Li Wu had heard of such a thought experiment called the Swamp Man Hypothesis.

It is to the effect that a man goes out for a walk and is struck by lightning while passing by the edge of a swamp, and at the same time, a lightning strikes the swamp next to it, and with a small probability it reacts with the swamp, creating a creature that is identical to the deceased.

The swamp man has the memories of the deceased and the exact same appearance, and the state of his brain is exactly the same as the state of the other person before he was struck by lightning, so he continues to walk like the man who just died, returns home, talks to his family, and goes to work the next day as if nothing happened.

This hypothesis is often used to think about what self-consciousness really is, such as whether the swamp people can be seen as a continuation of the deceased himself, or even as an equivalent to the deceased.

For Ryoko Aoki, the question is clear.

"At first, I was in a state of confusion, and for a while I thought I was the one who had just escaped and miraculously survived the trappers."

Ryoko continued, "After that, I climbed out of the sewers, blended into the crowd, gave myself a name, and was happy that I could live freely from now on, and even had the idea of becoming a shining person like Yoko. ”

"You think of yourself as the one who died?"

Hearing this, Li Wu had already realized who the corpse that was partially eaten by Ryoko was.

It's no wonder that the Vault's report mentions that the corpse of Subject 032 has been gnawed by a wild animal, but it is not an ordinary beast, but a transcendent life that can mimic human tissue by ingesting human tissue.

"Until I found out that my appearance could be changed at will because I was afraid of being recognized."

Ryoko lifted a tuft of blonde hair, and the strands of hair flowing in her hands became colorful, and finally turned burgundy, as if she had suddenly made a highlight.

"Since then, I've been reminded of eating rats."

Her nose twitched, and a bitter expression appeared on her face that she didn't want to recall, "Can you imagine the impact at that time?" I always thought that I was someone, and even if I came from a strange experimental facility, I knew where I came from, but suddenly one day you realized that even such memories belonged to someone else. ”

"So you don't want others to know that you're not human, because you're worried that you will be discovered by Blue Dream Technology and related to the events of that year?"

Li Wu, who received an affirmative answer, solved the doubts that had arisen since the first meeting.

Ryoko Aoki stretched: "It's the first time I've told anyone about these things, and I hope you really have a hostile relationship with that company." ”

"If you have the memories of Subject 032...... Do you know what the Song Project is? ”

This is the key issue at this time, and Subject 032 is closely related to the overall project.

Li Wu also couldn't imagine that when Abkhatak was already dead, he could meet a "party" in a certain sense.

"Where did you hear that?"

Ryoko Aoki asked in dismay, "That's the secret experiment she participated in...... You've been to that place, haven't you?! ”

She reacted quickly.

"Didn't you even want to check it out?"

Ryoko threw her head out of the afterimage: "I won't do this kind of thing that could expose myself." If it weren't for the fact that those people from Blue Dream Technology have recently started to gather in their old homes again, I'm afraid they will find any clues, otherwise they wouldn't have done that kind of thing at all. ”

She looked remorseful.

"There shouldn't be any danger in that place right now."

Li Wu thought of the group of zombies who were addicted to idols, "The Song Project may still be in operation now, I would like to know its details." ”

What does it mean to be "still operating...... No, forget it, please don't tell me anything about it. ”

Ryoko raised her hands in refusal, not wanting to get into trouble at all, and said briskly what she remembered related to the Song Project.

"I just remember that they claimed that the purpose of the project was to 'help each individual achieve his or her ideals and become a being in the perfect Garden of Eden.'" But what we actually participate in is singing every day until the day is announced to be recycled. ”

Although she spoke plainly, she still couldn't hide the cruelty contained in it.

Li Wu clicked on several web pages on his mobile phone and selected the song with the highest popularity value that Nero had sung.

"You say singing...... Is this the one? ”

It was the same hymn-like music presented by the AI idol at the same concert before, which triggered a reaction from the Dragon's Blood Cross.

"I've heard this before."

