Ch.9191. Back to Daily Life.

The substance and authority that the Robot injected into me allowed me to directly perceive aspects of the world that had been invisible to my eyes until now.

Like a thin veil had been lifted from my eyes, this newly visible world layered over the existing one was actually part of the old human civilization that had always existed beside me, but which I couldn’t perceive due to our different timelines.

A blue window appeared before my eyes. Similar to the blue window that had appeared on the Drone Controller, it now floated between me and the space around me. It displayed information directly interpreted by humanity about this space. I could manipulate everything freely, and through these manipulations, I could affect reality.

“Did all humans in the past live seeing things like this?”

With a single gesture, the dark interior brightened, and the computer hanging like a chandelier changed color. A substance that could change form and properties as I wished, along with technology that allowed me to objectively perceive it and transform it into commonly recognizable forms. I laughed hollowly when I realized that the technology I had enjoyed in the city and at the lodging was actually only half-complete.

“If the chip they put in people’s heads did exactly this… people back then must have lived fulfilling everything they wanted.”

Though we can never know the complete essence, they created a substance that changes form according to our perception and desires. Through special technology, they imbued that substance with the forms and properties of the world as defined by humanity.

Of course, if everyone could freely change all substances, many problems would arise, so they probably limited the scope and scale through the authority the Robot mentioned. But still, being able to feel omnipotent even in your own space is something.

“That’s right. When humanity flourished, people lived expressing their desires freely and fulfilling them. But where there is light, there is shadow. While it was something that allowed you to see the world, it was also a thin veil that obscured your vision.”

The world shown by this magical technology is beautiful and free. But for the world to function properly and develop, it can’t just show a beautiful world. If everyone is trapped in their own world, not seeing reality, only satisfying immediate desires, who would develop technology beyond its current state, interact with others, and fill their own deficiencies?

The statement that one can enjoy anything alone corresponds to the idea that the existence of others is no longer necessary.

A rational world created by humans for human happiness. Ironically, this world made by and of reason distorted humans from reality, making them choose to live alone rather than with others.

But this world wasn’t as abundant as humans had dreamed, nor was it eternal.

A sudden disaster. Escape to the Ark.

Though they succeeded in saving their lives, most people, except for certain classes, lost the rights they once enjoyed.

Humans who had lost even the instinct to live in a world made of reason couldn’t endure the unprepared reality. Just like animals trapped in small cages who can’t endure and begin to show strange behaviors after living in perfect, free nature.

Even in such situations, if the remaining humans had shared their pain and joined forces as past humanity did, they might have lived somewhat happier lives. But in the hearts of humanity, who had lived for so long being sufficient alone, there was too little space to give to others.

In a state of suddenly losing what they had, distrust and worry that others might take away what little remained spread like a virus among the few remaining humans. Unfortunately, since the cause of this disease was the memory of the abundant past, there was no way to cure it.

In the end, humanity met its death in the Ark where they had fled from disaster. They hanged themselves in the narrow cage, unable to endure the cruel reality and lack of freedom. Those who still had the will to live left the narrow cage to find a way to survive, but Earth was no longer a kind planet for humanity. To the extent that they couldn’t survive by their strength alone.

“It’s an object that let many live in fantasy rather than reality… but I believe Mori will live in reality despite that. Just as you have until now.”

I feel sad but don’t get caught up in sadness. I feel pain and suffering but am not bound by it. The Robot smiled, saying it trusted and entrusted me because I face reality head-on without avoiding it, despite being in touch with a reality more painful than anyone else’s.

“I promise.”

“Thank you. Now it’s time to part. The longer we meet, the more attachment we’ll have.”

I’ve completed the preparation. When I opened my eyes after closing them at the voice in my head, the being standing before me had disappeared in an instant. Only the still-glowing computer and a blue window asking if I wanted to execute the city shutdown program remained floating there.

“…How do you feel now that we’ve come this far?”

Facing the rather uninspired [Yes] button for what was supposed to be a final farewell, I turned and asked the Robot who had been watching me from a distance. If what I was about to do meant the Robot’s death, how would robots facing their own death react?

“I’m not sure what reaction you’re expecting, but the emotional fluctuation isn’t as great as you might think. Rather than feeling good or bad, it’s more like a feeling of ‘finally.'”

I hadn’t exactly expected them to tremble or cheer loudly facing death, but it was still a rather bland reaction.

“But if I had to divide it into a binary, I’d say it feels good. While it’s regrettable that everything we’ve done until now will disappear, I’ve had a satisfying day beyond that.”

“The others feel the same way, right? Don’t suddenly change your words.”

