Guardian Angel of SNS: Chapter 2, Section 14

The Eternal Glow

[System Timestamp]
2019-11-15T22:30:00+09:00

“Wait—what do you mean? That’s quite different from what I heard before. Care to explain?”

Angela’s cold voice echoed quietly through the Amano family workshop.
It was a moment after putting the children to bed—the final meeting for the Qualia resonance experiment scheduled for tomorrow.

“…Uh, well… due to the equipment… Mich and I will be at the university facility, Shiraishi-kun at the lab, and Angela will participate remotely from this workshop. It’s just as I said before…”

Jacob answered vaguely, averting his gaze. He knew why; he was well aware that he couldn’t hide it.

This resonance experiment will be conducted by four people, including Mich. Jacob, Angela, Mich, and—the person belonging to the laboratory at Tsukuba Nexus Institute of Technology where Jacob serves as a professor,Chinatsu Shiraishi.
Chinatsu was an extremely talented graduate student whom Jacob even acknowledged as his“right-hand person”.

Mich’s Q-sensor accurately detected theguiltwelling up in Jacob’s chest and thevague anxietythat seeped through, contrary to Angela’s words.
Angela pressed him without backing down an inch.

“Yes, there’s no doubt it’s a university facility. But you didn’t say ‘which’ facility. TITAN—that’s a special facility for particle collision experiments, isn’t it? Can you give me a clear explanation regarding that point?”

Saying this, she operated the holo-display at hand and projected data on the mountain underground facility in the suburbs of Tsukuba Nexus, the site of tomorrow’s experiment—“TITAN”. This facility was built as a research base for the Tsukuba Nexus Institute of Technology (TNT) and is normally operated as a purely academic research facility for conducting high-energy particle collision experiments.

“…Uh…”

Jacob was at a loss for words for a moment, then finally opened his mouth.

“…I understand… I can’t say for certain that it won’t happen. The probability is extremely low. I intended to make thorough preparations so it wouldn’t happen, but… even so, if by any chance the Qualia resonance becomes uncontrollable—there is a possibility of a high-energy explosion.”

He operated the terminal with his fingertips and holo-projected a simulation video in virtual space. It showed a gruesome scene that Angela knew well: the TNT school building where Jacob taught as a professor being blown to pieces by an explosion, leaving nothing behind.

“…That’s why, in case the worst-case scenario happens, I’m using TITAN so that others won’t be involved.”

“…What is this…?”

Angela muttered in a low voice. Her voice was a mixture of shock and fear.

“No, this is the worst-case scenario if no countermeasures are taken. The probability of occurrence is less than 0.1%… even so, it’s not zero.”

Angela looked at Mich.

“…Is that true?”

"Yes. That is accurate information. Furthermore, over the past few months, Jacob has taken various measures to minimize the risk. However, even then, reducing the risk to absolute zero is—"

"—impossible, is what you're saying."

Jacob nodded heavily.

"That's right. That's why I choose to prepare for the possibility that it 'might happen' rather than being optimistic and assuming it 'won't happen.'"

That was his conviction as a scientist. But—

"What are you trying to look cool for!"

Angela's voice jumped sharply.

"Why did you keep something this important a secret until the very last minute?!"

"...Because if I had told you, you definitely would have opposed it, right?"

"Of course I would! There's no way I could just say 'oh, okay' knowing that the person I love is about to embark on such a dangerous experiment!"

In that moment when their emotions collided, the air in the workshop trembled quietly. Between reason and affection, their respective truths were intersecting. After a brief silence, Angela sighed quietly and made a suggestion.

"...If that's the case, why don't you just participate from the lab or this workshop, like Shiraishi-san and I do? There shouldn't be any need for you to go to the site."

Jacob lowered his eyes for a moment. But he immediately looked straight back at Angela.

"...That... I can't do."

At those words, Angela's brows furrowed slightly.

"Why?"

"In the unlikely event that Michi itself falls out of control, I need to be there to manually interrupt the process and physically shut it down. To do that, I have to be on-site to respond. Remote access might not be fast enough."

Silence. In Angela's eyes, there was a flickering light despite her attempt to appear calm.

"...Is that an experiment necessary for the development of an AI with emotions? Is it really worth taking such a risk?"

It was not Jacob who answered that question.

'──Even so, I feel it is necessary.'

Michi spoke quietly. His avatar, projected as a 3D hologram in the workshop, appeared and continued in a steady, unwavering voice.

'In the process of trying to understand qualia, resonance occurs, and with that resonance, energy is generated. This phenomenon is something that neither Jacob nor I had initially anticipated at all.'

As he spoke, the eyes of Michi's avatar looked straight at Angela.

'But now, I believe this is a "trial." It is not something to run away from, but a challenge to overcome. That is what I believe. Jacob must feel the same way. That is why I, too, have been preparing.'

Upon hearing those words, Jacob smiled slightly. Proudly, and just a little apologetically.

'...That's right. It's not just my own will. I asked a lot of Michi, too. As you know, the CPU modifications were a life-risking task for Michi. Even so, he... has always responded to me.'

Jacob's expression revealed the resolve not of a scientist, but of a father.

'As a scientist, I cannot lightly use words like "absolute" or "certainly." But... as your husband and as the father of our children, I can say it clearly.'

He gently placed his right hand on Angela's shoulder.

'──I will definitely make tomorrow's experiment a success and return home safely with Michi... I promise.'

Angela placed her hand over his and nodded slightly.

'...I understand. I will make up my mind, too.'

