Curse of Knowledge
Date—XX/X.
Omega came to brag about a new technique she learned.
Mister! Look at this!
Omega worked really hard eating and thinking, you know?
And now Omega can make even more things!
Hi-ya!
Omega beamed and swung her staff.
The projection wasn't the usual squares, triangles, or circles.
Dozens of menacing blades hovered behind Omega's back.
...Did you open another entry in your database?
Uh-huh!
You know, future enemies are supposed to be super scary. And Omega learned that shapes like squares and triangles won't help much.
If Omega makes them sharp like this, they will... wait, how did it go again?
Right! They will specialize in severing targets and large-scale elimination!
What do you think, Mister? Omega's stronger now, right?
This will help, right?
...
...That's weird. You don't look very happy.
Omega... is not being helpful...?
Hold on a sec! Then Omega will find something else!
Wait! Omega!
W-what?! Six months' worth of meals again?!
W-we're out of food supplies now, Omega!
Date—XX/X.
I received reports of Omega's strange behavior.
Omega's acting strange?
I wouldn't say strange exactly, but...
She's been running around nonstop looking for things to do.
It's as if... she can't feel at ease.
Designing new clothes with her does make the hours disappear.
Her projections are quite useful, after all.
But seeing her ask "Was Omega helpful?" with the face of someone who hasn't eaten for days... that's strange.
And she keeps coming in and out of the workshop. It's getting annoying.
If I don't let her help, even something as harmless as stirring the cauldron, she stares at me nervously...
You didn't say anything weird to her, did you?
...
I closed the notebook where I'd been keeping notes on Omega's behavior.
Each time Omega grew stronger, more of her memories returned with it.
But the memories she regained weren't all happy ones.
As I was lost in thought, I sensed someone outside the door.
C-can I...?
Oof... but if he's asleep...
(Get up and open the door.)
Ahhhh!
O-oh. You weren't sleeping.
What is it, Omega?
Well, um...
Omega isn't trying to be annoying!
Omega couldn't sleep... Omega just came to see if you were sleeping well...
Yeah, that's all...
...
Omega stood there fidgeting, her eyes a little puffy.
Her clothes were rumpled as if she'd just gotten out of bed.
...
...Yeah. Omega wants that.
Did you have a bad dream?
Uh-huh. Omega... had a scary dream.
The sky was pitch black and the earth was bright red. No matter how long Omega waited, morning never came.
...And no one was there. Except scary monsters.
According to Cube Palace, Omega's dreams are fragments of memory and data.
Her dream probably meant something more than a nightmare.
It could be something Omega experienced in the past... or might experience in the future.
...Don't dreams like that hurt?
...It's okay. Omega is fine.
Because Omega is helpful.
Omega won't bother you with something like that.
...
Honestly... Omega doesn't like dreaming. It's scary.
But there's no other way if Omega wants to grow stronger.
Omega knows that too. So it's okay.
...
...Don't worry. Omega believes you.
Omega feels safe with you. You smell a bit like Daddy too.
But... Omega trusted Daddy too. Omega was happy with him.
But Omega still ended up all alone.
...So this time, Omega has to do better.
Omega has to be more helpful to everyone.
...I see.
For now, let's get some sleep and not think about anything.
Okay. Good night.
Once Omega fell asleep, I quietly got up.
Standby mode deactivated. Switching to conversation mode.
Summary. Entity Captain wishes to alleviate Omega Control's anxiety.
The plan is to utilize Cube Palace's features for that purpose. Correct?
...Analyzing request.
Answer. Possible.
Evaluation. Inefficient behavior.
Productive results are unlikely compared to the energy cost.
Omega Control is currently participating in the Journey voluntarily.
Introducing additional variables is unnecessary.
But Omega doesn't look happy right now.
Evaluation. Illogical and inefficient.
Omega Control is fragile. It is uncertain whether she can endure the future or fulfill her mission.
If her anxiety disappears as well, Omega Control may refuse the Journey entirely.
Evaluation. Extremely inefficient and illogical.
Omega Control's mission is to—
...
...Authorization confirmed.
Overriding previous directives... Approved.
Simulating the entire city requires massive energy.
Switching to recharge mode. All systems shutting down.
Advisory. Refrain from speaking to me until charging completes.
...Thank you.
Cube Palace dropped with a clunk and rolled across the floor.
Thinking of a way to comfort Omega, I drifted back to sleep.