Story Reader / Main Story / 32 To the Galaxies / Story
With Nanami's final touch, power flows through the facility, bringing its systems back to life.
Nanami lets out a long breath, hesitates for a moment, then speaks tentatively.
Hi there, Mecha Babushka!
You've come.
The one named "Nanami", I have calculated the probability of your return.
Having gone through all that she has, Nanami now feels at ease hearing this familiar voice.
Since you already knew that I'd come, Mecha Babushka, can you give me the answers I've been looking for?
Incorrect assumption. I merely calculated, based on previous data, that there was a high probability you would return here to connect with me. Your specific purpose remains unknown.
Have you decided to lead the mechanoids down the path of awakened machines?
Nope! I'm sure you know what's going on out there, Mecha Babushka!
I came with more data and variables! Let's start a new simulation!
Nanami wants to see how these data points and variables will reshape this world!
I'm sorry, Nanami.
Gestalt is dedicating all resources to Babylonia's Project Departure. The remaining computing power is insufficient to initiate another real-time simulation.
Oh... no...
Excessive simulations hold no value in problem-solving. When a problem has infinite solutions, it effectively has none at all.
How... am I supposed to figure out the answers to my questions, then?
The awakened machines are the answer to Earth's catastrophe.
Humans only have a 0.072% chance to survive the Punishing disaster. Awakened machines are the only answer to Punishing.
There's no time left, Nanami.
...
That's not true, Mecha Babushka.
I remember that time clearly. That time when you first asked me to come here...
Humans only have a 0.031% chance to survive the Punishing disaster. Awakened machines are the only answer to Punishing.
The decimal points are changing.
A whole <color=#ff4e4eff>0.041%</color> higher!
...
Silence fills the space for a moment.
We are both mechanical consciousnesses. You know the probability of these numbers.
To give you your answer, I will allocate some spare computing power to run a simple simulation for you.
These numbers will show you exactly what will become of human civilization.
I didn't know we could do that! That's amazing!
...
After a brief notification ping, a virtual screen materializes before Nanami.
Gestalt: Please input your known variables.
Nanami: mutated Red Tide, Chaos, and mechanoids staying on Earth.
<color=#ff4e4eff>Gestalt: 5475 days later</color>, Babylonia initiates Project Departure, with mechanoids remaining within Aerospace City.
Gestalt: 11680 days later, humans and mechanoids wage war over limited resources.
<color=#ff4e4eff>Gestalt: 12775 days later, Chaos disappears,</color> the mutated Red Tide assaults human settlements as a frost wave descends.
Gestalt: 13870 days later, a new Red Tide consciousness emerges, and the last human falls to the Red Tide.
Gestalt: 14601 days later, the mutated Red Tide engulfs Earth completely.
Damn it... This can't be possible...
Alright... Let's try another one!
Let's go with the status quo: mechanoids embark on a space journey while humans remain on Earth!
—Starting Simulation—
Gestalt: 8760 days later, mechanoids complete their starship construction and depart from Earth.
Gestalt: 12775 days later, Chaos disappears, and the mutated Red Tide launches its counterattack.
Gestalt: 13502 days later, the ground falls into an ever-winter as a frost wave overwhelms multiple human settlements.
Gestalt: 14608 days later, the mutated Red Tide engulfs Earth completely.
Snow and the crimson-white pattern of Red Tide blanket the planet's surface.
This can't be right...
Gestalt's calculations are never wrong.
Let's give it another try, Mecha Babushka!
Let's go with the status quo: humans and mechanoids leave Earth together!
—Starting Simulation—
Gestalt: 5475 days later, Babylonia initiates Project Departure.
Gestalt: 8760 days later, mechanoids complete their starship construction and depart from Earth.
Gestalt: 12769 days later—■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Gestalt: ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Gestalt: ■■■■ days later, Babylonia encounters mechanoids in space ■■■■■the Punishing■■■
...Mecha Babushka?! What's going on?
Corrupted codes spread across Gestalt's deduction data.
Time span too extensive. Unable to provide detailed calculation process.
The Punishing Virus will inevitably catch up to humanity's spacecraft.
When ■■■■ came to this place and opened the unknown technological black box, the fate of human civilization was already sealed.
This is the only possible outcome my calculations can derive.
Then... let's try another variable! What if we factor in the Ascendants...
Gestalt: 7289 days later, the mutated Red Tide consumes the Ascendants.
Gestalt: 13476 days later, the surface falls into the Ever-Winter as a frost wave overwhelms multiple human settlements.
