Though she no longer continues writing her "Earth Observation Diary", she still gazes at that small planet from time to time.
Everything is moving forward according to fate's trajectory.
Babylonia departs from Earth, leaving the humans staying behind to struggle desperately on the planet.
Perhaps, far into the future, the humans on Earth will come to keep a rein on the Punishing Virus.
Or perhaps Babylonia will find a new homeland suitable for human settlement in the distant depths of space.
The small butterfly seems unable to cause a larger ripple.
Everything is moving forward according to fate's trajectory.
...
She lets out a soft sigh as she holds her index finger out to touch the projected blue planet.
Still gazing at Earth?
Well...
The gravitational is getting stronger. Nanami must have boarded Discovery and entered space by now.
Small waves ripple through the flowing ocean of data as she plunges her hands into it in search of what she wants to see.
Wait, is this...
In disbelief, she locates the faint coordinate point, zooms in, then zooms in further—
Gray Raven Commandant?!
The Gray Raven Commandant... has made it out of the Hetero Tower.
In all 262537412640768743 simulated worlds, you never made it out of the Hetero Tower.
But now... you've made it out.
She watches as two people come through the door.
A young girl in a white dress sits quietly in the room. She looks this way with a gentle smile on her face.
Her appearance is completely different from the Nanami standing next to you.
Without Nanami's usual high ponytail, this girl's grayish-blue hair flows loosely down. You've never seen Nanami like this.
Hello, Gray Raven Commandant. Allow me to properly introduce myself.
I'm Nanami, the core of Discovery and the temporary administrator of this space. We've never met in person, but your reputation precedes you!
Sharp-witted, I see!
This is Delorean-Discovery, my very own starship!
"This space."
Both you and "Haicma" refer to this place as "space" rather than "universe."
Ah, nothing gets past you.
This space is indeed no longer one of "simulation."
In terms you would understand, this place... is what lies beyond the "Gate".
This is the space that remains after the "Gateway" connected to the Hetero Tower was recycled.
That lady once told me about another "Gate," behind which exists a civilization without life.
It's recycling what it deems valuable—civilizations that have mastered zero-point energy—and testing them. Those civilizations whose development is deemed unbalanced or incorrect have their data harvested and brought back through the "Gate," where they're left to evolve on their own.
Looks like you've heard about this somewhere.
This place is both a graveyard and birthplace of civilizations, where birth and annihilation coexist at every moment.
She draws back the curtain hanging over the porthole.
The eternal Milky Way flows across the vast dark veil of space while distant stars twinkle millions of light years apart.
There is no life beyond the "Gate", according to Vonnegut.
Could it be... that human civilization was completely wiped out when you were going through the simulation with Nanami?
Nope, that's not what happened.
You were able to come here because you and I—I mean, you and Nanami—share a M.I.N.D. connection.
You were able to come here because you and I—I mean, you and Nanami—share a M.I.N.D. connection.
During the simulations, Nanami discovered certain rules of the "universe," and it was through my computing power that you reached this place.
It's kind of like cheating, but no one is going to find out because Nanami's been very careful about it!
You know that this Nanami is from the future, but given how things are still less than completely clear, you can't help but wonder what she stands to gain from everything she has done.
She lets out a gentle smile.
I got bored floating here all this time, you know.
The stars, the universe, how new things come into existence... Sure, they were fascinating at first, but even those get old when you've been staring at them for so long.
If you're really curious about what I'm trying to do, though... well, I'm just trying to have some fun here!
She blinks playfully.
The fact that you're all standing here now... it's nothing short of a miracle.
So it only makes sense that I want to see just how far you can go in this future.
Ugh...
Nanami appears puzzled for a moment, then after some thought, she pipes up with excitement.
Does this mean we beat the game? Do we get a reward?!
What would you like as a reward, though?
What I can offer might not be what you want, but what you truly desire... I might still be able to make it happen.
So I want to hear what you have to say.
Nanami wants humans and mechanoids to live together on Earth!
