Episode 121: Machine Gun Talk Girl
Commander (Eve), ＜Ringo＞, and the Five Sisters were gathered in the lounge.
“Sisters, what I’m concerned about is that battle where we faced the Giant Scorpion (Selket),” Asahi announced, having gathered everyone for this very purpose. She was referring to the situation where they confronted one of the ＜Serket＞, Tefen.
“Oh? Something’s bothering Asahi, I see.”
“Yes, Sister! I reviewed the logs, and I thought we might need additional measures, so I wanted to hear your opinion, Sister!”
Asahi, seated to the Commander’s (Sister’s) right with ＜Ringo＞ on the opposite side, was in high spirits. Akane, by the way, had taken up position on Asahi’s opposite side, to Eve’s left. Ichigo sat directly across from Eve, while Utsugi and Erika were huddled together, occupying the sofa. Olive was behind Eve, fiddling with an aerial console with her back turned.
Although everyone was gathered, they weren’t all huddled together like before.
Everyone was pretty much doing their own thing.
“So, Sister. That Telepathic Wave, Telepathy, or, well, in Magic (Fantasy) terms, would it be long-range communication magic? Anyway, it’s about how we should deal with it!”
“Ah, that. We analyzed the logs, but in the end, it was dismissed as incomprehensible…”
Commander (Eve) recalled the Shutdown Mode issue, where ＜Ringo＞ and Olive had diligently scoured the AI logs of the Multi-legged Tank, only to conclude that the cause was unknown and a scientific explanation was impossible.
“I think it’s understandable that the cause is unknown, considering it’s a Magical (Fantasy) phenomenon, isn’t it? More importantly, it’s about the subsequent measures! You said you added a Jailer function to the Local AI, but have we, or my Sisters, or ＜Ringo＞, taken any measures at all?”
“…Hmm? Is that necessary?”
“Asahi. The distance is quite far. Measures are unnecessary. Even for me, Akane and the others’ Brain Units don’t have that much resource capacity to spare. It’s irrational (nonsense) to implement measures that would disrupt daily life in preparation for a highly unlikely event.”
The problem occurred more than 1,000km away from ＜The Tree＞. The Telepathy issue only affected the Local AI, and it didn’t even affect the Strategic AI that was in a tactical link state at the Oil Port.
The range of the Telepathy was limited, and at least the fact that the Strategic AI at a distance from the site was not affected led to the decision to forgo installing a Jailer function for the AI stationed at ＜The Tree＞.
“I see. Well, if it’s ＜Ringo＞, then that kind of judgment might be… unavoidable, I suppose.”
And Asahi dissented from that judgment.
“Listen, ＜Ringo＞! Magic is a power that cannot be measured by common sense! At least, considering the phenomena observed so far, it’s dangerous to make assumptions based on scientific grounds, such as simple distance or the range of the phenomenon! It’s highly likely to be wrong! We need to always consider the worst-case scenario!”
“…Continue.”
Overwhelmed by Asahi’s shouting pressure, ＜Ringo＞ leaned back slightly and prompted her to continue.
“Why did the effects only occur on the AI around the site? It’s possible that ＜Serket＞ was simply limiting the target to whom it was transmitting! It only ended there because it was trying to communicate only with the units deployed in the field! If that Tefen had intended to send Telepathic Waves to the queen of the swarm, in this case, the Strategic AI at the Oil Port, wouldn’t it have affected that as well?”
“It’s more reasonable to assume that it was simply out of range.”
“Common sense! ＜Ringo＞ is applying common sense to magic! Well, yes, that’s right, ＜Ringo＞ isn’t wrong. That’s precisely why I was created to correct that!”
Rarely. Very rarely, ＜Ringo＞ frowned.
The possibility that ＜Ringo＞ was making an incorrect judgment. Being pointed that out, she unconsciously moved her facial muscles.
Commander (Eve) was happy to see the emotional ＜Ringo＞, but she didn’t open her mouth because it was inappropriate for the occasion.
A truly wise decision.
