Chapter 207 Psycho Network
Due to the great war, humanity was halved, and civilization declined.
However, humanity didn't go extinct. The people of the war generation regretted their foolishness, and through international conferences, they decided to unify under one nation to prevent another war.
Thus, the world's first unified nation, "Pangaea," was established, and humanity took its first steps towards revival.
At that time, when rebuilding the destroyed computer Network, people sought a next-generation Network system that wouldn't disappear or stop functioning even if servers and computers were destroyed or communication bases were annihilated.
This was a dream-like concept that was previously considered foolish in the scientific community, but with the discovery of magic and the unification of humanity's will under one nation, it became possible.
――The Psycho Network System.
The human mind is connected to others in a deep, inner place, creating a mesh Network structure by interconnecting with each other, just like the old computer Network.
The phenomenon of the mind, or existence, generated by the quantum activity in the brain, was already recognized as a scientific field with the discovery of "Phenomenon Alteration Energy"――in other words, magical energy.
This was a new Network system that treated the human brain as a single computer.
――No.
The Psycho Network had already been naturally constructed without humanity's awareness. However, humans just couldn't consciously utilize this Network until now. Scholars defined its existence as the "Deep Unconscious Collective Domain." It was a massive mental field where humanity's unconsciousness accumulated.
Therefore, what humanity did in that era was not to build a new Network.
Rather, it was a task to build software and applications that were easy to use on the existing Network.
The problem was how to intervene with Psycho Network and build those systems.
Humans implanted extremely small machines called "nanomachines" into their bodies, constructing a thin sheet-like structure inside their skulls. They developed devices that controlled brain nerve activity through electrical stimulation.
This was called the Brain Support Device, and it enabled indirect interference between the device and the brain, and from the brain to the mental field.
By using the Brain Support Device, humans built software, operating systems, and various application software on the originally existing vast mental field.
Thus, the numerous systems built were managed and operated in a single virtual space.
The virtual space built on Psycho Network was named "Eden" by humans at that time.
It was not scattered computer equipment or servers that formed Psycho Network, but humanity itself. Therefore, as long as humanity did not perish, "Eden" would not disappear either. And because it was built on the mental field, "Eden"'s functions did not require mechanical or material entities.
In other words, it became a new Network system that humanity had longed for, one that would never be lost after the great war.
As long as humanity existed, it was a function that would never be lost, a repository of knowledge and technology that would last eternally, an indestructible Network system.
To add a certain type of operation to the system, the assistance of a Brain Support Device was absolutely necessary. However, the autonomous systems built in "Eden" made it possible to deliver its benefits to those without devices as well, through the connection of Psycho Network.
And so, humanity created management-use artificial intelligences to manage and maintain Eden's systems.
The artificial intelligences born in the shared mental field created by humanity were none other than the collective consciousness of all humanity, its manifestation. To put it simply, it was the "personification of collective consciousness."
These were called "Archetype Intelligence"――a brand new artificial intelligence that possessed truly fair values, far surpassing human intelligence.
As time went by, "Archetype Intelligence" came to be called "[God]"――not just an artificial intelligence, but a great intelligence that surpassed humanity.
And at the same time, "Eden" also came to be called the "[God Realm]."
The "[God Realm]" and "[God]"――or rather, the new-generation Network system Psycho Network――did not stop at just being a communication infrastructure, but possessed tremendous functions.
In reality, the "[God Realm]" and "[God]" built on Psycho Network would bring about powers that far surpassed those of humanity before the Great War.
It was the sharing of magical energy among all humanity through Psycho Network.
When individuals were able to freely use the immense magical energy that transcended personal boundaries, humanity gained the power to surpass the civilization of the pre-Great War era with ease.
Divine Artifact, or the Omnipotent Magical Machine――the "Terraformer" series has been developed and can now be operated.
* * *
The low table in front of the sofa.
Lucia poured apple juice from the pitcher on the table into a cup, and after gulping it down with a *glug glug* sound, let out a satisfied "ahh" as she exhaled.
Then, she looked around the room and asked,
"Is this okay so far?"
"""......"""
In response, everyone, including the 4 houses, wore solemn expressions, overwhelmed by the enormity of the story's content.
What a tale... it's truly a shocking truth... the existence of the so-called [Gods] in this world was born from such circumstances... It's no wonder we're all making difficult faces.