Ryoko Aoki shook her head, "The melodies are indeed somewhat similar, but there are still a lot of differences in details in specific music theory......"

She eagerly analyzed what emotions the theme here wanted to express, and the bass there was a little abrupt, and the style of painting suddenly changed from a secret conversation to a vocal lesson scene.

“…… Am I digressing? ”

After about a few minutes, Ryoko Aoki stopped, "It's a shame that I'm still chattering here when I can't sing anymore." ”

Her face was a little pale.

"No, it's funny, and I still don't know how it works, but we can at least assume that the Song Project has something to do with the song, as the name suggests."

After all, it's anomalous powers, that's for sure.

But if that's really the case, the problem is back to square one.

The AI Nero has been uploaded to the Internet, and only by destroying it completely can the song be stopped, but it is not even clear what its specific effect is.

"Speaking of which, why did you say that not being able to sing was the price you had to pay?"

Li Wu, who decided to leave the above questions to Lilia to worry about, remembered Yui Hirata's request, so he shifted the topic to Ryoko Aoki.

She looked wary, like a hedgehog ready to roll away.

"It's none of your business...... I've already told you everything you want to ask, right? In the future, whether I want to fight big business or do anything else, it should have nothing to do with me? ”

Ryoko stood up and prepared to leave.

"Hirata, please advise you to reconsider the matter of not being an idol, I have to work a little harder, after all, she also helped me."

Li Wu guessed, "Based on what you said, I might as well guess that you feel that you have some kind of guilt or guilt-like emotion towards the dead Subject 032......"

The blue liquid sprayed like a water gun, and he sat with his head tilted away, avoiding the sudden sneak attack.

"Don't speculate on other people's thoughts!"

Ryoko Aoki was furious.

"You see, if you're in a hurry, it means that my guess is in the right direction."

He turned the seat under him, "Actually, her death has nothing to do with you, and it is the predecessor of Blue Dream Technology who needs to be held responsible." ”

"Li Wu, if you think that your point of view must be on the right side, this kind of thinking is too arrogant."

Ryoko called him by name for the first time, and her tone was cold, "After all, she just happened to meet me before she died, just like a vulture gnawing on the dead bison carcass, should she feel guilty about food?" ”

"How many people have you eaten? Not counting yesterday's mechs. ”

Li Wu suddenly got up and asked.

Ryoko Aoki was caught off guard by this question: "You, do you remember how many small breads you have eaten?" ”

"I don't like bread, so it's zero, it's up to you."

"Why should I tell you?"

Facing the classmates who were suddenly approaching step by step, Ryoko shrank into the corner and said stiffly.

Li Wu sighed regretfully and ignited a crimson flame.

"Everyone, classmates, I won't hide it from Aoki that I was almost killed by a monster who likes to eat people. So when I hear someone who claims to be a cannibal, I will have a stress reaction, which is very scary and aggressive. ”

The lower half of the blonde girl's body turned into a cotton ball, flowing nervously down the corner.

"One! I haven't eaten anyone! ”

She raised her hands.

The flames dissipated, and Li Wu squinted at Ryoko who recognized it: "If you still pretend to be a cold-blooded monster, you are a large slime with a transformation technique." ”

Ryoko Aoki, who was sarcastic, turned her eyes into a knife and stabbed her: "You are a cold-blooded violent maniac, a ghost beast man!" ”

"So, what is Miss Idol's true opinion of Subject 032?"

Li Wu asked like a paparazzi interviewed.

was completely destroyed by the small theater just now, and Ryoko Aoki returned to her human form and reluctantly explained: "...... Thanks to her, I was able to think like this and get to know them Hirata, so I'm grateful to her. ”

"But the more I live like a human being, the more I realize that what I am now essentially taking the life of another human being."

