Chapter 258: Shirou Has Been Kidnapped
"Through my investigation, I discovered that there is a scientist in this organization who possesses technology similar to Rayshift. This Holy Grail War they are hosting is exactly that—a game of slaughter where one hundred and twenty-eight people enter a battlefield in the network world to fight one another and seize the Holy Grails."
Da Vinci spoke while eating snacks and drinking black tea; at the very least, having food in her mouth meant she didn't have to stare longingly and gloomily at the other side.
"I see... wait, no, a network world? Is that even possible?" Shirou asked curiously.
"Even though I find it incredible, in a cyberspace environment, while there are still some side effects on the mind, the physical body remains in a safe place. It's actually quite a decent set of rules," Da Vinci said, seemingly expressing a level of professional approval for the person behind the scenes.
"How exactly did they manage to do it?" Shirou asked in confusion. Although the technological development of this world was rapid, it was mostly manifested in the upgrading of existing technologies to provide multi-functionality and convenience for people's lives; these were indeed constantly improving.
However, from the "brick" mobile phones humans used in the last century to today's smartphones—while they are more convenient and diverse in function—they are ultimately still just phones. Computer configurations get higher and higher, and when connected to giant screens, playing blockbuster games feels as magnificent as experiencing a movie firsthand—but it is still just a computer.
Movies have been popularizing 3D for a few years, but once you get used to it, it's just more of the same. After all, even if the visuals are gorgeous, if there isn't a good plot, you get tired of it after seeing it too much. Even as technology grows stronger, the crucial elements—good directors and good scripts—do not necessarily increase.
Transportation hasn't seen a substantive leap like the transition from horse carriages to airplanes; the jump from airplanes to rockets is merely an increase in the distance one can fly through the sky. Since the death of Einstein, there haven't been many new discoveries that have caused a worldwide sensation—at least, no epoch-making theories have appeared that truly changed all of humanity.
Red-hot concepts in new technology change every year, or even every six months, from Big Data to VR to Artificial Intelligence...
But Big Data is nothing more than allowing software backends to monitor a person's every move; for instance, you never know if your camera has automatically turned on, and because there are cameras on both the front and back, they are impossible to avoid. Even topics mentioned while chatting with friends are overheard by the phone, and subsequently, the ads you see while browsing will automatically change to that product to recommend it to you.
As for Artificial Intelligence, to showcase its learning ability, instead of doing something beneficial for the world, it goes to play Go against humans. VR requires wearing heavy gear and primarily affects the visual senses combined with sensors for body movements; it is far from reaching the level of conscious immersion.
But now, Da Vinci was saying that someone had realized the same technology as Chaldea: the transfer of the soul.
Shirou looked at Da Vinci in shock and asked, "Doesn't that mean those people are now like Chaldea? As long as they find a suitable candidate, they can achieve time travel?"
"Of course, the humans here haven't reached that level yet. It's only a preliminary implementation, more like transmitting collective consciousness into cyberspace," Da Vinci said with a wry smile.
One must understand that this technology only came to fruition at Chaldea in recent years, and even then, the technology was not mature. From time to time, issues occurred where a transfer resulted in falling from a high altitude or arriving in the wrong place. It was because of an accident just before official use that all the Masters capable of Rayshifting were killed; aside from the batch of frozen Masters, Chaldea was left with only Gudako, an ordinary little girl, to use.
Thus, the heavy responsibility of saving human history was thrust entirely upon that young girl... Da Vinci had to admit that this time, they had encountered a powerful enemy whose technology was about to catch up with Chaldea's.
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At this moment, at the airport where they were returning from Okinawa to Tokyo, a girl took the lead and ran toward the exit of the tunnel.
"The first person to run out of the tunnel gets a reward! The people who come out later have to treat us to juice! Haha!" Yuigahama shouted as she ran outward.
"I won! There's a reward! Wahaha, wait for me!" Hearing the girl's words, Gudako's eyes flashed with golden light. A mysterious smile appeared on her face as she wiggled her fingers back and forth—as if imagining what she was going to squeeze—and chased after the cute "Onee-san."
"Senpai, wait for me~!" Seeing this, Mashu also followed closely behind, not wanting to be left out.
"Honestly, we played over there for so long, haven't they had enough fun yet?" Yukinoshita said helplessly from behind.
"Haha, they really are like children," Asuna said with a giggle, holding her face.
The girls stretched their legs and ran forward with all their might. Simultaneously, within the range of the Tokyo metropolitan area, something like a bounded field was deployed, perfectly encompassing the area outside the suburban airport tunnel.
"Wow! Yay! I'm first!" Yuigahama raised her hands high and cheered happily.
"Wait! Senpai?!" Mashu let out a cry of alarm from behind.
"Ah! Yuigahama-senpai! Your phone is glowing!" Gudako also widened her eyes in surprise.
"Eh? Are-re?" Yuigahama looked up to see the phone she held high in her hand. It was currently emitting a powerful white light. She felt it was very similar to the time someone had forcibly summoned her using the Support function!
When consciousness is summoned away, the physical body enters a dream-like state and is protected by a pocket dimension. Yuigahama's body swayed twice, and then she began to tilt toward the ground, looking as if she were about to land face-first.
"Mashu! Go!" Gudako pointed a finger and gave the command.
"Leave it to me, Senpai!" Hearing her Master's order, the pink-haired girl instantly exploded with extreme speed, rushing toward where Yuigahama was falling.
"Safe!" With a sliding tackle, the pink-haired girl caught the falling Yuigahama steadily in her arms. She sat up and looked back to report to the group.
"Phew..." Yukinoshita and Asuna finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then, looking at the pink-haired girl, they said, "Alright, Mashu, turn Yuigahama's face around, or else she's going to suffocate."
Just as everyone gathered, wanting to receive Da Vinci's transmission together, Shirou's phone emitted a bright light. Group after group of cherry blossom petals fluttered across the screen, turning into a purple background. Then, a purple-haired girl wearing a black cloak—resembling something out of Harry Potter—poked her head out and looked around.
"Sorry for the intrusion~! Hey, is anyone there?"
"Sakura... Sakura? Why are you appearing here? No... you're slightly different..." Shirou cried out in surprise upon seeing the girl. Then, getting a clear look at the person on the screen, he looked at her in confusion.
"I'm the cute heroine, BB-chan, Senpai~! Shirou-senpai~! I've come to pick you up~!" The purple-haired girl said with a sweet smile.
As soon as the girl finished speaking, an intense white light enveloped the boy.
"Eh-eh-eh?! Onii-chan has been kidnapped by a wicked woman!" Komachi screamed, clutching her face in shock.
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