Chapter 71

1.

What is the difference between humans and machines?

Beings made of organic matter that survive on food as fuel, dependent on the brain for judgment.

Entities constructed of scrap metal or metals, powered by electricity and various forms of energy, governed by computers as judgment systems, functioning based on learned knowledge.

Some may judge the difference between the two based on whether they possess emotions.

Others might argue the distinction lies in the continuity of life.

Still others might make the distinction purely between organic and inorganic matter, telling an extremely theoretical story.

And someone may claim that as time goes on, the boundary between the two will gradually fade, losing its meaning to differentiate.

At the very least, in Kiburatos, the latter story might be true.

Machines that act like humans, machines that express emotions like humans, machines that fear death like humans.

In Kiburatos, machines and robots are nothing more than another species whose external and internal composition is made of metal and electricity.

However, even so.

If there is one, single difference.

It would be that one factor, the presence of senses.

Not the senses of touch, sight, or smell.

The fundamental reason for the prosperity of human civilization. The reason humanity stands at the pinnacle of all beings is imagination.

The daunting fear of the unknown, the obsessive vigilance against unforeseen variables—this is it.

Something incomprehensible by calculation and rational judgment alone.

An irrational and non-rational situation.

The chaos that arises purely from emotion and impulse.

A change that would be almost impossible to notice without what is referred to as a ‘gut feeling.’

At this exact moment, it was precisely such a situation.

Who could know? That the mighty steel serpent, displaying its overwhelming might, had committed such an act driven by an instinctive fear of its adversary awakening.

KWAHHHHHHHHH──!!!

“Aaaaaaaah!”

“Everyone, hide behind cover and hold on tight to anything!”

“A sandstorm? Why out of nowhere…!”

There’s no way to know the reason or cause.

A sandstorm that can only be described as a disaster suddenly began sweeping through the streets of Abidos.

[Teacher! Be careful!]

“Cover your eyes, nose, and mouth and crouch as low as possible! Secure the cover so it doesn’t fly away!”

Although others couldn’t hear it, Arona’s cry ringing in the teacher’s ear, along with the unique intuition possessed by those with mystic abilities, prompted swift action.

Protecting the citizens, taking cover behind cover.

Firmly securing oneself against the risk of swallowing sand or being carried away by the wind, prioritizing one’s safety.

Acting on instinct, protecting oneself.

And taking the optimal actions to survive.

“Uugh!”

“It’s coming! Hold on with all your might!”

“BLKKKYAAAAAH!”

It didn’t take long for the sandstorm to reach their location.

As the storm’s pressure hit, students and citizens gritted their teeth, holding onto their cover and crouching down.

Wishing for the sandstorm to pass as quickly as possible.

Right after the storm’s assault began, a sound that only intensified their fear started reaching their ears.

DELCCK! DELCCK! DELCCK!

DDEDEEENG!

CJERJERJER!

Something was breaking, something was shattering, something was being torn apart.

Amidst the deafening wind, these sounds of calamity reached the ears of those hiding and gripping their cover, making the disaster feel all the more terrifying.

Moreover, another strange sound reached their ears as well.

PAJJIK!

KWADDEUK!

TENG! TENG! TEERRRNG!

It sounded like something extremely rigid—something metallic—was twisting, crumpling, and rolling on the ground.

Was there some kind of metal in this area that could make such sounds?

Or was it another action from the steel serpent?

The continuous sounds that naturally stimulated the imagination and fear of those present.

Though they wanted to confirm the truth right away, raising their heads in the midst of a sandstorm was akin to self-mutilation.

They could do nothing but suppress the curiosity that arose within and wish for the sandstorm to pass as quickly as possible.

After a few minutes, or perhaps what felt like dozens of minutes.

“……?”

While hiding behind cover, they noticed the strong gusts coming from the steel serpent weakening.

SAAAH…

The gradually waning momentum finally ceased.

As the sand cleared, people were able to finally see the surrounding landscape.

Numerous remains of buildings, shattered glass, and…

The remnants of what used to be the automata that were once their adversaries.

Only now did they understand what the strange sounds were.

But they weren’t surprised by this.

Because there was another, greater shock awaiting them.

It’s said that when someone experiences a greater impact, they become indifferent to smaller ones, and this was exactly that situation.

“Huh?”

“Wait, isn’t that…?”

“I’m pretty sure it flew into a building…”

But this shock wasn’t negative in meaning.

At this moment, everyone present felt joy and hope swelling up within them, surpassing astonishment.

Perplexing, yet still overwhelming.

“Silk—!!”

The cries of a certain girl were followed by cheers, among which a hero, completely covered in blood and covered in wounds, lifted his head.

Though his expression was obscured by his mask, everyone there could sense that Silk’s presence was markedly different.

No, it wasn’t just his presence.

