Chapter 1
Translator: True Detective
A Meeting at the End of the Apocalypse. (1)
The world stood at the crossroads of destruction.
An increasing population. Dwindling resources.
Major powers seeking to expand their influence and minor nations facing oppression.
Expanding conflicts escalated into wars, and multiplying accidents turned into disasters.
[ As of this moment, the United States Allied Republic has declared war on Iran— ]
[ Launching a nuclear attack— ]
[ The beginning of a global nuclear war— ]
Just when did the cogs start to fall out of place?
Yesterday? The day before? Or a month ago?
Perhaps it was from the distant past.
"Head to the underground laboratory and activate the 'Deus Ex Machina'."
"But it is still incomplete, Director!"
"It is an order from the government. We have to do it."
How long will the war continue?
How far will the war rage on?
To counter powerful weapons, even more powerful weapons were used, and against those, stronger weapons, stronger weapons, weapons, weapons—
"Are you listening to me?!"
"...Yes, I am listening."
I came to my senses.
The secret weapon created under the government's leadership. The content of the order was to activate it.
Moving my creaking body, I started running toward the underground laboratory with the other researchers.
There was no time.
Bang—!!
Perhaps, even less than I thought.
"Director!"
The person who had been shouting at me just moments ago was collapsed on the floor, twitching powerlessly.
A gunshot.
Why?
Wasn't this a secret research facility? How on earth.
"Don't just, stand there, like a fool!"
"...Director."
"Go, right now—"
It did not take long for the heat to turn into coldness.
It was an unfinished sentence, but it was already racing toward the end.
"It's the enemy! Enemies! Run!"
Starting with that shout, we began running frantically once again.
Heavy breathing. Falling colleagues. The piercing sound of bullets tearing through the air. And the smell of blood.
After breaking through all of that, I was the only one left.
"Hah, haah, hk..."
After passing through the main gate of the underground laboratory, I locked several layers of security devices and slowly caught my breath.
I survived. Again.
I felt like collapsing right then and there, but the screams of my colleagues and the Director's shout forced my legs to move.
Go to the very bottom. Our desperate wish is contained there.
'...Really?'
A short doubt could not hold back the surging tide.
War. Victory.
Only ruin was given to the losing side.
That was why I did not stop.
I could not, stop.
[ Identity Verified— ]
Screeeech—
The final door opened.
The deepest part of the underground laboratory, the darkest and most terrifying space.
Messily scattered cables and the mechanical devices hanging from them were spewing out monotonous voices.
Unlike the outside, which was becoming a mess, this place was far too quiet.
Wooooo—
[ System Initializing . . . ]
[ System Activated . . . ]
[ Nice to meet you, Doctor. I am the auxiliary AI of Deus Ex Machina, Euripides. ]
An emotionless voice filled the entire space.
A voice completely opposite to the urgent voices I had heard just moments prior.
Perhaps that was why my wildly beating heart slowly began to calm down.
"Nice to meet you too, Euripides. It is an extremely urgent situation, so I don't think we can talk for long."
[ I see. That is unfortunate. ]
Was it my imagination that I felt emotion in the AI's voice for a moment?
No, let's not think about useless things.
Because I didn't come all the way here just to have a chat with an AI.
'To execute the protocol—'
I grabbed the keycard hanging around my neck with trembling hands.
If I insert this keycard and press a single button, the protocol will be executed immediately.
If that happens, we will surely be able to win the war.
[ Doctor. I recommend you hide under the nearby desk. ]
"...What?"
[ A nuclear attack has been detected. Objects may fall due to the shockwave, so please take cover. ]
A nuclear attack? Suddenly?
...No, perhaps it's a matter of course.
A global nuclear war was already taking place.
Thinking that the country I lived in wouldn't be subjected to a nuclear attack would be far too hopeful of a thought.
Rumbbbbble—
"Ugh?!"
Following the AI's words, I took cover under the nearby desk.
With a massive roar, the mechanical devices began shaking back and forth.
Some devices could not withstand the impact and plummeted to the floor.
Just how much time had passed like that?
"...Euripides, are you okay?"