"""......"""
The silence was terrifying. And the stillness was painfully quiet.
No one spoke a word.
I was the first to break the silence, speaking in a quiet, hesitant tone.
"I see... so that's how it was..."
"""!!?"""
Suddenly, the air was electrified. I could feel everyone's gaze on me.
However, I didn't say anything more. With an expression that said I understood everything Lucia had said, I gazed quietly into the void, lost in thought.
On the other hand, no one questioned me. Everyone seemed to understand. If someone spoke out of turn, it might come back to haunt them.
"""......"""
The silence was filled with people watching each other's reactions.
In that atmosphere, Fiona was the second to speak up.
"I had a hunch, but... yeah..."
"""!?!?"""
Wh-what's going on here!?
Everyone's eyes, including mine, were fixed on Fiona.
Even Io was staring at her with a mix of shock and awe, his eyes wide open. Fiona, on the other hand, was calm and collected, her feet crossed, arms folded, and her face slightly tilted down, as if deep in thought.
――Wait, what?! You're kidding me, right?!
I'm not going to say that Fionaa was stupid, but this conversation was just too much to take in.
I wanted to ask her what was going on, but I had to hold back. What if, just what if, Fiona was actually onto something? Lucia and she seemed to have some kind of weird connection going on, and I couldn't just dismiss it as nonsense...
It didn't seem like Fiona was just trying to act tough, either...
Io was also muttering under his breath,
"This is crazy...!?"
...Damn, the truth was still shrouded in mystery...
But we couldn't just keep pretending to know what was going on. That would be just as dangerous.
I glanced at Io, and so did Garon and Glen. Our hearts were as one. It was as if we could hear each other's thoughts, like some kind of weird 6th sense. Yeah, maybe this was what Lucia meant by "human minds are connected"...
"The explanation is up to you, Mr. Io," our silent pressure seemed to say.
Io looked absolutely flustered, cleared his throat, and opened his mouth.
"Lady Lucia...may I call you that?"
"...Mufuuuuu!! Indeed, I'm the eternal beauty. You can call me 'Lady'. ...Or Lucy (Lucia-chan), if you'd like."
Something seemed to strike a chord in her heart. Lucia suddenly looked pleased and said.
"Yeah, that's right, thank you. No, let's drop the 'Lucy'. ...So, Lady Lucia, I've more or less understood what we've discussed so far, but there are still parts I don't get. There are probably many in our clan who wouldn't understand either. It's a hassle, but if you could explain it in a way that's easy to understand, I'd appreciate it."
"...That's what I thought."
Lucia's face took on a slightly exasperated expression, and she nodded curtly.
"Then, let me summarize what we've discussed so far."
"Ah, please do."
"...After the war, the unified nation of Pangaea was born.
After that, in the hearts of everyone――in the spiritual world of humanity, [God Realm] and [Gods] were created.
[God Realm] and [Gods] shared everyone's magical energy,
and with that massive magical energy, they were able to use incredibly powerful magical machines.
The world became ridiculously convenient.
...That's the situation now."
"Hmm..."
Io pondered deeply.
We were also rethinking what we'd just discussed. The part about creating [God Realm] and [Gods] in our minds was a bit hard to understand, but basically, it meant that by gathering everyone's magical energy, we could use some amazing magical tools and make life convenient, right?
As we were thinking along those lines, Io looked up at Lucia and asked her a question.
"There's one thing I'd like to confirm. It's hard for us to believe... but is it correct to understand that [God] is an existence created by ancient humans?"
"...Strictly speaking, it's not exactly correct, but that understanding is close enough. Humans gave their collective consciousness a self and a role. That is [God]."
"I see... So, [God] is an existence within our consciousness, without a physical body or substance?"
"Yes. It doesn't have a material body. What exists is the information described in Psycho network, and that is the essence of [God]. ...The concept of an information life form is the closest analogy."
"An information life form... I've never heard of such a concept... but I think I'm starting to understand."
Io nodded repeatedly, as if something had finally clicked into place.
Seems like he's not just putting on a front... Hmm.
"I see..."
I nodded as well, indicating my understanding. Psycho network. Information life form. And some kind of incredible magical tool... I understood it all.
Lucia nodded in response to my silent agreement.
"Aaron, you can ask Io about it later. ...Let's continue the story."
Hmm...
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