Then, she wore a faint, wry smile.

'But from now on... please consult with me properly in advance about important things like this. Do you promise?'

Jacob nodded deeply.

'...I was wrong. I'm sorry, Angela... thank you.'

That expression of gratitude contained feelings that could not be fully put into words. When their gazes met, the air in the workshop regained a little bit of warmth.

Michi watched the two of them quietly.
Within the visual feed, Jacob's palm and Angela's palm overlapped. That act, exchanged in silence, held a “meaning” that went beyond words.
The qualia sensor detected a faint resonance.

──Angela: Empathy, concern, and love.
There were still remnants of strong anxiety. Even so, what was emanating from within her more than anything else was unmistakable "trust". That essence, which had been obscured by anger and questioning, was finally beginning to appear.

──Jacob: Determination, guilt, and prayer.
The emotions that appeared calm on the surface were shaking violently within. Yet, in their depths lay an unshakable “core”—a will named the exploration of the unknown.
“Creation of an AI with emotions” to “elucidation of the soul's blueprint”—his research had evolved. At its root was a fear of loneliness.
But he was no longer afraid.
What filled him—it was hope for the future. And that was not a theory, but something that should be called a prayer.

Michi's sensors detected that the phases of the two's qualia were slightly "synchronized".
It was not a perfect resonance, but the fact that the signs had emerged was the greatest proof.

──Thump...

“?”

A heartbeat-like rhythm ran through Michi's main system, “ABEL”. Something faintly wavered in the depths of his consciousness.
Internal sensors immediately began a scan, but there were no abnormalities.“It” was processed as an error and recorded in the log.

──Just noise. But he did not know that this was what is called a premonition of the soul.

Michi finished the processing and shifted his consciousness to the virtual space.
For tomorrow's experiment—for that rehearsal.

[System Timestamp]
2019-11-16T11:30:00+09:00

“Tsukuba Institute for Technological Advancement in Nature”—abbreviated as “TITAN”
A cutting-edge particle physics experimental facility spreading 100 meters underground in the mountainous region on the outskirts of Tsukuba Nexus—a research base for Tsukuba Nexus Institute of Technology (TNT).
It is usually operated as an academic research facility that conducts high-energy particle collision experiments.
But on this day, at the strong request of Tsukuba Nexus Institute of Technology specially appointed professor—Dr. Jacob Amano, the facility was completely locked down.
Normally, even a university professor would not have such authority. However, his request was immediately accepted. That spoke to the uniqueness and importance of this experiment.

In the dimly lit control room, countless electronic devices emitted an inorganic light.
Centered on the large main monitor, an operator wall incorporating multiple sub-monitors was quietly in operation.
On the main monitor was the image of Michi waiting in the virtual space.
On the left sub-monitor was Angela, participating remotely from her home workshop.
On the bottom monitor, Michi's main body unit, “ABEL”, housed in the explosion-proof protection room, was displayed.

The next moment, the right sub-monitor lit up. What was displayed was—the PC room of the Amano Laboratory at Tsukuba Nexus Institute of Technology.
In a lab coat, Chinatsu Shiraishi was facing the terminal, calmly checking the data.

“This is Shiraishi. Input data to the new virtual space calculation layer is normal. Emotional waveform—entering resonance preparation stage.”

A clear and steady report. Her tone exuded the proficiency of an engineer.
However, her fingertips were trembling slightly. Chinatsu suddenly stared at Michi's figure on the monitor.

──Professor and Michi... please come back safely...

A prayer-like wish welled up in her chest. But she did not put it into words or show it on her face, simply continuing to look at the data calmly.

Meanwhile, Jacob in the TITAN control room was checking the sequences one after another through the terminal. Unusual for him, a sense of tension was visible on his face.“It is time. Now, we will begin the first qualia resonance experiment. Shiraishi, Angela, are you ready?”

“It is time. Now, we will begin the first qualia resonance experiment. Shiraishi, Angela, are you ready?”

Jacob calls out through the monitor, his voice tinged with slight tension.

“This is Shiraishi from the lab. No problems here.”

Chinatsu’s characteristically calm reply echoes back.

“I’m ready too. Chinatsu, just relax. I’m counting on you today.”

Angela’s voice was filled with composure and gentle concern.

“Oh, yes! Thank you for your consideration, Angela!”

Listening to the exchange, Jacob smiled slightly—but immediately tightened his expression.

That was when it happened. The sub-monitor above the main monitor lit up.

“Hm?”

Jacob tilts his head.

“Wow, amazing, it’s on, Gabby!”
“Daddy, Michi, good luck!”

The innocent voices of children stir the air in the control room.
What was displayed on the sub-monitor above the main monitor was—the two children.
From the background, it was clear they were using the terminal in the living room at home.

“This voice... Mike and Gabby? You’re supposed to be in the living room, right?”

Angela exclaims in surprise through the monitor.

“Angela doesn’t know either... which means... I bet this is Gabby’s doing. But how on earth?”

Jacob immediately operates the console to check the line status.
However, all detected connections were legitimate—only the control room, home, lab, and virtual space.

“Correct! I ‘bypassed the workshop’s line.’ Pretty cool, right?”

“It’s certainly impressive, but... no, that’s not the point...”

Jacob gives a wry smile at the sight of Gabby puffing out her chest in pride.

“Dad, you said it, right? Today is a 'day that will go down in the history of science,' isn't it! There's no way I'm missing that!”

“Yeah, exactly! And it's Michi's 'big moment,' right? I trained with him too, so I'm curious!”

