Weight of a Soul

My, what a surprise.

You mean the view around Elzion? Yeah, I was really surprised the first time I came here.

No, not that. I have only been away a short while, but the city seems to have grown exponentially.

What?! This isn't your first time in Elzion?

Hush, you don't need to squawk like that. Is it really so strange that I have been to Elzion before?

It's just, you don't normally spend your time in the land of the living. And even if you did, you and the future don't really go together, if you know what I mean.

No, what do you mean? Purgatory is linked to all times. Wherever and whenever the living exist, their souls will always end up in Purgatory.

I officially oversee one district in this era.

So it only stands to reason that I have visited Elzion before.

Oh, I didn't realize...

I thought you were awe-struck by the see-through boards with floating letters and the machines flying through the sky.

It's an electronic notice board, not a board with floating letters. The machines you speak of are flying contraptions such as sky boards. Clearly, I know more about this era than you do.

Err, I'm not sure how I feel about this...

Hm? What was that noise?

It's an emergency alert on the electronic notice board.

Let's see now... "Hope for renewable energy research? Comeback for the down-on-his-luck researcher?"

Um, not sure what that's about, but it looks like the researcher is holding a press conference in the Gamma District.

Urgh, first a news flash, now a press conference. The human world is just as annoying as Purgatory.

Annoying?

Oh, there is no use complaining to you. You are not even part of my organization. So? You wish to go to this press conference?

Huh? Oh... I don't really know, to be honest.

But I may as well, since I'm here. You should come too, Daisy.

You won't fall asleep during their talk? Very well, let us head to the Gamma District.

I won't fall asleep if I stay standing up... I think.

Testing, testing. Thank you all for waiting. The press conference will be starting shortly. I will be your host, photographer, and go-between. Pero from the Elzion Writers Club local news section will be covering the event.

Without further ado... Professor, if you please.

Thank you all so much for coming here today. I have been researching renewable resources for many years now.

How do we maintain our way of life, should Xeno Prisma ever come to an end? Scientific research has found that it could only be maintained for a few years with our current resources.

(Yup, he's lost me already. I don't even get his basic premise.)

For as long as we live, the amount of resources we will require will increase without limit. We create vehicles and buildings, and even labor. That is how this city has grown to what it is today.

However, there is of course a limit to the resources themselves. One day, we will reach that limit, and our resources will dry up. In order to overcome this situation, will we create something out of nothing?

Or will we somehow recycle and reuse the resources that have otherwise outlived their usefulness? Those are our only two choices.

I apologize for the long introduction... But the resource that I have successfully recycled is the aforementioned "labor" of this city...

Androids.

(Androids?!)

You're saying you can recycle androids?

Do you happen to know which part of an android requires the most valuable resources? Its heart, so to speak. The core.

In my research, I have successfully taken the cores of multiple androids due for disposal...

And recycled them into one new core.

You recycle one core out of multiple broken down androids?

What is your theory behind this? And surely if you replace the core of a broken android with a new one, it still won't reactivate the android itself?

That is correct. A broken model won't restart, even with a new core. But you are thinking of this the wrong way around. Creating a new core from scratch would require new resources.

What my research shows...

Is that, under certain conditions, broken cores can be restored without any additional resources.

Certain conditions?

Yes. But before that, allow me to share with you one of the results of my research.

My experiments have found that, within the cores of broken-down androids...

A material that could not otherwise be observed in androids that were running correctly, was very much observable.

There's a material that can only be observed in the cores of shutdown androids?

Is this material the key to all this?

Precisely.

This material was observed in every single android body, and when extracted...

It measured 21 grams, in every single specimen tested. I extracted this material from a number of androids...

I fused them together to cause a chemical reaction, and successfully created a new 21 grams.

Do you see what I'm saying? If we insert this new 21 grams into a shutdown core...

A core that had previously exceeded its limit can now restart?

That's amazing. It's like you gave it a new soul.

A soul?

Heh, what an amusing expression to use. I look forward to seeing what you come up with for your headline.

Now, in all honesty, I must admit that I am still researching the theory behind both this material and the core's revival.

But I simply couldn't wait to share this miraculous discovery with you all. I intend to continue my research and steer toward practical applications of these findings.

I hope you will report on my findings as a ray of hope for our great city of Elzion.

I didn't exactly follow all of that, but this sounds like good news for Elzion.

Ladies and gentlemen, we will be finishing up here shortly. If no one has any questions...

I have a question.

Daisy?

Please, go ahead. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.

This 21 gram material you said you could observe in the cores of broken androids...

Surely it didn't actually newly increase to 21 grams?

Oh? What do you mean by that?

Wouldn't it be more correct to say it decreased, not increased? Of course, I'm not talking about weight here. This 21 grams must have come from somewhere, yes?

Is this a riddle? I'm afraid such things are not exactly my strong point.

From souls.

