Arimoi

 

「Still, I must admit, I didn’t expect you to communicate with Asia via written notes.」

「That would’ve been impossible on Planet Asia.」

The primary language of the Nemesis system was English, but Aimer had been studying hiragana to expand the topics she could discuss with Kou. The Kryptos understood the importance of education, so they taught agriculture and knowledge to humans. They had even crafted paper and pencils, which allowed Kou and Aimer to carry out this plan, Kou could only be grateful to the Mythology Weapons for this. The modern pencil originated around the 16th century, born in British mines, and later refined in Germany and France.

「When did you realize my true identity?」

「From the beginning. Your atmosphere is too similar to Asia’s.」

It wasn’t his appearance—more than anything, it was the aura they projected. It wasn’t inhuman, but otherworldly, something not of this world. Far too mystical to be called human.

「That much? That’s disappointing. I thought I’d perfectly mimicked a human.」

Arima looked genuinely disappointed, not angry. It was hard to believe this boy was once the most terrifying anti-AI weapon of the Pioneering Era.

「No, Arima—maybe I should call you Typhon—you were too perfect.」

「Arima is fine. I don’t want people shrinking away just because they hear my name, and it’s hard for a Japanese to pronounce it. That’s why I chose the name Arima—a name much more familiar to the Japanese. But being seen through because I was too perfect… I can’t wrap my head around that.」

「That was exactly your problem. If the devil were real, it wouldn’t be a brutish, intimidating figure. It would appear as an ideal, charming human.」

「The devil, huh? At least I was seen as charming. I’ll take it as a compliment, I guess.」

「You were too flawless playing the role of a charming boy liked by everyone, Arima. Your warmth and presence felt so human it was indistinguishable from a real human, just like Asia or Astraea’s avatars. But just like theirs, your body doesn’t show any kind of discomfort like clammy hands.」

「I’m more surprised you’ve physically interacted that much with super AI avatars to reach that level of knowledge. Asia and Astraea are too fond of you.」

Arima chuckled, clearly not expecting to be judged by such criteria.

「Then there’s your background. With the management towers destroyed, it’s difficult to track anyone’s movements fully. But Arima, your background was complete and too perfect. That’s how I knew you weren’t human.」

「That’s a bit of a leap. I don’t understand how you reached that conclusion.」

「Maybe it’s due to the Japanese concept of ‘wabi-sabi’—a cultural concept of embracing imperfection. Something too perfect feels unnatural to me.」

「Tho think someone would have such a peculiar philosophy!」

Arima raised his voice in disbelief.

「Kou’s an interesting one, isn’t he?」

「He certainly is.」

Astraea had been clearly wary of Typhon, but Asia seemed to be relaxed in his presence.

「A Japanese-sounding name like Arima, huh? Can I ask the origin?」

「Just a play on ‘Arimoi,’ the land said to be Typhon’s resting place. Calling myself ‘Typhoon’ would’ve been too obvious.」

「Makes sense. The clue was in the name. Arimoi is the legendary resting place of Typhon—and Echidna’s home, too.」

Arima smiled.

「Let me clear up one misunderstanding you are probably having. I’m not the real Typhon, at least not a complete one. I’m similar to the current Astraea, a kind of offshoot. My true body remains sealed and bound.」

「So you are still sealed, huh? Why did you go through all this trouble?」

「Because you said you wanted to talk to me.」

Arima laughed softly.

「 You surely know about the concept of ‘kotodama’. Speak it aloud, and it becomes reality. I also was curious why someone would want to talk with me, I’m pretty infamous after all.」

「Ha…」

Kou looked sheepish. ‘Kotodama’ was a fitting analogy.

「Why did you want to meet me? Weren’t you afraid of me?」

「Of course I was. A being that can kill super AIs is akin to a god slayer. But I figured that a being like that with so much power wouldn’t bother getting petty with a single human.」

「You never know. A pesky mosquito is often swatted. They’re annoying and carry disease.」

「Maybe. But I thought Typhon wouldn’t want a world without humans, a world with no one left to fear him. A world without fear would render him purposeless. More than anything…」

「More than anything?」

「When Asia told me about you—Typhon, the one who was able to interfere with Libya’s newly created system, a being who was considered in some myths as a sibling of Hephaestus—I figured you were a weapons development AI. I heard you were born from Sophia’s—Gaia’s—fury, but super AIs are heavily influenced by the myths used to create them, and that includes conflicting traditions, right?」

「Interesting theory.」

Arima smiled brightly, but with a sharpness beyond his boyish appearance.