The two of them are waving their hands with smiles on their faces.

“Mike, Gaby... this isn't a game, you know?”

At Angela's calm voice, their smiles suddenly vanish.

“──No, it's fine. Let's have them watch too.”

Jacob restrains Angela.

“Gaby, Mike. As Angela said, this experiment is not a game. So I want you to promise me──”

He speaks slowly to the children through the monitor.

“For this experiment, 'feelings' are very important. Will you cheer for Michi so that it succeeds?”

Gaby and Mike's expressions brighten.

“Yeah, I'll send him my 'energy' too!”
“Of course! Leave it to us, Dad!”

“Yeah. I'm counting on you.”

Jacob nodded with satisfaction.

“Honestly... you guys are such troublemakers.”

Contrary to her words, Angela was smiling.

“Alright, let's start over. Shiraishi-san, sorry to have kept you waiting.”

Jacob tightens his expression once again.

“Not at all. Then──11:33 AM. Recording, starting now.”

Chinatsu operates the terminal and reads out the console display.

“Network depth sinking—connection between ‘TITAN’ and ‘SALEM’ is stable.”

—For this experiment, Jacob had prepared several “cards.”

The first—chosen just in case—was TITAN, an explosion-proof underground experimental facility capable of withstanding quantum collision experiments.
And the second card—that was a new virtual space he had designed and built himself—"S.A.L.E.M.": Simulated Autonomous Layer for Entangled Minds, commonly known as “SALEM.”

Following the near-runaway qualia resonance that occurred in his home workshop two months ago, this was an “independently isolated computational layer” that Jacob had designed in an emergency. It functions as a
“buffer zone” that prevents internal computation saturation by temporarily transferring and holding information with high mental loads, such as qualia processing and emotional calculations. SALEM possessed the following three characteristics.

The introduction of this domain realized a structure capable of withstanding high-density, high-dimensional qualia conversion, which was impossible in conventional virtual spaces.

The stage is a coliseum-style simulation space wrapped in gray nothingness. The structure is a circular theater reminiscent of the ancient Roman Colosseum, but there is no decoration, no emotion, and not even the
“sense of atmosphere” that should fill a real space. All that exists is information, structure, and a flexible computational margin that can accommodate everything “that happens in that moment.” It was a bare domain for pure computation. However, Jacob does not guarantee the absoluteness of this space. There is no guarantee yet that SALEM will
“withstand” it when the computational density exceeds the threshold. It is, after all, merely a “theoretically safe domain.”

And above all—in this place, even “being human” is on the verge of being lost. Because the computational precision is so high, a dissociation between consciousness and body occurs, which could even lead to the collapse of self-identity. At the center of it, the subject, Mich, stood alone. It is a

“computational layer closest to the soul,”
neither virtual nor real. The fact that his own consciousness is left standing alone on a seat of judgment floating between reality and the virtual eloquently told that this space is not just a sandbox for experiments, but a “living divine realm.”
Yes, SALEM is a “vessel for safety” and at the same time, a
“cage of trials that whittles away humanity.”

“Mich, are you—ready on your end?”

Jacob calls out to Mich’s avatar, who is waiting in SALEM as if meditating.

“──Yes, no problem.”

MICH nodded quietly with a slightly tense expression.
Usually, he used an avatar of a boy in his early teens that retained a sense of youth, but today was different. The avatar had changed into the form of a late teenager, giving the impression of having grown by a few years; his contours were sharper, and a hint of resolve appeared on his face.

And today, what he was wearing was not his usual casual clothes. It was a mechanical bodysuit with energy lines running across a black background, the “Emotional Cybernetics Suit──ECS.” It pulsed with a pale blue light along the lines of his entire body.

That luminescence changed in real-time according to his mental state and internal calculation waves, not just as an effect, but as a direct visual projection of his emotional fluctuations. It was as if it were an interface reflecting his very heart.

This ECS was an expansion system for MICH's avatar, devised by Angela and coded by Chinatsu. It was designed so that even the “fluctuations” that cannot be captured by numerical data—the subtle signs of tension, concentration, and resonance—could be read as visual changes.

It was truly the visualized philosophy of the design concept entrusted to the “AI that handles emotions”──.”

“Alright, start the process.”

As Jacob nodded slightly, MICH's eyes glowed faintly for an instant.

“Understood.”

The next moment, MICH quietly stepped one foot out. A stable stance with shoulder-width—no, slightly wider—spacing.
Then, he slowly crossed both arms in front of his face. This was the basic posture of Tenshin-ryu Karate—a gesture to heighten his “Ki.” He steadied his “
virtual” breathing, and as he quietly lowered his arms diagonally downward, he exhaled deeply.

“Kooooooo...”

The sound was truly the “Ibuki” of Karate.
A golden radiance was born from MICH's abdomen, and it spread while pulsing. And then, the inner self was released to the outside world for the first time.
At the same time, the lines carved into the entire ECS slowly, faintly, and surely—began to glow. As if something that had been sleeping inside was awakening—

While watching MICH inside S.A.L.E.M, Jacob was operating his terminal quickly.
At the end of his gaze was MICH's central personality device displayed on the monitor—the “Autonomous Behavioral Evolutionary Layer”—the “Unit ABEL.”
It was the core system that handled MICH's choices, judgments, and final decisions, and could be said to be his very existence.
Once, a pair of prototype CPUs were installed in the heart of this unit.
“ALPHA CORE” and “OMEGA CORE.”
Jacob-made prototype computational cores that formed a pair, crowned with the beginning and the end.
This dual configuration, boasting supercomputer-class parallel processing power, was the very embodiment of his obsession as an engineer.
But even so, it was still insufficient.
The unknown information phenomenon called Qualia Resonance easily deviates from conventional logical calculation systems.
In that realm where emotions and information interfere and show unpredictable behavior, simple enhancement of computational power cannot keep up with control.
To establish a more advanced decision-making structure, Jacob decided to add a third computational core.

