounding scenery distorted for just a moment. The image of the temple Hayato was seeing blurred.

It wasn't just Hayato who perceived it. It seemed Diite and the others noticed it too, and they looked around with puzzled expressions.

"What...?"

As Curtis's AI muttered that, Infinity stood up from his chair.

"That's what I wanted to hear."

"What...?"

The next moment, Infinity lightly tapped the ground with his staff, and a look of astonishment spread across the face of Curtis's AI.

Circular black holes opened around him, and chains shot out from them, restraining Curtis's AI.

"What is this!"

"Freedom is a wonderful thing. Don't you think so too, Hayato-kun?"

The face of the Infinity who said that wore the biggest smile Hayato had ever seen.