Глава 15

You're right. Since Dr. Kal'tsit believed we would be able to find the key, she must have anticipated the language barrier.

Look at the glass next to that person, Doctor. It's got writing written all over it.

Formulas?

(Unknown language) It's a shame the development of Originium isn't going very smoothly.

(Unknown language) We're venturing into uncharted territory here. It's hard for others to keep up with us.

(Unknown language) While I have been engrossed in debate with her more often than not lately, our experimental progress has slowed.

(Vigorous consolation)

(Unknown language) No need to worry about us. If this model's operational efficiency meets expectations, we might be able to cross the first hurdle on Originium's development.

(Unknown language) Oh, right, Lu's sent us a message. There's been a rare breakthrough in the Caerula Arbor, and she'll be able to come visit us again soon.

(Heartfelt joy)

(Unknown language) Looks like you're very fond of her.

Amiya, we need to note down those formulas!

I'm trying—

What's happening?;Is the bridge's stability under attack?

Theresa warned me about this. It's Civilight Eterna's baseline logic trying to eliminate loopholes!

Because we're trying to transcribe information from outside the boundary.

Doctor, I don't understand what the characters in these formulas mean—

Forget about understanding them!;We just need to record them down!;I'm memorizing them as best I can too!

The information of the boundary begins to reorganize. The loophole is being repaired, and the scene you are witnessing begins to rapidly fade away.

(Unknown language) I've foreseen it, AMa-10. This model she and I developed together will succeed.

(Unknown language) I look forward to the day that language's creation is truly complete—

(Kindly reminder)

(Unknown language) DWDB-221E's synchronization is still underway? *sigh* I know that. It's not like I forgot myself, right?

The speaker starts to fade away as well.

(Whispering in unknown language) No matter where in this vast universe you came from, I bid you to witness the beacons we left behind, remnants of a civilization now gone to eternal rest.

(Whispering in unknown language) Perhaps it will be our blessing... and the final gift of hope.

You begin to feel like that person is... looking right at you?

(Anxious murmuring)

(Unknown language) ...We will see it come to be, AMa-10. I believe it so.

The formulas are beginning to vanish!

Retreat, while we still have the bridge.

But I haven't—

You still have me!;We can reconstruct them together.

A massive attack strikes your thoughts, and you sense yourself falling.

The last act of consciousness you remember is keeping Amiya as far as possible from the singularity, and that familiar figure—

Thank you for bringing Amiya back here. Now...

Leave.

It is at this moment that the mental link between you and Amiya breaks. Your mind is so exhausted you do not remember anything that happened afterwards.

The two of you leave Civilight Eterna.

The information erupting from the singularity does not cease, and among the flow, there is an insignificant scene that has never been accessed since the day of its recording—

In the quiet of space, a ray of light illuminates a field of stars, bringing with it darkness and a despair beyond doubt.

When sensors tens of thousands of light-years away receive the image of this starfield from the distant past, the planets that these stars shed their light upon are already filled with graveyards and ruins.

It has come.

Did the Presence tell you to use these words to defend her?

No, she never asked me to do such a thing when she left.

Then keep your wits around her. Don't let her confuse you.

...Because if you let down your guard thanks to her charm, she might put you in danger. That's how her people hunt. It's their instinct.

As for the person you're looking for, Priestess, the master of the ship...

She's doing some important research right now. I'm afraid her consciousness is shuttling back and forth between various research locations in this starfield.

It'll be very hard for you to have a moment with her if she's not willing.

Hierda, are you so desperate to find her because you want to thank the person who rescued you?

Not exactly.

I understand that I'm in some fantastical place called the 'universe', and it's not the afterlife, either...

I even have a wild guess that my home of Terra might be somewhere out there in this universe.

But the more I know, the more questions I have. I want to ask her—

Why am I not dead?

Where exactly is my home, Terra?

The Cautus looks out through the porthole at the stars in frustration.

Perhaps it is because her bishop and the rest of her fellow churchgoers are still praying for her back in her land, but she has no way to respond.

She curls up against the wall, allowing the light of the stars to quickly sweep across her face.

It turns out you can see time passing by with your own eyes.

She has met many people aboard this ship. No matter if they were the respected, hooded genius tucked away in the lab, or the wanderer of the universe who had survived ruination...

Their optimism and kindness have dispelled her initial fear, but she knows that she will never truly be one of the crew of this miraculous ship.

'I miss Terra already.'

Administrator permission found.

Preparing reboot process from hibernation. 3... 2... 1...

PRTS reboot diagnosis complete—

<color=#ff0000>Warning: Unauthorized 3rd-party plugin found. Restore default settings?</color>

Administrator key cognition signal verified. Restoring...

Vital sign detection module activated. Automatically loading repair module. Repairing...

Progress: ■ ■ ■

Doctor...

......;...Amiya?

Doctor! I'm so relieved...

You're finally awake.

Awake?;How long have I been out?

The evacuation hasn't been smooth. Our neural link was abruptly severed, and it's hard to maintain stability due to the information impact at the boundaries.

How are you feeling, Amiya?;What is my current condition, Amiya?

I just woke up myself.

Don't worry about me. I'm doing much better, thanks to Theresa's protection.

I'm not entirely sure.

You should get a full check-up from Dr. Kal'tsit.

Good thing you never let go of my hand, or I would be even more worried.

Don't go off on your own, Doctor. We need to stay in the emergency observation area that Dr. Kal'tsit set up.

Kal'tsit?;Emergency observation area?

Soon after we began, Dr. Kal'tsit cleared out an area that she is personally protecting, in order to ensure our safety and Rhodes Island's.

She didn't want any accidents to happen when we entered Civilight Eterna.

She knew...;I didn't see her—

I started preparing cognition baseline tests as soon as I confirmed that you're awake.

Initial testing showed no obvious signs of damage for either of you.

Diagnosing thought isn't quite as simple as diagnosing biological tissue, though. Further analysis will be required.

Welcome back, Doctor.

You look... tired.

A bit of distraction happened during your operation. I'll update you on the latest developments later.

We found potentially useful information.

The first priority is to make sure that you're safe.

Establishing a neural link through the Black Crown is extremely risky. I take it you've long crossed the 'boundary'.

Yes.

Then, my first duty must be to ensure your cognitive stability and biological health.

I won't allow the mistakes of the past to be repeated, nor will I allow the continued existence of any potential threat to your life and safety.