Chapter 38
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Unread Messages (2)
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#Unread Messages (2)
「BigBuffetBoy86: Oh! Heli ride all the way to the op zone! I freaking love flying!」
「ProNEET: But that chopper's tiny. Looks like a toy.」
「Devil'sGame: Yeah. No way those side steps are meant for people to sit on, right?」
「NewSpring: This is insane lol. Did U.S. troops back in the day really ride around in something this dangerous?」
「DontDripWithNick: Yup. It's the MH-6. Special forces loved it for insertions. Guys on the sides could shoot freely, quick to mount and dismount, and being small made it perfect for stealth.」
「FantasticBeastsGF: Tl;dr go away」
「MorningSoju: Mil-deok o-deok dengki-deok kung-deo-reo-reo」
「Matsumin: Huh? A heli? This isn't good?」
「YeoMinROCK: What's not good?」
「Matsumin: Matsumin has a fear of heights!」
「KimJongUnBastard: Then disconnect sensory sync. Or just partial sync.」
「Matsumin: I can't do that!」
「KimJongUnBastard: Why not?」
「Matsumin: No way! I won't miss even a single moment with Winter!」
「Eektta: Matsumin lolololol」
「YeoMinROCK: Matsumin ;ㅅ;」
「Lemonade: Oh, rotors starting up!」
「BigBuffetBoy86: Fu-! It's lifting! Fly!」
「Jjarappappa: Huh? Huh? He's not grabbing the handle?」
「FantasticBeastsGF: Whoa! Whoa! We're risiiiing!」
「LoanDebt100Mil: Hey, hey hey hey, this ain't a joke? If we crash, isn't this a broadcast disaster?」
「OpusHomme: Hoo...puff...he...cheap...connection...gear...heh...sensory...block...not perfect...heh...if disconnected...would've...shat pants...heh」
「KimMiyeongManager: This kid's got no fear;;; Whoa;;; My legs are jelly;;; Goosebumps;;; Good thing it's not my eyes so I can't feel it ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ」
「FrankSausage: H-hey, handle, host, handle, handle! Don't reach out! Hey! Slippery! Hey! Hey! Host! Read! Fuck! Read it!」
「BigBuffetBoy86: Fu-! Fu-! Fu-!」
「Matsumin: Waaaaaah! Nooo! Winter! Don't do this to me!」
「Matsumin: Kyaaaaah!」
「Matsumin: Kyaaaaah!」
「SnowfieldFox: Kyaaaaah!」
「Matsumin: Kyaaaaah!」
「MagnaCarta: lol Matsumin broke」
「PoopDoggie: Matsumin's so cute Matsumin......」
「OldSpice: Hold up, there's a spy in here?」
「Matsumin: Scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary」
<>
[Matsumin gifted 47.61 stars.]
「Storm224: She's gifting stars mid-freakout lololol」
「ActiveXFuckOff: But why's the star count all weird? System glitch?」
「RyeoGwonNaraU: Exchange rate bitch. Even lit major me knows that.」
「ActiveXFuckOff: Then why's it always exact before?」
「DoomchitDoomchit: Yeah. Why?」
「Matsumin: Because! Japanese people! Are meticulous!」
「Matsumin: Kyaaaaah!」
「OldSpice: Chatting away while like that lolol so cute lolol」
「WrathOfGrapes: Man, I want a girlfriend like that.」
[SnowfieldFox gifted 1 star.]
[SnowfieldFox gifted 1 star.]
[SnowfieldFox gifted 2721 stars.]
「JessicaFullTime: Whoa.......」
「SALHAE: Whoa.......」
「BlackBroDaily: Whoa.......」
「Владимир: Two ActiveX left. Этого ещё не хватало! I will install these no matter what! And find that Kalaeski who made this security crap and kill him!」
#Intermission: The Heart of Artificial Intelligence (2)
Hello, valued customers. Today is part two of introducing our company's AI engine, 「Trinity」. Last time, we talked about the TOM reading module, right? Today, we'll cover the second of the trinity that makes up virtual personalities: the search-based AI module.
What is search-based AI? Exactly what it sounds like—AI implemented through a search engine. It reads every human record pooled in the vast ocean of information that is the World Wide Web and pulls out answers fitting the situation.
You doubt it's possible? Think about it. How many people waste their lives on SNS! The internet holds love, hate, sorrow and joy, happiness and despair, virtues and vices—all human emotions, knowledge, thoughts, memories, history, and dark secrets intact. Vast data piled up generation after generation, from your great-grandparents' era. We call this big data.
Search-based AI implements personality through logic that mines the desired answers from big data—data mining. Honestly, this module alone could create a complete personality.
In theory, that is.
So what's the problem? Search time.
Implementing a personality isn't trivial. Mehrabian's rule says words make up just 7% of communication! The rest is voice and visuals!
When you ask the AI a question, it finds the answer, verifies if it fits the worldview and context, searches for the right tone, emphasis, speech pattern, then even figures out the matching expression and gestures!
