281 To Open One's Eyes

"Great!" Said the golden beauty before throwing another question into the conversation, which was something that had befuddled her previously, "Talking about the Red-Crystals and the bead… that makes me remember, now that master is immune to the Red-Crystal's poisonous attribute, why aren't you consuming the ones we have at hand? Could it be master didn't find the time to? Or that you're going to do it tomorrow?"

At this point, a contemplative look showed up on his face before he finally started talking, "Hmm, about that… actually, I'm not going to absorb the flame-substance of any of the crystals. I mean, there are many reasons as to why I shouldn't be taking it just yet."

Puzzled, the golden beauty inquired further, "And what are those?"

"First of all, I don't fully understand the Red-Crystals yet, I don't even have a definite rough picture of what the Red-Crystals really are… I mean, almost every conclusion I reached about the Red-Crystals are all only hypotheses. So, why would I risk consuming something which I can't get my head around? Who knows what would happen to those Abnormals taking the Red-Crystals in the near future? Who knows what kind of consequences absorbing them might result in? So, at least, for now, before I've seen many human and Abnormal subjects testing them, I'm not gonna take them." Expounding to this point, Virus asked, "Does that make any sense?"

"Yes, master! You're really wise to do that and not be tempted by easily accessible gains at reach." Inclining her head, said the golden beauty, before mouthing, "You said first of all, what are your other reasonings?"

"Hmm, the second basis of my rational reasoning is… we haven't even begun to figure out where these strange creatures who carry the Red-Crystals are coming from! I know they are here, but I still can't fathom where they are coming from! I'm not even close to unraveling half of its mysteries, so again, why risk it so soon?" After entering a brief moment of silence, at this point, he continued, "And third, I'm not even sure if I do possess a soul or not, to begin with! I mean, even in my previous world, the future, the matter of soul was something humanity always struggled with. They were not certain if those AIs who permanently entered a biological body gained a soul or not! All they could suspect was that they indeed didn't acquire a soul, but even that was just a hypothesis they came up with due to various rationales such as no AI ever possessing a Trait or whatnot!"

"And even if I do happen to have a soul, first, I need to struggle with questions such as, are there any differences between my soul and that of a human being? Or are our souls one and the same?"

"And last but not least, let us assume I have a soul for a second. In that situation, since I don't have a Trait, are there any benefits at all in consuming the flame-like gas in the first place? Or will it be detrimental? The answer to this question will be revealed soon since some of the countries are currently preparing to experiment on normal human beings using the Red-Crystals."

Having finished with his rationale, he concluded, "These were my main justifications for not consuming any Red-Crystals up to this moment."

"Amazing! Just as I thought, behind Master's every action, almost always, there's a logical reasoning to back it up!" She mumbled incredulously.

Though, this made Virus wonder while frowning, 'Did she just say 'Almost' always?'

_____________

The next day, after freshening up and having his breakfast, Virus walked into his personal laboratory.

Then, grabbing the bead, for a brief moment, he gazed upon it before putting it within the [Microscope 1.0].

Soon, the 3D image of an awe-inspiring molecular structure of the 'bead' revealed itself before him. The 3D map of the structure was so beautiful one would feel as if he or she was looking at the infinite space itself.

After studying it for a few seconds, with a shimmer of comprehension passing through his eyes, Virus mumbled in some shock, "Just as I doubted. It's that thing. But how? Could it be that those beasts also exist in the place Red-Crystal creatures are coming from?" The moment Virus had seen the bead for the very first time, due to its similar appearance, he had suspected the bead to be what he already had in mind, but before studying it for himself, he couldn't be sure previously.

Now though, he was certain what he was staring at was the same object. But as to what exactly he was looking at and its specific details, that shall remain for another time.

…

Ten minutes later, exiting his laboratory, he told the golden beauty, "Lil Belle, we have some things to talk about. How about you make a cup of Café Latte for me, then we'll talk."

"Sure, master. Did you check what you wanted to know regarding the bead?" She inquired with glimmering eyes of anticipation.

"Yes, go bring the Latte first." Virus demanded with a half-smile.

"Yes, master."

A while later, the golden beauty placed a cup of coffee before Virus. Looking at the frothy coffee on which the shape of a heart was drawn, made an unconscious bright smile creep on his face.

Then, politely, he said, "Thanks for the amazing latte, please take a seat."

"Sure…" The golden beauty did as she was told.

Sitting on the couch right beside her master, she patiently anticipated the conversation they were about to have.

"So, I'm sure you have some ideas about what I'm going to talk about, is that correct?" Virus phrased calmly.

"Yes, we're going to talk about the matter of my physical body, right?" She replied with a delightful smile.

"Exactly. So you see… there are a few drawbacks to having a true physical body. You should hear them out before making your final decision on whether you do indeed want to have a body or not… just listen to my explanations till the very end before making a decision, alright?" By now, he had a very solemn expression as he talked.

Feeling the stern aura exuding from her master, the golden beauty's eyebrows also came closer to each other as she acceded unsmilingly, "I understand, master. Please go on."

"Hmm, so, the first disadvantage of moving into a real physique is that it cannot be undone! This is the ultimate rule number one! This means you will be caged within the same body for all eternity! This also implies, if you die, you die for real!" He delineated gravely. According to Virus, this was the most serious disadvantage of moving into a body. The one thing even he wasn't exempted from.

In spite of her already being aware of this unchangeable mortal fact, hearing it from the mouth of her master, in his own unique way of describing the gravity of the situation, sent an uncontrollable chilly shiver down to the golden beauty's spine!

Taking a small sip from his latte, he proceeded, "The second detrimental point is fragility… you need to understand that the human body is really fragile and easily broken apart. No matter how severely you're injured right now, I can still put you back together, just as new as before… even if your body is entirely incinerated and nothing remains of you anymore, I can still draw the data and your consciousness back and put it into another artificial body, which means, in your current state, you can almost be considered an immortal being in a true sense." Pausing momentarily at this point, he added, "But unfortunately, that will change the second you move into a real biological frame."

He went on, "Connoting, the moment you die, if I'm unable to bring you back with the advanced methods I possess, you will die in a true and literal sense, never to exist again. Even if I copy your current data and place it into another body after your death, that still wouldn't be the current you! It'll only be another you, who is not really 'you'. In a more simple term, a 'hard copy' at its best."

Once again, she felt her preconception of possessing a real corporeal body shatter apart as she realized entering into a body wasn't all that sunshine and rainbows.