I spoke a bit playfully to make the last day warm and enjoyable rather than gloomy, despite it being the end.

But my voice trembled a bit as I prepared to send off the Robot I had grown attached to over the past few days.

Lucy, noticing my wavering emotions, approached and said:

“Mori. Though it was a short time, the time I spent with you was the most rewarding time for me.”

Lucy’s desire to eternally preserve the most precious time in the most beautiful form made her look more human than ever.

“If you ask if I’m 100% satisfied, honestly I can’t say yes. But there’s no better ending for us now. So don’t feel burdened and do it. After all, we’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.”

“I know. Everyone, thank you so much, even though it was a short time.”

“Except for me, the other robots don’t seem to have done much.”

“Hey now. Don’t be petty in the final moments.”

“I think I’ve done my job just by bringing Mori here.”

Bickering back and forth. In this bustling moment that didn’t match the word “final,” I reached out and answered [Yes] to the question asking if I wanted to stop everything here, so that even the current commotion wouldn’t become an attachment.

[—Approval complete. Stopping the city’s functions. Thank you for your hard work over the long time.]

A voice echoed in my head. Simultaneously, countless lights and shapes began to burst from the massive computer.

The computer, shining as if drawing in all the light in the city, vibrated, and the tubes making up the whole structure distorted, releasing the light inside, looking like souls that had been trapped for a long time becoming free.

“…It’s stopping faster than I thought. Feels like I didn’t get to say a proper goodbye.”

After staring mesmerized at the bursting light, I suddenly turned around.

The robots who had been bickering until just before I moved my finger were now standing still in place, as if their power had literally been turned off.

Seeing them frozen with their eyes closed, after they had been standing on two feet and talking, reminded me that no matter how human-like they looked and spoke, they were ultimately different beings from me. It made me feel somewhat bitter.

“Sweet dreams.”

I leaned them against the wall so they could be a little more comfortable as they fell into eternal sleep until the city disappeared, and with a final farewell, I left the room, watching the computer that blazed brilliantly like the end of a candle before gradually falling asleep.

“So, you won’t regret it? It might be better to rest here than follow me and suffer.”

“How could you say that! I’ve already resolved to watch Mori arrive at Paradise. I’ll follow you no matter what!”

“What are you saying, don’t be so dramatic.”

As I trudged down the darkened corridor after leaving the room, my friend who had stayed out of the way while I was talking with the robots, as if feeling it wasn’t their place to join, followed me closely.

Despite my offer to let them fall asleep here like the other robots if they wanted, they insisted on following me. Thinking to myself that at least I wasn’t alone, I slowly made my way to the surface.

“What? The city is surprisingly still intact.”

“Even if the robots’ operations were forcibly stopped, the power supplied to the city still remains.”

As I slowly climbed to the surface with somewhat tired steps, the city welcomed me, not much different from when I had descended.

I had thought that since I stopped the city, all the city lights would be off and it would be pitch dark, but this unexpected situation brightened my gloomy mood a bit.

“Above all, if the city really stopped completely, Mori would lose the way to get to the surface. The program must have been designed with that in consideration.”

“Ah. That’s right. I wasn’t thinking about that.”

“Phew. We could have been hopelessly trapped in this city.”

“Indeed.”

Chatting about trivial things, we prepared to return to our normal routine.

We gathered the luggage we had prepared outside the lodging in advance, and walked toward the edge of the city, passing between robots frozen in the midst of smiling and chatting while looking up at the small drones that had decorated the city like twinkling stars in the sky, now falling like shooting stars one by one.

“It’s still going to be cold outside, isn’t it? Sigh. If nothing else, I liked how warm it was here.”

“Can’t be helped. It’ll feel even colder since it’s been a while, so dress warmly. Let me wrap this scarf around you too.”

Worrying about the cold that would soon come, I layered up my clothes and activated the elevator, mounting Alexander while watching the setting star.

In the vibrating rumble, I silently looked down at the receding city.

The shining streets. The robots sleeping in that atmosphere. It would be a lie to say I didn’t regret this parting, but it’s not a bad farewell.

“Once we leave, no one else will be able to come here, right?”

“I suppose so. Who would know there’s an elevator here, and how to operate it?”

“Then this place will still have this beautiful scenery even until we die.”

Between day and night. A place where even time has stopped.

Now that all the robots and humans who remember have fallen asleep or left.

Thinking that only its beautiful appearance will be remembered no matter how much time passes, I pulled up the corners of my mouth, believing this was a good enough ending for both of us.

“…Whew. It’s cold, so cold.”

“Screech…”

“Ah. It’s freezing to the bone.”

And so, our daily life that we returned to was still white and cold.