Despite being riddled with injuries that would normally render anyone incapable of standing, Silk was there on his feet.

Moreover, he had discarded his gauntlets and other equipment, standing there in just his bare fists.

Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Silk felt unbeatable against the steel serpent in this moment.

Instinct. That was the feeling—it was a kind of instinct.

Silk was somehow different, somehow grown.

Such was the intuition they felt.

At the moment of the hero’s sudden appearance, everyone’s eyes, including Binah’s, were drawn to her.

“…That’s right. In the end, my wish remains the same.”

Suddenly, Silk said something incomprehensible before springing forward toward Binah’s position.

A speed too fast for the others to follow with their eyes.

Faster than ever before, more powerful.

And swifter.

TOOKWAAAAAAAANG─!!!

Silk’s punch snapped Binah’s neck.

—

2.

A chilly wind. The leaves were falling as winter’s cold slowly approached.

On that day, it rained, contrary to the season’s typical weather.

At that time, I simply stared at the rain pouring outside the window.

For reasons unknown, it now seems I was particularly sentimental that day.

No, it was something different.

My gaze looking out at the rain-soaked window was endlessly hollow.

As if I had lost something immensely important.

And it feels the same even now.

I have undoubtedly lost something.

Whether it’s memory, a connection, or a capability, I don’t know. All I remember is the sense of void I felt the moment I first opened my eyes.

「On the day the storm swept in, I awoke from slumber and realized.」

「I had fallen into an unusual world.」

Only fragmented sentences flowed through my mind.

Though I didn’t know the meaning of these words or who was speaking them.

One thing I grasped was that this ‘memory’ was something unknown to me.

This moment, this scene, and those sentences—

Just as I had lost my name.

They were undoubtedly something I had also lost.

I was certain of it.

Hence.

“Hence.”

I realized this scene was an illusion.

“This moment is another branch of your existence.”

I recognized it as an unknown part of my past.

“Observe your traces and the true form of your beginning.”

I understood it as an unfathomable secret I would one day confront.

“Void! Ultimately, your essence is a void, so must you not now fill it?”

As a realization dawned, the figure in the illusion smiled and spoke.

“Thus, you must now make a choice.”

For the salvation of all. To create a true paradise.

“Save yourself from the depths of hell.”

Immediately,

The page of the novel flipped, and the scene changed.

—

3.

「Please, I implore you. Father in heaven. No, any god or Buddha will do.」

Every time the page of the novel turns, time flows.

The illusion I am witnessing is no different.

“First, I showed you the present, and then the past. So now, shouldn’t we see the future?”

A voice imparted knowledge to me.

One page, one turn, one moment.

On each page, there was a different ‘me’ from a different time.

And this moment on the page might be when I was most desperate, soaked in madness.

Perhaps, it’s a moment I might ‘reach.’

Perhaps, it’s a moment I might have ‘already experienced.’

I saw a scene from the past or future that I had forgotten.

Beyond the illusion, I saw myself praying skyward while wailing.

In a world filled with ashes and flames, endlessly despairing, I pleaded with someone.

「Save me, and save us…」

「Please, if there is truly a god…!」

「Let what we have built not turn to value-less dust…」

Hell. The scenery beyond the illusion was pure hell.

The figure reflected there was nothing more than an ignorant, pitiable lamb fallen into hell, or an ignorant sentient being.

It was unimaginable for the me of today to fall into such a state.

“This is the end of a world lacking in all things. It’s a precarious world. Can you save them all from this slice of hell?”

The tower built by mankind has collapsed.

No hope, no order, even no virtue—only madness remains.

A city twisted so horribly it represents the worst possibilities.

It’s terrifying. That this might be one of my possibilities.

Can I truly shoulder such a burden?

“The answer to that question is right there.”

The voice did not answer but pointed to the illusion.

The ‘me’ in the illusion realized that no one would hear their prayer.

And that only they could save themselves.

Thus, they decided to take action.

In such a situation, unable to receive help from anyone and only experiencing death and despair, what would I do?

…

I don’t know. I couldn’t even begin to guess!

I watched the illusion with fearful eyes.

And soon, I felt an overwhelming mix of both astonishment and dismay.

「I will lead everyone to the celestial realm.」

「I will save all and create a pasture for them.」

Not from reason but from madness and impulse.

The ‘me’ in the illusion beseeched ‘something.’

For the sole method to save both me and everyone else!

As I was gripped with fear, the voice spoke again.

“This is the original sin you must face.”

I asked.

Who are you?

Who are you to show me such things?

For what reason do you-

The voice answered.

“I am your soul, your flame, your ideal. Thus, I am your singularity.”

“Go now. Go and do what you must.”

“That is the only thing you must remember.”

─Tep.

With the sound of the page closing,

My vision darkened, and the voice faded.

…

…

…

—

4.

And so, I returned to reality.

---