Ever imagined how long that takes?
And the response is still one-dimensional. The mind of a human farting in anger—that can't be perfectly captured by search alone. It just finds precise answers.
That's why the TOM module matters. It drastically narrows the search scope. Tells it exactly what to look for, you could say. For high-TOM, high-aptitude users, the search module's load drops below 10%.
When the two modules synergize, the AI delights you with rich emotions and varied behaviors.
So, why am I saying this again?
Simple. Thanks to our dear patrons. They don't know the tech limits, just heard "personality possible with search AI alone," and flood us with complaint calls.
Jeez. If it were possible, why wouldn't we sell it? We're a company barely hanging on for the money.
This always brings up a question. During sex, running search module at 100% gives decent AI quality and response time—so why not always?
Good question.
Heh heh heh.
Over 70% of accumulated big data is porn. Quality and quantity on another level. High-quality data is easy to find too. Just search by views, likes, downloads! Well-categorized by keywords! Plus comments with detailed reactions! Search module gratefully uses them. Of course the quality's top-notch.
So please, no more calls about this.
This has been from Nakwon Group's Virtual Reality Division.
#Journal, Page 59, Santa Maria
Ranger 1st Platoon, entering from the north of the city, safely rescued the survivors on the west side. Including the Western Motel group, thirty-four civilians total. Plenty injured, but no life threats. Excluding the already dead, that is.
One man raged at them. Company commander, Captain Ray Emert.
"My men died trying to save trash like you!"
The civilians cowered. His furious hand hovered over his pistol holster.
I get his anger.
The civilians were a gang of criminals. In the abandoned city, they'd hidden to steal cash and valuables.
Suspicious from the start. Santa Maria had no survivor signals for ages. If they weren't in a position to call for help? All men, mixed races—not much like family. Can't judge by looks, but unkempt appearances and clothes. Plus ugly tattoos. Coincidences stack into patterns.
They'd lost it after near-death. Grilled, they confessed through tears. Could've escaped but hid for loot. Search found jewelry and drugs.
The captain finally drew his pistol. Trembling, looked ready to fire. Officers restrained him. Killing them would make the soldiers' deaths truly meaningless. Like sacrificing for nothing.
Captain Emert couldn't pull the trigger. In rage, he kicked a wall—twisted his ankle. Hurt bad; he groaned despite pride. No one laughed. It was a sad sight.
Before leaving, many sought goodbyes. Remember me, hope we meet again. Swap souvenirs? Awkward—I had nothing. Some gave addresses for letters, others wanted their names in Hangul. Invites to the 75th Division? Absurd. Not my call.
All friendly, anyway.
I'd earned respect through skill.
But 3rd Platoon leader, Lieutenant John Frey, was lukewarm. I'd ignored his orders mid-op. Ambiguous praise-or-criticism. Still, warm gruffness. Last, he gave a Zippo lighter as a gift. High-end. Inside the lid, crookedly engraved:
「Rangers lead the way. J.E.F.」
Thanks, cool gift—I said. He scratched his head, said see ya, gone.
Will we really meet again?
Before departing, group photo with the Ranger company. McGuire's camera team's only contribution this mission. I consoled the captain: sorry for no results. He shook his head.
"You don't know—drone footage is all recorded. Not as polished as pro shots, but the raw realism's gold. Mission success."
Hadn't thought of that.
"Personally enlightening and surprising. Didn't trust you much. Thought propaganda. Turns out real John Basilone types exist."
First time I saw him smile.
"Turned many lies to truth before. My job. But this time, truth as-is might seem lie. Worried. Truly rewarding work."
To my bashful self, he offered a handshake.
"Got the Navy Cross before? Silver Star at least this time. Once my footage spreads, brass can't deny it. Congrats in advance. My boss'll hate it."
Last bit puzzled me. Asked; no answer. Nothing big, you'll learn when it matters.
On return, choppers passed over Santa Maria.
"See, lieutenant? The streets you fought on."
Pilot over intercom. Route chosen for me, probably. Also hides Ranger base.
Battle scars glowed in sunset. Fresh death marks, blood on roads—now just serene under warm light. Eerie. The 200m I sprinted for life. Fierce hellscape vs. this peaceful view—so different.
Infected mutants stared skyward. Arms outstretched. Mouths working silently. Distorted faces. Like trying to convey agony—another strange feeling.
Two helis circled twice, sunset on left, slicing the sky.
============================ Work Afterword ============================
1.
Q. CirculatingSoul: Special variants have alpha-grade markers, so probably betas, gammas etc. by enhancement level. Worried it'll turn into just grade games later... Pure speculation. I trust Tunguska-nim! No, I trust Tunguska-nim's innocence!
A. Yes, trust me. Such things can't happen in a novel written with innocence.
2. Lately the author's suffering innocence deficiency. Good thing a innocence-restoring movie's out. Wanna see Conjuring 2.