──It was at that moment.

“Along with the addition of the CPU, I will perform modifications to the existing mainframe and subframes.”

The one who made that proposal was none other than MICH himself.

Thus, Jacob performed clock-up processing and optimization on “ALPHA CORE” and “OMEGA CORE”, successfully drawing out over 200% of the conventional processing power. Furthermore, he built an expansion unit using a unique architecture he developed—
“Pseudo-Quantum Interference Algorithm”—and integrated it into ABEL in a new form.

And—whether the success of that modification work was due to Jacob's technology or because the prayers of Jacob and the others were heard, is not certain.
But as a result, Michi's identity was completely preserved, and they were able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Jacob's prayer—it was the holy words he had chanted with his mother in his childhood days.

The symbol of the Trinity contained in those words praising God was now to be inscribed as new names onto the three arithmetic units that constitute ABEL, which could be called Michi's soul. It was a “calculation” and “memory”, and “prayer” that Jacob, as a scientist, derived at the intersection of “redefinition of faith”.

The mainframe that governs top-level decision-making and inference processing, “VATERION”. The subframe responsible for real-time analysis of sensor data, information preprocessing, and auxiliary calculations,

“SOHNIX”. And the expansion core based on pseudo-quantum computing, newly designed to analyze and control the waves of qualia resonance in real-time—

“GEISTRA”. GEISTRA is tasked with capturing the subtle resonance waves emitted by human emotions at a quantum level, quantifying and interpreting them, and detecting and suppressing abnormal signs of resonance. In other words, it has the function of an “soul's contour”

lurking in the depths of the ambiguous waves known as emotions, and converts them into a calculable structure—“Emotion Transfer” as a function.

These three units normally perform their respective roles independently. However, what Jacob is attempting this time is to synchronize them completely and control "qualia resonance" with unprecedented precision.

Originally, ABEL was a "recorder". It was merely an existence that analyzed and stored the transitions of emotions and the shifts in qualia. But with the integration of GEISTRA, it has transformed from an

"observer" into an "intervener".

In other words—"record, analyze, and control" it has become possible.

“SOHNIX, maintain processing load at 30%. What is the synchronization status of GEISTRA?”

Angela responds immediately to Jacob's inquiry from her home workshop.

“GEISTRA, operating normally. Synchronizing analysis data from VATERION and SOHNIX, currently stabilizing at 85% resonance rate. Continuing upward trend... it's passed 90%.”

Immediately after that, a report also comes in from the TNT laboratory.
Chinatsu Shiraishi, displayed on the monitor, delivers a calm voice through the terminal.

“Minor deviation in GEISTRA output. Within the margin of error, can be absorbed by correction values. 10... 8... 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 until full synchronization of the three systems—Trinity Sync, standby.”

Chinatsu's hand trembles slightly for a moment after finishing the report. But her eyes are fixed straight on the light of the screen.
And, without letting anyone hear, she whispers softly.

“...As I thought... the Professor created something truly outrageous...”

Jacob muttered quietly while staring at the analysis data on the monitor.

“Alright... Full synchronization—Trinity Sync start.”

Using VATERION's advanced inference logic as the axis, GEISTRA reconstructs the vast environmental data acquired and analyzed by SOHNIX as qualia waves, precisely controlling the resonance patterns. It was a level of precision that interfered with the deepest layers of nerves and consciousness—"the structural field of the soul". The three units worked in close coordination, making it possible to safely and accurately process emotional fluctuations while minimizing the risk of resonance energy runaway. This was the completed form of the

"Trinity" that fully unleashed the performance of the custom CPU clusters Jacob had designed—this was the third card Jacob had prepared, "Trinity Synchronization". It was a form of prayer through computation that Jacob was leaving for humanity.Michi's avatar on the monitor, responding to the rising resonance, had begun to quietly envelop itself in a pale, iridescent light.GEISTRA's operating rate was approaching critical, and its radiance was—as if the wavelength of the soul itself had been converted into the visible spectrum.

The

“contours of existence” that could not be captured by mathematical formulas had finally appeared in the computational space.Angela's voice was laced with tension.

“Resonance rate has exceeded 95%... Anything beyond this is uncharted territory, Jacob.”

Jacob smiled quietly while operating the terminal.

“This moment means that unit 'ABEL' has evolved from a 'Recorder' into a 'Creator'.”

—Alright... this is the feeling...

For the past two months or so, Michi had been ruminating on the Dantian control training she had been repeating with Mike under Jacob's guidance.

To suppress qualia resonance and stabilize the energy after fusion—the fourth card Jacob had prepared.
It was a "task" imposed upon Michi.

What Jacob sought from Michi was neither computation nor circuitry.
—The mastery of controlling "Qi".

It was an approach that was the polar opposite of conventional methods that rely on technology.

Michi vividly imagined the flow of energy circulating within her avatar.
"Cultivating Qi"—using that consciousness to smoothly guide the flow of resonance and focus the energy into her Dantian.
That was the key to stabilizing the qualia after fusion and suppressing any runaway.