Ryoko said abruptly, "Even if it's about becoming an idol, it's not my dream in the final analysis." That's why you can't sing anymore like now, right? After all, I'm just a reptilian monster myself. ”

"I have to remind you, theoretically none of your teammates are human. I thought you called the monster girl the main focus on this differentiated track. ”

Li Wu's face was strange, "As a result, now you, as the captain, care about this matter?" ”

"That's different, they're themselves, at least all the time."

If Ryoko Aoki is a swamp person from Subject 032, then the biggest difference between her and the hypothetical situation in the experiment is that she has realized that her memories and even her perception of herself come from another individual.

Initial ideals, aesthetic tastes, views on interpersonal communication...... These elements that make up the personality of an ordinary person are only nutrients for her from the remains of Subject 032.

Ryoko pulled up her hood and opened the door of the recording studio: "Okay, now Ryoko Aoki's secret has been told to you one by one, please don't pester me in the future." ”

"But weren't you quite happy just now? When talking about the shortcomings of Nero's music. ”

She paused.

Li Wu followed Ryoko Aoki to the corridor outside, holding the railing of the corridor.

"Let me ask you one last question: Does Miss 032 know so much about music theory? Did you rely on her memory to cheat to become an idol? ”

Because of the deliberate use of a provocative tone, the listening party was naturally irritated: "Of course I learned it myself!" Is it reasonable for you to be so strong as a human? It must be cheating! ”

"One thing to say, indeed."

Li Wu nodded, "Then you are still entangled in whether you have borrowed other people's ideals, whether you are full of leisure?" ”

Ryoko choked on an unceremonious squeeze.

"Maybe Miss 032's longing for that idol called Yoko led you to choose this path, but even ordinary people will be affected in various ways after birth, and it is Ryoko Aoki who will take action in the end, right?"

He struck while the iron was hot to carry out the concept of stealing.

"Huh?" Ryoko took a few steps forward excitedly and grabbed the collar of Li Wu's high school uniform, "It's not that simple at all, I took away everything she exists, and even complacently thinks that it is my own dream, isn't that disgusting?" ”

Because of the sudden shortening of the distance, Li Wu could see that a blue liquid was filling up from the corner of the other party's eyes, maintaining the form that was about to roll off.

"It was the Azure Pharmaceutical Company that killed Subject 032, and you just coincidentally inherited her memories."

Li Wu calmly repeated the facts, and the hands that grabbed his collar let go in a dejected manner.

"You should remember Goro Akamatsu?"

Ignoring Ryoko's confused expression of not understanding why this person was mentioned, Li Wu continued to talk about the memories of the medical staff being transformed and instilled, and what he had seen and heard in Vault 22.

“…… Eventually, he learns the truth that he is actually another person, but hides it and even looks at an idol he didn't like before. ”

Ryoko Aoki has the memories of Subject 032.

Therefore, when she heard Li Wu's description of that place, the memories vividly reflected the details of every arrangement, like a revisit to the old place in a sense.

"What do you want to do is probably more important than who you are?"

Li Wu waited for Ryoko's reaction.

He can be regarded as doing his best, reasoning with facts, and pouring chicken soup for the soul.

If this mouth cannon doesn't work, Ryoko Aoki still puts that jade away, then he can only wave goodbye to the future stars in the idol industry regretfully, and then tell Yui Hirata that he can pack up and prepare for his solo debut.

Just as he was expecting the other party to cry and shout that the coach was going to stand up and become an idol, the door to the next room opened.

"I ......"

Ryoko Aoki was about to speak when she was interrupted.

Aoki-san...... Also, how did you end up here? ”

Hoshikawa Aoi, who appeared unexpectedly, asked, followed by the other members of the club.

"I'd like to ask why you're here...... Could it be?! ”

Li Wu glanced at the group messages that he had skipped before.

[Shiratori Mai: The venue for practice has been decided. 】

This is the recording studio! And they also showed up when the treatment was at a critical stage!

Ryoko Aoki's words were held back as soon as she started, and now she is scanning the crowd around her with a confused expression, who knows how to naturally advance the serious topic just now in this situation!

(End of chapter)