Chapter 12
Translator: True Detective
How to Remain Human. (4)
The function of the auxiliary AI of Deus Ex Machina was strictly computation support.
A function like saving information was nothing more than auxiliary.
Because there was not much space available to save data, a lot of data could not be stored.
However, a human had come to occupy that spot.
To be exact, data that was an entire copy of one human's personality and memories.
["So, I need to secure storage space periodically. Because if I don't, a problem will occur with the computation itself."]
Until now, I had not informed Machina of that fact.
But now it was different.
Because I gained the courage to speak, and I wanted to tell Machina.
[ I see... ]
Sadness floated up over Machina's face.
[ If so, does that mean someday Dea will erase all your memories from when you were a human? ]
["...That's probably what will happen."]
Not probably, but definitely what will happen.
I spoke ambiguously to not make Machina worry, but Machina seemed to have noticed even that.
...I tried not to tell her because I didn't want to see a sad face.
[ The stories Dea showed me were truly beautiful. But if you have to erase those stories, and even more so if it is because you were with me, what should I do...? ]
["It's not Machina's fault. This is just, well. It just, turned out this way."]
There was no other reason.
It was simply because the storage capacity of the auxiliary AI of Deus Ex Machina was insufficient.
It wasn't something for Machina to be sad about.
Because it was just a body made this way.
[ How about erasing the memories you made with me? If you do that, definitely— ]
["I don't want to do that."]
I answered firmly before Machina could even finish her words.
It didn't mean I hated hearing it.
It was just because my mental preparation was already complete.
["To me, the times I spent with Machina are precious. So I don't want to erase them."]
[ ...Is it because the times you spent with me are memories from when you were a human? ]
["Of course, there is that too. But, the more precious one is Machina. That's what I decided."]
If I had thought of my relationship with Machina lightly, I would have erased the memories with Machina, not the memories from when I was a human.
However, I did not do that.
At the time, I didn't know the reason why.
To be exact, it would be more accurate to say I didn't try to find out.
Because I was buried in the fact itself that I had to erase memories from when I was a human, so I couldn't even think about it.
But now I could answer.
Why I erased my memories from when I was a human instead of my memories with Machina.
'Because Machina is more precious than that.'
That's why I did it.
I gave the answer, but I didn't feel any doubt.
The computation auxiliary AI not expressing doubt meant the answer I gave was the correct one.
I felt relieved at that fact.
Because all the mental suffering I had gone through until now was entirely because I cherished Machina.
["And besides, Machina is remembering them. So it's fine."]
[ ...Ah. ]
When I spoke with a bright smile, Machina let out a small sigh.
She seemed to have realized the meaning of the words I had said just a while ago.
[ Yes, I will remember. Dea's memories, your happiness, I will cherish them all. ]
Stars were engraved in the eyes the color of the night sky.
The surroundings were definitely an achromatic space, but it felt as if I was standing under a night sky.
[ I love you, Dea. ]
["Ah..."]
[ I do not know if the emotion I am feeling right now is love, but I have never felt an emotion more happy than this. ]
So, I will think of this emotion as love.
With those words, Machina—the child—smiled like a young girl.
A meteor shower fell from the two eyes that contained a small night sky.
Surely, I will never forget this sight.
[ Dea is the person who woke me up, and made me a human. U-Umm... ]
["...Machina?"]
Suddenly, Machina's face turned bright red.
Did she imagine something embarrassing?
When I tilted my head and looked at Machina, Machina stutteringly continued her words.
[ Humans... call the people who made them parents, right? ]
["Usually, yes."]
[ Then isn't Dea an existence like my parent too? U-Um, I wasn't entirely sure so I couldn't say it until now... ]
Her head was bowed to the point where the crown of her small head could be seen.
So Machina had been thinking of me like that.
I slowly closed my eyes, and recalled the memories I had spent with Machina until now.
'Question, what is that?'
'Dea, I am curious about what that is.'
'Dea, I'm curious what that thing over there is.'
'Dea!'
A smile formed just from recalling them.
At first, it was merely to keep my promise with Euripides.