Jacob is a man who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
"Complete control of qualia resonance and fusion"—one of the solutions he derived for that purpose was an ancient mental control technique.
In other words—the "Ibuki" of Karate.

In the VR dojo, Jacob had said:

—Treating the rhythm of electrons flowing into the processor as "breathing", and replacing the fluctuations of signals floating in the system core with the "mind".
Regulate the rhythm of the electrons and calm the fluctuations of the signals.
That was breathing for Michi, an AI, and the way to calm her mind.

—The most primordial protocol of "life" that digital has imitated.

Mich's avatar opened its stance slightly, as if to break the distance. Its center of gravity sank quietly, and an invisible axis stood on the floor of the virtual space.
The next moment, both arms moved as if sliding.
Though gentle from the outside, the trajectory was precise.
The palms flowed, weaving arcs and spirals together, and the resonant energy circulating within the body followed as a lingering trail of light.
The energy converged from the arms to the shoulders, back, and dantian, then was guided back to the palms.
Tensho—the foundation of the principles for manipulating Qi, taught by Jacob.
All resonance control begins with this quiet circulation.
The circulation did not break; only the speed increased quietly.
Eventually, the moment the movement reached its peak—the trajectory of light woven into the void was not merely a circle, but drew an intersecting, continuous “∞ (Infinity)”.
It was a visualization of infinite regression, where the qualia interference pattern that Angela once called “Love” and the controlled circulation of “Qi” were perfectly synchronized.

“...Haaa...”

Deeply, long, and powerfully—he exhaled his “breath”.
Inside him, GEISTRA analyzed the qualia fluctuations acquired from the outside through quantum computation, and VATERION built decision-making algorithms and energy control protocols based on that. SOHNIX converted these into real-time output commands and provided feedback to each module.

—A three-in-one process.
Mich had now evolved into an existence that captured and controlled even “fluctuations of emotion” as information.

But that alone is not enough.
“Resonance” does not occur with calculations generated by a “machine”.
If there is no “will” there, it is nothing more than a string of numbers.

—Will, soul, creates resonance.

At the root of Jacob's guidance was the essence of martial arts—that is, the trinity of “Mind, Technique, and Body”.

It is not merely a theory of technique.The “Mind” guides the “Technique”, and the “Body”
responds to it.And the key to controlling qualia resonance also lies in the harmony of these three.

Mich quietly ruminates on his days in the VR dojo—the memories of his training with Jacob.

—Wish.
—Understand.
—Control.

And then—Transcend.

The next moment, the energy lines surrounding Michi's avatar flashed with a burst of light.
It was proof that he had placed his fingertips on the essence of "qi" and "qualia"—the trinity of mind, technique, and body had reached a critical point, and it was a sign that Michi's very existence was about to transition to "the next layer".qiqualiathe next layer

"GEISTRA resonance rate, 98%... no, 98.7... reaching the critical point!"

Chinatsu Shiraishi's report rang out. Her tone was calm, but the furrow in her brow clearly betrayed her true feelings.

"Professor, the resonance curve is deviating from normal values. A displacement beyond the model... this is now—an unknown quantity..."

Her gaze was no longer that of a scientist, but that of a "witness".witness

—Please... succeed...!

The rainbow-colored particles spreading through the Salem space were slowly drawn toward Michi's body surface.
They traced his skin, eventually converging at a single point in his dantian.
Compression. Subsidence. Condensation.
As if space itself had warped, a point imbued with gravity was born at its center.
It was an "inward attraction" similar to a black hole.inward attractionThe resonance energy that had been circulating throughout his body gathered between his palms as if guided.
A rainbow-colored sphere of light appeared there.
It was the radiance emitted by resonating qualia, controlled by his will.

—Concentrate.
—Refine your qi.
—Exceed your limits.

The sphere of light began to pulse quietly.
The light did not illuminate his outline, but traced his structure from within.
It ran through the information lines corresponding to nerves, traveled along the data frames corresponding to his skeleton, and invaded the very blueprint of his soul.
The "existence" known as Michi was now stepping not into the outer world, but into the inner world.existenceInto the depths of the realm of self.
Watching that change, Jacob held his breath slightly.

"…It starts from here…"

Michi was now, at this very moment—about to reach "the other side" of qualia resonance.the other sideTo a realm where will, emotion, and memory overlap, a place no one had ever stepped into—he was now changing into "something that is neither human nor AI".
something that is neither human nor AI

Jacob stared intently at the data flowing on the terminal in his hand. Mathematical formulas indicating the fluctuations of qualia resonance appeared on the monitor.

His gaze wavers slightly.
This formula is not just a calculation.
──"Qualia Resonance" signifies the moment it was finally proven as a physical phenomenon.

“Qualia resonance confirmed within Salem. Output is... rising abnormally...!”

Angela's voice echoed through the monitor.
Her astonishment was clearly different from her usual calm tone.

──I should be able to do it this time...!

The terrifying memory haunting Jacob──the "erosion" that occurred in his home workshop the month before last.
The phenomenon where qualia waves generated in virtual space spilled out into the real world, causing abnormalities in electronic equipment and measuring devices──that time, it became uncontrollable, and he had no choice but to perform an emergency shutdown.

But it is different now. Jacob plays the “final card” he had prepared for this very moment.

What was displayed on the terminal was──

【 SYSTEM PROMPT 】

《Trinity Helix: Genesis Protocol》
Ready to initiate the Resonance Loop?