If you collect the souls of malfunctioned androids and cobble them together to make a new one... Then it could be possible to bring that one broken machine back to life.

Cobbling together souls?

Hahaha! Oh I'm sorry, how rude of me. You've certainly got me there.

You're talking about reusing souls? It makes for a unique riddle, certainly, but it also makes for poor science. Despite that sharp tongue of yours, you seem more like a reporter at an occult magazine than an actual journalist.

......

A change of careers, eh? One in the human world...

I shall keep that in mind.

The honor was all mine, ma'am.

And we're out of time! That ends our press conference. Make sure you take all your belongings with you!

I'm going straight back to write up this article!

Mine's gonna be unbeatable!

I will also take my leave.

Oh, I know. I should return to the Xeno-Domain industrial sector right away.

Daisy, you seem tense. Are you okay?

Nothing you need worry yourself about. Just...

What was all that about souls? Is the researcher up to something?

Androids may be inorganic, but even they have souls, frail as they are.

So androids do have souls.

You are not surprised?

No, it seems kinda obvious to me. I would have been more surprised if you told me they didn't have souls.

Heheh, that's so like you.

When an android's body ceases to function, its soul will head to Purgatory, just like all other souls... Their souls dwell in inorganic matter, making them much weaker than other souls. Thus, many cannot reach Purgatory on their own. That researcher...

He saw those souls? And cobbled them together, like you said?

That's what I'm thinking. He forced those fleeting souls together, bringing them to the mass of just one. That's the real trick behind his "renewable resource."

That's terrible! He must be putting the souls through such pain!

We cannot ignore this!

I agree. Let's go stop that researcher!

In which case, we must follow him right away! He said he was going to the Xeno-Domain industrial sector. He was surprisingly forth- coming with his personal information...

To the Xeno-Domain we go!

Have I kept you waiting?

No, I only just arrived, too. How did it go?

Very well indeed. We should be able to implement it sooner than anticipated.

I'm glad to hear it. Sounds like helping you out is going to be worth my while after all. The goods have been delivered to the usual place. There are seven in total this time.

I hope you haven't forgotten your end of the bargain?

Of course not. A deal is a deal. It will be ready ahead of schedule, so come and get it whenever you like.

I will take it during the next delivery. I'll be in touch.

I'll be waiting.

I'd better hurry up and complete the sample.

My, what a suspicious meeting.

Huh?

You again!

Is that man a collaborator? Is he assisting you with your research?

He's a scrap android trader. He supplies the bodies for my research. Everything is above-board, I assure you. I'm sorry to disappoint you if you thought there was anything dodgy going on.

No? But that means... That man...

Collects all the scrapped androids for you? How very convenient.

Well, that's kind of a trader's job.

Anyway, I'm surprised you followed me all the way here. I admire your enthusiasm, but I won't be taking any more questions.

We didn't come to ask questions. We came to stop you.

To stop me? My research, you mean? You really are full of surprises, aren't you? What makes you think you have the right to do that?

This isn't a matter of rights, it's a matter of duty. Let me ask you the same question. What makes you think you have the right to play with the souls of others?

Playing with souls, am I?

Hahaha! So that's what this was? Still dragging out the same joke as before?

It's not a joke!

Ah, I'm sorry... Riddle, then. My mistake.

But even if you're trying to play around with me, you can't deny that it's a little tedious.

I must ask you to leave. If you continue to follow me, I'll have to hand you over to the proper authorities.

So long.

Then let me ask you again. Have you no intention to cease playing with the souls of deceased androids?

And let me tell you again, the Q&A session is long since over, lady.

Hey, wait!

It's fine. Let him go.

What?! Daisy, you're not giving up, right?

Nothing of the sort!

Talking with him won't get us anywhere. Time for a change in tack.

A-And what does that involve?

It's simple, really. I'm going to free all of the souls trapped in his laboratory.

There's no point in trying to convince a man who spouts such nonsense! Come along, Aldo!

H-Hey! Where are we going?

To the Xeno-Domain research sector! That's where he's stashed them!

How's she know so much about this facility?!

A riddle, eh?

Haha, even if I say so myself... That was an ingenious escape.

Souls exist. This dim light that floats above my hand...

Is the actual ray of hope that will save me from obsolescence.

I can only imagine that reporter is following me because, like me, she is aware of the existence of souls. Well, what does it matter? Even if she knows, it's not like she can do anything.

Do you understand? From now, these souls will become one. And with it, we will both be revived. You, from death, and I from the obscurity I was cast into after my research failed to yield results. Drink up, comrade.

How magnificent! I would never have expected the mixture to be such a clear color! Now, I just need to put this soul into your body...

Stop!

What?! You still followed me here, after I explicitly warned you not to?!

Is that the cobbled soul you're holding? How could you do something so terrible? Can you not see the color of that soul?!

