[721] The World We Live In (2)
"A world that never ends."
Perhaps it was simply the result of living beings perfectly adapting to the cosmic system.
Shirone looked back at the people still dreaming in the glass tubes.
And perhaps….
'The world we live in, too.'
He couldn't be sure, but assuming that, one question remained.
"If everyone enters the next simulation, wouldn't your role end? No one would wake up."
-That is not the case.
Argo shook his head.
-Living things are odd; there are aspects a system cannot control. The mind, precisely. Even if everyone experiences the same sensations, the degree varies—and that can't be regulated.
It's called qualia, or sensory quality.
-Those subjective images accumulate, raise the kahr value, and trigger countless insights and non-empirical knowledge.
When Amy's face was washed in red light, the atmosphere turned hostile.
-Sensations are electrical signals, but qualia—the mind program—are transmitted via quantum transfer. So they can't be controlled. Quantum itself isn't a signal you can command. And then, eventually….
Amy's crimson eyes flared.
-They awaken. They shatter the void and break free. Subjective imagery that undermines the system's plausibility. That seeds doubt about the world and opens a way to deviate outside the system.
Amy stepped toward Shirone.
-To escape by one's own power is to reject the system. Because you could harm the Utopia residents, I must continue to exist here. And that is….
A swarm of drones flew in around Shirone.
-The reason you were invited here.
Shirone's presence was a danger to the Utopia.
-Your code does not exist in the Utopia. I don't know where you came from, but you did not arrive via normal causality.
Andre disturbs spacetime, and that raised another question for Shirone.
"You mean the world we live in could also be part of a simulation? Converging endlessly into the void?"
-I cannot say. The greatest human delusion is thinking that knowing something means you can know everything. Some things are unknowable. Things outside the system.
As the emotional focus faltered, Amy's face in Shirone's brainwaves distorted.
-To me, the whole is only Argo's world; I cannot conceive beyond that. I am not a god. You made me. You are human.
Argo, having erased the hologram, spoke into the air.
-Of course, the world you live in could be the start of the simulation. The true real. When calculated against the void, it's a one-in-infinity probability, but I cannot absolutely rule it out.
"There has to be a first."
-Yes. So decide now.
"Decide what?"
With a bang, the lid of the glass tube three floors up detached.
Argo's mechanical voice rang coldly.
-Remain in eternal reincarnation, or depart this world.
Void or infinity.
It was time to choose.
* * *
Maze Andre — World No. 1583.
On a mountain peak under the WhiteBlack moon, Shirone soothed a child crying in his arms.
"It's okay now. No one will hurt you."
"Waaah! Please save me!"
Shirone patted the child's back and fell into thought until the terrified sobbing subsided.
'WhiteBlack. Yin and yang. A world made by the definition of the Law's number two.'
As time passed, Shirone found himself understanding Andre's nature more clearly.
'Every world carries its own intent.'
To infer the whole of Andre from exploring one world was Shirone's insight.
It meant Shirone's exploration of 19,000 worlds was entangled in quantum spins that transcended space and time.
"You're on the White side, aren't you?"
Shirone snapped out of his thoughts and looked down at the child.
"Yeah. But I won't hurt you."
The child nodded, but it seemed less trust than resignation—there was no other choice.
Since it would take time, Shirone didn't press him and simply asked what had happened.
'Hmm, a child born in the Black zone…'
The eight-year-old's name was Kai.
His parents were already dead, and he'd joined the survival test to activate the WhiteBlack harmony.
"They told me if I lured the White people, they'd protect me. But everyone ran away. They tried to kill me…."
As Kai choked back more tears, Shirone said,
"It's okay. You just need to win the survival test. I'll help you. First, show me your job card."
Pulling himself together, Kai rummaged in his clothes while Shirone took out the job card he'd been given.
'They call me a Seeker.'
By eye, the card measured about 5.2 cm wide, 8.6 cm tall, and around 4 mm thick.
On the back several circles overlapped like gears; Shirone guessed they symbolized reincarnation.
'What does it do?'
With no immediate bodily change, Shirone examined the card's front, divided into three horizontal sections.
The top showed the card name and rank, the middle a picture, and the bottom an explanation and effect.
'Seeker. Huh. S rank?'
It was an unexpectedly high rank since he felt no special effect.
'The description…'
Shirone looked at the illustration of a seated Seeker floating in the air, then read the text.
Seeker: One who has realized the truth of the world.
Special Ability: Definition of the Law.
Effect: Choose one of the two Laws.
Currently selected Law — White.
"Oh? This means…."
It meant he could move freely to either the White or Black zone.
"Wow! It's a Seeker!"
Kai's eyes widened when he saw Shirone's card.