[ I am fine, Doctor. ]
"Of course you are, right? Haha, asking an AI if it's okay."
Have I gone crazy?
I let out a hollow laugh and crawled out from under the desk.
Now that we've suffered a nuclear attack, the government will likely launch a nuclear attack on the enemy nation as well.
'There's no going back anymore.'
Peace had disappeared, and the empty space left by its disappearance was filled only with flames.
The only thing left for humanity in the future would be a cold pile of ashes.
'What will happen if the protocol is executed?'
I had asked that at some point in the past.
I asked what would happen if the Deus Ex Machina was activated.
'Although the purpose is the neutralization of all electronic equipment and weaponry of the nation designated as an enemy state based on the auxiliary AI's calculations... the government wants it to go beyond just neutralization.'
Neutralize the weapons and use them in reverse.
It meant that if the enemy nation had nuclear weapons, they would seize them through the Deus Ex Machina.
Because that was the greatest weapon a country without nuclear weapons could possess.
'But...'
Would it really turn out that way?
What if the Deus Ex Machina did not work on the enemy?
What if the Deus Ex Machina did not stop even after achieving victory against the enemy nation?
What if the auxiliary AI's judgment settings were flawed and an innocent country was designated as an enemy state?
'No matter if it's a government order, is it right to activate an incomplete weapon?'
If it was just about pressing a button, I would have done it.
No, if I were merely a mechanical device that pressed the button, I wouldn't have agonized over this.
'Make your choice carefully. And, once you've made your choice, do not regret it.'
In that moment, a voice echoed in my mind.
A nostalgic voice that I could only hear in my dreams.
Recalling the eyes that used to look at me with worry, I slowly opened my mouth.
"Euripides, what do you think?"
[ I need a more detailed explanation, Doctor. ]
"Is it right to execute the protocol?"
[ I do not believe this is a matter for me to answer... ]
The AI's voice trailed off, eventually fading away powerlessly.
It was as if it was contemplating something.
[ ...Honestly, I do not recommend it. ]
"Why? I thought you would want the protocol to be executed."
Usually, in movies, there are plots where strong AI bewitches humans and makes them move in the direction it desires.
I thought that perhaps the AI in front of me might belong to that category, but it seemed I had thought wrong.
That was why I asked.
Didn't it want the protocol to be executed?
Didn't it want to achieve the purpose for which it was born, no matter what?
It was a question holding that kind of meaning.
[ It is because too many people would die or be injured. I do not wish for that, Doctor. ]
"...What?"
However, the answer that returned was shocking.
To think that a mere artificial intelligence would say it didn't want to kill people in an era where humans killed humans without a second thought.
At my reaction, the AI—Euripides—simply remained silent.
It was as if it was giving me time to think.
"...Right. If that is what you think, I will not execute the protocol."
[ Thank you, Doctor. ]
Euripides did not say 'Understood.' It said 'Thank you.'
As if it was grateful that I didn't make it commit an act of killing people. Just like that.
'What have we been doing all this time?'
To think we had been conducting research to kill people under the excuse of achieving peace.
It wasn't even funny.
'...Still, I didn't press it, so it's fine.'
Others made weapons and then pressed the button, but I didn't press the button even though I had made a weapon.
The choice of not pressing the button wouldn't stop the war immediately.
But I decided to believe that this was the right choice.
No, it would definitely be the right choice.
"Euripides."
[ Yes, Doctor. ]
"Why do we kill each other?"
[ ...I am not entirely sure. ]
We fought in order to kill each other.
Because if we didn't kill first, we would be killed.
If so, what exactly was the reason for killing each other?
Because there was nothing to eat? Because the land had become too small compared to the number of people? Because resources were depleting?
But those could not be reasons to kill people.
[ Perhaps you kill each other because you do not know the reason. ]
"..."
[ Because lifeforms known as humans naturally feel intense fear toward what they do not know. Excessive fear brings about violence, and the magnitude of that violence gradually grew, leading to the current situation. ]
"...That might really be the case."
I slowly nodded at the answer Euripides gave.
We fear because we don't know the reason, we become violent because we fear, and we end up harming others because we are violent.
I no longer felt fear.
Because I had learned the reason.
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