Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2021 07:42:01 +0900 From: STONE Subject: Whale in the mirror land - Chapter 1 (Revised) This story is about the virtual world of the future. A man enters a virtual world and has various adventures. The main characters are as follows. Yoshida,a man who entered the virtual world in an accident. Nelson, the chief of the science department of the virtual world, and his subordinate Crane. Joe, an android with special abilities. The big man Glen. Newton, created in a virtual world. And eight boys from 9 to 10 years old will come out. Yoshida's lover and genius boy Lee. Ganymede,who marries with Crane. Joe's companion, Bottom, a combat android with special abilities. Virgil is an android for boy lovers who will be adopted by Yoshida. Bobby, Newton's servant. Orphans Ken, Danny, and Will are adopted by Yoshida. Boys have an erotic relationship with men.There are 48 chapters in total. -------------------------------------------------------- Suicide Town 2040 Technology was developed to read the state of all neurons in the human brain 2050 Quantum computer completed 2052 Developed a high-density memory system in which one atom corresponds to one qubit 2055 All computers replaced quantum computers 2056 Quantum Internet completed 2060 Quantum virtual world was constructed 2062 Birth of the first cyber AI 2065 Emigration to the quantum virtual world begins 2070 The Permanent Resident Citizens Law in Virtual Space is enacted 2071 Enactment of law guaranteeing freedom of suicide The night of April 4, 2072 AD The outskirts of the shopping district in Tamabukuro, Tokyo The store was on the side street of a dingy shopping street. At first glance, there were signs that looked like posters for movie theaters and westerns. It's one of the deadly places-only virtual systems that have appeared in the back alleys here and there since the freedom to commit suicide was granted. It was a system for those that gave up life and want to die easily. There were many ways to do it, and deaths from war fronts, medieval duels, and Western battles were popular. The man who came was Yoshida, in his early thirties, his black hair was disturbed, his depressed eyes were gloomy. After Yoshida checked the signboard, he entered an inconspicuous entrance. There was a small window and there was a receptionist there. He can't see the other person's face. There was a man's voice. "Hey, this is not a movie theater. Do you know?" "I know it's a suicide system. I've come here to die." "Did you consult with a psychiatrist?" "I thought about it for a month, but I decided to die." The man sighed and handed the paper to Yoshida. It was a confirmation of the fulfillment of suicide rights. Yoshida received the paper, took it to the counter and wrote it down. Name, age, address, location of suicide note, confirmation of all responsibilities in carrying out suicide, method of disposing of corpse after death, etc. Finally, when he stamped the thumbprint, Yoshida handed the documents to the man. "So how do we die here?" "A gunman in the west will shoot you to death with a pistol, in a one-on-one duel. Are you sure? You have get a lead ball in your body?" "I know" Yoshida was passed through a small bright room. There was a big transparent capsule in the room, and a man stood beside him looking at Yoshida. A tall, lean man in a lab coat, his cheeks were pale, and he stared at Yoshida with his sharp eyes half-eyed. The man said nothing and showed the capsule with his chin. Yoshida went into the capsule and lay down. The transparent lid closed in front of Yoshida. ***************************************************** Yoshida steadily walked down the dark passage. When he opened the door, he saw bright sunlight, and Yoshida covered his face with one hand. The town that appeared in the old western drama was reproduced exactly as it was. There was a wide street and the streets continued on both sides. There was a tavern nearby, with chairs and tables outside and some guys sitting and drinking. There was a big barrel right next to it, and a man was sitting on it and looking down at Yoshida. The man, who looked like Burt Reynolds at first glance, dressed like a gunman in a western drama. He looked around Yoshida with interest while chewing gum, and got off the barrel. "Welcome to Suicide Town, I'm the referee here." "Oh, do it fast" "Follow me" The man started walking when he signaled. Yoshida crossed the road about the man, passed the men hanging out at the table, and entered the bar. The inside was dim and there were few customers. There were two little boys at the table by the window, and they were watching Yoshida come in. There was a big counter. They sat there. "I'm Jeff" "And?" "You're an unfriendly guy, say your name." "I'm dead soon" "I want to know why you came here?" Yoshida said after being silent for a while. "Apparently, you want to change my mind." "That's my role. Most suicide applicants don't really want to die. They just want people to talk. I just listen to them. They are satisfied and go home. You too. " Jeff said so and patted Yoshida's shoulder. "Unfortunately I'm serious" "Oh, yes, I can't help it. Do you want to eat something?" "No" "Then, what do you drink? Hey, bartender, give me beer." Yoshida watched the bartender pour beer into a large mug. When Jeff received the mug, he winked at Yoshida and started drinking. "Hey, give me too" "One more bartender!" Jeff said, looking into Yoshida's face. "Did you change your mind?" "It's the last beer in my life" "Yeah, you have strong will. Let's go out after drinking beer." Yoshida wrapped the gun belt given by Jeff around his waist and went out with him. Passing between the men, the two went out in the middle of the road. At noon, when the sun was dazzling, there was a little wind. "When will my opponent come?" "He's coming soon. We'll start as soon as he comes. You can surprise him if you don't mind. However, the opponent is tough. If you face each other, don't pull it out first. "Oh, I know. Reflexes are faster than voluntary nerves." "That's how it is" Yoshida heard the sound of a horse running from a distance. He saw dust and a horse appeared. The horse stopped about 30 meters