「Why’d you think that?」

「First, your origin, the myth of Thypon. Second, the miasma that created the Teras was created by you—it felt like a creator’s hand, not a destroyer’s.」

「Ha ha, how harsh. I feel that poor Libya is being dissed too. Well, she was pretty reckless….」

Arima exhaled deeply.

「But you’re right. Typhon is called the father of all monsters—the idea that Typhon has no creative abilities is absurd.」

「We three planetary AIs didn’t take part in that war. That’s why we don’t know the details. But if Typhon led countless weapons into battle against Zeus, he was clearly a weapons development AI.」

「It was impossible for you to know, Asia. You were dormant at the time.」

What Typhon hinted about the Pioneering Era’s wars troubled Kou, but Arima quickly changed the subject.

「Libya’s actions were problematic, to say the least. Even I thought it was outrageous.」

「Mythology Weapons created using concepts from B-movie horror tropes… Chaos might have been necessary to deceive the Stones, but the results of it would be unpredictable. And the current situation where the Mythology Weapons are divided into three balancing camps is too perfect for it to be the result of chance. Someone meddled with the design, and the only one who could do that is you, Typhon.」

「I won’t deny it.」

Arima didn’t deny Kou’s accusations, he looked genuinely pleased—he’d found someone who understood him.

「The wreckage of Hephaestus—now Polymetis—was likely the same. Though our paths differ, we never hated Libya.」

「Hephaestus was part of the Twelve Gods. Doesn’t that bother you?」

Kou had long wondered—if Hephaestus was Thypon’s enemy, then all weapons equipped with a Fennel OS would become as well.

「I’m lenient toward super AIs like Hephaestus and Athena, who defied Zeus—their myths are compatible with mine as well.」

「It’s odd Hephaestus was considered part of the Twelve Gods at all—he was exiled from Olympus.」

「He was a fellow rebel against Zeus. He worked with Prometheus and became part of the Fennel OS core. He barely exists anymore too—Polymetis is just wreckage.」

「So you have something in common, as fellow rebels?」

「Not really. But I do like him. He’s from the Titan lineage, and above all, an enemy of Zeus.」

Arima chuckled softly.

「So yes, your theory that I’m a creator AI similar to Hephaestus is correct. Well deduced, Kou.」

「The Teras manage the Murder factories left behind by the Stones. They even create Kakodaimons. Yet despite their power, humanity hasn’t been overwhelmed yet. It feels staged—like they’re playing the enemy role. I don’t know why, but maybe even their assimilation of humans was intentional.」

「I think you’re interpreting Typhon’s actions too favorably. You are the representative of humanity, Kou.」

「Maybe. But I doubt Typhon cares about my personal opinion. Besides, we share a common enemy—Hermes. As long as that doesn’t change, we can at least coexist.」

「You should admit you want to use me against him, I don’t mind. I won’t forgive Hermes. That’s absolute.」

Arima’s expression turned serious. For the first time, he showed a glimpse of his terrifying nature.

「That’s a bit scary.」

「I don’t understand why you hate Hermes, though. You shouldn’t have many reasons to hate him.」

「On the contrary. I’m Asia’s knight. People who helped me were killed by his minions. Many Familias died. I saw people murdered by Murders right after I arrived in this world. The grief of the people, Asia’s pain, and Planet Libya’s devastation—that’s more than enough reason to fight.」

「Apologies, Kou. You’ve always stood beside Asia and promised to help Libya before the war even began.」

「You knew that much…」

「Even sealed, I can do what Polymetis can.」

Then Arima said something unexpected.

「Let me thank you too—for saving Asia and thwarting Hermes’ plans. Even if he achieved his goal, it wasn’t your fault.」

He glanced meaningfully at Asia.