I see it. It is a brilliant, flickering, rainbow-colored light. The light of potential.

But how sad... If you don't see it, I'll have no choice but to blind you with its powerful light.

What was that?!

Let's go.

You scoundrel!

Mwahaha! Glorious, isn't it?

Glorious?! How could you say such a thing? Do you not hear the screams of those souls?!

The screams of souls? Hm, perhaps that can be the topic of my next research project, if the future allows.

Stop being so evasive! You're going to listen up, and listen well! To the desperate screams of the souls you have mutilated with your own two hands!

Uhh... What's that? What did you do?

Can't you hear that heartbreakingly sad voice?

Huh?

Huh?! Where's that voice coming from?

You exploited their mechanical bodies until they couldn't even move. They have died but cannot find peace, their dignity taken from them. These are the cries from their final moments!

I took away their dignity? Of all the things to say... Surely being revived and living a long life is a much happier outcome than death and demise.

You rotten...

Our incompatibility didn't have to end in conflict. But you cannot poke the fire and expect not to get burned.

Well now, it's time for a test. Use this life I have given you to silence these intruders.

*groan*

Stop, don't listen to him! You don't have to follow his orders!

It's no use. After all... Androids only exist to take commands from us.

Aaarghhh...

Target...acquired. Initiating orders.

Stop! We don't want to fight you!

Daisy?!

There's only one thing we can do for a soul whose very existence has been so cruelly altered, who knows nothing but suffering. Get ready, Aldo. To save them, we must release them!

Ack!

It stopped moving!

Leave this to me!

The soul detached from its body?!

I'm sorry I can't take you with me.

My goodness, what have you done? No matter. I'll simply redo my experiment. I'll just have to get my supporter to replace the soul you caused me to lose.

You haven't changed your mind at all?!

Why would I? You can preach about ethics till the cows come home, but it won't have any effect.

These souls your "supporter" provides you. How long do you think that kindness will last?

What do you mean?

I mean exactly as I say. And allow me to correct a mistake in your understanding.

It is not just the one soul from before that you will lose.

It is all of them here. Let's go, Aldo. I am entrusting the machine to you.

Got it.

Wait, stop that! Do you know how much time it'll take for me to recover them all?

I don't sense any other souls in this building.

So we've released them all.

Now let us return to the Elzion Theta District.

Okay. Hey, wait, Daisy!

"Holes found in experimental data of researcher advocating android core recycling theory." Well, I thought this would happen sooner or later.

What do you mean?

In order to push the use of those souls, he was deceiving everyone with this "new material" he made up.

But the data does not lie. I imagine he'll be under investigation by the appropriate regulatory body before long.

Oh...

But are you sure it was a good idea to let him walk away?

The imprisoned souls have been freed, and his research was found to be fraudulent, and thus can no longer continue.

The rest is out of my hands. It is not my duty to punish humans. Issues that arise in the human world should be dealt with by humans themselves.

Oh, right... I guess that makes sense.

There is something else that demands my attention.

Oh? What's that?

The souls of these androids. I never imagined there would be such dangers for the souls too faint to reach Purgatory on their own.

Perhaps they should be protected, with someone new in charge, who does not oversee other living souls.

Can you really do that?

I can persuade the up-aboves, but it will involve some tedious paperwork. Selecting and deploying an appropriate manager... It will take some time to implement. But now that I know the truth, I cannot ignore it.

There is no time to waste. I must return to Purgatory and start preparations.

So long, Aldo.

Wait, Daisy!

The souls will be in safe hands with Daisy in charge.

What is the meaning of this? He should be here by now!

He isn't coming.

Huh?!

Hey! Who're you?! Oh no, is that...Daisy?!

Hah. Judging from your reckless insubordination... Did you forget my face already?

N-No. I-I could never forget your face...

Oh, I am so glad to hear that. Well? Are you planning on wearing that hood forever?

Surely you don't need me to explain?

Feigning innocence, are we? As the one who helped you bloom... Let me tell you as my final offering...

The details of your misconduct, my flower. To put it plainly, you have been cheating at your work.

It is inefficient to retrieve the faint souls of androids as-is. They may take time to collect, but they weigh next to nothing. They are almost cloud-like. And that's when you had an idea.

You collaborated with that researcher and used him to condense the faint souls for you. When multiple souls finally reached the mass of one, you shared them with the researcher for your mutual advantage.

Even though you knew that idea violated the rules of Purgatory.

You "flowers" are supposed to lead souls to Purgatory. How could you leave those souls to rot for your own personal gain? You are one of my flowers. How could you not know the gravity of your sins?

Be quiet. Consider Purgatory to be a great tree. If a flower growing on it starts to rot, it will spread to the trunk and cause it to fester.

It is my duty to prune that rotten flower from our tree before that can ever be allowed to happen.

And yet... Nothing makes me feel as empty inside as pruning the flowers I once brought to full bloom.