Truly learning and ’thinking one has learned’ are two different concepts.

"What a generous gift; if Triss were here, perhaps she could devise several world-shattering spiritual energy moves from just this moment of observation. Unfortunately, I, equipped with the Omega Program, am locked into the Camp of Order; these powers, however strong or ugly, have nothing to do with me anymore."

Murphy shook his head and retracted his gaze to look at the Sentinel Commander beside him. He said:

"Your situation is dire. You’re covered in the filthy remnants of subspace corrosion. I’m sorry, but I can’t take the risk of bringing you back to the physical world."

"No need for that, Lord Administrator."

The sentinel maintained an extremely calm demeanor, as the protection from the Omega Program spared her from having to use her dwindling energy to resist chaos corrosion. Thus, she transferred all her remaining energy to calibrating her mechanical mind and maintaining the conversation module system, making her intermittent language fluent.

She said to Murphy:

"Perishing here is my original fate. I had calmly accepted all of this at shutdown; your appearance is a chance event with a probability of less than 0.0001‰, which is not enough to alter my predetermined end.

However, before I disappear, I have one last request. You just told me my sister Mosna is still on the other side, right?"

"She is indeed there, still fulfilling a sentinel’s duties. Once powered with new batteries, the first thing she did was to actively and fully assist me in closing this subspace rift, but the problem is, she’s lost her memory."

Murphy said softly:

"Just as I told you while waiting, Mosna’s memory database is severely damaged. Aside from the sentinel code, repair techniques, an understanding of creator engineering, and a series of subspace tactics, she has forgotten almost everything.

Perhaps it’s cruel to say this, but she doesn’t remember you, as if you never existed in her life."

"Well, that’s wonderful then, it means my sister is safe."

Monica’s relieved response made Murphy blink. Likely sensing Murphy’s confusion, the sentinel briefly explained:

"Because it was exactly the agreement I made with her before entering the subspace rift. I don’t know how much you know about chaos corrosion, but according to our research, the corruption of subspace has quite miraculous characteristics. It can spread using many things as carriers in the physical world, and even has ’meme replication’ features.

I mean memories...

Not only the memories of flesh-and-blood life can serve as chaos filth’s carrier fragments, but also the memory data of mechanical life risks corrosion. If Mosna still remembers me, it means she failed to format her memory database, which means she has become a carrier of corrosion.

If such a situation really appeared, then the first thing you must do after returning is to perform ’safe handling’ on her.

But now it seems, compared to me, my sister is evidently luckier."

"I find it unnerving how you mechanical beings are so rational when discussing the topic of existence. I can’t consider her current situation to be called ’lucky’."

Murphy said with a furrowed brow:

"She even forgot the identification code of the Sentinel Corps, just like a malfunctioning electronic product reluctantly choosing to restore factory settings.

I don’t know your attitude toward memory, but from our perspective as flesh-and-blood beings, being forced to forget one’s sister and to erase all past memories is undoubtedly a quite terrifying outcome, even catastrophic." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"But she lived and can continue to exist, which is the best outcome."

Monica explained:

"This proves that the resources the creator spent in making her have not been wasted. It also proves that after the thousand-year wear of time, Mosna can continue to fulfill the mission endowed to Sentinel Corps upon their birth. Even though she cannot return to Sentinel Headquarters, she can still serve the creator’s cause as your follower.

We are tools, Lord Administrator.

The happiest moment as a tool is being used reasonably and producing results.

For sentinels, idle time means precious energy is wasted and unplanned wear and tear of machinery. Only when we execute combat and patrol tasks, can our logical core burst with simulated emotions called ’satisfaction’ and ’sense of accomplishment’.

Perhaps in your view, my fate is a personal tragedy, but I want to correct your perception, to me, perishing amid subspace is the most perfect conclusion I can attain. It proves that I also didn’t waste the resources and ingenuity the creator invested in me.

Moreover, my sacrifice protected the physical world for more than a thousand years. I will thus become a hero of the Sentinel Corps, forever recorded in the large database of The Heart of the World. I will be exalted on the creator’s wall of glory with those honored pioneers, engraved into the processing core of every newly-produced sentinel sister.

This is eternity...

At least eternity in our eyes.

You see, I end my life as an individual but walk into history like a flame burned out, adding a touch of light and heat to the final battle and victory.