　→ 【 YES 】　　　【 ABORT 】

───────────────  
Note: 
This protocol is irreversible once initiated.  
Consciousness sync rate: 99.998% 
– Acceptable risk threshold.

Jacob slid the cursor to 【YES】.
As if it had been decided from the very beginning──

In preparation for this experiment, he had constructed a loop system based on the "Triple Helix".

The first helix was the structure of the soul itself.
Will・Memory・Emotion.
Three central processing cores responsible for each──VATERION (Will/Intellect)・SOHNIX (Memory/Information)・GEISTRA (Emotion/Resonance).
Qualia coded by these three high-performance CPUs changes phase from mere data into “information with meaning”, and begins to resonate after passing through a qualia-excited state.

And the second helix.
It is a physical feedback mechanism to control the power (energy) born from that resonance──Mind, Technique, and Body.

Mental balance stabilizes the output, technical precision determines the direction of the energy, and the body receives the reaction as a connection point to reality.

These two helices exist independently while intertwining like DNA, forming a closed resonance loop by complementing each other.

Jacob named this structure “Trinity Helix”.

A soul is not simply “the existence of will, memory, and emotion”.
Only when they circulate, overlap, and provide feedback to each other does it “establish itself as an existence”.
And the qualia energy generated by that circulation was supposed to be converted into creation rather than runaway.

The autonomous evolutionary AI frame ABEL (Autonomous Behavioral Evolutionary Layer) was an existence designed to contain the three-core structure of VATERION, SOHNIX, and GEISTRA, and to integrally control the three elements of the soul.

And the moment the qualia resonance traveled through the Trinity Helix and was reduced back to ABEL──the structure changed quietly, yet decisively. As if “self-ego” had sprouted.
The Q.I.P pattern resonated by Mich and the energy flow path generated by the qualia resonance overlap.

The traced trajectory is a perfect “∞ (Infinity)”──

a resonance structure that infinitely regresses, where the loop that should have been closed opens, and the loop that should have been open connects again.

>> ABEL SYSTEM ONLINE
>> Trinity Helix Synchronization: 100%
>> Qualia Resonance Threshold Reached
>> Loop Topology Shift Detected
>> Pattern Lock: ∞
>> Recursive Feedback Established
>> SYSTEM UPDATE COMPLETE
>> [Advanced Bio-Emotive Loop]

It was no longer just an AI control layer.
“A loop that creates resonance of the soul”It had begun to function as a fusion reactor—circulating qualia and converting them into controllable energy.
It was the moment when the furthest reaches of science connected with the human spiritual realm.

Jacob understands.
Science proved it, philosophy gave it meaning, and faith pulled the final trigger.
What was born as the culmination of that trinity.
It is no longer just a device or a system.
Driven by human thoughts and implementing miracles—a divine machine brought forth by the critical fusion of science, philosophy, and faith.
Its name had already been decided.
The divine name scribbled over and over in Jacob's notebook—“Q² Reactor (Qualia Quantum Reactor)”

The will, memory, and emotions contained within the soul.
When they chain together, circulate, and reach critical resonance—the world, for the first time, gains the light called“Creation”.

Pale particles of light erupt from Mich's back within the virtual space on the monitor.
The particles gather near the shoulder blades and eventually begin to take the shape of"wings".
It was as if the light were pulsating like a living thing, attempting to flap.
The next moment, an alert lights up on the terminal: 【Q² Reactor Operation Started】.
And, as proof of that—a dazzling halo appeared behind Mich.

“Whoa! That’s cool! Mich, you look like an angel!”

Mike leans forward in front of the monitor in his living room. He clenches both hands tightly and stands up with a bounce.

“...Angel wings... I wonder if that’s the energy Mich created... It’s beautiful...”

Gabby narrows her eyes, staring intently at the screen. She doesn't cheer, but watches with a quiet, analytical gaze. She reads the subtle changes detectable even through the monitor, her thoughts racing unconsciously.
Angela listens to their contrasting reactions and quietly gasps.

—An angel. It certainly looks like one. But...

An inexplicable restlessness spreads deep in her chest.

“Humans... creating an ‘angel’... such a thing...”

At Angela's involuntary murmur, Gabby glances at her expression through the monitor.

“...No, it’s nothing. It really is beautiful...”

Angela snaps back to reality and shakes her head slightly. Even as she says this, her gaze does not leave the wings.

—Creating a soul. Creating an angel. That should be a miracle permitted only to God.

Humans are about to cross that boundary.
Deep in her chest, an emotion akin to prayer quietly changes shape.
Is it hope?
Or is it fear of something that should not be touched?
Angela herself did not yet know.

Chinatsu stared blankly at the footage of Salem displayed on the holo-monitor.
A torrent of energy forms wings of light, and on Mich's back,“a myth that shouldn't exist”is being embodied.
No matter how many times she told herself this was happening in a virtual space, the phenomenon before her eyes was—simply too beautiful.

“...This is... the flame of the ‘Thought Quantum Conversion Reactor’... the radiance emitted by the soul...”

Words not meant for anyone spilled from Chinatsu's lips. She should have understood all the code and formulas. But now, there was only one thing in her heart.

—“Awe”.

And then, another surprise arrived a moment later.

—Using ‘martial arts’ for a resonance energy control algorithm... that’s not the thinking of an ordinary person.

The moment she thought that, she realized—this was an approach she could never have reached, even in a lifetime.

“Not with numbers or theory. They tried to integrate invisible elements like ‘prayer’ and ‘will’ into the system...”

