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Vol. 8 Chapter 138.1
Meeting an Old Acquaintance
Translated by boilpoil
Edited by boilpoil
“its not good to just shut it down… the AI managed everything for years, and it just did its job well…”
“but it’s just an AI, if it’s no longer useful, then just shut it off, like any regular tool… a tool that’s outdated even”
“hey actually, why are you all assuming it’ll be shut? was the ai’s judgement wrong?
those people chased out of the tower are mad, so they are a threat to the survivors inside”
“I think theres an issue with how they can even keep living in the tower after the AI is down
like, they survived because the AI was absolutely impartial when ruling all these years
if its shut down and humans get to rule again… schemes, conspiracies and struggle for power will come back in fashion”
“now that you put it that way, I’m wondering whether those people that want it shut down… really simply wants their fellow humans in the grey fog saved”
“hypocritical politicians?”
“you guys are all looking at the big picture, but for me, if the AIs logic is that harsh, then if I have a problem one day, Ill also be thrown out without a second thought, right?
but just looking at Beibeis stream, the nightmares are really scary already…
I just suspect the mind will already go wrong living here for a long time, and when I do… I become humanitys enemy to be thrown away? wont you feel sad if all your friends and family would agree to throw you out too”
“you say that… but looking at their state of civilisation and how they barely even qualify as having simply a primitive lifestyle, it’s far more important to ensure the species survival…”
“the times are pressing enough for ruthlessness to hold”
“hey, then wouldn’t it make sense the ai can shoulder the lbame instead? if humans can’t bring themselves to do it, then let the absolutely logical ai do it instead”
“but clearly, the AI is at its limits too, all the mad people in the fog are still people”
“although, like, this is just a game!”
“well, a game, but… you know, apocalypse, easy to sympathise”
“whatever the case, the game gives two choices, so clearly there are two endings right?”
“of course”
“only thinking in game terms, which ending is better do you think?”
“shut off the AI seems more hopeful for a future; even if the AI isnt shut down right now, one day, when the conflict between the AI and humans worsen, itll happen regardless”
“not our same kind, huh”
“but for some reason, I’m equally pessimistic about humanity’s future survival prospects after the ai is down…”
“the tower is the safehouse, so basically, the people are… destroying their only haven”
“but I… really wouldn’t want to leave my own life in the hands of an… ai without ethics, it’s too dangerous”
“uh, so it is really more a question of, if survival or freedom is more important
i think the ai’s judgement is correct, that the insane people in the fog are badly affecting the survival of humans
Beibei’s stream has also shown how destructive these people can be
but according to the game’s setting, the players, as humans, have already been living for dozens of years in the tower
their living space is confined to this dark dingy tower, with no hope of escaping
i think, in this case, even if the tower is a safehouse, a haven, people probably still don’t want to live here either, like some kind of slow assisted suicide…”
“agreed”
“makes sense, staying in the tower will mean losing all hope in time regardless, the apocalypse in this game is unsolvable”
“I think humans have no practical way of surviving indefinitely in such an environment
they will go mad, and the AI will chase them out because theyve gone mad
in the end, the tower will only have the AI and no humans left [laugh emoji]
its funny the last resort of humans turned out to be a prison for all of them”
XĂź Beijin quietly reads all the discussions the viewers have in the stream, not commenting on any of their perspectives.
They are merely discussing it all in the context of a game named ‘Escape,’ but without the angle of humanity’s current plight.
For the humans out here fighting, they have to escape, there is nothing else to it.
This is not a shelter they built, but the Colosseum and fighting ring their enemy built for them.
Though if simply taken from the game’s plot, the choice is a debatable one.
But here, there are no more choices than either shutting or not shutting down. There isn’t some magical third compromise; and if they choose not to shut the AI down, then clearly, humans will be headed to doom.
They can’t last forever in this Tower.
XĂź Beijin wonders, if this is also a sign for something.
He ponders, but it’s also slightly amusing to him. Since he suspected human involvement in the design of ‘Escape’ itself, he’s become suspicious of any possible hidden meaning behind the game.
In any case, this is a forced move – with the situation being like so, humanity is doomed, so they can only choose to fight while they still have their strength.
The problem with the choice, is that there will always be those who are hesitant, or prefer to indulge in fake serenity among the humans. They care about the present and not the future.
And staying in the Tower is equivalent to being immortal, too.
They do not die; even if they died in Nightmares, they are revived.
And most importantly, entry into the Nightmares isn’t compulsory. In the Tower, they’ve always had the freedom to decide how to live.
Their forms, meanwhile, are also forever frozen in time, those who are young and able, continue being so for eternity.
It’s normal some people would terribly miss such a lifestyle, no?
Xü Beijin’s gaze lands over on the few Missiontakers and Tower residents still remaining in other Nightmares; the stark contrast between this meagre figure and the vast amount of people in the Ultimate Nightmare is quite amusing indeed.
While tyranny by majority is a thing, it is at least indicative of a general attitude of the community.
So XĂź Beijin can say that, humans are still generally opposed to staying in the Tower.
There was one traitor back then, but it doesn’t necessarily mean anyone will try to betray here.
Besides… he thinks, coldly, even if anyone is thinking like that, there is nothing they can do. Oftentimes, fate isn’t in their control.
Then, he moves on from the comments and his thoughts to the Ultimate Nightmare itself. He flips through several scenes to check how different Missiontakers and Actors are doing.