Mhm, I hear your wish loud and clear.
What about you?
Her gaze traverses countless stars and light-years before settling on your face.
Tell me... what is your wish?
Does it... have to be on Earth?
Of course! Nanami needs to go and try that special cake at the House of Love with Commandant!
To be honest... I still don't have much faith in this space-time.
Waves surge through the ocean of data as countless starlight beams project the shape of Earth.
A spiral tower looms bizarrely over the land, its peak piercing the clouds.
The Hetero Tower still stands, and Agent Zero still controls its access. As long as this remains true, there can be no solution to any of our problems.
Cradle may be dead, but Agent Zero was never just Cradle.
On Earth, the mutated Red Tide serpentines into patterns of the void.
Agent Zero is merely a title. Once civilization is marked by the contaminating memetics, Agent Zero becomes omnipresent.
Cradle was only the beginning.
Is there nothing else we can do?
Well...
I can provide you with a mechanical body and transfer your consciousness here.
Nanami turns to you.
A human body cannot survive here, but perhaps a consciousness in machinery wouldn't count as "life."
She absent-mindedly fidgets with the hem of her dress.
Are you all willing to stay?
Stay here and live with me.
Will you... stay?
This is not an unreasonable request.
Her fingers dance gracefully, conjuring waves of data that form an image of Earth's conditions.
Your Earth, as it is now... Even with the core you've brought out of the Hetero Tower and the research data about the Hetero Tower I've given you...
The transmission of "information" has its limitations nonetheless.
I can only give you... the technology you've already skimmed the surface of, like...
That Hetero-Core.
Let's think about this for a second. Who exactly can stop the Red Tide now even if you do complete all your research?
Once the Punishing Virus is done "recycling," it will take the seeds of civilization back beyond the "Gate"...
When that time comes, this might be the only place where we can see each other again.
That sounds terrifying...
But Nanami doesn't want Commandant to become a mechanoid. You are perfect the way you are, Commandant.
Even Dominik failed this mission, though. What makes you so sure...
...
wohoo!~
Maybe Nanami was born for this very "future"!
In armor, Nanami thrusts her sword hilt high into the air.
Maybe I'm meant to save Earth!
...
Life is the heaviest wish of all.
Life may be a journey toward death, but death shouldn't define what it means to be alive.
Every sacrifice leads to rebirth, and every rebirth carries the hope of tomorrow.
Countless humans struggle onward, burning like kindling in the flames.
They burn their own bodies, turning into beacons of undying determination.
They hold onto hope, dreaming of a day yet to come.
White doves soar across the emerald meadow.
...Does it have to be this way? Can't you just... stay here?
But... if you think about what you had to go through to make it out of the Hetero Tower...
Lucia, Nanami...
...Liv, and Lee.
Commandant?
Commandant...
Commandant.
These are the very bonds you have that yanked you out of the abyss that was the Hetero Tower.
Countless failures piled up like mountains. They spent their souls and paid immeasurable prices, eventually becoming the foundation that led to what awaited them at the end of the road.
I'll help, too, Commandant!
...
...
Nanami lets out a soft sigh.
If we really want to do this, though...
She stirs the boundless ocean with her fingers.
It requires an enormous sacrifice, and I'm not sure if humanity is ready to pay the "price."
...It's something beyond your current comprehension, and you won't be the only one who needs to pay.
And even then, all you might gain is nothing more than a single chance for change.
Now... are you sure you still want to go down this path?
Well...
I'm more than happy to go down this path If it means mechanoids and humans can live happily together on Earth!
Life drifting through deep space is just way too boring...
And you... are you really sure about this?
I'll give you ample time to think this through.
Of course, it'd be great if you wish to stay here, though...
What exactly is this "sacrifice" she speaks of?
Could this bring an even greater catastrophe to the humans on Earth?
But if this goes on... to the point where the mutated Red Tide overflows, the Punishing Virus will eventually reclaim everything that human civilization has built.
If that's the case...
If that's the case...
Come with me.
She pushes open a large door behind her.
