He was the reason the Singularity Project had failed and the final war had begun.
“So then, this whole time, Matsumoto was…?”
“It’s the only explanation I can think of. Events changed, but considering I came up with the Singularity Project once before, there must’ve been an AI revolt in the original history. Thus, our interloper modified history with even more intention.”
The theory he’d put forth was plausible enough.
Vivy had felt something was wrong on several occasions throughout the various eras as she carried out the Singularity Project. That feeling was strongest during the incident with Ophelia. While in the middle of that, she had encountered Kakitani Yugo, who had received information about the Singularity Project from some unknown actor.
Someone aware of the Singularity Project had been trying to hinder Vivy and Matsumoto’s efforts—and though she didn’t know for sure, the most likely culprit was Matsumoto himself. At each of the Singularity Points, Matsumoto had guided and supported Vivy, and they helped each other out. If that was all just a sham to create this world…
“…”
Piece by piece, the information fit the grander puzzle. The connection was vague, and her thought processes resisted the truth, pushing her off course despite what she knew to be fact. If Matsumoto really was her enemy, there was so much more he could have done.
He could have just destroyed Vivy since she was the one who was carrying out the Singularity Project.
No. Error. Diva would continue to operate for a hundred years. He couldn’t alter that history.
He could have openly blocked Vivy from modifying each Singularity Point—each turning point in history.
No. Error. If he strayed too far from intended events, there was a chance the final war wouldn’t happen at all.
He could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have, he could have
Error. Error. Error. Error. Error. Error. Error. Error. Error. Error. Error. Error. Error. Error. Error. Error. Error. Error. Error. Error. Error. Error. Error. Error.
“Insufficient evidence.” Vivy cut off the vast number of calculations she was running and opened her eyes.
“Vivy?” prompted Professor Matsumoto, concerned.
She understood the professor’s suspicions, and she agreed with him wholeheartedly. Yet nothing was certain.
How many times had history struck from behind on their journey because they were only privy to the tip of the iceberg? The entire Singularity Project was merely them turning the tables when they didn’t like something.
“Kakitani, help me,” Vivy called out to the woman running ahead of her.
“With what?” Kakitani asked, cocking a brow.
Vivy ran up alongside her, replicated a sharp gaze in her eye cameras, and said, “I need your assistance, Kakitani. Help me talk to that blockhead behind us.”
. : 3 : .
SMOKE SCREEN RESULTING IN insufficient data from visual sensors.
Switching to thermal imaging sensors. Collecting data on targets.
Several heat sources detected within the surrounding kilometers. Discarding unnecessary data. Adjusting range of search to increments of ten meters, limited to building known as Princess Palace.
Two moving heat sources detected. One, a living body, 171 centimeters tall. The other, an AI, 164 centimeters tall. Previously lost targets confirmed, reinitiating pursuit.
Limiting discharge of artillery, scanning structural integrity of building. Artillery capable of reaching fleeing heat sources through walls, but high probability of building collapse.
Probability markedly low that this unit will be rendered nonfunctioning in the event the Princess Palace collapses. While one of the fleeing heat sources will undoubtedly be rendered unable to move, the other may not be rendered non-functioning.
That will not fulfill orders.
“…”
The AI rearranged the cube parts making up its frame and dashed down the corridor littered with debris. There was a limit to the amount of jet fuel it had, and it could only use its flight capability so much. With its cubes, it ran through the uneven hallway in pursuit of the fleeing heat sources, progressing deeper into the building. It knew the layout of the castle’s hallways, making it easy to corner its targets in a dead end. However, its targets also had the option of destroying the walls to escape, so even that strategy would not be certain to succeed.
It continued the chase when suddenly, one of the two heat signatures—the AI—disappeared from the thermal detection.
“…”
The amalgamate AI briefly ran calculations on the missing heat signature and determined the unit likely sustained significant damage from the artillery and became nonfunctional.
With that, its targets were reduced to one. It updated the goal for its actions. However, leaving the non-functioning unit was a violation of its highest priority order, so it must recover the unit.
“This way, Cubeman!”
Target encountered. Appears to be prepared for this unit’s approach at the intersection ahead. Receiving fire from target’s semi-automatic handgun. It lacks sufficient firepower to pierce this unit’s armor.
However, target is clearly capable of high-level decision-making as it attempts to strike the same location in this unit’s armor. It also has the skills necessary for precision shooting. Updating threat evaluation of target.
“…”
As it was doing that, its calculations also expressed an opposition to being called “Cubeman.” It was able to calculate that the name likely came from the cube shapes of its body, but that wasn’t its name.
This unit’s name…
“…”
This unit’s…name…
“What’s wrong, didn’t you come to play?! If so, stop this hide-and-seek whatever in a castle with no princess and let’s go hop on a roller coaster or the pleasure cruise! I’ll destroy your positronic brain from behind!”
“…”
After shouting what could be considered a challenge at the AI, the target ran off to put space between them. This show and retreat was an obvious attempt to lure the AI, but the unit’s ability to handle any issue meant it didn’t matter what kind of tricks the target had up its sleeves.
The AI cut all resources allocated to anything other than its top priority: fulfilling its goal. It increased the rotation of its frame’s lower half to accelerate and immediately closed the distance between it and its target.
There was a tripwire along the path, a smoke screen burst into view, a bright light exploded, the walls crumbled, gunfire struck it from crevices, and the AI still pushed on, shrugging it all off with its overwhelming specs. It broke through the mountain of traps, impressed that they were set up in so short a time, and flew once again into the employees-only space in the back of the Princess Palace.
It made its way back to the floor with Diva’s room, trying to pin down its target, when it realized something.
“…”