Глава 15

You can read the key points from my mind.

Found them.

Using 'Slumber Bridge' as a filter, Dr. Kal'tsit conducted a total of 79,346 searches...

Although all the searches are related to 'Originium', according to your speculation, this data is not strongly related to its actual essential nature.

If the results are restricted and give us nothing, doesn't the trail run cold here?

No.

Kal'tsit retrieved the same entry over and over again.

This is, in itself, some information for us.

A repeated retrieval? Wait, can the infinitely-looping code made from the repeat query count be deciphered too?

...You already know the answer, Doctor.

Yes, it's a familiar name.

Perhaps it's a sign...;Perhaps it's a warning...

I've never heard of this name. Neither you nor Dr. Kal'tsit has ever said it before—

'Priestess'?

<color=#000000>............</color>

—Doctor, are you seeing what I'm seeing?

...I'm afraid... so...

'Priestess...'

You have never seen this scene before, much less seen—

(Unknown language) You're here, {@nickname}.

Is that...?;'Me'...?

(Unknown language) It took some time to refine your design for PRTS.

(Unknown language) I thought you had gone to take a rest.

(Unknown language) No, I've been thinking about your words this whole time.

(Unknown language) 'There is no language that can describe God, as the existence of God itself cannot be understood.'

(Unknown language) You know that was just mindless chatter.

(Unknown language) Suppose I take it as an axiom.

(Unknown language) With it as my starting point, would creating a language that can describe God mean we have the means to understand It?

(Unknown language) Does the prospect not excite you?

(Unknown language) Perhaps, in the pursuit of the answer to this question, we have been going down the wrong path—trying to understand the nature of the universe with its own laws.

(Unknown language) You want to use a language wholly created by us to interpret the universe. A far too audacious idea, Priestess.

(Unknown language) Haha, is it?

Without any further hesitation, she traces out a perfect rhombus in the air.

(Unknown language) Let's begin, shall we?

What are they discussing, Doctor?

You have seen this woman before in the Assimilated Universe. She once accompanied you—

But I have faith... {@nickname}...

That when you are truly confused by everything, you will remember: the answers you seek were here all along.

I will be here.

I'm afraid they're discussing...

Originium.

The scene plays out before you, but no matter how hard you try, you cannot get any closer.

Doctor, that person she's talking to... Is that you?

......;I can't say for sure.

(Unknown language) I don't believe I'll be able to create a language that will allow us to derive the ultimate answer. Not by myself, at least.

(Unknown language) I stand on the shoulders of giants, after all. From the base I put together with the greatest discoveries of our colleagues' respective fields, I will continue onwards.

(Unknown language) Even if nothing will come of it in the end?

(Unknown language) Of course. It wouldn't be the first time.

(Unknown language) Does it look like we have anything better to do while we quietly wait for the darkness to swallow us?

(Unknown language) Besides, I'm sure you won't say no to me, {@nickname}.

(Unknown language) So, where are you starting your research from?

Priestess does not answer, electing to instead look at the faint dawn light peeking over the horizon. The one next to her does not bother her any further.

The two of them simply stand aboard the deck.

You look at her, and subconsciously tell yourself: 'She's pondering something again'—

Why did you think that all of a sudden?

What is it, Doctor?

Nothing, just zoned out.

I don't think we'll be finding any important clues here.

The information Dr. Kal'tsit wants isn't here?

This is most likely a fragment of history from before Originium was born.

Based on what I experienced in the Assimilated Universe, at least.

Doctor, you mean what we're seeing right now is because you...

That's not all, I'm afraid.

—Then that huge ship floating in the sky and that giant, shattered sphere are also...

I'm not too sure what relation I have with them.

We'll make it clear, then.

But since you're sure this isn't our main target, we should continue onwards.

The singularity is right in front of us, but the bridge I built is reaching its limit.

The information density here's too high. Pressing onwards is like drowning in a deep river.

...How are we going to find the information we need in all this chaos?

Allow me.

Your thoughts come infinitely close to the singularity, all while the near-physical deluge of information presses down on the two of you...

While you yourself seem able to adapt to the pressure, you sense a great strain on Amiya.

You don't have much time.

You pull out every keyword the 'Priestess' in the Assimilated Universe said, and quickly connect together every clue left behind by Kal'tsit.

Calculate a new result as quickly as you can, then add a new condition... Continue this cycle until you have isolated the information you need.

Your thoughts are like diving into an endless ocean of building blocks. What you need to do is not particularly complicated.

Find the blocks that are different, their surfaces finely engraved with the words Kal'tsit left for you—

'I never forgot.'

I think we did it, Amiya.

Where... Where are we?

Rhodes Island.;The Rhodes Island of the past.

But this place and our Rhodes Island are—

Completely different.

Dr. Kal'tsit once said the ship was excavated in Rim Billiton and had to be repaired before it could be used.

Just... Just what exactly has Rhodes Island gone through?

I haven't the slightest idea.

(Unknown language) Looks like you're in good spirits today. I guess our efforts paid off.

(Unknown language) Were you scared, waiting by yourself in the lab?

(Proud purring)

(Unknown language) Good timing then. I'm currently trying to put together a model that reduces the loss of meta-information during transmission through special mediums. Can you try helping me do some calculations?

(Restless twitching)

(Unknown language) Alright, that's enough. I terminated your process.

(Unknown language) You are to never harm your own core unit, even if an order comes from me or her.

(Unknown language) Protect yourself, AMa-10. Survival is an instinct the living are born with.

(Stubborn purring)

(Unknown language) Haha, at least your emotional module is iterating quickly.

Do you understand their language, Doctor?

I don't.

Ignore that person and the thing by their side.;What we need is somewhere else.