"Do you know about job cards?"
"Of course. In Black everyone learns about them! We even make cards and rehearse."
Because they weren't engaged in production, they had plenty of time.
"A Seeker is great. You can attach to either side, so you'll definitely survive."
Since the survival test required one zone's participants to be annihilated, a Seeker's value was naturally high.
"But if you do that, the zone changes. If I choose Black and win, I can't go to White."
"Is that a problem? You still don't die."
Shirone realized something.
'Is that it?'
White or Black—what's more important to a living being than making it through today?
"Kai, what's your job card?"
Kai slowly flipped the card clenched in his small hand.
"It's… this."
It was B rank, and the card name was Magician.
Magician: One who deceives most things.
Special Ability: Magic Card.
Effect: Change one Weapon card from WhiteBlack into any card you like. However, the effect follows the original card.
Current Magic Card — Job Card (Magician).
Kai looked disappointed.
"This is useless to me. Changing a card doesn't create effects, and even if I use tricks no one will be scared of me. It should be a job that boosts physical ability."
Shirone asked, "What do you think the person who attacked us earlier was?"
"Probably a Pierrot. He has an Acrobatic ability so he can move fast."
"Hmm. Anyway, job cards can't be transferred."
Shirone soothed Kai and stood.
"Depending on how you use the Magician it can be a good strategy. I'll be with you, so don't worry."
"But you're on the White… right?"
Shirone took out his job card.
'Defines the Law.'
The card flashed briefly; the currently selected Law—White—was erased and Black was newly inscribed.
"How about that? Now we're on the same side."
"...."
It was unusual for someone to use a Seeker to side with the strong, so Shirone's decision surprised Kai.
Of course Shirone could change the Law anytime, but this was enough to give Kai a minimum of trust.
"Yes!"
Kai brightened and stood, and Shirone smiled, pointing into the forest.
"Let's go. We need to collect Weapon cards too. There should still be some left."
This wasn't Mount Anarchy where even overwhelming physical power could be wiped out in thirty minutes.
"Weapons reflect strongly in WhiteBlack moonlight."
Kai said as they searched the mountain.
"They don't reflect normal light. Anyway, if we follow the moonlight we can pick up one or two."
Kai knew a lot, and despite lacking combat power, he helped Shirone.
Following the moonlight, they spotted a card glittering like a star among the green grass.
"A Weapon!"
Kai dashed forward but hesitated and glanced at Shirone before picking it up.
"Oh, sorry. But Weapons can be transferred…."
Depending on Shirone for his life, he couldn't check the card without permission.
"It's fine. You pick it up and look."
Since Shirone could protect his body with magic, he was willing to yield noncritical strategic items.
At Shirone's permission, treasure-hunt excitement lit Kai's face.
"Ah, too bad. There's something better than this."
"Why? Is it bad?"
"It's not trash. Look yourself."
It was the same size as a job card, and a rough round shield was drawn in the center.
'Old Copper Shield. D rank.'
Old Copper Shield.
Description: Before foundry techniques advanced, shields were cast from copper.
Effect: Reduces damage by 10 percent.
"If you just have it, damage is reduced?"
"Yes. The Law of WhiteBlack makes it so. It's one of the most common shield cards. I wish it had been a higher copper shield. C rank reduces damage by 20 percent."
"It's something, at least. You keep it."
Several shield cards combined would give Shirone enough defense to feel secure.
Kai waved his fingers left and right.
"Even if I have it, it won't help much. Ten percent damage reduction is negligible. You saw the force bomb earlier, right? That was only a B-rank card."
"What will you do then?"
"I'll use the Magician's special ability—the Magic Card. I'll change this into an S-rank and trade it for other participants' cards."
"Does that really happen?"
"Lots. Within the same zone it's frequent, and near the end people trade with enemies. You still have to survive to win."
He spoke like a veteran who'd already practiced many times.
"Magic Card, activate!"
Kai raised his hand and shouted; the old copper shield card flashed and became S rank.
Resuscitation (Consumable).
Description: If you do your best, heaven will help.
Effect: Can resurrect a dead participant among those who joined WhiteBlack.
However, it cannot be used on yourself.
"Tada. This is the most popular Resuscitation card. Because you can revive a teammate once, whoever has it gains massively in combat power. If you trade as a team you could exchange it for several cards of equal rank."
"The Law of Resurrection would allow that. But that was made by magic, right? Ultimately the effect is still that of the old copper shield."
Kai pleaded with a desperate look.
"I absolutely can't do this alone. Whether trade or not, they'll try to kill me and take it. But if you support me, I'll use this to get a lot of higher-grade cards."
'Clever….'
Cunning as he was, Black was still Black.