Gestalt: 14608 days later, the mutated Red Tide engulfs Earth completely.
No, not this one... Let's try another one!
Gestalt: 13,486 days later, the ground falls into an ever-winter as a frost wave overwhelms multiple human settlements.
Gestalt: 14625 days later, the mutated Red Tide engulfs Earth completely.
There's still a margin of error... Let's try this one instead!
Gestalt: 14658 days later, the mutated Red Tide engulfs Earth completely.
After countless simulation attempts, Nanami sits on the ground, completely exhausted.
Then... then what if we add the scenario where Commandant leaves the tower?
—
Invalid hypothesis.
What?
Among the 262,537,412,640,768,743 worlds simulated by Gestalt, not a single one begins with this hypothesis.
But what if Commandant really does come out?!
Silence fills the virtual space once more.
Invalid hypothesis.
B-but that girl in the Red Tide clearly said Commandant had already left!
[player name]... left the Hetero Tower.
—Unable to calculate the exact time of [player name]'s departure from the Hetero Tower. Therefore, the hypothesis is invalid. Unable to begin simulation.
So there are things beyond your calculation, Mecha Babushka!
Be it mechanoids or humans, there must be things that we can't see.
But no matter how many simulations are run, humanity's fate is sealed—
Human civilization will ultimately perish in an Ever-Winter.
Hmph.
I see what it is now! It's not that such a possibility doesn't exist—it's that the possibility exists beyond your calculation, Mecha Babushka!
That's one way to see it, but the optimal solution remains the same—you're leading the awakened machines to preserve Earth's civilization.
Nanami doesn't want that at all!
Be it mechanoids or humans, there must be things that we can't see.
We're all civilizations born from Earth. Of course we should stand together, united as one to overcome this catastrophe.
The awakened machines originated from humans. No one can stay for sure the mechanoids would be spared if the Punishing Virus catches up to humanity's ships.
—The mechanoid called "Nanami"... your level of awakening has exceeded my computational parameters.
I am unable to compute the possibility you speak of.
Perhaps in the future, when you possess greater computing power, you will be able to simulate a world with such possibilities.
Time is running short now. My computing power is limited, and I must devote all resources to Project Departure. I can no longer assist you with these simulations.
Make your own choice, Nanami.
Gestalt severs the connection.
Which means... there's still hope!
Nanami narrows her eyes to review every piece of information.
Information from Chaos, from Ishmael, from Gestalt...
[player name] must have left the Hetero Tower, but no one knows at which point in time they emerge.
Gestalt cannot calculate when exactly [player name] left the Hetero Tower, yet it never outright said Commandant didn't make it out...
And there is this thing that Ishmael said...
Perhaps the "variable" you're hoping for is already taking notice of your wish.
But... no one knows where that single thread leading to destiny truly lies.
The singularity might indeed exist. The probability of human civilization's survival has gone from 0.031% to 0.072%.
Such a minuscule probability feels too fragile to be real, too slight for her to believe it could actually exist.
Transparent spider silk floats in the ocean, disappearing as soon as you look away.
She might truly grasp this thread of fate, but likewise, no one knows what lies at its end.
And now...
On the brink of her predetermined future and forced to flee into deep space, a girl soon to be exiled from Earth—what can she still do for Earth, for humanity, and for the commandant in these moments?
Uhh...
Huh?! Who's that? Did someone just say something?
That sounds like Commandant... hmm...
Both the terminal and life radar remain silent. If Commandant had sent a message, at least one of them would have triggered the notification sound I'd set for them.
Well, I guess I'm just hearing things.
She scratches her ear, looking somewhat embarrassed.
Guess I should really start thinking about what to do next.
If Commandant comes when I'm gone... what should I leave behind for Commandant?
Human food! That's definitely essential, though it might be hard to preserve... and serum, yes!
Hmm... Equipment, repair supplies—I need to stock up on all of these.
Also...
The girl stands in the snow as she stares into the unreachable distance.
I wonder if I could leave a piece of "myself" for Commandant.
Following Gestalt's guidance, I will become the Nanami of the future and the Sage of mechanical civilization and lead them toward potential new dimensions of existence.
I will integrate myself as the starship's core, become the Gestalt of mechanical civilization, and guide them to discover the meaning of their awakening.
And...
Please forgive me for having this small moment of selfishness.
When I become the one and only Sage of the mechanical race—
Please allow me to leave Nanami behind—for humanity and Commandant.