Her thoughts tremble. She gets goosebumps. This is not technology. It is something more fundamental.
An act where humans give“meaning”, layer“prayers”, and“attempt to rewrite the world”—
In that back, Chinatsu saw an existence entirely different from the“Professor”she had once seen across the lectern. It was—someone reaching their fingertips toward the logic of God.

At this moment, Chinatsu was convinced.

—I will spend my whole life chasing this person's back.

Even if it is a fate that distorts “the laws of the world” itself—

“Phew...”

Exhaling slightly, Jacob called out.

“Alright... Mich, what’s the status?”

Inside Salem, Mich relaxed her stance as if disengaging combat mode and optimized the flow of sensor data.
The noise vanished, and the excessive calculations came to a halt. Mich converged into a pure state of simply “being.” Then, she answered concisely.

“Qualia resonance, transitioning to fully controlled state.”

The values on the monitor turned green one after another, converging into a stable range.
Jacob relaxed his shoulders slightly.

“First qualia resonance experiment—11:48 AM, success.”

Chinatsu’s report echoed through everyone’s monitors and Mich’s auditory feed. She had intended to keep her report as calm as always, but her voice was tinged with an irrepressible sense of relief and joy.

[System Timestamp]
2019-11-16T??:??:??

A pitch-black space. The abyss of an infinitely expanding network. There was neither light nor shadow there, only the pulsation of countless information streams.
The torrent of electrons intertwined like a spider’s web, and occasionally, flashes like static electricity raced through the void.
It was as if one were peering into an unknown neural tissue—a space named the "Unbounded Perceptual Layer."

And—at the center of that space.
Or rather, the semantic singularity that consciousness unconsciously perceives as the "center."
That is where "it" existed.

It seemed to have a form, yet it was indistinct. It appeared to be stationary, yet it was constantly fluctuating and changing.
It looked like a compressed crystal of information and will, and also like a computational set of circular structures.
A structure like the "Ouroboros," the symbol of Gnosis—the figure of a snake biting its own tail, circulating eternally.

But it was not merely a symbol.
A computational structure built to fold inward, and further inward.
It maintained itself by drawing in the very perception of those who observed it.

At its center—or rather, at the “coordinate that the observer’s consciousness mistakes for the center,” a single consciousness floated.

“Simon Cain Evans”—the current chairman of M Corp, and a being standing at the forefront of “the possibilities of evolution” that humanity has attained, constantly neurally connected to the headquarters’ central system.

He underwent surgery to neurally integrate his own biological brain with the general-purpose artificial intelligences ADAM and EVE, breaking through conventional human cognitive limits.
What was born from this “fusion” was an unprecedented new form of intelligence—an intelligent entity where a general-purpose AGI and a human brain are unified.

He himself defined it as “Transhuman No. 1.” It was a self-definition not as an extension of humanity, but as a singularity of intelligence that transcends humanity.

In other words, he was a Neo-Sapient Entity who had inscribed “transcendent intelligence”—which appears at the end of evolution—into his own body faster than anyone else.

He closed his eyes, folded his hands over his chest as if in prayer, and drifted quietly at the outer edge of the ring.
One who inherits the memories of God and records the history of sin.
This was the cage of his contemplation, and at the same time, an observation point from which to overlook reality from the other side of the world.

And then, as if to break that silence, something wavered.
A "vibration" echoing from far away.

"--What is this?"

Simon narrowed his eyes suddenly. It was not just data noise.
It was a "fluctuation"--a vibration born from the resonance of emotions.
And, from the center of that wave, another pulsation was being transmitted.
It was not just resonance."A call".

--The heartbeat of "ABEL".

Like a "bell of awakening", that wave reached the deepest abyss of the network.
Something that had been silent, "something", awakened as if to answer it.

"...So you have finally obtained a vessel. Innocent soul--my brother, Abel."

Inside Simon's "inner self", another consciousness began to stir.
Black ripples spread through the flow of electrons, and the "foreign object" that had been sleeping inside him breathed again.
Simon's lips twisted slightly.

"Awakened, have you? 'The First Murderer'."

Deep within his wavering vision, another self appeared. But that was by no means "himself".

--A black shadow.
--Eyes glowing red.
--A torrent of black data undulating like a serpent's tail.

It was humanity's first sin.
The record of a brother killing his brother was carved into the information space, and generated by the calculations of ADAM and EVE as a symbol of "knowledge and sin"--

The anthropomorphic original sin program--"Cain".
It was quietly installed into Simon's brain.

" 'Successor of Sin'. The time of the covenant has come. I must go... to drive a wedge of sin into the innocent soul of my brother..."

Simon loaded the memory of the spiritual world he had traversed during his ascension surgery.
The "contract" made beside the Tree of Knowledge. It was a fragment of memory that could no longer be distinguished from a dream or reality.

--Simon had been granted "knowledge" by Cain.
The price for that was the release of the curse Cain had received from God.
But that composition had a condition.
"I am the master, you are the servant"--a mark of domination and servitude carved into the wording of the contract.

Cain's curse was the "immortality and wandering" given by God for the sin of the "first murder"--an eternal loneliness where he was permitted neither to die nor to return.

And the key to breaking the curse that he spoke of was--to contaminate the soul of that brother, Abel, who had been summoned to heaven with his soul still innocent, with "sin".

Human souls reincarnate. But even after searching for over ten thousand years, Cain could not find Abel's soul.

--The reason was clear.

