Chương 30: Chapter 29

Inside the carriage, Nina sat properly, doing her best not to make eye contact with the elderly man sitting across from her. Mr. Roosevelt was still sniffling. The problem had started when she had accidentally met his eyes during the journey. That single moment had been enough. The old merchant had immediately begun thanking her with tears in his eyes, explaining how much this meant to him, how he would repay her kindness, and how he would never forget what she had done for his daughter. Nina had been trapped.

The man's words were endless. Every sentence seemed to contain another compliment, another expression of gratitude, another promise of repayment. She had tried responding politely at first. Then she had realized that every response only encouraged him further. Eventually, unable to think of another escape, Nina had turned toward the carriage window and pointed outside.

"Wow..." She had stared at the passing scenery with exaggerated interest.

"I have never seen this part of the city before." It had worked. Barely. Mr. Roosevelt had followed her gaze and begun explaining various locations they passed, allowing Nina to finally escape the endless stream of gratitude. Now, she remained focused on the outside world, watching the unfamiliar streets pass by through the window. It was interesting. Unlike the common areas she usually visited, this part of the city carried a completely different atmosphere. The buildings were larger. The streets were cleaner.

The people walking around appeared different. As Nina continued observing, a notification suddenly appeared in front of her. Divergence Point +0. 5 Current Divergence Points: 1. 5 Nina blinked.

"... Again?" The System, which had been away from the host for some time while updating the map and recording possible locations, immediately paused. The automatic pathfinding function continued operating, analyzing routes and distances. However, without the System's active processing, it could only perform its basic function. It could guide movement. It could not categorize locations. It could not identify whether a building was a cafe, a blacksmith, a school, or any other significant point of interest.

It was simply a pathfinder. Nothing more. The System redirected its attention back toward the host's consciousness. Nina immediately noticed its return. What do you think? For several seconds, there was silence. Then— [Insufficient data.] Nina paused. You don't know? [Correct.] The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The System began analyzing. [The previous divergence point occurred after an unknown major alteration. Current circumstances do not provide enough information to determine the cause.] Could it be because of Mr. Roosevelt? [Possible. However, probability is uncertain.] The System continued. [Mr. Roosevelt possesses influence. However, his current actions do not appear sufficient to immediately generate a divergence point.] Nina frowned slightly. Then what else could it be? [Unknown.] A pause. [Divergence points are calculated after significant changes occur. Therefore, the cause has likely already happened.] The System considered the possibilities. [It is unlikely to be the carriage ride itself.] Nina stared. You thought that was a possibility? [It was considered and rejected.] Nina sighed. The System continued analyzing. [The current information is insufficient. Additional data is required.] Before Nina could respond, another presence entered the conversation.

"Why are you two so loud?" Nina froze. From within the shared consciousness, Lily appeared. She looked toward the System with immediate suspicion.

"Oh." Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Isn't this the person who ruined my home by filling it with those nasty books?" Nina slowly turned.

"... Nasty books?" Lily immediately stopped.

"No." A pause.

"I said nothing." Nina continued staring. Lily looked away.

"It was nothing." The System remained silent. This was the first time it had directly interacted with another personality besides Nina. It immediately began recording observations. Different identities possessed different preferences. Different personalities displayed different responses. Different methods of communication. The System reviewed previous information. Although the various personalities possessed the ability to take control of the body, their relationship with Nina was not equal.

The personalities were not external entities. They were created from Nina's observations, experiences, and interactions with the outside world. They were connected to her. They did not appear to possess hostility toward the host. Additionally, Nina appeared to possess greater authority within the relationship. If Nina refused to allow a personality to take control, the personality could not forcibly override her decision. However, the opposite was also true.

If a personality remained within the subconscious, Nina could not forcefully bring them forward. The balance of control was not completely one-sided. The host possessed greater influence over the body. The personalities possessed greater influence over their own willingness to appear. A stable relationship had formed. The System continued analyzing. Not all internal identities were the same. Some appeared to be fully developed consciousnesses.

They possessed independent thoughts, preferences, memories, and reactions. Others were closer to templates. Collections of information. Behavioral patterns. Possible personas that Nina could recreate if she possessed enough information about a person. These incomplete structures possessed little resistance. They were more like stored possibilities than independent individuals. However... There was one exception. The System detected another presence. A structure similar to the fully developed personalities. Locked.

Incomplete. Inactive. Most information remained inaccessible. The name was visible. Emma. The rest of the information remained obscured. Even the surname was unavailable. Yet the System could determine one thing. This was not another simple template. It possessed the same characteristics as the developed personalities. A dormant identity. A sleeping consciousness. However, unlike the others, it remained unfinished. Almost as if the host had enough information to create the personality... But refused to complete it.

The System analyzed the data. The host possessed enough observations. Enough memories. Enough emotional information. The personality could theoretically be reconstructed. Yet Nina had never allowed it to fully emerge. Conclusion: Unknown reason. The System could not access the subconscious directly. It could not examine inactive personalities. It could not read their memories or communicate with them unless they entered the active consciousness and interaction became possible. The limitation was clear.

The System could observe the existence of something hidden. It could not reach inside and retrieve it. For now, Emma remained an unfinished presence within the subconscious. A possibility that Nina had created... But never brought into existence.