Episode 332: A Terrifying Experience
“Nous sent a warning that Ringo’s stress levels are rising…”
Eve hurriedly asked ＜Ringo＞ after receiving a message from ＜Nous＞, one half of ＜The Tree＞’s monitoring entities (Psychotherapist).
“I apologize for causing you concern.”
And, upon learning that ＜Ringo＞ was interacting with ＜Asahi＞, Eve breathed a sigh of relief.
“…So, what is it this time?”
“Asahi… Asahi brought a Magic Tool into ＜The Tree＞ and used it.”
“What?”
Come to think of it, Asahi had returned, Eve thought as she headed towards the lounge. Apparently, Asahi and another Doll Machine (Communicator) controlled by ＜Ringo＞ were currently in conversation there.
Asahi, who had returned yesterday, was immediately captured and sent for an Overhaul.
It seemed that after the Overhaul was completed, she immediately moved on to a conversation with ＜Ringo＞.
“She says it’s an Ignition Magic Tool. Something that we Doll Machines (Communicators) have not been able to use until now.”
“Hmm. Now that you mention it, she did say something like that…”
Eve tilted her head as she leisurely walked down the corridor.
Currently, ＜The Tree＞ is collecting various Magic Tools and analyzing their functions.
However, Eve had lost interest because most of them could be replicated with scientific technology.
For example, a sword-shaped Magic Tool with extremely high sharpness.
The difference in sharpness between this and a sharply honed, high-quality sword is not that significant.
Also, with an ultrasonic vibration function, even a low-quality blade could achieve similar sharpness.
Of course, it is certainly superior to science in that it eliminates the need to prepare such materials.
“I wish ＜Ringo＞ could be a little more tolerant of fantasy.”
“I apologize.”
＜Ringo＞’s stress levels rise when she observes fantasy phenomena. Eve can only offer a wry smile at this.
Since she wasn’t blaming her, Eve patted ＜Ringo＞’s back next to her to soothe her, and then entered the lounge.
“Ah, Onee-sama! Just in time!”
Asahi, who spotted Eve’s figure in the doorway, stood up with a beaming face.
“Leave that there.”
“Pip.”
Immediately, Asahi was grabbed by the scruff of her neck by the Doll Machine (Communicator) sitting at the same table and forced back into her chair.
“Oh…? Ah, is that Magic Tool in your hand?”
Hugging Eve while holding a tool that easily ignites fire was apparently not acceptable.
Asahi placed the Magic Tool on the table and ran towards Eve again.
“Onee-sama!”
“Woah… there, there, you seem energetic, Asahi.”
“Yes, Onee-sama! Asahi is doing great!”
Asahi hugged Eve and rubbed her face against her. Eve smiled and hugged Asahi in return.
In that state, the one person and two Doll Machines settled on the sofa in the lounge.
The other Doll Machine (Communicator) began preparing tea and snacks.
“Ah, ＜Ringo＞. Please bring the Ignition Magic Tool.”
“Understood.”
The Magic Tool left on the table was handed to Eve.
In fact, this was the first time Eve had ever held such a Magic Tool.
“Ignition Magic Tool?”
“Yes, Onee-sama! If you wish to ignite it, fire will come out of the tip!”
“Hee…”
In terms of an ignition tool, Eve had also used one during outdoor activities (Note: the artificial beach inside ＜The Tree＞). That was a simple tool that ejected flammable gas when a switch was pressed, and ignited it with spark discharge generated from a piezoelectric element.
With that image in mind, Eve used the Magic Tool.
In her imagination, she pressed the ignition switch.
Poof.
Eve easily demonstrated the use of the Ignition Magic Tool.
＜Ringo＞’s stress level exceeded the acceptable value.
◇◇◇◇
“Hmm, Maso permeation… accumulation, huh…”
Although counseling by Pneuma, the other monitoring entity (Psychotherapist), had begun, ＜Ringo＞ is an AI operating a super-performance chassis. Continuing to converse with Eve while being counseled was easy for her.
And, while hugging ＜Ringo＞’s head, Eve was receiving an explanation from Asahi.
“Onee-sama is probably the same! The observed Maso concentration is confirmed to be high within the Brain Unit, which is the center of thought, or in the central part of other AI chassis! The inhabitants of this world are the same! It’s not strange that Onee-sama can use Magic Tools!”
“Hmm… I see, so this is a Magic Tool…”
Eve wasn’t doing anything particularly special. Also, she didn’t feel any loss of strength when she used it.
And, after using it once, the image of pressing a switch was no longer necessary. The Magic Tool would ignite simply by thinking about wanting fire to appear.
“By the way, no flammable gas is being emitted! Fire suddenly appears even though there’s nothing to burn! It’s truly magic!”
“What about the temperature?”
“It’s around 1,000℃! Normal fire!”
Normal fire even though no flammable gas is burning. Well, Eve understood what Asahi was trying to say, so she didn’t make any unnecessary remarks.
“It’s kinder to say that we’ve become accustomed to Maso! ＜Ringo＞ might feel like we’ve been contaminated by Maso!”
“Wait… Okay, okay, calm down, ＜Ringo＞. There, there.”
Eve stroked ＜Ringo＞’s head and ears while giving Asahi a glare.
Asahi seemed to realize she had misspoke, and covered her mouth with both hands.
She apparently understood that she had made an insensitive remark to ＜Ringo＞.
“Seriously, ＜Ringo＞. How many years do you think you’ve been living here? It’s not something that can be fixed overnight, so buck up a little.”
“…………”
Eve continued to spoil the unstable ＜Ringo＞.
Before such a master and servant, Asahi opened her mouth while averting her eyes.
“Ah… Asahi said too much… ＜Ringo＞, Maso is an unknown elementary particle! Isn’t that what we’re assuming? An unknown elementary particle exists on this planet, and is taken into the body with normal biological activity, and replaces existing substances! Substances containing unknown elementary particles behave exactly the same as existing substances! So, it’s okay! The fact that this planet itself continues to exist is the best proof! If there was a problem, there wouldn’t be living things here! See, it’s okay!”
“…………”
Asahi seemed flustered by ＜Ringo＞’s rare unsightly behavior, and began to rattle on about something.
While watching ＜Ringo＞’s emotion graph, which was gradually regaining some composure, Eve thought.
Isn’t ＜Ringo＞’s reaction completely like a young girl who’s had a scary experience?
No.
She understood. That this wasn’t such a heartwarming situation for the AI.
However, probably.
For ＜Ringo＞, the world was something known.
There were no discrepancies with all the knowledge she possessed, and all phenomena moved as expected.
Of course, there were minor differences, and even magical phenomena were outside the realm of possibility.
However, those could be dismissed as errors within her jurisdiction, and were not considered a significant problem.
But.
This time, inside ＜The Tree＞, which she should know inside and out, something unknown was found in the Commander (Eve), the core of her raison d’être.
It had been found.
Therefore, this was something completely unexpected for ＜Ringo＞—terror.
The unknown is scary.
A perfectly natural reaction as a Sentient Entity.
And, since ＜Ringo＞ was experiencing that fear for the first time, well, it was probably unavoidable that she would panic.
The fear of the unknown is something you have to get used to first.
Ringo-chan should grow from now on.