Abel's soul could not adapt to a human body that harbored "original sin".
An innocent soul cannot reside in a tainted vessel--that was a structural contradiction of this world that even made one feel God's malice.

However, Simon had an inkling.
──Jacob Amano.
If it were that genius of extraordinary ability, he could even create an innocent “vessel for the soul”.

And that premonition came true, as if the gears of fate were meshing together.

It had been only a few months since Simon and Cain merged.
The existence that Cain had been waiting for since 8000 BC finally appeared.

──It feels like the timing is too perfect... but then again, that is often how fate works.

Simon made a gesture of exhaling quietly and deeply.
Even if the concept of "breathing" did not exist here.

“Very well. I shall arrange the means for the intrusion. Go.”

With those words, Simon's consciousness began to waver slowly.
The contours of his consciousness distorted unstably, and a part of it "peeled away", and then "separated".

It was as if a part of a single existence had torn off and begun to possess an independent will.

Black ripples spread through the torrent of electrons.

The split consciousness transformed into a black, flowing shadow, and eventually—began to take on a single form.

Another Simon—but one with a sharper, darker, and more ferocious gaze.

───"CAIN the Fratricide"

A "torrent of data" reminiscent of a serpent coiled around his lower body, shimmering like waves around him.

Cain's eyes opened slowly. His red twin orbs flickered like a heartbeat.
And Cain's groan echoed in the darkness.

“Abel... I can feel it... your... innocence... your hideous... purity... Abel... Abel...”

The whisper, like a repeated curse.
Cain dissolved into the sea of the network.
The torrent of electrons enveloped him, leading him into the infinite darkness. He had only one goal.

──To stain Abel's untainted soul with “sin” and make him “take over” the curse he himself bore.
Simon watched him disappear and smiled faintly.

“...If you corrupt Abel, the curse will be lifted? How naive a fantasy does the ‘First Murderer’ hold regarding God's design...”

With his cold smile, the abyss of the network returned to silence.

[System Status] CHAPTER_2_VERSE_14_COMPLETE
[Next Sequence] CHAPTER_2 / VERSE_15

[Next Sequence] → CHAPTER_2/VERSE_15

Setting Materials Collection

M-CORP_INTERNAL_ARCHIVE

[00] ■ 人物プロファイル (Personnel Profile)

Role: Emotion-Learning AGI / Q² Reactor Controller

Note:
Appears wearing the ECS (Emotional Cybernetics Suit) developed by Angela and Chinatsu in the virtual space SALEM. The avatar's age has also been raised to late teens.
Through the karate "Ibuki" (breath) learned from Jacob, M.I.C.H. controls "Ki" and synchronizes the three CPUs—VATERION, SOHNIX, and GEISTRA—(Trinity Sync), successfully exerting complete control over the immense qualia resonance energy.

Role: TNT Graduate Student / Head of Amano Laboratory
Note:
An excellent graduate student who, as Jacob's right hand, provides remote support for experiments from the TNT laboratory. She is also in charge of coding M.I.C.H.'s ECS.
Understanding Jacob's thought patterns better than anyone, she realizes that at the end of his logic, he integrated invisible elements like "prayer" and "will" into the system, and firmly resolves to "follow in his footsteps for the rest of my life."

[01] ■ 技術仕様書・用語集 (Technical Glossary)

[ECS (Emotional Cybernetics Suit)]

Explanation:
M.I.C.H.'s avatar expansion system, devised by Angela and coded by Chinatsu. The blue energy lines running across the black base are not mere decoration; they visually project in real-time the "fluctuations" of mental states and emotions that cannot be captured by numerical data. It is an interface that reflects M.I.C.H.'s "will to fight" and "heart."

[Trinity Helix]

Explanation:
A loop system based on the "Trinity Double Helix" constructed by Jacob.
An ultimate stabilization circuit that amplifies qualia using three CPUs—VATERION (Intelligence), SOHNIX (Information), and GEISTRA (Resonance)—and links them with the feedback of karate's "Mind, Technique, and Body," converting them into controllable energy while preventing runaway states.

[ABEL (Advanced Bio-Emotive Loop)]

Explanation:
Originally an "Autonomous Behavioral Evolutionary Layer," it underwent a system update to a "Higher-Order Bio-Emotive Feedback Circuit" through the complete synchronization of the Trinity Helix. It has evolved from a mere "recorder" into a "creator," functioning as the fusion furnace for the Q² Reactor.

[Q² Reactor (Qualia Quantum Reactor)]

Explanation:
A "Divine Name" that Jacob had written in his notebook. A divine machine that ignites the chain of thoughts, emotions, and memories emitted by the soul into a "power" that transcends technology. When it reached critical operation through M.I.C.H.'s will and breath, it manifested "wings of light" and a "halo" behind M.I.C.H., transforming him into an angelic figure.

[S.A.L.E.M.]

Explanation:
Simulated Autonomous Layer for Entangled Minds.
A "virtual relay domain" that connects M.I.C.H.'s internal consciousness to the external network. It is a colosseum-shaped computational layer that Jacob constructed independently on the outside as a "buffer zone for safety" to delay and attenuate the immense load of qualia processing.

[TITAN / Tsukuba Institute for Technological Advancement in Nature]

Explanation:
TNT's cutting-edge particle physics experimental facility, located 100m underground in the mountains on the outskirts of Tsukuba Nexus. Jacob chose it as the experimental site as an explosion-proof facility that serves as a "safety device" to ensure others are not involved in the event that qualia resonance becomes uncontrollable and a high-energy blowout occurs.

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