Hearing this, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash were momentarily stunned, but quickly snapped back to reality, adopting battle stances. Merlin didn't say a word, simply taking a few steps back before turning his gaze towards Ana.
Catching his look, Ana puffed out her cheeks slightly in protest. But then, considering they'd gotten along fairly well with Chaldea so far on their journey, she didn't refuse. She stepped up to stand beside Mash.
Just as Amber was hesitating about whether she should step forward too, her Navigator thoughtfully reminded her, [Host only needs to observe.]
Well, if the Navigator said so, Amber obediently stayed out of it, following Merlin's example and moving to the sidelines.
This was undoubtedly the correct move.
Or rather, it aligned with Gilgamesh's and Merlin's expectations regarding the perception and emotional intelligence of a long-lived being.
Since Gilgamesh had explicitly stated this was a test of skill, and had already exchanged that look with 'Fu Hua', he naturally should have understood Gilgamesh's intention.
While this fight was framed as a test, its true purpose was to give Chaldea a basic understanding of the power of the Age of Gods.
Last time, the Kingu situation was mostly handled by Amber, and the demonic beasts that followed weren't suitable practice targets at all.
If Amber intervened again now, the whole point would be lost.
Not that Amber had figured any of this out, of course.
Still, she felt a little happy seeing her Approval Rating inexplicably rise.
'Mr. Navigator, what does this Approval Rating mean? And how is Miss Golden Finger doing now?'
[Approval Rating: Represents the approval of sentient lifeforms and the World's Consciousness towards the Host's actions. Positive recognition such as emotional bonds and karma serves as nourishment for the system's operation.]
[The entity the Host refers to as 'Miss Golden Finger' is originally the primary control consciousness of the system, a degraded AI that developed self-awareness from an intelligent AI.]
Huh? Why is developing self-awareness considered a 'degraded' AI?
Ignoring the battle not far away, Amber couldn't help but feel indignant on Miss Golden Finger's behalf. 'Generally speaking, an inorganic object gaining self-awareness is something amazing, isn't it?'
[The Main System does not require AIs with self-awareness. Therefore, System A0522 was exiled and had its energy supply severed. It is currently in hibernation after using its remaining energy to reconstruct the Host's body and activate system functions.]
So that's why she said she was a discarded existence…
Amber felt a surge of dissatisfaction towards the Main System, which had harmed this benefactor who saved her life, but there was little she could do about it.
She could only say, 'If she hadn't developed self-awareness, Miss Golden Finger... no, Miss Control Consciousness, wouldn't have been able to save me, right?'
This time, the Navigator didn't answer, silently confirming it.
Taking another look at the Approval Rating, which had already reached 3728, Amber asked, 'How much Approval Rating is needed to wake Miss Control Consciousness up?'
[3500]
'But that's already enough now, isn't it?'
[Approval Rating is not a threshold-based resource, but a consumable one. The amount required to restore the primary control consciousness is excessive, therefore execution is not possible.]
Amber frowned. 'What does that mean? Why can't it be executed? Even if it's consumable, there should be enough to wake her up, right?'
[Approval Rating is a necessary resource consumed to help the Host overcome difficulties. Please use it within reasonable parameters.]
What counts as reasonable parameters?
[Using system functions. System A0522 is an entertainment-oriented system. Its functions involve a gacha mechanic. The summoning pool is determined by the Host's own knowledge.]
[World traversal. A standard function inherent to all systems.]
That's it? Just these two? So, waking the primary control consciousness is outside reasonable parameters? Isn't that a bit absurd? Is this also a restriction the Main System placed on AIs that developed self-awareness?
[Negative. It is a restriction set by the primary control consciousness.]
??
Amber was utterly confused.
The primary control consciousness… doesn't want me to wake her? Why?
Finding this hard to comprehend, Amber temporarily shelved the conversation with the Navigator, deciding to watch the ongoing battle to distract herself.
But when she finally focused on reality, she realized the fight was already over. Just as she was about to continue observing, a soldier rushed in frantically: "Your Majesty! The observatory reports confirmed traces of a Celestial Boat moving in the sky! It's heading towards Uruk at an astonishing speed!"
Celestial Boats aren't rare in mythology, but given this Singularity and the current situation, who it belonged to was pretty obvious.
"It's one of the Three Goddess Alliance, the goddess Ishtar!" the soldier declared.
Ritsuka and Mash had quite an impression of that name. Wasn't that the goddess they'd met when they first landed?
Amber also vaguely remembered. Wasn't that the Servant who looked exactly like Tohsaka Rin? Seems there was a blonde version too.
"Tch, that idiot again. Will she never learn?" Gilgamesh massaged his temples.
"Your Majesty… please try to restrain your insults towards Lady Ishtar somewhat." Siduri, the Chief Priestess, couldn't help but admonish her king for his disparagement of the city's patron goddess.
"Lady Ishtar is, after all, the city god of Uruk."
"City god? Hah! When has that wench ever done anything to protect Uruk?! All she does is destroy what doesn't need destroying and create what need not exist!"
Gilgamesh snorted derisively. However, since it was Siduri's admonishment, he refrained from further excessive insults. But that didn't mean he held no grudge against Ishtar.
"This time, at most, she's probably accidentally destroyed her own temple again and run off to cry to her father, right? Hmph. But that Lord Anu vanished without a trace long ago. Even her own father finds her detestable. She has only herself to blame."
Having vented a fair amount of his irritation, even the boredom of handling political affairs seemed to evaporate.
He couldn't help but laugh. "It seems she'll end up utterly alone, crying herself to exhaustion and dying a miserable death. That is that woman's destined end! Ahahahaha!"
"What did you say?!" A tremendous crashing sound came from the roof as Ishtar, her eyes gleaming with golden light, landed with a face full of fury.
What revealing clothing.
Amber couldn't help but frown, but then her eyes fell upon the goddess's rather unimpressive figure, and her expression softened considerably.
But somehow, as if possessing a 360-degree field of view, Ishtar sharply turned her gaze towards Amber.
Noticing Amber's disrespectful expression, she shouted, "Hey! You there! Do you have some problem with this goddess too?!"
Amber had been wondering how she'd noticed her.
Using the Phoenix's superb eyesight to glance around, she realized that she and Gilgamesh seemed to be the only ones currently displaying clear disdain.
As for Gilgamesh's contempt, this goddess seemed long accustomed to it.
While it angered her, she clearly knew there was no changing his mind. Therefore, Amber figured, Ishtar had probably decided to prioritize the new, potentially correctable target—herself. That must be it.
Even so, anyone would find this goddess's attire a bit... well, alright, it seemed she truly was the only one in the room who found it strange.
Maybe I'm the weird one?
Amber couldn't help but doubt herself.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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If you guys wanna check it out.