away and the man got off. He wore black clothes all over. He parked his horse at the bar and slowly stood in the middle of the road. He was a man who looked just like Jack Palance. "He's Wilson. He has a permit to kill." Jeff said. "Then, do your best" Then Jeff walked away from Yoshida. Wilson stood with his legs spread a little and held his right hand slightly behind the gun. Yoshida held the same position. All the men in front of the bar were holding their breath and staring. The wind blew up the dust on the road. A little time passed. Yoshida pulled out the gun first. Wilson's right hand moved instantly. A gunshot rang in the wind. Yoshida thought, "It's nice weather." Then he looked up at the sky, kneeled down, and collapsed to the ground. Seeing that, Wilson slowly rode his horse and left. Jeff rushed to Yoshida and held him in both hands. Yoshida's chest was dyed bright red. "Idiot, why did you pull it out first!" "Thank you, I will die with this." Yoshida closed his eyes. ------------------------------ "FhGah" Yoshida woke up with the sound of his snoring. Yoshida turned over and stayed asleep for a while. And he woke up. "Hmm?" Yoshida wondered what a dream it was. Even so, it was a fresh dream. The bright sun was shining through the bedroom window. He thought he had overslept a lot. Yoshida got up on the bed, yawned, spread his arms and stretched out. He got off the bed, went out of the kitchen and went to the bathroom to urinate. The bright sun was shining through the window of the dining room and kitchen. Looking at the clock, it was already before noon. Yoshida thought it was a really quiet morning while putting bread in toast and preparing breakfast. Yoshida lived in a room in a high-rise condominium, in a residential complex with many rows of 20-story buildings. While he waited for the bread to bake, he went to his work room and started up his computer. Yoshida thinks that the morning is the same as usual.Yoshida's GP program "Pica" shook his tail on the monitor and greeted him as usual. Yoshida checked the email. There are no important emails, mostly garbage emails. Yoshida sometimes wants to throw away his reason and launch a virus attack on too persistent garbage mail. But he doesn't. After breakfast, Yoshida continued the program he is currently working on in his work room. After noon, Yoshida finished one job and went out to take rest. He left the elevator and went out of the building. A huge square building opened a large space and was standing in a forest as far as the eye could see. A huge housing complex that has always been seen, including schools and shopping streets. There were parks everywhere on the vast grounds. It wasn't popular at all because it was daytime. Yoshida thought it was unpleasantly quiet. There are no people on the sidewalk. Yoshida came to a nearby park. There were some strange objects in the park with various amusement park equipment. What? Yoshida said. There are no children who are always playing there. Yoshida went ahead and came to the shopping district, which occupies the first floor of a U-shaped building. There was no one on the vast site. The wind just passes by the plain concrete site. "What?" Yoshida stopped in the middle of the square and looked around the shops around him. All the shops were open, but he couldn't see any people anywhere. Yoshida listened. All he can hear is the sound of the wind. Yoshida finally realized something was wrong. Yoshida came to the boundary of the housing complex. The town was supposed to spread from there. However, only the green grass that extends to the horizon spreads in front of Yoshida, and the white road that extends from the housing complex extends straight to the horizon. "The town has disappeared" Yoshida stood stunned. Yoshida was on the verge of panic. "Hey" He heard a human voice from somewhere. When he turned around, he saw two people in the nearby park. Yoshida was relieved and walked quickly toward the two of them. Two men stood by the bench in the park. One is a medium-sized, solid physique, a man who looked like he was in the middle of the 40's, has a big face, a sweaty forehead, and is tough to see. The other is tall, about 30 years old, with a deep face, dark eyebrows, and a shooting gaze. When Yoshida arrived, the shorter one extended his hand to Yoshida. "Welcome, I'm Nelson" Yoshida extended his hand and shook hands. Another person extended his hand. "I'm Crane" Yoshida shook hands without knowing what was going on. "Who are you? And what happened to this complex?" Yoshida asked. Nelson replied. "Mr Yoshida, you are no longer in the world." "eh!" "You died in Suicide Town last night." Yoshida broke down. Nelson loosened his mouth. "It's a shock. It's no wonder you don't remember." "Yes! That wasn't a dream after all!" Nelson nodded silently. "But .... So where am I now? Heaven or hell?" "Actually, there was a mistake in the system. Your body in the real world has certainly died. You have disappeared from the world cleanly, but an error occurred and your whole personality was in this virtual world. It was copied to, and the data was locked and couldn't even be erased. " Nelson looked up at Yoshida, who was holding his mouth. "Then, I disappeared from the real world and I'm trapped in this virtual world forever ..." "That's how it is" Yoshida turned around,and kicked the nearby pebbles with all his might. "Damn oh!" "Don't get so excited. There are many migrants like you. You will be given permanent residence in the virtual world. Enjoy the life you have been given." Yoshida turned around again. "What are you?" "Oh, this is rude, I forgot to say. I'm the director of the science department of the programmers' committee 'Union', and Crane is in charge of technology. There is a complete shortage of human resources like you in the union. I want you to join Union." Yoshida calmed his confused head. "Did I really die?" "That's how it is" Yoshida drooped his head. Nelson patted Yoshida's shoulder. "Be cheerful, there's a lot to do here. I've made this living environment look exactly like the place you used to be. If you're dissatisfied, I'll change it as much as you want. If anything happens, contact Crane. " That said, the two left.