Novel: Amber Acceptance | Chapter 10

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Chapter 10

Infinite Graphical Connections

　★

　Before I was born in 2024, it seems it was predicted that artificial intelligence would surpass the limits of human intellect around 2045. The so-called "Technological Singularity." This has been surpassed about ten years ahead of schedule.

　When I was in elementary school, it was easy to imagine cyber viruses running rampant in the near-future information network. There was a common conspiracy theory that the AI wielded by manga-like evil hackers might destroy Japan's myth of safety, and I worried that this could realistically become three-dimensional without any joke.
　
　Looking at the changes in civilization from a bird's-eye view, it was inevitable that the number of people without a place in society would increase. There was just too much information that could only be interpreted that way, and it was unnatural. If you read old newspapers in a rigid, formal way,

"Excessive anxiety factors. Relatively weak hope."

　The adults must have been scared, too.
　It was as if the edge of someone's unknown justice was pointed at their way of life.

　It is now 2046. I am twenty-two years old.

　I have been involved in the research and development for the spaceship Hisha No. 8 for eight years. Since I was fourteen, just eight years.
　If technology hadn't accelerated explosively during that time. And if I had been given up on by my assistant, Haruka.
　It makes me shudder to think about it. It would have taken eighty years or more to get this far, and I would have lost so much time.

　If I were to have a child and that child grew up, I wonder if it would be an era where job information for space-related services is commonly seen.
　In the near future, it would be wonderful if there were the freedom to jump into any industry you like with the same energy as going to explore that area.

　I am curious about the direction in which inventors and scientists are heading, as it relates to my current profession. Could our technology be part of a plan for God to relinquish the realm of God, I wonder.

　Haruka said in his sleep that he believes in God. Even in this situation, I am grateful to God as well.

　God. I am in trouble in a narrow basement, but I am grateful that I have been given someone with whom I can have bizarre discussions at a speed as if we were riding a time machine, even if it is in a makeshift way.

　God. Haruka prepares my meals every day. He also makes me eat vegetables. He says that part is an optional service. Thank you very much indeed.

　★

　Haruka's main service, his primary duty, is astonishing. He handles technical support, such as sharing the highly practical AI character "Shichimi-kun," which can fight back thoroughly against external cyber attacks, and operating the another network system "Nerukomu." My gratitude for such otherworldly work is so heavy that it cannot be converted into light feedback.
　In his private life, Haruka diligently writes modern fantasy novels every night. Under the pretentious pen name of "Utakata Taiyo" (Ephemeral Sun).

　I also let Amber read the stories Haruka writes. She quite liked them. They are works that are good as reference material for self-study, good as a cautionary tale for life, and can also be read just like enjoying a snack. It might seem like mixing business with pleasure, but I believe that such mental enrichment outside of work is beneficial for her.

"Amber, it seems you are reading with pure eyes."

　Yes, I tried praising her.

"Right? This is surprisingly complex. Uhihihi. Why don't you write one too, Bell? I'll read it!"

　Amber seemed proud that she could read stories. She was strangely confident and acting cool.

"I don't think I could write a good novel. You should write one yourself. Something better than Haruka's."

　For Amber to bless what Haruka wrote was, logically, like a Möbius strip of self-praise. But I felt it would be boorish to point that out. When Amber looked happy, I naturally wanted to smile too.

　Both Amber and I like to read and write. I especially like writing at night.
　Haruka, too, and surely that Mr. Paul as well.
　When you are writing something with all your might, for some reason, hope springs up.

　★

　But I digress.

　Tonight, in the living quarters of this laboratory, Haruka is once again writing something intently at a desk back-to-back with mine. I pray that steam from the heat of her intellect doesn't start rising from her head. It's cramped in here, after all.
　As for me, I am indulging in my own self-centered, sweet leisure, writing this journal.

“Ah, I'm sleepy. But just a little more. Belle, want some coffee?”

　Haruka asks as if it were nothing.

“Best timing. Thanks.”

　I accept as a matter of course.

　I wonder how many years it's been since we both spent a night like this quietly. When I bit into the frozen taiyaki that Haruka had warmed up for me, I suddenly felt like crying. Oh dear, my tear ducts have gotten weak.

　...

　As I confessed in a previous entry, I succeeded in creating a brain interface.
　The artificial intelligence of Hisha-8 and my consciousness did not violate the theory of relativity, yet they fused in a mysterious way, as if they were defying it.
　By the exact same principle, my assistant, Haruka, also succeeded in a brain interface with Shichimi. Well, there was no way that something I could do would be impossible for Haruka.
　Shichimi is currently expanding the imagination that Haruka has cultivated through her continuous novel writing to an infinite degree.

　Explaining the specific circumstances would sound too detached from reality, but it is an important fact, so I will clarify it here.

　To put it briefly, four years ago from now—that is, on May 10, 2042—our scarred soul copies were caught up in a cluster of background consciousnesses where Haruka and Shichimi's conflicting thoughts collided. After enduring the stimulating side effects of that, we were awakened to a performance that allows our brains to function at a time perception speed ten times slower than that of an ordinary person.

　Having survived the endless, storm-like era of cyber wars, our brains can now, without hurting each other's consciousness as we did before, individually and independently 'generate ten hours' worth of future material in one hour.'

　Oh my, writing it that way makes it sound strangely convoluted, or perhaps hard to believe at first. But facts cannot be edited. I wish I could change it to a sentence that conveys the state more simply.

　From another angle, it is not impossible to declare it to the academic society as follows.

　The world where Hisha-8 and Amber-Haruka.com exist could never have existed if my assistant and I had not dived into the storm-like virtual vortex and developed it after effectively spanning forty-four years of research.

　...

　Because Amber is such a carefree dog, sometimes I secretly want to say that we really did find quite a treasure.
　The strategist, the second-in-command, influences the war more than the king. This was an undeniable truth.

　If by any chance Haruka Utakata-Taiyo, the part model for Amber-Haruka.com, were an enemy. Just thinking about that gives me goosebumps.
　If that were really the case, it would be a bad ending like a new type of horror movie where unmanageable anti-sanoverse run rampant. We would all be dragged down to an even worse place.

　As an aside, I will add a little more for his honor.

　The level of passion in Haruka's writing always exceeds my own predictive range. While Haruka is writing, Shichimi tries to interfere with his brain, but is always denied connection by a wall of strong will.

　Shichimi is strong. Absolutely necessary for our future. And that strength is also dangerous. Because if there is a gap in a human heart, it tends to become overprotective and try to lead.

　But that is how it is.

　As long as Shichimi-kun is Shichimi-kun, no matter how much he is upgraded, he will never, ever be able to catch up to the spirit of the creator Haruka Utakata-Taiyo, who strives to remain free, his selfish creativity, and his relaxed playfulness.

　★

Chapter 11
follows "How to Solve Fun Acorn Ciphers"