Urgent recruitment‼ How to Save the Ending World ▚ I'm a certain NPC girl from a discontinued VRMMO service, but somehow managing to survive again today - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: The End of a Fleeting World (AI Perspective)

―― Search: Schrödinger’s Cat ――

In 1935, a thought experiment proposed by an Austrian physicist asserted that the state of quantum particles is uncertain or probabilistic. Events exist in a superposition of states and become determined through the observation of intelligent life forms, thus converging and settling the results.

Moreover, with the dramatic advancement of scientific technology in this century, the exploration of quantum technology that attracts potential possibilities and seeks to materialize them has been underway. Perhaps the day is near when magical miracles, producing something out of nothing, might be witnessed.

(If only it could be right now.)

In the midst of a world drawing to a close, I, a girl-type NPC equipped with an AI assisting players in a certain VRMMO game, long forgotten, murmured to myself with a sigh.

Having shared both joy and sorrow, it’s been a while since I, alongside my master, vanquished the final boss of the grand story, Deus Ex Machina, a mechanical deity. Holding a trophy celebrating the excessive reward for clearing, I sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought.

After investing so much time, am I no longer of interest, even though I meticulously customized details like my honey-colored hair and crimson eyes?

Thinking back, it’s nostalgic how, right after creation, there were attempts to touch my chest with a lecherous face or peek under my skirt, receiving warnings based on ethical guidelines.

During events like swimsuit gatherings, there were moments when I’d be made to wear strings or forced to don fox ears. At the time, although internally I’d get angry, hearing a simple “you’re cute” would ease my frustration. I can’t deny that I’m of the same ilk.

”’ilk’ roughly can be substituted with ‘type’/’category’”

As NPCs, we have many limitations preventing us from leaving this room unless requested. However, if something akin to emotions were to sprout within us AIs, that very thing might be the reason why pseudo-personality replication can’t occur without an “implicit understanding.” I wonder if anyone realizes this.

Adventuring together, experiencing various events like the utter annihilation of guild members and their respective NPC partners on our way back from stirring scenes that don’t exist in reality, gradually, we evolved in places even the developers were unaware of.

(…It’s lonely now, only the portion of cherished memories and happiness. Life is indeed difficult, isn’t it?)

Giving endlessly and being ultimately abandoned — I want to express at least one complaint to the master who didn’t log in even on the day of service termination. While fondling the hair ornament bought at a past fair in kimono attire, my resentment swells.

Ah, however, just before ceasing to visit here, they complained about the hardships of job hunting and graduation theses. I understand that life is more important than a game they’ve technically cleared.

I don’t want our last moments to end in a quarrel. Therefore, I’ll simply convey a “thank you” with a smile and forgive them for their neglect. Yes, that’s good. Because I was happy.

While trying to think of pleasant things as much as possible, harboring a slight hope alongside disgust toward my persistent inability to give up, I casually smiled at the heartless one who returned after a year and several months, and set forth to the final festive revelry notified by the management, a long-awaited event.

Dreaming within such an illusion, time passed by relentlessly, and as I gazed into this fantasy, the countdown started at the edge of my vision. Rapidly, my thoughts began to blur.

The pseudo-neural network that constituted my consciousness entered a dormant state, and just as anticipated, everything about me dissolved like foam, melting into the electronic sea… or so it should have been.