Episode 297: Christmas
“Christmas is said to be the day the Son of God was born, and it is celebrated on December 25th. However, there is no clear record that the Son of God, Christ, was actually born on that day. The reason it was set on December 25th, which corresponds to the winter solstice in the Roman calendar, is unknown, but I speculate it was just a convenient day for a holiday.”
“Christmas? Isn’t it on the 24th?”
Eve, only knowing Christmas as a common game event, gave that answer.
Akane nodded in agreement to that answer.
“In Judaism, which predates Christianity, sunset is defined as the transition to a new day. Therefore, Christmas begins at sunset on the 24th and ends at sunset on the 25th. Following that custom, the time from sunset on the 24th to midnight on the 25th is called Christmas Eve. In that sense, saying Christmas is on the 24th isn’t wrong either.”
“Haa, I see. So a day ends at sunset… Well, that makes sense in an age without lighting. It’s easy to understand.”
By the way, the VRMMO ＜World of Space＞ she originally played didn’t have such a frivolous event like Christmas.
Apparently, some battlefields had Christmas set as a truce day as a user event.
And there were even forces that ignored the truce and launched large-scale attacks, leading to a quagmire of infighting. It was listed on the wiki as the Bloody Christmas Incident.
However, Christmas is usually a day spent with family. It was an event that Eve, or rather, the people of that world, had little connection with. At most, it was a day when meals were more luxurious than usual, or presents were placed near their pillows.
Now that she thinks about it, wasn’t Ada (she), the sub-personality, the one who enjoyed it the most…?
“I don’t seek religious meaning, but I am interested in an event where we decorate the room, prepare roast chicken, and enjoy cake together.”
“Oh. Certainly, doing something like that together sounds fun.”
While nodding in agreement to Akane’s assertion, Eve glanced at ＜Ringo＞.
“…”
＜Ringo＞ responded to that gaze with a firm nod.
Telepathy.
Or, one could say, an easy-to-understand personality.
And so, an announcement was made within ＜The Tree＞ that a Christmas party would be held.
◇◇◇◇
The Prawa Theocracy-related troubles have settled down, and the workload on the AIs has been greatly reduced.
Therefore, all the Sentient Entities belonging to ＜The Tree＞ will participate in the Christmas party. Since some AIs do not have Communicator Dolls, it seems they will be preparing new bodies for this occasion.
“I wonder if it’s okay to have any more of those girls…”
“Yes, Ma’am. I will thoroughly manage the time. I will not create a schedule that will burden you.”
“I guess it does become a burden if we don’t limit them…” Eve thought with a distant look, and then pressed the permission button.
Increasing the number of AIs makes things easier in various ways, but it also adds mental care. And there’s only one Eve.
However, AIs without bodies do not have Communicator Dolls for good reason.
Specifically, it’s because there isn’t enough spare resources to allocate outside of their assigned area, or they are prioritizing current skill acquisition and postponing getting a body, or reasons like that.
A certain amount of processing power is required to fully operate a Communicator Doll.
Therefore, this time, on the premise that ＜Ringo＞ will perform basic control, they are using a method of issuing corresponding commands by making the operations somewhat procedural (macros).
This prevents problems such as falling over due to unfamiliar operations.
After the AI has more余裕, they will learn how to operate the body again.
“As practice for body control, let’s do things like decorating from the morning of Christmas Eve.”
“Oh, that’s nice. There are some girls I only ever talk to through communications, so I’m looking forward to it.”
＜Ringo＞ was inwardly relieved at Eve’s slightly excited mood. It was because there were no opinions such as giving everyone bodies equally.
No, it’s not that ＜Ringo＞ intends to exclude or monopolize anyone. It’s just that physical contact with Onee-sama (Eve) through the Communicator Doll is too stimulating. If physical contact (headpats, hugs) were to suddenly occur from the existing relationship of only periodic information sharing (chatting), it’s unknown what kind of impact it would have. And that’s with a large number of them.
Therefore, ＜Ringo＞ was planning to gradually get them used to contact with Eve.
Unfortunately, ＜Ringo＞ hadn’t realized it. Because she had been with Onee-sama from the beginning, she had underestimated her destructive power.
Therefore, the girls who connected to the prepared Communicator Dolls were overwhelmed by the visual information inputted from both eyes.
Yes… not as a metaphor, Onee-sama is in a position to be touched!!
It’s different from seeing her through a camera as usual.
Reacting to their intentions, the Communicator Doll’s neck and eyeballs automatically point to the optimal position.
Ah… furthermore, furthermore!
Their whole bodies are enveloped by Onee-sama’s voice heard from both ears!!
＜Ringo＞ immediately noticed the state of the girls, who were being violently shaken by their emotions. And she realized she had failed.
Even though it was just remote control relying on simple macros, it was too stimulating for them.
If that unspeakable passion were to be forcibly verbalized:
Too close, wait, precious, seriously impossible, painful.
◇◇◇◇
“Merry Christmas!”
““““““Merry Christmas!”””””
The girls who gathered at the party venue (observation deck) of ＜The Tree＞ chanted in unison with Eve’s call.
The venue was decorated by the girls themselves. Many sparkling mysterious decorations were tied up, reflecting the light of the lit lamps and candles.
A lot of dishes were lined up on the long table in the center, and in particular, the roast chicken (a whole roasted poultry similar to a chicken) that Akane had put her heart into baking was a sight to behold.
And the whole cake that Olive worked hard to decorate.
However, for the majority of the girls, the act of eating something itself is a first-time experience. The AIs with some experience are planning to assist with this.
In other words, they will be doing the “aah” thing.
“You are Wedelia Three (she). How is it, are you having fun?”
“O-Onee-chan! Nn… I, I’m having fun!”
The Aerial Escort Ship Titan, which usually patrols the airspace under the control of ＜The Tree＞. The U-Class AI Wedelia series was mass-produced as its control AI.
Although it will change again in the future, for now, one AI is assigned to one ship, so they are the most numerous of the same type of AI.
In addition, the E-Class AI Elemulus series of the Aerial Carrier Gigantia, and the E-Class AI Heath series of the Aircraft Carrier Naglfar, are also new faces at this event.
The AIs who are connecting to the Communicator Doll for the first time today were, well, having a great time, although there was a happening where their respective Aerial Platforms became unstable due to reaching their limits (＜Ringo＞ intervened and averted the crisis).
They are being taken care of by Utsugi and Erika, who are in a senior or parental relationship, clung to by Asahi, and petted by Eve. It’s a gachi-koi distance. This was very effective.
Regarding the meals, although only processed tactile and taste signals are sent because it is not a full connection, this also seems to be very stimulating.
The day when they themselves will seek a body will be soon.
And finally, Eve surprised everyone with presents.
It had been announced that there would be no gift exchange because Eve could not participate (it would turn into a fight if she did). But she thought it would be lonely without it, so she worked hard to think of something. It’s a one-point accessory, but she had to choose so that they wouldn’t overlap, so she put a lot of effort into it.
“I’ll transport the presents to the girls who don’t have bodies yet later. Put them in the Core Room or something.”
““““““Thank you! Onee-chan!!”””””
Merry Christmas!!