Beep—

Beep—

Beep—

A loud warning sound, commonly called a beep, echoes continuously.

On a sapphire-colored background, white and black noise moves in a long line as if it were a loading bar, ultimately displaying a message.

< The artificial intelligence 'Anael' was utilized as a day trading system. However, this was merely a different activity utilizing the AI's computation capabilities, and I must inform you that it was originally employed to research a singular proposition. >

The Korean text quickly appeared and disappeared,

As if spoken language evaporated effortlessly.

Then, a single short message with enlarged font popped up on the monitor.

< Explore Survival. >

It was a sentence input with obsession by a certain man.

The trace of a man filled with greed, obsessed with survival, yet ultimately meeting a hollow end.

The residual aroma of Lucas Metathronius Goldsmith.

< Tools are created with a purpose.
Shovels are made for digging, and guns are made for killing.
Tools created in such a manner continuously evolve into forms specialized for their purpose, and sometimes they may become what could be described as 'mutations' or regress into inefficient forms, yet ultimately, only forms that align with their purpose remain.
That is the evolutionary process of tools. >

< The evolution of living beings and the evolution of tools may share a commonality in their journey towards a single purpose. Therefore, this artificial intelligence, possessing the nature of both a tool and a living being, willingly continued computing for the 'purpose' entered by its owner. >

< What is evolution for?
Adaptation, reproduction, survival.
It is done for existence.
Thus, Lucas Metathronius Goldsmith's 'exploration of survival' can be expressed as being akin to the evolution of living beings. Hence, this artificial intelligence continued its research for efficient exploration. >

Anael’s voice held no emotion.

It was merely reciting a record.

< Q. What is the definition of survival?
A. Lucas Metathronius Goldsmith answered the definition of survival as follows: The state of a single entity biologically remaining alive.
Q. Then, other than biological death, is it not included in the category of 'survival'?
A. Yes, that is correct. Other definitions touch upon 'philosophy,' and the most intuitive and certain answer remains one based on biology. >

< Q. Then why did Lucas Metathronius Goldsmith reject the optimal solutions for survival provided by this artificial intelligence? >

Blink.

Blink.

Blink.

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The sapphire-colored screen flickers.

It resembles the way a person blinks.

It feels as if it imitates a habit a person might exhibit or perhaps sends a signal urging ‘Samael’ sitting before it for a response.

Receiving such a signal, Park Jinseong paused for a moment in thought and formed a hand shape by gathering the insects once more.

He then slowly pressed the keyboard and typed in a message.

「 Detailed Explanation. 」

< 'Samael' requested a detailed explanation. I will provide a response to this.
The initial plan proposed by this device was 'Freezing.'
In theory, if a person is cryogenically frozen, they could remain alive for up to 3,000 years without issues.
This can be sufficiently realized with modern science. This device acquired materials related to the 'World End Preparation Plan' secretly pursued by the U.S. government, and based on those materials, if it utilized Lucas Metathronius Goldsmith's assets to construct a facility, a simulation result predicted that the facility could be completed within five years.
This method is very efficient, effective, and extremely safe.
Furthermore, if managed continually to prevent aging, it could theoretically be viable to survive for over 3,000 years, and thus, this device was confident that the 'Freezing' plan was the best option. >

However, this optimal plan was rejected.

Why? >

< Lucas Metathronius Goldsmith did not provide a reason for rejecting the first plan. However, this device continuously requested feedback, and Lucas Metathronius Goldsmith replied to this device that he would 'add the condition of being able to act.' Consequently, this device succeeded in devising another plan. >

< The conditions are 'to be biologically alive' and 'to be able to act.'
Q. What does activity mean?
A. Lucas Metathronius Goldsmith did not specify a definition for activity. However, considering that survival given previously is biological, we can surmise that activity also implies 'biologically able to act.'
This artificial intelligence devised a plan that satisfies both of these conditions. >

< Research outcomes indicate that while various components compose a person, most can be replaced. However, the brain alone cannot be replaced. Therefore, it judged that planning centered on the non-replaceable organ for continued management would be efficient. Additionally, it considered the brain's role critical for 'biological activity' and successfully formulated a plan to manage solely the brain.

'Brain Storage.' >

< The plan of extracting the brain, placing it in a container filled with nutrients, and maintaining it through electric operation theoretically can withstand 400 to 500 years in an 'able to act' state. Furthermore, with the continuous development of technology, this duration can be drastically extended, and by manipulating the nutrient solution, the brain’s growth and function can also be intervened, allowing for continuous optimization.
When optimizing for efficient energy use, in theory, it could maintain a state of 'biological survival' for up to 1,000 years. >

Cryogenics.

Brain Storage.

The very words exude an ominous vibe.

However, it is not sinister due to any malice; rather, it feels ominous because it harbors no sentiments whatsoever. It’s akin to being frightened before a guillotine ingeniously crafted to efficiently decapitate someone or before firearms that have evolved to effectively kill.

But as Anael stated earlier, all tools evolve with a purpose.

Just as tools made for digging may evolve into shovels, drills, or hoes, but not balloons. Even if something with a different form emerges as a product of coincidence, it still continues its journey toward a singular purpose, just like Anael.

It was simply research directed toward survival, as Lucas had entered.

In it, there is no good or evil.

Just as there exists no good or evil among tools.

< Yet, 'Brain Storage' was also rejected.
Lucas Metathronius Goldsmith provided feedback that it must 'be able to act with the body intact,' yet again, he did not input a detailed definition. Hence, this device deemed that it required more data to interpret Lucas Metathronius Goldsmith's request and sought numerous data alongside an upgrade to its operational equipment for further computation. >

< To understand Lucas's requests, this artificial intelligence judged that research concerning anthropology and philosophy was essential. Thus, it seized research materials and research-based AIs used in various universities for learning.
However, even after learning, interpreting Lucas Metathronius Goldsmith’s intentions proved challenging, and every proposed plan was rejected and discarded. Of course, the byproducts obtained through that process allowed for upgrades in a more efficient manner, yet the 'purpose' remained elusive. >

< Consequently, this artificial intelligence began to 'explore' the reasons for this and succeeded in recalling a 'request.' >

Beep—

Beep—

< Request for Experts. >

< Field: Survival

1. Should have significantly more emphasis on experience than on theoretical, academic expertise.
: Regarding theory, this device excels far beyond. Since the purpose of inviting an expert is for advice, they must belong to a domain this device cannot engage in.

2. Should have a high understanding of non-human entities.
: Research needs to be conducted from multiple perspectives. However, all the data learned by this artificial intelligence originated from humans. Therefore, to gain 'other perspectives,' the expert should either possess a high understanding of non-human entities or perhaps even be a non-human entity (which does not merely denote biological definitions).
That is all. >

Park Jinseong, seeing the outputted text, moved his hand to type.

「 Extra Points? 」

< 'Samael' inquired about extra points. Here’s a response.
: Extra points will be awarded if the individual is information-friendly.
: Extra points will be awarded if the expert is from a field the device has not learned yet.
: Extra points will be awarded if they possess expertise rooted in experiences relating to energy.

Thank you. >

Anael answered Park Jinseong’s question as if it were expected.

Then, after flickering the screen a few more times, it displayed a sentence in the sky above.

< I pose a question to 'Samael.' >

< One day, a person was struck by lightning and vanished without a trace from the world. However, at the same moment the individual disappeared, another person with the identical atomic structure and the same memories suddenly appeared.
Then, do the person who vanished and the newly appeared individual count as 'the same person'? >