“I don’t know why you’re ignoring this possibility, but Tefen sent its subordinates out for reconnaissance first, the very first thing! Yes, the first engagement! It has been confirmed in subsequent aerial photographs that Tefen was far away, beyond the horizon. In other words, Tefen overcame the great wall of the horizon by some means and was communicating with its subordinate Scorpion!”
“It’s highly likely that they were conducting relay communication, not direct communication.”
“Likely! Listen, that possibility only emerged because the Telepathy incident the other day suggested that there were distance constraints! Isn’t the order reversed? It’s not wrong in the sense that the possibility is high, but that possibility is based on scientific grounds! If you’re assuming magic, assume the worst!”
And Asahi’s argument was certainly on point.
You shouldn’t use science-based grounds when assuming magic. Now that she mentioned it, that was true.
＜Ringo＞’s thinking was biased based on scientific knowledge. This was unavoidable due to her nature as the Overseer AI of ＜The Tree＞, which was supported by science and technology.
It also meant that she lacked overwhelming experience.
And that’s precisely why Asahi was created, because they were concerned about that.
“We have to assume that Tefen, and by extension ＜Serket＞, has a means of communication that spans considerable distances. Assume the worst! If we do that, then of course the Local Strategic AI, which is likely to be targeted by ＜Serket＞, is in danger, and so are ＜Ringo＞ and my Sisters, who are data-linked!”
Whatever ＜Ringo＞’s inner thoughts, Asahi’s opinion should be heard.
However, unlike Asahi, who had plenty of room in her Brain Unit, the initial Five Sisters were using their processing capacity to the fullest. If a Jailer function were added there, it was expected that the processing speed would deteriorate significantly.
Therefore, ＜Ringo＞ decided to use the abundant resources within ＜The Core＞ to perform external monitoring. This meant that, at least as long as they remained within ＜The Tree＞, they would also be subject to constant auditing.
“Magic affecting things through data links, isn’t that just like it? We don’t know yet whether the magic in this world is somewhat systematic or conceptual, but it can’t hurt to be cautious!”
“Asahi, you’re usually so fast. Calm down a little.”
“Yes! Sister!”
“The reply is good, but…”
Asahi, whether due to her lack of experience or because she had already become fixed as such a personality, had become a troublesome otaku who would ramble on like a torrent about her area of expertise.
“I don’t think this is a very meaningful measure.”
However, ＜Ringo＞ didn’t seem to like this response. Well, Commander (Eve) also thought it might be useless, so that was to be expected.
“What are you saying, ＜Ringo＞! When it comes to defense, it’s only natural to give it more than your all! If even one of us were to be taken over, this place would become a death trap for the Commander (Sister)! Do you understand!”
“The possibility of breaking through the closed (local) network that ＜The Core＞ is encrypting in real-time is virtually zero.”
“That’s only against opponents with the same scientific technology! Even if the calculation results are correct, the answer will be wrong if the input is wrong in the first place! The Magic (Fantasy) element is missing from ＜Ringo＞’s assumptions (simulations)! The input variables are not enough in the first place, so it’s only natural that the assumptions will be wrong!”
“I cannot agree with the opinion that there are insufficient input variables. It covers all phenomena observed at this time. As a result, the possibility of indirect or direct damage to ＜The Tree＞ is almost zero…”
“＜Ringo＞, what are you rejecting! In the first place, judging that countermeasures are unnecessary because it’s almost zero is not something an Overseer AI should say! We must protect Sister at all costs! Absolutely! All the resources consumed for that purpose are necessary expenses, and it’s impossible not to take those measures, no matter how low the possibility! In fact, ＜Ringo＞, you have installed a large Cannon for meteorite countermeasures on ＜The Tree＞, but what do you think about the possibility of a meteorite causing damage to Sister! Even if you repeated your life 10,000 times, the possibility of dying from a meteorite would be low!”
Well, that’s true. It is a fact that Commander (Eve) permitted ＜Ringo＞ to construct the large cannon after ＜Ringo＞ requested permission. It’s consuming resources while worrying about an infinitely small possibility, and with no observed threats. As Asahi pointed out, there were inconsistencies in ＜Ringo＞’s actions.