[Game over!]
Hitori shook off the emptiness in her heart and checked the evaluation of this simulation.
[Your life was exceedingly happy. Though your career was ordinary, you won the grand prize in love. You had a family far happier than most, gave birth to two children for your husband, and died in his arms without regret.]
[Simulation rating — S (Perfect)]
[Due to the player's outstanding performance, you may choose three of the following five rewards —]
[1. The guitar pick gifted by national treasure-level rock singer Kitahara Yui to her mother (when used to perform music, your performance level temporarily increases by one tier)]
[2. All memories from this simulation (to be gradually input as dreams)]
[3. Physical ability x1.6 (the foundation of revolution)]
[4. AI Program – Prototype Skynet (the superintelligent AI developed by your husband over thirty years after your death)]
[5. The Mechanized Ascension Method (a process for uploading human consciousness to a computer to achieve immortality, developed under the leadership of Dr. Kitahara Ui)]
Wait a second.
She understood the first three rewards.
But what were those last two supposed to be?
…Just what on earth had her husband and daughter been secretly working on?
And how was she even supposed to choose from these?
Hitori felt dizzy. Even if she'd managed to draw a reward as high-level as a super AI program, she didn't dare pick it.
What if it turned into one of those sci-fi movie scenarios, robots rebelling and all that?
Yikes, the Earth would be doomed.
As for that last one, the Mechanized Ascension Method, that was on a whole other level.
So...
"I'll pick 1, 2, and 3."
Once she made her selections, Hitori stood up and stretched lazily.
She went downstairs, planning to eat dinner.
This round of simulation had left her thoroughly satisfied as her simulated husband had pampered her well.
[Reminder to player: You have 0 simulations remaining.]
Hitori froze mid-step.
She'd almost forgotten.
The simulator could only be activated for free five times. After that, it required a recharge.
Come to think of it...
"How do I get more simulation attempts?"
Did it require money?
Her bright little face instantly turned pitiful. The wages she earned each month working part-time at the live house weren't much.
Her private savings were regularly plundered by a certain coldhearted blue-haired woman.
[Submitting request to the main system…]
[You have one new message.]
[Before the end of this summer, please deepen your relationship with the target (Kitahara Toru). The simulator will grant simulation attempts based on completion level.]
[Holding hands: 1 attempt]
[Kissing: 3 attempts, plus one bonus higher-tier action opportunity]
[Dating: 10 attempts, plus three bonus higher-tier action opportunities]
Hitori looked at those conditions and didn't think she could possibly do it.
Even holding hands... she, she could barely manage that.
But the rewards were far too tempting.
Especially the higher-tier operation chance. Having just experienced the power of being childhood sweethearts, Hitori understood how important that was.
"Should I… give it a try?"
The girl quickly made up her mind.
————
Meanwhile,
Toru also exited the simulation.
He opened his eyes and exhaled deeply.
"Simulator, report the future progression of the world."
[Checking records…]
[Ten years after the death of Dr. Kitahara, the father of superintelligent AI.]
[Using the AI program you developed, humanity's technology advanced at unprecedented speed.]
[Twenty years after your death.]
[Fundamental physics broke through its bottleneck. The following year, quantum computer technology matured, ushering in a new era for humanity.]
[Twenty-five years after your death.]
[A virtual second world created by AI was born. Large portions of humanity became addicted to it, finding spiritual fulfillment in illusion.]
[Thirty years after your death.]
[Technological progress caused a massive rise in productivity. Intelligent machines replaced most human jobs. Society entered a low-desire utopia.]
[Seventy percent of humanity, tired of a dull reality, chose to live in the virtual world, surviving on nutrient fluid.]
[Human lifespans increased drastically.]
[Fifty years after your death.]
[Super AI—Kitahara Rin—took control of Earth's networks, taking humanity's place in exploring the cosmos.]
[Seventy years after your death.]
[Your two daughters passed away in succession. The world mourned.]
[One hundred years after your death.]
[Earth became a lonely steel planet. Ninety-nine percent of humanity voluntarily converted into digital life.]
[Three hundred years after your death…]
[Only tireless intelligent machines continued to operate on Earth.]
[Human civilization had perished.]
[Playback complete.]
Just as expected.
There was no "Detroit: Become Human" uprising, no "Terminator" style AI crisis, no "final capitalist collapse" as described by Liu Cixin.
No Trisolaran invasion, no solar helium flash.
Humanity had simply destroyed itself.
The rapid growth of science had led to a low-desire society.
People fled from reality, addicted to virtual worlds.
Even space exploration had been left to AI.
"So this is what the ultimate form of giving up looks like?"
Toru muttered to himself.
Good thing he'd died early, before witnessing such a terrifying world.
[You have achieved an extra achievement—I am Death, Destroyer of Worlds. Final evaluation bonus: +100%.]
Hey, hold on, don't pin that on me!
When did I destroy humanity?
Toru was speechless.
[Game over!]
[Your life was legendary. In the first half, you displayed the brilliance of a genius. In the second, your achievements surpassed all others.]
[Future generations called you demon, called you Satan. You opened Pandora's box, and before the end arrived, you took humanity's last glimmer of hope with you.]
[Perhaps this phrase describes you best—]
[After my death, let the flood come.]
[Simulation rating — EX+ (Unprecedented)]
[Due to your astonishing performance, you may select six of the following eight rewards: ]
[1. God-tier computer technology (Your greatness in computer science speaks for itself; no one in this world could bestow a medal upon you.)]
[2. Maximum stress limit +20 points.]
[3. The scarf gifted to you by Hitori during high school (filled with the tender affection of a young girl, can resist cold down to minus thirty degrees)]
[4. The razor gifted by your daughter Kitahara Yui (shaves quickly… other than that, no apparent effect?)]
[5. The Mechanized Ascension Method researched by your daughter Kitahara Ui (choose this if you no longer wish to remain human)]
[6. Next simulation evaluation x1.05 (Since the player seems uninterested in money, the Game of Life simulator has replaced all monetary rewards)]
[7. Talent upgrade card (raises one of your talents by one level)]
[8. Unlock new simulator functions for the next simulation (This option is rare, handle with care!)]
Tough choice.
This time, really tough.
If last time there had been too much useless stuff to choose from,
then this time there were too many good ones.
The first and second options were must-haves.
The first needed no explanation, Toru had finally reached the next stage of divine-tier skill.
The second…
If you still remember the Extreme Stress Training Method prompt—
[You have activated the Extreme Stress Training Method.]
[This method requires the player to maintain stress between 100 and 200 in order to gain excessive experience growth.]
Currently, Toru's stress limit was 140 points.
If he could one day raise it to 200, he could use the method without side effects.
That was a transformation from quantity to quality, not something to give up easily.
The Mechanized Ascension Method was also worth choosing, given its immense technological value.
The talent upgrade card and the simulator's new mode were both essential as well.
That made five slots.
The last one was tricky.
The more he looked, the more his head hurt.
Using elimination, he skipped Hitori's scarf as he'd passed on it before, and with his physical fitness, even minus thirty degrees wouldn't be a problem.
Besides, he saw Hitori every day in reality. No need to cling to sentimentality.
At worst, he could just start dating her later.
The simulation rating boost was too minor to matter.
Basically worthless.
So…
He picked the razor from his eldest daughter, Kitahara Yui.
He missed his daughter, and it would be nice to have something to remember her by.
Not bad. Yes, that'll do.
After some thought, Kitahara Toru's final selection was...
1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8.