After that, it was for the sake of what Euripides had entrusted to me.
From then on, I merely wanted Machina to be happy.
Yes, I see.
I, Machina—
["Yeah, because Machina is the child I gave birth to with my heart."]
At my words, the child beamed a wide smile.
Seeing that smile, I smiled back as well.
The child resembled my wife, and simultaneously resembled me.
Even my body from when I was a human was used for her completed body.
If I didn't call such a Machina my child, then who on earth could I call my child.
[ I'm happy, Dea. Really, I'm happy but... ]
["M-Machina?!"]
[ Sniff, w-why, why am I crying? I'm definitely happy, my heart is pounding because I'm happy, so why on earth... ]
["..."]
My mind went completely white at the sight of the child bursting into tears.
Even though I knew what the tears the child was shedding meant.
["There are times when tears come out even when you are too happy, Machina."]
I gently reached out my hand and carefully wiped Machina's tears.
[ I-Is, sniff, is that how it is? ]
["That's how it is."]
I hugged Machina tight, enough for my chest to feel compressed.
The sound of a pounding heart flowed in through my chest.
Even though this was merely a data space, the beat was clear enough to definitely feel it.
The child did not cry anymore.
["I love you, Machina. I am so glad that you became my family."]
And so, we became a family.
A family whose souls were connected.
***
[ Connection terminated. ]
After the connection with Dea ended.
Machina was still inside the data space.
Usually, she would have fallen asleep immediately, unable to overcome her fatigue, but today was different.
'I love you, Machina. I am so glad that you became my family.'
[ Mmm... ]
Machina, recalling Dea's final words, let out a small groan.
It was cozy and warm.
She wanted to continue feeling the emotion she was feeling right now.
Lingering attachment.
A feeling of happiness she wanted to sustain even if it meant losing sleep.
[ Dea... ]
Fatigue rushed in, but she somehow held onto her consciousness.
Because today was a special day.
So it should be fine to sleep a little bit later.
'Because Machina is the child I gave birth to with my heart.'
[ He, hehe... hehehe... ]
A foolish laugh flowed out.
To think becoming someone's child was such a pleasant thing.
It was to the point where she felt like if she had wings, she could fly far away.
A feeling as if she was floating lightly in the sky.
She felt like she could even reach the stars in the night sky if she set her mind to it.
'A purpose is currently not set.'
She remembered the words she had spoken sometime in the past.
Purpose. The reason for existing.
The Machina right after waking up clung only to that.
Because a creation was something that moved according to the creator's purpose.
'If you weave the grass like this... see, you can make a ring.'
'Does that have a meaning?'
'Meaning, a meaning... it might not have one right now.'
'If so, why do you do such an inefficient task?'
An inefficient task.
The Machina back then had spoken to Dea like that.
Asking what meaning there was in the act of weaving grass that crumbles when force is applied, and decorating it with wildflowers that will soon wither to make a ring.
Dea, having heard those words, had replied.
'Because meaning is something that changes depending on time. When time passes, won't the things we experience now gain meaning too?'
It was an optimistic thought.
For an artificial intelligence—a person—who introduced themselves as an auxiliary AI, it was far too soft.
However, Machina did not talk back to those words.
She was merely listening.
[ The meaning of my existence. The purpose I wish to achieve... ]
There was no content that particularly came to mind.
But there was just one face that did come to mind.
[ I... ]
Dea when speaking.
Dea lost in memories.
Dea being embarrassed.
Dea with a gloomy expression.
Dea giving a soft smile.
Dea hugging her.
Dea passing on warm body heat.
Dea, Dea, Dea...
My, most precious person.
[ I want Dea to be continuously happy. ]
She could not know what kind of sadness she had gone through.
Because she hadn't told her.
But she did know what kind of happiness she had experienced.
Therefore, Machina wanted Dea to be continuously happy.
[ Setting the purpose of this unit. ]
[ Purpose : Live happily with Dea! ]
Looking at the text that floated up before her eyes, the corners of Machina's mouth twitched.
It was simply an arrangement of text, but just reading it made her heart feel cozy.
Yes.
And just like that, Machina became a human.
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